“Toy…?” I asked nervously and was a bit dumbfounded.

Jezebel seemed only more excited by my nervous response. She made her way toward the door to my cell, but Throm caught her arm. Jezebel glared at him with an envenomed look.

“Unhand me, Throm, I am going to take this… project away,” she said sternly.

“Be that as you may he’s still a demon and could break free. We can escort him back to your place. The mayor would have my head if anything happened to you.” Throm said, a bit nervous but unwilling to back down.

“Oh if that’s all you are worried about, I will just teleport us there. Be a good dear and watch why your mayor pays me so well.” Jezebel gave Throm a condescending pat on the cheek before pulling away. Throm stepped back with a grunt. Jezebel took a few things out of a pouch on her hip, too large for all the ingredients to have all fit in together.

“I’m not a demon by the way,” I said neutrally, casting a glance between Throm and Jezebel. Neither seemed to respond to me, though their body language said they heard me. “Hello? Earth to Throm and or Jezebel? Ehl, the definitely not a demon here.”

Throm grunted. “Never seen a demon act so passive.”

Jezebel smiled, “Glad someone read my notes on how to respond to a demon. They will try anything to escape if caught. Lies, threats, and so on. Thankfully my preparations are done now so we will be out of your hair.”

I noticed I was in the center of some sort of ritual circle. Jezebel began chanting something, and after a few words I realized she was speaking in the language of Power. The first real sign of the Dragon Tongue ability kicking in. I thought I was speaking English before but it must be whatever the human tongue is in Yenope.

The language of Power I could understand but it didn’t have meaning in the same way as a normal language. It was about shaping Intent to draw forth and use magical energy. Something about it resonated with being. I realized the runes I had learned as part of my class were but two written pieces of the language of power. Also, I realized the runes were incomplete a small portion of some as yet understood greater whole.

As fascinating as that idea was I was pulled back to reality when I grasped the intent of Jezebel’s spell. She was teleporting me, but I understood it to be a place apart from Yenope, a pocket dimension. Given her previous actions, I tried to struggle against the bonds. I barely managed to kind of get one hand free when Jezebel’s voice rose in a crescendo as her spell finished.

She sent me off with a smile that promised that she at least was looking forward to what was to come. I felt my being shift sideways to reality, like the world's worst spinning cup ride. I felt grass beneath my feet for a moment and realized I was free of the previous bonds. Then my organs caught up with the rest of me, I remember turning my head sideways and puking as I blacked out.

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I came to sometime later, hearing a conversation nearby. “Looks like we are getting saddled with a new experiment. Ugh, I wonder what that crazy mage is thinking pairing this group up.” came a voice that might be beautiful if it didn’t have a sneering quality. The voice continued, “You gonna talk and work with me and him Ms. Angel, or are you planning to die in the next game?”

I slowly opened my eyes and looked around. I was in an empty field save for a tree, though I could see a golden cage of energy surrounding this section of otherwise open land. It seems I was pinned in with two others. One was an Angel, at least in the way art had depicted them back on earth.

She had golden blonde hair, white feathered wings, and a white robe that had seen better days. Her eyes were closed, but the expression on her face said she was well aware of our presence. Nor did she particularly seem happy with where she was. Though I wasn’t sure if that was because of me, where we were, or because of the other woman in here.

Her skin was a grey-green in color and she wore somewhat tattered leather armor. Her eyes were simply two orbs of yellow light that shone from her skull and her black hair was done up in a punk rocker style. She turned at the motion of me moving.

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“Ahh your awake newcomer, I’d welcome you but that paints a prettier picture than the hell you’ve found yourself in. Names Ahria. To head off some questions, yes I am a wight, no I am not going to eat you.” she said to me and reached a hand down to help me up.

I took the proffered hand and pulled myself up. Not missing the small surprise on Ahria’s face, though she quickly hid it. “Appreciate the welcome such as it is Ahria. I am Ehl, fresh off the boat to hell as it were. Errm… mind helping me get my bearings? Where are we, what are these games, how do we get out, and so on.” I said in the most pleasant voice I could muster.

“May wanna get comfy, if you are a bit hungry or thirsty you’ll wanna grab a fruit,” Ahria said and pointed at the one tree above me. Several strange fruits were up there, of varying odd shapes and colors. Ahria reached up and plucked a red fruit shaped like a box and took a bite before she sat down cross-legged not too far from me.

I grabbed a yellow star-shaped fruit and sat back down to listen to her. The fruit tasted a bit like a banana crossed with a pineapple, but with skin like an apple. I listened to Ahria’s explanation though the angel seemed to pointedly ignore the conversation.

“So you are a new test subject of our great overlord Jezebel,” Ahria said with a bite of sarcasm. “Near as anyone I have talked to has been able to guess we are in a pocket dimension controlled by her. She likes to experiment on us here. Time passes more quickly here than back in the real world. Presumably, that is useful for her experimenting.

The games are a nicer thing to call the experiment. Some of them aren’t too bad, some of them are terrible.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the angel give a small shudder of fear as Ahria talked about the games. “Getting out? You don’t for the most part anyway. Jezebel has called a few out but always sends them back. Usually to accomplish something or do some sort of experiment she can only do back in the real world. I met one person who has which is why I know about the time difference.

I mean theoretically, there should be some ways to get out of here. It is just a pocket dimension. I just don’t know enough about magic to do so. Jezebel doesn’t tend to send mages in here. Well or people who can Craft either, probably for the same reason that they could unravel it.” My ears perked up at the emphasis on Craft that Ahria spoke of.

“I would hazard a guess that even the three of us being here together is some sort of game to her.” Ahria finished up. She turned her attention to finishing her fruit. I had finished mine during her explanation.

“Oh? Why do you suspect that?” I asked with curiosity. Surprisingly the angel spoke up in response.

“Jezebel wants the two of you foul creatures to destroy or corrupt me,” she said with a note of anger tinged with fear.

“Ahh, the uppity angel can talk, feel like joining in now dear? We won’t bite.” Ahria flashed a smile and I realized her teeth were razor-sharp. More like what you would need to devour flesh than fruits or veggies.

The angel gave a harrumph and looked away. “Why would we destroy or attack her?” I looked at Ahria. At a loss for the situation. “Is this something about you being a ghoul or her thinking I am a demon?”

Ahria seemed a bit surprised by my response. “First time to Yenope? Demon is what humans call beings that look like you. Though something about you seems a bit off to the few demons I have encountered before.”

“Wait so the heroes are demons too?” I blurted out. Ahria was taken aback and then started laughing.

The angel spoke up in anger, “Heroes are nothing like you demons, they are sent by the Gods to drive the demons away. The demons invade this world and corrupt it with foul magic. If I had my bow I would kill both you and that undead.”

“Wait Ahria is undead? She seems much too smart and well… I don't smell any death.” I said.

Ahria went from laughing to incredulous. “Do you not know what a ghoul is?” I shook my head.

“I mean, not here at least. I came from somewhere else and I don’t want to assume that what was called a ghoul there is the same as a ghoul here.” I said. “Where I came from a ghoul can’t really talk and tends to just try to devour the living.”

“Hmm, well it seems you must be from somewhere similar to Yenope then. Ghouls are the same thing usually. I am a bit unique.” Ahria gave a mock bow. “I am a sentient ghoul. Jezebel took me from some necromancer who had dreams of creating a spell that rivals a Divine Resurrection. It’s probably the only reason I outlived that asshole’s death.”

“Oh well, for what it’s worth you seem plenty nice to me.” I looked over at the angel. “Umm for what it’s worth I don't think I will try to corrupt you and Ahria seems nice. Maybe you could share what you know?”

“Nice try demon, I know your kind can play the long game to fool mortals. I, Nell the Angel Apprentice, will never fall for your schemes!” Nell proclaimed.

“Uhh alright, then Nell.” Nell’s odd proclamation sort of drove us into silence. Ahria kicked back keeping an eye on me and the angel but declining to start more conversation. I took stock of myself nothing seems to have changed in the transition here.

[Abysia are you there?] I thought. It just dawned on me she was awful quiet since I awoke. After a few minutes, I heard nothing back. I could still feel her connection though. Perhaps it had something to do with the pocket world and the time difference.

Perhaps I should investigate my abilities while I await whatever this game is and think about more questions to ask Ahria.