I once again woke up in the smokey, cloudy white void with Ira sitting in front of me in her throne, completely naked and somehow looking slightly different from before. She was now also casting a shadow onto the... nothingness that was the floor. And in that shadow, I could sense a presence. A presence that deeply terrified me for some reason.

"What is that?" I asked.

"Ignore that," Ira said.

"... Fine."

She smiled at me.

"So did we find a dryad or is it something else?" I asked.

"The mana signature does feel distinctly like that of a dryad," Ira responded.

"What are they like?" I asked.

"Dryads? Hmm... it depends. Dryads are born whenever a forest is destined to grow in a location. They are the heart and soul of that forest. Depending on the size there might be multiple. A group of dryads is called a sisterhood," Ira explained.

"Sisterhood? Are there only females?"

"As far as I know, they are often called mothers of the forest."

"So how do I convince one of them to give me magic?" I asked as I made myself comfortable on the floor.

How come I don't get a throne?

I suddenly felt myself being lifted into the air and sitting on a throne.

...

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"I mean this place is your mind so..."

"I get it, I get it... just tell me how to convince her," I said a little perplexed by the fact that I can apparently control this space with my thoughts.

"Usually magical beings would task those asking for their magic with trials... things like kill this or that, go there and find this or that... you know. Some might make some other requests... I know that stuff like marriage or sacrifices used to be a thing."

"Marriage?" I asked, confused.

"Some humanoid creatures used to do it," Ira stated.

"So I might have to marry a dryad?" I asked sarcastically.

"Maybe," Ira said matter-of-factly.

I sighed out loud.

"Well, I'm prepared to do anything," I stated.

"Anything? Those are big words honey," Ira said teasingly.

"Are they?" I asked, tilting my head slightly to the right. "All I want to do is destroy those that took everything from me for no reason at all! They called us heretics-" I began laughing, "-so I'll just fucking kill their gods! I'll kill everyone that is associated with that fucking church! I'll slaughter them all! I'll make sure that their life is a living fucking hell!" My throat hurt from screaming. "So no, those aren't big words!" I got up from my throne and walked up to Ira then leaned over her. "It's a promise, a promise that I'll do whatever it takes to destroy those who oppose me! First is Terror! I'll do whatever it takes and destroy that fucking cat! Then I'll move on, beyond this forest and begin dismantling the church! It doesn't matter how low I will need to sink in order to do that! Even if I fucking need to sell my own body for my goal!" I poked Ira's collarbone with a finger. "I'll fucking do it!"

I stared right into her eyes, she was smiling, with both her mouth and her eyes.

"That's it, that is the pure fucking determination needed to achieve a goal as grant as yours!" she said.

I sat back down on my throne and took deep breaths.

"Is it now?" I asked.

"How do you think I became a demon queen? I was determined to achieve my goals and I was determined to do whatever it takes. Although I did have the help of my siblings. From that perspective... you're a lot stronger and braver than I am. You plan to stand against that church all by yourself." Her smile became wider. "Or will you find allies to aid you?" she asked.

"If I have to. I said I'll do whatever it takes. Even if I have to sell my soul to the devil!"

"There are eight, actually," Ira stated, matter-of-factly.

I rolled my eyes.

"It's a figure of speech," I said. "Or does that mean I can sell it eight times?" I smiled at her.

"Make sure to sell it quickly, you know, before it starts rotting."

The two of us began laughing, although I had a feeling that there was a third person... or being here, laughing with us, or maybe even at us.