Lelly and Thesa sat cross-legged on the floor while Merijest sat on the futon. All three had mugs of warm tea in-hand. The Cow-Dog snoozed at Merijest's side, providing a comforting warmth. Yabba, the Nest Walker, rested on the floor beside Thesa. The KangarooHawk kept watch on the [Dungeon Floor].

Lelly had a scrap of paper and a pink pen that matched the coral which covered her head like hair. “Taking notes just helps me pay attention,” she explained.

Merijest nodded. Her feathers were puffed as if to exaggerate her size in a way that ironically emphasized her hesitation. In fact, Thesa thought Merijest might actually have become shorter but she would have to ask about that later.

“Before I was a demoness or a [High Devil],” Merijest said. “I studied as a human [Wizard] at IBMC. I was mostly interested in Necromancy, but I quickly realized the school's offerings on the subject were slim. All theory, no practice. And the theory they were teaching wasn't even current.”

Thesa raised a hand. “What makes a [Wizard] different from a [Mage]?”

“Oh I know this!” Lelly chimed in. “[Wizards] have a bit more focus on arcane research and really getting into the weeds of magic, while [Mages] are more focused on practicality. In some ways, a [Wizard] is like a [Cleric] without a direct connection to any particular [Deity] or a [Druid] without a connection to any particular tradition.”

“That's about right,” Merijest nodded. “Although, there is plenty of room for overlap. In fact, I was about to explain that I became interested in holy magic as a topic of study. I had this guiding question, the kind that a good thesis is made of.” As the demoness spoke, she became more animated than usual. She gestured, holding two claws facing one another as if opposed in combat. “When Beautuk's followers have splintered or disputed over doctrine and practice, why do the opposing, sometimes violent, [Clerics] and [Paladins] continue to receive magical aid from their [Deity]?”

“At the Convent,” Thesa said, “they told us that splits only happened when other followers fell for the tricks of devils and other [Deities].”

“Exactly,” Merijest replied, pointing a claw at her (now blushing) [Witch]. “It's a topic that comes up but usually gets explained away with apologetics that paint one side as right and the other as wrong. But that's a hypothesis without unbiased evidence.

“Something I found that nobody was doing was asking the ones who were present during those schisms. Why not just use a spell like [Speak with Dead] to call up the various Prophets on either side to gather data?”

Before Thesa could provide an answer, Merijest stood up and began pacing as she continued talking, “Eventually I realized why it was impossible. My advisor sat me down and she told me so. For one thing, every one of Beautuk's dead Prophets was in his realm, so [Speak with Dead] would not work. For another, the department was wary of any actions that might draw undue attention to the Necromantic theory being taught. It was all above board, but all it would take was a powerful person in a bad mood and they could face serious problems.

“I tried to forget the idea, but then I realized I could probably just cast [Greater Message] to communicate across worlds. Plenty of [Deities] allowed that kind of thing, but I found that the taboo against contacting Beautuk's realm was pretty consistent across schisms.

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“But I did it anyway. Without saying another word to my advisor, I spent months gathering components and digging through manuscripts to put together a list of Prophets worth investigating.”

Merijest stopped pacing. “When I finally cast the spell for the first time, all I heard was screaming and chaos…” Her voice became much softer. She spoke more slowly. “The Prophet I was seeking sobbed. ‘Someone has to stop him.’ And then the connection was cut and I felt exposed and unsafe. Like there was something watching me.”

Thesa shuddered as her thoughts wandered to her mother.

“His voice drilled into my head, ‘Devil!’ and I could feel a malicious [Blessing] take effect. My body morphed against my will. I became…the way you saw me when I fled the Knights.” Her hands went to her head as if to anxiously grab her hair, but finding only her newly shorn fuzz, she instead grabbed her horns.

“Fleeing from Beautuk was awful. His power is weaker outside of ItherBeau, but every port and border was suddenly on high alert for a monster matching my description. I couldn't escape…

“I only had one option. There's a reason even he sends champions into [Dungeons] and never delves himself.

“I hopped from one [Dungeon] to the next, surviving as a monster. Fleeing adventurers, befriending strange creatures who regarded me with no greater suspicion than anything else…” She stood again as if to begin pacing, but stopped herself and sat back down.

“Sorry, I think I'll need to stop there for now.”

Thesa reached out a hand. Merijest took it. The demoness cracked a smile beneath lowered eyebrows and a raised forehead. “Any questions?” she said.

“What about your family?” Lelly asked, looking up from a scribble of notes. “Wait, was that a rhetorical question?”

Merijest nodded, remembering the pair she was talking to. “It was meant as a joke, but to make a long story short, I hadn't spoken to them in years.” Then she added, “There’s not as much to tell there except that they wanted me to be their son but I knew I couldn't do that…”

Thesa and Lelly both nodded.

***

Some hours later, Thesa and Merijest were ready to take off, although they hadn't yet chosen a destination.

“I think I could be more useful in combat with [Dive],” Thesa said. “But I have no idea what the Convent will be sending after us next.”

“Ultimately we have two options,” Merijest said. “We descend until we're all the way at the bottom where we wait for a mob of Knights to corner and kill us, or we keep going up and leave this dungeon behind.”

“Descending could increase Thesa's Level,” Lelly noted.

“Most of what's down from here is either traps or [Familiars] I already picked up on the way. And our chances of running into adventuring parties would be decreased if we're moving in the same direction,” Merijest said. “Besides that, it would put you at risk, Lelly. More Knights descending here would increase your chance of an encounter.”

“Some of the Knights have abilities that can detect allegiances and they will definitely be able to recognize that the KangarooHawk and Cow-Dog are Merijest's [Familiars],” Thesa added.

Lelly nodded.

“Our best bet is to climb with stealth,” Merijest concluded. “We can't beat the Knights in a direct fight, but we might be able to make it past them to the surface. From there, we'll need to get more distance between us and the Convent. This dungeon is past its purpose.”

All three agreed on the plan, with Lelly again remaining behind to manage her [Floor] and stay out of direct conflict.

“Also, Lelly,” Merijest said. “If you need to retreat from this [Floor] and you make it to the bottom, you have my permission to use my dwelling. And if you go into the library off the main room, check the trapdoor underneath the smallest bookcase.” She winked.

With thanks in all directions, Thesa, Merijest, and Yabba left [Floor] 65 for the second time.