Several days passed with few words between the two. For the most part, Thesa was either sleeping off the side effects of being revived or staring at the wall rethinking her life.
Because she mostly kept to her chamber, Thesa only got small glimpses of the breadth of Merijest’s dwelling. Outside her curtain was a room with a table for eating, a small iron stove, and some other implements. There were three additional doorways circling the room. One for the bathroom, one that extended into a hallway, and a third that was always closed. Beyond that might have been almost nothing or an expanse of winding corridors and rooms. She didn’t know.
After a week of replaying the memories of her death, it became more and more difficult to ignore the fact that Beautuk had done something wrong in that moment. Still, she did not want to buy into the idea that he was completely bad. She wondered if an [Evil] power had influenced her [Deity] or impersonated him, but even that questioned many assumptions and Convent precepts.
Still, she knew plenty about the crimes committed by the [High Devil] Merijest. She would need to escape sooner or later.
Thesa wondered if any of the Knights knew what was happening. She decided that was impossible and resolved to share the truth with the other Knights as soon as possible. To do that, she would need to leave this [Dungeon] and to do that she would need to figure out what Merijest wanted from her.
More than two weeks after her arrival, Thesa was sitting up in bed and starting to feel much better. Merijest had explained that the luminescent bricks were meant to contribute to her recovery. When the demoness poked her head through the curtain to check Thesa's water, Thesa asked, “is revival always this demanding?”
“Yes and no,” Merijest said nonchalantly in her gravelly voice. “On the one hand, the death spell that got you didn’t leave a lot of physical damage. At the same time, your situation is unique considering the Levels you lost in [Paladin]. Usually it only takes one week for a new [Familiar] to recover.”
“What happens if you don't tend to someone after?” Thesa asked before processing more of Merijest’s words and adding, “Wait, does this mean I'm your [Familiar] now?!”
Unvexed, Merijest exited the small chamber as she responded. “I do not know what would happen. I tend to all of them. And yes, a [Familiar].”
Thesa immediately stood and followed Merijest into the other room. Merijest was sitting at the table with another chair already pulled out for Thesa. Taking a seat, Thesa realized for the first time just how dark Merijest's hair was. Neither the glowing bricks in the recovery chamber nor the candles at the table cast so much as a reflective gleam on it. The only break in the void was her horns. Thinking back, Thesa thought Merijest's hair might have stayed completely colorless even in the presence of Beautuk's magic.
“You're probably wondering when you can leave here and go back to your friends,” Merijest said. “I do not expect that to go well, but I won't stop you…after you fulfill your debt to me, that is.”
Thesa swallowed. Merijest seemed to grow taller as she awaited Thesa's response.
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“And if I refuse?” Thesa said.
“Then I will end our contract and you will return to death,” Merijest said nonchalantly. “I reserve the right to retract my [Half-Life Revival]. I can't afford to keep you alive if you won't even repay your debts.”
Thesa considered her words. Dying would honestly solve some of the moral dilemmas that were plaguing her right now, but someone needed to tell the Knights what was happening so they could start looking for a way to help the people in Beautuk's realm.
“And what exactly do you want me to do?” Thesa asked.
“Seeing as you killed the last of my [Familiars] and delivered them to eternal torment, you will need to help me refill my ranks. As my [Familiar], I can grant you certain abilities, and if you agree to be my [Witch], I can grant you more. Although that would require you to follow some additional tenets. When you have made enough progress, I will allow you to visit your beloved Knights.”
Thesa felt the blood drain from her face. Could she really help Merijest regrow her army of undead [Familiars]? And for what? The subjugation of the world? The reign of death over life? For now, it seemed like the only option. How else could she ever manage to communicate with the Knights? Then again, what if she helped Merijest only for the [High Devil] to break their agreement? It was possible that she was facing eternal servitude or death. For now, though, she agreed. Perhaps as she helped Merijest, Thesa could find a way to escape and keep herself from dying long enough to reach the Knights.
After enough thought, Thesa replied, “I will help you as your [familiar], but I am not willing to become your [Witch]. I just lost my Levels in [Paladin]. I don't need another Class that I'll eventually lose.” Thesa did not admit that she wanted to minimize her reliance on Merijest's dark magic. “From here on I'll just be a standard fighter. My spells and feats are gone, but my Ability Scores are still pretty high. [Strength] isn't my best, but it will be enough for now. I can't exactly imagine another Class I could pick up at the bottom of the [Dungeon].”
“I do have access to a number of magic texts if you're more interested in something like [Wizard]. I can sense your mental stats are pretty good overall.” Merijest explained. With a twirl of her finger, the always-closed door opened to reveal a small library.
“I'll think about it,” Thesa said, looking away. She worried the book selection might lean toward the dark and unseemly.
“Very well,” Merijest said. “My collection will remain open to you if you change your mind. That said, we will need to begin soon. Beautuk has likely already shared news of you defecting with his active followers. As you know, there are many autonomous monsters and unsprung traps in the hundred [Floors] above us in this [Dungeon]. Still, we should not delay more than another day or two.”
For the first time, Thesa wondered what Beautuk might have told the other Knights.
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BONUS VIGNETTE
Thesa had just woken from a full day of sleep.
Merijest stood in the healing chamber, leaning over Thesa's bed and checking her new familiar for any obvious, unexpected symptoms after her recent half-life revival.
“Can't you at least put a shirt on?” Thesa asked as her eyes darted around looking for anything else to stare at.
Merijest smirked and stood upright. “Does my immodesty bother you so?” she replied. The word ‘immodesty’ dripping with sarcasm.
“Aren't you cold?” Thesa asked.
“I think you already know the answer to that.”
As Thesa's cheeks burst into metaphorical flames, she considered just passing out for another few days.