Taka looked around the room. It appeared to be a normal study -- a desk with a nice chair behind it, a few bookshelves filled with old-looking books, two additional chairs for guests, a regal carpet that matched the crimson and gold theme from the rest of the castle, lamps that glowed a calming shade of yellow... but no doors. Or windows. Or any visible entryway into the room.

"Sir Filo? I asked you to tell me who you really are?" Vanz'goran said, a hint of impatience betraying his calm demeanor.

Vanz'goran place Taka down on the middle of the desk and then sat behind it. Taka felt like the Demon Lord's gaze was piercing through his soul.

I am Filo. That is the name I go by, I don't know exactly where I came from, and I... I am a worm, Taka sent to Vanz'goran.

Taka wasn't telling the entire truth, but he also wasn't lying. Technically.

"You are not just a worm, Sir Filo," Vanz'goran rebutted. Most mortals take no interest in entomology, regarding it as a useless study outside of agricultural practices. But I know my bugs, and worms, Sir Filo, normal worms, do not have eyes."

Taka blinked. Worms didn't have eyes? He hadn't even considered it, but thinking about it, no, worms in fact did not possess eyes in the world he came from, either.

"Normal worms also do not possess such a large mana capacity; that means you are either a parasite, a shapeshifter, or..." Vanz'goran trailed off, leaving the floor open for Taka to answer.

I did not lie. I am a worm... a High Worm, Taka insisted.

Vanz'goran burst out in laughter, almost falling from his chair. "A High Worm?!" He said incredulously. "I had no idea you were a comedian, Sir Filo."

Taka remained silent and still. He didn't want to reveal anymore information than he had to, so rather than over-explaining a half-truth to cover up his full situation, he decided to give out real information, but just enough for Vanz'goran to believe him, or at the very least, accept what he was saying for now. The Demon Lord noticed Taka's lack of reaction and settled down, suddenly serious.

"You're telling the truth."

Yes.

"Not a fiend or night crawler? A High Worm?"

Yes.

Vanz'goran was speechless. He stared at Taka in disbelief, the intensity that was just there replaced by genuine shock.

"Do you, do you understand the implications of your claim?"

Taka had absolutely no idea where this was going.

I guess not?

Vanz'goran let out an exasperated sigh, "where did you come from?"

I cannot recall, I lost my memories--

Vanz'goran swatted his hand in the air to cut Taka off. He looked distressed, which made Taka worry.

"There is no such thing as a High Worm," Vanz'goran said definitively. "When a being is categorized as the High version of whatever species they may be, that means they've been blessed by a deity."

The only god Taka had been in contact with was stuck up "God of Creation," Volis... or, Vamit... whatever his name was, he definitely hadn't given Taka any blessings.

"But those are reserved, or at least had been reserved for intelligent creatures: elves, dwarves, the fae, even some humans and monsters such as orcs, but never an insect," Vanz'goran raved as he worked through their present situation. He leaned in closer to Taka, "which deity blessed you?"

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I don't know, Taka sent, because, he really didn't.

The retired Demon Lord continued to stare at Taka, but looked lost in thought. This situation had gotten completely out of hand in the past five minutes. Finally, someone was willing to answer Taka's questions about what was going on in this world, and then... why did Zirko attack? Taka thought to himself. It just didn't make any sense. Their conversation had been going better than Taka expected, but out of nowhere, Zirko snapped. Why a duel? Why not just kill me? It would've been easy for Zirko to have blasted Taka with the spell he used to destroy the tree before Taka had a chance to react, and yet... Taka could feel it in the back of his mind. Deep down, some part of his brain put it together, but he couldn't see the bigger picture yet. It was right there, right outside of his grasp...

"Someone wanted you dead, Sir Filo. Someone strong."

Vanz'goran's words lit up the lightbulb in Taka's mind: it wasn't Zirko, someone had been controlling him! That's why his aura felt different, darker, and why his thoughts were all jumbled... it was so obvious, but he couldn't see it because there was too much going on, but...who? The god he pissed off? But why wouldn't that god just smite him or something? And why would he even care that much? He already cursed Taka with the body of a worm, was executing him in cold blood really necessary? It'd be awfully petty for a god to do that, but maybe the gods of this world all behaved like that? He didn't know -- a new question for the list.

Do you believe it could be the work of a god? Taka asked.

Vanz'goran cocked his head at the worm, "no. If a god truly wanted you dead, you wouldn't have gotten out unscathed, if at all."

Well, that was reassuring. Sort of. At least the god he pissed off wasn't actively trying to murder him, yet. But that also meant that someone else was, and Taka hadn't the faintest clue of who else would feel that strongly toward him.

"Being a variant -- the High version of a species -- is dangerous. Many creatures worship a single deity, and if yours isn't the same one that they worship... blood is often spilled," Vanz'goran explained. "Your patron deity hasn't contacted you since you reawakened?"

No, they ha-- Taka stopped sending the message in the middle of his thought. Contacted me? He thought to himself, contact... he had heard a voice during his encounter with Zirko. A voice that ended up saving him from certain death at the hands of the lizard man.

Maybe, Taka revealed, I did hear a voice.

Vanz'goran continued to study Taka closely. He felt like he was a science experiment, or a rat being tested on in a lab. The way Vanz'goran's eyes went over him made him want to squirm and hide away deep underground. Oh goddammit, why am I starting to think like a worm?

"Do not reveal that information to anyone else. Even Syla, especially Syla," Vanz'goran instructed. "You have been tangled up in something much bigger than you and I, and I will not have Syla dragged into it. Do you understand me?"

Yes, Taka sent, and about Zirko--

"Someone was tampering with his mind, I am aware. Zirko is strong in battle, but his mind is not as well-trained as his body or soul. I will handle it."

Thank you, Taka sent.

And the room went quiet. Vanz'goran's eyes were still locked on Taka, as if he were freezing him in place.

What now? Taka asked.

Vanz'goran bit his bottom lip as he sat up, giving Taka room to breathe. His gaze was still fixed on the worm, but it had softened, slightly.

"Now," Vanz'goran began, "you begin instructing Syla."

Taka blinked at the retired Demon Lord. Was he serious? That would be acting like nothing had just happened, like he hadn't almost just been slaughtered, and he was supposed to just... move on? And pretend like nothing happened?

"Do not misunderstand me," Vanz'goran began, as if he could read Taka's thoughts, "I will investigate this incident thoroughly, and when I am through, I will fill you in. But for now, Sir Filo, it is safer for you to take a deep breath and remain under my protection in the castle. Safer for everyone."

His somber tone almost made it sound like a threat. To Taka, it might as well have been. And yet again, he was left without another choice, and thus was thrust right back into his role of Syla's new magic tutor.

Very well, Taka sent to Vanz'goran. But I need time to prepare. Teaching an elf as talented as Syla will prove to be a difficult. I require the proper time to reassess my own abilities and knowledge before I begin instructing a skilled pupil.

The demon's horns seemed to shift as Vanz'goran gave Taka a curious look.

"Alright," said Vanz'goran. "You may have a week. And for now, if anyone presses you on your... unique race, tell them you are a night crawler using spacial distortion magic, that will work on anyone keen enough to notice your power."

Vanz'goran reached into a drawer in his desk and pulled out a human-sized blue wizard hat, then threw it on top of Taka.

"And take this," he continued. "It will allow you to communicate with me, if the need arises."

Before Taka could respond, the hat shrunk down to miniature size in the air and landed on his head. Taka still had questions to ask, but he could tell the Demon Lord was ending the conversation. He'd have to request an audience another time.

Thank you for saving me, your Majesty, Taka sent, bowing the front half of his body.

"Be careful, Sir Filo," Vanz'goran said coldly.

Without another word, Vanz'goran snapped his fingers and Taka was atop Syla's shoulder, staring down a fully geared up Rhoz.