Taka shot another rock spike toward the tree, chipping away at the bark. The shape of his earth conjurations was improving, but they still were nowhere as clean as Deon's ice spikes.

"One more," Deon said, "and then we will be done."

After taking out the Fire Bear, Deon was impressed with Taka, so impressed that he decided that Taka could make better use of his time by drilling earth conjurations over and over.

Wouldn't fighting more monsters be a more efficient way to train? Taka asked, surprised that he wasn't more reluctant to keep fighting. The Fire Bear had been terrifying, but Taka couldn't deny the rush he felt in the heat of the moment.

"For a more typical creature, yes. But you are different."

Deon didn't elaborate further, but Taka also wasn't in a hurry to fight another strong doe, so he didn't push. For the past two hours, Taka had been shooting rock spikes at a nearby tree while the lizard man broke down the corpse of the Fire Bear. Deon would look over every few minutes and tell Taka to make an adjustment, and then go back to cutting up the dead body. At some point, the Lily Minion had found its way back to Taka and climbed up the side of the flower pot to rejoin the worm. Taka didn't even notice it until he turned around to look at Deon, and was startled to see how still the flower was, watching over his back. I need to stay more aware of the magical energy around me, Taka thought to himself as he took a deep breath in and concentrated on channeling his magic into psychic mana, then cast his third eye spell. His awareness extended into the 5ft sphere around him as it had before, and drew Deon's gaze.

"Don't let your Magia seep out," Deon said. "You're using too much mana for such a small range."

Apologies, Taka sent as he dropped the spell.

Seeping out? Taka hadn't noticed, but if Deon had, then it was true. Did that mean the lizard man also possessed some sort of ability that gave him something akin to Taka's 'true sight,' or was he just that good at sensing mana? Doesn't matter, Taka thought, he knows what he's talking about.

Taka shot one last rock spike, now confident in calling them rock spikes due to their hardness, and felt Deon approach from behind.

"Let's eat," the lizard man said, dropping a morsel of raw bear meat in front of Taka.

Taka hadn't eaten meat yet since coming to this world, and wasn't sure how his body would react. He did have teeth, but he couldn't remember if worms were able to properly digest meat...

As if reading his mind, Deon let out a soft chuckle, "the day eating a little meat takes the life of a variant is the day the Hero will spare the Demon Lord."

Deon ripped into a chunk of bear meat as Taka perked up, Could you tell me about the Hero?

Deon exhaled deeply. "The Hero is no more than a legend. In Fae folklore, there is a myth that they call a prophecy saying that their god will bring a Hero down from the heavens to 'purge the scourge of the earth.' It has yet to happen, and the Demon Lord restored peace by taking control from those spirit supremacists."

Deon looked at Taka and saw the bewildered look across the worm's face, sighed, and continued: "They -- the fae, but more so the fairies than the rest -- all worship Valish as their savior, and for hundreds of years, they controlled the continent. The church was the law and did as they pleased, and those who did not swear their lives to serve Valish were... But Vanz'goran rose to the throne and fought back, as the Demon Lord and was able to take Modonia. The source of their connection to the god of creation and spirit magic was tainted, and the kingdom collapsed. It has been decades with no sign of the Hero, so it has become a joke of sorts more than the legend it once was."

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Taka's eyes were wide in awe. Deon was opening up to him, and Taka would take full advantage of the moment to see how many questions he'd be able to cross off his list. Taka took a bite from the morsel of bear meat: it tasted far better than he had expected.

What was the relationship between Valish and His Majesty? Taka asked.

Deon grunted at that: not a good sign. Maybe it was a step too far. Before Taka could apologize for asking, Deon let out another sigh.

"Vanz'goran was born a demi-human, his horns used to be antlers. After... an encounter with the church, he was chased from the continent, banished. When he came back, he was much more powerful, then awakened as the Demon Lord and began his conquest against Valish's forces."

That was a good enough answer for Taka.

Thank you, truly, I appreciate the openness, Taka sent.

"I already told you," Deon said. "It's for the kid."

Syla must have sung Taka's praises for Deon to be this forthcoming. Taka decided to press his luck.

Do you know of any other gods who do not get along with Valish?

The lizard man stared at Taka, the question clearly not what he was expecting. Deon shrugged, "There are a few, but..." His voice trailed off as his gaze intensified. "Valish is considered to be one of the most righteous of the gods, and yes, that includes what he had done to Syla and the other children, and is not an inaccurate statement."

Taka's suspicions that it was Valish's direct influence that put Syla through their whole... ordeal, was confirmed. He felt rage boil in the pit of his stomach, a deeper rage than he realized he could feel. At the same time, fear crept through his bones as the weight of Deon's words hit him. If Valish is considered one of the better gods, what does that make the bad ones? The idea of that didn't compute in Taka's mind, he couldn't comprehend how much worse a being had to be to shine a positive light on one as sinister as Valish, the god who tossed him away like trash. Taka could feel something in the back of his mind again, just out of reach, a buzzing sensation that made his skin crawl. He decided to not push the god issue any further.

"Why do you ask?" Deon said as he drew in closer to Taka.

It may be related to me being a High Worm. A variant, as you put it, Taka replied.

Deon winced, "I did not mean to offend you by calling you a variant, it is the term that my people use--"

I'm not offended, Taka reassured Deon, his curiosity about the term and status growing.

Deon looked relieved, "I am glad to hear. And yes, that makes sense. One does need the patronage of a god to become a variant."

Would it be possible to use that patronage to help Syla? Taka asked.

The words hung in the air like a ton of bricks. Deon set down his meat as his demeanor shifted and he became more serious than Taka had ever seen the man.

"Sir Filo," the lizard man said with a bone-chilling coldness in his voice, "hear me now: do not, under any circumstance, bring Syla back into the purview of the gods. You mustn't mention your race nor connection to the deities to them ever, do you understand? It would be catastrophic.

Taka nodded. Deon didn't really give him an answer why, but it was clear that he and Vanz'goran shared the same strong opinion on the subject. Taka would have to tread carefully in the future.

"Good," Deon said, lightening up. "I think it's time we head back to the castle, is that alright with you?"

Yes, thank you, Taka sent back.

It had been a long day, and very strange, but Taka was grateful to have had the chance to learn from the lizard man. For the moment, Taka chose to trust the man. As Deon opened a portal using his Divine Art, Taka reorganized his list of questions, no longer feeling the need to separate the immediate from the big picture.

Questions:

- How would one go about learning magic? How can I flip pages?

- Are the defined skills I have common, or is that part of the system unique to me?

- What's the history between the retired demon lord and the god that summoned me?

-How did Vanz'goran gain the power that made him Demon Lord?

-What is Deon hiding?

-Which god blessed me?

- What was happening in that dream? How do I make sure that doesn't happen?

- Why am I a High Worm and not just a normal worm? / did some god bless me?

-How do I find Syla's mother?

-How do I free the souls trapped within Syla's body?

- Is the god who summoned me going to try to kill me? -How do I kill Valish, the god of creation?