Observing the devils and demons intermingling is an interesting way to pass the time. It also allows me to laze around in a comfortable place, which is a nice benefit. The devils who came in now are different from the usual ones. The so-called teachers who come here every day obviously don't want to be here, with a few exceptions. They don't want to talk to me, or any other demon, and make it clear in many little ways that they consider themselves to be superior. Occasionally I wonder if they are aware of all the signs which give away what they feel and think.

These new devils look and feel like they actually are superior, but don't act like it. They look strong and confident. All the demons who entered with them give off a similar feel. Despite that, they are freely talking with all the demons. They are joking around and arguing, almost like they're normal people. However, there are some peculiarities about the gathering. I can tell who is treated with more respect than the others. The others consciously or unconsciously make way for them.

The strange thing is that the ones who appear to be the strongest do not get the most respect. My eyes drift over the gathering until I find the one who may be at the top. There are a few others for whom a path opens. People see them coming and step aside. The one I'm looking at never has people step aside. A path opens up without anyone making a conscious decision or any effort, drifting aside before he comes close. 

"Well spotted," Harijia says.

I glance over at her and catch her looking at me. "Spotted what?"

"The most important person among the visitors." Turning back to regard the gathered demons and devils, Harijia continues. "It's not just personal strength. It's also the strength of their colony back home and possessions, how well regarded they are and more. The one you looked at last, is the one who commands the most respect."

Her comment makes me think. One of my frustrations has been how easy people can tell what I'm thinking and she has given me a hint. Looking at something is always a hint, usually about what the target is of a hunt, or a direction to go in. Harijia takes it a step further and uses her knowledge of me, personally, to guess what I would be watching for right at this moment. I feel I'm on my way to learning that already, the question is how to counter it. The answer is to not look directly and to not look too closely at any one thing. It's going to take practice, but I feel like it's a valuable skill to learn. A hissing laugh brings me back to here and now.

Amused, Harijia offers some advice. "You should learn to control your body language, in particular your tail."

My tail freezes in its swing for a moment before continuing faster, twitching in agitation. I don't want her help. The more she sees in me, the more attention I'll get. I'll have to consider it too late to make her think I'm something I'm not, but at least I could try to hide my progress from here on.

The visitors remain only one day. When they leave, the older demons from this cavern who earned a place on the clearing leave with them. Over the next few days, some of them return, disappointment visible all over them. Not everyone makes it, then. I'm curious why some were selected and not others. I feel it has to do with what Harijia said, that personal strength isn't everything. It's something I need to remind myself of more often. Swarmlings are not the strongest individually, our strength comes from working together. That reminds me of my realization from when I was playing with Torn, about feints.

Torn didn't come back, to my disappointment. He's probably not even in the area anymore. I heard some of the devils talking how everyone moved away as soon as the selections were over. I hear them say this place is not a popular area to live for devils, but no further comment on why. It spoils my mood a bit. I have questions to ask to someone other than Harijia, and Torn was willing enough to answer. Now I'll have to find a replacement, a prospect I'm not looking forward to.

For now, I'll have my questions on hold, again, or ask them Harijia if I don't care enough about her not finding out. There are several things already, like a better explanation about how status is determined among devils. I'm also curious where among them her 'master' would rank. Another thing I want to ask her about is the kind of summons she still experiences. I have to admit to myself I had thought her mostly useless, but with her body-altering ability she is quite formidable. Perhaps I should even approach the other Keepers and ask them some questions.

Then there is the thing Harijia told me to do. I'm not doing it because she told me to, I'm doing it because she is right that knowing more about monsters, demons, devils and the terrain everywhere would help. Mountains are mountains and forests are forests everywhere, and people will always be people. I can't go wrong learning more about anything. The task, for now, is to find out who I need.

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A slight distraction is the feeding time. After the self-imposed fasting I underwent, I was looking forward to my next real meal. It turns out I have not been the only one in that position. It is chaotic. With the core of our large group gone, we are all much harder pressed at keeping our spot on the front row. Fortunately, the other species have also lost their strongest members, so the balance remains the same. We just have to find our limits once more and show we're still to be feared. I still don't have to participate. Older swarmlings take care of the scuffles, but I am learning more about where I could be useful in the future by moving up and down the column of moving bodies.

The biggest change is a small group of new arrivals. They were brought in around the time of the selection day. They're shy and nervous, hiding all the time. If the Keepers didn't bring them to the front to eat, they'd probably wait until everyone is finished eating before getting a share. The group is made up of a variety of species, all with some aberrations to show for being a demon, but none of them are swarmlings. It's a small mystery, but not something I want to learn more about right now.

I don't find any of the teachers Harijia suggested, no matter what I try. I'm starting to suspect they're not actually there and she lied to me about it just to keep me busy. It doesn't help that knowledge doesn't leave a scent. I don't know their voice, how they smell or how they look. I've tried eavesdropping on any devils I don't recognize, but I don't think I've found the right ones. Frustrated, I keep telling myself there is no rush. I have time, so as long as I don't give up I'll find them.

Right now, it's time for the next summon. I search for Harijia myself this time, she doesn't have to look for me. This way I hope she'll be less strict with me. If she thinks I'm resisting, she becomes more vigilant. If I go along with the rules, will she become less so? Probably not instantly, but it's an experiment worth doing. I'm starting to feel at ease in the summon cell at this point. Harijia is busy comforting some other demon, but I know she'll have time for me after.

"Harijia," I start, "how did you come here, and how did you first meet the devils?"

Harijia looks at me before speaking. "You're a strange one, asking after another demon. It must be something with swarmlings." A while longer she looks at me. "Serpents don't have a colony to protect them. When I was born, some of my siblings were already being eaten. I escaped and did what any of us did. Eat, drink, sleep. Eat, drink, hide, sleep. If there is no-one around to teach you, you need to learn everything on your own and that is dangerous."

"Most of the time I ate smaller stuff, rodents, newts and bugs. My first summon left me stunned and confused. I started to get smarter soon after, which was a great help in one way, but made me much more aware of all the dangers around me. When the devils found me, I was severely wounded from an opponent that simply overwhelmed me." Harijia is staring at the wall behind me now, my presence ignored for now. "They were happy to find me, I felt safe and welcome. I was fed well for the first time in my life."

"Serpents have a tendency for a talent with rituals, and so did I. You don't, in case you're thinking about that. I was taught the basics until it was time for the selection day, where a master picked me up. For the next decades I would travel to different region. Sometimes with the same master, sometimes with a new one, until I finally wound up here. I've seen a lot of the devils and I can see why the demons always lose any war against them." Harijia is speaking in a flat, even tone up to now, but when she speaks of her master, a hint of passion enters her tone. "Here, I found my current master, a genius in runes! I only need to find a way to convince him to teach me more. As you may have guessed already, that's where you and the others come in."

Before I can ask 'what others' the world turns white. A cold spot on my back tells me it's Mari and the dungeon. I don't feel like playing with Mari right now, though, so I just stay as I am when I regain my senses in her world. She is hovering to my left instead of behind. It's a smart move, always going to a different place. The room is different from what I'm used to, again. It's an alcove like the ones I have gotten used to during my forrays here.

Carefully I sniff the air. I smell Mari's excitement, cooling since I don't attack her. There is a slight hint of Tarvinder. Nearby there must be some of those lizard-things, but I can't get a clear idea about them. What jumps out from the beginning is how weak the dungeon smells. Finally turning toward Mari to give her a long look, I notice she's a bit taller than last time I saw her. She studies me as well and I wait for her to speak.

"Tarvinder showed me how to make this. Good news! When you die, you will now respawn here a few times, until the charge is depleted. It can also summon you automatically, so I don't have to be here personally." Mari speaks in a cheerful voice, but she doesn't seem completely happy with it. "We're close to the above-world exit we found. You're task for the next few days is to find humanoids or beasts above ground and, if you think they're not too strong, lure them back here." She takes a deep breath. "I'm too busy, so you're on your own."

It sounds too good to be true. I can just have fun looking around, it's not like she'll ever find out. Mari turns to head deeper into the dungeon. Just before she disappears around a corner, she turns around.

"I left something from Tarvinder for you. He didn't want to tell me what it is. We'll play more next time!" With that, she goes around the corner.

A short distance away is a small glass container. I'm going to assume it's the elixir I was promised. There is no easy way for me to open it, so I settle for consuming the whole thing. I wait a while, but nothing happens. As much as I'd like to say I expected this, my disappointment tells me I did expect more. Some kind of sensation, some kind of power to flow through me, but there is nothing. Oh well, I have a lot of time, let's find something to do.