This thing that had tried to kill her wanted to be allied with her. Why? Was he trying to manipulate her somehow? Did he think they shared common goals or something? Had he hoped to get rid of her once and for all through her cooperation? Whatever his reasoning might be, Serena wasn't buying it. Not yet, anyway. He hadn't done anything to earn her trust; quite the opposite. She still felt like there was plenty about him that needed explaining. So when Ravana suggested that they should work together, Serena only half agreed. They weren't going to become friends overnight—or even ever. But perhaps they could learn to tolerate each other enough to cooperate on occasion.

If necessary.

Serena wanted to get answers from the man, at least she thought it was a man. It was a male voice, one that was unused to speaking to others and its owner was mentally unstable, but that was the least of her concerns. He had disrupted how she could understand and wield magic and that left her feeling powerless. Even though it seemed unlikely, what if this creature possessed some kind of ability that allowed him to steal powers from anyone who came across him? Maybe he'd found a way to use his abilities to absorb other people's skills, turning himself into a walking encyclopedia of magic lore. The idea made her shudder at the possibilities that she could tap into if she found a way to reconnect to it.

No matter how strange this being appeared, it was clear to her that he posed a threat. Her mind reeled as she considered possibilities: Could he possibly be able to defeat her in battle? How strong was his magic? Would he be able to turn her spells back on her? In short, she feared losing any chance of defeating him if she couldn't figure out a solution fast enough. There was also another question weighing heavily on her mind, one that she refused to consider for longer than necessary. Who exactly was this monster? Where did he come from?

When Serena finally opened her mouth to speak, Ravana spoke first. "We will discuss our options later. First, let me explain why I chose not to possess you. This decision was difficult, believe it or not. I know it seems ridiculous given the circumstances, but I simply cannot bring myself to destroy someone who has so many interesting qualities. My desire for knowledge and discovery outweighs my need to act quickly and decisively every time. I realize this does little to assuage your fears, however, which is precisely why I intend to make good on my promise to aid and protect you."

"What guarantee do I have that you won't betray me?" Serena demanded sharply.

Ravana looked surprised by the outburst, but he recovered swiftly. "I assure you that I am incapable of doing so," he said firmly. "And even if I were capable, I doubt you would want me dead. Now please allow me to continue."

He paused briefly before continuing. His tone remained calm, almost bored, as he went over the details.

"I do not know how we came to this world, nor much about this one. That will require you to do research and form connections so we have something to build off of. For now, however, I can offer some pieces of advice based on what I've seen thus far. Firstly, the sacred magic that the man known as Lucian said could be one of a few things. It could be tied to me, and our connection. It could even be attributed to entities that were more powerful than normal and how they would affect the world. However, I feel that it is tied culturally to some religious aspect. People believe in spirits and god-like beings that could bless and curse them, though they still pray and offer sacrifices to them. If you're going to try and learn anything here, then you should start there. You might find clues within those beliefs and rituals. Secondly, I believe that the reason you lost access to magic when you encountered me is because of what you might be. That, in addition to natural ability or affinity for draining and absorbing kinds of magic, would make encountering another one who practices it hard to combat. Do not fear; you'll soon recover and grow over time. With a bit of guidance, you will become quite skilled. Of course, these are only preliminary ideas. We both know that nothing comes without risk. I suggest you take precautions against whatever else may lie ahead. Keep close watch of yourself, especially around others. And keep a firm grip on your emotions. They can easily get the better of you during stressful times like this. Lastly, remember that while I wish to help, I must remain impartial at all costs. There is no room for bias, favoritism, or personal agendas. Even if I wanted to save you from death, I couldn't. Not for free. So don't ask."

Serena listened intently, trying to digest everything she had been told. She didn't know whether to be relieved or disappointed by his words—or rather lack thereof. He hadn't answered any of her questions, and yet somehow managed to leave behind enough information for her to figure out most of the answers herself. Still, the way he spoke was unsettling and left her wondering just how reliable he truly was.

Someone grabbed her shoulder and shook it, and Serena was pulled out of her meditation. She struggled with whoever held onto her for a moment until realizing that it wasn't someone threatening her life. Instead, it was the old woman Ella.

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"I didn't mean to scare you, miss," Ella said, smiling faintly. "I brought you and your roommate some dinner."

Serena sighed, calming down slightly as she realized she had been mentally or even spiritually elsewhere for some time. "Thank you."

She looked at the small table nearby and saw a bowl of some kind of vegetable soup, the somewhat wilted vegetables, and a small loaf of bread for both of them. There was a jug of water and two cups.

Her stomach grumbled loudly after the long day spent traveling, and despite her reservations, she reached forward eagerly. The meal smelled wonderful.

"May you leave this room kind woman? It would go against my beliefs if I were to be seen by the uninitiated," Lucian said softly but strictly to Ella. The old woman blinked sheepishly before leaving the room, shutting the door behind her.

Serena could tell that was largely a lie otherwise she wouldn't be in here either. Lucian wanted to get them alone as soon as possible. Something about him made her uneasy, though she couldn't quite put a finger on why. His voice seemed too soft, almost like he was hiding something from her. As much as she tried not to think ill of people, there was more going on than what he let on.

She started to reach forward to the loaf of bread when Lucian swiftly grabbed hold of her hand.

He stared at her intensely while holding her wrist firmly, and then released her immediately once again.

"I wouldn't drink or eat anything that is offered in this village. You'll only regret it later."

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Lucian observed the young girl closely, watching her every move. This was an important test of sorts: to see exactly how she could adapt and act. If he judged correctly, he might have found himself a good ally. Of course, if he got things wrong, then he'd have another enemy among those already present in this place. But perhaps it was best that way since he doubted very highly that the girl knew how dangerous this land was.

He took in every aspect of her appearance and analyzed it. He noticed the way her eyes which resembled pools of blood moved across his face, the way they shined with emotions whenever she spoke. She carried herself much like a noble or even royal would. A kind of inborn elegance. She was not used to such squander, judging by how she looked around in blatant wonder and suspicion. There wasn't any sense of pity toward the way these villagers lived their lives, nor did she show disgust over the fact that she was forced to stay within the walls of this house instead of being allowed outside freely. Her curiosity, intelligence, and skill with manipulation were evident, and that intrigued Lucian far more than anything else.

It was clear that she was intelligent enough to know that she needed to play nice with others. Otherwise, she risked getting caught up in whatever scheme was happening right now. That was fine; it meant that she could potentially help him with whatever plan he was trying to pull off. Or maybe she just thought she could manipulate him somehow. Either way, he liked having someone on his side.

He turned back towards the window where the light shone through brightly. For a brief second, he contemplated letting the poor child go. After all, it wouldn't hurt anyone—or so he assumed. And yet…he felt compelled to keep her close, to watch her carefully until she proved useful to him. Maybe because she reminded him of himself, or maybe simply out of pure spite. Whatever the case, he decided to take advantage of her presence, no matter what.

"The food has been poisoned then," she said suddenly, breaking the silence between them. "This entire town seems to be nothing but trouble. I don't understand why you're here, Lucian."

His lips curled upwards slightly upon hearing her speak, though there was something about her voice that made him pause momentarily. It was too calm, almost as if she didn't care about what could happen to her.

"The food has been drugged, not poisoned," Lucian corrected. "Consuming the food or water would cause you to fall into a deep slumber. As for why I am here, it is because this was the only place I could-"

He stopped himself abruptly after realizing what he was about to say.

Before his eyes, an annoyingly familiar blue screen appeared. It was something that changed his life drastically when he had been first blessed by the gods.

[Balar is curious about whether you would have consumed the food if you were alone]

[Peloris expresses his doubts about the capabilities of the villagers]

[Soli is wary of the villagers and is intrigued by the young woman before you]

Three of the bastards that blessed him roughly expressed their emotions and thoughts through the screen, and Lucian wanted nothing more than to turn away from them.

"Thank you for warning me. I have some food and water that was untampered with that I could share with you," Serena whispered, her voice soft and low. The words sounded sincere, and he found himself wanting to believe her. But he knew better than to trust someone immediately. Not everyone can be trusted easily, especially those who are different.

And yet, he couldn't deny the urge to do so.