Chapter 5: Deal with the Devil

“Plus wiping you would be such a loss. Wouldn’t it be more interesting if I didn’t?” Merdon said as his smile broadened.

Tide was startled by Merdon’s question. Merdon gave him a moment to collect his thoughts and reply.

“Okay, first off, I still don’t know what getting wiped means. Also, aren’t you going to get in trouble with Alianda?” Tide said cautiously. It was impossible for him to figure out what Merdon was thinking.

“Oh well those questions are easy to answer. Getting wiped entails, me taking you over to one of the bound mind flayers in the room over there.” Merdon explained gesturing to the far away door.

“There I would compel it to devour the memories you have of the initial trial run. It’s not a very pleasant treatment. Sixteen precent of the people who are subjected to it end up needing to be put down due to losing their mind. After that if you don’t succumb to madness, you will be placed back into the main trial just like everyone else.” Merdon summarized in a dismissive tone.

Tide shuddered at the thought of this fate. What ever alternative Merdon hinted at was sounding much more appealing than what waited for him behind that door.

“In regard to Alianda, I can’t stand that whore. Just because she is a tad bit stronger than the rest of us, she likes posture as our leader. You misunderstood our relationship, none of us in that room are one of her toys. The relationship we share is more of ah, lets call it, an alliance by need. You see we aren’t all powerful being. We aren’t gods able to do whatever we want. The world is vast and there are many other beings just as powerful as us or even stronger.” Merdon explained.

“Despite what you think the purpose of the trials isn’t just a weird hobby we all have. Its an investment. You see Dredge, Alianda and Lissandra have been expanding their territory and influence lately, but don’t have enough subordinates to mange it all. That’s where you humans come in.”

“What do you mean? You want us to work for you guys?” Tide inquired.

“Well not in the state you guys are in right now of course. You and your species are far too weak to be of any value currently. Most of you don’t even have the potential to be nourishing food. That’s where the trials and the system we made comes in. Stress and conflict create strong individuals, and we hope to wash away the useless scraps and find a diamond.” Merdon elaborated addressing Tides question.

At this point Merdon gestured to Tide before continuing to speak.

“During the test you spark my curiosity, so took the liberty to run some simulations regarding your fate. While these simulations aren’t full proof, I was surprised by your odds of surviving the whole shebang.” Merdon said enthusiastically.

“Wait, what were my odds then? I defiantly didn’t feel like I would make it past another month.” Tide prodded the man to keep talking. The more information he could gather the better.

“There was a .12% precent chance you would make it. I know that doesn’t sound good, but in comparison to other humans it was almost a hundred-fold more likely! That’s why I made the bet with Lucian that you would make it past the first trial. Sadly, you didn’t make it.” Merdon said while shaking his head in frustration.

“All of that leads us to where we are now. Any other questions?” Merdon asked.

Tide still processing the information he was given shook his head interested in what the man would do now.

“Good with all that out of the way what would you say to making a deal with me?” Merdon said with his signature smile back on his face.

“Your odds were good by themselves but imagine if I put my finger on the scale a little bit. Wouldn’t that be interesting?” Merdon chuckled impressed with his own shenanigans.

“Okay, I’m obviously down with hearing you out and avoiding being wiped, but what is the catch?”

Tide asked. As much as what Merdon said was useful his instincts were screaming at him to not trust the man.

“Simple we will enter an accord as mages. In exchange for letting, you bypass the wipe I hope that you will make it all the way through the trials. At that time rather than being able to choose any of the others you will become mine and mine alone. Of course, at that point we will sign a new agreement and discuss your terms of ‘employment’.” As he talked his hands began to move in front of him conjuring up a plane of runes in front of him.

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“This is a mages vow. The terms were as I stated. If either of us break the agreement, then we would the ability to use mana and become a crippled mage.” Merdon said focusing on manifesting the agreement.

The now almost physical sheet of paper made up of overlaid runes floated up to Tide to examine. It was slightly out of Tides depth, but it seemed to be what he said.

“So there it is everything laid out on the table! You can either sign here, or we can keep walking and reach the door and forget about all this. At the end of the day this is your choice only you can make, but if helps I promise that I am a much more benevolent owner than the others. Also, there still a large chance that you kick the bucket and never even have to follow through with your side of the deal!” Merdon said while practically boasting about his generosity.

I’ll give you some time to think, but don’t take to long the others will expect me back soon. When you have made up your mind just say my name and I’ll come back.” Merdon said before vanishing from the hallway.

This left Tide alone with his thoughts. He weighed out the pros and cons of what Merdon said and looked over everything he just learned looking for any issues or loopholes. In the end he couldn’t find any, the only reason he didn’t accept it right away was because all of this was reliant on Merdon telling the truth this entire time.

Tide didn’t trust the man one inch something about him was off, but he didn’t seem like the kind of person to just blatantly lie. There were plenty of other ways he could have gone about getting Tide to agree. Hell, he could have just force Tide to take the deal, but perhaps that also is a manipulation to convince Tide to trust him.

Fuck at this point Tide thoughts were just spiraling. Fuck it, not like it could be worse than before, right? That and he really didn’t want to meet whatever a mind flayer was.

“Merdon, I have decided to take your deal.” Tide solemnly said to the empty hallway.

As soon as he finished speaking Merdon popped back into existence just as quick as when he left.

“Great, good choice Tide you wont regret it! All you need to do now is use a strand of your mana to sign you intent to agree to the contract.” Merdon said with excitement evident in his voice. He motioned his hand and the contract floated in front of Tide.

An awkward couple of seconds passed before Tide let out a cough and spoke.

“Hey Merdon when I was revived or what ever my mana well got shut. I can’t manifest mana…” Tide said while looking at the overly enthusiastic old man.

“Oh of course, my bad completely forgot about that, stand still for a second.” Merdon said return to a more serious tone.

The old man reached out in front of him and manifested a translucent needle made of pure unattributed mana. Tide almost jumped in shock as the man lunged it towards his chest, but he managed to remain still.

A sharp pain pierces him for a moment and Tide doubled over. The pain only lasted for a brief moment, but God damn it still hurt.

Alrighty there you go. I guess this can be considered another benefit for you! Your mana well will be opened before you even start the trial! Merdon said while helping Tide back up.

Tide took a moment to introspect and check on this mana well. Instead of the sealed well that had moments a go a very small hole right in the middle let a small dribble of mana leak out. Mustering up his concentration. Tide grabbed a hold of this wisp of mana and guided it out of his body towards the glowing contract in front of him. Once it got within a couple of inches, the mana was sucked into the sheet of runes.

They runes all began to shift slightly and glow brighter, before it lit up in a blind light. When Tide opened his eyes back up it was gone.

“Alrighty then my boy now that we’ve handled that lets get you on your way.” Merdon piped in bring Tide back to the situation at hand.

They began walking towards the door again, but this time they were making progress. They very quickly made it across the hall and reached the door. Merdon swung it open, and they both walked in together.

Once again it seemed like they shifted location entirely. This time instead of a nice warm field it was a damp and dark dungeon. The first thing that caught Tide’s attention was a cell made of mana containing a mass of writhing wet tentacles. He instinctively took a step back trying to distance himself from the monstrosity.

“Oh, give me a second I still need to feed the beast otherwise the others could catch on to our shenanigans.” Merdon said not missing a beat.

With another flick of his hands a small green creature that Tide was familiar with appeared. It was a goblin, once of the most primitive monsters with a degree of intelligence. Merdon quickly punted the small creature into the cell with the mind flayer. The creature was delighted and quickly pulled the goblin into itself.

What happened next Tide didn’t see but he heard it. A mix of the goblins scream, and a wet sucking sound echoed through the room. After a couple of moments, the screaming stopped, and the mind flayer relaxed.

Internally, Tide was now extremely glad that he took Merdon up on his offer and avoided having to interact with that thing.

Merdon who didn’t seem disturbed by any of this stayed on task and grabbed Tide’s arm to get him to focus.

“Tide before I send you on your way you must remember what I tell you now. You need to pretend like you were never here that I wiped your mind just like I should have. If the others know that I was involved, they might take steps against me and you in response. You can use your knowledge for your own benefit and get stronger, but you can’t tell another living soul what you know. This is very important. Tell me you understand and promise you won’t.” Merdon said suddenly very serious.

“I understand, Ill keep what I know to myself. Is there anything else I need to do.” Tide asked concerned with the shift in attitude.

“No, just do your best to survive, the others are beginning to wonder what is taking so long you best get going, so do me a favor and sleep.

As the word sleep left his mouth Tide’s eyelids droops and he collapsed.

He briefly heard Merdon whisper before his consciousness blanked.

“Good Luck”