"So..."

A small fire illuminates the forest clearing, a dozen of miles from even a hint of civilisation, as two individuals sit, starting at each other.

Elelth paused as she tried to find the right words, the crackling of the fire, rustling of the leaves above and the slow, rhythmic tapping of Ru's boot the only thing keeping the silence at bay.

Ru was not in the best of moods, forced to recount this story or face Elelth's insistent nagging.

It was evident that Elelth was not comfortable around him, often glaring angrily, but at the same time, that she wasn't going anywhere and after five hours, Ru finally gave in. Momentarily considering killing the elf before recounting his tale and showing her how to start a fire without mana.

When asked why, Ru replied that old habits died hard but in truth, with his new body, he could no longer manipulate the elements.

Three hours, and an uncountable amount of interruptions, later the girl had finally stopped asking questions and now sat deep in thought.

Elelth's purple ears twitch as her face continually contorts from a frown to confusion and back again as she digests all the information she had learned."You haven't told me everything have you?"

"Do you think I am an idiot?" responded Ru dryly. He had only told her what Styx already knew in case the elf was captured.

He honestly didn't intend to reveal as much as he did, but finding someone to talk to after so long, had been enjoyable and distracted him from his dark thoughts.

Ru found himself liking the dark elf, even if she was extremely annoying.

"So...," repeated Elelth, finally finding her words. "You are the last of the heroes, who, to escape eternal imprisonment, created a spell that would erase you from everyone's memories, breaking the slave collar and the enslavement runes."

"You became something... else, merging with the Divine spears that imprisoned you, eating the previous Demon Lord and absorbing his essence before somehow killing eight demigods and using their mana to overload the last barrier trapping you."

Although partially correct, Ru had been purposefully vague regarding the Divine Spears, at least the ones that were his prison, only hinting at his abilities for the thirteen that he acquired from the late Demon Lord.

The look in Elelth's eyes turned hard. "Killing millions of innocent people in the process."

Ru continued tapping his foot and let out a deep, bored sigh as if Elelth had just declared that the sky was blue.

"Then, because your plan to live a carefree life was put in jeopardy, as the last demigod didn't follow whatever plan you set out for her... Why would she by the way? You decide to revert to your old ways and become this alternative persona that you created."

"I didn't create it. I borrowed the concept from my old world and I will not be trapped again." Madness danced in Ru's eyes. "I will burn this world and everyone in it to ashes the before that happens."

Elelth repressed a shiver. Even though she couldn't feel the aura, it was evident by the lack of the natural sounds around them that the local wildlife was terrified.

Elelth's mind was in overdrive, trying to discredit what she had heard, coming up with argument after argument against the story but, even though it was almost unbelievable, the way he had described it in excruciating detail and how if fitted so well with all the facts, made it impossible to dismiss entirely.

She also knew that deep down, she wanted some closure on her parent's death and this, even if it was a pathetic reason, gave her that. 

Elelth shook her head. Her parent's indirect murder was sitting in front of her and yet, instead of anger and hatred, she had started to feel pity. In a warped sense, using her own experiences, if she believed everything that was said, Elelth could vaguely understand Ru and what he had done and though that did not lessen the pain, she realised that it wasn't entirely his fault.

What was more worrying, at least to her, was how ready Ru was not only ready to kill at the drop of a hat but to commit genocide as if it was nothing. Even the dragon race, renowned for their short tempers and legendary rages, could be considered amiable and kind-hearted in comparison.

Ru, let out another sigh, watching the elf's varying expressions. "Look, if you are going to go, then go. I will not force you to stay or do anything for that matter."

Elelth's eyes narrowed. "You destroyed an entire town, full of innocent men, women and children just because you needed to make a point. What makes you think that I believe that you will let me walk away from here alive?"

Ru had not explained to her the methods of obtaining godhood or the power of belief, and so she thought that he was just trying to send a message to Styx and the Alliance to keep out of his way. She believed such an action was beyond idiotic, as what world power would let someone so dangerous and unstable roam free, and so had started to think that Ru was more than a little deranged.

"Hmm." Ru frowned for a moment. "I don't feel like killing you, so you're safe... for now."

"What the fuck is wrong with you? How do you decide when to kill and not to kill? One moment you are a bloodthirsty monster, the next you are willing to let someone waltz off who knows too much," shouted Elelth, frustrated that she could not understand what Ru was thinking. 

"You know nothing, John Snow," chuckled Ru but, like most things he said, his joke was lost on Elelth. "Wait, are you trying to convince me to kill you? Have you finally given in and decided to end it all? Suicide by Devil. Got to say, its original."

"No... I just want to know what makes you... you before I make my decision," responded Elelth in a panicked voice, finally realising what her words were suggesting.

"Ha, good luck," snorted Ru. "Anyway, killing is pretty simple, when you have done, seen and felt what I have. The lives of those that do not matter to me are as significant as an insect's... maybe less. My only goal is survival. First I sacrificed my mind, then my soul and finally my body. I am now longer a human-"

Ru chuckled darkly, remembering his recent discovery of his monster core. "I am not even what you would class as a higher being anymore."

"And why should I stick to the moral code of others when it had never applied to me? An eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth is too forgiving. Someone hurts you; you make sure they can never hurt you again... ever. Too many of my friends died with misplaced mercy or compassion. In fact, I should have killed you the moment you realised my involvement in your parent's death-"

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"What are you then?" asked Elelth with a serious face, trying to redirect the conversation. It was turning dark very quickly, and if it kept going, she instinctually felt it would not be good for her.

Luckily, it seemed like Ru could be easily distracted, at least when he was in his rambling moods.

Ru's eyes closed and his next words were nothing more than a whisper. "I have been asking myself that for a long time. I do not talk to myself because I am crazy, at least I don't think I do, but because I can't bear the silence. The voice that constantly asks what am I? Who am I? What is my purpose? I can't even tell you if this is my real face or my name."

Ru's mood continued to plummet, holding his hand out in front of him as it burst into black and blue flames before, just as quickly, retracting and turning to skin. "What am I indeed..."

Elelth took a deep breath, deciding to take a gamble. "You said you see no value in other's lives unless they mean something to you... Does that mean I hold some value in your eyes as you are willing to let me go?"

"It mean's I am too lazy and you are no threat. You don't know anything that would put me in any danger," responded Ru in a bored tone. "... and, excluding the bitch that shall remain nameless, you are the only person I know."

Moments past as Elelth sat with a conflicted expression before sighing. "I don't know if you are mad, an idiot or that you just are running away from yourself but I have nothing, thanks to you, and even though I hate this world and its ways, I think that leaving you to your own devices is a bad idea. Urgh, I must be crazy."

"What do you mean?" Ru looked offended.

Elelth expressionlessly looked at Ru as if he had asked the most stupid question in the world. "You think that you can solve all your problems by killing. I use to believe that the myth's of the Black Heros, the fated twelve, was elaborated over time, but now I think, in reality, they have been dumbed down. If left to your own devices, I am pretty sure that not only will you get yourself killed, but a lot of innocent people."

"Kill one man, and you are a murderer, kill millions, and you are a conqueror. Kill them all, and you are a god," huffed Ru.

".... my point exactly. Your way of thinking is fucked up," glared Elelth as she stood up, planting her hands on her hips. "Looks like I have no choice. I will be joining you, but I am amending my pledge."

"Pledge?" Ru was confused as he had completely forgotten about it.

"I will give you my everything," Elelth was too embarrassed to repeat the words she had previously used. "But you will agree to the following terms."

"Why would I?" Ru didn't like where this was going. It felt too familiar, like being trapped and he subconsciously started putting up his defences. "Do you think that you are in a position to make demands?"

"Because, if you agree to the conditions, I will never betray you. Ever. And you need someone to keep you from doing something stupid. As I have nothing else, it might as well be me." Elelth was incredibly perceptive for her age, mainly due to her upbringing and quickly grasped Ru's weaknesses, not that it was hard as he highlighted them in his story.

"Why wou-"

"One," interrupted Elelth. "You owe me two lives. I do not mean you need to save mine twice. Combined, my parents would have lived for around five hundred years, and so, I want five hundred years of your time in payment."

Ru blinked at her, shocked at what she had just said. "And you said that I might be mad? Why would I want to replace you, parents? That's hardl-"

"NO!" bellowed Elelth. "You can and will never replace them. You owe me that time, like a prison sentence and nothing more."

Ru grumbled, crossing his arms. This was not what he was expecting.

Watching Ru carefully, Elelth nodded. "Two, you will never harm me."

"Who would ever agree to that," growled Ru. "You have to be the most irritating elf I have ever met. I am amazed you survived to this point. Are you sure people picked on you because you are manaless and not because you are an obnoxious brat?"

Even though it looked like he was pissed off on the outside, inside, he was enjoying the banter and interaction with Elelth. He wasn't sure if it was because of her personality, the fact that she didn't appear scared of him or that fact she was the first person he had properly interacted with, but it didn't matter. He was having fun, and that was one of his main priorities.

"And lastly, you will train me to become strong as a manaless. So strong that I will never be walked over again. Strong enough to not only hurt but utterly destroy those that attempt to harm me, no matter who they are." Elelth's eyes blazed with determination. 

This was the biggest factor in her decision. She knew she needed to get stronger and Ru had hinted that her kind, with the right training, would become be a force to be reckoned with. Elelth couldn't deny that the thought of exacting revenge for her parent's death didn't cross her mind, multiple times, but she decided to push that to the back of her mind until she could actually do something about it.

"And I am the bloodthirsty one?" laughed Ru, forgetting he was trying to act pissed off.

"There is a difference between using strength to protect, and wanton murder," spat Elelth as the pair fell into silence. Ru's change in attitude once again shocked Elelth.

She had the sneaking suspicion, particularly since Ru had initially wanted her to join him and then tried to get rid of her, that she had been manipulated somehow. His smile only furthered her paranoia.

Minutes past and a smirk appeared on Ru's lips. "Ah, I get it. You want me to be your lover for five hundred years. Sorry Kiddo, like I said. No kids."

Elelth throws a rock at Ru. "Hell no. You look like a tramp, smell like a dead goblin and from what you have said, you can never have child-"

"Ouch... Talk about a low blow," laughed Ru, though it was clear that Elelth's statement actually hurt him.

"I didn't mean it like that," said Elelth, regretting her words. Ru had told her that the summoned had been sterilised when they first came to this world. It hadn't even been a day, and she had already used it against him. -"Damn it, am I no different from those bullies."

Ru waved it off as if brushing away an annoying fly. "Fine but I have conditions of my own."

"If you are to travel with me. You will follow where I go, never betray me, always be honest when it matters and..." Ru's grey eyes unfocused. "Never die."

Elelth was shocked by the last one, but after thinking about it, it made sense. After a few moments, she nodded her head. "OK, I agree."

Ru regained his focused and laughed in a self-depreciating manner. "One down, four to go. Get some sleep. We have a long journey ahead of us."

Elelth, still pained by the death of her parents, could only force a smile. She knew that it would be some time until she stopped seeing their faces everytime she looked at Ru. "So what's the plan?"

"My biggest enemy at the moment is order. The world is too stable, giving people too much free time on their hands. With nothing better to do, they can focus on me and that is... undesirable. Seeing as there is only one governing body, all I need to do is take them out and boom, instant chaos. If it helps spread the Devil's name, then even better."

Elelth almost burst out laughing. The Alliance had complete control over the content and showed no signs of weakness in the last four hundred years. Talking about its destruction as if it was a simple matter was absurd.

"But before that. I need my generals," Ru looked at Elelth before shaking his head. "It seems my first one is a pathetic weakling at the moment, so I will have to be more picky with the rest."

"So you are putting together a party?" Elelth decided to ignore his insult, causing Ru to frown. "Isn't that something the good guys normally do? You know, a heroic party to slay the Demon Lord or something? I don't mean to be a party pooper but you aren't exactly hero material anymore, more Demon Lord/evil god."

"It something works, why change it? Good and bad are just matters of perspective after all," shrugged Ru. While keeping a low profile, it was best to be alone, but now he had decided to take a larger role in the development of the continent, he needed a team.

"Not really, Miasma is formed from evil deeds and kills the land around it. From that, which is a natural occurrence, we can put what's good for yourself and others and what is bad into categories. In broader terms, good and evil," said Elelth in an almost monotone voice as she recalled as much as she could from one of the many books she had read.

Ru sighed loudly and rolled his eyes. "More nonsense... Shut up and go to sleep before I knock you out for another three days. We are heading to the Deadlands tomorrow. Going to get me a Lich."

Elelth lay on the ground, use to sleeping rough after weeks of travelling with the refugees. "You know they are extinct right? Only low-level undead survived the purge,"

Ru just stared at the girl, who was revealing a smug smile. "You're joking right?... FOR THE LOVE OF GOD."

Elelth couldn't help but chuckle, having finally got an expected reaction from Ru. "I thought you were the opposite of a god, oh mighty Devil? Why would you ask for the love of a God?"