The tension was high, and Emile demanded an answer, but Naki hesitated. It wasn't a decision he could make without contemplation.
Luckily enough, Bisky returned with a potion bottle and a grey cloth in hand. Her nonchalance was the perfect remedy to Naki's desperate silence.
"Hey Emile! you could've told me you hid the spirit juice in the safe, you know!" she complained.
"Bisky!" Ivy called out in annoyance
"Ooops...was I interrupting something?" she said, walking towards Naki. "Have you two been pestering my poor teacher with your silly quest for vengeance against humanity?"
Ivy sighed, shaking her head, "Honestly, it's a challenge getting you to read the room. I'm not even sure an infinite amount of punishment will correct the behavior anymore."
"Hahaha, come now, Ivy. We both know that's where Bisky's charm and strength lie. Besides, I'm all for staying in touch with our egos. That is the point of all that I am doing."
Emile then walked to Naki.
"Will for power, vengeance against humanity, a quest for survival, call it what you will. In the end, all I intend to do is claim this life for myself." Emile said much to Naki's surprise.
Those same words have been a guiding source of motivation for him.
"My ego refuses to bend to the will of those who would claim to be my shepherd, for I am no one's sheep."
Naki locked eyes with his and for a brief moment, he felt he could finally understand what the hero wants.
"Huhh, Emile. You understand he's injured right? Putting him on the spot like this is nothing different from coercion, the very thing we stand against." Bisky said, forcing her way between the 2 boys.
"Hmph", Emile scoffed and pulled back. "In lieu of Bisky's complaint, I shall let you dwell on your answer."
"I will be present at the finale of the magic competition next week. That is your last chance."
That said, Emile made his way out of the monastery. Ivy joined him on his way out.
"Huhhh". Bisky sighed, "I swear those 2 and their agendas. I can't keep up," she said.
"I'll bet. They didn't even discuss your success in acquiring the relic you were hunting." Naki commented.
"Oh, don't worry about that. Sis will cover it on their way to the inspection site."
"Inspection site?"
"Yup." Bisky soaked the cloth she carried with the spirit juice.
"Sis occasionally scouts the demon continent to identify weaknesses in the demon lord's army defenses and advantageous points. From time to time, Emile goes with her to reinforce the site and plan for our strategy once it's time to engage the demons."
"Hoh, so he's already planning for the war?"
"That's the thing, Emile wants to end this without a war," Bisky said, rubbing Naki's hand with the cloth softly.
"What? He wants to prevent the war and at the same time defeat the demon lord?"
"Haha, surprised aren't you? Despite all his bravado and drama earlier, the hero actually cares for humanity," said Bisky with a light chuckle.
"...You don't sound convinced."
"That is because I'm close to those 2. I know them. Humans being spared a war is just a mere consequence of his ambition, not an intended outcome."
Bisky said, soaking the cloth some more with the remaining spirit juice as she carried on with the rest of Naki's broken arm.
"If I didn't know better, I'd think you cared not about the hero or his ambition," Naki said, shifting his hand a bit.
The nerves were returning to his shoulder, a twitching sensation under the cloth.
"...Emile saved us in the past, my sis and I. I'm just repaying the kindness he showed us when we needed it most."
"(Emile saved them? ...Now that I think about, Bisky's never really told me about her past much has she...)"
"Once he shared his divinity with me, I'll be able to help him more, like sis does. Getting him closer to the will stone he's after."
"I see. Hm? I think I'm starting to feel my arm again."
Bisky pulled the cloth away, "Yup. I'm done. Took all the spirit juice we had left, but your arm should be good as new now."
Naki stretches his hand to ensure it's connected properly. "Hah, that's some good medicine."
"Spirit juice is more than just medicine. It can also help with training, unlocking Pshi gates, and Emile needs it to share his divinity. It's a super rare item."
"Huh? Wait, does that mean he won't be able to share his divinity with you without one?"
"Yeah...That's kind'a one reason he was so desperate before, and like, I tagged along too haha, feel bad for the kids though, they didn't deserve the bruising they got, not like I cares much either way"
"Hmm...and how do we get more?"
"Hehehe, what? you thinking of getting some for me teach?" she grinned teasingly.
"I'm going back." Naki ignored her and stood up.
"Hahaha, sorry, sorry, I'll stop now. And to be fair, I'm feeling beat, I could really do with some rest and relaxation...or?"
Bisky smiled seductively as her hand was slowly tracing Naki's shoulder all the way to his cheeks. Her eyes narrowed in on his lips.
"We could just get down and dirty in here, just the two-of-us," she whispered with a soft breath.
Naki's sigil started beeping again, but he didn't need his shadow trick to break away from the charm this time.
"Hm, I'm fair game, but perhaps another time." he grabbed Bisky's hand and gently pushed her away.
"Awww, foiled again. Do you not find me attractive at all, teach?" Bisky voiced her frustration.
"(On the contrary, your beauty is dangerous Bisky. but I can't afford to give you any more motivation)"
"Let's go back, we have to start preparing for the magic competition. It's important our class turns up when the time comes."
Naki said, leaving.
"You're dodging the question!" Bisky caught up, wrapping her arm around Naki's.
"But I don't mind, I'll get you next time with my charms, just you wait," Bisky said with a happy grin.
"Sure, sure," Naki remarked casually, but his mind strayed elsewhere.
"(I think I've come far. Befriended someone close to the hero, and the hero himself is intrigued with me, however; I tread a dangerous line)"
Naki recalled Ivy's words.
<><><>
[Ivy] "From what Bisky has said about you, and how you have presented yourself before me, I have concluded that it will be dangerous for you to meet the hero."
and after winning the duel -
[Ivy] "...I still think you are dangerous for Emile, in fact, more so now than before."
<><><>
"(The hero relies on Ivy more than anyone, and her words seems to carry weight. However, the hero also appears very capable of thinking for himself)"
"(Which means, I will have to tread carefully, and avoid exposing my relation to Lucille if I'm to gain their trust. I will have to start with Ivy, and for that, I'll need to get to know Bisky more.)"
Then he snuck a look at his sigil hand, 6/7 circles were filled.
"(First, though, I'll have to do something about this. I had a feeling, considering how much of the devil's power I've been using. It's such a chore, begging for the devil's mercy while trying to fulfill his own ambitions.)"
Naki looked ahead as they made it out of the monastery.
"(But I have no choice, for now I have to play this game by his rules, until I have learned all I can to fight back.)"
They started their return trip to Listeria Academy.
Meanwhile,
Listeria Kingdom - Black Water Shores
The black water shore was a secret area that was closed off from the rest of the kingdom's public. It lay in a hidden pathway outside the blue moss cave.
A secret stone door opened up from the mountain ahead of the shore, and up stepped Isla, blue divine material cloth and Kristie's compass in hand.
"(To think there was such a hidden path within the cave...one the demon's know of. How concerning...)" Isla thought as she walked on.
Then, ahead of the shores, she saw someone standing at the edge, her bare feet doused in water.
She had long blue hair and wore a full blue cloth, made of the same material as the one Isla held.
A cold complexion, soft, smooth skin, and a demeanor of a recessive recluse.
However, she was a familiar face to Isla, for she was one of the divine council judges, the goddess Ferr.
"La-lady Ferr," Isla muttered.
"Ah, Isla. I'm glad you could make it. I suppose you must have met Sherloth then," she replied, still engaged with the wide open sea and the waves.
Isla approached her hand on her sword's sheath as she maintained the caution of cornered prey.
She knew the disparity in their strength, their station, and authority, but her nature and pride wouldn't have her do otherwise.
"You mean the demon," she said with a frown, reminding Ferr of those she's allied with.
"...You must have a lot of questions. However, right now, I need more your loyalty than your hesitation."
"And should I offer my loyalty to a demon's ally?" Isla asked, her hand never leaving the sheath of her blade.
"Because we need all the power we can get, if we are to stop Ahmun and his vile plans from being realized."
Isla's eyes widened in shock. Ahmun, the main judge of their divine council. Her mentor Ferr wanted to stop him. She was clueless, and all the questions she had before became secondary.
A divine council goddess was about to stand against the head of the council, and she was willing to side with demons to do so.