Balon mused over his adversary's question- could he stop a plague once it had been set in motion? The giant had never deigned to wonder such a thing. The answer was pointless, as sparing the lives of humans was a pathetic endeavor. His plague had taken time and effort to hone, to make into a lethal weapon that spared no lives. To install any weaknesses in such a masterpiece it would be to dull one's sword. Still, the giant supposed that given time, it would be easy enough for him to mutate a second plague, one that was capable of neutralizing the first and giving humans at least a chance of survival.

Before the giant could respond, Xir'ain had second-guessed himself and dismissed the question. [i]"Indecisive. Foolish,"[/i] Balon thought to himself. For a being of such arrogance and rashness, witnessing someone change their mind could only be interpreted as a sign of weakness. Still, with his life in imminent danger it would not be wise to say such things aloud.

At last, Xir'ain gave his ultimatum. Balon was grim and of the sort that rarely laughed, yet he found the Keeper's words to be droll. Ironic it was, what this dignified sludge deemed itself. Masters could be rebelled against, creators outlived, and gods defied. Balon had a degree of experience with all three of those things, though he wisely remained silent and revealed no signs of his treacherous nature. In time, perhaps he would regain his freedom. But for now, he would serve. Surrendering his freedom once again was hardly a welcome choice, yet death was even less so.

[b]"Very well,"[/b] Balon replied, the agony of his severed leg permeating his voice. [b]"I will accept you as those things, Xir'ain. I am the one called Balon, from the oldest and darkest of legends."[/b]The giant hadn't spoken hastily, though neither did he pause for long. With his life on the line, he was very cautious to appear sincere. Indeed, perhaps the old king would keep his word this time. Working beneath someone with morals more in line with his own would not be so bad. In any case, it could hardly be worse than imprisonment at the bottom of the sea, or loyalty to a master as insufferable as Elysium's late creator-god.