The words ‘[i]this is pointless[/i]’ lay heavy on Jillian’s tongue, and had she not been as exhausted and defeated as she was, she might just have said so – as it was, she was too tired to even do that. It was fortunate that Gerald still had the presence of mind and strength of will to go on, to question the demon lord’s every word, to inquire ever more knowledge. While his witch companion withdrew into herself, wallowing in pessimism, he continued to interrogate the Grand Master on the subject of immortals and their relation to the Spirit Realm. The demon’s answer was confusing to say the least, and Gerald too seemed unable to follow his implications. Kevin the Insignificant and Kreshtaat – were they somehow two separate entities, in spite of being one and the same? Two souls trapped in the same body? Was it possible for one half of the old evil to dream in the Spirit Realm, while the other remained ignorant and trapped in the abyss? What a hollow, tortured existence it must be.

Following the ancient one’s exposition on the matter, it seemed that the witch had been half right, at least. Apparently Kreshtaat was indeed a being of a dual nature; an age old demon, so powerful that he is considered anathema to all life, and there it was, a tiny, mortal, human fragment buried deep inside the sea of infinite darkness that was his soul. Could he be saved? Freed from his demon part? The romantic in her wondered. If his human part dreamed in the Spirit Realm, perhaps they could sever his bond to the rest of his soul. No, that would only cause an even more painful existence, maybe even result in the birth of a ghost. Still, at the very least they might be able to communicate with him, hear what he has to say when he is not under the sway of his demonic being. For all they knew, he might still be sane and yearning for freedom – or merciful death.

“Is that really wise?” Jillian interjected, lifting her gaze once more and casting glances at both Gerald and the Grand Master, her expression unusually soft and almost sad.

“We just learned that the most powerful and most evil creature in existence has a sliver of humanity left in him, buried somewhere deep within – and you’re suggesting we just kill it? Might be that it ends the Withering, but if there had ever been a way to save Kreshtaat, or Kevin, from himself… well, we’d have gotten rid of that chance for good. I- I don’t know. All I’m saying, I guess, is that we should consider talking to him before we get to the killing. You never know, right?”

Jillian nervously shuffled her feet, looking uncertain of herself. Halfway through her words, she already began feeling like a fool. It was a charming thought to be sure, the idea that they could somehow cure Kreshtaat from being what he was, but most likely there was no chance for them. Indeed, by showing reluctance as she suggested, they might be wasting their one chance to land the kill that they so desperately needed to save their own souls from the infernal deal they struck. In their predicament, perhaps they should not worry about other people’s souls any longer.