The Prince of Demons

The daunting task of moving the dice was not going well. Even rotating the singular dice was proving to be difficult while Lord Utol stood idly by in complete disinterest. The lack of a time limit was currently in my favor, but how long had I been here with Lord Utol? I shook my head; that was for after this game with Lord Utol. What was was I doing wrong? The dice absolutely refused to move the way I wanted it to no matter what I was attempting. No amount of <Mana> flowing around it made the dice move whatsoever. You misunderstand what it's like to control a soul. I was missing something. I reimagined what Lord Utol had done, which caused me to realize something. Lord Utol didn't use <Mana> when she was controlling the dice, but why? Why was <Mana> not needed? Something in my mind clicked. Was that why I struggled to use <Soul Magic>? <Anima Magic> I improved at a steady pace as I practiced with Nautilus, but with <Soul Magic> it was something I struggled on improving. That was why the <Eternal Emperor> needed me to die; this was something Nil could never grasp properly so being in a pure soul form was needed for his <Spell> to work. I relied too much on Nil who was not suited to the <Death Attributes> at all. I just assumed he was good at all <Magic> because of his insane talent with <Spacetime Magic>.

"Someone's figuring it out. However, I would like this to keep moving along so do roll sometime soon." Lord Utol taunted. That was why Lord Utol wanted someone like that, logic and reason had no place in her world.

"Maybe you aren't as hopeless as I thought." Lord Utol quipped. She seemed more engaged now at least, which might have been good.

The problem was, realizing my problem and fixing it were two totally different beasts. I reached out to the dice with much less <Mana>, trying to coax them to rotate. Please dice, could you please rotate for me? Moments later, I felt countless souls screaming in response to my request. A ceaseless barrage of harrowed cries howled at me for requesting something that mundane from them; I could feel the agonies of their deaths as they lamented their demise. Okay, that was not the solution. It was at least a step in the right direction. Lord Utol was casually juggling the dice one handed, easily making them move and rotate how she wanted. What was the trick? Trick? No, that probably was not the right way to look at this, these were people. How did she do this? What was her method? I was undeniably missing something. I racked my brain for solutions. No, that was approaching this like Nil; I needed my own approach. If I were a soul, how would I want to be approached? I'd be in pain, in anguish, and wanting to understand what happened. I gently reached out to the dice I had been trying to rotate, trying to assuage the souls with my <Mana>. It'll be okay dice; it will be better soon; the pain would pass, and it was okay to be upset. To my surprise, the dice actually rotated with somewhat ease to the final face so I could touch it. The last side was starvation which confirmed all six sides were unpleasant ways to die. Why did Lord Utol pick these six? Was there a deeper meaning, or was it because of the difficulty of moving the dice?

"I wonder why?" Lord Utol asked insincerely.

"I appreciate the challenge." I told her. This might be difficult; however, the insights were invaluable.

"Was I being nice? Hmmm, but you better roll as time is moving faster than you think." Lord Utol warned me. Nil might have had the right idea of Utol after all, but I did not want to test if I failed.

I lifted one of the dice, gently assuring them their suffering was over as I rolled them. The dice landed starvation side up, which was okay. I grabbed the next one, rolling it calmly to end with immolation side up. Lord Utol let out a small round of applause as I now had two of the six sides up. This was mentally taxing in a way that was difficult to describe, like some part of me was being choked to control them; there was something more to this. What more could I do? What more was needed? I replayed several things Utol had said through my mind, trying to figure out what I was missing. I think understanding what it's like to suffer and regret is key to this. Lord Utol's idea of a representative likely required being able to grasp the despair and suffering involved in death, the struggle to hold on to life because it was all they had. What could I use to even approach that? One thought instantly entered my head: my dad's death. The regret I felt over my actions and how I just did things to regret rather than face reality last time. I recalled that feeling, that pain, and that gut wrenching guilt while lifting the next dice. Much easier than before, the dice rolled to the side I wanted with little effort. Using the memories, I rolled the dice to complete the straight. I wanted to cry while all my unpleasant memories were bubbling to the surface as I moved the dice.

"I'm sorry, Lord Utol." I apologized to her. I vastly misunderstood what she was about and her burden.

"I don't hold grudges, little child of death. I'm glad you realize your error." Lord Utol replied sincerely.

"How many more rolls are there?" I checked as I suspected the game was only just beginning.

"I will say Luna, I was a bit surprised you chose the regret of your actions rather than the loss of not knowing your mother." Lord Utol told me instead.

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"I don't know, I've kind of come to terms with it. It is unpleasant but I've never known her; I wish I did." I confessed as Lord Utol nodded along.

"That longing might prove more helpful than you think." Lord Utol pointed out as she rolled the dice again, this time having them all land starvation up.

"I don't understand how that's helpful." I informed her.

"Really? I'm pretty sure you do, you just not have fully realized it." Lord Utol said calmly. What? Then it clicked.

"Why is <Death Magic> and it's lines about understanding pain, suffering, and longing? To be able to emotionally understand others grief?" I grumbled. Lord Utol shifted back and forth a little.

"When people die, they don't tend to think of the things that went well. Most are consumed by their regrets and what never was. Understanding the weight of what people want and the pain they feel is important when dealing with souls. Many think I'm a cruel Lord because I am the end as well as liking people that have suffered, but I view it as wanting to help those that appreciate it more as in my view, it's hard to describe hunger to those who have never felt it." Lord Utol explained. I understood her point, even if I was not the biggest fan of it.

"Why did <Death Magic> get the short end of the stick?" I probed. It hardly seemed fair.

"Each <Magic> branch has a catch, or something needed to use it well; most just find mine unpleasant. None of our <Magics> got away from that fact; it is fine as I accepted what mine requires ages ago. Now, I would highly recommend keeping this game moving along." Lord Utol lectured. I kind of wanted to ask what the others required, but that was for later.

"How do you roll multiple at the same time?" I asked which made Lord Utol chuckle.

"Come on, I have already given you plenty of insight." Lord Utol retorted. Fine. She had been immensely helpful.

I slowly picked up the dice, struggling to roll them so starvation was facing up. Wait, was that why Lord Utol mentioned the longing to know my mom? I tried using that feeling as I rolled the dice which rolled much easier than before. I did vastly appreciate Lord Utol's insight on how <Death Magic> worked. I managed to match her roll after a few moments, wondering what our next round was going to be. Lord Utol motioned for me to roll next. What was left? I slowly rolled the dice to make three of a kind of both bludgeoning and stabbing; Lord Utol instantly rolled her dice to match it with no effort That was so unfair how effortlessly she matched my roll. I mean yes, she was a Lord, but she could at least pretend it took her longer than half a moment to replicate it.

"I could, but we both know I won't." Lord Utol taunted me in an amused tone.

"I do not know how much longer this game can go on. How many rounds do you want to play?" I checked, wondering at what point the game was over.

"As you can actually roll the dice now, we can stop the game as it will go until you simply cannot roll them anymore. Now, what do you think the point was?" Lord Utol asked me in an odd tone.

What was her point? She gave me insight on how to use <Death Magic> better, but I doubt that was what she wanted to show me. That I had the wrong idea on how she and <Death Magic> worked? That was close to my first thought which I knew was wrong. Wait, along that line. I was originally moping about my lack of talent and ability before she made that game. Was that it? I looked at her while trying to gauge her reaction. Unfortunately, her being a blank form yielded me nothing. I wanted to walk around a bit as I made sure I gave the right answer, and to my surprise I moved with ease now in this form. Desire and subtly were the key to using this, not control and <Mana>; I needed to remember that. Focus Luna. Was that Lord Utol's lesson? I couldn't think of anything else that it could be as I did little circles around her.

"That I should measure myself on what I can do, not what others can do. Not everyone needs to have the same talents and abilities. Also <Death Magic> and by extension <Soul Magic> is more about emotion and empathy rather than logic and rationality." I answered her. Lord Utol let out a little clap.

"Correct! Now, while I have enjoyed our time together, you really should get back to the plane of the living. You do not appreciate how time moves when you are in the presence of a Lord." Lord Utol informed me.

"What do you mean by that?" I probed, dreading her answer a bit.

"How long do you think has passed?" Lord Utol asked back, almost in an amused tone.

"Maybe an hour or so. Please tell me that it hasn't been a month or something." I answered her. Lord Utol began laughing.

"No, it is not that bad, but it has been a little longer than a few hours." Lord Utol chuckled, seeming amused by my panic.

"Will I ever talk to you again?" I checked. Lord Utol thought about it for a moment.

"At least one more time." Lord Utol joked before her presence vanished.

That was the best I was going to get from her. Now, how long had I been gone? With my new insight, I willed myself back into the living plane. Within a moment of being a physical body again, Krahinn materialized next to me with all nine of his eyes glowing intensely while he stared at me. Krahinn looked at me with the gaze he had when Nil came up with some bright new idea, which was not good for me more than likely. Krahinn's curiosity was a double edged sword on the best of days, and I was feeling drained from the small game with Lord Utol.

"So, how long was I gone?" I asked Krahinn, fighting the urge to yawn.

"About three days." Krahinn stated as Nil materialized next to him. Unfortunately for Nil, Krahinn clearly just grabbed him as he fell face first into the ground.

"Luna!" Nil cried out, quickly shooting to hug me.

"You're safe. I was worried. Where did you go?" Nil inquired while hugging me with all his might.

"Nowhere, I just was in a lesson from Lord Utol. You're right, she's quite nice." I answered as I hugged him back. I realized Krahinn had now summoned my dad, who also joined the hug.

"Don't ever do that again young lady." Dad lectured me as he hugged me tightly.

"I won't, if I can help it." I promised as I switched to hugging him as well.