Adrian fixed his gaze on the two crystals floating in front of him. One was a pearly pink crystal that seemed like perfection, but the shadow of something malignant swirled inside. The other was cobalt blue, its inner patterns deformed, never static, like the very concept of change itself.
Well, it wasn't like he was giving these types any real "freedom" in how they acted. Not that they could try anything amusing with the degree of "freedom" he had given them, but hey it was still a trap for them, though he doubted it would work.
"Then."
I began to speak with that clear synthetic tone the demons despised.
"It's time to answer."
I finished dryly as my body settled into the not-so-synthetic desk of metal and leather.
The two demons were clearly displeased, but they didn't show it. Seems intimidation worked.
"A mortal question from outside the source."
Sang the demoness of the god of pleasure with a melodious voice, temptation and supernatural magic mingling in her words like incense.
The blue demon shifted within his prison, waiting for something.
"Straight to the point then. Why are you here?"
I said curtly as I reviewed a document. Even now, there wasn't enough personnel for me to waste time idling with these demons.
I looked the demon straight in the eyes, waiting for its response. They averted their gaze after a moment before replying.
"A revelation was given by the great Mechanicist."
The demoness replied, followed by a choreographed interruption from the demon of the great deceiver.
"The machinery will overflow like a storm..."
Summarized the first head of that blue demon.
"...in the hands of the mage."
Finished the second head, bowing down.
"Interesting. So, a revelation from Vashtorr."
I thought aloud. It was obvious it was a half-truth but which part?
That two-headed demon smiled, so imperceptibly that if I didn't have absolute knowledge of his prison, I would have never noticed. Ha, Tzeentch should try harder with his demon selection—unless, of course, this was another intrigue, which I would not discard.
A good dose of paranoia is never wasted when dealing with those types.
"Alright, next question."
I fully settled in as my hands touched the pink crystal, disturbing the demoness inside. What can I say after these types had ruined my relative peace, it was gratifying to have them literally and metaphorically in my hands.
"How did you cross the wall of your reality? Because, as I recall, it shouldn't be possible to cross outward."
I spoke, leaving the spawn of the thirsty one alone... for now.
"You would be right in everything you said... but the wall has cracked."
Mmm, now that is interesting if what she said is true, of course. The other option is that they've found a way to cross universes outside the local multiverse they belong to... No, if they had that power, they'd already have conquered many neighboring dimensions, and their forces wouldn't be depleted.
"Truly interesting."
I spoke again as I touched the blue crystal. The demon inside twisted in discomfort, hiding his satisfaction, thinking I had "fallen" into his trap. As if I wouldn't notice they were releasing tiny wisps of psychic power, connecting to the few demons I had left "free."
"Haa," I sighed in satisfaction at the new information. "I think it's time to end this charade, don't you think, Asherah?"
I said to the air as a feminine figure appeared behind me, seemingly out of nowhere. The demons' faces showed confusion for a moment, and a smile drew itself on my lips as my eyes met those of that two-headed demon. A whisper escaped my mouth while I was still smiling.
"I already know your games, little spawn of the great deceiver."
Asherah smiled, relishing the satisfaction transmitted through the magic connecting the entire factory.
Before the two demons could even process what was happening, two small lights manifested in the material plane. One the color of emerald, the other of copper.
"It's a beautiful light, don't you think?" I spoke, my voice interfering with local reality itself to such a degree.
Those beings of chaos felt an ominous presence emanating from the lights as they advanced slowly toward their crystal prisons. With her mind clouded, the pink demoness screamed incoherently in a way fitting her existence.
"This wasn't part of the deal!" she screamed, as the approaching light seemed to overshadow her own glow.
"Hahaha."
Asherah, who had been silent, laughed for a moment before covering her mouth and looking at the two demons though it seemed one of them already understood.
"The Fabricator only said, 'If you don't want to end up like that demon who only knows how to scream, you'd better tell me everything I want to know.' And of course, you won't end up like that demon. What awaits you will be much more useful for the factory."
She exclaimed with that faint smile, a kind of imitation of her creator.
"Thank you for making them aware of their situation, my dear."
Spoke the being calmly, with a smile and closed eyes that Fabricator, seeming more like a demon than those known as such.
"I'd be lying if I said it was a pleasure to meet you. But we'll be seeing each other a lot from now on, so I hope we get along well."
He finished speaking, and the two lights merged with their opposites. The demons could only watch as infinity unfolded before their eyes, their bodies and minds trapped in an endless end that would never arrive. The true reality was revealed to them for a mere instant, and what they saw broke them, more than the fear of the infinite punishment awaiting them.
The being before them: a monster that devoured reality in its search for more knowledge, that regarded them as mere subjects of study, that spread like a virus, using everything its hands could reach, delighting in its equally twisted creations that was the Fabricator in their eyes that had seen the "truth."