The world around Rosa was nothing but an impenetrable void of darkness, an infinite expanse closing in on her from all directions, suffocating her. It felt as if she were a phantom of herself, with only vague memories of her past lingering in her mind like a haunting dream. The last thing she remembered was…

Her eyes snapped open, revealing a sprawling chamber bathed in an eerie light.

Towering black walls reached into an empty abyss above, where the ceiling lost to an endless twilight of shadows. Glistening crimson veins of molten stone ran through the floor, casting a disturbing dark-red luminescence over the room, thick with the acrid scent of brimstone. In the heart of it all, Malachi, hood down, bent over a grotesque sigil etched in blood on the floor. Strange items surrounded a small circle at its center, and Malachi was in the process of meticulously tracing the final sections of the sigil.

Rosa tried to move, but an invisible force bound her to a raised throne of pitch-black stone and white bone, pulsating with a sinister energy, as if possessing a life of its own. At its base, just before Rosa, stood a short pedestal that held the Abyssal Vilewyrm’s heart, an obsidian mess of muscle and crag that pulsated in rhythm with the throne. Strange black tendrils extended from the heart, connecting to the crimson veins in the floor and the throne itself.

The scene was alien yet oddly familiar, and an ominous fear fed the fear and disquiet inside Rosa. Gradually, as recollection dawned, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and counted down from eleven.

With a whispered prayer to the gods even if they had never listened before, she opened her eyes again, focusing on Malachi.

She didn’t know exactly how she had ended up here, but she understood the general gist of it. This was part of whatever ritual Malachi had promised to perform to free Rosa from her passenger. Part of the deal they’d made back at the woman’s farmstead.

The current situation deviated quite a bit from Rosa’s expectations, though. She couldn’t remember how she ended up in these exact circumstances.

Clearing her throat, the action sent echoes through the chamber. “You never told me that ridding me of this thing involved strapping me to a throne in a chamber that could make even the most bloodthirsty of tyrants coo in awe.”

Malachi paused, one hand stained red, and looked up at her. Rosa chose to avoid dwelling on why there was so much blood here for now. First, she needed to get her bearings.

“I’m surprised you’re awake,” Malachi spoke slowly, returning her attention to her work. “I had assumed you would remain asleep until the ritual was finished. And no, I did not tell you about this. It seemed unlikely you would have agreed if I had.”

Once more, Rosa tried moving her arms, but it was as if they were part of the throne itself, attached to the winding pale bones comprising its armrests. “…Golly, I wonder why,” she muttered.

“When pursuing aspirations like ours, there is no room for senseless scruples,” Malachi said. “Rest assured, our endeavours will prove mutually beneficial. I intend to honor my commitment to rid you of the demon residing within you.”

“And what about everybody else?” Rosa asked.

Even as disoriented and lost as she felt, the imposing aura pervading this chamber was impossible to ignore. Whatever this ritual entailed, they weren’t talking about just her and Malachi getting hurt if something went wrong. Whatever repercussions this might have, it would extend far beyond the woman’s old farmstead. Maybe even the whole region. Rosa shuddered at the thought.

Had she made another mistake by seeking Malachi’s help? Should she have left when demons became involved? Was this destined to be an even worse reprise of past events?

“The fate of strangers scarcely matters to me,” Malachi answered, wiping blood onto her dark robes after having completed the sigil. “But if it troubles you, so be it. No outsiders will be harmed by our actions unless they interfere or you allow yourself to be overtaken completely. And if you were perhaps having doubts, the blood hails from swines.”

“Oh, have you no shame about lying to the dear girl like that?” a dangerously alluring tone carried across the chamber.

Rosa’s eyes widened as she realized it came from her. From deep within, the distress she had been suppressing surged forth as chills coursed through her body, which didn’t feel entirely her own.

“You didn’t even flinch at your deceit,” her own voice persisted, sinister amusement lacing her words. Rosa was helpless to do anything about it.

Malachi turned to eye her for a few seconds before walking into the center of the sigil. She bent down and picked up a strange black orb marked by hints of red that appeared to writhe within. “While I would not expect any less from a Vile, are you not ashamed at sinking as low as trying to sow unfounded doubts in her?” the woman remarked without looking back at Rosa.

Rosa wanted to respond, to break free from the suffocating sea of futility that enveloped her. The being inside her reveled in her helplessness, exuding an aura that embodied dread, a force so palpable that Rosa could feel it. The grip of terror and despair tightened around her, pulling down as a peal of cruel laughter echoed through her being.

Now, more than ever, she understood why the demon was called Anguish.

“I feel sorry for dear Rosalina,” her puppeted self spoke, mimicking Rosa’s tone with unsettling accuracy, yet interwoven with a perverse twist. “To have no one here for her except a deranged, fiendling ex-priest. It’s no wonder she’s in tears~”

Only then did Rosa notice the wetness on her cheeks, but she was unable to wipe it away. Anguish held absolute sway.

Malachi’s head turned, and her piercing green eyes underneath the hood locked onto Rosa.

“What’s wrong?” Anguish asked with scornful glee. “Did you truly think I wouldn’t recognize who you are? What you are? Your tainted blood makes me want to pinch my nose, even from here.”

Malachi remained silent for a few seconds before returning her attention to the mysterious orb in her hand. Green magic flowed from her hands, flowing into the orb, soon leaving it and suffusing into the floor. “There are few existences as conceited as a Vile, but you are as aware as I that you are powerless within that vessel, Anguish. All that remains at your disposal are your words. A pitiful state to see one of the great demons in.”

A soft, involuntary laugh escaped Rosa’s lips, which formed into a distorted smile. “My words are quite enough for me,” Anguish said.

“I’m sure they are.” Malachi waved her free hand, sending a wave of green magic pulsing across the chamber and into the Abyssal Vilewyrm’s heart.

A gasp left Rosa, and the world seemed clearer as Anguish’s looming presence retreated slightly. She took several deep breaths, savoring the satisfaction that came from such a simple action, even though she had never actually stopped breathing.

“T-Thank you,” she managed to press out slowly between her breaths, head slightly slumping as she soon focused her attention on Malachi.

“I prefer not to waste my time on pointless arguments,” the woman said, paying Rosa little attention.

“Yeah, well, still. Although…I’m not sure how long this peace is going to hold.” Rosa grimaced, already sensing Anguish returning.

A few moments of silence passed as Rosa observed what Malachi was doing, trying to ignore what was coming. “…What exactly are you doing?”

Malachi extended a single index finger, running a long, sharp nail over the surface of the orb in her grasp, leaving behind colorful sparks. “I am attuning the Astral Soulstone, fitting it so that it can regulate the energies of a vessel capable of binding a Vile’s essence. It’s a delicate process.”

“And the ‘Astral Soulstone’ is…?”

“A Zuverian artifact. It was gifted to me by an associate of sorts, and it serves many purposes. In this case, it will primarily serve as a power source and an anchor for Anguish’s Authority. It is also the very object that allowed this citadel to take form in this realm.”

Rosa surveyed the dismal chamber they were in. She would have preferred if it didn’t take form in this realm. “This citadel… It’s hers—Anguish’s—home, isn’t it?”

“A facsimile, to be precise. A reflection that connects to the heart of Anguish, manifested through the link to the Blaze that is seared into your soul. You’re currently acting as the conduit for all of this.”

Malachi snapped her fingers, and a four-legged demon materialized from the shadows within the room. It approached her, carrying a peculiar metal tool in its jaws, resembling a mix between a hammer and a sextant. Presenting the tool to Malachi, the demon then vanished back into the shadows, purposefully not looking in Rosa’s direction.

Before, it would have salivated at the mere sight of her. Now, it seemed even the most feared of beings were wary of her.

She couldn’t quite appreciate the humor in that as much as she usually would.

“Is this all related to that incarnation stuff you told me about earlier?” she asked.

“It is,” Malachi replied, using the new tool as if it were a measuring device, pressing its flat head against the Astral Soulstone while adjusting its odd handles.

“Then, correct me if I’m wrong,” Rosa began, “but the way I’ve understood it all, right now, it’s only a matter of time before I’m entirely consumed by one of the cruelest and most dangerous demons in possibly all of existence, bringing destruction to…what? The whole empire?”

“Essentially.”

“Well, it’s comforting to finally have a grasp on the situation.”

Rosa couldn’t fathom why she continued maintaining the bravado at this point, but perhaps it was her last act of defiance against the entity that had tormented her for so long.

“Though if Anguish’s incarnation into the Material Realm is fully realized,” Malachi added, “it’s unlikely to be limited to just the empire.”

Rosa did not need to hear that. She was already grappling with the thoughts of what her losing control would mean — the thousands upon thousands of lives that would pay for her mistakes. Her years of cowardice and looking away from the truth.

Screams echoed through her mind as Anguish seemed to taunt her from within.

“Then,” Rosa said, her voice drained of emotion. “Is there any way I can convince you to simply end it all?”

Malachi didn’t turn to look at her as she replied. “No.”

“Your goal is to harness Anguish’s power for yourself, right?”

“My goal is to supersede Anguish.”

“Even if that puts the entire continent at risk?”

“I fail to see how its fate concerns me.”

Rosa stared at the woman. Eventually, a tired sigh escaped her. “…So, how do we stop Anguish? Where will that leave us? And what does you superseding her actually mean?”

“The first step entails confining Anguish’s existence within you permanently, severing her connection to the Blaze from which most of her power stems. With that connection severed, she would be no more formidable than an arch demon, albeit a very old one. While she is trapped within you, she is vulnerable, and so is her citadel. From there, we will strip her of her Authority and graft it to this reflection.” Malachi gestured to the chamber around them. “This will allow it to surpass its original in the Blaze of Anguish, eventually supplanting it entirely and accepting a new master. The Astral Soulstone will allow me to take that Authority, and when I hold it, Anguish will cease to be a threat. I will be free to wield what was once hers as I see fit.”

Several seconds of silence lingered as Rosa studied the woman. For all she knew, Malachi was literally insane, but there was an undeniable conviction in her words.

“I harbor no ambition for dominion or the destruction of the Material Realm, unlike the other Viles,” the woman continued. “Our goals align nicely in that regard, Rosa. As for you, we cannot destroy Anguish entirely. That would merely return her essence to her Blaze, even with her connection severed. However, the process of stripping her Authority and supplanting her will render her a mere husk with no hold over you. Her presence may linger, but she will no longer wield the power to control or torment you as she has before.”

Rosa let that information sink in, unsure of what to make of it. This was what she had come for, but was this the path she desired to tread in order to get it? How could she be sure this was the right thing to do? Nothing about her current situation felt good. But if Malachi spoke the truth, that discomfort might only be temporary.

And most importantly, it was Scarlett who set her on this path.

“…That might be better than the alternative, but I’m not sure I like the idea of having the husk of a Vile inside me for the rest of my life,” she said.

“Fear not, dearest Rosalina, for that won’t happen,” her own voice responded, causing Rosa to freeze again. “That woman’s words are nothing but the delusions of one so deranged that they can’t distinguish between folly and mania. But I do so enjoy watching ants scuttle about in futility, willing to offer their souls for even a taste of power. It’s especially satisfying when it all ultimately benefits me.”

“Your words carry little weight when you’re trapped within that girl,” Malachi stated, attention still fixed on the dark orb.

Rosa struggled against the force controlling her body, but despite that, she erupted into a high-pitched peal of laughter that echoed through the chamber, reinforced by the menacing atmosphere. Literally. It sounded as if there were dozens of voices laughing all at once.

“You genuinely believe everything is going as you planned, the reins firmly in your grasp, don’t you?” Anguish asked. “I could not have asked for better entertainment before my descent to the Material Realm. I’m oh-so anticipating how long that composure of yours will last and the expression you’ll wear when I pluck those eyes from your skull to add to my collection.” The demon’s words dripped with an enchanting cruelty and a disturbing certainty, as though she had already witnessed the future she was describing and was merely waiting for its unfolding.

“Please tell me you can get her to leave again,” Rosa managed to press out, her voice trembling.

Malachi shook her head, not looking away from the rapidly shifting colors that were now moving around inside the orb as she manipulated it with both hands. “That will have to wait.”

“Don’t fret, my pet.” Anguish effortlessly wrested back control, as if she had simply granted Rosa that moment to speak. “There’s no need to fear little old me. After all, we’ve been together for so long, haven’t we? We’re practically family by now. So many adventures we’ve shared. So many engaging experiences. I still recall the first time I got to go out and play, all those years ago. What was the name of that village? Mapleshear, was it? Its residents were ever so friendly. I wonder if they would still remember you? Those that remain, I mean.”

Rosa clenched her jaws, unbidden memories surfacing from the depths of her mind that she never wanted to remember. “Shut up.”

“You wound me, Rosalina darling. And after I have waited for so long to have a proper chat. I feel like we should have introduced ourselves sooner.”

“I’d sooner duel ten dragons blindfolded with a spoon than engage in any conversation with you.”

Another of Anguish’s laughters left Rosa’s mouth. “Your efforts to put up a front are futile against me, my dear. I can taste all those deliciously panicked emotions coursing through you. There’s no hiding from me.”

“It seems to me that you’re the one who’s afraid here, Anguish,” Malachi spoke up. “Spare us the wailing and be quiet.”

“You think I am afraid?” Anguish asked, forcing a treacherous smile onto Rosa’s face. “Oh, you’re adorably naive. Still ignorant of the true circumstances behind the situation you believe yourself to have orchestrated. Still under the illusion that you are the one in control.”

For a brief moment, Malachi shifted her gaze from her work and to Rosa. “…And you are still trying to sow doubt and hesitation, I see. Pointless.”

“Is it? Then why don’t you ask our lovely Rosa here who she thinks is truly in control?”

With those words, Rosa felt a new awareness expand within her, reaching beyond the chamber’s confines to encompass the entire structure they were inside in less than a heartbeat. It was vast, overwhelming her at first. Then, guided and driven by an external force, this newfound awareness honed in on one specific area of the ‘citadel’, near its base. There, a red-haired woman and her entourage navigated a corridor filled with nightmarish demons.

Scarlett.

Elation, relief, anxiety, and dread swirled within Rosa all at once as she saw the noblewoman advancing even when confronted with those dangers.

There was no doubt about Scarlett’s purpose here.

“It’s quite delightful to witness your reactions around that woman,” Anguish spoke through Rosa, earning a puzzled frown from Malachi. “It’s been eons since a mere mortal has been able to contend with me as she has, and even longer since one has stirred actual frustration within me.” There was a subtle change in the demon’s tone, where her blithely sardonic demeanor momentarily vanished, only to swiftly return. “I can see why you’re so drawn to her, Rosalina dear. It’s made even more entertaining when your half-blooded associate here isn’t even aware of the existence of the true mastermind responsible for our meeting today. I can hardly contain the excitement I feel from thinking about how fun it’ll be to turn that baroness into my obedient and malleable servant.”

Suddenly, Rosa’s perception shifted, and her view of Scarlett and the others was replaced by gruesome visions of the noblewoman writhing in agony, subjected to endless bouts of torture and punishments, all to the tune of Rosa’s own twisted laughter.

“…What do you mean by that?” Malachi’s voice cut through the disturbing images.

“Hmm, now you choose to listen to my words? I suppose I can enlighten you, seeing as it’s almost pitiable to see you so ignorant,” Anguish said. “Isn’t it peculiar? How perfectly everything aligned for your quaint little coup d’état? How my incarnate conveniently found you at precisely the right moment, and how that pathetic excuse for a demon that clawed its way out of Malevolence’s pits just happened to meet its demise in a manner so fitting to your schemes?”

“The convenience of certain events does not alter my plans,” Malachi replied. As the disquieting visions Rosa had been subjected to slowly faded, she could see a scowl creasing the woman’s face.

“Certainly not. Why, convenience played right into your plans. Or rather, your plans aligned rather well with convenience. You exude such confidence in your plans, and you’re perceptive enough to detect even my concealed presence, yet you’re utterly blind to how you’re unwittingly dancing to someone else’s tune.” Anguish smiled savagely. “One must wonder whether your grand design will unfold as you anticipate.”

Malachi’s expression darkened. She turned her attention back to the Astral Soulstone one last time, making some final adjustments before placing it at the center of the sigil and rising to her feet. She started walking towards the throne, her glowing eyes locked onto Rosa.

“Did I strike a nerve?” Anguish asked in a mocking tone.

Malachi ascended the steps leading to the throne, stopping in front of it. Then she reached out and grabbed Rosa’s face with force, her sharp nails scraping against skin, and causing blood to trickle. Rosa wanted to cry out in pain, but Anguish simply chuckled in ridicule.

“Enjoy your laughter while you can, Anguish,” Malachi warned, leaning closer and looking into Rosa’s eyes. “It will be your last opportunity to do so.”

Something flashed from the woman’s hand, streaming into Rosa. Much like the first time Malachi had expelled Anguish, Rosa felt as if she was drenched by water from within, causing the Vile’s presence to recede. This time, it withdrew much further, though a fragment of the demon still lingered.

Left gasping, Rosa could only sit there, sweat running down her brow as traces of blood trailed her cheeks. Malachi studied her with a dangerous expression.

“Were there any truth to her words?” the woman asked.

Rosa blinked, still trying to collect herself and organize her thoughts. Eventually, she managed a weak shake of her head. “Can’t tell you when I ain’t got much clue myself what she was talking about.”

Nothing good would come from revealing Scarlett’s involvement.

Malachi did not entirely seem to believe her, though. “…Who told you to come find me originally?”

“Some lady from the Talonborn Circle,” Rosa said.

The woman’s gaze narrowed at her, but eventually, Malachi withdrew and returned to the sigil at the center of the chamber. “There is still work to be done before everything is ready. Do your best to stave off her return as long as possible. I would rather not endure any more of her nonsensical prattle.”

In Rosa’s mind, Anguish’s laughter continued ringing, even as she felt the Vile backing off for the time being.

“Sure, I’ll see what I can do…” she mumbled, more to herself than anything.

As her eyes lingered on Malachi’s back, she couldn’t help but wonder who was actually in control here. Malachi, Scarlett, or Anguish? Knowing what she did about each of them, it appeared that all three were convinced they held the reins to some degree.

All she could do was hope that Scarlett was the one who actually did.