"Gratitude" of the liberated creature...

A magical glow illuminates this underground room.

Flashes and clots of energy pierce the space.

The bluish tint mixes with purple and blood red...

You and the half-orc squint, covering your eyes.

The atmosphere in the room becomes more and more heavy - it’s like an invisible pressure on the mind, on the will and on the body.

It becomes more difficult to breathe.

You feel some liquid flowing from your eyes.

If you had the strength to touch your cheek, you would understand that the color of this liquid is red...

Oolok groan of pain.

It seems that he feels about the same as you.

You both fall to your knees.

The demon examines your bodies with a sense of superiority and... with a sense of possessive complacency.

The powerful will of this creature continues to probe your consciousness and your memories. Obviously, the demon perceives you as a source of information - he simply “reads” you like a book. He is not interested in all sorts of little things like your consent...

A voice in your head continues to sound, a voice that is alien to this world: "So, what interesting things have happened over the past seven hundred years during my **** absence? ...The Elven Empire of the Diamond Throne has perished! What good news! The Archmages of the Imperial Court carefully planned my capture in order to obtain an additional supply of magical energy that could be exploited for centuries. And in the end, their empire was split into pitiful fragments! Ha! Ha! Ha! The only thing I regret is that I was not able to personally participate in the collapse of the elven empire... However, I can have fun destroying the pathetic descendants of the destroyed elven greatness. And in this pleasant pastime two servants will help me - this half-orc and YOU, half-elven bastard!"

You and Oolok are lying on the stone floor.

Your gaze notices that the stone under the demon’s feet is slowly melting...

Waves of powerful demonic aura make you feel pain in your head...

You groan from this pain and can barely restrain yourself from screaming.

In your mind you formulate the words: “Hyureeno... My elven relatives... Are they the ones who captivated you many centuries ago?”

The demon laughs.

His answer is: “Of course not! This was done by much more powerful elven archmages! But I... have a “special” attitude towards elves... If there are still elves in this world, then I will find entertainment for myself! Ha! Ha! However, judging by your fragmentary memories, I can say that your elven relatives turned out to be quite inventive magicians. They were planning to perform a complex necromantic ritual in which you were to be one of the victims. Ritual of Endless Night. The ritual of becoming a lich. The goal is quite clear - these pathetic elves crave immortality. They are disheartened by the decline and shortening of elven lifespan following the collapse of the Empire of the Diamond Throne. Well, soon I will show them that their fear of d e a t h was not unfounded at all! Ha! Ha!"

Your gaze again rests on a strange transparent vessel that emits a light bluish glow.

The demon holds a vessel in his hands.

And he notices your interest.

A mocking voice sounds in your mind in sync with the demon's speech in a mysterious ancient language: “Wow! You have ambitions to become the “liberator of these souls!” Well, I'm ready to reward the one who helped me! You can consider this my first gift!”

The demon throws the vessel at your feet and the vessel breaks into small fragments.

A flash of bluish glow engulfs your body.

A sharp pain shoots through your body. You seem to feel the howls and groans of hundreds of dead people who have lost their minds from centuries of being in magical captivity and from torment that probably seemed like an eternity to them.

When the flash disappears, you feel your face with a trembling hand.

Fragments of your face are reflected in the fragments - you notice that gray hair has appeared among your fiery red hair... And your face now has several wrinkles in the forehead area...

The demon says gloatingly: “These souls are now free. I generously fulfilled your wish and did not devour them. However, what awaits these souls after liberation? Will they be able to “enjoy” freedom? How did centuries of torment change these souls? These are all questions that are difficult to answer... But you didn’t think about it - you wanted their release! Ha! Ha! Ha!"

The premonition that your actions have led to terrifying consequences pierces your mind, weakened by pain...

Suddenly, your body and the half-orc's body fly up.

This is similar to the effect of a levitating spell.

You notice the look in Oolok's eyes, which reflects an all-consuming horror.

The demon's claws touch your chest and the half-orc's chest.

You both scream in pain.

It is like burning living flesh with a white-hot iron.

The triumphant laughter of the demon in your mind is the last thing you are aware of before losing consciousness from pain and horror.