Speak with the prisoners.

The dungeon of Castle Phoenix is separated into two levels, with a large opening in the center leading between. When you first saw this place, you were met with two buzzing guards, though now these prison cells are yours. While you may have not used them often, now three important individuals are sealed within--Meti the djinn, Ariusia the mantidae insectrin, and Anastasia the cleric, all of which were servants of Elok Daven while he still lived. You're unsure of what exactly you're to do with them, though you supposed that all depends on how they act next.

You run your hand along the railing upon the upper level as you near the first cell. A woman rests on her knees within--hands bound by manacles. She's incredibly beautiful, albeit sad in the darkness of the dungeon, and as you near, all three of her eyes glance upward. Torchlight bathes her in a warm, flickering glow. Djinn are rare. Many are hunted, so few remain, and one is in your possession. Though unlike the others under Elok, she's stood out as a woman of mystery. She's the entire reason you were able to find him in the final battle after all. You're not sure what to think.

"It's over. You should all know that," you say. After you approach, you slowly curl your fingers around one of the metal bars and stare between at the captive within. The two other women aren't inside, but they are one and two cells over. They can definitely hear you speak. "What I want to know is why you'd serve him. Elok Daven was a madman hellbent on taking over the world. That's some real villain shit. And Breiah? I have no idea. She created a monster, and I doubt it'll be the last. So why then? And why did you help me during the invasion?"

The chains of her manacles ring together as she stands up onto her feet. "I can't atone for all I've done for him. If you wish to keep me imprisoned for the rest of my days, I have no argument to defend myself. At least here I'll be safe."

"You can feel sorry for yourself all you'd like, but you didn't answer my question."

The bars of the adjacent cell shake as Ariusia grabs the bars. Her wrists are bound just as Meti's, and the blade-like appendages protruding from her back are as well. "Maybe we just wanted an excuse to cut some people up, huh? Did you ever think of that?" she blurts out with widened eyes.

You glance to the farther cell upon hearing the sound of movement, but Anastasia doesn't speak. Slowly, your eyes return to the djinn. "Meti. Please tell me the truth. You're already sealed away in here. You spoke of being safe. Is there something you fear?"

She steps closer, though only partly. Her eyes trail off to the side. "Does it matter? I made my own decisions. What's done is done."

"It matters to me," you reply.

"... A man," she whispers. Then she shakes her head. "No, a monster. There cannot be a man beneath the armour. Years ago, I met both Breiah and Elok when they saved me from a murderer. Those two had incredible charisma and ambitions. At first, I wanted to follow, but over time, I did so because the alternative was to live a life of fear, and then ****. Somebody hunts me. There was no other I could trust to keep me alive."

"I know djinn have it difficult. They're seen as walking treasure hoards. In my time here, I still haven't seen a second one. Yes, an apology won't fix things. I don't know all you've done, but for what I do, I can't ask for a hug and a handshake and say we're even. But more than one person here at Castle Phoenix has been at least briefly my opponent. I understand why you did what you did. So while you said you can't atone, I'd argue you must. Start by answering any question I have, and in time... Well, you won't be the first person we've saved from an evil boss, and you won't be the last."

"What about me~?" asks Ariusia. "I'm sorry too. Let me go and I totally promise not to cut you up."

You remove your hand from the bar, and take a short stroll over to the next cell over. The mantis girl stares up at you from the ground. "I don't believe you. And I think you're hiding more from me."

"Excuse me?" She slowly pulls herself up onto a knee, and then to her feet as she meets your eyes a mere foot apart. "Are you calling me a liar?"

"You're suggesting you took orders from those two because they let you cut people? What does that even mean? You could do that on your own--"

"I didn't know!" screams the voice of Anastasia.

You stop talking and listen to the sound of sobbing from the next cell. At first, you don't respond, but you step quietly over to peer between the bars. The cleric remains in the center of the room with her knees pulled up against her armoured chest. She notices your presence after a moment, and stares up with watery eyes. Her hands are bound as well, and her weapons have been taken, though she's still garbed in the same modest suit she always wears. It's still a strange sight after spending so much time in Abso. Most adventurers wear more flamboyant, badass, or sexy outfits, like costumes one would only see in fantasy, though she's dressed like an actual warrior straight out of the Middle Ages. The Kingdom of Varat is certainly a different place.

You let out a long sigh. "I'm all ears if you want to explain. Then maybe you can apologize to Mela for trying to exorcize her."

She sniffles and wipes her hands over her eyes. "He lied. Both of them lied to me. They said--" She takes in a deep, stuttering breath. "How will Lasis ever forgive me?"

"What did they say?" you ask, leaning forward with both arms against the prison bars.

"I was always told there was a darkness in Tivera. They always refused the welcoming hand of Lasis. The queen. The people. Some in Varat say they're unable to be helped, but I never agreed with that. When Lady Breiah and Lord Daven spoke to me of their plans, to purify the hand, and--"

"Excuses. All of this crap," says the mantis to your left. "Just admit you wanted to kick some ass."

"No!" Anastasia yells. She clears her throat, and just like the others, she pulls herself up. There she stares with a piercing gaze--wrists bound in front of her waist. "I am Anastasia Phairgem, noble cleric of Varat, and I would have never helped those two if I knew what was to come. So much **** and destruction. The true darkness was around me the entire time. I believed their lies, and I fell for their promises. Now that I stand here before you, Demon King, I still know not who to trust. But after all I've done, how can I return to my homeland?"

"From what I know of Varat, this empire is probably pretty weird and different for you, but we're all just people like you'd see anywhere else. You're right. Elok Daven wanted to spread darkness here and beyond. So listen to the same words I said to Meti. Atone by answering my questions."

"But you're still the Demon King of these lands. One villain has simply defeated another."

"Do you really believe that?"

"... I don't know." She turns and walks to the best in the corner. With a squeak of the mattress, she sits down and sighs. "Like I said, it's hard to know what to believe right now."

You make your way back to the railing, and you look back and forth across the three cells before you. "I'm still trying to figure you out, Ariusia, but regardless, I think all three of you have been manipulated in one way or another, whether you admit it or not. I don't plan to lock someone up in my dungeons for the rest of their life. So talk. Meti, who was trying to kill you?"

She leans against the wall near the bars and stares down between her feet. "He's called the Eldritch Knight."

"A real legend, far south," Ariusia interrupts. "Some call him an adventurer, others a hunter, and the rest a murderer."

Meti continues. "I don't know what drives him, but he seeks out monsters, or so to speak, and slays them in search of magical treasures. The only reason I know the latter is true is because his body is covered in various enchanted items, from weapons to trinkets. I can only assume his suit of armour is magic in some way as well. Therefore, the idea of slaying a djinn is most appetizing to him. As Ariusia said, he's something of a legend. I haven't heard of him coming to Tivera, but I fear it could happen one day."

"Does he serve a Demon King?" you ask.

"I don't know. I'm sorry."

"You know, if we're gonna be fighting the Eldritch Knight, feel free to let me out even temporarily," says the mantis. "I'd love to see how well I'd actually do."

"You'd have no chance," Meti replies. "Especially after hearing of your recent defeat."

The blades from her back strain in their binding. "Are you saying I'm weak?"

You cross your arms and ponder silently for a moment. "You're all staying down here for a little bit longer, but after I've finished with a few things, I will return. Then we'll decide what's next. In the meantime, think up anything important you'd like to share with me. If you fear someone coming for you, I'll keep you safe. If Elok Daven manipulated you, forget your pride for a moment and tell me. And yes, if Breiah re-emerges and causes us trouble, we will defeat her. Call me Demon King all you'd like, but I'm just a guy, and I think they're going with a different title now anyway. We're a sovereign nation, recognized by the queen herself."

Anastasia perks up. "So what then do you they call you?"

"Hero King, apparently."

Ariusia bursts into a fit of laughter. "So you stole a title from old Thadius, huh? I wonder where he ran off to. I never really liked that guy."

"... Hero King," the cleric repeats under her breath. "That's quite the gift, to be given such a name."

"It'll probably grow on me," you reply. "So I'll be back. Someone will be down here occasionally to check in. Also, don't try to escape. It's more dangerous for any of you to be roaming around in the mountains than being in here, and I'm not planning on any executions." Then with a wave of your hand, you leave the three behind once again as you make your way back up the stairs to the castle.