Ask what he wants

"I don't know what you would want, but if i have it, it's your's."

Arakarin raised what would be an eyebrow. "Hmm...actually, there is something i want from you. Tell me, have you heard of a being called Stradi?"

"Stradi, the Genocidal? I-i have." Sagus swallowed, knowing what the demon would ask of him.

"His axe. Take it from him, and give it to me. Do it, and she's your's. Oh, and i think i will take you up on that 'stop chasing me' offer. It will bring me a smile to know how badly you want to kill me but can't."

"So, when i bring you Stradi's axe...you'll give me Marianne back, alive and under her own control? As she was before dying, with no tricks?"

"Don't worry, i won't give her back with amnesia or anything like that."

"How do i know i can trust your word?"

"A good question. How can one trust a demon, much less the demon-king of all Tyren? I'll tell you what i will do. I will give you your woman back right now, so she can help you search. After all, her ability to talk to wandering souls essentially lets her look at the world. With her help, it should be simple tracking down Stradi, shouldn't it?"

"This can't be an honest trade! I know you're going to try something with her or with the rest of us."

Arakarin smirked. "So egotistical. You really think you and your servants are worth more, or are even comparable in value, to that weapon? I feel lowered even speaking to you. If i didn't enjoy that pained, angry face you make, i wouldn't have even bothered waking this woman. Stradi, however, is important to me. Or his axe is, anyway."

"Why? What is it about that axe that makes it worth more than the four of us?"

"You ask a lot of questions for being the one who wants his friend returned. But, alright. I'll put it simply: Stradi and that axe are a threat. You and your party are not. Do you understand?"

"You're asking me to remove what you see as the only thing that can stop you from destroying this world."

"Heh-heh-heh. Whatever makes you think i want to destroy the world? I only want to destroy the people."

"That's the same thing!"

"Hardly. Hm! Egotistical AND short-sighted. If the rest of your people weren't slightly more stupid than you, i would wonder why you survived past infancy. The planet is the important thing. The humans who feed upon it are a passing phase. A cosmic 24-hour illness."

"And then what? What will killing everyone achieve?!"

"You ARE full of questions today, aren't you? Very well. Since i don't get many chances, and since i'm not going to be able to have my way with her, i see no harm in letting you in on things."