Hike to the top.

The climb is cold and exhausting. You, Amara, and Niki tread through the heavy snow, and definitely none of you are dressed for the occasion, especially the girls. Fortunately, it only takes about ten minutes to make it the rest of the way. You turn up the spiralling path to finally set eyes on the top of Areochi, supposedly the tallest point within the Pecho Peaks. Though you can feel yourself getting lightheaded. You're not sure if it's from the temperature, the walking, or the thinness of the air, but if there's going to be a whole meeting up here, you wonder how others will fare.

Your question is answered quite quickly. The mountain plateaus at the peak--near perfectly flat. In the center you see no snow at all. There are yellow glowing orbs atop wooden pikes set up in a circle around a huge area, and within it, it's perfectly green. You also see a large wooden table with a couple dozen chairs. There are already a few figures present as well, and they seem rather comfortable.

The first person you see is the short devil girl Lady Vex with her feet up on the table and her arms behind her head. She tips the seat back and looks to you as you approach. Her two allies are still present as well--Kashura and Masumi.

You pass through the circle and immediately you can breath. It's warm, like a pleasant spring afternoon. "That's so much better," you say.

"I know, right?" Vex wiggles her toes. "Froze my tits off out there."

"So that's where they went." Niki laughs.

You're a devil though.

"What?!" The legs of her seat slam down against the grass as she pulls it forward. But then she looks to the side, and notices Masumi chuckling quietly to herself.

The fox looks over. "Ah... I apologize."

"You better. I swear, I--" She stops mid-sentence and casts her eyes up to the sky in silence.

You follow her gaze and spot what distracted her. There's a small island with a fortress on top floating in the distance and it looks to be coming this way. It's the same one you saw when William came to help take down Sa'dis. "I guess he's coming too," you say.

Kashura stands up suddenly. "You know the one that lives in such a fantastic home?"

Vex glares. "You better not be getting jealous of another Demon King."

You move forward to pull up a seat. "I think I do, yeah."

Niki plops down in the chair before you can. "Thanks! And yeah. That's definitely that William guy up there. What's his deal anyway? He helped us out and vanished. I don't really trust him myself."

You grab the spot to her right.

"I understand your feelings." Amara pulls up a seat next, sandwiching you between them. "Though I do not suggest making enemies while we are here. He just as likely may be an ally."

There's a tent in the distance. You barely noticed it before. The white canvas nearly makes it invisible, it rests partially obscured by a boulder, and the only light in the area comes from the moon and stars. The opening moves and it draws your attention, and you watch closely as a figure emerges from within. It makes its way in the direction of the table. Your eyes widen as you take in the view of a young lady, but your surprise isn't because she's lovely.

She's dressed in a suit not too different than Yin's, but it's her body that catches your attention. She has pale brown skin that resembles wood, short green hair pulled back into a mobcap, and her eyes are a vibrant cyan. Her appearance is incredibly familiar. The girl enters the circle with a platter of treats in both hands, and she walks silently to the table to place them down. There are all sorts of sweets--glazed, chocolate-covered, and more.

"... Alice?" you mutter.

Her eyes turn as she stands back up straight. "You know what I am called. Interesting." Even her manner of speech is similar.

"That is not Alice," Amara says.

Niki furls her brow. "The heck is going on here?"

It can't be. I have a bad feeling about this.

"Don't mind if I do~!" Vex leans forward and snags a few treats with a lick of her lips.

Niki immediately responds with the same. She grab at snacks and begins munching straight away.

Vex grabs another. "Don't hog them all!"

"You're hogging!" Niki shouts back as crumbs fly from her mouth.

Masumi chuckles. "Ah... It is like the lunchroom table at a school."

Is Vex really the Demon King between them? I'd never have guessed unless they told me.