Page 20 of Demon Lord's Proposal

She frowns, not looking up from her work. "Not much. I overhear things in the bar sometimes, but it's all pretty vague. Why?"

I grunt noncommittally. "It pays to stay informed. Especially for someone in your... unique position."

Sage's hands falter for a moment, nearly upsetting her cauldron. "My position? What's that supposed to mean?"

Before I can answer, she curses under her breath. The elixir before her is bubbling erratically, tendrils of dark energy lashing out from its surface.

"Careful!" I bark, reaching out to steady the cauldron. "You need to maintain absolute focus. One slip and-"

The mixture explodes in a flash of blinding light and acrid smoke. When it clears, Sage is standing there, coughing and covered in glittering residue.

I glower at her, my voice low and dangerous. "That kind of mistake could get you killed. Or worse."

Sage meets my gaze, her chin lifted defiantly despite the flush of embarrassment on her cheeks. "I know. I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

"See that it doesn't," I growl. "Now, clean this up and start again. This time, I want you to do it under pressure."

Her eyes widen. "Under pressure? How-"

I snap my fingers, and suddenly the lab is filled with illusory flames and the echoing roars of demonic beasts. Sage yelps, stumbling back.

"What the hell, Deus?"

"You think you'll always have the luxury of a quiet lab?" I snarl, circling her as she scrambles to gather ingredients. "You need to be able to work under any conditions. Now, get to it!"

As Sage works, her movements growing more assured despite the chaos around her, I feel a flicker of... something. Pride? Concern? Before I can examine the feeling too closely, a sharp pain lances through my skull.

I grunt, pressing a hand to my temple. A vision flashes before my eyes – the elder demon council, their faces twisted with rage and fear. Their voices echo in my mind: "The hexeblood must be contained. She's becoming too powerful, too quickly."

I shake my head, dispelling the vision. When I focus again on the lab, Sage is holding up a vial of perfectly crafted elixir, her face flushed with triumph.

"I did it!" she exclaims, grinning widely. "Even with all the... distractions."

I nod curtly, pushing aside my unease. "Adequate. But don't let it go to your head. We're far from finished."

Sage's smile falters slightly, but she nods, setting the vial down carefully. "What's next?"

I turn to a locked cabinet in the corner of the lab, my fingers tracing the intricate demonic sigils that keep it sealed. With a whispered word, it swings open, revealing row upon row of wickedly gleaming instruments.

"Next," I say, my voice low. "We move beyond mere creation. It's time you learned how to weaponize your skills."

Sage's eyes widen as I lay out an array of alchemical weapons on the workbench. "Weaponize? But I thought... I mean, isn't the bar about bringing people together? Why would we need weapons?"

I fix her with a hard stare. "The underworld isn't all parties and pleasure, sweet darlin. There are forces at work that would see us destroyed. You need to be prepared."

She frowns, picking up a delicate glass orb filled with swirling, iridescent liquid. "What kind of forces? Deus, what aren't you telling me?"

I clench my jaw, torn between the need to protect her and the growing realization that keeping her in the dark might be more dangerous. "There are... factions in the underworld who see your rise as a threat. Your power, your potential – it scares them."

Sage sets down the orb, her expression hardening. "And you're only telling me this now? After months of training?"

"I had hoped..." I begin, then shake my head. "It doesn't matter. It’s more complicated than you could understand. What matters is that you're ready for whatever comes."

She steps closer, her eyes searching mine. "Ready for what, exactly? Deus, please. If I'm in danger, I need to know."

For a moment, I'm tempted to tell her everything – about the angels who simply cannot bear this place's existence, the demon council who are also breathing down our necks. But as I look at her, I see not just the powerful alchemist she's become, but the vulnerable soul I pulled from the brink of oblivion.

The soul I've grown to... care for.

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