Abysa goes back to leaning down, elbows on the counter and chin in his hands, and seems quiet for a little while. While only a few seconds are spent contemplating his words, the pause seems awkward and thus longer than it really is.
"Perhaps, fate sensed this venture was a selfish one. I wanted to, ah, know if humans, even evil ones, could change their ways. If given enough kindness, and patience, and guidance, that they could rehabilitate, learn compassion, and empathy and goodness. Perhaps, I especially wanted to know if an evil one could learn... If I may, I wish to tell you of my reasons in full, and it is quite a long story." Abysa stares down at his cup for a moment.
"Please do not take it as cynicism or disparaging you personally, when I say that humans are... Well, they are, so very capable, of wickedness. Perhaps it is due to the brief lives they have, or that they live in the midworld, which is so rich in magic, and in life, and everything else, that encourages their volatile natures. Perhaps it is because they are the favoured of the Heavenly Ones, and so the instinct for cruelty has become innate. And to us demons, humans are a menace, who have struck us down time after time, since the universe was young." Abysa's cup and saucer slide away from him once more, and he leans over the counter, looking back at Adia (or more or less close to where she is, it takes a brief moment for her blurred image to come into focus, like a camera lense).
"I spent my entire life working towards a mission of peace between our realms. If mortals and demons, earth and hell, could establish a truce, and even make amends, no longer would my people be forced to cling to the domains of our beloved Dark Lords for protection. Humans use demons, summoning us into their world and bound into servitude, or draining our very life to channel what they call 'black magic'. If mortals could cooperate with demons, they would no longer need to take from us, but only borrow our strength, and given the right offerings, they could call upon greater powers still without hurting and killing us.
"One Dark Lord fought me on this more than any other: my dearest Lord of War. I stood for peace, and he embodied his domain in every sense. So unalike were our goals that it delayed our courtship. And so when I went to earth, I took along my beautiful Lord War, thinking it would be a lesson for him too. I would show him that peace was not impossible, as I would show humankind too." As he finishes that last bit, Abysa shakes his head once, sadly.
"It worked, for a time. I showed humanity the benefit of cooperation, and in turn, War and I, we helped change the course of an entire civilization to exist in harmony with demons, and to prosper... I cannot stress enough, how tirelessly I worked to show humans our true selves, our capacity for kindness and generosity, how War learned to see how mortals live, and how their lives were not so different from ours. We built a great kingdom together, unified, without violence, without pillaging or oppression, and I thought then that I had succeeded where others have failed." With the way Abysa's tone grows solemn, and how he clasps his hands together while reminiscing, it's easy to tell what comes next.
"Upon the day we were meant to establish peace between that kingdom and of War's domain officially, humans betrayed us. My dearest Lord War was beheaded in front of me. They wielded holy Light, and conspired with Heavenly Ones in secret for the chance to destroy him, as he has opposed humanity without ceasing and without dying for eons. But, this was the one time he extended his hand without a blade in it, the one time I convinced him that peace could be obtained... He was so gentle, and so hopeful... We gave to them everything, and in the end, we received nothing but the ends of their blades. So in his place, I defied them, and then I too was slain." Abysa bows his head.
"I had made a grave error. Not just in trusting humans, but also in believing that they would abandon their lot as servants of the Heavens. Heavenly Light will ever scorch the body and soul of every demon, Lord to Lesser, and so mortals will always take the side that will triumph with might and force. When I discovered the Nexus, a place where the many worlds intermingled without that universal constant, I thought perhaps this was my chance. I could make peace here, I could find proof that humans are not destructive and wicked by nature, but instead predisposed to cooperation and kindness, if they could only learn..."
"And then I found Micolash, dying, on the steps of that great Library. Within him I sensed such horrors, such deep, terrible secrets... His mind broken and body failing. The perfect 'project', where I would teach him to be good as I healed his body and his spirit, and so give me renewed hope in return. Only, I went in knowing it may very well be impossible. I think part of me wanted it to be so. It would be so very easy to give up my dreams, Miss Adia. I have no reason to suffer eternally, believing I can defy the very universe, when that same universe created me with the intention of being an obstacle for humans to destroy." And hopefully, miss Adia has not fallen asleep once Abysa reaches the end of his tragic tale, for he is still leaning forward, face now tilted up to look at her. His mouth is a small line on his face, his form looking strangely meek, as his posture droops and he draws his arms close to him.
Huge Infodump Ahead
"Perhaps, fate sensed this venture was a selfish one. I wanted to, ah, know if humans, even evil ones, could change their ways. If given enough kindness, and patience, and guidance, that they could rehabilitate, learn compassion, and empathy and goodness. Perhaps, I especially wanted to know if an evil one could learn... If I may, I wish to tell you of my reasons in full, and it is quite a long story." Abysa stares down at his cup for a moment.
"Please do not take it as cynicism or disparaging you personally, when I say that humans are... Well, they are, so very capable, of wickedness. Perhaps it is due to the brief lives they have, or that they live in the midworld, which is so rich in magic, and in life, and everything else, that encourages their volatile natures. Perhaps it is because they are the favoured of the Heavenly Ones, and so the instinct for cruelty has become innate. And to us demons, humans are a menace, who have struck us down time after time, since the universe was young." Abysa's cup and saucer slide away from him once more, and he leans over the counter, looking back at Adia (or more or less close to where she is, it takes a brief moment for her blurred image to come into focus, like a camera lense).
"I spent my entire life working towards a mission of peace between our realms. If mortals and demons, earth and hell, could establish a truce, and even make amends, no longer would my people be forced to cling to the domains of our beloved Dark Lords for protection. Humans use demons, summoning us into their world and bound into servitude, or draining our very life to channel what they call 'black magic'. If mortals could cooperate with demons, they would no longer need to take from us, but only borrow our strength, and given the right offerings, they could call upon greater powers still without hurting and killing us.
"One Dark Lord fought me on this more than any other: my dearest Lord of War. I stood for peace, and he embodied his domain in every sense. So unalike were our goals that it delayed our courtship. And so when I went to earth, I took along my beautiful Lord War, thinking it would be a lesson for him too. I would show him that peace was not impossible, as I would show humankind too." As he finishes that last bit, Abysa shakes his head once, sadly.
"It worked, for a time. I showed humanity the benefit of cooperation, and in turn, War and I, we helped change the course of an entire civilization to exist in harmony with demons, and to prosper... I cannot stress enough, how tirelessly I worked to show humans our true selves, our capacity for kindness and generosity, how War learned to see how mortals live, and how their lives were not so different from ours. We built a great kingdom together, unified, without violence, without pillaging or oppression, and I thought then that I had succeeded where others have failed." With the way Abysa's tone grows solemn, and how he clasps his hands together while reminiscing, it's easy to tell what comes next.
"Upon the day we were meant to establish peace between that kingdom and of War's domain officially, humans betrayed us. My dearest Lord War was beheaded in front of me. They wielded holy Light, and conspired with Heavenly Ones in secret for the chance to destroy him, as he has opposed humanity without ceasing and without dying for eons. But, this was the one time he extended his hand without a blade in it, the one time I convinced him that peace could be obtained... He was so gentle, and so hopeful... We gave to them everything, and in the end, we received nothing but the ends of their blades. So in his place, I defied them, and then I too was slain." Abysa bows his head.
"I had made a grave error. Not just in trusting humans, but also in believing that they would abandon their lot as servants of the Heavens. Heavenly Light will ever scorch the body and soul of every demon, Lord to Lesser, and so mortals will always take the side that will triumph with might and force. When I discovered the Nexus, a place where the many worlds intermingled without that universal constant, I thought perhaps this was my chance. I could make peace here, I could find proof that humans are not destructive and wicked by nature, but instead predisposed to cooperation and kindness, if they could only learn..."
"And then I found Micolash, dying, on the steps of that great Library. Within him I sensed such horrors, such deep, terrible secrets... His mind broken and body failing. The perfect 'project', where I would teach him to be good as I healed his body and his spirit, and so give me renewed hope in return. Only, I went in knowing it may very well be impossible. I think part of me wanted it to be so. It would be so very easy to give up my dreams, Miss Adia. I have no reason to suffer eternally, believing I can defy the very universe, when that same universe created me with the intention of being an obstacle for humans to destroy." And hopefully, miss Adia has not fallen asleep once Abysa reaches the end of his tragic tale, for he is still leaning forward, face now tilted up to look at her. His mouth is a small line on his face, his form looking strangely meek, as his posture droops and he draws his arms close to him.