Kalvara could barely breathe but still let out a struggling smirk, "Go ahead. I don't blame you."
"You bastard!" the urge to squeeze harder rushed through him. To end Kalvara's life. As he was now, it would be all too easy to snap his neck and unlike the Ever-Garden's mercenaries he'd never come back. But through it all Kyle couldn't do it and instead his grip loosened. "You made me kill them! Again and again you kept putting me in that damn pit. I'll never forget their jeers. The pain of killing people just like me, people who had no choice but to fight and yet- and yet-... I can't do it."
He had them. The memories of Estile as her original self. The pain of close to a century's torment. How she chased Kalvara down. How she ended the devil's oppression with the others and finally as she had Kalvara right where she wanted him, how she couldn't end his life. The reason wasn't simple, but in the end, if it weren't for Kalvara, Estile would have died a long time ago. In his own messed up way he had protected her from the other Archdevils. Her fights in the pit continued to push her but were never impossible and slowly with time she grew powerful. In the end Kalvara released her with a smile, confident she would be able to live. At the time there was no way to know if she would return to life after death. For all of that, the Estile back then and the Estile now, the boy named Kyle, couldn't kill Kalvara.
"Kyle!" the moment in time ended as Lillia pulled him off. The girl herself too shocked to have reacted sooner. "We need him alive."
Kyle fell to the floor his hands shaking, "Sorry... I just had a rather tense moment."
Kalvara rose back to her seated posture and rubbed her neck, "That's fine. I can tell it hasn't been long since you realised who you are. The memories are strong. Truth be told that's half the fun when I meet you. I always have to wonder if it's the last time."
Still shaking Kyle managed to sit back on the couch, his breathing irregular. With a foreign compassion unknown to them, Kalvara stood and taking a jug of water from the shelf poured each of them a drink.
"Thank you...," Kyle couldn't look her in the eye. "So, why are you here? This isn't quite your cup of tea is it?"
She laughed and took a drink from her own cup, "No, this whole thing has been a rather eye opening experience. Truth be told it all started exactly as you probably would have expected. The world was going to shit and I saw an opportunity. I could kidnap as many people as I wanted and raise them to worship me. So I did."
"You're a real arsehole," Lillia had to comment.
"True I was," Kalvara smiled reminiscing the past. "But then I made a mistake. The people I kidnapped, those I could find, they were children and the elderly. The plan was perfect. The old ones would die off and the young ones would treat me like a god." Her expression skewed, "In the end however they never treated me like a god... they treated me like a parent." A tired but pleasant sigh escaped her lips.
"And then you grew attached...?" Kyle asked, not sure how to react at the sight of this different Archdevil.
"And then I grew attached!" Kalvara repeated oddly exasperated. "In the past I would have ordered my servants to do it for me but thanks to you lot I had none! At first I was harsh, cruel even but then overtime...," her voice grew softer, "overtime I got to know each and every one of them. Then the years passed and they had children of their own and I looked after them as well, so on so forth yada yada, the story is as sappy as you'd believe."
"Do you regret it?" Kyle had to ask.
"No...," Kalvara smiled only for it to fade. "But when I think back all those years ago, what I did to you in that pit.... I know nothing I do will ever make amends for that time. But I wonder what would have happened if I had been kinder, if I had helped you, where would our relationship have gone?"
"There's no point thinking about that," Lillia declared bluntly.
Kalvara looked down disheartened, "You're right, sorry."
"No I didn't mean to hurt you that time," Lillia said apologetically. "I mean that it would have been impossible back then. Devils and the other races were basically at war. Even if you had helped Estile back then, been kinder, your own race would have hunted you down for it."
A smirk split Kalvara's lips, "To think there would come a day where you would comfort me."
"As long as you keep your hands off my girl then I'll comfort you all you want."
Her eyes widened as she pointed to them, "You two?"
"You bet," Lillia latched onto Kyle beside her. "I won."
Kalvara released a powerful laugh, "To think all those years and I would have had a better chance in my original form. Half the reason I changed my appearance was because I thought it suited your tastes dear Estile."
Having the two look at him so intently caused Kyle to redden and he quickly chose to change the topic, "Let's get back to the devils. What happened? Your story didn't include them but I saw plenty outside."
Kalvara frowned, "Like you did we, the Archdevils, made a mistake. When the world went to hell we voted and chose to step back. All the devil tribes across the world went into hibernation. In the end it killed most of us."
"The demons found you...," Lillia said softly.
"Yes. They broke through our barriers and attacked where we didn't think possible. I was fine as I never slept. By the time I realised what had happened, most the tribes were gone and all that remained were children who had managed to avoid the demons eyes."
"And the Archdevils?" Kyle asked.
"Even we cannot fight against a never ending enemy. That I know of, I am the last one left." Kalvara sighed, "But perhaps that was for the better. The devils here have been raised to know better of the world. To exist in peace." With a shake she continued, "But enough of the past. You're here for more important business."
"We are," Kyle firmed himself as the mood turned. The minutes passed by quickly as Kyle explained what had happened, giving a brief overview of the world on their side and the threat Philius had become.
In the end Kalvara was in deep thought, "The fog has indeed been turbulent lately. I have felt a strain of energy I haven't experienced in near four hundred years now."
"And if Philius is able to create a false god whether it's him or his lackeys were going to be in deep trouble," Lillia huffed but then straightened herself and looked at Kalvara suspiciously. "Though you weren't very surprised when we told you everything."
"Ah about that," Kalvara smiled. "It seems he didn't tell you but your friend Riften appeared here about half a year ago so most what you told me wasn't new."
"That sneaky bastard!" Kyle stood up. "Oh I knew he was hiding something."
"Yes, and he had a particular guest that was quite interesting. The devil child he travelled with has quite the potential and it's because of her that he managed to find me."
"When I get back I'm going to wring him a new one! How could he not tell me about you?"
"Maybe because you'd try to kill me?"
"Well... yeah but I didn't," he sat back down. "Whatever, I'll deal with him later. For now, can you do it? Could you drop us where Philius is?"
Kalvara stroked her chin, "Perhaps, but there are problems. To find him I would need to be able to track a significant pulse of magic. Which would only happen after he achieved his goal or near to it."
"That... if it comes to that it will have to do."
"Yes, but the other problem remains with me," Kalvara pointed to herself, to her current form. "As you can see I'm not at all like my previous magnificent self."
"I actually like you better as a women," Lillia chirped in. "I don't want to punch you in the face as much."
"Thank you," Kalvara took the odd compliment with a raised brow. "The reason I am like this is because of this world. Unlike your home, this place, this world, is almost entirely sustained by my magic. 99% of my strength goes into keeping this world afloat."
Kyle nodded in understanding, "So that's why everything was so orderly. If it's not efficient you wouldn't be able to keep it together."
"Correct, due to it I have to begrudgingly admit that my past chaotic ways were quite uncivilised, though they were fun." Kalvara's expression turned dear as she looked out the window behind them. "The more people there are, the more space we need, as much as I want to let them flourish, my strength does have its limits."
"So you want us to do something?" Kyle asked.
"More than something. I want to join this world with yours."
"Oh hell no," Lillia spat. "How do we know this isn't a trap?"
"I promise you that I have no ulterior motive other than the lives of my people." She looked at them seriously, "If I die, everyone here will be left to the fog. Though we have our own strength to fight off our incursions, most the people here are ordinary as they come. So please help us. If you do, I will assist you to my utmost."
Seeing Kalvara's sincerity sent a mixture of emotions into Kyle's brain. A large part wanted to vomit at her change in personality, but a larger part trusted her. Kalvara never lied. That was his stick no matter what happened. And personally as Estile, Kyle knew just how people could change. How could he not give Kalvara a chance?
"We'll help," Kyle said firmly. "I'm not sure how, but Arvel may know better."
"My utmost thanks Estile," Kalvara bowed her head.
Kyle stood over him, "But if you cross us. I will end you."
"And if for whatever reason I do, I'd want you to be the one to do it," she smiled in reply.
Lillia looked between them, uncomfortable with the strange intimacy they had. She cleared her throat, bringing their attention back, "So we'll help each other. For now however we should head back. Kyle how are we heading back?"
"Ah, well, when Arvel finds the letter I left him I'm sure he'll figure it out," he looked away sheepishly.
"That's it?" she looked at him aghast, "Leaving it to Arvel was your grand plan?"
"I did leave roundabout instructions too...."
"I can't believe I'm in love with you," she huffed. "But I am, so I'll leave it at that." She turned to face the devil sitting in front of them. "Hey Kalvara seeing as we don't know how long we'll be here, we're going to need a room. A private one. Also what's this places best restaurant? Someone owes me dinner and a date."
"I suppose I can't come with you?" Kalvara asked despite clearly knowing the answer.
To the surprise of both Kalvara and Kyle however Lillia frowned, "You can come for dinner but that's it!"
"Then allow me to be your escort for the evening," Kalvara stood up. "We do suffer a lack of meat around here but that's only made our cuisine much more creative."
"I look forward to it," with a smile Kyle and the two left the office.