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((The Father's Day Special -- page 4 of 24))
"Why do you have to kill people for their souls, though?" said Lord Goffe. "There are plenty of humans dying of natural causes every single day."

"Ah. You would have me be like your reapers?" said Chort. Its form seemed to finally be coalescing into that of a giant toad. It, too, had far more legs than was normal, but instead of two heads like the horse, the toad had a half-dozen eyes and multiple tongues.

"Not exactly," said Lord Goffe. "I'm just... trying to understand."

"How could I possibly teach humans of their ignorance if I am not the one taking their lives?"

"...Is that it?" said Lord Goffe. "That's your only justification?"

Pauline could feel his aura grow still hotter.

"You speak as if I need more," said Chort.

"You do." And the Lord of Warrenhold's voice as he spoke those words was abruptly more grave than anything he had yet said. They seemed to resonate with his aura, carrying more heavily through the air and even making Pauline's avian bones tingle slightly.

Surely, the Beast of Lorent must have felt that as well, no? Unless its own aura was shielding it too much.

Whatever the case, the monster took another moment to respond. At the very least, it must've been able to sense the fluctuation in the opposing aura, even if it couldn't personally feel the effects.

"...In truth, yes, there is more," said Chort. "A soul that has already been rent from its accompanying flesh cannot serve as a yolk for my spawn. As the shell of an egg, the body is also necessary." And when Lord Goffe made no immediate response, the Beast continued, "I cannot see why such details should matter to you, but that is also characteristic of an archiver. The end result is the same, either way. Humans dying. You would be upset with me regardless, would you not?"