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“Ah, lemme think about that! Lots of things come to mind! And you’re quite likely to not answer anything I ask later, so I gotta pick something really good! Hmm! What’s the best question to ask first?!”

“I already have mine picked out.”

“Oh, well, look at you, Mr. Prepared. Got somethin’ you’ve been wanting to ask me for a long time, eh?”

“Indeed.”

“Interesting. And you didn’t think to simply ask? Y’know, before trying to kill me?”

“The thought did cross my mind. But I discarded it.”

“How cruel. You should indulge your curiosity more. It’s a very human quality, Germy. And who knows? I might have pleasantly surprised you.”

“I doubt it.”

“Hmph. My question for you, then, is thus. What are you, really? You’re not a servant. I know that much. So tell me the truth of your existence, Liar of Lyste.”

“I’ve never cared for that name.”

“Gentleman of Palei, then.”

Germal took a long pause before answering. “I am that which you have been seeking, Demon.”

“Oh? And what is that?”

“A Primordial.”

Morgunov made no response. He just let that answer linger, thinking on it. Could that be true? This was coming from the Liar, after all. And that had been quite easily said.

Ah, but perhaps that was the trick here. Telling the truth so quickly would actually make it seem like a lie, wouldn’t it? Which would let Germal pass over it and move on to a more favorable fiction.

And if it were true, it would explain a few things. Morgunov had already come to the conclusion that the Liar had orchestrated this whole thing, which meant that the timing with Rasalased and his supposed sister had not been coincidental. It would make sense that a real Primordial would’ve had access to those two beforehand. Coordinated with them. To ambush him.

Yes.

“I don’t believe you,” Morgunov decided to say.

“How surprising. But I have answered your question. Now it is my turn.”

“I’m afraid not. We can’t move on until the question has been answered to the asker’s satisfaction. And I am far from satisfied. If what you said is true, then provide details. The term ‘Primordial’ has existed for eons. If you really are one of them, then tell me what that means to you. How do you define yourself?”

“My, my. There are any number of ways that I could answer that. If I were to ask you the same thing, to define yourself, could you do so?”

“You bet your ass I could. And if you want, I’d be more than happy to. When it’s your turn.”