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‘What work is so important that it requires the Demon be kept alive?’ asked Germal. ‘That man is an existential threat to our kind, Master.’

Gohvis-Aeha cocked an eyebrow at that but said nothing. There was no reason to answer Germal’s question, especially after getting a glimpse of just how much the Liar had been hiding from him this whole time.

Germal kept going. ‘If you do not kill him now, then you will have to do so sooner or later. It is inevitable, Master. And it will only become more difficult the longer we wait, as he continues to develop new technological menaces. You have seen what his “Roberts” are capable of firsthand, yes? Imagine how much more trouble they will become in even just twenty years, if he continues to refine them.’

The draconic projection wanted to laugh. ‘What makes you think he is a threat to our kind?’

‘I don’t think--’

He felt the Liar twist and flail in his grip. If he didn’t know better, he might’ve thought the man was trying to wriggle free.

There was no risk of that, though, and Germal would have known that.

No, this was something else.

The personalities were fighting again.

The Prime had seen this many times, though not in recent years. It had been particularly prevalent at the beginning of Germal’s apprenticeship, to the point where the Prime had labored daily with the boy for months in order to help him get his mind under control.

When the thrashing stopped, psychic laughter arrived. ‘Give up, you abominable fool! It’s my win! The Mad Demon is forever against you now! Forever on OUR side!’ And the laughter continued.

What in the world? That voice wasn’t talking to him, Gohvis-Aeha felt. Both personalities within Germal revered the Prime and would never speak to him in such a manner.

He might’ve liked to hear what the other personality had to say in response, but this one seemed to be in full control, at the moment, so there was no hope of that.

‘Ah! Master! Apologies! Please don’t mind my gloating.’ A few chortles still persisted, however.

‘You seem quite pleased with yourself.’

‘Oh, if only you knew, Master. How I wish I could explain everything in its entirety! But I lack the words. And the cohesion. And the time. Oh, the time. The damn time! It’s never enough, Master! Never!’