"To earn the devil's mercy, you must play the devil's game of temptation, crime, or death."
Keifa pointed her staff at Naki, her face tensed into a frown
"However, note this! The devil tempts its victims into corruption precisely with this promise of great power."
"The moment you succumb to this, and take another's life is the moment our paths shall diverge, and we shall become enemies - do I make myself clear, Devil child?" Keifa warned
The threat shook Naki, but it was one he saw coming.
"I suppose you would make a pretty bad divine goddess if you condone acts of the devil."
"Don't get me wrong. I still have use of you, and having Lucille claim your soul would not help me escape the eternal cycle of reincarnation I've been wrunged in."
She pulled her staff away and let out a sly smile that betrayed her nature as a goddess.
"I intend to end this cycle in the 80th attempt."
"If I must cast away a part of my divinity to do so, then so be it," she said with sincerity.
"Hoooh, it appears you're fully prepared to play the devil's game yourself," said Naki, mouth gaping. He did not expect to hear that from a goddess.
"Yes, and so should you."
She directed her attention to the system's interface once again
"Swipe to the right once more, there's important information about the Devil's seal you should be aware of."
Naki hesitated for a moment; the wound on his index finger had barely recovered from the previous swipe.
He opted for the tall finger this time and swiped. Pulling away immediately as the interface changed.
"Grargh! Why the hell does this hurt so much!" he grumbled.
"Focus!" Keifa commanded
2 fingers down, but there was new information on display
In the interface, there was an image of an egg.
The very same grim-looking egg Zickler saw within Naki.
He stuttered back at the sight of it, it looked truly grotesque and could be argued far from an egg, and more like a beating heart
"What the-what is this!!!?"
"Lucille calls it his vessel. Whatever vice you perform is being fed to this egg. However, that is only minor"
Keifa motioned for Naki to approach and touch the egg.
He reluctantly reached for it, "Hope this doesn't sting too"
Touching the egg revealed another pop-up.
----- VESSEL SEAL -----
Devil Seal 1: Infiltrate the Hero Emile's party and reclaim the will stone of Listeria
Hints & Details: LOCKED
Condition: Acquire a Vessel path
-----------------------------
"...interesting. I get the devil's Seal is the mission Lucille gave me. But then, why do I need to acquire a path before seeing the hints and details?"
"Lucille assistance would be tailored to the path you have chosen."
"If you chose Merphisto's path, he would reveal to you temptation options where possible to reach your goal"
Naki recalled the 3 paths, and the illusions Keifa showed
"I see, and if I go down Grimm's path-"
"He will reveal to you the right people to kill, if there ever was such a thing" Keifa interjected.
Naki looked at the seal once more
"I get it now. Going by this, it means each mission I fulfill unlocks a part of the devil's seal on this egg?" he asked.
"I think so. I don't know everything Lucille is planning but I can assure you chipping away at seals is usually a bad idea."
"But if I don't I'll be stuck playing this game forever! I just can't do nothing" Naki complained
"That's why we're here."
His eyes widened, for the first time, Keifa used a relaxed and genuine tone with him in this discussion
"We shall only play this game for so long. Once we get what we want, we'll break free and challenge Lucille to pull the deal off."
"You mean you-"
"Yes." she interrupted. "I am willing to support you on this. Play the game for now, and once Habiki succeeds to free me from this cycle, I will join you and pull you from the devil's clutches myself"
Naki pondered this promise of freedom, not being stuck to playing the devil's child.
All this talk of temptation, crime and death, it will only temporary.
But, one thing stuck in the back of his mind.
"(She offers yet another sweet deal, can she really be trusted? How different is she from Lucille if she's willing to go this far?)"
Naki stared at the seal in his hand
"(I am either played by the devil or played by a banished goddess, eitherway, I'll just be letting fate toil with me.)"
His hand clenched into a strong fist
"(I won't let that happen!!)"
"I appreciate the offer, Keifa. I'll play the game"
"Good-"
"But not because you asked me to."
Keifa's eyes glowed in surprise and amazement.
She was not expecting Naki to push back
"I will challenge the devil, and the council that plunged me into this fate, and I shall do so on my own terms! Not yours, not Lucille's, mine!"
He relaxed his fist and shut down the interface.
"If you wish to stick around for the ride as long as it suits you be my guest. But whatever I do, I get to decide" Naki concluded with a frown.
This was no act, this was no empty bravado, he meant every word he said; and Keifa could tell.
A smile formed on her face, "(What is it you always say Ferr? humans are not so gullible)"
The room's atmosphere was slowly returning to normal as the glow in Habiki's eyes were giving way
"(It took 80 cycles, but I finally see your point)"
"Very well, devil child. I shall watch. Watch on to see if you're not all talk"
Keifa's presence left the center stage, replaced by Habiki's cooler demeanor.
She dropped to her knees, hand to chest, coughing in pain
"Habiki!!" Naki rushed to her side, "are you alright!?" his voice louder than it ought to be
"Don't *cough* I'm fine," she was breathing heavily.
Naki restless and knew not what to do
"We-water, need water" he's looking around, panicking. Then Habiki grabbed his wrist.
"I said I'm fine. You don't have to worry"
She unhanded Naki and exhaled, "I'm not strong enough to manifest fully as mistress Keifa, so these short sessions exhausts me, that's all"
"I-I see. Sorry you had to go through that for my sake"
"..."
Habiki stood up and noticed Naki's mind was conflicted.
It was not a good situation, being forced to perform an act of vice to preserve one's own existence.
"Naki, which path do you intend to play?"
Naki stared at his palm, a forlorn expression befell him.
"I...I'm not sure. I talked a good one to Keifa but here I am, doubting myself."
he let out a short laugh, "I'm miserable huh"
Habiki had no words of comfort.
"I know if I don't venture a path I would be consumed, but still..." his words trailed off.
"Deliberately performing a vice is inhumane." Habiki responded, picking up her staff
"For most of us it is a burden that plague us for the rest of our lives. But for you Naki,"
She placed the staff on his sigil hand
"It has become a necessity."
Pulling the staff away, she walked behind him and stopped.
she recalled Naki's resolution
<><><>
"I will challenge the devil, and the council that plunged me into this fate, and I shall do so on my own terms! Not yours, not Lucille's, mine!"
"If you wish to stick around for the ride as long as it suits you be my guest. But whatever I do, I get to decide"
<><><>
Letting out a deep sigh, she said,
"The concept of trust, I get it. But what I've come to learn is - if you're not willing to risk to trust, then you must be prepared to live a life without companionship."
"..." Naki had no pushback.
"That would be a pretty lonely life wouldn't it."
With that, she head to the door
"I'll leave the seal open on my way out. You can leave whenever you want."
"Goodbye, Naki" her voice barely audible in the last statement.
She didn't wish for it to be so, but to her, defying her mistress is the same as defying her.
If Naki was unwilling to work with Keifa, then she can't rely on his help.
"(What am I doing. I'm letting the devil's words affect me.)"
Naki recalled Habiki helping him all this time.
Helping him control his power, their handshake back in Ampha, and even now with the devil mercy system.
"(Concept of trust? if there's anyone deserving of my trust it's her!!)"
Habiki reached the door, and lingered for a short while, hoping Naki would change his mind.
"..." the change wasn't coming as she closed her eyes and sighed.
"Habiki!"
Her eyes shot open in hope; she turned around
Naki was staring at the floor, hands twisted into a fist, unsteady
"Naki?" she called out softly
"I may not trust Lucille, and I may be very skeptically about Ke-, mistress Keifa. But, I'll like to trust you Habiki, as another human tied to a similar burden. A kindred soul"
Habiki's stared at him intently, these were not the only words she wanted to hear.
"To play this devil's game I will need someone by my side to ensure I don't become more devil than human."
"Habiki, I will like to ask of you a favor. Help me and ensure in my quest for a life, I don't forfeit what makes it worth it."
He said sincerely and looked straight into her eyes, his gaze unwavering, his brows curled, his heart racing.
"...are you certain?" she asked
Naki nodded, he knew what he was asking of her.
"I am"
Habiki closed her eyes and gave it some thought.
"Alright Naki, I'll help you."
Naki's eyes brightened, his expression from gloomy to hopeful
"This devil's game of vices, let us play it, together."