It turned to Ipos- and it nodded in agreement. "A well put point," replied the archon. Something that hadn't immediately come to mind, given that the concept of good and evil were so beyond the scope of a demon's alien mind.

"Right and wrong, keheh.. how curious. Tell me- does the grass beneath your feet know right or wrong? No, it knows to survive. It knows that it is capable of finding sustenance from the rays of the sun, and that the survival of its species requires reproduction."

Lugonqi looked down to the plains beneath. "Is it wrong for it to do what it needs to survive?" inquired the demon. "Would it be wrong if a creature would now come over come and devour this plantlife- ending its life- so that it may survive? That is, mm.. the circle of life, is it not?"

Alazauq flicked its finger: a rolling wave of flame scorched away the plain, leaving nothing but burnt soil. "I have ended this life without reason- was this evil? You would likely say yes- and yet, does man not, keheh.. mow his lawn?" The archon rose with a sly grin.

"Good, evil, mm.. no such things, is there? There is merely survival. That is what my kin is, you see- the begins most fitted for survival in this land. We evolve to our circumstances and grow to be the dominant species- we are the Apex. You would state, then, that we are a plague. A virus for this state- for evolving to meet its environment and becoming dominant over all other creatures."

Its voice went back and forth along Salthiel's brain. The demon's tangents seemed constant, yet every word came along with a point.

"Yes, in your definition, mm.. we would be an 'evil virus', a plague. Yet- is Man not the same? Does Man, as a group, not evolve to lord over what he desires? Man harbors natural life into pens so that their life may be spent in misery until the day they are slaughtered for meat- is this evil as well?"

The Prince's hands stretched outward. "None of your kin would say that you are evil! Nay, you would be congratulated for this behavior. And so, it is not good and evil that drives you. It is survival. I will demonstrate it now, keheh..

..you are not threatened by my presence, and thus you remain here to speak to me, to my kinsmen. We have not assaulted you, and thus you do not assault us. It is not empathy, or human sympathy, it is that every being strives for survival. Man has served under my Kin since the beginning of time, and never has Man been extinguished from existence for such an act. No, it was man who slew his fellow man. I challenge you to state that demons have ended more life than Man himself."

A black tongue slid out of the ram's mouth, wettings its lips. It snapped, sending a telepathic message that rolled through the plains. Plantlife twitched elsewhere as flora moved.

"Are we the disease? Is man the disease? You expect me to agree with the latter sentiment, and yet, mm.. only in a half truth. Man is a force of this world, as any other force is. Man is designed to be directed towards a force, as that is Man's desire- to push towards a singular goal with their short lives which they believe will benefit their race, or themselves, the greatest- always in the name of Survival, save for the mentally deprived who wish not to live."

Finally did a lesser kinsman arrive with a silver platter. Three wine glasses sat upon it, while a tall glass bottle of wine stood in the center. Each glass was already poured. With a flick of its finger, arcane magic lifted the drink into the demon's hand.

And it rose, taking a savoring sip of the glass. It was a terribly potent taste.

"Tell me, Seeker. If Man wishes to survive, as he was created to do- is he wisest following the instructions of the Divine, who wishing nothing but an eternal war, of their deaths- or to work with equally powerful beings, the Demons of this world, and cooperate towards felling the divines who wish the endless cycle of suffering upon us?"


Sip.
"It is rather simple, I think."
(Lugonqi Alazauq)