The remarks are ignored. True as they are, this was an attempt to not be about himself for once. He would admit to a bit of projecting, though. That was more of a constant problem, and he would try to be better about it over time. Belos was clearly angry about the Nightmare Knight’s view of the narrative and how he was viewed. Fair, all in all, even inspiring Belos to admit some things the Nightmare Knight had not gathered from any of the Demon Realm prisoners yet.
Belos, too, came from a world just past the Demon Realm, and where the realms met he had lost something important. His tyranny and empire were simply tools of revenge.
“A home is what you will have, in time.” Nightmare Knight stood up from the bench, folding his arms behind his back to assume a straight and powerful posture. “Now, up until this point I have only spoken in broad ideals. This will not be an easy process, and you will need some structure. Therefore, here is what I will provide to you on your journey. You cannot die in this prison, not permanently, but I can provide protection against death. When and where I can intervene, you will be pulled away from whatever situation that could prove fatal. To prove that I am truthful, I will provide you a token of my good will. This will spirit you away to my castle, the one floating far above the city.”
A crystal stone appears in his hand, clear on the outside, but when viewed showed the insides of a geode. “It will work as such once per day. That would give you enough time to rest and recuperate. I will, however, not protect you against some physical retaliation you may experience. That is what we call ‘building character’. Equally as such, I will not protect you from verbal attacks. Admittance and acceptance is part of the healing process. Those you have hurt deserve that much, yes?”
“Past all of that, my resources are yours. I will work to answer your questions to the best of my infinite ability.”
It had been ages since the emperor was challenged in any form, and even longer since he was put on the spot in such a manner. Uncomfortable to the point it made his skin crawl, he tenuously endured the criticism, taking great effort to bite his tongue at the Knight's remarks. He was always good at putting on a show, though.
A lack of permanent death... The concept of purgatory was not one his home community had believed in, but it was the best descriptor he had for this place at the moment. Pain here was very real and very unpleasant. He already had enough brushes with it.
Ah, but this entire interaction was not unlike crafting a deal with a devil. A terrifying, otherworldly, horned entity that seemed to offer something too good to be true? Good thing he already had plenty of experience swindling demons, as the direction the conversation headed almost seemed absurd. What would a demonic, for lack of a better classification, entity, know about pain, betrayal, ideals, healing?
He could not help but ‘tch’ softly at the Knight’s ramble on the matter, audible despite his best attempts at self-control.
What could a supposedly almighty being know of doing the utmost when one had to claw their way towards even a little power just to protect someone else? The suffering I endured for the sake of the greater good, for my home, my family, my bro-!
He interrupted the thought before he could spiral, collecting himself as the Nightmare Knight held out the item. Carefully, he took the geode-like crystal in hands, captivated by the way the light filtering through the trees struck it. There was something oddly reassuring about its presence.
"Of course, Nightmare Knight. As much as your concern is appreciated, I am not so defenseless. This is a gracious gift, though, and I recognize the respite it may bring me," Belos replies, mustering as much humility as his pride would allow. "I appreciate your offer in helping me navigate this strange land."
