Isla watched Ferr, shocked by what had been revealed to her.
"What do you mean vile plans? Isn't the divine council standing against the vices of the world?"
"By that, I mean the demons, the undead ones, plus Lucille's Generals and their armies?"
She questioned Ferr aggressively.
"That is the reason the council was founded, yes. However, a lot changed when we discovered the existence of the will stones."
"These stones harbor Fragments of the primordial god of creation's power and authority," Ferr replied.
"The primordial god, you mean?" Isla asked.
"Yes, he who created everything else. The very same primordial god we all plan to see by realizing a future without strife or vice."
Ferr replied, picking up a shell from the shore
"Thus, the council gods gathered as a foolproof means to create a world suitable for his return, or so I thought."
Ferr crushed the shell beneath her fist.
"It turns out Ahmun, Nagatha, and Kristie had other ideas. Having learned of the will stone and its secrets, their ambitions changed." She poured the shell dust onto the ground.
"Anyone who doesn't stand with them? Well, let's just say they're dealt with accordingly. Yes, just like they did Keifa, my dear sister."
Ferr concluded with a frown.
"I still don't follow. Wh-what do you mean their ambitions changed?" Isla asked, her voice shaky.
"Ahmun, Nagatha, and Kristie intend to form what they refer to as the Trinity. 3 pillars that guide the will of existence in absolution." Ferr bluntly replied.
"Wait, wait, you mean the will for humanity, the demi-humans, and even the divine will be controlled by them?"
Isla couldn't believe the words coming out of her own mouth, but she had to consider it
"Yes. No will, mindless providence, and of course, they will be the only ones retaining what they're planning to take from everyone else."
"They intend to become the new primordial gods of their so-called paradise," Ferr said.
Isla stood silent, she was having a hard time believing the words she was hearing. But Ferr didn't stop there.
"Keifa discovered their plans a long time ago and was banished for it. Since divine gods can't kill their kind, they trapped her in an endless cycle of reincarnation."
"With every reset deflating her powers, she will eventually become human. Hah, they ensured she won't expose their plan nor stand against them ever again," she scowled and then stretched her hand forward.
A small book manifested, and she pushed it over to Isla using telekinesis.
"As soon as you left for the hunt of the rogue soul, I started harboring doubts about Ahmun. So, I explored my sister's chambers in secret and found that."
Isla grabbed the book and opened it gently.
"A book?" Isla asked.
"Keifa kept a diary. It's a habit I often laugh at. Why would she bother with a diary as a divine when her memory is unfailing? I asked time and again"
"Then I realized she wasn't keeping a diary for herself or her memories. The dairy was for others. It was for me, and also for the things she couldn't tell me at the time." Ferr said, looking moody.
Isla took the brief pause to go through the pages.
It all detailed Keifa and her life as a divine god, her memories with Ferr, but most pressingly, her findings about Ahmun and his ambitions.
"...this...this is!" Isla exclaimed.
"Undefinable proof? Yeah, Sis has always been thorough." Ferr interrupted.
"The divine council you grew up in is not what it used to be, Isla. Which brings us to why I sent for you."
Ferr left the shore and started approaching Isla, who this time didn't reach for her sword.
"We have to stop them. We are all for paradise, but the way they plan to go about it is no different from what someone like Lucille would do."
"We can't abide by acts against those who count on us being the righteous ones."
Ferr stopped as she got within arm's reach of Isla.
"However, I can't act alone, Isla. I can't do what is necessary to stop them without drawing attention to myself. As it stands, Nagatha is already suspicious of me. I can't give her any more ammo."
Ferr offered Isla a small blue gem.
"This gem, you have to take it to the demon lord on the continent across the seas."
Isla stared at the glittering azure gem.
"If you show this to him, he will know I sent you. I have already set everything in motion, but I need you to play the main part."
Isla had doubt in her eyes as she hesitated.
"But-but Lady Ferr, this- this-this is not right! They're demons!! We can't ally with th-those despicable and ruthless beings!!"
Isla twisted her face in disgust.
"The demons kill humans without hesitation. They believe they should be the dominant race! they enslave others, th-they burnt my homeland, Lady Ferr...my family... I-I can't..." she said, her voice crooked with each passing sentence.
Ferr sympathized with her.
"I remember. It was during my first visit to the realms that I found you and shared with you the power of divinity that made you a minor goddess."
"Lady Ferr. You are kind, you saved me back then. So, why did you have to...side with...with them, why them!?"
Isla expressed her frustration, eyes red but no tear in sight.
She was holding them back masterfully.
"...I don't ask for forgiveness, Isla, for I have done nothing yet deserving of it. But you have to trust me, the new demon lord is different, he's not like the others."
Ferr grabbed Isla's hand.
"Please, Isla. Whatever the demons have done, it'll be far worse if Ahmun and his allies form the Trinity. You remember my promise to you, don't you?"
Isla closed her eyes and recalled.
<><><>
Ferr held her young Isla's hand as they stood atop a tower in the divine lands, watching the sunset.
It was then that Ferr made a promise to her,
"The sunset was just like this when I found you, a reminder of the ill fate that befell you then."
She turned to Isla with an assured smile and continued.
"I don't want such beautiful scenery to be laced with such painful memories, so I make this promise, my dear Isla."
<><><>
Ferr, upon remembering the words she said, said them back to Ferr.
"Never again will I allow what happened to repeat itself, for you, or anyone else. That I swear by my divinity." Isla muttered.
Ferr nodded and pressed her forehead against Isla's gently.
"I have never forgotten, and I will never allow it to happen. So just give me time, my dear Isla, I promise it'll all make sense in the end," she murmured.
"Will you trust me?" she asked in a soft, desperate voice.
Isla hesitated at first, but was convinced.
Ferr has always been supportive of her, rescued her. She had always, deep down, searched for opportunities to return the favor
"(I never really thought it would be siding with demons but...I suppose I will have to trust lady Ferr...for now. Until I can learn of her plans.)"
Ferr showed her the gem one more time, and her hand met hers to claim it.
"Thank you, Isla." Ferr nodded.
"You called out to me because you knew I would answer, didn't you?" Isla asked.
"It was because you're precious to me. Even since I lost Keifa, you've been like...a sister, Isla."
Isla blushed and averted her gaze. She was rattled slightly by the compliment.
"F-fine, I will trust you, Lady Ferr...but I don't know for how long," Isla said, aware she still had a mission of her own.
"Ah, you mean your quest for the rogue soul. How's that going?" Ferr aske.d
She sighed, "It took a while, but I have narrowed down his location."
"He's in Listeria somehow, and I suspect he's involved in a case surrounding black flames."
"My next approach would be to check out the academy once again. Until I can find the rogue soul, I can't guarantee how much use I'd be to you," she replied.
"How long do you have left?"
"Barely half a year. The deadline Ahmun gave me is fast approaching."
"...well, you're in luck then," Ferr said with a smile.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"We have a demon infiltrating the academy, and they've come across the devil child in person already." Ferr replied.
"Really!? ...so I am late after all, the rogue soul is Lucille's vessel. Huh, to think I'll get assistance from a demon." Isla muttered, looking down. Her mission just got harder.
"If it makes it better to take, you can chalk it up as assistance from me. I shall take all the anger you feel towards the demons, Isla." Ferr softly comforted her.
"...No. I would never allow myself to do that. Huhh it's just...hard to take that's all." Isla said.
"I'll advise you to meet up with our demon spy first and discuss how to keep the devil child in check. As it stands, engaging him alone will be risky, especially if he's already playing the devil's game," said Ferr, holding close to her cloth in the passing breeze.
"So, what do you suggest? How can I go about his capture?" Isla asked.
"Keep an eye on him. Plans are in motion to trap him on the demon continent. With the assistance of the demon lord and his army, you can capture him with minimal casualties." she replied.
"I will have to get used to this idea of demon allies, won't I?" Isla asked.
"I'm sorry, they're the best help I can offer without alerting the council."
Ferr took a step back and created a gate.
"I have to return for now. Once you meet the demon lord, he'll notify you of the plan and me of your presence. I'll reach out when I can after that."
"I understand I have to meet the demon lord in his continent, but is there a name I can work with?"
"Hizeld. To the demons, you will be searching for Lord Hizeld."
Isla nodded as Ferr made it to the front of the magical gate.
"And Isla, you should read the rest of the notebook. I added some extra bits there that will help you out. Good luck."
She disappeared with the gate, as Isla stared at the book and then the dark sky.
"Working with demons, huh? I only do this because of Lady Ferr...nothing else."
She turned around to exit the area.
"I suppose I'll start in the academy then. Time to meet a demon spy."