The Victor is King

"Excellent!" Samael's satisfaction was evident. Suddenly, he folded his arms across his chest, tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and sighed deeply, "Oh great Master, I have finally found another of your followers."

"Wait! You said... follower? No, no, I am not a follower of any demon," Freyr immediately refuted, "I am not a follower of anyone! I believe in neither gods nor demons."

"Then what do you believe in?" Samael's smile turned sinister.

"I believe in myself... I only believe in myself!" Freyr shouted.

Behind him, Naya and Lilith both paled, covering their mouths. Naya even gasped, "Oh my god!"

Samael's smile widened, "See, you said it yourself... You believe in no one but yourself. This is a typical creed of demon faith!"

Freyr was a bit confused.

"Alright, let's not dwell on that," Samael said calmly, "Given your interesting views on history and victors versus losers, why don't you ponder what the so-called gods and demons truly represent?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Freyr laughed, "Two strong beings clash, the winner becomes a god, the loser becomes a demon! The victor gains everything, holds the power to narrate history, while the loser is consigned to oblivion... Am I wrong? In truth, there's no intrinsic good or evil between gods and demons, only victory and defeat."

Naya and Lilith grew more uneasy... To the two Wizards, Freyr's ideas were outrageously bold, even heretical and rebellious!

Such thoughts, if spoken outside, would surely lead to his trial by the temple, possibly even burned at the stake!

Freyr, however, was too absorbed to care. He pondered briefly, "Victory and defeat... Speaking of which, Mr. Samael, you..."

"I am on the losing side," Samael tilted his head, "Regrettably, in the last war, my master lost, and I was among the defeated... So, this place is actually a prison. And I am its prisoner."

Samael continued slowly, "I've been confined on this island for so long... So long that I've begun to forget some of my memories..."

"You said... island?" Freyr immediately asked, "You said you're confined on this island... So, we are on an island too? You brought us back to this island?"

"To be precise, 'inside' the island," Samael smiled, "Or rather, inside its body."

Freyr's face changed.

"Don't you understand yet..." Samael sighed, "The so-called monster... is actually this island! This is not an island, but a monster. These past days, you have been living on its back! And I... am imprisoned within its body... It is tasked with guarding me!"

At this, Samael waved his sleeve to silence Naya, who was about to speak, "No, no, don't speak yet, listen to me first!"

"It's been so long, so long that I've forgotten exactly how long... And throughout this long period, you are not the first guests to come here. There have been other humans who accidentally arrived on this island and whom I brought here. Some were clever, some were fools... And you, my dear noble, your two Witches beside you, in my eyes, are the latter, while you are the former."

"Who are you calling a fool!" Naya couldn't hold back her anger, "To you, a demon's servant..."

"Oh, a Wizard is angry," Samael didn't get angry, he just looked at Naya quietly, his black and green eyes seeming to radiate a strange light! He asked Naya lightly, "That god... claims all power originates from him! All of it! Natural forces, magical forces. So, you Wizards are all followers of the god. Right? But... I, as a demon's servant, am not a follower of any god! So, where does my magical power come from? Dear little Wizard, can you answer this question?"

The furious Naya was instantly speechless!

Samael sighed, looking at the Witch with a gaze filled with pity, "Can't answer? Then let me tell you the answer... Because, the god you believe in... lies! That natural forces come from him? It's the biggest lie of all!"

Naya's face turned awkward, feeling her faith was being overturned! Yet she couldn't find a word to refute!

Yes, since she began her magical education, she was taught the fundamental creed!

This world was created by the god, and all natural forces come from the god! Wizards, through their pious faith, could borrow a portion of natural power from the god when casting spells!

That is magic!

But now... a demon's servant, who doesn't believe in any god... possesses such powerful magical abilities... How does one explain that? Does that mean when he casts spells, it's also the god lending him power?!

Otherwise... how to explain?!

"See, I was right. Some are clever... and some, are fools," Samael's tone, though old and weak, was filled with a mockery that pricked at Naya's heart like a needle, "You are not the first Wizard to come here, so your reaction to this question, and your expression, I've seen before."

Samael glanced at Freyr, his tone and gaze only softening a bit when looking at him, "Dear noble, you are clever. So I can converse with you in a clever manner. I've waited here too long, and I always enjoy making deals with clever people who come here."

"...Deal?"

"Yes, a deal."