Somewhere in the Kingdom of Moburi, a few days ago.

J'aymezh sat on his throne in an empty hall drumming his fingers on the armrest. The only thing that brought color into this otherwise gloomy room was the red curls of his hair which stood out like a sore thumb. Being an all-powerful being was very wonderful but it was so incredibly drab.

Deciding a change of scenery was in order, he got up and headed downstairs to the dungeons. The old castle ruins that he bought and partially restored to serve as his headquarters were in rough shape but suited him well enough and he had not paid too much for it. The Kingdom did not even mind him creating this small fortress for himself as long as he swore allegiance to them and while he did not get along with the local religion, none had enough influence to go after him. The 'Living G.o.d' t.i.tle was merely a fabrication of his followers and had no real weight.

Although he could have had the castle flowing with his wors.h.i.+pers he preferred the privacy and kept the strict minimum required to attend to all the maintenance and security needs. Anyhow, their efforts were best spent elsewhere such as trying to uncover items that would have come from earth so that he could put a stop to it.

(This world is perfect as it is, they don't need us meddling in their affairs and corrupting them with our ideas and inventions.)

A single soldier guarded the dungeon door, a thick wooden thing that was reinforced with iron studs and barred close with a thick piece of wood slotted horizontally. As J'aymezh approached, the soldier knelt and prostrated himself before him.

He had not enjoyed this at first, many years ago when he was summoned to this world, finding it odd and demeaning but he had grown accustomed to it now and also had to keep the appearance up. While his wors.h.i.+pers called him a living G.o.d, he knew that he was only human. Stronger than all of them true but he was not immortal. That near defeat at the hands of one of the weakest members of the Deva had proved that much.

Looking down at the kneeling guard, he spoke.

"Rise. I will visit the prisoners."

The man rose and bowed.

"As you wish Lord J'aymezh."

J'aymezh sighed and rolled his eyes. This was the most annoying part of this world, no one could get his name right.

"For the hundredth time, it's James. Jay-aim-ze. It's not that hard."

The man seemed frightened and repeated slowly.

"J'ay-mezh? But I am saying it like you are Lord."

James waved his hand dismissively.

"Bah, it is of little import. Open the door."

The guard quickly removed the wooden block and opened the door wide.

As James walked the narrow corridor, prisoners in the cells arrayed on every side got up to grab the gates of their cells and yell.

"Let me out! I did nothing wrong!"

"Why do you do this to us?!"

"Please...no more! Let me die!"

James ignored their pleas and cries as he had done countless other times. If only they knew the mercy that he was granting them. The reason for his visit was not these unworthy souls, all of them blasphemers from another world that would have destroyed this one. How could they not see the vile rot that they were spreading and the interference they would have caused in this world's natural progression?

The real reason he was coming here was to see his oldest friend. Every so often he hoped that his friend would see reason and join his side again but to no avail. Thus he had no choice but to force her into these dungeons under lock and key. It had hurt him to do so especially since they had been friends back on earth as well.

As he reached the end of the corridor, a cell larger than any other in the dungeons was in front of him. It had cost him a fortune but he had needed to make this cell immune to magic, otherwise his friend might have escaped. The stones and bars had been crafted with a special substance that is anathema to magic and to make doubly sure he had her wrist irons also made the same way.

"How goes it today Emilia?"

A weak voice coming from a frail body in the shadows of the cell answered him.

"Have you come to taunt me again?"

Looking at the food tray at his feet just beyond the cell bars, James could see nothing had been eaten.

"Tsk. You need to eat Emilia, don't make me force feed you."

Emilia breathed in deeply and then sighed.

"You need to stop this madness James. How many must suffer for your notions? Do you not see that not everyone who comes from earth is twisted and evil, that many of our ideas would help the population of this world?"

James clenched his fists and yelled at her.

"NO! Don't YOU see? We finally have a chance to see a world that isn't tainted by our hand! What right do we have to interfere and force ourselves upon them. They need to discover their own path, create their own way for themselves lest we repeat the horrors of our world."

Teary eyed, Emilia replied.

"But don't you see how corrupt some of the n.o.bles and kingdoms are? How many wars could have been prevented and how much the quality of life for everyone could have been improved from simple ideas that we have."

James scoffed and turned around.

"I see you're still delusional. Perhaps a few more months will make you change your mind."

Making his way down the corridor towards the exit, James noticed another guard entering and running towards him. Stopping in his tracks, he let the guard approach. The man knelt and delivered a message to him.

"Lord, Seneschal Arianna is here to see you. It appears most urgent."

James' eyebrow lifted, it had been months since he heard from her and years since she visited in person, perhaps today would not be so boring after all.