Gate of Memoirs/Choice Words

Portrait 	Dialogue
Music: "Devil's Heart"	Music: "Devil's Heart"
 	
*The fox returns to its perch on the stump, looking rather smug.
*Suddenly, its vulpine shape twists and writhes into the shape of a tall, slender man, who makes a respectful bow.
 	
*?: Hello. We meet at last.
 	
*Have you seen him before? You don't quite recall...
 	
*?: Well. It doesn't matter. Consider this meeting our first...
 	
*Hakuzo: This humble one's name is Hakuzo, of the Seventh Circle Fiends.
*Hakuzo: A pleasure, .
 	
*Hakuzo: Now, please excuse my forthrightness...but we don't normally answer such flimsy rituals.
*Hakuzo: Experience tells us they're either amateurs with nothing to offer, or the poor and desperate.
*Hakuzo: Neither is mutually exclusive.
*Hakuzo: But, *yours* had such a interesting signature. So terribly similar to the ones in Orebus.
 	
*Hakuzo: I must say, I wasn't expecting to see it again.
*Hakuzo: Orebus, as you know, has been dust for ages.
 	
*You know of the Orebus Civil War. 
*The Vardket, extraterrestrial beings, had abruptly left their subjects behind on Orebus to fend for themselves.
*Beset by mutual suspicion and fanatical devotion to their old masters, the various factions turned on each other.
*In the midst of these bloody battles, several faction leaders turned to communing with demons to turn the tides of war.
*You say as much to Hakuzo, who seems pleased.
 	
*Hakuzo: Very good.
*Hakuzo: You've done your research. I do so enjoy an intelligent client.
 	
*Hakuzo: So, my friend. How can I help you?
 	
*You bring up the vision in the nightmare you had a few days ago.
*A demon's own dominion that is anything BUT chaos...seems almost anomalous.
*With all these cryptic visions, you wouldn't be surprised if the Queen herself dwelled in a realm outside of time and space.
*Maybe there, you can meet her on your own terms.
 	
*Hakuzo listens intently, his luminous eyes bright under his strange hat.
*Hakuzo: I see...
 	
*Hakuzo: You are in luck, then. I do know of this...island you speak of.
*Hakuzo: It was a lifetime and a half ago, but I remember how to get there.
*Hakuzo: As you suspected, it cannot currently be accessed through..."normal" means.
 	
*Hakuzo: That is all I can tell you. You are familiar with the procedures, I presume?
 	
*Right. Hakuzo is a demon, after all, and demons—intelligent ones, at least—thrive on pacts and contracts.
*The Seventh Circle Fiends, in particular, have made it an almost businesslike endeavor.
*You're not certain if you can trust this man, but you do have to admit your options are limited.
*Go without his guidance and risk never returning...
*Or accept the pact and deal with the consequences of fraternizing with demons.
*You don't feel as if you've much of a choice.
 	
*Hakuzo: I sense your hesitance, my friend.
 	
*Hakuzo: ...Perhaps we may bargain.