She wasn't going to let this go was she? Despite his polite countering, and humble dodges, still she asked about him and not while a whole lot of guile either. In fact the thought made him chuckle and he crossed his legs, right over left and capped the knee with his left hand. "I can tell you a story. There was a young woman once, during a time when the sky fell and demons roamed the land. He scorched the land where'd he roamed, and the local Lord sought appeasement with this beast.
"He bade him to take his people as slaves to serve, in offerings of tribute. These slaves were used to build a great fortress and when this woman became a slave too, she went willingly so that her family would not have to suffer. For many years she toiled with them, growing to understand their plight. This could not stand and so she challenges the demon herself.". Mercuxio relaxed into the sofa and looked at the fire.
"The demon was sure this woman posed no challenge, laughing at her demands to free the slaves and returned to the depths of hell from whence he came. The demon set before her 3 tests of Will, Wisdom, and Strength. Each task more difficult than the last. She crossed perilous chasms, face with against the demon's wisest lieutenant with poison in her veins, and killed his champion in personal combat. In his rage the demon challenged her himself and rendered her helpless with his magics.
"He demanded she renounce her faith in Ansgar and swear allegiance to him. She refused no matter how her suffering worsened. Under her duress, she managed to reach forward and touch his voice putrid flesh, and with it she purged the magic from him, severing the anchor that tied him to this world and cast him out.
"In the end, the slaves were freed, but all was not well. The people demanded retribution for their sufferings. The woman however shows mercy on the Lord that had given them up. He gave his lands, home, and hands in recompense."