Adversary(a roll of liquorice), and Nuumite were chatting while Zatarros(a red mint leaf), somehow brought back, was reading through what seemed to be a book half the size of a bed. They then turned in shock when he slammed the book.

"What'd you find, Malevolence?" Adversary asked.

"My suspicions are confirmed. These unnatural disasters and occurrences have a cause and it's running around King Regnon's little kingdom."

"You think the strange creatures appearing, giant rocks falling, and other things are caused by someone somewhere we can't get to?"

"I don't think it. I know it. I've studied these things for a hundred and twenty years. I had us prepare for lots of things. One you know about is that I had Nuumite work out a deal with the lunatic in Exisilium and the bug in Pelagus in preparation for an invasion by that lunatic."

"Yes. You practically turned Pavrus into a fortress of refuge. Magic users all over the Aether are either being forcibly deported to or fleeing to this place or Exisilium because of that agreement. Hundreds of thousands of mages, and their families. I hate you, but I am impressed what you've done."

"It's all part of the plan."

"How do you think this all through?" Nuumite asked.

"Practice."

"The exception being the possible end of the Aether. I heard that some of these creatures have long limbs, and are very spider like, with a more human like head and face."

"The Mangled. They are creatures from the backrooms."

"Backrooms? Whats that?"

"If you're not careful and no-clip out if reality in wrong areas, you'll end up in the backrooms, where it's an endless series of rooms and hallways. No exit in sight."

"...that's creepy."

"You can't be a warlock without finding the creepy things."

"I guess. Does that book tell the future?"

"No. It's not suited to. Intuition is a better predictor than a book."

"Well, can we get some news on what's happening off in the far south?" Adversary interjected.

He put his hands to his temples. "....Regnon is talking with the freak who caused all this. I can't make out what they're saying. Having visions on a whim doesn't tend to give them quality."

"Can you read their lips?" Nuumite asked.

"I'm barely fluent in English, I can't read lips and get the words."

"Your one weakness, lip reading,"
Adversary laughed.

"They're making some sort of deal, I can make that out."

"How'd you go from running a murderous tribal cult to actual nation building?"

"Adaptation. If I tried the same thing I did back home anywhere here, it would instantly legitimize Regnon's claims that we're trying to keep their country under our heel. As if I'm going to give any chance for that moron to look good away."

"So all we know is they're making a deal?" Nuumite asked.

"Yes. And before I forget to tell you, magic is either going to gain a real boost or fizzle out entirely in the coming days."

"What?!" Adversary's scarred mouth which was normally twisted into a grinning smile dropped all semblance of confidence and left the terror she was in exposed.

"Relax. I planned for that too. It might involve a couple countries collapsing if magic collapses too."

"I doubt prolonging the dark age in Exisilium and causing a new one in Pelagus would do us any good." Nuumite replied.

"Not if they find out. But people besides us are too stupid to figure it out. Besides, not much will change. They live in squalor and that really won't ever change."

"That's disgusting of you, and not true. The people in Pelagus have the best quality of life in the Aether."

"No they don't. Genocidal regimes experience sharp declines in living standards at some point. It's not like they could know any better of a life either. Maybe the nobility do, but what help does it do them to be altruistic?"

"..."

"Now be quiet and check on how things are going in the fields, Nuumite. I have more of my own pawns to move."

"Why are you so adamant about that?"

"You benefit from what I do. You can handle knowing about it."

Nuumite left. Zatarros went back to reading.