Shade sat up straight and looked at the Doctor in the morning sunlight:
"The First Demon was long ago split into different parts. One of those parts wants to make itself whole, but that would lead to grave consequences. It might even cause that most ancient fiend to be reborn.
"Years ago, when you were still a Low-Ring Arcanist, your group became involved in this matter. In the end, those two seniors willingly sacrificed themselves to prevent one fragment of the Primal Demon from being taken by another. Their souls were taken as well, while you were forced to accept the power of the 'Demon King,' imprisoning it within yourself and waiting until you became powerful enough to take revenge. Your ability to devour demons came from that as well."
He blinked. When the Doctor said nothing, he asked:
"Is my guess correct?"
The Doctor asked with great difficulty:
"How did you guess that the most ancient fiend had been split apart?"
"I didn't guess. The advice just now told me."
"Then how did you guess that I used myself to contain and seal one of its parts?"
"I heard some allegorical demon stories from a friend and drew inspiration from them."
The two stared at each other for a moment. Then the Doctor nodded dejectedly, seeming to wither away entirely:
"Is this story really that easy to guess?"
With a wave of his hand, the living room doors shut one after another with a series of bangs, and the curtains fell in turn. The room immediately grew dim, much to the displeasure of the cat who loved basking in the sun.
Of course, the Doctor had not done this to silence Shade and Little Mia, nor was he deliberately creating an atmosphere. It was simply for information security.
"Doctor,