"Your Magic Films were a huge success in Hell."
Beludona's image appeared on the parchment.
"Correction: our Magic Films," Annan said, stressing the word.
He had thought Beludona would wait a few days before contacting him again. Instead, she had brought good news after just one day... Did time pass differently in Hell and the Main Plane?
Beludona said they had screened the Magic Films at the Devil Hatchery for ten gold coins a ticket. Just as she had expected, Betar's Redemption had done best, followed by Annan Potter and the Magic Stone. The Mage Tower's Fall had done worst... but it had unexpectedly won Annan a few Apprentice Devil fans.
Annan took the chance to learn about the Devil Hatchery. Devils and Demons stood at opposite extremes: Devils were stronger, while Demons were more numerous.
The hatcheries were trials sanctioned by Hell's Council of Lords to train soldiers in imitation of Demons. The Lava Sea where Beludona lived held thousands upon thousands of Apprentice Devils, and the plane of Hell containing the Lava Sea held thousands upon thousands of Devil Hatcheries... all so the Apprentice Devils could reach adulthood.
Both Beludona and Brudona were being raised as elites. The process, though, followed the Devils' cruel ways: those who failed became nourishment.
Raised in captivity under harsh conditions... tempting people from afar... leaving those who made deals to pay a terrible price... being disposed of if they failed to meet their targets... The whole thing felt strangely familiar to Annan.
"My foolish sister is probably trying to find a way to contact you."
"That might be difficult. She took the medium away when she turned me down." Annan shrugged.
Honestly, Annan bore Brudona no ill will. As the first Devil he had met, she had left him with a good