The in-between

The operation continued with various other potions being forced down Leah's gullet, each one having strange and different effects. Eventually though, it was finished.

The previous large scary-looking demon that'd been lying before them had somehow been swapped with a pale and gaunt brown-haired girl. She was sweating profusely and still comatose, even still, everyone was happy about the relative success.

Mathias had tears slowly running down his face as he tried to recompose himself, even afterwards everyone was easily able to see just how happy the man looked. He couldn't even restrain the smile that came to his face when Barnock grabbed him in a light hug.

Of course, there was still much to be done for Leah, but each step forward was something to be celebrated.

It was a week afterwards that Reima found himself sitting in his private living room with Mathias, Barnock, Tyrael, and Asgore. Each had a cup of tea in hand, whether or not they wanted to drink it, Asgore had a way of being persuasive when it came to this particular subject...

Reima stored the cup of tea in his folded space and looked towards the three otherworlders, "Alright, lets dispense with the small-talk, you guys don't know why I've asked you here, right?" he asks, receiving nods from them. "Well, I actually wanted to ask if you still wanted to return your own world..."

...

Tyrael "Is it possible?" he asks, the group not looking as enthusiastic as Reima has thought they'd be.

Reima shrugs, "Probably? I'm only asking because of how much effort it would actually be to try and find it... The Multi-verse is a fickle place, one that, while I have access to it, doesn't like to play by conventional rules."

Barnock looks down a the floor in contemplation, eventually shaking his head, "I... I think I'd like to remain here. My tribe will be fine without me, the demons are dead and pose no threat to Sanctuary anymore, I feel that their need for us had come to an end."

Mathias nods, "We were already regarded as the strongest "humans" alive, should we return I imagine we'll eventually have to fight wars against countries seeking to control us."

Reima "I know what you mean, humans are dicks... I didn't think you'd be leaving anyway Mathias, I doubt they have the proper facilities to take care of Leah."

Mathias nods, "The magical schools are in no way comparable to what you already have built here, I imagine most would surrender their souls to you if they got an inkling of the library you possess." he says in a half-joking manner.

Tyrael interjects before Reima replies, "I want to return." he states.

Reima "Hm? Can I hear your reason?"

Tyrael nods, "I fear what Heaven might do to the mortal world with the Eternal Conflict finished. I had barely managed to prevent them from annihilating the human race in the past, but now with Imperius left to his own devices, I feel its only a matter of time.

Reima sighs while rubbing his face, "I guess that's a good enough reason... I was hoping you'd say "I left my favourite shoes" or something... But I can't very well ignore potential genocide can I?" he says, though everyone present wondered if he was actually asking if he could shrug off the responsibility.

Tyrael "How will you return me to my world?" he asks.

Reima shrugs, "To be honest, its very easy to get there and back, the only hard part is actually finding it. Calling it like finding a needle in a haystack would be an understatement, it'd be more akin to finding a drop of fresh water in the middle of the ocean.

Tyrael "I see... Is there no other way to quicken the process?"

Reima nods, "There is, as I've absorbed the souls of all those demons-"

Tyrael "YOU WHAT!" he exclaims in surprise, the others looking at him with their mouths agape.

Reima raises a brow at all of them, "What? How else did you expect for me to permanently get rid of them?"

Tyrael "I don't know know, maybe imprisoning them? Or using some method to destroy souls?... Are you not influenced by them?" he quickly asks, remembering all the others who'd attempted to control the Prime Evils and failed.

Reima "Obviously not, I'm not stupid Tyrael, I wouldn't just absorb them without taking precautions... I make sure to "chew" properly depending on what the meal is." he says.

...

Tyrael releases a breath and lets the tension flood out of him, "I am sorry, it's just that there have been many who have tried to control the evils, only to be corrupted inturn... Some as powerful as you would have ended this world and my own had the evils taken you."

Reima snorts, "Diablo and the rest of the demons are nothing compared to Manus, to be honest, I'm kind of interested in seeing the Angels reaction to Manus..." he wonders aloud.

Tyrael shakes his head, "We were talking about returning me to my world?"

Reima nods, "Yes, before I was so rudely interrupted." he says, sending a sarcastic look to Tyrael before continuing, "As I'm for all intents and purposes, the Prime Evil of your world, I hold a remarkably strong connection to it. If I were to use your El'druin, I think we'd make it there in a couple months at the least?"

Tyrael "Why El'druin?" he questions.

Reima "Well, because it holds Divinity within it. Divinity is essentially something granted by the world, while it can be somewhat independent from it, as you can see with it still being functional even outside of your world, it still holds a strong link to it. Think of it like... A track? I would probably be able to follow its "Tracks" back to your world... Yeah, I know it doesn't really make much sense due to how you got here in the first place, but in the void time and space don't make sense anyway."

Tyrael nods, "I admit, this is all new to me, but I'll rest my confidence in your abilities... Just remember that a whole worlds population could be on the line."

Reima "Yeah, yeah... This isn't my first apocalypse, it certainly won't be my last."