Dance with the Devil

He nodded, but didn't come closer.

"I'm opening the portal to the mages fortress; I can only get you so close, so you'll have to walk the rest of the way." An unstable, whirling mass of green clouds appeared next to them.

Don't I need a leash?" Recin asked

"Just use rope or whatever; doesn't have to be a real leash."

I want a real leash" Wendigo said

The Devil teleported out and back in, this time with a real leash.

"Stole it from a museum; back in the day when the weakest demons worked for stronger ones, some of them have had to be persuaded to do their jobs and not slack off."

He handed it to Recin. It was a leather collar to be worn aorund the neck, with a leash that was pretty short.

Recin put it on Wendigo. "Ok let's do this"

The place the two of them ended up in looked like a wasteland with ground that could easily remind one of ashes. No trees, no animals, not even a river.

Just plains of gray with a collosal, spiky-walled building in the distance.

What happened to all the nature? " Recin asked walking towards the building pulling Wendigo by the collar.

A cloaked figure appeared out of a puff in black smoke. Only the lower half its face and its fingerstips were visible.

It was not human.

"Reason for visit, alterator and his trusty pet?"

"I think something bad has happened. It's about the demons in hell. May I talk to your higher ups about this? It's of high urgency!" Recin said in the best "this is important and I need to get in now" tone. Wendigo just watched.

"No one talks with the Watcher; only through his advisors shall you be heard."

"Well than can I talk to one of his advisors."

"The advisors rarely, if it all, consider outsiders worthy of their time. Nonetheless, you are free to try."

"i definitely will try." Recin said with confidence.

"Stay vigilant, outsider." The mysterious person then disappeared in a puff of smoke

Recin didn't know where to go. "Hmm.."

Puffs of smoke appeared and seemed to be pointing in one direction.

Recin looked at the smoke. "Thanks" He said and headed to that one direction. Wendigo followed right next to him.

The puffs of smoke eventually led him to a gate that was on the side of the fortress. In golden letters above it, it read 'All Mages Welcome'

Recin tried walking passed the gate.

The gate let him through, no questions asked. The inside was rather busy; there were many mages from different magic schools, their robes color-coded to reflect that.

Fire was red, water was blue, ice was cyan etc.

All of them were here for different reasons; some needed the collective to lend them money, others were there to criticise, others to praise, some were even there to simply ask for the Watcher's blessing.

As there were only four advisors, groups or individuals were taken in to the upper floors for consulting one at a time, with four staircases clearly visible. The line of people waiting for each of them was roughly the same.

"Guess we are waiting in the line, Wendigo." "Aww really? I can't just eat everyone?" "No there are innocent mages here. " Recin said waiting in line.

After what felt like an entire eternity and a half, they finally got their turn.

The advisor, tired after listening to yet another poor mage begging for money, was not in the best mood.

"Out with it," he muttered. "The people behind you don't have all day."

"I have some important news about the demons!! Something has happened to the bubble!!!"

The advisor was surprised. "Could you repeat that?"