Blackfeather Woods here on the nineteenth floor, the neon lights make me calm

iliksis sighed at the question, for it showed the boy lacked true sight or understanding of the the iniquitous drive that formed iliksis' cognitive abilities. he could not explain the shade that warped him, nor how inexplicably satisfying the act of demoralizing another being's life was -- taking, abusing, degrading -- every defilement iliksis exacted gave rise to his station, cemented his position as authoritative and unrelinquishing power. aries would simply have to see for himself, though iliksis knew when that time came the boy would find no joy in it.

he was about to simply say nevermind when the bustle of twigs and snow betrayed the presence of a lurker. iliksis trained his gaze on a puppy even younger than aries -- a hideously contorted, deformed puppy that was crouching amongst the bramble. the gods were cruel to lend iliksis, deformed of mind and soul, a perfectly functioning body -- whilst this youth, castigated by the blight that truncuated his features, was given a frail and misshapen figure.

"who is your friend?" he asked of aries, delighted to now have not one, but two potential subjects to terrorize. in good time, anyway.