And suddenly, she understood, so deeply, what Zen had said to her on the shores of that black-glass lake. It was a worthwhile trade: a single person for the power to save this land and this people. Because no matter what, if he hadn’t sought out the power of the Demon Gods, they would lose. Power was a double-edged sword…but to not have it—that was to have no weapon to fight with at all. Had she been in Zen’s position, would she have declined the Demon God’s offer?
