"Cultures evolved, religions were created, gods appeared and perished. Yet when mortals invoke a higher power, it doesn't matter under which name they do it—the gods listen. So when you have your exorcisms, regardless of what tradition they are carried out in, they channel the same purifying energy."

I gawk at her in shock. Did she just tell me an abbreviated history of the human race? And all of it while naked? Her kind certainly doesn't have the same sensibilities as us mere mortals.

"Of course, by mortals I don't mean only humans," she adds, almost as if reading my mind. "Mortal is any species that is not eternal—that is not godly. Whether humanoid, non-humanoid, or shapeshifting, they are all considered mortals because their bodies age and decay. Some might have increased life spans, and others lower. But they all die in the end."

"So you mean prayer works? What about holy water? Is that effective against demons?"

"Lower-level demons, yes. Those prayers are purified by our priestesses, as is the water you call holy. It's a temporary weapon against demons, but the higher the level a demon is, the more you're just going to piss him off."

"I don't get it. Then what happens to higher-level demons?"

"You have people like my brother, who dedicate their lives to eradicating them. It's why he's much more comfortable with your world than I am because he's sometimes sent on missions to kill rogue demons."

"I see," I murmur. But I don't see it. At least not at this moment. It's too much for me to digest and wrap my head around.

And just like that, once more, everything I thought I knew about the world is moot. Damn! But now it makes sense why those other species were competing in The Wishing Game. Although they look different, they share the same circumstances with us humans—wow, it's so weird to refer to myself as human now.

"Does the cross have the same effect then?"

Thea nods.

"It's a holy symbol, imbued with power by the priestesses."

Okay, so various religious paraphernalia work against some demons. Good to know.

Done with the lesson for today, Thea proceeds to ignore me as she looks pensively at the two dresses she picked, turning them around and assessing them in great detail. Before I know it, she throws the purple dress toward me.

"You try that on. I'll try this."

"They're not ours, Thea," I muster a feeble protest. The material is luxurious in my hands and the color happens to be my favorite. I know I shouldn't, but...

"No one will have to know." She winks at me, already halfway dressed. She quickly shrugs the sleeves on and buttons her top before adding the belt.

Gliding to the mirror, she twirls around, her features rapt as she watches the material float in the air.

"Come on, Luce." She turns, pouting at me.