"Theoretically, if the empire was dismantled entirely, you could reclaim most of the Lethicite used in its foundation. The machines do not consume it, they merely use the energy it generates. But even if you slew Lethice and all of her servants fell to their knees swearing fealty to you - which, to be clear, would not happen - it would be next to impossible to match each individual piece of Lethicite to its owner without the service of an army of wizards. You wouldn't be able to use just any old piece to re-ensoul any old demon, it would have to be theirs, but to an untrained eye one chunk of glowing purple rock is much like another. It would be a completely insurmountable task."

"So what you're saying is I should invest in a prison system pretty early?"

"How in the blistering fuck do you intend to do that? You're not a government! You're a fledgling hedge-mage with a sword!"

"You're so pessimistic."

"It's been something of a survival strategy of mine," he mutters. "Anyway, if you want to take out imps non-lethally you can, you know Arouse and Blind, but I want it on the record that I disapprove."

"I'm not sure I will, but I super disapprove of murder. Seems like a very permanent solution for problems that tend to be temporary and solvable."

"That's usually a good policy," Enserric admits. "I fully approve of a nonlethal approach for goblins, or Sand Witches, or... maybe not minotaurs, minotaurs are another hard problem. But imps aren't actually solvable. They don’t have Lethicite; they’re born imps and they’ll die imps. I was talking about the more general class of demon before.”

"Oh. What's up with imps, what do you mean born imps?"

"Imps are the result of interbreeding between a demon and a member of some other species. They inherit almost all their characteristics from the demonic parent - the lack of any kind of empathy, the desire to corrupt and destroy whatever they can, and that manner of thing. Imps are also characterized by a near-total lack of impulse control and forward thinking."

"...okay that does kinda seem harder to deal with."

"Rather," Enserric says. "But, again, you are my wielder, and I will cooperate with whatever plan you come up with."

"You seem to have taken quite well to being a sword."

"It's comforting, in a way. I used to feel the weight of the world on my shoulders, but that's very neatly passed on to you, and I can be merely your faithful assistant."

"Ha, I see how it is. Well, fortunately I don't mind the weight." He shrugs to demonstrate. "Still need to figure out what to do with imps but I guess killing them might be... the best option in the meantime. Until I figure out an imp prison. Somehow."

"I really don't see the point of a hypothetical imp prison. I don't agree with the idea of imprisoning demons, but I see where you're coming from, I just think it's ludicrously impractical. But an imp prison would either be eternal solitary confinement or a horrific ecosystem of rape and torment of weaker imps by stronger imps, to no actual end."

"Well it'd be a temporary solution until I found a more permanent one. I don't know what the permanent one would look like but it's definitely less final than the 'death' solution!"

"I wish you the best of luck and recommend as an encore causing water to flow uphill."

"You're saying there's no gravity-affecting spell anywhere here?"

"...alright, that was a bad example. Causing water to flow uphill without magic. Magic has limits, and redeeming an imp would be as far beyond them as magic is beyond the laws of nature."

"So maybe there's a super magic out there that can do it."

Enserric sighs heavily. "If there is, then I'm sure you'll be the one to find it. Until then, shall we hunt some imps for succubus draught?"

"Until then, I'm not sure right now is the best time for that as opposed to retiring to sleep," he points out, gesturing at their resting place coming up ahead with a nod of his head. "Unless you know of a way to quickly and safely find imps and return here before dark."

"If you want to sleep I certainly won't stop you. A well-rested Champion is a good thing. In the morning I can teach you a bit more magic, then a-hunting we will go."

"Sounds reasonable. I should also figure out what to do with these peppers, and in particular what canine aspects I can get. I don't suppose I can try just for actual canines and delay any further alterations for future meals?"

"You can get sharper teeth out of canine peppers, yes. I found them surprisingly inconvenient, though, and you wouldn't be able to get rid of them without a humanizing reagent, which is rare. Ears are easy and easily replaced, I'd recommend them."