This was a commission done for unfluffable of their lizardman lich character contacting guided by a perhaps somewhat malicious demon of sorts! Obviously he missed the memo of not making deals with demons. Unfluffable also was courteous enough to provide a story for this to give it more context as well!

The story below was written by unfluffable so credit for it goes to him

"The candles flickered from the gust of air, but the purple flames could not be blown out so easily. They floated in semicircular formation around the reclining lizardman, who now was cloaked in a sinister sort of shadow darker than those cast by the surrounding swamp foliage. He looked over his shoulder, and smiled.

"Right on time. I brought another book. It's on the metaphysics of the immaterial. I thought you could help elucidate some of the more obscure passages; they're well beyond me..."

As he spoke, the lizardman held up the tome in his hand--an ancient, decrepit thing, whose binding was being continually scarred by how its owner's claws dug into its surface. The shadow behind him shifted while he talked, until he felt a familiar presence just by his right shoulder.

"Of course. I know exactly what you're seeking to learn, Visk. I will tell you all you want to know, and more."

Visk shuddered. The demon's voice never ceased to command his awe...and his desire. The dark being, Gorwyll, held a certain natural thrall about him. Perhaps Visk allowed himself too easily swayed by the demon's deal, but so far, he had acquired learning far beyond that of even the archmages. That his teacher oft distracted him with his...appeal, so to speak, did not seem to bother either of them. If anything, Gorwyll relished in visk's growing worship, though he always turned his client's attention back to the lesson at hand.

As he did now, reaching an arm around and spawning a small, violet flame in it. "See, the author is attempting to explain the dark elements coursing through the ether, like a counterpoint to those you're more familiar with. Now, in my travels beyond the realms, I've discovered more interesting properties of them..."

The demon spoke on, gesturing and filling Visk's mind with knowledge that no living being ought ever to know.

By the time the demon of dark dreams had finished his instruction, the ritual glyphs Visk had marked had faded, and the swamp had descended into the buzz of nightfall. Each time they met, Gorwyll stretched their contact. The demon had ulterior motives, of course, but the lich found himself unwilling to curtail them. He wanted to give the demon what he wanted--no, what he wanted. What they wanted, yes. Gorwyll knew best; that's why he was the teacher.

"It's so late, Visk. You'd like for me to stay the night with you."

Visk blinked, and frowned. When did it get so late? Come to think of it, he couldn't remember much of anything that had happened in the last few hours. All he remembered was that nice, purple flame, and Gorwyll's voice, so strong and guiding...it was an enjoyable lesson, he thought, as if the notion were already waiting in his mind. He loved Gorwyll's teaching. He won't ever question the demon.

"I'd like for you to stay the night with me." Of course, the demon was right. He always was.

Visk relaxed back, letting his book fall into the grasses as the demon laid his large hands on his shoulders and whispered into his ear.

"Good lich. You can trust me. You love to serve me."

"I can trust you. I love to serve you."

Gorwyll grinned, and kissed his lich on the side of the cheek. "Very good. I've such plans for us, Visk...and I know you want to hear all about them."

"I'd love to hear all about them," Visk parroted back, before returning the kiss with one of his own as the pair were hidden by the long shadows of a moonless night.

Higher-res: https://sta.sh/01mu16eyn4a2