The Winged Lion is an aspect of a demon- which is mana. All of it. It is a physical form of the concept of magic. It takes people in as lords of its dungeon, promising to grant them their wishes and desires as long as they remain the dungeon's lord. In reality, it wishes to be freed, to leave the dungeon and its captivity, and trap the world in its true form. It eats desires- taking them away from people. It is alien, and doesn't understand human morality. It is cunning and manipulative.