Ch 29: Classroom Politics

Ravel

(26 weeks after Valefor Massacre)

"And in their 15th consecutive victory, Ravel Phenex and Monica Galetas once more walk away the victors!"

The announcement is met with mostly polite clapping, a few enthusiastic cheers…and some noticeable booing.

Heh, just another day at Antiquity Academy!

"Nice job, Monica! At this rate we're eligible to finish the year undefeated! The last time that happened was with my oldest brother Ruval!"

My newly acquired best friend gives a confidant grin-a welcome change from her more subdued attitude that was the norm a few months ago-and happily replies, "Something you can lord over him, right?"

"Of course! One of the privileges of being a little sister is that I can rub stuff in my brother's faces and get away with it! If Riser tried to do that Ruval and Raleigh would just fry him."

"Being the youngest sibling seems to come with some advantages…"

"It has it's ups and downs."

She's about to inquire further when all of the sudden several loud congratulations are thrust upon us, almost two dozen Devils all clamoring for our attention.

"That was an amazing match, you two!"

"Hah! Did you see those two snobs faces? Priceless!"

"Shows them right! When a Pillar Devil and Greek Princess work together they're unstoppable!"

"Kyyaahhh! Lady Monica, have my babies~!"

…That last one would have been disturbing enough even if it hadn't been a girl yelling it.

Nonetheless, this kind of attention is both unexpected…and oddly satisfying.

After our constant string of victories we'd become the icons of a group that, in retrospect, I really should have foreseen coming to idolize us.

The lesser Nobility. The occasional Extra Devils. Those few Reincarnated Devils who attend the academy. Those who come from a lineage that includes Humans.

All of the people that, in some way and to varying extents, are marginalized by most Pillar Families and their more affluential offshoots. To them, me and Monica are a slap in the face to those elitists as well as a symbol of strength and power.

A pureblood Pillar Devil, one of the Phenex Clan no less, and a Human tag-teaming together in mock Rating Games…and crushing the competition.

Granted, Monica has a bit of the Olympic God's blood running in her veins, even if heavily diluted, but most Devils label her a normal Human regardless.

Hence, the local celebrity status.

"Goodness, did you see Lady Phenex finish off that last Devil with her flames? EEK~! She was so HOT~!"

…Monica and I briefly lock eyes and I just know we're thinking the same thing.

We may need a restraining order sooner rather than later.

"Is being a popular figure always so…tiring?"

I give Monica a weary grin and dryly reply, "It'd be a lie to say you get used to it…but practice helps."

It'd taken us almost another hour to get free of our well-wishers and such, another to clean up after the match and finally another to collect our things before heading home. Those three hours mean that the sky is making it's shift from a peaceful blue to a dark indigo, well on it's way to the starry vista more typical of the Human world.

Leaving the Academy largely deserted as well.

"Ugh, I'm so glad tomorrow is our last day before the weekend! In between all the matches, tests and ego-mending after kicking all those other Devil's butts a nice day of doing absolutely nothing sounds great! What do you say, Monica? Up to anything or do you want to hang out?"

"Sorry, but Father and Mother are going to be traveling to meet with a business friend and they want me to meet him as well, get acquainted early and everything…sorry, but maybe next weekend?"

I heave an overly dramatic sigh and deign to reply with, "You test my patience, Inferior One. But just this once, I shall you grant a boon!"

Monica snickers at my joke-

"Ah, but if only that was your honest opinion, Lady Phenex…"

We whirl around, surprised at the sudden voice-

-and find Diodora Astaroth restfully leaning against a near pillar, eyes pleasantly narrowed and with a relaxed smile on his face.

Which I don't buy for a second. Hellfire, what does this slime ball want with us now? Bad enough he was messing with Monica on her first day here…

"Heir Astaroth, what an…unexpected pleasure."

"The pleasure is all mine, most assuredly. And just how is this evening treating you fine ladies? I trust you are in high spirits after your win?"

Oh. So that's what this is about.

A quick glance out of the corner of my eye, disguised as a hair flick, shows Monica keeping an impassive expression…but her stiff back tells a different story.

Well, not that I blame her.

This guy is a total creep, even if it wasn't for those rumors about how he captured a Human Nun and is…'training' her to become a part of his Peerage as soon as he starts one.

Freak.

"We most certainly are. After all, it would be most impressive if we were to achieve a feat my eldest brother has accomplished, wouldn't it?"

"That it would. In fact, it would almost be shocking, especially considering your…racial composition."

Learn to be subtle, creepo.

"Oh? And just what is so shocking about this, 'racial composition', as you put it?"

"Well, put bluntly, Lady Phenex, some of my less scrupulous colleagues think there have been instances of…foul play, during these mock battles."

I raise an eyebrow, substituting the action for my desire to wring his neck.

"Oh, are you implying that I'm cheating somehow, Heir Astaroth?"

"Goodness no, Lady Phenex. I'm not accusing you of less than up front and noble actions…"

The significant look he sends Monica's way causes her to stiffen and I resist the urge to burn out his damn eyeballs, playing on my best friend's ever present worry-even if she tries to hide it-that her friendship is hurting my reputation in some manner or another.

"That still sounds like an insult. One that suggests I'm unable to notice if my very own partner is altering the matches in some manner…or, more alarmingly, that I'm allowing such a thing to occur."

That damn smile of his comes back full force.

"Forgive me for saying so, Lady Phenex…but Miss Galatas' family was accepted by yours with surprisingly little effort, considering other family's attempts over the years who have a more impressive pedigree. Do you not see how it could be misconstrued that she's manipulating you somehow? And you don't have a sterling background when it comes to divining one's past. Wasn't your betrothed, the second Valefor son, killed along with his family after they trod on toes they shouldn't have?"

Something inside me snaps.

"Allow me to share an observation with you, Diodora. Thus far, all you have done is thinly veil insults directed at me and my partner, questioning my intelligence and integrity. Perhaps you should consider the fact that maybe, just maybe, you and those you speak for are just a little bit upset that a Human is making a bunch of Pillar Heirs look like weak, pathetic fools."

There's an icy silence following my declaration, Diodora looking briefly shocked before an ugly expression comes to his face.

"…Is that your answer then, girl?"

"It is, funnily enough. Tell your cronies that if they want to avoid tarnishing their family names, then they can actually put forward an iota of effort for once in their lives."

He doesn't respond except for one last withering glare before stalking off in the opposite direction of where we're headed.

…

"Umm…Ravel? Are you-"

"GAH! I hate those creeps SO much!"

I suck down a lungful of air, trying to get my temper under control and not accidentally burn down the academy with errant flames.

Thankfully I get myself in line, only for Monica to hesitantly ask, "Was…was it a good idea to antagonize him like that?"

"…Probably not. But quite frankly I don't care. He insulted you and Caine! The way I see it a verbal beatdown is the least he deserved!"

Frowning a bit, she nonetheless murmurs, "I guess so…"

Taking a guess at why she still seems worried I reassure her with, "Don't worry, Monica. They can't do anything to your family. Nothing short of several Pillars working together can override my families influence, and they definitely aren't going to risk any long-term repercussions over something as trivial as a few kids arguing amongst each other."

Relaxing, Monica nods before quietly sating, "Thanks, Ravel…for sticking up for me and everything."

Unable to stop myself from giving her a squeeze and grinning like a maniac I tease her with, "Oh you are just so cute when you say stuff like that!"

…

…And today had been going so well.

Well, actually it hadn't, what with Creepy-Squints-A-Lot visiting us, but overall it had been nice.

The mild glare Father is giving me as I stand nervously in front of him, his office doors and windows closed and quiet as a tomb, are not helping my nerves one bit.

"So…I just heard an interesting story from Lord Astaroth, one that is fairly recent. Can you guess what he wished to speak with me about?"

…Dammit.

"Did it have anything to do with something that happened this afternoon, Father?"

"Funnily enough, it did."

"…Father, is he-"

"He isn't causing any trouble, the Astaroths haven't picked sides in almost two centuries and he's not about to start something now, especially over something so…trivial."

The way he says 'trivial' makes me feel as if it's anything but.

"Then…yes, Father. I may have lost my temper and insulted him, but in my defense-"

"Have you considered that he wanted you to lose your temper?"

I resit the urge to grind my teeth before replying, "Yes, but he-"

"So you did so anyway, no doubt causing a great deal of trouble for yourself further down the road."

"I made a mistake, yes, but-"

"A very amateurish mistake indeed. Can you imagine the consequences if every Pillar representative lost their cool just because of a few insults? We would be having a Civil War every other week. I expect better from you, Ravel."

Shame, anger and frustration war for dominance and Father must have noticed.

"…You don't seem pleased with my words, Ravel."

"I'm not, Father."

"Oh? Could you perhaps explain why, then?"

For the second time today my temper flares and I angrily retort, "Because it's not fair! That pompous Ass, to my face, insulted Monica and her family, then insulted me and Caine! And for no other reason than because she was a Human and he was upset that she was making such a strong showing in some practice Rating Games! It's so stupid!"

I pause for a breath and then continue right on.

"We're supposed to be Pillar Devils! The standard that our entire species looks up to and a beacon for all Devils, reincarnated or not! Instead, that idiot seemingly does his best to make all reincarnated Devils, Humans, whatever, hate the upper tiers of our society as much as possible! And he's just one person! So many others think like him, seemingly blind to the fact that they're causing so much resentment that it's a wonder there hasn't been some kind of rebellion yet!"

I feel my vision blur with unshed tears, surprising myself with the intensity of how I truly feel about this.

"Why are people like Diodora and the others that think like him in charge, when it's so dammed obvious that they're wrong?! That they don't deserve their positions?! Why is it that people like Monica and her family are ostracized at practically every turn, families like the Valefors are killed for actually doing their duty, while those fools get away with absolutely zero consequences?! It's. Not. FAIR!"

A ringing silence permeates the room, Father not having moved or reacted once the entire time.

I struggle to regain control of myself, shocked at my outburst and worrying over whether I said too much-

-When Father gives the most exhausted sigh I've ever heard him make, a forlorn look in his eyes.

"Sometimes…it's easy to forget just how wrong the world can seem to a child. Worse, it's easy to forget that such a thing shouldn't be normal…"

He seems to be talking to himself, almost, and I'm not sure whether I should interrupt or not when he finally looks at me and calmly says, "Ravel, I wish I had a better answer for you…but the honest truth is that I simply don't know. Maybe our society is this way because we haven't tried hard enough to change it. Maybe it's because evil, in it's myriad forms, hasn't truly been vanquished yet."

He walks out from behind his desk, kneels in front of me…and gathers me into a hug, which I desperately return.

"Or, just maybe…the people who will change things for the better just haven't arrived yet. Who knows? Maybe those someones are you, Monica, the countless others who no doubt feel the same way you do."

He pulls back and gently cups my chin, his features showing nothing but pride and I feel a lump form in my throat.

"I understand your frustration, Ravel, I truly do. When Clarissa was killed and I was unable to either avenge her or do anything to save her boys…it hurt. It hurt me and your mother both, knowing that one of our oldest friends had been slaughtered in her own home and that we could do practically nothing."

I immediately feel a ball of guilt form in my stomach, belatedly realizing that, in my grief at hearing of Caine and Jonah's fate, I'd forgotten that Mother and Father had lost someone important too. They hadn't shown it much, sure…but I should have known.

"But, Ravel, do you know what we can do? What you can do? Play their game. Answer their insults with a smile, meet their challenges and be graceful in either victory or defeat, don't let them know that we consider them our mortal enemies. Then, when it's time to strike…destroy them in their entirety."

A slight hint of amusement plays across his mouth.

"It might seem counterintuitive, being creatures of fire and all…but revenge can taste equally good, hot or cold. It just depends on the dish."

A smile I have no control over makes it's way to my face and I giggle before nuzzling into him, enjoying the way his beard gently scratches my head.

"Telling your cute little daughter to take sweet, sweet revenge in the most underhanded way possible? I knew you were an amazing dad!"

"Yes, well, I aim to please after all…"

We part from the hug and he stares at me with an inscrutable expression for a few seconds before sighing wistfully.

"Sometimes, my Little Firebrand…I wish you had been born an Heir, rather than a Hero."

"I'll take that as a compliment!"

"Of course you would, you're very much like your Mother that way…it's late, and you should be getting ready for bed. On your way."

I give a short bow and reply, "Of course, Father."

Just as I'm about to leave the room he suddenly calls out, "Oh, and Ravel?"

"Yes, Father?"

"I fully expect you to win all of your mock Rating Game matches with nary a single loss. While he's grown out of it, Ruval was insufferable after he managed that feat. He could stand to be knocked down a peg or two, centuries later or not."

I smirk evilly.

"Count on it, Father."

Damon

I watch my little ball of pride and joy close the door behind her, letting the silence play out for a few moments.

"You can come in now, Riser."

My office door swings open and my third eldest child struts in…not entirely concealing his sheepish grin at having been noticed.

"My apologies, Father. I hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but-"

"But your sister was less than shy about vocalizing her thoughts, I understand. Then again, that is what I wish to speak to you about."

He raises an eyebrow and I continue with, "I don't doubt for a second that the Astaroth Heir will attempt to sabotage Ravel and Miss Monica in some fashion or another. Soon, too. He's young and impulsive, meaning he'll strike while the iron's hot, so to speak."

Riser's eyes narrow and he growls out, "That fool had better not-"

"He won't. Or, at least, he'll try. I want you to keep a close eye on your Sister for the next few days, especially after their next match. I'll send a message to Julius, just to be safe. I doubt he'll need it, Maous only know the poor man has had centuries of experience dealing with situations like these…"

Riser smirks at my mention of Julius 'Red Shoulder' Tyors, Antiquity Academy's resident combat instructor and an old war buddy of mine, from way back during the closing decades of the Great War.

"Well, assuming Instructor Tyors isn't there in time and I have to step in…how far should I go, Father?"

I pull out a few documents that I need to go through before the day is over and neutrally reply, "Well, certainly nothing that will get you kicked out…"

I smirk.

"But a few days or weeks of suspension is perfectly acceptable."

The boy is quiet for a few seconds before chuckling.

"And people say Mother is the more terrifying of you two…"

I give the dolt an incredulous look over the rim of my work and ask, "Boy, are you mad? Even Julius was terrified of your Mother. Just ask him about the petrified forest of Corinthia…"

"…Was it petrified before or after Mother became involved?"

I resist the urge to shudder as I remember Linada's fury after some of her fellow comrades had been killed in the final years of the Great War…and had learned the perpetrators were hiding in said forest.

"Neither. It's name used to be the petrified forest of Corinthia. Now it's known as the Ashlands of Corinthia. All 2000 square kilometers of it."

I see the boy pale.

Precisely. Don't piss off your Mother, Son…

Ravel

"And this will mark the 16th straight victory for our favored duo! Next match in thirty minutes!"

Monica and I trade high-fives before heading towards the locker rooms, exulting in the afterglow of a hard-fought battle. It had been against two Reincarnated Devils, funnily enough, that had easily been the most exhausting of our matches yet.

We'd still won though, not to mention Diodora-may he rest in pieces-seems to have chickened out, avoiding me and Monica whenever we pass nearby in the halls.

Definitely not something I'm going to complain about.

"Hey, Ravel…is it just me, or is it kinda…empty out here?"

I bring myself out of my brief moment of introspection and curiously gaze about as we exit the locker rooms, noting that it is pretty quiet…and sparse…when school hours are still in full swing.

…Odd-

"Lady Phenex, Miss Galatas…could we perhaps borrow a moment of your time?"

I resist the urge to grit my teeth as I hear the 'pleasant' tones of Diodora's voice, annoyedly turning around to face him-

-and resisting the urge to flinch as I notice several older students with him, as well as two familiar-but equally unwelcome-faces.

Cerise Paimon and Alameda Zepar. Apparently, they took their loss a bit harder than I thought they would, if the cold looks they're giving the two of us are any indicator.

And then there's Diodora himself, that dammed smile on his face, flanked by his three allies around the same age has him.

Aness Stolas, the second daughter of the Stolas family. A brunette girl with purple eyes and a gentle countenance, even if her personality is anything but 'gentle'…

Terrance Focalor, first son of the Focalor family. A moderately tall boy with black hair and blue eyes, a serious expression adorning his features as he glares at us.

And lastly Yvette Balam, second daughter of the Balam family. A slim, purple haired girl with startlingly green eyes…and a smirk that makes Riser's look tame in comparison.

…

I don't think they're here purely for a social call.

"Heir Astaroth, to what do we owe the highly dubious honor?"

His expression not shifting a millimeter he lazily replies, "Oh you don't need to pretend to play nice, Lady Phenex…I think we all know just how you feel about me. About all of us, really. What was it you said again? Oh, right. 'Tell your cronies that if they want to avoid tarnishing their family names, then they can actually put forward an iota of effort for once in their lives'. Well, here we are."

I try to hide my nervousness as I belatedly realize my words must have caused far more anger and spite than I had thought they would.

Dammit…

Putting on a bold face I haughtily reply, "Hmph, I stand corrected. It appears you did manage to put some honest work into something for once. Although it seems your 'plan' was to openly intimidate us in the most visible portion of the academy. Truly, an inspired plan…"

Cerise just scoffs and acidly retorts, "What, do you think we're stupid or something?"

She probably doesn't want me to honestly answer that.

"We have people keeping an eye out and making sure others don't walk in on us. No sudden rescue for you two hussies!"

I can't help but tense slightly, Monica reciprocating the action as the reality of this encounter sinks in.

Hands peaceably clasped before him, but with eyes now wide open, Diodora muses, "Now how to go about properly ensuring you have respect for your betters…"

I almost have a minor heart attack as Monica bravely steps forward despite her shaking hands and says, "It sounds as if the basis of your problem lies with me. You don't need to involve Lady Rave-"

"I wasn't talking to you, Human!"

Diodora's sudden shout shocks her into silence before he takes a calming breath, a far more sinister smile on his face.

"Although…that does give me an idea. Initially, I had just planned to make sure you would miss your next few matches through…creative means. But if you two are so adamant in your loyalty to each other, well…Alameda, Aness? If you would?"

My eyes widen as I realize what they're about to do and try to gather the wind around me-

-and am far too slow, my body suddenly becoming…weak. And hot.

Out of the corner of my eye I see Monica reacting similarly and a wave of rage spreads throughout me as I realize what just happened.

That Bitch just used those very same pheromones she used on Monica during our first match! And Aness most have used her family's control over poisons and the like to accelerate the effects without us noticing, if her sadistic grin is anything to go by.

"Physical injuries can be healed and you're a Phenex. So instead, I think we'll go ahead and damage your pride. It would make for startling news the Underworld over if the youngest daughter of the renowned Phenex clan was to enter into a clandestine relationship with a Human, now wouldn't it? And on the academies grounds, too!"

This…this Bastard!

I summon up my flames to burn him alive-

-and a fire of an entirely different kind spreads throughout my stomach and groin, alongside a cramping so intense that it's almost…nice, causing me to moan at the sudden action.

…Tears I have no control over gather in my eyes and I swear on the Satans themselves that I'm going to make them pay-

"Heir Astaroth, can I ask what it is you're doing to my little sister and her friend?"

My eyes open wide in pure shock as I recognize my big brother's voice…but what is he doing here?!

Through the heady fog in my head I glance up-

-and almost flinch at the look on his face.

I've seen Riser angry before, sure…but this is the first time I've ever seen him murderous.

Distantly I hear Diodora retort, "This has nothing to do with you, Riser Phenex. Take your business somewhere else! And how did you get here, I told those useless fools not to let anyone through…"

The heat seems to largely dissipate, letting me think straight as Alameda and Aness turn their attention elsewhere…and I notice that big brother isn't alone, another Devil standing right alongside him.

Felix Valac. I've met him a few times and he always struck me as a level-headed sort. Average height, dark hair gathered into a ponytail and chocolate eyes that sparkle with barely restrained mirth.

"Hey, did you hear that, Riser? Heir Astaroth over here has several of his friends gathered around your sister and her partner, obviously doing something less than wanted. And he says it has, 'nothing to do with you'. I pity the Astaroth family's future if their heir has such a…limited repertoire of preprogrammed responses to external stimuli. I've seen Starfish with more eloquence than him."

…

Wow, I had no idea Felix possessed such a silver tongue, he's usually so polite…

Diodora merely growls, opening his mouth to retort before Riser cuts him off with, "I'll ask one last time, Diodora. What. Are. You. Doing?"

Silence reigns for a few seconds, a tense standoff that affords me and Monica a few seconds to regain our wits and prepare for a fight that's almost certainly going to come-

"What the Hell is going on here?"

Loud, precise footsteps echo off the cobbled path as all of our heads ratchet towards the newcomer, faces paling as we recognize the approaching Devil's voice and features.

Standing just shy of 1.8 meters tall, chiseled features that look like they were carved from a mountain face with a matching scowl and beady, dark eyes that nail us in place.

A heavily muscled body that doesn't look unwieldy, movements controlled and lithe…except for his right arm, which occasionally spasms or twitches, as if not under it's owner's complete control.

Julius Tyors. One of the few Devils that shows visible signs of aging, appearing to be in his late forties and signifying millennia of experience that predates even the Great War.

Father only looks to be in his mid-thirties…

He also happens to be the combat instructor for Antiquity Academy's older students and has a reputation for not taking lip from anyone.

…

And right now he's staring at all of us with equal and undisguised annoyance.

I'm not ashamed to admit I feel more than a little frightened.

"Well? Am I speaking to a mute audience? Or have the flowery and excess verbiage exclusive to most Pillar Devils finally run dry? Speak up!"

Diodora rallies himself first, quickly reassuring the instructor with, "Ahh, it was just a simple disagreement between Pillar families, Instructor. Nothing you need to worry about, we'll settle it on our own."

Tyors makes no visible reaction to that and all turns his gaze briefly in my direction before turning back to Diodora.

"Is that so?"

"It is, Instructor. Now if you'll excuse us-"

A wave of unadulterated power slams into me, sheer Demonic strength driving the breath from my lungs alongside everyone else present, even Big Brother.

"Do you take me for a fool, Boy?"

Tyors' voice sounds like an echo, the tones reverberating throughout the air due to his released aura and I can only wheeze in abject terror as the pressure kicks up even more, practically flattening me into the ground.

"There's ambient Magic in the air, the Phenex and Galatas girls are rife with Pillar Magic that isn't theirs and the Phenex and Valac boys look like they want to murder you on the spot. Could you be any more obvious?"

I manage to flick my gaze upwards and witness Tyors stalking towards the downed Diodora, his ten wings spread wide and a furious expression adorning his features.

"Allow me to make one thing clear. In this Academy, you aren't the heirs or scions or whatever. You are my students, and thus you will follow my rules. And fighting outside of sanctioned or supervised matches on Academy grounds is against the rules. Break the rules, and I will break you."

I can't see it, but I can feel his gaze shift towards me.

"And don't think that just because you two are Phenex your punishment won't last. I had your brother's attend my lectures, I know how to leave a mark on a Phenex that won't easily heal."

And with that the pressure abates, the sound of sudden gasping and even retching replacing the silent roar that had been Tyors' Demonic Aura.

"Now, I want all of you to return to class and behave. If something like this happens again there will be consequences. And, just to make sure you understand, in this Academy I am in charge. Not your precious family. Scram."

Without so much as a parting warning or even backward glance Diodora and his cronies speed off, decorum forgotten in favor of getting away from Instructor Tyors as fast as possible.

A relieved sigh makes it's way past my lips, my attention returning to my older brother just in time for him to shakily thank Instructor Tyors with, "Y-you have my thanks, Instructor. If you hand't-"

"Save your thanks, Boy. Tell your Father he owes me a drink the next time I see him. Maous only know I'm gonna need it if I have to keep doing stuff like this…"

With that said the ancient Devil stalks off, grumbling to himself the entire time and not displaying so much as a trace of that terrifying authority he had earlier.

"Lady Phenex, Miss Galatas, are you all right?"

I give my head a hard shake and accept the offered hand of Felix, gratefully replying, "Yes, I am fine now, but how did-"

"Ahh, my lovely Monica, it sets my heart at ease to see you safe and sound. Those bastards didn't hurt you at all, did they?"

I resist the urge to slam my open palm against my face as I see Riser brush his lips over my best friend's knuckles, her face turning a deep scarlet as she stammers back, "I-I-I'm fine! Y-y-you don't need to w-worry about me, L-Lord Riser!"

…Being recently hit with another dosage of Zepar's pheromone based Magic probably isn't helping things in the slightest.

Instead I turn to Felix and ask, "If you don't mind me asking, Heir Valac, what were you doing with my Brother? And why did you help him come to our aid?"

The older Devil idly shrugs, easily replying, "Do I need a reason to come to the aid of an underclassmen being ganged up on by a bunch of idiotic people I don't like very much? In all seriousness though, Astaroth and his group of sycophants have been getting rather bold with their actions as of late. Reminding them that they're not as unopposed as they seem to think they are was a bit of a necessity."

I nod at his words and bow my head.

"I happen to agree. Thank you again for your aid."

"The pleasure was mine, Lady Phenex. Now, you should probably go help your friend before she passes out from overstimulation, your Brother is laying the flowery adjectives on fast and thick."

I roll my eyes before moving to help Monica escape my stupid older brother's overly romantic advances…but only doing so on autopilot, my mind mostly being lost in thought with other topics.

…

I can't help but remember Father's words about there being people out there-maybe even people like me-who'll be the ones to put an end to idiots like Diodora from driving our society back to where it once was, a cauldron of bloodshed and blatant intimidation.

Today was a bit of an eye-opener, of how real and close to home that threat is.

Maybe…maybe it's time I start thinking on ways to put fools like those in their proper place.

…

And while I know I promised Monica a free shot at Alameda for pulling the pheromone trick in front of a crowd…today just upped the level of payback significantly.

After all, I can turn my foot into burning hot flames.

That Bitch is going to suffer a quite literal case of the fire crotch when I get my hands on her!

Can someone say 'VIVA LA REVOLUCION!'

...

Who knows, Ravel may just very well end up as the supernatural equivalent of a civil rights leader combined with hardcore revolutionary, only time will tell!

Speaking of time, big timeskip next chapter!

Dark White Fang: Dunno if you're familiar with the film When Harry Met Sally, but it always holds a special place in my heart because of how the relationship dynamic between the two is one of constant arguments and conflicts, but still a relationship nonetheless. Once we hit the timeskip next chapter Caine and Mittelt's relationship will definitely take a more mature (read, humorous) turn.

David Pincher: I aim to please, and I'm just glad I didn't have to go to the hospital. Medical bills are insane.

Rawrking: Considering that every scrap of Mythology and it's mother shows up at some point or another in DxD, I think it's safe to assume fire-breathing Turtle-Unicorns will show up at some point...

Guest: Partings are a way of life, unfortunately...but it ain't goodbye, just 'au revoir'.

Kenshin135: The King Piece is indeed literal, and Ajuka would without a doubt be unhappy about it...but for reasons that I don't entirely want to spoil.

As for Vallia it would have indeed been frontloading the Peerage pretty heavily, not to mention she'll have her own pat to take (the Hero Faction is gonna have a different purpose this time around)

While I typically don't like bringing in characters from other franchises...both Frederica and Ning Que are just too badass and unique (as well as unused, near as I can tell) for me not to integrate them into the narrative, working out backstories and motivations that fit within the framework of DxD (Coffin Princess Chaika for Frederica and Jiang Ye for Ning Que).

And BOY am I excited to get to the Rating games stage! Me and LunarOdyssey have done a lot of brainstorming on both stages, rules and special variations of the games.

L'assassin orange: If you pre-order now you can get the complete story! Purchase a season pass and get any and all of my future works!

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Thank you, EA. Thank you.

Episoph: I appreciate the comments and acknowledgement of the deviation from canon, DxD has such a rich history and lore that I wish more fics delved into it with their own original takes. Glad you're enjoying!

Zentari2238: Not sure I understand your argument why Divine Dividing wouldn't 'explode'. Excess energy is expelled through the wings and in the anime that excess energy often appears to be light. Since light is just one other form of energy, if she absorbs enough that she couldn't contain wouldn't that power have to be released SOMEHOW? It'd be like powering a lightbulb directly from a nuclear reactor without the benefit of a mains cable to govern how much energy is transferred. Sure, the energy would be released...but in a noticeably counterproductive way.

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I probably shouldn't be using physics as a basis when examining a Light Novel's powers XD if that description of Vali being able to achieve 'light-speed' is to be taken literally, then something of his mass flying around at c velocities would probably shatter the damn planet in half in one giant thermobaric kablooie.

Of more concern to me is your mentioning of plot twists and nonsensical explanations. These I'm more interested in since it's these kind of errors and story troubles that can harm what I'm trying to write. I can understand some things might seem unlikely such as Caine just 'happening' to appear in front of Kuroka and Shirone or Chow just 'happening' to be an old family acquaintance (I tend to view these as necessary conveniences for a story, but feel free to say otherwise) but am curious if there's anything more concrete that I'm missing.