Earth, Vingólf

Late August, 323 P.D.

Among his handful of hobbies, Chess came to be a favorite of McGillis in the years after being adopted by Lord Fareed. The game, while remarkably simple in concept, always proved to be challenging when facing off against a difficult opponent. However, McGillis found another use for the game. Someone he came to respect showed him how it can be an excellent method for collecting information and taking a peek behind the curtains to find out more about an individual. 'It seems Gaelio may have a point about my nature as an inspector bleeding into my life.'

Gaelio always pointed out how he seemed to take great pleasure in making fools out of superior officers in Gjallarhorn without any thought, which wasn't entirely unwarranted after discovering their corruption.

Corrupt officers, unfortunately, were not the bane of his existence currently. No, the honor was going to be his close friend as he suspects Gaelio was going to relish the opportunity to make fun of him. At the moment, his performance was less than ideal. Chess was about seizing the moment and being ahead of your opponent, which was not the case for the specialist major.

In fact, McGillis thought it was safe to assume he was unable to keep up with his opponent.

She may have only recently become a legal adult, but the adopted heir of the Fareed family heard about the reputation surrounding the young woman sitting across from him.

Sona Sitri.

McGillis was aware of what might others think of him if anyone saw a man with his kind of experience and knowledge struggling to beat a girl younger than him by over several years. If those people wanted to test their luck against Ms. Sitri, he would happily let them take their turn. He wants to see how many of those people will continue to think nothing of the young woman. Although, he suspects the genius of the Sitri family was especially being brutal with him following the announcement from their families a few days ago.

He was set to marry the youngest daughter of the Sitri family within the next few weeks. The news had caught McGillis somewhat by surprise. However, his mindset as an inspector led him to think differently. There was no way Iznario could've circumvented the written agreement between Ms. Sitri and her parents.

Over the years, Gaelio told stories about the men who attempted to win his younger sister's heart. They all failed because of the one stipulation put into place by the agreement. She wouldn't marry a man unless he was able to beat her at chess. He's heard many criticize the requirement, calling it childish or silly. Well, McGillis was beginning to understand why none of the other Seven Stars prior to his father ever bothered to offer any marriage proposal.

The news of the arrangement spread like wildfire through the organization. People praised his father for convincing the Sitri family to abandon such a 'ridiculous' stipulation and using his adopted son in such a manner. The latter comment hardly bothered him. After all, McGillis didn't think highly of sheep. No, he was more concerned with a few people following the announcement.

"Your older sister is quite terrifying, Ms. Sitri."

"I don't control her behavior," His soon-to-be bride said, frowning at the mention of her older sister. "I think you should talk to her husband, but I will apologize as a member of the Sitri family for my older sister storming into your office and threatening you in such a terrible manner. I hope we can move past that incident."

McGillis flashed a charming smile in her direction, "No need for you to apologize. Serafall is doing her job as an older sibling. I can't fault her for doing that."

"I thank you for being understanding of the situation."

While he didn't think he was going to die, McGillis was more amused than scared by the director of the General Affairs Bureau storming into his office and glaring at him with murderous eyes. Gaelio wasn't too far behind as he appeared to be trying to explain the situation to his older sister, but the woman was not interested in listening for quite some time.

"If it's alright with you, may I ask a question?"

"What is it?" She asked, her violet eye examining him as if he was a puzzle to solve.

"I'm curious about your thoughts on marriage," McGillis calmly said. The specialist major looked over the board before using his only remaining rook and moving a few spots, hoping to catch out her queen in an attempt to salvage the game. "You're obviously not opposed to the idea of marriage if the agreement with your family meant anything."

Sona was about to move a piece but stopped after he mentioned the one rule she had for marriage. Less than a moment later, her hand turned into his fist. She retracted her hand and placed it on her lap.

"It still means something to me. I don't care what my parents or your father thinks. Nothing is going to change unless you're able to beat me. That means you're not my husband in my eyes. No ceremony or empty words from anyone will change my mind," She said sternly. The look she sent his way would be enough to make lesser men crumble from the intensity of them. "I hope you're able to understand what this means moving forward, Mr. Fareed."

"I think you misunderstand my thoughts on the matter."

"Oh, do I?"

McGillis was happy about them being alone in her personal library. It meant he didn't have to pretend or keep up appearances. Ms. Sitri was an adult, which meant she can handle the unfortunate truth.

"I have no interest in marrying you either," He said bluntly. "Objectively speaking, you're beautiful. In the eyes of any man, they would be filled with joy at the prospect of becoming your husband. However, I don't care for the beauty of a woman. I respect your intelligence. Frankly, I wish there were people in Gjallarhorn who had even a shred of your mind, but we don't live in that kind of world. All I want to do is continue serving as a faithful member of the Inspection Bureau."

She narrowed her eyes after he finished speaking.

"So your father acted entirely alone in this situation?"

Ah, it seems Ms. Sitri was under the impression the only reason his father circumvented the agreement surrounding her chess rule was that he asked Lord Fareed to do so. The thought of actually talking to his adopted father and asking him to make Ms. Sitri his bride disgusted the Gjallarhorn officer. Every fiber of his being detested the idea of becoming more involved with the politics surrounding the Seven Stars for personal gain.

It was enough for a dark expression to form on his face, which must've been noticed by Ms. Sitri as her violet eyes widened slightly as a result.

McGillis was able to regain his composure and form his mask once more. He cleared his throat, "I must apologize, Ms. Sitri. That was...unsightly for the heir to the Fareed family to do."

"I should be the one doing the apologizing," She said while shaking her head. "The last few days have been frustrating with my parents, but that doesn't mean I should be throwing out accusations."

"This is a difficult situation. It would be highly unusual if you simply accepted your fate after fighting off numerous suitors over the years through chess." McGillis had never really interacted with Ms. Sitri in the past. Outside of occasional polite conversations during gatherings, they usually stayed distant at any event. He was relying mostly on the information Gaelio told him in recent years. "I can handle you being uncertain about me and the role you suspected I played in this entire affair."

The young woman finished taking yet another pawn from his side as he finished speaking. She let out a sigh of exhaustion before letting out the first honest answer she's said to him over the past hour.

"It's tiring, you know?" She said bitterly. "Someone new comes knocking every week with their son in tow. Or a few men came forward alone. All of them were defeated in less than a few moves. As a player of the game, their performances were pitiful at best. However, I must be honest about your performance today."

"And?" McGillis inquired.

"You're not pitiful. In fact, I think you've come the closest to putting up a good fight. You're probably not too far beneath my older sister," She revealed, moving her queen piece forward. "Many of the men I've dealt with don't think about the future beyond a few moves. On the other hand, you're different in that regard. You think solely about the future and nothing more."

McGillis thought about her words for what felt like an eternity. While she praised him to a certain extent, he could see the criticism lying underneath.

"I've learned you can never predict the future." He thought about his dream to reform Gjallarhorn and return the organization to its former glory. Years of corruption have turned it into a shell of its former self. He moved a pawn forward and nabbed another piece from Sona's side, "No amount of moves or thinking can ever prepare someone for what their opponents have in store for them. Sometimes, you're going to have to move forward if the chance is there and seize it."

She went quiet upon hearing his words. The young woman placed a hand underneath her chin, "Maybe you have a point, but I refuse to simply give in to the whims of the Seven Stars."

"I assume you're going to continue fighting your parents on our engagement?" McGillis asked.

"I am."

Upon saying those words, Ms. Sitri took her queen and placed it directly in front of his king. Outside of a few pieces left on the board, the Gjallarhorn officer knew the game was over. He attempted to counter her move, but the match was completed once she knocked over his final piece. The only thing he's able to take away from the match is that it lasted for an entire hour. The man even managed to earn praise as a result of putting up such stiff resistance.

Losing the game, however, was certainly frustrating to the officer. Years of fighting against pirates and dealing with the political games at home created a mindset that desired only victory. But, in fairness, he was willing to admit Ms. Sitri lived up to the rumors about her genius.

"I wish you the best of luck," He said truthfully, acknowledging the girl's determination. Most people might've folded and dealt with the situation to the best of their ability. Ms. Sitri seems like she'll keep up the pressure until something breaks. "In the future, I would like a rematch. Not to win your hand in marriage. No, I simply want to defeat you."

He sent one last charming smile in her direction before standing up from the chair he was using. There was no immediate reaction from the young woman as she remained stoic. However, for a split second, McGillis saw the corner of her lip twitch upwards. It seems his soon-to-be bride was also interested in another match against him.

"I would like that, Specialist Major Fareed."

"I'm afraid this is where we must depart ways. I have some business to take deal with," McGillis said, glancing over at the clock. "You have a good day, Ms. Sitri."

"You as well."

…

'My father must have found Lord Sitri involved in some truly egregious activities to blackmail him into handing over his youngest daughter without a fight,' McGillis thought, twirling a strand of his hair. 'It's the logical conclusion as to what led to the situation Ms. Sitri and I find ourselves in.'

Once he left the home of his soon-to-be wife, McGillis found an armored limousine waiting outside. It was sent by the director of the Inspection Bureau. Apparently, he was needed for an important meeting at headquarters. While the ride wasn't supposed to take long, it did afford McGillis the chance to think about Ms. Sitri. He knew she would fight tooth and nail to get out of this marriage using whatever way possible.

The announcement, however, only confirmed what McGillis believed about Lord Fareed. His ambitions knew no boundaries. The man was willing to do whatever it takes to amass power and influence within Gjallarhorn.

In his mind, the most concerning action his father has taken in recent years was becoming the guardian of the last living member of the Lucifer family. Everyone working under the leadership of Ajuka Astaroth at the Inspection Bureau was considered the best mobile suit pilots in Gjallarhorn. Then came along the grandson of Rizevim Lucifer.

McGillis was no stranger to combat after fighting genuine opponents who possessed the intent to kill him in battle. He respected his opponents and treated them equally. The same cannot be said for the last living member of the Lucifer family. That boy thought it was a game. He demanded only the strongest of opponents. There were even rumors floating around of him killing a few trainers during his first few sessions in a mobile suit.

'And my father somehow became the guardian of that little monster.' There were times when McGillis contemplated whether or not to bring forward his thoughts to the director. However, the thought of personally ruining whatever his father wanted to accomplish was an opportunity McGillis can't afford to give away. 'The Seven Stars only continue to prove their worthlessness if my father has managed to make these moves without resistance.'

He thought about the conversations he overheard as a child between his father and the other lords. The thought of humans being seen as nothing more than a colony of rats being herded around by creatures supposedly nothing more than ink on a paper or contained within one's own imagination would earn a scoff from most people.

The Gjallarhorn officer, however, knew the truth. Demons are real. These very beings are referenced as evil, chaotic, and manipulators within Christianity. It's even stranger knowing his soon-to-be wife, Ms. Sitri, is one of them. That meant Gaelio was one of them as well.

In the end, McGillis came up with a single question once he discovered the truth.

'Who are the rats? Us or those who masquerade with the skin of humans?' The actions of his adopted father helped paint a picture of the political turmoil within Gjallarhorn. McGillis smirked at the trouble coming from over the horizon, 'We truly are entering a new age.'

(X)

"Humanity, throughout the centuries, has proven their willingness to obtain ever more destructive ways of defeating one another on the battlefield. Our species believed mobile armors, once thought to be the pinnacle of weapons technology, was supposed to lessen the burden placed on our soldiers. Its foolish creators couldn't have imagined the chaos that would be unleashed on the world." Outside the sound of his voice, Sirzechs was pleased to see the dozens of officers in the audience listening to his words. "We were soon fighting for our very survival against these mechanical abominations."

Gjallarhorn, once an organization that stood for peace and justice, actively hid the truth from billions in an attempt to maintain control. No one outside the officer ranks knew the real truth. Yet even these men and women were being fed a different version of the story. Sirzechs wonders if these people can handle the true scope of the Calamity War.

Members of the Seven Stars went out of their way to hide various aspects of the conflict. Some of them included people like his old man and his father-in-law.

"These machines were created with one intention; destroy their enemy," Sirzechs stated to the audience as he stopped in the middle of the stage. He took out a small device and pressed a button. A large screen turned on, putting on display a machine that resembled a bird of prey. "They were ruthless. They were thorough. And they were vicious. However, they feel no emotions. It's why they can lay waste to cities without a thought."

Sirzechs thought the best way to describe these newly promoted officers is ignorant. None of them had a clue about what was happening around them. They believed Gjallarhorn stood for law and order. The thought of these humans still having faith in this organization was pitiful to him. The major pressed the button on the device, changing what was on the screen.

It was footage of a Hashmal terrorizing a major population center. The destruction it caused was almost hard to believe, but Sirzechs knew exactly why these things were so lethal.

"But we stopped them," The major stated a tone that would not tolerate an argument. Sirzechs pointed at the paused footage. It was a still image of the Hashmal in the middle of using its beam weapon. "Our organization was created in response to these monsters. Gjallarhorn had the strength necessary to defeat them."

He looked once more over the crowd with a careful glance, searching for anyone with a hint of doubt in their eyes. To his disappointment, no one seemed to think otherwise.

Maybe he was expecting too much from them.

A moment later, the room became illuminated as the lights turned back on. The new officers waited for him to dismiss them. He simply nodded his head, which was all they needed to see before getting up from their seats and walking out of the room. Many of them were talking to each other about what they saw on the screen.

Once he was the only person left inside, Sirzechs let out a sigh as he stepped off the stage. One of the only reasons he took on the task of educating every new batch of officers about the truth was to find the individuals who didn't take his word at face value. The ability to think for oneself isn't as common as people would believe.

Clap, clap, clap!

"You must like scaring the shit out of these new rookies."

Sirzechs looked over his shoulder to see a familiar face entering the room. It was a man who appeared to be in his mid-thirties with black hair, golden bangs, and a black goatee. His uniform was nothing like the one worn by Sirzechs. It resembled armor worn by Gjallarhorn's soldiers within the Earth's Sphere but with a symbol of a crow's wing on his left side, directly over his heart.

"It's the same lesson I give all new officers when they've reached this point in their lives," Sirzechs said, crossing his arms. He cracked a smirk at his friend. "So what brings you here? You usually don't come down to you to Vingólf without the Seven Stars summoning you."

Azazel glanced at the screen, which still had the still image of the Hashmal on display.

"You know, for as much damage as they caused, they are impressive machines," He commented. A lot of people would've been horrified to hear him praise mobile armors in any capacity. Azazel looked at him, "It's a shame they were all destroyed by your great-grandfather and his cohorts. We could've used that technology in the aftermath of the Calamity War."

In the eyes of anyone, Azazel didn't look older than Sirzechs by more than a few years. What none of them could've suspected was the dark-haired was thousands of years old. His origins can be traced back to the early days of the original Great War between Heaven and Hell. Even Sirzechs was a child in comparison to the man standing next to him.

"You may have a point."

"I tried convincing your great-grandfather to let me examine the few mobile armors left lying around. I even nearly succeeded, but Agnika Kaieru changed his mind."

Among the many legends created by the war, Sirzechs was never sure what to think about the founder of the organization. He had a tough time believing devils would willingly follow a human or allow him to be their leader.

"Do you think it's true?"

"What?"

"The one regarding his soul inside Gundam Bael."

Azazel took a moment to think about his answer before speaking. He shook his head, "It's not true. The thought of a human or really any soul being trapped inside one of those Gundam frames sounds dumb on the surface. I think it's just a baseless rumor spread by members of the Seven Stars to keep everyone in line."

"But do you think Gjallarhorn will really follow whoever controls it?"

"Humans, devils, or fallen angels, I doubt we'll all follow the first idiot who manages to awaken the Gundam frame," Azazel said bluntly. For a moment, Sirzechs noticed how he sounded much older than his appearance would let on. The leader of the Grigori let out a sigh, "I almost want to see someone gather the courage needed to get inside the machine. You already know the Seven Stars refuse to let me get anywhere near the damn doors."

Sirzechs went quiet upon hearing those words. He turned towards his old friend, "Does that mean you gave my proposal some thought?"

"I did."

"And?"

"...I think you're crazy, but I also don't think you're wrong for wanting to go down this path."

Gjallarhorn was no longer the organization it claimed to be in the past. The corruption running rampant was hard to ignore these days, especially considering Gjallarhorn was meddling in the affairs of the economic blocs on the Earth. His informants have been feeding reports about the situation within each of these governments. The common sentiment was they believed Gjallarhorn was nothing more than a burden on them.

Some officials have even begun quietly advocating for their faction to rebuild their military forces as a way to deter Gjallarhorn from getting involved in their internal affairs.

"When the foundation of a building is rotted out, it's no longer a matter of if the building will collapse. It's a matter of being prepared for the day when it does come down. The Seven Stars refuse to see what's happening around them, Azazel. If things went their way, we could lose control over Mars in a matter of a few years. Who knows about the colonies at this point," Sirzechs expressed his thoughts without any hesitation. Among his circle of confidants and friends, Azazel was someone he trusted with his life. "As long as they remain in power, we'll be finding ourselves putting down revolts every single year until our military forces are degraded to an unheard-of level."

"I understand where you're coming from," Azazel said quietly. "I just don't know if this plan will work out as you intend."

"And if we stand back and do nothing? This carnage that might unfold is nothing compared to putting down a planetary-wide revolt." Sirzechs wanted to make it clear the outcome should they do nothing in the end. He needed to convince Azazel or his plan couldn't come to fruition. "Believe me, the last thing I want to do is create a chaotic world for my children."

"Does Serafall know about...any of this?"

Sirzechs frowned at the mention of his wife's name. Out of everyone, the major was absolutely certain about her reaction if she were to find out. She detested violence with every fiber of her being. It's why she defied her parents and became a member of the General Affairs Bureau over any of the others. The thought of him attempting to dismantle the very organization created by great grandfathers would have scared her to death.

"She doesn't, and I intend on keeping it that way."

"She's your wife, Sirzechs. Women always find out our secrets no matter how hard we try to hide them, and you know she would've been at the top of the Inspection Bureau if she hadn't chosen the pencil pushers." Everything Azazel said wasn't wrong, which irritated Sirzechs because he couldn't deny any of what he said. The leader of the Grigori leaned against the stage as he looked over the rows of empty seats, "I spoke with Baraqiel about your plan."

"And what does the Lightning of God have to say about it?"

Azazel smirked at him, "That I should disavow any Gjallarhorn officer who thinks the way you do."

"I'm sensing a 'but' here."

The dark-haired man pursed his lips. "However, he knows your reputation and status. If there's anyone who has the ability to pull off this insane plan, Baraqiel believes you're the only person fit for this kind of job." Sirzechs was a little stunned to hear such high praise coming from Azazel's right-hand man. He didn't stop there as the man kept speaking, "The only problem is...this is going to take time. A coup doesn't happen overnight if Gjallarhorn is involved. You should know. You've been involved in their clean-up operations in the past."

"I know."

Gjallarhorn had developed a nasty habit of pushing any frustrated population over the edge and using it as justification to subdue those people. It was their way of keeping the peace by rooting those willing to take action and either killing or capturing them. The former was happening more and more these days.

Yet another reason for Sirzechs to go through with his plans.

"My friend, I'll be honest with you; there was a reason why I was the first to pull out the original Great War thousands of years ago. Violence doesn't get you anywhere. Hell, I don't even think talking and learning to understand each other is a long-term solution either. I believe it just comes down to all sides growing weary of the bloodshed and losing their appetite. This world has gone through so many changes, but the people living on Earth, Mars, and the colonies, they aren't any different from when our societies began all those years ago."

Sirzechs thought about his words. As a member of Gjallarhorn, he was educated on the past. Humanity and many of the species from the Christian pantheon weren't too different. Wars were waged. Peace was signed. It was rinse and repeat for thousands of years until the Calamity War woke up everyone to where this potential cycle will lead them.

"Would Michael have agreed with you?" Sirzechs asked.

"I don't know," Azazel said with a frown on his face. "We were brothers once. I used to believe he was the best choice to run Heaven in the aftermath of the original Great War, but after what he did to start the Calamity War, I came to the conclusion that I don't think I ever knew him in the slightest bit. It's hard to accept the monster lying underneath those wings was God's favorite son."

Sirzechs took a deep breath before asking the question that's been on his mind for weeks since he first approached Azazel with this plan, "And what about now?"

"The difference between you and Michael is you're being honest." A smirk formed on the fallen angel's face. Azazel placed a hand on his shoulder, "I will help you with your quest to reform Gjallarhorn. But I want to make one thing clear; should you lose sight of your goal, I will not hesitate to leave you at the mercy of Gjallarhorn and pull back the support of the Grigori. Are we on the same page?"

The man's stern warning made Sirzechs understand he had no room for error. However, he appreciated Azazel's honesty about where he stood on the matter.

"Yes."

"Good." Azazel's smile returned to his face as he stood back up. The man started walking away but he stopped at the last moment and looked over his shoulder, "I'll be in touch with you soon. Just keep me informed of any new developments in the coming weeks. It seems things are going to be getting busy around these parts."

"Indeed, old friend."

"By the way, I wanted to ask you something."

"What is it?"

Azazel scratched the back of his head. He seemed to be hesitant for some reason, "Uh, I wanted to ask how things have been going within your family. I heard about the news regarding your little sisters…"

(X)

"...He's a pig. That's why I won't marry their pathetic son."

"Your disgusts for Lord Phenex's third son is well documented. I also imagine your parents, especially your mother, aren't thrilled with the arrangement. However, your reaction to the entire situation has been nothing short of childish, Ms. Gremory."

"Childish?" Rias scowled at the silver-haired maid sitting across from her. "Am I supposed to be happy about the news? Riser is an animal with no concept of respect. Every time I've been around him, he sees me as nothing more than a piece of meat. Riser will not treat me with respect, and I'm supposed to sit here and pretend as if my parents care about the situation. Mother was lucky with my father. She's married to a good man who honestly loves her and treats her well. I will not be so fortunate."

She wanted to dig deeper and unleash all the anger boiling underneath the surface. Rias, for years, had heard about the ambitions of Lord Phenex doing everything in his power to secure alliances and obtain more influence within the Seven Stars. The only person above him was Lord Fareed, which apparently offended men like Lord Phenex because of the man being human. But she's still in disbelief about how quickly her parents caved into the man the first sign of pressure from him.

It was yet another reason to despise the inner politics surrounding the families at the top of Gjallarhorn, and unfortunately, Rias wasn't sure if there was a way out of her current predicament.

"And you're certain of your fate?"

"Of course, I'm certain of my fate. Do I need to point out Riser's laundry list of lovers? Some of whom he continues to screw around without anyone saying a thing," Rias retorted angrily. She shook her head at the idea of being married to such an animal, "I'm going to become nothing more than his trophy wife if I accept this marriage lying down."

"I see."

Talking about the son of another great house was tantamount to treason. The words that came out of her mouth would certainly get her into trouble, but Rias trusted Grayfia. It's why she was talking to her family's maid in the privacy of her bedroom. There was no way she can talk to Sirzechs because of his rank and reputation within Gjallarhorn. Plus, Grayfia was a pretty good listener. She may be tough, but Rias appreciated the silver-haired woman being around.

"I'm sorry for taking my anger out on you," Rias apologized, playing with her her hands as she looked down at the ground. A sad smile formed on her face, "Everything has been...difficult for the past couple of days. I know I have my responsibilities as the only daughter of the Gremory family, but why can't I have this one thing?"

"A request I'm sure many others before you have wanted as well." Grayfia was never one to mince her words. The silver-haired maid's stern expression softened for a moment. "I know you want to be able to find someone and marry them on your own terms. Even I'm able to relate to your feelings."

Grayfia rarely talked about her past during their conversations in the past. In fact, Rias remembers how often the silver-haired maid avoided any such topics.

"Do you ever think about what could've been…?"

A rare smile appeared on Grayfia's face, "In my younger years, I actually imagined what my life could have been if things turned out differently. Your mother helped me move on. Now, I've made peace with my life. I'm satisfied with the choices I've made in recent years."

"But I can't."

Rias admires the woman sitting across from her. Grayfia is strong, beautiful, and talented in many ways no one could've expected. So why did it seem like even she was trying to steer her into accepting the hand she's been dealt? Is she truly going to be forced to marry Riser as part of some game involving the Seven Stars?

"It seems you have a decision to make, Rias."

"Huh?" The crimson-haired woman was surprised by Grayfia's words. She tilted her head in confusion, "What? What do you mean I have a decision to make?"

Grayfia merely smiled at her, "You're an intelligent girl. You'll figure it out."

Rias didn't understand what Grayfia was trying to tell her. It was too late to ask for some clarification as the family maid walked out of her bedroom. Once she was alone in the room, Rias leaned back in her chair and thought about everything they said to each other. The problem is her parents are forcing her to marry a man she despised with every fiber of her being. The only reason she was mentioned is because she's the only daughter of the Gremory family.

When she thought about it, all of her problems stemmed from one thing.

She's a Gremory. A family with a long and storied history that stretches back long before the Calamity War had broken out. While she never got to meet her great-grandfather, Rias loved spending time with her grandfather. Crank was always nice to her and somehow always had the right answer to any of the problems standing in her way.

Unfortunately, it's been months since she saw him.

The only thing she knew about his current whereabouts was some mission to Mars. Apparently, things are starting to get bad over on the planet. Rias just hopes the man is safe while he's out there. She doesn't want to lose any members of her family.

"What would he tell me?"

Would he tell her to accept the situation and marry Riser? Or would he take her side and demand why his daughter was marrying off his granddaughter to such a poor excuse for a man? It was honestly a toss-up as things weren't this complicated when her older brother and Sona's older sister got married years ago. At the very least, it was easy for everyone to see how much they liked each other from the moment it was arranged.

'Sona, on the other hand, got off easier than I did.'

Deep down, Rias hated viewing her childhood friend's arranged marriage in such a manner, but there is some truth to her words. McGillis, the adopted son of Iznario Fareed, is the complete opposite of Riser in every possible way. He was handsome, intelligent, and a skilled mobile suit pilot from what Sirzechs has said about the man in the past.

Or maybe he has some hidden side to him that brought him down to the same level as Riser? Honestly, there was no way to tell anymore.

She stood up from the chair and walked through a pair of glass doors. Rias was met with a light gust of wind as she stepped onto the terrace attached to her room. The crimson-haired woman saw nothing but ocean for miles. It was quite the opposite of Mars. However, the first thing to pop into her mind wasn't the alien-like landscape or poverty.

No, Rias thought about her encounter with two boys.

'I sometimes wonder if I made the right decision to help Kiba on that day.' She feels guilty for taking her loyal knight away from the planet he was raised on. More importantly, however, Rias wonders if he resents her for taking him away from his best friend.

She looked up at the night sky, searching for the famous red planet. For a moment, Rias wonders what happened to the young boy named Issei Hyoudou...