NMHA Ch. 54 - Horizon
A/N -
So, things do be picking up now. Issei got Graal'd, Luna and Diodora meet again, and both Kokabiel as well as Zero-Day are rapidly approaching.
Naturally, things are gonna pick up in sleepy Kuoh as well. Do remember that this is about eight years later to canon time (2015-2016) and the characters are on average four to five years older. By and large they're gonna be better fighters.
Which is good, because the canon squad would get their asses blasted by this version of Kokabiel, even moreso than the one that got captured by Vali. To say nothing of what Zero-Day entails.
I have been looking forward to Zero-Day for a while now, and I mean to make it big.
But we aren't there yet. So let's keep going.
Issei bolted out of bed with a scream, drenched in a cold sweat as he shot to his feet and leveled an arm forward, Boosted Gear already out and wordlessly enhancing him.
His blood pounded in his ears, eyes flicking from side to side, trying to make sense of the room in front of him.
"Settle down, whelp," Ddraig growled from within Issei's mind. "Whatever you saw after you partook in the Sephiroth Graal's not here. You're safe. The blond trio dragged you back here when you wouldn't wake up, said something about it sometimes taking a while."
Slowly, but surely, the firm yet calm voice of the red dragon imprisoned within Issei's soul managed to break through to the brunette in question. Several blinks confirmed that this was indeed his room, and that he and the world around him were whole.
"Ddraig..." he murmured quietly, placing a hand on his rapidly beating, though slowing, heart. "I'm still human, right?"
"Human as human can be," Ddraig confirmed. "The wielder of the Holy Grail was true to her word. She did, however, uncover a remarkable compatibility for the genetics of numerous races. Simply put, you're something of a universal receiver when it comes to the attributes of other species."
"I'm guessing dragons are near the top of the list?" he hazarded a guess.
"Curiously enough, yes." The Dragon of Domination seemed somewhat surprised. "How did you guess?"
Issei swallowed hard. He had only seen flashes, moments before he was killed by various supernatural entities, but they had... felt so real. Real enough that he could tell what species he had been in those moments. Dragonkin, Devil, human... those three primarily, but they were not the only ones.
Then there was the last one. Raynare had killed him at that same park. He hadn't even thought about Asia, either. That couldn't be true though, could it? Especially since he'd been so taken aback at 'Yuuma's' transformation into the Fallen Angel who had come to try and warn him and Asia away from Luna..
"Whatever you saw, it isn't real," Ddraig said. "Not here, at least. Perhaps they were glimpses into alternate worlds, but that is that, and this is this. How do you feel?"
Issei flexed the red gauntlet, the fingers of his hand clenching into a fist as he brought it to his face.
"I... don't feel much different," he admitted. "I might need to test out whatever it was that Valerie-san did."
Outside the house, of course. If he'd tried going up against that thing that had stared at him while he was being remodeled by the Sephiroth Graal, then he must have been powerful in that... world? Timeline? Reality?
And now he was starting to get a migraine over it all. Fantastic.
Issei glanced over at the clock and sighed. That's right, it was another school day, and it looked like he was about to be late to homeroom.
As he walked down the stairs, he heard his parents talking. Then, another voice, one that wasn't anyone he knew.
Issei stopped as he reached the bottom step, all three pairs of eyes came to rest on him.
"Good morning, Issei," his mother said, with. "I thought I heard you scream... is something wrong?"
Issei glanced between his parents, who were looking at him with concern, and the voluptuous woman who was sitting with them, scrutinizing him briefly before smiling.
'Fallen. Part of Raynare's crew,' his mind helpfully supplied, the brief image. 'Starts with a 'K'...?'
The brunet grit his teeth. He couldn't do anything either, not with his parents there.
"No," he said dully, rubbing his eyes. "I just had some... pretty bad dreams. Sorry for sleeping in."
"It's perfectly alright, son," his father said. "You've been doing better at school as of late, but it's probably been stressful cleaning up your act. As long as you don't make a habit of oversleeping, we can overlook the rare tardy day. Asia-san will be by soon, to bring you back to school and let you borrow her notes."
Issei shook his head, fixing a look on the second Fallen Angel that had gone out of her way to talk to him. "And why are you here, exactly?"
"After last night? I could hardly stay away," she purred, tilting her head and leveling a heated gaze at Issei. "I haven't fulfilled the duties charged to me, and what sort of woman would I be to leave a job half-finished?"
"It's poor form to pass out during sex, son. Not that I can blame you, considering your obsession with breasts Kalawarner-san probably knocked you clean out after the first go- ow, ow, ow, my ear!"
"Now, now, Gorou, let's not get ahead of ourselves," Issei's mother chided, before letting go of her husband's ear before beaming. "That being said, it would be remiss to not celebrate this occasion before you did leave for school."
"Our boy isn't a virgin anymore!" his dad cheered, and his mother pulled out a bottle of champagne before popping it, joining Miki Hyoudou in her beam.
Issei just stared flatly at Kalawarner, who smiled indulgently back.
"I didn't lose my virginity," he flatly denied.
He swore he heard a record scratch at that declaration, Miki and Gorou freezing in place.
"Is... is that so?" Gorou stuttered, adjusting his glasses. "I think I see... you enjoyed the foreplay too much so you passed out befor-'' This time he was shut up by his wife shoving a piece of toast into his mouth.
"Well, if Kalawarner-san seems intent on finishing the job, then there is no reason to stop you two. Just..." she leaned in. "Just remember to use protection."
Issei just stared deadpan, even as the sensual Fallen rose from her seat as stepped behind the brunet. The way she leaned down, however, and placed the back of his head against her bosom, that was certainly enough to briefly short out his thoughts.
'How soft can oppai get? I must know!'
"Of course, Ise-sama," she breathed into his ear. "Why don't we have some... alone time together? Certainly school could wait just a little longer, couldn't it?"
Judging by the way she shifted her head, Issei could tell that it was as much a question to him as it was for his parents.
His dad just gave him two thumbs-up, even with a mouth full of toast and nose leaking red.
His mother sighed, resigned, but ultimately accepting of her son's tendencies as she always was.
He really couldn't say no here, could he?
"...Maybe it'll help take my mind off the nightmares," he conceded, to which Kalawarner pulled away, then pulled him out of the seat by his arm - not ungently, before pulling it to her bust as she led him back up the stairs.
So Issei found himself in his room again, this time with a Fallen that oozed sexuality. Upon Issei closing the door, however, he pulled away and faced her directly.
"What do you want, Kalawarner-san?" he asked, raising a brow at her. "As far as I can tell, I've never even met you before."
"Ah, but you do know me," she replied, sitting on the bed before draping one leg over the other. Issei's eyes briefly flickered down before he forced his gaze back up. "I've been around the block enough times to recognize when someone recognizes me."
"I know of you. You're one of Raynare's partners-in-crime," he bit out. "Are you here to blackmail me since Asia-san and I didn't accept her advice?"
"Now why would I do that?" the blue-haired Fallen replied, leaning back and holding herself mostly upright by her arms. "Raynare is the one who decided to let you in the know. As immature as I think she is, I agree with her earlier decision to remain in your inner circle now that I have had some time to... get a scope of you."
'Should I be concerned? I feel like I should be concerned.'
"Where is she now, by the way?"
"I would imagine sulking, since she seems to think she failed her mission already." Kalawarner smiled impishly. "She typically then gets angry and goes after the person who sees as responsible for fouling things up."
"So you're here to warn me that she'll try and kill me?"
"Among other things," she trailed off, glancing away as a hand reached up to trail slowly down her chest, tracing the curves that were hardly even concealed by her blouse and skirt.
Issei shifted, suddenly feeling rather warm. "...I'm not interested."
"You say one thing, but your eyes say another," Kalawarner smirked as she shifted her own eyes back to him. "I'm not even talking about that anyway, though if you're up for something quick... I wouldn't be against the idea."
Stupid monkey's paw of being surrounded by gorgeous women who wanted something from him. This was nothing like the H-games he played for so long!
"I'm not interested enough to put myself into some sort of debt to get some," Issei amended.
"Whoever said it had to be with strings attached?" The Fallen angel scowled faintly, leaning back on both arms again instead of just the one. "If you want to keep this strictly professional then fine, but if I'm going to escort you around then I might as well have some fun with it. It's not like I asked to guard some brat with one of Father's gifts."
Raynare's description of the bluenette echoed in the brunet's mind. Alongside the image of Raynare running him through.
He clenched his fist briefly.
"What's this about escorting me?"
The Fallen lifted a brow, tilting her head faintly to the side, fingers tapping the bed as she examined him. "After Raynare came back sulking about her most recent 'failure', the rest of us decided to prove her wrong. Poor girl really doesn't see that where she sees failure, others see... roadblocks. So I took it upon myself to pick up her dirty clothes and make sure you don't get yourself into too much trouble."
A perverse smirk rose to her face. "I might be trouble, but I'm not too much, so there really wouldn't be any issue getting yourself in trouble a little bit would there?"
'...Is this how I come off to other girls?' Issei wondered briefly, reconsidering a number of his life choices.
"Enough is enough Kalawarner, just tell me whether or not you mean to actually answer my questions.
"A pity, I've been working nonstop for weeks," Kalawarner sighed, but obliged. She sat back up and crossed her arms beneath her bust. "As I said, Raynare is chalking her little meeting up with you two up as a flop. Chances are, she'll think that she needs to move from containment to dispatch and take you out before you both become liabilities. She doesn't listen to me, but I am slightly stronger than she is. Lord Kokabiel has me here to protect you if she does."
"To protect me," he echoed, raising his brows. "A cadre of one of the Big Three factions sent out a guard to protect Asia and I."
"He's actually something of a humanophile," the bluenette giggled faintly. "He just shows it in a... different way than I do. He's more the distant protector type, but don't get me wrong - he's as dedicated to keeping humans safe from the threat of the supernatural as anyone. And you both have been noted as special interest targets by the Dark Moon, so why wouldn't he post sentries to keep an eye on you two?"
That... didn't make sense. Didn't it? He wasn't sure. He was pretty sure that he'd died to a cadre?
Or had he? Those visions - or were they memories? - they felt so real. Even now, part of him was warning him that this was an enemy, a foe to be taken down as quickly as possible.
"Whelp. Whatever you saw, they weren't real."
'Easy for you to say, it feels just like I lived them.'
"Okay, so say I do just accept this. What the hell do I do now?"
"We make the most of it."
"No I am not giving you my virginity, Kalawarner," he deadpanned.
She tilted her head and smirked, crossing her arms beneath her bust before lifting it slightly.
He miraculously managed to not start drooling. "I'm not letting you near my meat in general either."
That got her pouting.
"...How the hell did you convince my parents we knew each other anyway? Or even to share breakfast with them?"
She perked back up. "With a little bit of hypnosis magic and a small glamour to make my clothes seem a bit more appropriate, coming up with a cover story really was quite simple."
Casual manipulation of his parents aside... wait, no, that was actually a really fucking big issue, but at the same time he could only deadpan again. "You made them think I went out to find a hooker last night, didn't you?"
The Fallen Angel just smiled.
Issei's blood went cold when he heard a certain blonde from downstairs.
"Ise-kun went and did what?!" Asia shrieked.
Raynare hadn't killed him this time.
He glared at Kalawarner, and she smiled beatifically back.
"Are you sure you don't want to lose your virginity before you die?" the bluenette asked innocently. Innocently, were it not for the hungry gleam in her eye.
Ruval rubbed the side of his face as he appeared back in the foyer of the Phenex manor, the sigil of Phenex shining behind him briefly before winking out.
That meeting with local officials in the outlands had... well, it certainly could have gone better. With the most recent raid, they had raised warranted concerns over the safety of their people and material, and while Ruval could insure the latter, the former was another problem entirely.
Even if the mercenary leader seemed rather intent on limiting casualties, there were still fatalities in many raids, and nobody in that meeting room had liked to hear that civilians had been killed in what should be a routine job. Ruval had by this point started calling that slippery Devil 'Marchosias' due to their apparent affinity with the bloodline powers, but now he was wondering if there was more to it.
They had, after all, successfully stymied his attempts to find them and bring them down for years despite all the advantages Ruval should have had over the raiders.
Speaking of, he swiped to the side to open a communication array to his Ki specialist.
"Xi Fan. Any news?"
"I do not believe you need to ask me that question, milord." The terseness behind the former Asian's words was all the sign Ruval needed to know in order to realize that, indeed, she was getting nowhere. As usual.
He wished he could blame her, but Xi Fan was a competent Bishop, and Ruval himself had borne witness to 'Marchosias's' skills.
"Very well. Just let me know if you do. I'll be contacting Heiress Gremory to see if I cannot obtain the assistance of another Senjutsu specialist."
"Three would be ideal," Xi Fan admitted. "We would be able to triangulate the trail and figure out a general area for you to engage. It is a pity that the other houses are unwilling to offer their support; it is becoming more and more clear that we cannot do this alone."
"It certainly doesn't help that someone's been spreading rumors about our military buildup," Ruval concurred. "I would not be surprised if the Baels are attempting to slow our expansion or build up enough animus to attempt to force through a motion to end the Phoenix Initiative."
"Politics are not my forte, thus I shall leave such musings to you, milord." He could practically see her bowing despite there being no visuals. "I shall maintain my vigil over this transport, and I will change roles with Albus come the next delivery so that I might rest."
"Understood. Thank you, Xi Fan."
"It is my honor, Your Eminence." With that, the magic circle faded, prompting Ruval to pull out something else - a phone - to check the time.
"I think I will wait another half-hour," he decided to himself in a mumble, using the opportunity to gather himself a brief meal. He ate in silence, mind awhirl as he bit into the sandwich, a small bowl of salad on the side. It was... mediocre, compared to the usual fare, but it was late - early, rather, - and he sought solitude at this point in time.
He set his fork down after a quick bite at his greens, clasping his fingers together before resting his chin on them, staring ahead toward the wall.
Slowly but surely, old allies were drifting away. House Valac, which had somehow barely held onto their own seat in the Assembly, had veered into the OSF camp with the disappearance of their heiress. Likely because of all the benefits that the OSF offered if they defected parties; they needed another house to make up for Naberius's expulsion, and while Valac was a small house it was enough to restore the deadlock.
Valac was lost, he knew. The deals that were cut between them and the OSF would ensure Valac remains their ally in the Assembly for a long time to come.
House Sitri was leery, and though he maintained a good personal relationship with their oldest daughter, Lord and Lady Sitri were not interested in the Phoenix Initiative. They weren't hostile about it, but there was an ambivalence to the relationship between the houses specifically that suggested that they were keeping House Phenex at arm's length.
House Bael was an enigma, as usual. They definitely were not fond of him, but nothing they did publically seemed to suggest they were alarmed by his expansion. As Ruval mentioned to Xi Fan, however, he was almost certain that the rumors regarding his training of additional troops and his supposed expansionist intent was being spread by the Bael family. They always did want to protect the status quo.
House Gremory was... interesting. They still worked closely together, but in previous meetings Ruval had noticed that Zeoticus had been staring at him with some level of suspicion, even if Venelana seemed more amicable than ever. That being said, the dichotomy between the two was somewhat concerning. He knew where the power dynamic between that husband and wife laid, so the fact that Zeoticus seemed increasingly chilly toward Ruval did not bode well. He supposed that Rias would be the lynchpin there... one way or another.
To say nothing about the other houses, all of which had varying levels of suspicion toward him in particular. That he was on good terms with many of their best and brightest only seemed to amplify those concerns.
Meanwhile, the OSF loathed him, plain and simple.
"I wonder if this was what it was like for Luna," he mused aloud, tapping a finger on the table as he glanced up. "Reluctant allies on one side and fervent foes on the other. It's certainly not an enviable position."
But House Phenex would endure, like it always has. He'd see to it himself.
Ruval glanced back at his phone, before clicking his tongue. With a snap of his fingers, he brought up a privacy ward and created a magical circle. It would be a faux pas to contact Rias directly, as a Lord to an Heiress no longer at the same event, so he needed to speak with the parents first.
As the voice he heard from the circle was female, he almost smiled with relief that he wouldn't have to deal with the more suspicious Zeoticus, before catching himself and frowning.
"Good evening, Lord Phenex," Venelana greeted him. "It is unusual for Lords to be up at this time. Might I inquire what the reason for this call may be?"
"Good evening, Lady Gremory," he returned, before continuing. "Recently I spoke with your daughter, after her hearing regarding the transfer of her Rook to the Naberius family. She suggested that I speak with her during the evening of the human world's Japan on this day regarding a potential partnership."
"Is that so?" Rias's mother asked aloud, humming thoughtfully. "And you see fit to do so?"
"I do believe there is reason to converse further about this opportunity," he replied. "The Phenex House as always appreciates the support of its allies, and I am pleased to say that I believe that your daughter may contribute well to a continuation of our eras-long alliance."
"I am pleased that you believe such is the case, Lord Phenex," Venelana demurred. "Now, I do not have immediate contact with her, but I can send a servant to collect Rias from whatever she is doing. Would you like me to do so?"
"Please do," he replied, though there was a frown on his face as he allowed the former Bael to do just that. He had no doubt that she could have contacted Rias herself if she either thought the matter important enough... or if the Gremory lady herself wished to speak with Ruval.
A minute passed, before he heard a brief exhale as she likely sat back down. "My apologies. I hope I did not keep you waiting too long?"
"Not at all. My time may be limited, but for a noble of your caliber I can afford the luxury of some patience."
"You flatter me, Lord Ruval," she said, tone giving nothing away as he heard porcelain clinking against a table. "Ah, thank you- Pardon me, I also saw fit to have some tea brewed for our discussion. Were you a physical guest I would be happy to offer you some, though as it stands that would be a difficult offer to fulfill."
...This was going to be a longer conversation then. Ruval chuckled lightly at the polite joke, both to fulfill social obligation and because of the sheer whimsicality of it. "I would not dare ask you to go through such lengths, Lady Gremory. It would be remiss of me to do so with anyone, much less a family friend."
"Perhaps so, but if you were to insist then I would certainly oblige."
A bold statement, considering his current reputation as a nascent warmonger. "Getting friendly, are we Lady Gremory?"
"Please, call me Venelana."
A very bold statement indeed. "I was not aware I have done anything to deserve the privilege, Lady Venelana."
"Ah, but you have. Are you not the one to single-handedly fund the most aggressive territory expansion in centuries?"
Considering that borders had been stagnant for that period, 'aggressive' was one way to put it.
"You are suggesting that you support it."
"It is ambitious, a costly and concerning venture now with the potential to pay off in dividends." The brown-haired Devil had a smile in her voice. "There is something to be said about those with the will to throw a glove at the feet of the world they live in."
"And you see the Phoenix Initiative as a challenge to the rest of the Underworld?"
"How could I not? I have certainly done some digging, and many of the policies you have implemented so far within your territory are strongly reminiscent of the defunct Forgotten Front Party."
Ruval hummed, closing his eyes as he processed this information. It figures that the Baels would look into the Initiative. Though it had to be said, many of Luna's supported policies won him the trust of the Outland territories he'd already pushed the Phenex banner into.
"My late fiancee's ideas may have been radical, but the projections have been extremely promising," the blond finally said.
"Oh, that I do not doubt. I have every belief that a noble of your caliber would be exceptionally thorough in his planning," Venelana replied. "Though the political repercussions are certainly unfolding even now. On a similar note, I have also heard that you have been having issues with raiders in your lands?"
"I have. That is part of why I am reaching out to the Gremory household; your daughter offered to discuss support with said raiders further. It appears their ringmaster is both well into Ultimate-class and has some sort of motive toward me specifically."
"You believe that Rias is an Ultimate-class Devil?" she asked, to which Ruval gave a single huff.
"Of course not. She is in the upper brackets of High-Class and will breach the boundary between the two, that I do not doubt, but it will still be some time before she does. What your daughter does have, however, is a resource in a Peerage member with unique tracking abilities."
"Ah, young Koneko." Venelana hummed. "Yes, I can see how she might be useful in sniffing out this Ultimate-class rebel you seem to have your hands full with."
Ruval scowled. She wasn't wrong, but what rankled him was more the way she worded it. What was the Gremory matriarch's game?
"I have reason to believe that they may be a descendant of the Marchosias family."
There was a long moment of silence, likely as Venelana took a sip of her tea.
"You mean you believe the Dark Moon to be alive?"
"No." Ruval shook his head, even though he was technically alone. "Lunarunn's bloodline back to the Marchosias family is still up for debate as her crimes came to light before she could take a true blood test. Even so, her talent was never in martial weaponry. This one's a swordfighter, their magical abilities seemingly limited."
"A swordfighter, you say? I assume they were able to make even the ever-regenerating Phenex bleed?"
"Yes." The Phenex was emphatic
"I am afraid I will have to be skeptical, on the account of the Marchosias family dying out with your old mentor Eospa." Her voice lowered, softening faintly. "Though you have my condolences for the harsh reminder I have no doubt this mercenary poses. Even if I am skeptical, however, I will give you the benefit of the doubt. You have been an honest and forthright nobleman ever since you were part of the Rating Games, after all."
Ruval grimaced. That was a sore subject.
"Thank you, Lady Gremory."
"Venelana," she insisted quietly. "You are not the only one to have lost a friend in Eospa."
He raised a brow. "You knew him?"
"Only briefly," Venelana admitted. "But even so, he proved himself a true knight, even in his support of the True Satans' tyranny. Were there more like him and his family, perhaps the Civil War could have been avoided."
"Perhaps," he allowed. "But what's done is done. The only thing for us to do now is keep moving forward for their sake."
"I concur. Though I think that he would also wish for his legacy to connect others together in mutual respect for the Devil he was."
"That he would," Ruval chuckled faintly. "You certainly have a way with words, Lady Venelana."
"I am glad that you think so," she gave a small laugh. "Personally, I'd be delighted to get to know more about your plans for the Phoenix Initiative at some point. I may well ask to sit in with my daughter should you two come to an agreement on the involvement of her Rook in the search for this mercenary leader."
"Why not include Lord Gremory in these discussions as well?"
"Zeoticus is a busy man," she sighed. "As much as I would like to include him as well, and turn this into a full joint venture, he has far too many other things to do, plus he is similarly leery of your outreach as the rest."
Convenient, that. "So this is... more you reaching out to maintain an old alliance despite my supposedly questionable actions?"
"There is no reason to not probe into you, and he would have reason to listen to his wife more than an upstart noble," Ruval could hear the faint smirk in her voice. "Suspicions notwithstanding, I think of myself as someone who knows how to recognize opportunity. Yours is a great one, Lord Ruval, but I suspect my birth family is beginning to see you in a more hostile light."
"The erosion of public trust through the dissemination of rumors certainly fits within the Bael playbook of excising dissident elements."
"Then you have reason to believe you could weather sanctions?"
"Contingencies have already been put into place for the event that the Phenex Pillar is declared an enemy of the state." Ruval ran a hand through his hair. "I apologize, but I can only say that much on the matter, lest countermeasures for said plans be developed. I merely hope that they are not required."
"You certainly don't leave anything to chance, do you?" There was an undercurrent of approval in the coy question.
"An abundance of ambition must be tempered with an equal abundance of caution and care. I learned that the hard way, with the events that lead up to my fiancee's death."
"Which does remind me," Venelana said. There was another shift on the line. "I noticed that it has been a while since you have last stepped into the courting scene?"
"Two and a half years," he replied, clicking his tongue."My brief tryst with Roygun Belphegor a year ago was the result of a party where we both had a bit too much to drink."
"Never mind the fact that the Phenexes literally burn through their alcohol, so your tolerance would be through the roof," the lady on the other side of the communication circle teased.
Ruval sighed. "No comment. Either way, we agreed that we did not click in that way."
"Looking for someone with a bit more drive, perhaps? And a penchant for getting herself wrapped up in issues that she quite well shouldn't, but comes out on top anyways?"
"I am unsure how I feel about you prying into my love life, Lady Venelana," the blond drawled.
"Your mother certainly doesn't seem to be having any luck finding you a good partner." Venelana politely hummed. "Is it too much to believe that she asked me to lend a hand?"
Ruval could only huff. So his mother enlisted outside help, was it? Out of politeness, he could at least indulge the brunette. "I am willing to lend an ear to your suggestions, though I will choose whether or not to follow up on them."
There was a brief pause.
"Heiress Agares is currently single."
"I have heard rumors she has her eyes set on someone else," Ruval replied. "Sairaorg Bael, from what I have heard? It sounds like despite his lack of inheritance, he's made something of an impression on Seekvaira."
"Safiv Zepar would make a rather impressive image were you two to join a gala arm-in-arm."
"A fine consort if I have ever seen one; to deny her physical attractiveness would be utter foolishness," the Phenex lord remarked. "But there is hardly anything worthwhile between her ears. As entertaining as the evenings would be, she would fulfill neither my intellectual needs nor the duties that would be required of the next Lady Phenex."
"As much as I would like to defend my fellow lady, I must agree," Lady Gremory demurred, conceding the point before perking back up. "Calessa Shax will be back on the market shortly. She certainly wouldn't be remiss to rejoin a noble house."
Ruval cracked a smile. "After what happened with the Naberius House? The authorities would find my body floating down the river."
Venelana giggled at that, as though having the exact same thing on her mind.
"Then have you considered my daughter?"
And there was the real payload.
"Briefly," he admitted. "I will not say I am entirely unattracted to Heiress Gremory, for that would be a lie."
"Oh?" she paused. "And you would be so brazen as to admit that to her own mother?"
Considering she was the one to bring up the subject first... "Would it that we started courting in secret, I have little doubt the response from both you and Lord Gremory would be anything less than cataclysmic." He briefly paused, bowing his head. "Besides, this is merely me stating that there are qualities that I saw in her hearing that I approve of. She's intelligent, sharp with her tongue, powerful, and clearly inherited nothing but the best in both appearance and bloodline."
He paused briefly. "Quite frankly, if I am the most eligible bachelor in the Underworld, she is the most eligible bachelorette."
"Which makes me wonder. What is your intention with my daughter, Lord Ruval?"
"At the moment, a mutually-beneficial partnership in furthering our respective goals. Whether that evolves into a friendship or more, or simply does not pan out, I will leave open." Ruval nodded his head once. "I would not want a fiancee bound to a marriage agreement, but rather one who is marrying because she so chooses to."
"No, I suppose you wouldn't," Venelana trailed off, a long moment of silence filling the communication array before she spoke again. "Ah, there you are Rias. You really should know better than to keep a Lord waiting, be thankful that I was willing to entertain him until you were able to come here."
A few more seconds passed, and Venelana spoke to him again. "I apologize for my daughter's tardiness, Lord Ruval. I trust that you still have time to speak with her?"
"I believe I will make do," he replied. "Thank you for hosting me while you sent for Heiress Rias, Lady Venelana, it was enlightening to speak with you."
"Likewise. I hope to speak with you again on similarly amicable terms," the lady of the Gremory household said, before another voice spoke up.
"Lord Ruval. Thank you for, er, taking the time to speak with me on our prior discussion," Rias intoned, to which Ruval gave a slight sigh.
"Please, make yourself comfortable. I am not your mother, nor will I disclose any breaches in civil discourse to her. Worry not about supposed tardiness either: Lady Venelana wanted to speak with me, so the time spent doing so instead is of no concern."
"Is that so...?" Rias trailed off, before exhaling. "Even so, you have my apologies."
"It is of little concern. I trust you have been well?"
"I've been looking through lists of potential Peerage members that my parents offered me." The redhead's frustration was visible through the communication array. "The only problem is, none of these individuals click for me."
"I take it you vigorously vet every single one and find them wanting?"
"Of course. A Peerageship is a lifelong role, so each Peerage member needs to be the best, the brightest, have the greatest potential, or the most capable of getting along with the rest of the Peerage!" She gave a brief harrumph. "I do not take such commitments lightly."
"I respect that perspective." He did. "It does become far easier to do your duties once you fill out your Peerage, however."
"I know. But they need to be someone I click with, otherwise it's a wasted Piece. That's unacceptable." There was a brief pause. "If you do not mind me asking, how did you acquire your Peerage?"
"Over a long period of time," he replied, letting out a faint sigh. "And lots of traveling. I wanted to make my Peerage as diverse as possible, so that we might handle any sort of scenario thrown at us. Albus, Tanya, and John I found in central Europe. Boris was a capo in the Mafia. Xi Fan came from Tibet, Soatulla from Polynesia, Pierre from France, and so on and so forth. If you aren't finding anyone, then you may want to spend some time looking beyond your current boundaries.``
"If only I could." He could imagine Rias was pulling a face right now. "I have schooling I still need to complete, a Pact with the Red Dragon Emperor to maintain, a town to maintain joint stewardship over, and all the duties expected of me as Heiress of the Gremory household."
"A Pact with the current Red Dragon Emperor?" Ruval repeated, blinking multiple times. "...How did that come about?'
"He wouldn't accept joining a Peerage, so I went for the next best thing." Rias grumbled. "Would've been way easier on me if he did, though..."
"I'm more curious about where you found a Lishanian Pact." Rias having contact with the RDE was still surprising, but Pacts like the one Rias claimed she'd made were rare. "That's an enormous find."
"Oh. I had one on hand from an expedition I made about four years ago. I copied it over to new parchment using a lexicon I've inscribed over the years and gave him the copy. No big deal, really."
The blond sat, stunned.
"Lord Ruval, are you still there? Did you faint?" Oh, that little minx, she did that on purpose!
"That..." He rubbed his forehead. "That is an incredibly bold claim to make, but considering your self-proclaimed cardinal Sin I'm inclined to believe you. How?"
"A generous donation from Lord Beelzebub certainly helped," she admitted. "But you're currently speaking to the only Devil with the ability to create Pacts."
If word of her being able to make bona-fide new Pacts was released, Rias would go from most eligible bachelorette in the aristocracy to one of the most desirable women in the Underworld. If not the most desirable. Period.
She just placed herself as a must-have asset, and she probably knew it too.
"That is... quite an impressive claim to add to your already remarkable achievements. Are you sure you're only twenty?" the Phenex wryly asked.
"Ah, Lord Phenex, don't you know never to ask a woman's age?" she asked back, all too cheery.
"Hmh." He cleared his throat. "Pardon me, but I was under the impression I was talking to an icon of Devilkind, not a young woman."
"Said icon has a name, you know."
"A name I shall use cautiously, lest I invite her ire upon me or worse yet; her affections."
"And how would one's love be worse than one's rage?"
"'Tis a most blessed and cursed man to have a powerful woman by his side, blessed in the bed and the heart, yet cursed by the imprisonment of the yoke he willingly dons for her."
"But is it not the right of the woman to leash her man she so adores, so that no matter the circumstances he returns to hold her when all is said and done?"
"Thus lies the rub, for I have already been bound and branded. Would that my soul not belong to another, gone from this world, then perhaps I might not be so afeared of being so."
There was a long silence from Rias, causing the smile that had risen to Ruval's face to fade.
'Did I say something improper? I am certain I haven't said anything suspect.'
"Gone from this world, perhaps. But not gone from life."
The Phenex Flame of Sinai blinked slowly. 'Wait. Does she...?'
"I beg your pardon?'
"She's alive. The Dark Moon. The woman you fought and supposedly put down. She's alive, and she's active."
'How does she...!?'
"Impossible," he breathed out.
"Lazarus Syndrome is a condition where one's vitals flatline, but become active again at some point in the future after they can be pronounced medically dead." Rias frowned. "I did a little bit of research, and never did you say anything about inflicting a killing blow such as decapitation, heart removal, or a similar line of lethality. Merely that after a long and prolonged battle, you were able to finally beat her with a crushing blow."
The redhead tone was thoughtful. "My current hypothesis is that after you fought her and put her down, her heart restarted later on and she managed to escape someplace to recover."
Ruval almost sighed with relief. Rias was half-right, but she didn't know the full story, nor did he mean to tell her.
"You mean to say Luna's still alive?" he whispered, letting practiced awe escape his tone.
The redhead was silent for a few moments. "The Red Dragon Emperor was supposedly being trained by her. He only found out her true origins a couple hours ago."
Ruval was in dangerous territory. Very dangerous.
His blood thrummed with excitement, even as he swallowed and planned his next words carefully.
"Then I will aid you in tracking her down," he declared.
"But what will you do when you do?" Rias asked in turn. "She is slated to be killed on sight, and I have little doubt she still holds animosity to the Underworld for what the Naberius heir did to her."
"I...!" He held his tongue at the exact moment he knew he had to. If Ruval said anything more he'd be treading the line of legality, and any less would be dangerous in its own right.
"No, Ruval. If it comes down to it, I'll ask you to help me drive Lunarunn away from Kuoh, but if you or your Peerage are found in Kuoh otherwise then I'll have to get the Assembly involved." She sounded apologetic. "What I can do, however, is keep you in the loop as to what she may be doing, or if she's gone to ground. I can also let you know if I determine that she has left Kuoh, and where she may have gone."
Now Rias made herself from a 'must-have' asset to one to be acquired no matter the cost.
Just what was she building up towards?
"Then I take it you want to keep this information discreet, as to prevent the Assembly from getting involved anyway?"
"If my brother finds out, my time in the human world will be over," Rias replied, the grimace clear in her voice. "He'll stop at nothing to make sure the Dark Moon is never able to threaten his sister. So far, Lunarunn has been active, but she hasn't been hostile or even subversive from the sounds of it. A benign intruder is the best way to put it. I want to make sure that remains the case as long as possible, both to keep the peace as well as maintain my image."
"And you're telling me this because you trust that I will not go to the Assembly and raise this issue?'" Ruval guessed.
"The Dark Moon's survival would damage your image as well, something that's already shaky thanks to the Phoenix Initiative's aristocratic reception," she explained. "It's in both our best interests that her continued existence isn't uncovered."
"So why go so far as to tell me about Luna's survival?" Ruval queried. "By sharing this secret, you only increase the risk of it spreading."
"Because in exchange for me helping you, I want you to help me," the redhead replied evenly. "Though now that I think about it..."
Ruval frowned. "Did something come to mind that might jeopardize this potential arrangement?"
"I think I would like some information as well." He heard Rias set something to the side, some sort of hard object on a table. "A question, then perhaps another, if you don't mind."
"Go on."
He heard the redhead take a deep breath, clearly preparing herself for something.
What she said was damning.
"You already knew that Lunarunn was alive, didn't you?"
"Are you jesting?" Ruval asked, immediately adjusting his stance to the tried and true politician: deny, deny, deny. "You first tell me my former fiancee is alive, then you accuse me of already knowing that the woman I swear I killed is still alive and well? What is this madness?"
"It all comes together," Rias pushed back, a dawn of realization entering her voice. "The lack of body. The declaration of Lunarunn Bael's death at your hands, but the lack of specified critical injury. The scarred back, the Phoenix Initiative... even the fact that you haven't moved on from her. It's not that you're honoring her memory, it's that your honoring your bond with her by acting where she cannot."
Ruval stared at the magical circle, even as he heard the redhead clap her hands together. "It all makes sense. You didn't kill her. I don't think you even meant to kill her. No, you faked her death for her sake!"
He slowly lifted a hand to his head and let out a low, rumbling growl of a sigh. No use lying now, not when Rias managed to gather all the pieces. Ruval did not speak for several more seconds before he finally voiced his thoughts. "It was the least I could do, to allow her a life freed from the machinations of the Underworld. You would make a great investigative journalist if you chose to follow that path, Heiress Rias."
"Hmh." She certainly sounded proud of herself. "It was elementary, my dear Moriarty."
"And now I am a mastermind serial killer?" Ruval drawled.
"Certainly, it was criminal to lie to the Assembly like you did."
"I said nothing to the Assembly that was not true," he denied. "I would even argue that I should be commended for making such a successful story out of half-truths and misdirections. Is that not how Devils operate, after all?"
"That depends." The blond was certain the Rias had fixed an intense look on her side of the circle. "Are you working with Lunarunn to destabilize the Underworld?"
Now that he could answer immediately and honestly. "No."
"Then what is your relationship with her?"
"Dear friends. No more, no less. I have no intention of raising my blade against the Underworld; the Phoenix Initiative is meant to be a beacon of progress and ascendancy for Devils, not a hammer to crash down on their culture."
"Then why go through such hoops to build up both your military presence and your influence with the outlands?"
"I never said anything about the Underworld having no intention of raising blade against me."
That brought Rias up short. "Hm... Yes, yes I suppose that makes sense. There's only so much influence that my mother's side of the family would tolerate before they try cutting it short. Considering you've already pushed the Phenex pillar to the same sort of power as an Archduke or Prince would hold... You're aiming to usurp the Great King status from the Baels, aren't you?"
Then, under her breath, Rias mumbled. "No wonder Mother is so fascinated by you."
Ruval heard it anyway and deigned to ignore it.
"The point, Rias, is that I wanted to make the Underworld the place she wanted to create: a kingdom where any with the ambition to succeed can excel. A meritocracy beyond just the platitudes toward it that the Baels fancy as 'progressive'. Luna could have thrived in such a world. If she, a commoner, could have, then how many more could we see rise to greatness in such a world?"
He cleared his throat. "In fact, to prove to you that my intentions are sincere, I formally invite you, your parents, as well as your brother to visit the Phenex grounds, where we might tour the new lands within my family's borders and discuss how the Gremory family stands to benefit from a continued partnership."
"And if you do mean to turn on us during our visit?"
"I might be an Ultimate-Class Devil, but I'm not so arrogant as to assume I could stand up to Sirzechs," Ruval smiled grimly. He wasn't sure he'd ever get to that point, but he certainly wanted to, even if he didn't plan on testing his progress any time soon. "Consider it a gesture of goodwill, that I would put myself at such risk to ensure that you all are safe."
"Quite the invitation," Rias said neutrally.
"I believe the Gremory family is most receptive to understanding how much good the Phoenix Initiative can do," he replied. "I respect the friendship our houses have had, and wish to maintain it despite what others might think of my leadership."
"An honorable and respectful gesture for certain," she concurred. "I cannot speak for my family however; I must consult with Mother and Father first."
"By all means, please do. This is an invitation for the family as a whole, and I will do everything in my power as a host to ensure that you are received with all due hospitality."
"Then that is settled." A few moments passed. "With that out of the way, we haven't confirmed the assistance with your hunt yet, right? Koneko has mentioned that she's willing to spend some time each evening to help your Senjutsu specialist in locating the mercenary that's been giving you such trouble. That aid won't come free, however."
"Then what is it that you want as recompense?"
"Three things. Firstly, access to the Phenex library - I want to peruse it in case the Phenex family has any Lishanian Pacts in their catalog. This also includes knowledge of dig sites within Phenex territory predating the Tower of Babel, of which I would like access to as well."
"I can have our servants aid you in your search for more Pacts, but I will only agree to access in the first place on the grounds that the Phenex family is credited in any breakthroughs you achieve."
"An easily acceptable compromise. Secondly, I want a continued dialogue with you."
"That is an even more easily acceptable demand. You are entertaining to trade words with, and you are in the know as to what happened with Luna. I doubt I could deny this without major repercussions even if I desired to."
"Lastly." There was a moment of pause, before Rias spoke again, her voice quieter. "I want to meet her. Lunarunn, I mean. But I will not do so without guarantees of protection and your personal presence. Of all Devils in the Underworld, you are the most likely to convince her to stay her hand should we meet face to face."
"That will be... more difficult to achieve," he admitted. "You yourself said that I cannot set foot in Kuoh without forcing you to report me to the Assembly."
"Then speak with her through whatever channel you have," she replied readily. "Find another place I might be able to speak with the woman who saved me from a marriage contract, and did so at her own expense. Let me know what you two come up with, and I will see if I cannot work that into my own schedule somehow."
So she was aware of the whole marriage contract debacle, was she?
"I will do so," he lowered his own voice to match hers. "on the condition that you agree to not attempt to use this meeting as an opportunity to drag her back down to the Underworld."
"And if I don't?"
"That is not negotiable," Ruval declared, quietly but firmly. "I have no dealings with her beyond communications, but Lunarunn is still someone I care for deeply, and I will not be party to a plan to capture or trap her."
The redhead made a 'hmh'. "She may be a criminal, but she hasn't done anything against me or mine. She's helped us, even." Rias's voice softened. "For that reason, she at least deserves a chance to prove she's more than what the Underworld says she is."
Ruval agreed.
Issei didn't die that day, though the way his closest friend had yelped, he thought he would have.
Even as he stepped out the door, he was side-eying Asia, who just smiled.
"It's alright, Ise-kun. I already know what's going on."
That got a huge sigh of relief from the young man. He'd forgotten in his haze of fear that another Fallen Angel had probably been sent to keep an eye on Asia (and possibly Masaomi) as well.
"How was your 'guard'?" he asked, out of curiosity.
Asia crossed her arms and pouted. "Dohnaseek-san ate a good half of everything in the fridge before I was able to have breakfast. He was nice enough, but I wanted some yogurt before I left!"
Issei just chuckled. Such a mild thing to be irritated over... "I almost wish we'd swapped Fallen."
"Eh?" Asia glanced at him.
"Kalawarner-san is definitely a Fallen of Lust," he sighed, rubbing the back of his head as Asia's puffed cheeks became even more pronounced.
"Did you...?"
"Of course not. No matter how much I was tempted."
"Good. You're better than some... some..." she deflated. "Ah... I-Ise-kun is a surprisingly resolute person."
"You've known me for ages, how is this surprising?" he fired back with a wide, almost fake grin, as the two broke into laughs.
A pity that such normality couldn't last forever. Issei's smile died as he recognized that someone landed behind them by the faint breeze and tap of shoes against the ground.
He stopped, and glanced backward, Asia doing the same briefly afterward.
"Luna." Issei said as his body stiffened.
"Issei, Asia," the Devil in question rubbed the back of her head, offering the two a sheepish smile. "...Do you have a minute to talk? I'd like to set some things straight."
A/N -
More Rias and Ruval interactions, as well as some political maneuverings in general. I'm actually having quite some fun working with these two, and Venelana too, if the way the vast bulk of the chapter is just them says anything. There's a really interesting dynamic here, and it's interesting to see how this ties back into the locus that is Luna.
It's a slower chapter compared to the last one, but it sets up a lot of background and context that's important to keep moving forward on. It'll be back to Kuoh in full next time.
