Welcome to the first chapter of the story!
Hey its been a while~ Before the story begins, I'd like to take a moment to thank everyone for their kinds words being sent to me. Its been a difficult few months, and still is, lots of things happening that have been super stressful, but I am getting to a better place now, so thank you to everyone who's been supportive.
Anyway, please check out the bottom for more details on the story, and I hope you all enjoy~
Chapter 1
"Stay still Devil! I shall slay you in the name of the almighty lord!"
A young Devil ran through a forest.
They didn't know where they were going, only knowing that if they stopped, they'd be caught, and killed.
Behind her, there was an Exorcist, with striking blue hair that ran down her back, wielding a sword that radiated a holy power. She looked young, around the age of 12. Though the sword was quite powerful, she wasn't able to catch her opponent yet.
Trailing behind her, was another Exorcist, that has long brown hair, tied into twin tails. She looked to be the same age.
"Geez Xenovia, don't just run off, I thought we were working together here." The brown haired girl complained.
"A Devil is within enemy territory, they shall be slain. Or, have you forgotten what our duties are, Irina?" Xenovia replied, flicking her head, and her long hair got in her eyes. "I'm seriously thinking about cutting my hair, it keeps getting in the way."
Irina sweat dropped. "But that looks like a child to me…"
"Devil child, still evil."
"Erm, well, I'm not sure about that…a-and, when did you get Excalibur? Its true we're being trained to use them, but still, I thought we weren't allowed to use them without Sensei saying so."
Xenovia didn't show a worried face, instead she raised her sword to the sky.
It radiated a brilliant aura, and she aimed it towards the Devil child.
"Devil, be prepared to be exorcised, in the name of the Lord!" Xenovia unleashed her swords destructive power.
Excalibur Destructions power ripped through the ground, heading for the Devil child.
The small girl screamed at the top of her lungs, believing that she'd be killed by the holy wave.
However, the moment the holy power was going to make contact with her, a wall of black and violet energy erupted across the ground.
The things touching the wall began to disintegrate as if they were being erased out of existence, halting Xenovia and Irina's progression.
"Ooh my. Looks like I've come across two cute Exorcist-chan's~" The voice of a young male echoed out.
Irina and Xenovia looked around.
That's when they felt eyes from above, high in the trees.
So they both looked, and saw the sight of a handsome young boy. He looked to be their age, with striking black hair that came down to just below his neck, bangs that framed his face, with light blue tips. Brilliant violet eyes that radiated similar to the energy that they just witnessed. Dressed in noble attire on his slim frame, the young man points down towards them, and aims his finger like a gun.
"Black and violet, that boys gentle face…" Irina cringed.
Xenovia's hand gripped her sword tightly, aiming her sword towards him.
The young man gave bemused eyes, leaping out of the tree.
Xenovia stiffened her body, as the young man lands on the ground, his eyes going back to the young girl. "Your Mom's worried about you."
"M-Mommy…"
"Yeah, I'll take you back home in a minute." He smiled at the little girl, then felt Xenovia rushing him.
He turned to see the sword of Excalibur coming down on top of him.
So he coats his hand in the Power of Destruction, and raises it to the sky.
Unleashing that power, he clashes violently with the sword, Xenovia grits her teeth, pushing her sword forward.
But the energy exploded, and shot her across the battlefield. Her body smashed through a tree, where she spat out bile, Irina looked on awkwardly, feeling sweat beginning to drip off of her brow.
"Xenovia…y-you okay?"
"No…" Xenovia mumbled. "Hair got in the way…"
"And destructive powers." Irina noted, Xenovia didn't look impressed. "An-Anyway, Xenovia, I think we might've gotten it wrong. I'm pretty sure that's Zante Bael, and we really should go, I don't wanna be erased by that energy." Zante waved to Irina cheerfully, who shuddered and waved right back weakly.
Xenovia ground her teeth, and didn't give up.
"Zante Bael, is it? Fine, I'll be sure to end this Devils life!"
Zante watched as she came at him, swinging her sword several times, unleashing holy waves.
Zante slammed his hand forward, and concentrated his energy that came out like a flamethrower.
The energy spread forward, and collided with the holy waves, struggling against them for a few moments, and ultimately caused them to explode, Xenovia grimaced, but didn't stop, and used the distraction to try and get in close.
When she got to his right hand side, Zante smiled towards her. "Hey blue girl, wanna dance with me~?"
"Yes, I'll dance the dance of death!"
"I was thinking more the samba, but whatever floats your boat~"
Xenovia came in with a few sword swings, trying to catch him.
But he elegantly moved across the battlefield, Irina noted no wasted movements, and he didn't attack Xenovia straight up, instead he simply avoids the attacks, and when one sword movement threatened to go to his chest, Zante waved his hand.
When he did, a burst of incredibly powerful destructive powers whirled all around Xenovia, she saw that they cleaved into the ground, erasing it, but she was surprised she didn't get sliced up despite being in the centre of the vortex slowly forming.
That's when she saw the ground below her being brought out of the ground, with her in it, and she flew into the sky.
"Aaaaah!" Xenovia yelled, looking down to see Irina giving wide eyes, while Zante was showing a big grin on his face, as the young Devil girl came to his side, and hugged his side, while he wrapped a protective arm around her.
"Ooh, a flying Exorcist, next we'll see a praying Devil~" Zante saluted.
Xenovia gave an embarrassed blush, and snarled, as she leapt down with her sword charging power.
She wanted to end it in a single blow.
However, when she went to strike, Zante's body erupted in bright black and violet energy, and shot upwards.
Xenovia attempted to cleave through it, when the energy encompassed her, she used Excalibur to swing all the way around to break through the energy, but it wasn't enough, and it erupted into a mass of destructive power.
Xenovia was dropped down to the ground, surprised to see she only had superficial wounds.
Nothing permanent, as Zante wasn't looking to end her, merely stop her.
To her credit, she began getting to her feet once more, on unsteady legs.
"Irina…why are you not helping me?" Xenovia asked curiously.
Irina giggled awkwardly. "Yeah, I'm, not sure what I'd be able to do even if I got involved. He doesn't seem to want to kill us, so maybe we should go."
"Your friend speaks sense." Zante interjected.
Xenovia huffed. "I do not need to hear that from a lowly Devil."
Zante mouthed 'lowly Devil?' looking offended, while Irina grimaced.
"Maybe don't antagonize the guy with powers that can erase you."
Xenovia scowled. "Of course you'd say that, heretic."
"I am not a heretic! I'm being real right now! We didn't even come here to fight these Devils!"
"They entered our territory, I'm ending this once and for all heretic!"
Zante placed a hand to his forehead, and sighed. "Geez, this ones gonna be a headache. I don't really wanna kill her…hmmm, how to deal with this…I guess I'll just have to trap them, or knock them out…yeah, I've got a feeling this blue girl would go to the ends of the earth to finish me off. Guess I'll just have to ward her off~"
Zante clapped his hands together, and let out a breath.
As he did, Power of Destruction began to surround him, ebbing all around, creating a destructive wall that spread amongst the trees. The energy erases the trees as it passes through them, breaking them apart, and Irina saw some trees snap in half, and fall into the destructive field, causing them to be erased.
Irina and Xenovia came together as they saw the energy turn onto them.
Xenovia grabbed her swords handle tightly, and went to clash, when she saw the energy spin around, as they circulated her being.
Along with Irina, Xenovia watched the energy fully surround them.
"Now, stay in there, and we'll be on our way~" Zante gives a playful smile, then lifts up the small Devil girl. "Time to get you back home."
"O-Okay Bael-sama. Thank you…I'm sorry…"
Zante placed a hand on his heart at how cutely she said it. "Don't worry about it, the important thing is that you're safe."
Xenovia, thought she saw a chance, released a holy wave for him.
But the wall of destruction tanked the power, and only managed to split some of it apart, but that was soon refilled by Zante once more.
"W-Wait! We're not finished!" Xenovia yelled, and tried to step forward.
But Irina stops her, whispering "That wall will turn you to nothingness if you touch it." which caused Xenovia to growl.
"Well, I think we are. It seems that you're new to the Exorcist business. My advice is to not be so direct in your attacks. And one day, maybe we can dance together again~ Also, don't target children, even Devil children~ Until then, see you later ladies~"
Energy erupted around Zante and the child, moments later, they vanished.
When he vanished, the POD energy around them did too.
Irina placed a hand to her heart, breathing out. "Geez, that was terrifying. But he is right, she was a child..."
Xenovia scowled. "Zante Bael, I shall not forget that name…"
Irina cringed at Xenovia's super serious face, while she herself simply wished to go back to the church, knowing they'd probably be in trouble.
Resting under a tree within the Underworld, on a hot sunny day, with the leaves barely providing just enough protection from the sun, Zante stretched his arms, and basks in the warmth of the glowing light.
"I wonder how long its going to take before they realize I've gone...aah, but this sun really is great...glad that girl got home safe..." Enjoying what little time that he had, the young man soaked in every moment of fun he could attain.
However, he knew that eventually would be stopped when he sensed two incoming people, so he cracked an eye towards the left hand side, seeing a young girl with crimson hair riding a camel, looking as if she was enjoying herself immensely.
Along with her, was a young girl with black hair, and wore glasses, her hair being shorter than the red head, and unlike said red head, wasn't riding a camel, and instead was walking next to the camel the red head rode on.
They were Rias Gremory, Zante's cousin, and Sona Sitri.
Sona approached Zante, while Rias rode her camel across the green lands that Zante had found himself in.
"Those in the castle of Bael are looking for you." Sona said sternly.
Zante shrugged his shoulder. "They usually are. Right now, I'm doing a little R and R~"
Sona felt the tugging of her lips going upwards ever so slightly. "Yes, I can see. So, what does Lord Bael have you set up for today?"
"Training, studying, eating, training, social event, meeting of the clan head, my Father, and Zekram Bael. Then after that, I might be allowed to go to bed."
Sona mentally cringed at the thought of such a tight schedule. "Very strict indeed. So, I take it you blew it off?"
"Blew it off?" He said incredulously, looking at Sona with amused eyes. "I didn't expect that kind of sentence to ever come out of your mouth Sona-chan."
"T-That is…" Sona looked mildly embarrassed. "...I-Its because of my sister...and you, your influence over me, that I said it in such a way."
As she said it, Sona couldn't hide the embarrassment finding its way into her voice, something Zante noticed as well, and wore an amused expression, all the while glancing at Rias seeing her riding the camel faster and faster.
"Aah, I see. So, do you feel a little more relaxed when saying it~?"
Sona nods, unable to face him as she could feel the embarrassment growing upon her face, if she did she would have seen the grin on his face growing. "...Perhaps."
Zante continued to be amused, when he suddenly heard "Ooh crap!" so they turned to see Rias coming off of her camel, flying high into the sky, as the camel had bucked its body upwards.
She landed on the ground, and began standing up, when the camel double kicked her in the face, bringing shock to them all, Zante even whispering "Ooh shit..." upon seeing Rias essentially eating dirt thanks to the camels wild attack.
"Waaaah!" Rias cried, pulling herself off of the floor, and began running, incredulously the camel began chasing her. "Leave me alone! What did I ever do to you?!"
Zante sweat dropped, while Sona looked perplexed.
"Why is that camel chasing her?"
"Maybe she angered it somehow." Sona theorized.
Zante tilted his head, as the camel attempted to corner Rias. "I think I should help her, or she might be taken out by that camel."
Zante dashed across the floor, while Rias looked up at the wild animal.
Getting in front of the camel, he began to calm it down while she looked at it with some fear.
Upon getting it to calm down, Zante faced Rias, seeing her worried eyes right before him.
"T...That camel, it wanted to kill me. I bathed her, looked after her, I fed her everyday, and now she has turned on me. I genuinely thought we had a special connection. Clearly not...I...I don't think I'll be getting on a camel for a while." Rias paused, and then glanced at her cousin. "Oh, hello Zante. Thank you for the save." Zante sweat dropped at that. "...If you wouldn't mind, would you do me a huge favour and take that crazy camel back to the Gremory estate? I'd do it myself, but you saw how it wanted to hurt me..."
"Eh...sure, I don't mind."
"Thank you Zante." Rias ran a hand across her face, and winced. "Ow, it actually kicked me in the face."
"Guess it got spooked by something." Zante guessed.
"Whatever the case, at least its calmed down..." Rias looked over to the camel, seeing it staring at her coldly, bewildering and intimidating the red head. "...E-Either way, thank you, and I...I must be off. I...yes, there's things I have to do...if you'll excuse me, I'll repay your kindness for taking the camel back soon, promise." Rias looked at the camel, seeing it narrowing its brows, so she hastily made a retreat. "Bye Zante! Sona!"
Zante and the approaching Sona looked baffled by what had just happened, looking towards one another.
"Huh...as a Gremory, I thought she'd have an affinity with camels. Guess not."
Sona slowly nods, wondering what to make of what just happened.
A while later, Zante arrived at a party together with his Father Lord Bael in a limo.
"Zante, this is important. There are going to be a few different people that wish to meet you tonight. Show your best face, and do your best to impress, understood? If we could have not only those of Phenex, but others also wishing to be apart of the Bael family-"
"Yeah, I get it." Zante said, his eyes shifting to the side looking bored.
"Then you should understand that we're going to be meeting important people. Do not mess this up."
"I wont."
Lord Bael raised an eyebrow, then inclines his neck, so the pair enter the party together.
Crowds of people lined up, many of those that Zante didn't really know all that well, or at all. But they'd always approach and begin asking him many questions, or wishing to get closer to him, though he mostly was polite about it, he also understood the aim for their goals.
Shaking his head, he continued through the party, when he happened to see a boy around a year or so older than him, having similar black hair, and violet eyes, Zante gave the young man a small smile, and a small wave as well.
The young man, who was named Sairaorg, also began to wave, that was until Lord Bael came to the side of Zante, and took his hand, beginning to drag him off rather forcefully, Sairaorg inhaled and exhaled deeply, and turned his head.
"You do not need to associate with him, Zante. You're important to this family."
"So is Sairaorg."
"No, he isn't. Not with his lack of usefulness to the family."
Zante glanced back towards Sairaorg, but thanks to the crowd of people beginning to form, it made it more and more difficult as the time went on, to the point that in the end he couldn't see his brother at all.
"Really, its wonderful to see you Bael-sama. Have you grown? You're looking more handsome as the days go by."
"Yes, that's so true, you're ever so adorable and cute. Also, would you like to meet my daughter? She's recently said to me that she'd love to meet you."
"No, no. Please, come and meet my daughter, she's really elegant, and ever so delightful."
Zante looked between all of them, trying to wrap his head around them all.
In his own head, he thought "Damn, I wish someone would come and take this nightmare away." and as soon as he thought it, the double doors in the back of the room opened dramatically.
Coming in was a young woman who had long black hair, that was tied into twin tails, wearing an outfit that a magical girl would wear, and finally she was carrying what looked to be like a cardboard cut out of Zante himself.
Making a mad dash through the area, she slipped and zigzagged through the crowds at hyper speed.
Like a woman on a mission, the young magical girl cut through everyone of the crowd, and made it towards Zante.
No words were exchanged, Zante was lifted up by the magical girl, placed over her shoulder, the cardboard cut out was left in his place, and she swiftly made a retreat out of the area, all while Lord Bael had his back towards Zante.
"Now Zante, this is a member of the..." Lord Bael looked back, seeing the cardboard cut out of Zante, and saw it was him in a magical boys outfit, giving the peace sign, drawing confusion to Lord Bael. "...what in the..." Lord Bael heard the doors opening, and caught the sight of the back of the magical girl, with Zante on her shoulder. "Serafall..."
Lord Bael gritted his teeth, knowing exactly what had happened.
Later on, Serafall Leviathan, the magical girl that had kidnapped Zante, arrived together with the young man in her own private office.
She grinned ear to ear, and gave a big thumbs up towards Zante, sitting him down on the desk. "Saved~"
"Nice timing." Zante chuckled. "Not quite subtle, is it Serafall-sama?"
"But Zan-chan, I heard your cute heart calling out to me, and wished for me to be with you in the precise moment when your adorable heart was in turmoil. So, you're safe now, right Zan-chan? You're not hurt anymore?"
Zante gave amused eyes towards the young woman, and nods a single time. "Yes, that's right. I'm out of that forced party. Honestly, does he want me to simply marry people that I barely know?"
"I know, what a freak! I mean, perfect bride, right here!" Zante blinked as Serafall did a cute pose. "Plus Sona-chan too. I mean, she's always had a cute thing for you Zan-chan so its best if you and Sona-chan also become better acquainted~"
Zante looked bewildered by what was going on there, seeing Serafall giving off cute expressions. "Haha, I see, so anyway, thanks for the save Serafall-sama."
Serafall waved her hand. "Its fine~ I knew you'd hate those stupid parties anyway~ But at least you got to speak with Sairaorg-chan, right? I know he was there. Even if Lord Bael-chan didn't want him to be."
Zante shakes his head. "I wanted too...but, Father wouldn't let me. That man, he really hates Sairaorg so much, I just can't understand. He hasn't done anything wrong. I know the official reason why...but he's so stupid for hating someone for something they can't control."
Serafall snorted when she heard that. "Well, Lord Bael-chan is a real piece of work. Its hard to believe sweet people like you and Sairaorg-chan came from him." Serafall said bluntly, knowing that Zante felt similar. "Its okay though, I'm sure you'll see him soon enough." Zante nods with his head lowered. "Ooh Zan-chan, its okay. You don't have to be upset."
"No, really. I'm fine. Either way, what are you doing Serafall-sama?" As he asked, he saw that she was beginning to move closer to him.
She then hugged the young man deep into her chest, patting the back of his head in a comforting manner. Serafall looked down, and saw that his face was beginning to burn red, which she thought was adorable.
"How sweet, you're so cute Zan-chan. Its alright now, leave the rest to me, and I will make sure that you're taken care of, okay? Not like that Gabriel, she's awful~"
Zante didn't receive much choice, but it always felt nice to be in the embrace of Serafall, while being bemused by her everlasting one sided rivalry with Gabriel the Angel.
Serafall stroked the back of his head, and smiled down at him. "So Zan-chan, what's this about peerage members?"
Hearing her bring it up so suddenly, Zante looked bewildered, but then composed, and nods a single time.
"Hmm? So you heard?"
"Putting a get together on, are you?"
Zante nods, and begins to explain. "Well, I am getting my Evil Pieces quite soon, and I wanna get a head start on it. Though Father did try to take over, I had to put my foot down. I know exactly who he'd try to get into my group, to strengthen the political bonds between myself, and the clan, and other clans that he feels has significant power. Aah well, I vetoed that straight away."
"As you should Zan-chan! Its very important to any Devil who is in the peerage. Completely your choice after all. Plus, if you wanted anyone cute in it...me for example..." Zante looked amused. "...then that would be a good choice, wouldn't it?"
"Aren't you a Maou?"
"Yes, it would be fine. Be like the biggest gain for Lord Bael-chan, since he is that way after all~"
Zante burst out laughing, and held his sides, finding what Serafall said extremely hilarious, while Serafall also began laughing loudly.
Together, they laughed for a good long while, something Zante definitely needed after everything had been going on lately.
The next day, Zante was listening to a few of his Fathers lessons, but as they carried on for over an hour, Zante leaned back, and stared at the ceiling, paying somewhat attention to what his Father was saying, as most of it was stuff he had been repeatedly told anyway.
In the middle of the lesson, the door opened, and revealed someone else coming into the room.
Zante looked to see that it was Sairaorg.
He seemed to have a determined expression on his face about something, Zante wondered what that something was.
"Sairaorg, you are not to step foot into this castle. State your business, and then leave."
Zante shook his head at his Fathers words.
"Yes, I understand. I have come to challenge for the right to become the heir to the Bael clan." Sairaorg made his intentions known.
But Lord Bael looked bored. "You have done this a few times already, and each time you end up losing, badly. Its best if you try and attain different goals in life, achievable ones. For a talentless child such as yourself, there's no way you'd ever be made Bael clan heir. Zante would crush you instantly."
Putting Sairaorg down like that didn't sit well with Zante, who kept annoyed eyes upon his Father.
"But I have been training, and I wish to challenge him once more."
"One time, a hundred times. It makes no difference. The end results will always be the same."
Lord Bael gave a firm no, Sairaorg looked to be discouraged.
Zante looked towards his elder brother. "Sairaorg...you wish to face me again?"
"Yes, that's right. I am issuing you a formal challenge for the right to become the Bael heir."
When hearing that, Zante nods a single time, and glances at Lord Bael. "This is a formal challenge, issued by a member of one Bael family member, to another. Its clear the only answer to me is to accept this challenge head on."
Sairaorg was relieved to hear his little brother say that.
Lord Bael looked increasingly annoyed. "Are you humouring him?"
"I am respecting his decisions and answering them with my own decisions. This is a dispute between the family. If I am heir, isn't it better that I begin learning how to deal with these situations should they arise?" Zante said it in a way that caught Lord Bael off guard.
"I see, if you put it that way...then do as you wish. I already know the end result anyway."
Zante rolled his eyes, and turned towards Sairaorg. "Then, I am ready whenever you wish to continue this between us. So, please choose a time and day."
"Day after tomorrow at the usual place. Nine in the morning. Acceptable?"
"I understand, then I'll see you there, Sairaorg."
Sairaorg nods strongly, and then turns, walking away from the pair of them.
As he did, Zante held saddened eyes for his elder brother, seeing how Lord Bael completely dismissed him.
Lord Bael walks closer, placing a hand on Zante's shoulder, igniting a sense of irritation from the younger Bael. "You shouldn't encourage him. Talentless people will always remain as such, there is no need to deal with him yourself. If you are to be the heir to this clan, then you will have to understand when to dirty ones hands, and that mistake..." Zante stared hard towards Lord Bael for those comments. "...he doesn't need to be worried about anymore, is that clear?"
Zante had to look on incredulously at how Lord Bael spoke about Sairaorg, it make him sick to his stomach. "He is an honourable person wishing to challenge for a birthright officially should have been his since he is the first born. Think what you will, but his determination cannot be questioned, nor can his desire to push past his own difficult situation."
"To think this could have been avoided if Misla had given birth to a child that could wield Power of Destruction." Lord Bael completely dismissed Zante's thoughts, and carried on. "Alas, I have you, Zante. The child with incredible talent, and a smart sharp mind to match. The ideal candidate to take over the clan."
As he talked, Zante checked out of the conversation, and began walking off.
Lord Bael noticed, and spoke up once more
"I expect no mercy to Sairaorg." Zante turned his eyes towards his Father. "People like that have to learn their place."
"And what place is that?"
"That people are not born equally. People are better than others. He, is the others, understood?"
Zante began shaking his head, only to receive a sharp glare from Lord Bael.
"...Really, how can you be so cruel to your own son? What has he done to you to warrant this treatment?"
"That child was born without any talent, without any power."
"Circumstances, beyond his control." Zante countered. "He didn't ask for either of those things."
"It makes no difference to me. He's defective, and I will be damned if that child becomes the heir to the clan. So you better make an example out of him. Do you understand me Zante?"
Zante thought "You disgust me." and didn't say anything else, not wasting the breath, and simply left the area.
A while later, Zante was left pondering his thoughts within his bedroom, about Sairaorg, and the fight that would be happening between them.
As he was, he noticed outside of his bedroom window, that there was a certain girl stood in the large garden. Amusement came to the young man, and he opened up his window, leaning out of it to see a blonde haired girl with twin curls before his eyes.
"Ravel-chan, if you wanted to come in, all you had to do was come up~" His playful voice carried over.
Ravel, the girl before him, looked mildly embarrassed, running her fingers through her hair, as she flew up to his room.
"Y-Yes. Well, I thought that maybe...it would have been...erm...yes, that's how it is."
Zante gave amused eyes at her answer. "Regardless, you're here at perfect timing, I've got something to ask you."
Ravel became intrigued, and leaned her head to the right. "What is it?"
"Will you marry me?"
Ravel coughed, blushing brightly. "W-What?!"
Zante snickered. "Just kidding~" Ravel blushed and giggled lightly, as Zante showed a sweet smile. "Well, I've got this situation happening in a few days, to do with the beginning of my peerage. And you're one of the smartest and most organized people that I know. So I was wondering if you had time, I've drawn up some plans, and I'd like for you to look over them, if you've got the time."
"R-Really? I-I mean, yes of course. I don't mind doing that."
Zante clapped his hands together in a manner that Ravel thought to be cute. "Thank you Ravel-chan~ Its nothing that big, but I've got many people already having responded, and to put them into different groups, I think I've done it pretty well, but a second pair of eyes never hurts anyone, right?"
"Yes, that's true. Still, Lord Bael isn't going to be attending?"
Zante shook his head. "No, I've asked him to keep this out of his schedule."
"I can understand. So, if you'd like to show me the..." Zante clicked his fingers, and produced some papers, presenting them to Ravel. "...papers, then I'd happily look over them~" She finished, accepting the papers, and scanned over them. "By the way Zante-sama, is it true that Rias-sama got kicked by a camel?"
"Yeah, saw it myself. Camels have it out for her now."
Ravel looked perplexed at what she had just heard. "Why though?"
"I don't really have any answers for you, she said she did nothing different around them, but suddenly they have turned on her, and now see her as the enemy."
Ravel was intrigued even more, and folded her arms. "Honestly, it was bound to happen. They have been giving her wary eyes lately, so for them to turn on her now...it was something that I am not entirely surprised by."
Zante nods slowly, and looks happily on, seeing Ravel beginning to do her thing.
She pointed out several things to him, which he happily looked over, and when finished, Zante gave a bright smile.
"So reliable Ravel-chan, you really are amazing."
Ravel bashfully blushed, and turned her neck to the right hand side. "Y-Yes, well, when you have siblings like mine, it pays to be reliable."
"Haha, I know what you mean. At least yours talk to you~"
Ravel turned back, and hummed. "Magadaran-sama, he doesn't?"
"Fathers got to him, and basically made him see me as his enemy, same with big bro Sairaorg. I told him that he doesn't have to worry about the Bael clan, he has taken an interest in botany as of late, I told him that he could go and do that, but Father and his ever so wise words told him that he would basically receive no support unless he became a real contender for the heir of Bael."
"That is a shame. I'm sorry Zante-sama."
Zante waved his hand. "Really, its alright Ravel-chan. It is how it is. One day, I am sure he will see that I am not the enemy."
Ravel hoped so, and looked towards Zante, wondering what pressures that he never spoke about, since she knew he had a lot from his clan...
Going far away from the Bael castle later that day, to the countryside at that, within a large rocky field, Zante sat on top of a particularly giant rock, and looked over his elder brother Sairaorg beginning to train his body.
Punching repeatedly, kicking repeatedly, he did a repetition of these actions over and over again, Zante observed without saying a word, not moving an inch, and simply watched the determination of his elder brother.
When Sairaorg was finished and was sweating plus panting profusely, Zante leapt off of the rock, and landed before his elder brother, producing a water bottle.
"Looks like you need a little hydration." Zante smiled out.
Sairaorg nods strongly, and takes the bottle, having a few sips of water.
"How come you're out here?" Sairaorg wondered.
"I was wondering a few things, but I think nearly all of them got answered as I watched you train."
"Nearly, all? What wasn't answered?"
Zante hummed for a moment, then spoke up. "I was wondering, if this is what you truly desire..."
"Are you worried about me?" Zante didn't deny it. Sairaorg chuckled. "Hey, isn't it my job to worry about you? I am older than you." Zante snickered as Sairaorg walked closer. "I understand the concern you have for me, but I...I need to do this. Seeing you, I wish to be able to fight against you more than anyone else."
Zante was taken aback by that for the briefest of moments, but then he dipped his head with a tiny smile beginning to appear. "Yeah...I know. Still, being the Bael heir...it really isn't worth it. But, I also get...why you wish to do it. To attain that position with your own power that you obtained with hard work, the position that in any other circumstance, would be rightfully yours."
Sairaorg showed a delighted smirk. "Yes, that's exactly it. So I ask you, please do not pull any punches. Like last time, and the time before. I know I am asking you to attack me intensely. But this is-"
"The way that you'll be able to get stronger and for me as well." Zante finished off, inclining his head. "I promise you, Sairaorg. So please promise me that you'll do your best as well. I...I want to see how much stronger you've become since last time. It has been a few months since then, after all."
"Haha, of course! Show me your power Zante, and I'll also answer it with my own! Let the best man win!" Sairaorg said it naturally.
Zante bowed his head, and began walking away.
But, he did say "Good luck, big brother." before he left, leaving Sairaorg with an even more determined than he was beforehand.
When the time had come, standing opposite of Sairaorg, Zante could see his elder brothers determination on high. The wasteland that was their battlefield stood just outside of the grounds of the Bael family castle.
Their Father was in the background, giving Sairaorg scornful eyes, and giving Zante a look that basically said "You best not fail." though Zante kept his eyes upon his elder brother, who in turn tightened his fist.
"I do not understand why you subject yourself to such humiliation Sairaorg. You do not have the power to defeat Zante. Not now, or ever." Lord Bael began, his cold unforgiving voice surrounding the pair of brothers. "But, to quell those dreams of yours, its time Zante teaches you a lesson." Sairaorg glances at his Father who ignored him. "Zante, finish this quickly. We have things to do."
Zante let out a breath, as Sairaorg tightens his fist once more. Zante cracks his neck left and right, as a violet and black aura begins to surround his hands.
"I am ready, Sairaorg. Whenever you're ready, lets begin."
"Understood, then lets begin!"
Sairaorg wasted no time with kicking off of the ground, and shot for Zante. The young man waved his hand through the air, and left behind several spheres that looked rather ominous, and then Zante unleashed them in a barrage of bullets.
Sairaorg gracefully began dodging the bullets that slammed into the ground, and caused the earth to be erased.
Sairaorg channeled his strength into his fist as he closed in on Zante, who in turn channeled his own power of destruction within his hand, before unleashing it in a violent blast towards Sairaorg.
Rather than dodge since it was moving too fast for him to do that, Sairaorg took it head on and punched it with all of his might. However, his hand began to be torn apart, Zante winced when seeing that.
"Sairaorg..." Zante murmured, worry for his brother in his eyes.
Despite the incredible pain and feeling his flesh being ripped apart, Sairaorg gritted his teeth, and powered through the pain and the blood leaking out of his hand, along with his skin vanishing before his very eyes.
Seeing the determination on Sairaorg's face, Zante thought "Sairaorg, I know you've trained so hard for this, but being the Bael heir...This isn't worth anymore pain, go and live your own life, and leave Bael to me." but despite his thoughts, Zante was immensely proud of his elder brothers resolve, and was very glad to see that despite the hardships Sairaorg had gone through, he still was trying his hardest.
"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" To Zante's surprise, Sairaorg managed to break through his Power of Destruction shot, albeit with wounds across his hand and spreading up his arm.
Even then, he pushed forward, and quickly dashed across the ground.
"Is that all Zante?!" Sairaorg yelled, getting up close and personal with Zante.
In turn, Zante showed a small notable smile. "Not by a long shot."
Zante raised his hand and formed a barrier to demonic power, blocking the punch. Even with the block of the barrier, Zante saw that his barrier had cracks in it, and he also saw for a moment, that some white energy had formed across Sairaorg's hand, driving curiousness into Zante at what Sairaorg was doing.
But that was snapped out of him when Zante exhaled, and unleashed a burst of Power of Destruction all before him, repelling Sairaorg across the ground.
Obliterating the path before him, and turned it into chunks of stone, Sairaorg was letting out panting sounds, and blood began to ooze out of him.
"Zante!" Lord Bael yelled out. "Finish this quickly, I said! Stop playing-"
"I am not playing, Father. I am honouring my opponent who in turn is giving me everything that he has got, isn't that the ways that Devils should fight when it comes to family matters such as these? I am taking this very seriously, do not interrupt any further. Is that understood Father?" Zante defied him, and rather than yelling like his Father, his tone was notably more calmer, yet more in control than his Father displayed, catching Lord Bael by surprise.
Sairaorg gave a happy stare towards his little brother. "I see...then Zante, I shall do my best as well. Yes, you're still shining, even now, defying our Father, so you and I can clash naturally without interruptions. Thank you, Zante."
Sairaorg noticed that Zante's eyes were upon him once more, so he lifted his fighting spirit and charged for Zante, crossing the distance rather quickly, and sent a flurry of punches towards him.
Zante proved to be very fast himself, and began dodging the attacks, with the air shifting with each punch.
Zante also noticed that same aura of white surrounded Sairaorg's hand, but it wasn't consistent, making Zante wonder if Sairaorg even realized he was doing it, or if he simply didn't have great control over it yet.
Whatever the case, when Sairaorg neared his face once more, Zante raised his hand up to the sky, gathering Power of Destruction, before waving his hand downwards.
With that, a large arc of destruction was thrown towards Sairaorg, forcing him to retreat least of all being severally damaged by the attack.
Cutting through the ground as if it was like butter, Sairaorg managed to barely dodge it, but saw that his leg had been hit, and was bleeding profusely. The pain accompanied it, yet he still didn't stop and kept at his younger brother.
"Nice dodge, Sairaorg. Can you dodge these?" Aimed his finger like a gun, Zante began shooting off small but strong bullets of destruction towards the approaching Sairaorg.
Once more, Sairaorg began avoiding, only to see that the shots changed direction and hone in on Sairaorg from different angles. All over his body, Sairaorg looked for any opportunity to escape, or to deal the most amount of damage to the attacks, but found it to be rather difficult.
Lord Bael grinned while Sairaorg grimaced, retreating high into the sky, as the bullets came upwards with flicks of Zante's wrists.
"Seems like nowhere I go, is going to be safe." Sairaorg commented.
Zante briefly closed his eyes, unwilling to cause pain to his elder brother, but also knew that in a way, this is also what Sairaorg wanted, as he knew if he held back on Sairaorg, then Sairaorg would truly be angry with him.
So he followed through with his attack.
"Converge." Slamming his palms together, all of Zante's bullets began to bombard Sairaorg.
"Shi-" Sairaorg's voice was cut off as the spheres blasted against his body.
Zante glanced at his Father, seeing the gleeful look on his face, and it made him feel sickened.
He then looked up to his brother in the sky, seeing that he was doing his best to avoid, but the spheres continued hitting him, managing to cause injuries to appears across his body. His legs, his chest, his stomach, his arms, and even his face, all of those areas bled upon feeling Zante's power colliding with him.
Sairaorg soon fell down to the ground, blood surrounding him on the ground, panting heavily.
He tried to stand, but his energy left him, and he was unable to follow through.
Lord Bael nods his head a single time.
"And the predicted outcome has happened." Zante tightened his hand when hearing their Father berate Sairaorg. "You were born without talent, and that's how the match reflected this fight. Understand your place, Sairaorg."
Zante looked at Sairaorg, seeing his dejected eyes on the ground.
Then he looked towards his Father once more, seeing that he was beginning to walk away.
Closing his own eyes for a brief moment, Zante could feel a wellspring of annoyance for his fathers dismissal of Sairaorg, and also the looks he was receiving, knowing that Lord Bael wished that Sairaorg was punished for attempting such a thing. At least, that's the impression Zante got.
Opening his eyes, Zante walked over towards Sairaorg.
"Zante." Lord Bael called. "Leave him, there's no point dirtying your hands even further."
Zante had about enough of Lord Bael, so he began saying "You really are such a-" but was cut off by Sairaorg, who as an elder brother, wished to protect his younger one.
"I...I am fine...Zante. You...should go..."
Zante looked towards Sairaorg with half lidded eyes, and shook his head. "You need medical attention, I'm going to call for some Phoenix Tears to be delivered-"
"Wasting such valuable items upon Sairaorg. There is no point." Coldly saying that, Lord Bael exhales. "Now come along, someone will come and pick him up-"
"I am going to get him medical treatment, my own time and resources, not that of Bael's, wouldn't that satisfy you Father?" Lord Bael said nothing, but turned his head away and began to leave once more. "Honestly, he really is...what is the human expression...he's such a pill."
Sairaorg, despite his wounds, looked amused.
Lord Bael soon vanished with shock on his face, as Zante made a few calls, getting some medical assistance for Sairaorg.
Zante then bent down to Sairaorg's level, and gave a soft smile.
"I really admire you, Sairaorg...big brother. You never truly do give up, even when the odds are stacked against you. But, you can do anything you wish for, you don't have to continue going for the throne of the heir of this clan. Trust me, there's a million other things you could do that would be more valuable for your time than being the heir to this warped clan."
"...I understand your care for me. I know, hurting me must've been difficult for you. I am sorry."
Zante was taken aback by how sincere Sairaorg's apology was. "W...Why are you apologizing to me? I was the one that wounded you."
"Because if you didn't, I'd have been angry at you for holding back. I am glad...I couldn't touch you today. Because of that, and your power, it gives me incentive to grow even stronger, to surpass you."
Seeing the conviction in his eyes, Zante bowed his head humbly. "I await the day that you and I truly can clash with everything inside of us, I know you have the potential to grow even stronger."
"Yes, neither can I, Zante. Though the future might be difficult for us both, I still see you as my little brother, so don't go trying to act like my older brother, got it?" Zante gave a soft smile. "Your technique has grown, the shape, and size, the speed, I was astonished. Being surrounded like that, and how you executed your technique, it made me proud."
Zante scratched his cheek with a happy red glow on his face. "Yes...I have been training hard."
"It shows as well." Sairaorg complimented. "You really can erase many things, even controlling the direction of your Power of Destruction and that many as well, not even Father can do it that well. You really are a talent that could even rival or surpass Sirzechs-sama one day, I'm sure that Father is proud of that."
"Well, you know how he is...enough about him. It seems you also revealed a new ability."
Sairaorg looked confused. "What ability?"
This time it was Zante that looked confused. "That white aura, you didn't realize?" Sairaorg shook his head, trying to recall what Zante was saying. "Regardless, you're growing stronger, Sairaorg. Never listen to Father, he doesn't understand, and only chooses to see what he wishes."
Hearing that, Sairaorg couldn't help but agree. "Indeed..." Sairaorg coughed up some blood, Zante grimaced, Sairaorg despite the pain, showed a strong smile. "...You said to me just then that I could do anything I wished for. The same goes for you as well."
"...I know, trust me, I've got some plans for the future, Sairaorg. One including the changing of this clan...and its treatment of others."
"Good, I'd not have it any other way. So next time...continue to...come at me...with everything...I want to be able...to grow stronger...and seeing your strength...makes me want to try even harder..."
Sairaorg showed a resolve like no other, while Zante gave supportive appreciative eyes towards his elder brother.
"Yes, I understand, Sairaorg. I wouldn't expect any different from you either. So keep going stronger, and then one day, we'll have the best kind of fight. Maybe even with our peerage members together. In a Rating Game...lights shining on us, and in the sea of all of the cheering fans, we'd give all we've got against one another, and have the best kind of battle. On that day, I don't intend to lose, Sairaorg."
Hearing that energized Sairaorg. "Haha...yes, that would...be amazing. And I don't intend to lose either, Zante."
Zante gave a kind, yet mature at the same time smile towards his elder brother, as soon his medical team arrived, and took Sairaorg away.
Once he was gone, Zante leaned his head back, and thought "Sairaorg...lets keep growing, and make Bael better than this….no, lets make all of the Devils like Father, better than this, so others don't end up like him." with a strong vow in his heart to right the wrongs of those stuck in the past, and those that looked down upon others due to class, or lack of power.
To change what he has seen, and to make it better, for those that he cared for, and for that hadn't been given the chance either.
That was one of the dreams that Zante had, and he had many others, all that he wished to accomplish, and make real differences.
End chapter!
Now with Zante Bael, the little brother of Sairaorg, seeing their dynamic despite how their father tries to split them apart, believing in what he does. Though Zante's more laid back, and prefers taking life at his own speed, and having a good time, though he does like challenges, and likes to be playful with others when the times right. His relationship with Serafall is fun to write, who understands the stresses Zante has being the heir to a clan like Bael.
Now, onto the peerage! I do have a few in mind, but I'd like your suggestions as well as for the harem.
And until next time, thanks for reading!