In the end, it was quite easy to choose what piece would be perfect for Nezuko.
A Rook, was a piece made to resist damage and increase the physical capabilities, alongside her regeneration would make it an excellent combination.
Your Rook Piece was inserted and absorbed easily by Nezuko, a new connection formed between both of you, and just like Jack's it came with the sensation of being fulfilled. A Green Lightning ended forming part of the Sky. Headstrong and very determined, will fight and fight even if the body eventually collapses for the sake of truly living once again after finding another place that it could call home. Touching the unnumerable Clouds, neither rejecting nor replacing any of them as there was enough space for the two and even more elements inside this limitless sky, and instead it seems that both welcomed each other in this place that both belonged to.
A Green Flame surrounds the Orange one, while the Purple flame refined more the other aspect of itself until it showed just the traces of green and lavender, far more defined than before. You remember perfectly the other aspects of Jack's Clouds and if Nezuko was a Lightning... then it should exist the Storm, Rain, Mist, and Sun that you saw before. Four to go and the Sky will be filled completely. But was that the truth? Can truly a sky be filled so easily?
Your vision snapped back to reality, you saw Nezuko having experienced something that something let her put her dish away as she began to acclimatize to her new body.
"Welcome home." You told your newest piece and element, the Rook/Lightning of your existence.
"..." She began to eat again, satiated and slowly.
She wasn't one of great expression but she was satisfied, she wasn't hungry and desperate to fill the hole in her belly.
Then she put the muzzle back into her mouth. You blinked, she blinked and moved her head downside like she was asking something with puppy eyes, so... head pat? Head pat does sound idea, Jack materialized to the side of your Rook, the displacement of wind was an experience that you were used to but the visitors were new to the speed of Jack.
It was nice if your Knight gets some recognition from this.
There were also some stains of blood on her face, she was very thoughtful and deep in her silencing. So you were going to clean it first but Jack intersected your hand and put it on her head with a look of complete superiority much to the interest of Nezuko. The look on her pink eyes was one of astonishment and respect towards her fellow female, it was something that even your intuition couldn't understand but you still you can understand that some form of hierarchy was forming in your peerage. One based on head pats if you were reading this situation correctly and you couldn't figure why it was that important to them when it was free.
You gave the head pats, that was all. If you didn't know something let's not say that you didn't know how to truly improvise.
There may be the need to find a way to get more arms if the size of your peerage increases, oh well that issue just needs to be something that anime will teach you how to deal with it, and with your own intuition, you will find a way for it.
[DANGER!]
Your eyes widened by a fraction and you almost took your hands out of the heads of your elements instead of slowing down, this... presence was a danger that you didn't expect and very unfamiliar, a danger that wasn't physical but subtle that could affect every aspect of your life. You moved your gaze slowly in the direction without moving from your place until you found the origin. Just as you meet the eyes with who was probably the most influential being of all the underworld, you never saw him on any photo, you never had a true description of his appearance or any clue but all your instincts told you about this being.
Zekram Bael, your ancestor from your mother's side, one of the oldest if not the oldest devil alive.
You didn't know why he was here, why he was deemed worthy of using his scrutinizing gaze on you, or why he paid attention to Jack and Nezuko. But you didn't lower your eyes and even narrowed them towards your ancestor. Your ancestor wasn't going to make you submit with just a simple look.
Seconds passed, they feel like hours every single one of them your intuition shouts and screams in ways that it never did. Until it finally stopped as your ancestor gave the slight movement of his head in a way that feels similar to approval... no it was lesser than that, it was a faux pas that he allowed. You failed at something but from it, your worth was raised in a paradox.
The sensation of danger disappeared, the attention of the old Devil was directed to your parents and elder brother.
It was a terrifying experience, the presence of your ancestor was a new form of weight that you never felt till this day.
A smile full of greedy desire formed in your lips hidden as you put your pieces close to you, it was an experience and a lesson imparted that raw power wasn't the only aspect that could be wielded as a weapon and without doubt, the only thing that your mind allowed from this new discovering is a single through.
You want it.
You really want to be allowed to grasp it.
Soft Power, influence, presence, an invisible weight that only by being perceptive is that one is allowed to understand. You understand now so well why your ancestor was at the top of the food chain while still being weaker than your brother, if he had a Grayfia on his side you don't doubt that humans would be paying souls just to be allowed to breathe air.
...You serious will need to repress that mental image.
Okay, a distraction you seriously need to take that image out of your head and maybe use the chance to gather some influence from a different pillar that was less skilled socially than you were and acquire some influence, if you want something then better aim early for it and bring your best to the table, otherwise it would just become something to regret at a later date. There were options, your mind worked hard on seeing the pros and cons of this choice, approaching others means that you favored them. With your young age, this wouldn't be affecting you in comparison to what would happen in the future when your reputation, influence, and power grow to make others pay a bigger amount of attention to your actions.
The heiress of Naberius was recent, a branch child that was inexperienced in any political play and whose potential was why she was taken into headship.
Baldy looked like he needed to rest, so entertaining the family would basically kill a group of birds with a flamethrower and get something to eat.
...For some reason the goblin was in your party, he was bad news, and a child of the Astaroth pillar, the family of Acchan, was too close to piece of shit.
If So-chan was here then he would be talking with her instead, but she was taken by Sera-nee after both of them were defeated in such brutal and merciless manner that they need to recover out of his domains. Grayfia is just too powerful, and if they were here he would just continue using his unfair advantage against them.
You ended petting your Nezuko, you had a look of concentration while you did just as you cleaned Jack's face from the stains of blood. That caused your ears to perk up as they caught a sound, a sound that you were familiarized with. The sound of So-chan astonishment when a magical girl does something amazing or when you saw an epic play in Yugioh like when Yugi defeated all the Egyptian gods at the same time.
It was the sound of a person of culture!
Your intuition told you exactly the direction and your move without a clue towards that direction without caring of who was the origin of that sound, a conversation was going to be enlightening. There weren't doubts about it and probably will help in some way if you play well your cards. Naturally, you reached your destination calm and easy, it was important to maintain appearances and keep the excitement down until you were in private.
The origin was a blonde that was a few years older than you, the red color of the clothes and traits of those do mark him as part of the Phenex, the younger girl that was beside him that showed the same traits marked her as his sibling. He had heard rumors of the miracle thanks to other heirs gossiping and didn't believe it until now, less than a decade of difference between the birth of the two. She was honestly pretty cute and looked a little like the photos of her mother that were shown to you in the past, with a clear difference that that half of her face wasn't covered in an impressive jug of booze with others chanting to beat the record of alcohol consumption.
Beowulf always tells the best stories to sleep.
Your possible fiancee was a Phenex, you have more or less understood that Lord Phenex and your father were friends but you honestly never meet him or the rest of the Pillar. She was the youngest Phenex a clan that is famous for the capabilities of immortality.
Besides that, you knew basically nothing about the family.
"A pleasure to meet you two, are you entertained at this party?" A breaking on manners, but sometimes was necessary to commit errors and mistakes to make the other side calm their nerves. "I am sorry my name is Kane Gremory, forgive my bad manners."
You feel a little pull in your pants and thankfully was strong enough material to not be torn apart by Nezuko.
"And this one is my Rook, Nezuko." You lift your Rook easily, who was now smol... Even more smol, how did her smolness increase while you were distracted?
Nezuko's saluted with a hand doing a good impression of Simba.
Strangely, the older blonde looked incredibly impressed by that simple act, was he what Beowulf calls a simp? That strange sub-species that don't know how to survive by themselves and will die alone.
"Riser name is Riser! I am genuinely glad that you have deemed to give us the honor of your presence!" Okay, that is... interesting, a Phenex that was born 'special', poor guy his parents probably were compensated with his sister because of this.
"I am Ravel! My idiot big brother is just excited to meet you!" It was an incredibly adorable blush, but you were hit by a feeling of companionship. This was the same expression that you bore every time that Sirzechs did something stupid.
You put your Rook down and gave Ravel a nod of complete understanding.
"You too?" You gave her a look of 'I understand your pain' with a tone of voice of someone that surrendered against the stupidity of an older brother.
"Your big brother...?" The expression of Ravel turned into something that you recognize perfectly, hope at someone else sharing her suffering.
"All the time." You didn't need anything more.
Many words were exchanged, partially on shitting on our respective elder siblings or comparing who was the superior of the smart siblings to the point she had to acknowledge that Ruval was inferior to Grayfia. And Riser... he was there, no ignored but for some reason, he was writing with a little notebook, from time to time he asked some clarification about what you were doing, how Ravel was feeling, and naturally being bitten by Nezuko when annoyed her. The last one, in particular, didn't stop Riser because apparently, his pain threshold was high.
Ravel did think that he was an annoyance but to Kane? Riser Phenex was a useful tool if used correctly to manipulate the conversation directions and already was threatening you as part of the Phenex while also giving you respect. Using him as an advisor would give you another point of view, no person was unnecessary if you manage to use their natural talents and personality correctly.
You won't lie and say that it was smooth as it needed many integrants to keep the flow of words, so because as Jack's mysteriously disappeared and Nezuko has her bamboo muzzle back in place. Using Riser was a good manner of moving the conversation... he may not be very smart but he is an interesting fellow.
At least until a very interesting question was made.
"Why did you lie? Your Power of Destruction was amazing!" Ravel Phenex was a girl of culture at noticing that his Sky Flames were amazing but also made you realize that most of the devil present cared about Pillar trait of your mother's family.
There were many ways of answering that question, in particular, you had thought about that a lot.
You didn't have that, you weren't born with it. It wasn't your nature to be like your brother. You didn't blame anyone for it as you were a Gremory instead of a Bael. You were happy about it, as you got the chance to get what you wanted and fit you by using Luck. So you really didn't feel jealous or through that, your Sky Flames was a replacement or compensation. But also never through what other devils would think about your acquired Pillar Trait.
But in the end, it was better to keep a simpler answer.
"I didn't lie, my flames at the core aren't focused on destruction." It wasn't, you knew and understood that much that recently thanks to Jack. It wasn't a power whose reason to exist was to destroy your enemies. "Isn't something that can be called Power of Destruction, that isn't something that I am."
Because Kane Gremory wasn't the second coming of Sirzechs Lucifer and is someone that would burn the world for those that are his.
"Even Riser is confused, what are you then Lord Kane?" Riser proved to be more insightful than expected, maybe there is hope for him.
"A King." The most honest answer that you could give. "Nonetheless, let me show you the difference between my flames and the Power of Destruction." You had to show, don't tell because actions are the weight of the resolution that you were searching for.
So you made a rose of your flame, power born of your soul mixed with ambition, the desire higher and higher, the traces of resolution that you can't bring into existence... it was a dance of emotions that brought your flame into existence. A brilliant fire that was soft looking no matter the intensity, a flame that was born only to bring warmth, a fire that purifies the pain of loneliness, a flame whose only reason to exist was to protect what it has made around it.
An orange sunset that he has watched multiple times with So-chan through the series that they watched, all of it shaped like a flower.
"Beautiful isn't it? You can have it." If you were more skilled with your Flames the details of this rose would be more clear and even add the spines but you weren't and so this imitation was the best that you could do.
Ravel looked warry but with a single encouraging look of her brother, she managed to gather the courage to touch the rose.
"It doesn't hurt." She noticed as her hands truly touched the flame, it took a look of you keep it solid now that it was separated but the look in the eyes of the young girl made it worth the effort.
"I didn't lie, this flame of mine is something that wouldn't ever hurt someone as precious as you. My little and adorable new Rook is proof of it." Your warm hands were on Nezuko all the time as she adored the heat of these Flames.
"Ah, yes your Rook. Riser admits that he is seriously impressed by your amazing capabilities and powers as a King." The third-person quirk of Riser will be something to get used to if you want to keep Riser around, connections are important. "May Riser has your advice about what to do with his future peerage?" He didn't have his pieces? You will have to ask your parents when was the common age for it.
But at least he did ask a very simple question that you knew how to answer.
"Just make them smile." It was the best advice that you could give for a first-timer that hasn't got the chance of making a Familia.
Sadly because Riser was a little slower, you had to explain in a more brief manner.
"The most beautiful form that your pieces can take is when they smile from the deep of their soul. You will know that they will be yours and only yours, a devil must be greedy so aiming for something less than a whole experience is just a waste." You continued, your flame moved inside your chest, your Greed was always wanted more and wouldn't accept anything lesser than a full sky filled with chaotic fun. "Things are way more fun when you aren't alone Riser."
And it truly was, you didn't remember a time when you were happier than after Jack came into your life and now you knew that it will be just the beginning. Nezuko who was silent also carried presence beside you and gave you her support even without knowing the situation she will be someone that always will be there for you.
"Riser is impressed, even Riser Phenex would cry at those words." And he was crying... it was this the manly tears?
"...I didn't expect Lord Kane to be so deep." She smiled at it, you were truly a good influence for those younger than you, but it seems like she through something weird as she began to get red in her face. "A-Are you trying to court me?" You didn't know how she reached that conclusion.
So you just smiled and closed the distance to her, don't let her drop the flower made of your flames, and told her what you see in her.
"I am sincere with my compliments, you already are a beautiful and proud Phoenix." A prideful little thing, a fine mind beyond her years, and you knew that she will be someone great. "There isn't a single shred of doubt that you always will fly free as you want in the sky." A talented devil-like her wouldn't aim for anything less than what she wants.
The blush was far stronger than So-chan, her resistance to facts is even lower than your childhood friend.
"...you really think that I can do it?" A shy question, her will was slightly shaken but honestly asking him something similar to if the sky of the underworld was purple.
"Of course that I am. My intuition never mistakes, you are just unique Ravel." You almost laugh at the silliness of this girl.
How couldn't she see how amazing she truly was?
"Riser has mixed feelings about this." Riser suddenly said, there weren't tears in his eyes but a strange expression like he didn't know if he should frown or smile. "But Riser is very happy that, Ravel and you get along so well Grand Master." So he decided to double down the respect thing.
At least Riser knew his position on the pecking order of the pillars as a third son, if he wants to be more than that he should really put effort towards it.
You on the other hand, just keep being a good host and giving advice from your hard-gained experience, because Riser wanted to know things like the ways of head pat your pieces, the best ideas that you had to spend time, some ways to deal with jealousy, etc. Apparently, it seemed important to him and offered Ravel to be your test dummy, something that Nezuko objected against, and also Jack who came back dressed as a butler.
She also gave you an album as a birthday gift, you will check it later as it was the reason why she disappeared.
Your job was well done, the farewell was given to both Phenex before they had to retire, and got some invitation to the Phenex Manor if you feel like visiting once Nezuko gets used to living in your own home. You let Ravel keep her flower, it seems like she really liked it.
Now if only you could avoid the looks of your family and teasing about your gifts.
At least you knew that Jack and Nezuko wouldn't betray you, you also have to get a bigger bed to when Nezuko decides to join instead instead of using your closet.
Gained: Random Birthday gifts. Bunch of trash. Some good candy. Mostly clothes. And a pair of books.
Album of Magical Girl Photos (So-chan and Sera-nee): You can't look away once opened, you could watch for hours. You think that Magical Girls have managed to recreate a Necronomicon as your Intuition kept telling you to re-read. Chance of Blackmail and Chance of future post-puberty uses.
Album of Jack on different outfits and poses: Makes you feel strange. Needs more research, it's too hypnotic to look away from and not even your willpower manages to keep you away from this beyond a 48 hours. Chance of future post-puberty uses.
A Phoenix Tear for personal use with a Note of 'Visit Soon'.
Learned a spell to keep things inside a hammerspace, you have the truly important stuff inside!
Note: First time that you didn't got a new trait but on the other hand, made Ravel get a minor crush and Riser is on a Speedwagon path because he roll a nat 100 on learning. So Kane by this act, improved massively Riser's life. If Kane wants to fuck his sister you have his support. Got a better loot table from the Phenex by choosing them so well done.
