Chapter 23: Deterrence

"What are you doing now?" My temporary companion asked.

"Not sure why it matters to you, but I'm examining the wards laid over this land." I responded.

"Well, I have just had to watch you cook a feast and now stand here silently for close to half an hour. I though you were handing me over right away?"

"What kind of idiot goes to bargain with a dragon unprepared?" I asked, incredulous.

"Ha! Well you have that amount of sense at least. Would you mind listening to me for a bit about this plan of yours?" Oh? He wanted to discourage me from trading him away? Not surprising, I suppose.

"Sure, if you want."

He sighed, "Even if you hand me over to Tiamat, what then? I'm a bargaining chip, but once she has me that's it. You have nothing binding her into helping you."

"I take it you have an alternative?"

"Use me." He said, "I understand your position is dangerous, but if you go into hiding and train my wielder, you would eventually be able to defeat whoever is bothering you."

I sighed, deciding to explain my position to the doomed dragon. I was almost finished decoding the wards with my Geass anyway, might as well pass the time this way.

"Tell me, once they have unlocked the Boosted Gear, how many of your users have focused on a fighting style that did not use it as a base?" I asked.

"A few, but not many. What's your point?" He replied.

"Sacred Gears are called Gifts, Weapons that allow humans to level the playing field. They do preform that function, true, but they are also something else." I reached out, putting my hand through the ward line and watching how much energy it took me to deny the detection of the intrusion with Information Defence.

I finished my thought to the imprisoned legend, "Sacred Gears are crutches. Once someone has one, they rely on it to the detriment of all the other things they could learn. True, usually the Gear is powerful enough for that strategy to be viable, but it also makes them extremely predictable once you know what Sacred Gear they have."

"So that's why you don't want my power? It's too predictable?"

"Yes, but there is another reason. Tiamat has reputation. She's free. Having her on my side would deter anyone from attacking me. If people knew I had the Boosted Gear?" I shook my head, "Forget Albion's wielder, a whole bunch of assholes would be attracted by the challenge."

I stepped through the ward line, happy that I could cover my intrusion with my Defences. The Familiar Forest was the territory of another House, after all. Getting caught snooping would be detrimental.

"Besides, personally I would like to have the ancient Primordial Creation Goddess on my side if I can help it."

"Ha!" Ddraig laughed, "That's a more impressive title for her then I've heard in a while. She's going to disappoint you. It's been a long, long time since she had that level of power."

"What once was, can be again."

"Oh." The dragon said, seeming to sigh, "I get it now. You're insane."

He probably won't the first to call me that.

"You can still walk away, kid. This is a mistake."

"I'm sure that advice is purely for my own good and not at all self serving." was my sarcastic response as I stepped up to a massive cave hewed into a small mountain.

Unlike the wards that covered the Familiar Forest, the new ones that started targeting me were allowed to detect me. After all, I wanted to catch the attention of the one who cast them.

"Oh?" A loud, rumbling voice came from deeper into the crevice, "A lone Devil approaches my lair, brazenly. Is this foolishness or bravery, I wonder?"

From the darkness, a draconic snout, coloured in brilliant white scales emerged, followed by another, covered in red. Then another and another and another. Blue, black and green respectively.

I didn't know what to expect from Tiamat, as she's fairly minor character wise in DxD, but this was not it.

"Especially one so weak. Tell me little Devil, why are you here?" The dragon looked down on me, all ten of her eyes appraising me.

"I've come, great Tiamat, to offer you a bargain. Before I propose it, however, I would like to present you with a gift." I brought my hands from behind my back, presenting her with a red, jeweled gauntlet.

"Hahaha!" Her laughter shook the ground, "A bold one for sure. I never expected this to happen."

She bent her neck, bringing her white head closer to me while the others still watched me carefully, "Hello, Ddraig. How did you get into this situation? Your power not enough to tempt this one?"

"Tiamat. I would say it's good to see you, but that would be a lie."

"Oh, but Ddraig, you hurt my feelings. Without you being unable to slip out of your user's corpse this time, I will be able to impress on you just how much you have displeased me. It's very good to see you."

The blue head addressed me then, her white one still staring intensely at the Boosted Gear, "Little Sagan, what was your plan here? I will be taking Ddraig, whether you want me to or not. You cannot stop me."

"I know. You may have him, as a gesture of goodwill. If it would please you, I have an offer for you, but I am not obligating you to it."

She seemed surprised at that. Most Devils in my situation would not have given up Ddraig so readily, but for me even if she just took him and left it didn't really effect me. I would still be in the exact same place and as I explained to Ddraig, even if I used him my situation would be even worse.

"You would give up his power that easily?"

"Having such a beautiful Dragoness happy with me is a priceless reward. If anything, I am coming out ahead here."

She seemed stunned by my words, while Ddraig asked from my hands, aghast, "A... Are you flirting with her? You really are insane!"

"Oh my. This is new. Are you attempting to court me? It's been a long time since a Devil has attempted this."

Her red head came close, fire showing in her throat as she spoke, "I burned the last one to ash."

I didn't flinch. Dragons respected strength and resolve, backing down here would be the wrong play.

"Then obviously he was unworthy of your affections."

"And you are?" The question was a trap.

"No. Not yet, not at my current ability. But I am young, with plenty of time to grow strong enough to be worthy of you."

"You really are trying to seduce her." Ddraig's voice was full of horror, "How did I get caught by someone this stupid?"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" The ground shook again with the Dragoness' laughter, "Very well, Little Sagan. I will take your gracious gift, then you can give me your offer. It's been a long time since one of your kind has amused me so."

"And it's working? What is this, a hallucination?" Ddraig asked incredulously as he was encased in a film of rainbow coloured magic.

I turned on my geass, curious of the spell she was using and watched as Tiamat used her raw will to manipulate the gauntlet over to her eye level.

"Don't fret so, Ddraig. If this one succeeds where you so catastrophically failed, you will be in much too much pain to even know of it."

Ouch.

The Red Dragon Emperor called out to me as he was moved further into the Lair by her magic, "Sagan, I will not forget this. She will not hold me forever, you have made an enemy today."

"I'll keep that in mind when I murder your next user."

My response got a vicious grin from the white head next to me, as all their eyes turned back to me, giving me her sole focus.

"You have earned the right to be heard, Little Sagan. Make the most of it."

I bowed, "I am grateful, Lady Tiamat. I have prepared a feast for us to discuss my proposal over."

"Oh, is this feast large enough to satiate me?"

"It is, My Lady. But if it would please you, we could discuss my bargain over a table? I could then leave the rest of the food for you to indulge in at your leisure."

"Hmm..." She regarded me, "Should this not be up to my standards, I will be most displeased."

"I am confident that this is worthy of your refined tastes."

The plan here was very simple. I knew how dragons courted each other and how Tiamat is viewed by the majority of the Mythological world. Using both of those, I could tailor my first impression in a way that was most likely to get her to like me and tolerate my presence, at least enough for me to start using my greatest weapons on her.

The Lures.

Dragon courtship is a varied and complex thing, but basically it was all about proving you were a competent mate. Giving a gift from your 'hoard', proving you can hunt and provide for her and your whelps, having the strength to protect them while they are nesting.

She would humour me, despite my lack of power, for one very important reason, her current standing. To most beings, Tiamat was a relic of the past, the last active member of an extinct pantheon. Her power had greatly waned, but was still respectable. This put her in a weird spot, where she was looked down upon by those strong enough to be comfortable around her, but still too strong for weaker beings to approach her regularly.

Meaning that she was rather starved for respect and appreciation. Does that mean that I was basically taking advantage of a lonely, mature Dragonic Milf?

Yes, yes I was.

She had soon transitioned into her human form, while I had summoned a table using my teleportation spells. It was a sturdy, oak construction that was enchanted to stabilize itself on any terrain. On top of it, was a perfectly crafted roast, prepared by own hands and several candles, which I lit with magic.

"Oh my." Came a soft, motherly voice from behind me, "Isn't this just adorable?"

I turned around, surprised with the vision that met me. Her human form had long, blue-white hair and purple eyes, with a very curvy body. From her head sprouted large, curved horns, that framed her body and emphasized her figure.

All in all, she was raver ravishing, especially in the black evening dress she had conjured to don.

"You really are an odd one, Damocles Sagan."

"I thought this before, but you know of me?" She had called me by name before I had introduced myself, but ingratiating myself to her was more important than questioning that.

"All the Underworld knows you, little one. Your bout with the Astaroth was broadcast, after all, as was your bold declaration to the Satans." She moved over the the table, as I pulled out her chair for her.

"Oh, such manners." Was the teasing response from my actions.

"Being a gentleman costs nothing." I replied as I seated myself, cutting a small piece of meat from my plate and eating it under her watchful eyes, "Seeing as you know what happened, I think you might have some idea of what I want to ask."

"I do." Is what she replied, as her own food glowed a chromatic hue before she started to eat as well, her eyes widening slightly at the taste, "You seek to use me as a shield against reprisal from those you have spurned."

"Well, yes. However, I must admit that I would have sought you out when I was stronger even if recent events had not occurred."

"Oh? Why is that?"

"You are a legend. Gaining your favour would have been greatly advantageous to me regardless of my circumstances." I attempted to display my sincerity, while trying to keep my flattery at an acceptable level.

"For the relics I have in my possession?" Was her response, her eyebrow raised.

"No." I disagreed, "For you. Raw power is not the be and end all, experience and knowledge is often many times more valuable. Besides, coveting a Dragon's hoard seems like a rather foolish mistake to make."

"Yet one many make regardless. Enough with the diversions, make your offer to me."

"Very well." I made sure to hold her gaze, resolute, "I want you to make your lair on the land of my manor for five years, and be employed as my Groundskeeper. A wing of the manor will be set aside for your personal use, should you want it. As payment, I will personally track down and return to you the treasures stolen by Ddraig over those five years, as well as provide you feasts cooked personally by me like this one."

"You cooked this?" She raised her eye in surprise, chewing on her slice of food as I nodded, "I see. Let me think... My presence will be a deterrent to those you have antagonized, most pertinently the New Satans. Are you aware that I owe a debt of gratitude to Ajuka Beezelbub?"

"So long as it not detrimental to my family, I have no problem with any other deals you make."

"Hmm. Is that confidence or apathy? You are risking a lot, I can read between the lines. Are you really arrogant enough to think that you can successfully court me in just five years?"

"It is not arrogance should you have the means to back up your promises." I was serious, hoping to impress on her that I was not just speaking idly.

Confidence. Charm. The best meal she has likely ever had. I hope that this, on top of the recognition that she has been starved of for so long, someone treating her as an actual player in the game, would be enough to convince her.

If it wasn't, The teleportation circle underneath my seat was there for insurance.

She regarded me, despite being in her human form something more lurked in her gaze. Eventually, she nodded to herself and shrugged, "Very well. You amuse me, Little Sagan. I lose nothing with a small five year diversion and should you fail I will merely eat you."

"I'll do my best to not be devoured. When should I expect you to arrive? I would prepare the wing of the manor for you, but I am not sure of your tastes."

"I'll handle all that, expect me sometime tomorrow."

"That's perfect. You will need a mark to get through the manor wards however, as well as designating your employment to the Sagan Clan."

Her eyes narrowed, suspicious, "And this mark is meant to be completely innocuous?"

"Even if it wasn't I hardly have the power to affect you. Besides, all members of the Sagan family and Peerage have the mark, including me." To prove it, I pulled down the collar of my shirt.

Indeed, emblazoned on my clavicle was the Stamp. It wasn't actually applied to me using the Stamp that Catharisis had given me, but it was a faithful recreation that I had painstakingly copied from the aforementioned device.

I pulled out said Stamp and handed it over to Tiamat, "Here, you can inspect the design to confirm they are the same."

I felt her appraise the mark, Information Defence blaring. Now, time for the most perilous part of my plan. I started to feed back false information, my understanding of how she was appraising me hampering this, but my understanding of the Stamp itself and what I wanted it to show her hopefully making up the difference.

"So I am to just accept being branded as Sagan property?" Was her next question, an affronted look on her face.

"Not property. As part of the family, even if on a temporary basis. If the idea offends you, I apologise. I can key you into the wards manually, but I will have to do that for each of my properties and businesses that you would wish to frequent."

My carefully presented nonchalance was calculated. I needed to walk a fine line here, not be too eager to get her stamped but not be too obvious in trying to present it as a small thing. I inwardly braced myself as she stared into my eyes, while outwardly showing complete calm.

She huffed, and looked away, "That sounds like a hassle. Fine, you may give me the mark, but it cannot be anywhere visible to others."

"Of course." I agreed, "I would not wish to tarnish your reputation."

I didn't let it show, but a rush of achievement flowed through me at her agreement.

If it wouldn't get me killed, I would be grinning like a mad man right now.

I had won.

She watched, enraptured. He looked so familiar, yet so, so different. Instead of gold, his hair was white. Instead of blue, his eyes glowed an eerie red. Still, she could see the resemblance so clearly it was almost painful.

That was by design of course. The Sagan were explicitly designed to elicit such a response from her, as Remora had so gleefully and frequently reminded her. At that though, she drew her her wings around herself, comforted by the field of white that greeted her.

The Sagan had returned. She did not know how she felt about that. She was the Messenger of Heaven, the Wings of Hope. Her mere presence could bring Angels back from the brink of falling, turn battles around and make morale soar.

Seeing someone that was her identical twin so consumed by despair, her polar opposite, was a harrowing experience. However, that on it's own, while distressing, was not what made that event so impactful to her. No, instead it was the revelations that the original Sagan gave her.

Logically, she knew that Lucifer had a... carnal relationship with Remora. However, due to her own nature, she never considered in depth what exactly that implied. To have it thrown in her face so blatantly like that, that Lucifer coveted her so deeply that he did so even while with Remora... It raised a horrifying thought.

Was she the reason for Lucifer's Fall? Helel, as he was known before, the Light of Heaven. He was beloved by them all, none more than their Father. But due to their positions, Gabriel was one of the Seraphim that spent the most time with the first Fallen Angel. Was their relationship the cause of his catastrophic fall from Grace?

The thought haunted her. Especially as her mere existence had caused Remora's own descent into despair. Now, she was watching another Sagan fall to sin, more exactly, to Wrath. The Devils were a contentious issue in Heaven, creatures of Sin as they were. However, Gabriel was loathe to condemn an entire people just for their nature. There were a few who rose above it. A few who tried to live virtuously. Meaning there was Hope for the rest.

The Last Sagan was lost, alone and afraid. He obviously was in a situation that put him under immense pressures. His position seemed Hopeless. Should she reach out a hand to him, would it be proper for a Seraphim to attempt to redeem and provide succor for a Devil? Was it even possible?

She didn't know.

As she wrapped her wings tighter around herself, she spoke to the pure air of Heaven.

"Father... What should I do?"