Disclaimer: Neither High School DXD nor Elder Scrolls belongs to me, all rights to their respective owners.
Chapter 79
— Listen to me, Roland… Our word, alongside our honor, are our greatest possessions… Do not break the first, nor lose the second.—
Eitar to Roland when he was a child.
Edzard's eyes were fixed on his desk, reading some documents containing information about the Euclid bases. Since the day they discovered that base, the pact had taken the initiative, in addition to their own affairs, to seek out and destroy Euclid's facilities. From that moment until today, two days after his daughters' birthday, they had managed to dismantle more than five bases, each on different continents of the Earth.
'The number of modified humans we have found is incredible… almost thirty thousand individuals, both men and women…' Edzard thought, beginning to feel annoyed. 'And also, children…'
Just remembering that within Euclid's aberrant project there were children, some between four and nine years old, made Edzard's blood boil with fury. He couldn't understand how someone could be so cruel as to do something so atrocious.
Despite his anger, he was tied up. Although he wanted to tear Euclid's head off in the slowest and most painful way possible, he couldn't do it… at least, not for now. The reason was simple: he didn't know where he was. Both Euclid and Rizevim, the two cockroaches Edzard longed to exterminate, were still missing, hidden somewhere unknown.
"Hold tighter, Ku-chan!"
His daughter's shout pulled him out of his thoughts, making him turn his head towards the window. As he did, he saw three shadows flying over the palace garden, two with more defined shapes than the third.
A smile appeared on his face as he saw Bozizzqobii and Briiiizbii, his wife's two dragons, accompanying his daughter Marie's Thunderbird in flight. He watched in amazement as that small bird, which was still just a chick, had the strength to carry both Marie and Kunou in flight at the same time.
Both girls were holding onto the bird's tail, which still didn't have a name because Marie didn't know what to call it. She had thought of several names, but after mentioning them, she always said she didn't like them. Despite not having a name, the bird had integrated well into the garden, which, for the moment, was the territory of his wife's two dragons.
The dynamic between the three creatures had been surprisingly good, something that confused Edzard. They spent the day flying or sleeping on the garden benches.
'As long as they don't cause trouble, everything is in order…' Edzard thought as he watched the thunderbird do a somersault, causing his daughters to laugh.
The two girls were having fun after receiving private tutoring from him, Asia, and Yasaka. This decision was made while dining in Italy the day Marie and Kunou found the thunderbird. The idea was to prepare them, especially Marie, for the future in terms of governance, something that applied more to her than to Kunou, as the young kitsune had more experience.
'The classes are going well.' Edzard thought. Both girls were doing well, although he was not the most versed in political matters. Yasaka had more talent in that aspect; his expertise was military… and it seemed that this was what interested his daughters the most, as, according to Marie, it was much more exciting than talking about boring things with other people.
Remembering how his daughters were progressing, a smile appeared on Edzard's face. However, that smile disappeared when the door to his study opened. Looking away, he saw that the one who had entered was Tiamat, dressed as a secretary, something she used to do when working for Ajuka. Edzard didn't ask her to dress that way when working for him, but when she did for Ajuka, she did.
"What is it, Tiamat?" Edzard asked, seeing the somber expression on the dragon's face.
"It's a private matter from Beelzebub, boss." Tiamat replied in a low voice, as if she didn't want what she was about to say to be heard outside the room.
Noticing her tone, Edzard stood up and, approaching one of the cabinets, took a bottle of wine and poured two glasses. He handed one to Tiamat and sat down again.
"What is it about?" Edzard asked with slight curiosity, as Ajuka hadn't asked him for many favors, but this one seemed different.
Upon hearing the question, Tiamat sat in the chair in front of Edzard and, after taking a sip of wine, began to speak.
"It's something to do with the Rating Games… or rather, with the devil reincarnation system." Tiamat began, capturing Edzard's attention. "I suppose you know what chess is, right?"
"Yes, I've played a bit… It's strange, they present it as a strategy game that simulates a battle, but it really has nothing to do with it… nothing at all." Edzard replied frankly.
"Heh, yes, I understand that…" Tiamat said with a smile, understanding why Edzard didn't see similarities between a turn-based game and a real battle. "But that's not what I want to talk to you about…"
"Ummm… I understand… I suppose it's something important, so much so that Ajuka didn't come in person, but sent his "secretary", right after her shift ended an hour ago, which prevents this meeting from being recorded in any official document…"
Tiamat's smile intensified upon seeing that Edzard understood that this matter had to be kept secret.
"Yes, you're right… I suppose you've noticed that there's a piece missing in the Evil Pieces for the game to be completely like chess, right?"
Tiamat's question made Edzard bring a hand to his chin, recalling what he knew about the pieces devils used for reincarnation. His curiosity about magical artifacts had led him to notice which piece was missing.
"Yes, you mean the King… I once asked Rias about that, and she told me that piece doesn't exist, that devils somehow become their own piece, or at least their power is recorded as such." Edzard replied while taking a sip of wine.
"That's right… at least, that's how it is now." Tiamat said, capturing Edzard's attention again.
"What do you mean by that?" he began to say, but his words caught in his throat when something clicked in his mind. His eyes widened as he began to understand what Tiamat was implying. "So those pieces existed… right?"
"That's right. The King pieces existed… they were created as prototypes, but there was something wrong with them… something that made Ajuka seek a solution to remove them from the board."
'It must have been something very important, a very big error or danger for someone like Ajuka to decide to eliminate them and seek a replacement for those pieces.' Edzard thought as he brought a hand to his chin, beginning to reflect on what could have led the super devil to make such a decision. However, since he didn't fully understand how the Evil Pieces worked, he couldn't unravel the error that had motivated Ajuka to do that.
Seeing Edzard's expression, his familiar decided to explain better. The answer he received surprised him, as he didn't expect to hear something so serious.
"So, let me understand… Ajuka created the Evil Pieces as a complete game, the sixteen chess pieces, including the King, but those pieces turned out to be dangerous because they could increase the user's power uncontrollably, making them unstable. Something that led Beelzebub to conclude that they represented a danger to the entire devil society, and that's why he sought a replacement. Even so, nine pieces were created, of which three are in Ajuka's possession, but the other six are in the hands of the Great King's faction, that is, in the hands of devils who believe in the supremacy of pure blood… wow, it seems they're screwed. But I don't understand what he expects me to do… I'm not a devil and I don't care what they do, unless it has to do with Daedras." Edzard said disdainfully. After all, he was already doing them a favor with the Lilith issue, not to mention others he had done in the past.
"He knows, boss. But he wants you to help him find a way to take those Evil Pieces from the Great King's faction, so he can seal them and prevent them from being used to harm devil society." Tiamat replied, looking him directly in the eyes.
Tiamat's words triggered a staring contest between them, one that was won by the son of Akatosh. Even so, Edzard was surprised by the dragon's determination to convince him. He then decided to ask her a direct question.
"Tell me, Tiamat… why are you doing this? Why, despite my rejection of the idea, do you seem insistent on convincing me to accept Ajuka's request? Is there something you're not telling me?"
Upon hearing the question, Tiamat shuddered slightly. There was something she was hiding, something Ajuka had given her as a trump card to get Edzard to accept the mission. The super devil knew that Edzard deeply valued his family, and that could be used to convince him… or to enrage him, depending on how he took it.
The dragon hesitated for a few moments, wondering if she should tell him what she knew. In the end, she decided to do so, trusting her instinct. Moving her lips, she began to speak.
"Do you remember… remember that you asked me to find a specific devil a few days ago?" Tiamat asked, nervously moving her fingers.
When those words left Tiamat's mouth, Edzard remembered who it was. The devil that Tiamat, who spent a lot of time in the underworld, had been searching for was Cleria Belial, the same devil with whom his mother-in-law had a contract. Realizing this, Edzard smiled, happy at the possibility of his mother-in-law reuniting with her friend. However, his smile faded when he noticed the tone of voice Tiamat was using.
Frowning, Edzard looked at her and asked, "What did you find out about Cleria, Tiamat?"
Silence was the dragon's first response, as she didn't know how to tell him what she knew. However, Edzard's intense gaze, full of expectations, made her remember the pain she felt when they faced each other in the Familiar Forest. Feeling uncomfortable, Tiamat finally spoke.
"She… she is dead." she said quickly and bluntly, as it was easier for her to blurt out that truth all at once.
The news of Cleria's death surprised and saddened Edzard, knowing how much his mother-in-law wanted to reunite with her friend. However, a new question arose in his mind: how had she died? Without thinking twice, the son of Akatosh asked the question.
If Tiamat had had difficulty telling what she knew so far, it now seemed impossible to tell him how it had happened. She was afraid of how Edzard would react to the truth. However, she knew it would be worse if he found out through other means, so without wasting any more time, she looked straight ahead and replied firmly:
"She was murdered… by order of Zekram Bael."
The moment those words left Tiamat's lips, the place was covered with the most insane, bloody, and destructive aura of bloodlust and anger the dragon had ever felt. The sky of Edzard's realm reacted to its creator's emotions, immediately clouding over and giving way to the sound of hundreds of lightning bolts and powerful winds roaring against the palace walls.
The sudden change in the weather caused everyone in the realm to seek shelter. The Youkai ran to their homes, and those who didn't have housing yet took refuge with others. The palace inhabitants also hurried inside to protect themselves.
While all this was happening, Tiamat watched as Edzard's body was enveloped in a thick aura that she could only deduce was Magicka, the magical energy of Nirn. That energy surrounded him like a wild whirlwind, terrifying the dragon.
However, before she could do or say anything else, the aura calmed down completely, causing the weather to calm as well, although the gray clouds remained, a clear sign that Edzard was still upset.
"Tiamat." Edzard said in a harsh voice, catching the dragon's attention, who looked at him immediately. "My outburst will cause all the girls, including Ophis, to come here… but due to the distance, it will take them a while. Ophis, maybe less, since she's at the lake with Le Fay, so they'll come flying… so you have until they arrive to tell me what happened with Cleria… I want all the details. And don't worry, I swear I won't do anything against you or the one who gave you this information."
After those words, Tiamat nodded somewhat awkwardly but began to open her mouth and told her boss everything she knew about Cleria Belial's death.
The soft sound of the brush bristles separating the hair could be heard, accompanied by some humming that brought some life to the main room of the castle. The voices came from Edzard's lovers, who were finishing getting ready to go to sleep.
The young women were preparing to rest after the tumultuous events of that day. They had all been busy with their own affairs, but suddenly had to leave them and quickly head to Edzard's study. They had taken a while to arrive, but when they did, they saw Edzard showing a face that clearly indicated he was holding back the urge to kill someone, and a worried Tiamat watching him.
Upon arriving, they asked what was happening, but Edzard told them he would only tell them if they promised not to say anything to anyone. Since only they were in Edzard's study, they agreed without any problems. So, after that oath, Edzard began to narrate what Tiamat had told him. To say it was easy to assimilate what they had just heard would be a lie, as none of them could fully accept what Edzard was saying.
One of the most affected was Asia, who clenched her hands until they almost bled. Fortunately, Ingvild and Aika noticed and quickly approached to help her calm down. After that incident, everyone stayed for a while talking and sharing points of view. Finally, Edzard told Tiamat to inform Ajuka that he would talk to him, but they would do so during Ingvild's presentation in the underworld. Additionally, he asked him to start preparing a plan, as he wanted to resolve the matter as soon as possible.
After those words, Tiamat nodded and left them alone.
"Asia…" called Aika, who had stopped brushing her hair to approach her friend, who was sitting on the windowsill, looking at the starry sky of Edzard's realm.
Hearing her friend's voice, Asia stopped looking at the sky and turned to her. Her face was marked by sadness and worry, something understandable after what had happened following Tiamat's departure.
"How is your mother?" the magician asked with curiosity and concern.
"She's fine… as well as can be expected after hearing the news." Asia replied with a sad smile on her face.
"She's taking it better than one would think." came the voice of Mittelt, who had also finished getting ready for bed.
Approaching, Mittelt was accompanied by the rest of the girls, who were already ready to rest peacefully that night.
"Yes, at least that's the impression…" murmured Valerie as she walked towards where Asia was.
When they were all gathered, they decided to go out for a walk or at least change the environment. Without wasting time, they put on robes to cover the nightgowns they usually slept in. Then, they left the room and headed to the balcony, where they sat around the large round table there.
The place was one of the quietest in the castle and offered one of the best views of the lake, which reflected the moonlight.
"So, Asia. What exactly happened when your mother found out about Belial-san?" Ingvild asked with concern in her voice.
Hearing her friend's question, the mentioned one looked at her companions and noticed that they all had the same expression on their faces: they wanted to know what had happened. This was because only she and her husband had gone to see her mother to tell her what had happened with Cleria Belial. Knowing they wouldn't leave her alone until she spoke, Asia looked ahead, and after letting out a sigh, began to recount what had happened.
Flashback
Crash!
The sound of a cup breaking against the floor echoed in the room. The contents of the cup, tea imported from northern China, spilled over the white marble floor, creating a strange contrast with the light brown liquid.
Asia's eyes watched as her mother's trembling hands, which had dropped the cup, now covered her mouth in a failed attempt to muffle any scream or sob, as the sounds from her throat were still audible.
Marcoryan quickly moved to embrace his wife, providing the emotional support she so desperately needed at that moment.
The atmosphere, which had been calm until recently, was now filled with sadness and concern.
"Are you sure that Cleria has been murdered?" Marcoryan asked while gently rubbing his wife's back, trying to console her.
"Yes, I received confirmation from one of the Maous… someone who wouldn't lie about something like this." Edzard replied, looking at his mother-in-law with visible sadness, as he didn't like seeing her in that state.
The meeting that Zephyra had looked forward to with such anticipation, eager to receive news of her friend, had turned into one of the worst she had ever had. Despite the sadness she felt, a new emotion began to arise within her. Slowly, like a small ember igniting, anger started to grow in her.
Zephyra's body tensed, which caught Marcoryan's attention, and he hugged her tighter to calm her.
This action was noticed by Edzard, who stood up and, followed by his wife, approached Zephyra. When they were in front of her, Asia wasted no time and approached her mother, providing more emotional support.
Seeing this, Edzard didn't think twice. Kneeling down, he took Zephyra's free hand. This action caught the attention not only of the woman but also of Asia and Marcoryan.
"Ed?" Asia asked in surprise, seeing her husband kneel while holding her mother's hand between his.
Asia's question made Marcoryan look at his son-in-law, a gesture that was imitated by Zephyra.
"What are you doing?" Marcoryan asked, somewhat confused, until he saw Edzard place his forehead on the back of his mother-in-law's hand. Seeing this, he knew what Selene's son was about to do.
"I know I can't do anything for your friend's life, but I will make sure that those who did this pay with blood… I will make sure that whoever was behind all this suffers a true hell, both in this life and the next. I swear it in the name of my father, and in the name of my father's father… in the name of all my ancestors, from those who came from ancient Atmora to those born in Skyrim… I swear it in the name of Kyne, in the name of Talos, in the name of Shor, and in the name of Akatosh."
Edzard's words didn't have much meaning for Zephyra, but she still understood that they were important. This was because he had mentioned several deities of Nirn, so, although somewhat confused, she looked at her husband and daughter, only to see that they were completely surprised, with their eyes wide open.
End Flashback
"And that's what happened." Asia said, somewhat uncomfortably narrating the last part of what occurred in that meeting.
The girls looked at their friend in confusion, not fully understanding what Edzard had said.
"What the heck did Ed say?" Mittelt asked, frowning, clearly confused.
"Yes, she's right… what Ed said was strange." commented Valerie, also with a tone of confusion, as she didn't understand it either.
The rest of the girls shared the same bewilderment, except for two: Asia, who knew what it was, and Rossweisse, who had an idea.
"It seems to be an oath… a Heitstrenging…" Rossweisse said, catching her friends' attention.
"What did you say?" Aika quickly asked, who was closest to Rossweisse.
The action of Lavinia's apprentice was imitated by the other girls, who also looked at the Valkyrie. This made Rossweisse feel somewhat overwhelmed, but she quickly composed herself. Without wasting a second, she began to explain what it was about.
"A Heitstrenging is an oath that the Norsemen made when they still worshipped the gods of Asgard. It was a promise, a vow to perform some action in the future. They were common in that era and were usually made at social events. Most were trivial oaths, but there were exceptions." Rossweisse explained, her tone of voice changing in intensity, alerting the girls to the seriousness of the matter. "Some oaths were so significant that breaking them could mark the life of the one who made them…"
"How so? What kind of oath was so significant?" Ingvild asked, worried, fearing that her boyfriend had gotten himself into big trouble… again.
"There were oaths so powerful that they led entire clans to war for their fulfillment." Rossweisse replied with concern. She feared that if Edzard's oath was like the ancient ones from the Nordic regions, this would not end well for those behind Cleria Belial's murder.
After those words, everyone was surprised. What Valkyrie had explained did not bode well. Without wasting time, they all looked at Asia, hoping she would clarify what was happening.
Feeling her friends' gazes on her, Asia looked away towards the lake near the palace for a few seconds. Then, she looked at them again and began to speak.
"What Rossweisse said is true… it's an oath similar to the one she mentioned, but there's a difference."
"What is it?" Aika asked, eager to know what made it different.
"The oath follows the same principles, but there's one detail: its 'binding power'."
Asia's response made it clear that this was serious, but at the same time, it increased the girls' confusion, as they didn't understand what she meant by 'binding power' or 'binding force'.
"What do you mean by binding power, Asia?" Lint asked, feeling that the situation was more serious than it seemed.
"The binding power or binding force refers to the degree of obligation the oath-taker has to fulfill the oath they made… to make it clearer, it's the force that drives Edzard to keep the promise he made."
"I understand… but how does that obligation work? From what you're saying, it seems there are different levels." Valerie commented, trying to understand better.
"That's right, and these vary according to the region of origin of the individual making it." Asia replied. "You see, it's not the same for a Nord as it is for a Breton. Bretons make their oaths on special parchments, in which they infuse a certain amount of Magicka, causing the seal's wax to change color… but that's not how the Nords do it."
The tone in which Asia mentioned the word 'Nords' made the girls shiver. This led them to recall the little they knew about the race that inhabited Edzard's homeland, Skyrim. After a moment, they remembered something peculiar: for the Nords, the word had immense value, perhaps more than written documents.
"Nords make their oaths with words, right?" Lint asked, with a mix of regret and resignation.
"That's right…" Asia replied, nodding slowly. "They make verbal oaths… and the more distant the ancestors they swear by, the greater the weight of the oath."
Hearing those words, they all understood that Edzard had sworn by his most distant ancestors, those who came from Atmora itself. They realized that this was serious and that those behind Cleria Belial's death had their days numbered.
Now that they knew the magnitude of the oath, the atmosphere became tense, making everyone feel uncomfortable.
'This isn't right…' Aika thought, worried about the atmosphere they had fallen into. 'We just got out of the chaos of Marie-chan's kidnapping, and now this… I thought these months would be calmer, but that doesn't seem to be the case… I have to do something; we can't stay like this. If what's happening with Asia's mother is worrying, she could fall into depression, but we can't let her drag us all down… we must move forward, especially In, who has an important event soon…'
Lavinia's apprentice's eyes widened as she realized she had the solution to ease the tense atmosphere and perhaps make Asia's mother feel more comfortable, or at least manage to forget about this matter for a moment. Smiling, she stood up and clapped her hands on the table, thus drawing her friends' attention.
The sound of Aika's palms hitting the table startled the girls, and they looked at the magician in surprise.
"What the heck are you doing, four eyes?! Are you trying to scare us to death?!" Mittelt shouted, glaring at the magician with anger and almost preparing to throw a good punch at her.
Unfortunately, before the fallen angel could move, Lint grabbed her in her arms, preventing her from doing something foolish. Feeling trapped, Mittelt began to struggle while cursing. Even so, Lint, who was holding Mittelt, could look at Aika without any problems, allowing her to speak.
"Although I don't like having to say the same thing as Mittelt, she's right… Why did you scare us like that, Aika?" Lint asked.
Lint's question was accompanied by nods from the rest of the girls, who also wanted to know why she had done that.
A smile appeared on Aika's face seeing that everyone was irritated, as she realized she had achieved her goal: changing the atmosphere. Resting her arms on the table, she smiled playfully before speaking.
"I wanted to know if you have already chosen your dresses for Ingvild's ceremony in the Underworld." Aika asked casually and playfully.
The girls, who until a few moments ago were worried about what was happening, stopped thinking about that matter and began to focus on what was coming. Almost all of them, mechanically, brought a hand to their foreheads, causing a simultaneous sound of small taps.
"AAAHHH! I completely forgot!" Mittelt shouted, who was released by Lint, who also had a hand on her forehead, remembering that she hadn't thought about the dress either.
"That's right! Ingvild's ceremony is soon, and I haven't chosen a dress!" Rossweisse exclaimed, beginning to think about what she would wear for the occasion, as this time she would not attend as a Valkyrie but as Edzard's partner, so she needed to make a good impression.
The rest of the girls were in the same situation, except for Asia, who smiled with amusement at her friends' reactions. Turning her head towards Aika, without making a sound, she thanked her: "Thanks for changing the subject."
Aika just smiled at this, realizing that Asia was handling the situation with her mother better than she expected. Perhaps because they were just strengthening their bonds, Asia seemed able to deal with her parents' situations more easily than if it were her husband or daughter.
"What will we do?" Lint asked, somewhat worried and not knowing what to do, as they had only a few days left to choose dresses.
"Isn't it obvious… we'll have to go look for dresses." Mittelt quickly replied, with bright eyes, as if there was something the former Azazel spy loved, it was buying pretty clothes.
"That's true, but first… who still doesn't have dresses for that day?" Rossweisse asked, who had managed to calm down. She wanted to know how many needed dresses to plan a budget and avoid spending too much.
The rest of the girls, not fully understanding why Rossweisse was asking that but assuming it was to know who still didn't have a dress, raised their hands. Those who did were Lint, Valerie, Mittelt, and Rossweisse herself.
"That's four… it seems some haven't been attentive to their duties." Aika said in a mocking tone, then looked at Ingvild and smiled while nodding. "At least In has been responsible… we can solve our dresses in this short time, but something like a dress for In would be a total disaster if it wasn't ready…"
Although Aika's first words annoyed the others a bit, they said nothing, aware that she was right. Yes, it was a problem that they didn't have their dresses ready, but it wasn't the end of the world; they weren't the ones who had to stand out that day, but Ingvild. So, although they could opt for simple dresses, they first had to get them.
"So… what do we do? Where are we going to get those dresses?" Valerie asked, thinking of some stores where they could go quickly… some of them in the United States, as they could find a variety in large quantities there.
"Isn't it obvious… there's only one place to go." Mittelt said, catching her friends' attention.
The girls looked at the fallen angel with anticipation, knowing that if anyone in the group understood fashion, it was her. So, when she spoke, no one was surprised to hear her mention a perfect place to buy dresses.
"We'll go to the Quad d'Oro!" Mittelt shouted with a smile, pointing to the sky with a finger.
The girls' eyes widened; although they didn't know exactly what that place was, they intuited that it must be a very important and expensive fashion site… which made them all excited, except for Rossweisse, who turned pale.
The Valkyrie's pale face did not go unnoticed by her friends, who immediately looked at her.
"What's wrong, Rossweisse?" Asia asked as she put a hand on her back. "Do you feel sick?"
"No, it's not that… but how much do the dresses cost in that place?" Rossweisse asked, with a blue aura surrounding her.
"Ummm… it depends on…" Mittelt said, bringing a hand to her chin.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Asia asked, not understanding much about the Quad d'Oro. Yes, she knew what the name meant, but she didn't know the place.
Mittelt stopped rubbing her chin and looked at Asia with surprise, which puzzled the Dovahkiin's wife a bit.
"You're Italian and you don't know what the Quad d'Oro is?" Mittelt asked, surprised.
"No, I know what it means, but I don't know what it is." Asia replied sincerely.
"I see…" Mittelt said in a low voice. A few seconds later, she looked at Asia and exclaimed, "The Quadrilatero d'Oro is Milan's fashion district! It's one of the most famous fashion districts in the world!"
Mittelt's shout was accompanied by her fist raised to the sky, surprising those who didn't know what the Quadrilatero d'Oro was. However, although not all of them knew that name, they knew that Milan's fashion district was one of the most prestigious tailoring places and, therefore… not cheap at all.
The fallen angel's words made Rossweisse drop her head on the table, which caused everyone to look at her with concern.
"Rossweisse!" the girls shouted, alarmed by their friend.
As they approached, they heard the Valkyrie mumbling repeatedly: "Heh, heh… fashion district… expensive, very expensive…"
Rossweisse's words became an endless loop about how expensive everything would be, which made the girls roll their eyes while large drops of imaginary sweat formed on their foreheads.
'She's broken because she'll have to spend a lot of money.' They all thought in unison.
Seeing her friend in that state, Ingvild approached her and gave her a tap on the shoulder to bring her back to reality. Rossweisse reacted somewhat abruptly, which made the girls move slightly away, though without losing proximity.
"What? What happened?" Rossweisse asked, looking around somewhat confused. "I feel strange… I seemed to dream that I would have to spend a lot of money on a dress for Ingvild's ceremony in the Underworld."
The girls exchanged glances at the Valkyrie's words, trying to decide who would be the one to tell her the truth. An uncomfortable silence extended for a few moments until Asia stepped forward and took Rossweisse's hand.
"It wasn't a dream, Rossweisse." Asia said with a kind smile.
The Valkyrie's face turned pale when she understood what Asia had just said. Quickly, she brought her hands to her head while beginning to talk to herself.
"What am I supposed to do?! I don't have enough money to buy something there!" Rossweisse exclaimed to the sky, only to be interrupted by a hit on the head from Mittelt, who was already tired of her complaints.
"Ouch, which hurts." Rossweisse murmured while rubbing her head. Then she looked at Mittelt with a frown. "Why did you do that?"
"Because I got bored of hearing your complaints." Mittelt quickly replied, with a somewhat biting tone.
The way she answered her question made Rossweisse uncomfortable, who didn't hesitate to let her know.
"Complaints? Don't you understand that we can't spend money so extravagantly? I don't know how it is in your case, but I don't have enough money to spend thousands of euros on a dress."
Rossweisse's words were filled with frustration, a frustration that had persisted since her days as a Valkyrie and Odin's bodyguard, when she didn't earn much money. The girls looked at her confused, not fully understanding why she was talking that way.
"Um… Rossweisse… why are you talking as if you don't have money?" Valerie asked, visibly confused by her friend's words.
"Huh? What do you mean? It's obvious that I don't have money, my salary as a teacher wouldn't be enough for anything they sell there…" Rossweisse quickly replied, not understanding why her friends were asking her that.
The girls looked at each other, surprised by what they had just heard. Slowly, they turned their gaze back to Rossweisse, preparing to explain something to her.
"Um, Rossweisse-sensei…" Lint began, somewhat uncomfortable because she knew that what she was going to say would make Rossweisse feel a bit foolish.
"Yes?"
"Um… you see… give me a second." Lint went to the room and took something out of her wallet. When she had it in her hand, she returned and showed it to Rossweisse. "Do you remember that Ed gave us this a while ago?"
In her hands, Lint held a black card that said HSBC Premier in one of the corners. Seeing it, Rossweisse remembered that Ed had given her one after they started the missions against the daedra, but she had stored it in her room and hadn't touched it since.
"Yes, I remember he gave us that card… Why? What does it have to do with what we were talking about?"
Rossweisse's response made the girls, except for Asia, who smiled awkwardly, put a hand to their foreheads.
"This is a card for a bank account that each of us has at HSBC, you know, one of the largest banks in the human world." Aika explained, somewhat uncomfortable, hoping Rossweisse would understand what was happening.
Rossweisse's eyes widened upon hearing that. Slowly, her mind began to connect the dots, realizing what her friends were trying to tell her.
"Y-y-you're telling me that…"
"That all this time you've had a card from a major bank? Yes, you have." Mittelt replied bluntly. "It's on these cards that the payments for the missions against the daedra have been deposited. And believe me, they haven't paid us small amounts; they've been considerable sums… but that's not all. Since you became Ed's lover, he has linked his personal account, where he receives royalties from his published books, as well as part of his personal money earned as an adventurer in Nirn. So yes, all this time you've had a card with practically unlimited funds."
Mittelt's words left Rossweisse completely stunned. But before she could fully process the information, the fallen angel spoke again.
"I hope you're ready because we're going to buy the dresses in Italy, and you'll see how you spend several thousand euros on clothes…" Mittelt said with a malicious smile.
Rossweisse's expression turned even paler. She didn't like spending money unnecessarily, but she knew she couldn't escape that situation. Meanwhile, the other girls laughed, amused by the interaction between Mittelt and Rossweisse, momentarily setting aside the topic of Edzard's oath to avenge Cleria Belial.
The sun shone high in the sky, illuminating the vast plains of Australia. In one of the many areas far from roads and maps, in a place surrounded by Australia's beautiful but deadly fauna, there was a huge rock. That rock was not the Uluru rock formation, but a simple large rock, surrounded by dry roots of what were once trees.
In the middle of that rock formation, there was a secret entrance that led to an extensive complex of tunnels. These tunnels had once been the base of a wandering devil, who was eliminated by exorcists from the orthodox branch of the Church not long ago. The exorcists planned to report this base in their next report to the higher-ups, but before they could do so, they were visited by a group of renegade exorcists, who convinced them to offer them refuge in this fortress and join their cause.
Thus, this former devil base became the refuge of the rebel exorcists.
At this moment, a meeting was taking place between the leaders of the rebellion. These were two deacons, high-ranking figures within the Church, although not officially. One of them was Ewald Cristaldi, a retired exorcist. The other was named Teodoro Legrenzi, a child prodigy, a hybrid between human and angel, but not a fallen angel, rather a pure angel. This origin made him a truly unique existence, and despite his young age, he had quickly risen through the ranks of the Church.
The two leaders of the rebellion sat facing each other, waiting for the arrival of their possible third ally… or at least they hoped so, as with his support, the rebellion would gain even more strength.
"Do you think Cardinal Strada will come?" Teodoro asked nervously, looking at Ewald.
"I hope so… we still don't know what position he will take, but I'm sure he will support us…" Ewald replied, running a hand through his black hair in an attempt to calm himself.
Ewald's face, already showing signs of middle age, reflected concern. This unease arose from the fact that their rebellion had gone public before they could secure their bases, something that shouldn't have happened, but for some reason, all factions had started to monitor their members more closely, watching for any suspicious activity.
'The speed of the Church's informants is incredible… I've never seen anything like it in all my years as an exorcist.' Ewald thought, pondering how to handle the current situation.
Looking up, he observed the "Miracle Child." as Teodoro was called. The strength of that young man, despite his young age, amazed Ewald, who gave a sad smile. Despite being so young, he was on the side of those who would probably be the losers in a civil war within the Church… but even so, he remained firm, or at least, that was what he showed to the exorcists who accompanied them.
Anything Ewald was about to say or do died on his lips when the door opened.
The attention of the two rebel leaders turned to the door, where one of their men appeared.
"What is it?" Ewald asked calmly.
"Cardinal Strada has arrived." the exorcist replied quickly.
Teodoro and Ewald's eyes widened upon hearing the news, as they did not expect Vasco to arrive so soon. Even so, a smile appeared on their faces upon receiving the news. Without wasting time, they nodded and told the exorcist to let him in.
Vasco Strada walked through one of the tunnels of the rebel base, followed by an exorcist. The old cardinal's eyes, which seemed tired, observed everything around him.
'Hmm… for having organized their revolt so recently, they've done quite well… they've established a base in a remote location, in a country where religion doesn't hold much weight, and moreover, it's a place with a strong economy… a good place to obtain resources discreetly, if you know where to look, and an isolated base that seems very defensible, unless heavy forces capable of razing the entire area get involved… they've really done a good job with the little time they've had.' Vasco thought as he followed the exorcist to the place where he would surely meet the leaders of the rebellion.
"We've arrived." said the exorcist, stopping in front of a well-reinforced steel door.
"I see." Vasco replied, stepping forward. As soon as he approached the door, it opened automatically.
The sound of the door revealed the interior of the room. It was a spacious area, with an oval glass table in the center. Around the table were several chairs, all similar to those used by high executives in their board meetings. In that place, sitting across from each other, were the two highest-ranking conspirators.
"It's good to see you in good health." Vasco greeted the two Church leaders cordially.
"Likewise, Cardinal Strada." Teodoro responded with excitement upon seeing the old man.
"It's good that you've arrived, Vasco." Ewald said, looking at the cardinal, who walked over and sat in one of the chairs.
The atmosphere remained silent for a few moments until Ewald was the first to speak.
"So, I understand that your presence at our base means you have agreed to join us… right?" Ewald asked, causing Teodoro to look at Vasco with hopeful eyes.
"Ahhh…" Vasco's first response was a long and deep sigh, which did not give good feelings to either Ewald or Teodoro. "About that, I want to know something… Tell me, what do you think is your current position in the conflict happening in the world?"
Vasco's question unsettled them a bit, and they didn't know how to respond immediately. After a few seconds of hesitation, they finally answered.
"We don't need to tell you anything, Vasco… our position is more than clear." Ewald responded quickly. "We do not agree with what the Church is doing."
"That's right… they are going against everything we exorcists stand for. They are forcing us to ally with devils. What's next? Evil gods? Vampires?" Teodoro replied vehemently, although Vasco noticed the hidden fear behind the young man's words.
The responses did not surprise Vasco. He knew they thought that way, something he understood. Perhaps he would share those thoughts too if he hadn't dealt with the daedra. He had seen firsthand what those beings could do, had witnessed the aftermath they left that fateful day. Above all, he hadn't forgotten that he didn't fight… he hadn't fought in Tuscany, something he regretted. Fortunately, that day, Edzard and Asia saved the population, and it was at that moment that Vasco realized that something very dangerous was happening in the world.
'I fear this is the result of leaving everything related to the daedra in the hands of the angels and the Brave Saints… it was a mistake. We should have sent exorcists to fight, at least against the cults, so they could see the danger firsthand… but there's no time to lament what could have been… I must continue from here.' Vasco thought, casting a quick and discreet glance at the watch on his left wrist. 'A few more minutes and he will appear… I just need to prepare the ground for him to do his job.'
"You already know our position, Vasco… Now we want to hear yours." Ewald said, pulling Vasco out of his thoughts.
Hearing the question, Vasco looked at the two leaders of the rebellion. He knew what he had to say, so he didn't waste time responding.
"My position is also clear, Ewald." Vasco said, with a firm and calm voice. "I will remain loyal to the Church."
Vasco's response was like biting into a lemon for the two rebel leaders, whose faces tensed before letting out a sigh. Ewald showed an expression of disappointment, while Teodoro's face reflected sadness.
"I thought you were on our side, Vasco." Ewald commented, visibly disappointed. "You've fought for the Church for years… I don't think you like what they're doing now… Allying with devils! That's not right, Vasco!"
Ewald's shouts startled Teodoro for a moment, but the young hybrid showed no other reaction.
"I understand you, Ewald… not just you, but also young Teodoro. I know you've lost friends and family to devils, but you must not let that blind you to what is really happening in our world now." Vasco said, ready to address the real danger looming over everyone. "I know it goes against what we've done for centuries, but the daedra are the—"
"Daedra? Please, Vasco, that's the excuse they use to make us accept that pact they've made." Ewald interrupted him brusquely.
"Why do you think it's an excuse, Ewald?"
"Isn't it obvious… those daedra have been summoned by the devils to divert our attention from them." Teodoro replied, drawing Vasco's attention.
"What? How did you come up with that?" Vasco asked, surprised by the young man's logic. Although it seemed like a fantastic answer, it had common sense.
"It's very obvious… the daedra resemble devils, Cardinal. They act the same way, attacking innocent people."
"That's right, Vasco. Besides, tell me something: who benefits from the arrival of this new enemy?" Ewald asked rhetorically, without taking his eyes off Vasco. "Isn't it obvious… the devils and the fallen angels. It's evident that they brought them, Vasco."
Vasco observed the two religious leaders and realized they were completely clinging to their beliefs.
'There's no way to convince them.' Vasco thought, but his thoughts were interrupted when his watch vibrated for a second. Feeling this, a serene smile appeared on his face, something that caught the attention of the two rebel leaders.
"Why are you smiling, Vasco?" Ewald asked cautiously, until an idea suddenly struck him. 'Did Vasco come with allies?' That question made Ewald's eyes widen before he suddenly stood up, causing Teodoro to startle sharply.
"C-C-Cardinal Ewald?" the young man asked, visibly scared to see Ewald's hand move to the hilt of his sword.
"Who did you bring with you, Vasco?!" Ewald shouted angrily, preparing to draw his sword.
"Someone who can tell you more about the daedra." Vasco replied frankly, just as a golden portal, shaped like a door, began to open behind him.
Author's Note:
To those who have made it this far, thank you for reading. To be honest, my English writing skills are not strong, and I'm relying on Google Translate and the dictionaries that come with Office 2019.
And chapter 79 is ready... XD
It took me some time, not to finish this chapter per se, but to find the time to upload it. University work and my job have piled up, especially with the end of the month... this month has been heavier than others.
Even so, we continue with the story... we finally see that Edzard, and company have found out what happened to Cleria Belial... so several characters are going to be... sent to the lobby soon... let's say within several chapters, because it will be within several chapters, we will see Edzard cause quite a commotion, XD.
We also see a bit of time between the girls and get ready for the "Exorcist Rebellion" theme, which I hope to finish quickly to continue with the story.
I apologize for any spelling errors. Please don't forget to leave a review if you enjoyed the chapter, or if there's something that needs improvement, or if you have any questions about the story. Any constructive advice is welcome. With nothing more to say, see you in the next chapter.