Chapter 44: Giant Personalities

Unfortunately, answers were not forthcoming. When dealing with the soul, moving with haste was extremely inadvisable. From working together, Ranni and I were able to determine that whatever the seal was, it was not impacting me mentally or being overtly harmful. It was, as vexing as this fact is, something that could keep for now. Ranni pledged to assist me in removing it carefully over our next few sessions, something that my own Power of Binding should be able to aid with.

Focusing on it felt like it would make me go insane. It was frustrating in a way I had never experienced before. I knew, intellectually, that thinking about it would get me no closer to actually resolving the issue, but emotionally it was difficult to let the topic drop. After all, someone had messed with my very soul and I had no idea who, why or when.

Deciding that distracting myself was probably the most productive thing I could do, I set off to find Melina. I had promised myself to talk with her after all, before being distracted by CC and Ranni. Perhaps getting involved in their interpersonal situation is not wise, but I needed something to do that felt constructive.

So that was how I found myself at the base of one of the larger trees in my property, staring up at the Kindling Maiden who had perched herself on one of the higher branches. With a flex of my will, I floated up to her level, not saying anything as I stared out at the view of my lands that this vantage point offered.

It was Melina who spoke first, "Are you here to scold me?"

"Not at all." I replied, "I trust CC to fight her own battles, just as I trust you to not take your disagreement with her too far."

"You trust easily." She scoffed, "Far too easily, some would say."

"Why do you punish yourself?" I asked, deciding to cut to the heart of the matter.

She stiffened, closing off even more than she usually was, "I don't know what you mean."

"I think you do." I denied her attempt at deflection, "At the Forge of Giants, you wanted to die. When I stopped you, despite achieving the goals you ostensibly had, you were infuriated. You wanted to find meaning in your death, and I think it was also to punish yourself for something. Am I wrong?"

She didn't respond, merely staring past me at the landscape, remaining silent. I sighed, not expecting this to be easy but still a little frustrated at how difficult prying conversation was out of my Maiden.

"Was it to do with the Flame of Frenzy? I asked, causing her to stiffen further, "The thing you feel so guilty for?"

The silence continued, before she slightly relaxed with a soft exhalation, "You are annoyingly perceptive."

"I've been told." My cheek earned a half hearted glare.

She turned back away from me, melancholy colouring her form, "I don't know why you are so interested. It is far in the past."

"Yet it still affects you. I can't promise to salve your feelings on the matter, but often sharing burdens lightens them." I explained, letting her decide whether she tells me or not.

The silence stretched between up, anticipatory but not hurried. Our breathing could be heard, but aside from that an almost comforting quiet filled the air, as if the world itself was holding it's breath. The silence was breached when she spoke.

"…I almost won." She began, her voice soft, still not looking at me, "Or so I thought. My children, that I hatched and raised from the flesh of Eiglay, and I had defeated the Erdtree's forces. Without the Rune of Death, the Demigods could not die, but their minds were still vulnerable. My half brothers and sisters were flayed and bathed within my flames, shattered and driven to insanity with their minds and souls burnt to nothingness. It was the only way to defeat them."

She drew up her knees to her chest, resting her chin atop them as she continued, "After so long, after fighting so hard, I finally arrived at the seat of Marika's power, the foot of the Erdtree. It was there that my mother revealed that I had been playing into her hands all along."

"My Black Flame held a fragment of Destined Death within it, a contingency should Marika ever need to call upon it's power without risking Maliketh. Something she decided was no longer necessary. There at the foot of the Erdtree, I fought the Black Blade and lost. Decidedly." She shook her head ruefully, "As she strode forwards, so self assured and confident, ripping out my power to rejoin it with the one her shadow held… I despaired."

I remained silent, letting her get it all off her chest, watching without judgement as she started to tremble with long held anger and something else.

"I could feel it then. The pointlessness of it all. I had struggled so mightily, fought so hard… only to be effortlessly defeated by my mother's dog, all in service to one of her plans. Was I even my own person? Or was I merely dancing to her strings all the time? My whole life, every step, all by her design. In my despair, I could feel something reach out to me."

She tightened her hug around her legs, curling into a smaller ball, "I didn't care what it was. All I knew is that it was fire, it could burn down my mother's disgusting kingdom, reduce her precious mockery of a tree into cinders. And so I grabbed it. It hurt, Damocles. It hurt more than anything I can remember. But at the same time, it felt rapturous! Watching the Erdtree burn, turn to ash from the force of the flames… I could scarcely imagine a more glorious sight. It was everything I had hoped for."

"But…" Her voice dropped to a whisper, horror lacing her words, "It didn't stop at the tree. The flame spread, consuming all it could reach. I could feel what it burnt, feel it scour away all life within the capitol, my brother's, my sisters, my children. Unending, hungry, it spread and spread without restraint. I could not stop it, the being controlling the Flame using me as nothing more than a vessel."

"And so I knelt before Maliketh, taking no action as he killed me." She finally turned her gaze to me, the haunted look in her eyes striking, "My failure, my mistake, the horror that I unleashed upon the world?! The fact that was what would allow you to save me?! I could imagine no greater insult."

"I didn't know that history." I replied, making no excuses, offering no condolences.

She would likely just take them as pity.

"Of course you didn't. It was never supposed to be rediscovered." She scoffed, relaxing slightly, resting her chin more loosely on her knees.

"I do have a question, Melina. Do you know what the Flame of Frenzy actually was? What was behind it?" I decided to at least try to assuage some of that heavy blame she draped on her own shoulders.

"A malevolent force that possesses people to act as it's herald, in order to destroy the world. At least, that is what it wished to do when channelled through me."

"It's an Outer God." I spoke, causing her to look at me with widened eyes, "Like the Greater Will, like how Ranni now is. It would always attempt to gain entry into the Lands Between, always wishing to raze it to ash. You were merely one of many it seduced."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Was the bitter response, "That I was one of the many who were tricked?"

"No." I replied, "But it helps you to understand what happened. When people give over to despair, when they believe all hope is lost… It makes them want to lash out. To hurt others as they have been hurt. It's a natural urge. Most of the time, it's a passing fancy, a brief consideration. But if in that one moment, when you are thinking those thoughts, something intensified them and promised to carry out those acts?"

"It's only natural to be tempted." I finished, causing Melina to bury her face into her legs, shielding her eyes from me.

I could still hear her, however, as she mumbled, "But you weren't tempted. You took on the Flame and resisted it completely. Something I couldn't do."

I remembered the burning, the soul deep sensation that had struck me when I pulled the Dark Moon Sword from the light. It was a wound that was vicious, painful, sticking in my memory even now.

"I don't remember exactly what happened with the Flame, but I doubt it was as easy as you think it was. If I had to guess why I was able to resist…" I trailed off, causing her to look up in morbid curiosity, tears welling in her eyes, "I probably never gave into despair. The Flame preys on those who have abandoned hope, but if I took it, bore it all with the hope of saving you…"

"Stop." She spoke. Looking out upon the grounds again, "You have given me much to think about. I would like to be alone now."

"As you wish." I agreed, floating down to the ground, leaving her with my parting words, "Don't burn my tree down, please."

The wet laugh I got in response caused a small smile to grow on my face.

—XXX—

The day passed after that, me attempting to distract myself and meeting varying levels of success. The only other thing of note that happened was that I was asked to host a meeting for Gabriel, from Heaven. The request worried me, but admittedly less than it would have had it come immediately following my Reveal. The fact that they waited this long meant that it was not a hasty reaction on Heaven's part to the resurgence of my bloodline, but something more considered.

What that could possibly be, I had not the faintest idea, but I approved the meeting regardless. They went through the proper channels, and were perfectly polite. If I could build my own independent ties with Heaven, it would only benefit me. I have no quarrel with the Angels, after all, perfectly content to live and let live.

Valerie was another thing to note, the little Dhampir waking up from her rest. She did not wish to leave her room, however, still worried that this was all a trick of some sort. Rather than pressure her, I decided that this was a situation that called for delegation. Naomi was my choice, the bubbly and kind girl more likely to get through to the sheltered and shy Princess than anyone else.

Selene had more in common with her, but their personalities would clash too much to be helpful. They would likely be great friends later on, but at this stage forcing them together would only backfire, more on Valerie than Selene.

Besides, Selene had her own things to worry about, her adorable attempts at flirting with me and making the others jealous only really working on Shiro, the little Vampire trying to find her place in the new family she found herself in. I will leave her to it for a bit longer, until I start to teach her her new Devil abilities and powers. That would allow us more time together and put her mind more at ease.

Still, time marched ever onwards and soon morning came again, finding me awaiting my guests in my Meeting Room. Runeas worried me, as I had admitted to Ranni, mostly because anything that could manipulate luck was something to be highly cautious of. Even knowing that I was falling for its effect would be difficult. None of my defences were particularly suited towards this situation either, something that I should fix soon.

That meant either Stamping Ranni, which had a whole mountain of issues, or going after the sixth person on my list. That brought on its own problems, as I am unsure whether I could even survive in that place with my current level of power, especially with the unique rules that world operated on.

So no, the only protection I could bring to bear against her was Ranni. Which, to be fair, was a significant aid, more than most could count on. But, it just personally rubbed me wrong, the fact that my success here relied on someone else, not myself.

Still, this was the hand that I had been given, so I would just have to deal with it.

I looked toward the Goddess in question, seated to the left of the chair I would be holding this meeting from, who nodded reassuringly at me in response. It still felt slightly weird how she knew me so well, but it was getting easier every day.

CC my dutiful Queen would be seated to my right, but she had been given the task of leading our guests to the Meeting Room, greeting them at the Foyer where the teleportation circle would deposit them. Rias would be able to navigate her way through the Manor herself of course, but decorum had to be observed for occasions such as these.

My thoughts were broken by the door opening, CC striding through while speaking to the duo following her, "Here is the Meeting Room. Allow me to formally introduce Lord Sagan, and his betrothed, Ranni of the Dark Moon."

"Betrothed?!" A young voice came.

Entering through the door in a rush was Rias, who looked at the smug sitting Lunar Goddess with shock on her face, before she quickly schooled her features and straightened out of her surprise. She quickly tried to move past her breach of facade, by turning and thanking my Queen.

"Thank you CC." Clearing her throat, she then turned back to me and Ranni, "Lord Sagan, Lady Ranni, may I introduce my ancestor, the First Gremory, Runeas Gremory."

As she said that a short woman flounced through the doorway. She was so tiny that I almost wanted to call her a child, but she had curves that put that thought immediately to bed. She might have been the most endowed woman I had ever seen, perhaps only being beaten out by Yasaka. However, on her small frame, such endowments looked even larger in proportion.

"I really like what you've done with the place!" She spoke, completely disregarding protocol and twirling, causing the short skirt that she was wearing to flare up, gracing my eyes with an interesting sight, "Much better than when I was here the last time!"

Completing her twirl, she locked eyes with me, sending a wink my way to let me know that was wholly intentional. I could already feel the headache forming.

Deciding to follow her lead, I also did away entirely with decorum, "Based on what you're wearing under that skirt, that's not the only thing I've done that you approve of."

Rias immediately turned red, while CC rolled her eyes and Ranni sighed.

"Ah! You noticed!" Rather than be contrite at having been called out, Runeas merely lifted the front of her skirt with absolutely no shame, proudly displaying the lingerie she was wearing underneath, "I must admit, I love the feeling of the Tsuchigumo silk! Such novel material and the design was so scandalous, I absolutely had to have it!"

"Ancestor!" Rias screamed while covering her eyes.

Very aware of the fact that three women who were interested in me were present in the room, I very pointedly looked Runeas in the eyes, rather than staring at the admittedly enticing sight she was offering up.

"I am glad to hear that even a First Devil approves. However, I cannot take credit for the design, I merely provided the materials." I spoke, causing her to grin and let her skirt drop, patting it down.

"I see. The one responsible is Ria-tan's betrothed, correct? That Phenex boy." She walked forwards, pausing when I moved across the table to pull out her chair for her, "Such manners! Still, seeing as Rias is interested in breaking said arrangement and you are the only other man in her life, for you to give him praise so easily…"

"Runey…" A mortified whine came from the youngest Gremory present, "Please stop."

"Indeed." A chilly voice emanated from Ranni as I gave a reassuring smile to Rias, who blushed and avoided my gaze as I led her to her own seat, "I would ask thee cease in attempting to seduce my betrothed before mine own eyes."

"Oh, as if that was enough to sway him." Runeas waved it off, before becoming (slightly) more serious, "I am afraid I do not know a Goddess of your stature from your name, allow me to introduce myself, Runeas, the First and most beautiful Gremory."

Ranni stared at her considerately, remaining silent as I retook my own seat. Whatever she was looking for in the Elder Devil, she apparently found it by giving her a small nod.

"Well met. I am Ranni, Goddess of the Dark Moon and the Chill Night." She turned and smiled my way, apparently deciding that a claim had to be staked, "Consort to Damocles."

Runeas sucked in a small breath at that, but quickly recovered, a joyful grin spreading across her face, "Glad to meet you! Please, call me Runey. All my friends do."

"Noted." I replied, before placing my elbows on my desk and interlocking my hands, staring down at the Gremory Progenitor, "So Runeas, why did you ask for this meeting?"

She frowned slightly at my choice of address, but rallied almost instantly as CC took her own seat, "For just that reason, actually. When I heard that the Sagan heir had not only been found, but that my family had put themselves at odds with him, I had to rectify the situation."

"I see." I responded, deciding to stick with my usual method when meeting with other houses directly, treating this Gremory as a completely new entity.

To that end, I would act as a calm and composed observer, allowing CC to field the majority of the conversation. Her prickly personality was well known, and allowed me to hide my thoughts while compiling a plan on how to deal with others as the conversation progressed. Rather than be detrimental, her usual caustic nature was actually helpful in this role. It made me seem as the more benevolent and understanding one, coming off as more sympathetic than I actually was.

Additionally, her skill at getting others annoyed with her usually caused them to slip, revealing either their plans or cracks in their personalities, allowing me to take ruthless advantage when I finally had an idea of how to proceed with the negotiations.

Understanding her role perfectly, my Queen began, "Our House is not at odds with the Gremory. We are neutral with yours, The only member of your family we have any contention with is Sirzechs, who as he is so keen to remind us, is a Satan, not a Gremory."

"Yeah, Sirzy completely fucked up." Runeas admitted easily, catching CC entirely off guard with her flippant response, "But isn't that odd? Ria-tan and Lord Sagan are such good friends, yet you are merely neutral with my house? You can see why I think there might be some spite involved. I read the contract, you know. The Sitri were the ones who screwed you, Lord Sagan, not the Gremory."

CC replied for me as I nodded in consideration, "The Gremory are allied with Sitri, they acted as one when trying to make deals with us. Top favour one would be to give aid to the other. We have kept up our side of the bargain, not getting involved in any Sitri and by extension, Gremory business. Something the Gremory apparently finds difficult."

Runeas smiled broadly at that, "I do find it difficult! Lord Sagan is the new kid on the block, but he's already more powerful than many houses of a higher rank than the Sagan. Both the quality of your Peerage, impeccable taste by the way, as well as your financial dealings are painting a picture of someone I very much want as a friend rather than an enemy."

"So it's just greed then? After saying you wanted to make amends, you really just want a cut of our business? Which is it?" CC leaned forwards, pressing the ancestor.

Runeas narrowed her eyes slightly in response, but replied glibly nonetheless, "Of course it's greed, as well as plain old self preservation. The Goddess Ranni is a powerful game changer, being on the wrong side of any she aids would be a bad place to be. Still, actions can have multiple motivations, you know?"

"Smart. Such instincts are to be commended." Ranni spoke, interjecting from her place at my side.

Rather than focus on Runeas' and CC's verbal spar, my attention was drawn to Rias, who had barely spoken a word. Instead, she was sitting with wide eyes, head snapping backwards and forwards between My Queen and her Ancestor. She was learning for the first time just how fraught the relationship between our houses truly were.

She thought it was just tension, rather than the almost Cold War divide it truly was. Educating her as to how bad it was would have been detrimental to me, seeing as it would have added unneeded tension into our personal relationship and make her doubt my promise to aid her in her engagement to Riser. From the Gremory side, my training had improved her Peerage in leaps and bounds, so interrupting that when Rias was clearly unaware of the situation would have been a waste.

Still, that caused me to question, why had Runeas asked her to attend? I wanted her to attend the first meeting, due to thinking it was possibly a trap or a hostile action, but from Runeas' side, what did she gain? She could have very easily used this meeting for an introduction, then set up another later to go through all this.

What did she gain by having Rias in the room while discussing the Gremory-Sagan situation? In her letter, she stated that Rias would be a mediator, but she had barely called upon her to perform that role at all, instead letting the Heiress merely observe.

"Trust has to start somewhere. It has been eroded to the point that…" CC stilled as I raised a hand, stopping her.

"A thrilling diversion, Runeas." I spoke, causing her to snap her gaze to me, mischief oozing from her grin, "Why don't you tell us what you actually want?"

"Whatever do you mean? I already told you…" She played innocent, but I cut through it instantly.

"Rias is still in the room." That caused the girl in question to start, as she was suddenly made a participant rather than a mere observer, "You asked her here as a mediator, but you have not once needed her to actually mediate. So I repeat, what do you want?"

Runeas grinned at my words, genuine joy filling her as she giggled, "Kufufu, brilliant! Yes, truly you are worthy of the Sagan name. Well to do away with all the pomp and bush beating, let me be perfectly clear: I want my family off your list."

"List? You'll need to give me more to go on than just that." I raised an eyebrow, causing her to smirk and lean forwards conspiratorially.

"Come now, Lord Sagan. I'm old. I know how this story goes. Revenge may be sweet, but we can both gain much by letting it go unrealized. Sirzy is a big hammer, but that lovely lady sitting by your side is a big hammer too, one that no one knows anything about. When they clash, it will be the people in the middle who will be squashed." She leaned back, spreading her arms out, "I want my family to not be in that impact zone. Besides, if you hurt her parents, think about how sad that will make poor…"

"Don't." I spoke, danger entering my voice for the first time, warning and malice oozing from the words, "Attempt to manipulate me."

Rias stiffened, but that was secondary to my focus on her Ancestor. Said Ancestor who grinned like the cat that had just caught the canary.

"There it is. I knew it was there somewhere" Runeas smiled now, wonder in her eyes as they locked with my narrowed ones, "It's pleasure to finally meet you properly, Damocles."