Chapter 45: Old Devils
"Rias." The suddenly serious Ancestor spoke, "I'm sorry. But you need to know what is happening."
"I…" The younger Gremory started, still tense from my threat toward Runeas, "I didn't know it was this bad. I'm sorry, Damocles."
"None of it was your fault." I replied, slightly relaxing but still keeping a wary eye on the Viper in our midst, My tone brooking no argument, "What were you looking for, Runeas? What is this meeting actually meant to achieve?"
"Your darkness. The thing possessed by all the Princes of Hell, the inborn desire to rule. I knew you had it in you. As for what I want…' She trailed off, "As I said, I want my family off your list. More than that, I want to teach some lessons."
"Lessons?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Rias is a Gremory." All joviality and joking was gone from the Ancestor as she spoke, deadly serious, "Not a Bael. Not a Lucifer. She is a Gremory. It seems many need to be forced to remember that."
I stared into her serious gaze, feeling like we have finally arrived at the point of all this, "By dragging her into the middle of this mess?"
Rias huffed, "Rather than keep me in the dark about how bad things are? So I could be taken by surprise when it all exploded?"
"How would knowing have helped?" I asked, causing her to bite her tongue, "Venelana and your Father will support Sirzechs in any potential situation, regardless of whether you knew or not."
"But I could have... I..." She sighed, looking down, "Why are you all speaking like it's inevitable? You don't have to fight my brother, Damocles."
"He is a Prince of Hell, Rias." Runeas spoke, before gently placing her hand on one of her descendant's, "Think carefully. Damocles may look your age, but he was brought up in the Civil War. He has a different vision for how Hell should look, how the Devils should act. It will lead to conflict eventually."
"In decades, if not centuries. I am still too new politically to influence things over-much." I deflected, "Which begs the question. Runeas, why force the issue now? Things are stable as they are."
"For you, maybe." She spoke, irritation crossing her face briefly, "My House is a different story. I severely disagree with several actions that have been taken in my absence. That is why, Rias; You shall become the Head of the Gremory family on your 17th birthday."
"What?!" Rias shouted, taken by as much surprise as the rest of us.
"That is why I wanted to speak to you, to prevent this from escalating before she can take the mantle." Runeas winked at me, causing me to sigh, "I will be teaching her for the next couple of years, making sure she knows everything she should to properly lead the House."
"So that's the play." I rubbed the bridge of my nose, a headache coming on as I calculated how this would change the political landscape, "This whole meeting was to announce that."
"Sorry!" She stuck her tongue out, "I tricked you! Want to punish me?"
"Don't tempt me." I spoke, causing a resigned laugh to come from CC.
"Consort." Ranni, who had been watching the exchange closely, said, "This Rias is one of thou claimed friends, correct?"
"Yes." I confirmed, already resigned.
"I see." The Moon Goddess hummed, "Devious."
There was a burgeoning respect in her tone, as Rias' brows furrowed, still reeling from the shock of her Ancestor's sudden announcement.
I was sure she would eventually figure it out. I have publicly claimed Rias as a friend, tacitly calling her an ally of House Sagan. When she was just an Heir, it could be chalked up to youthful relationships, but if she became Head of House Gremory, ascending as its Lady... Then the Alliance between the Gremory and the Sagan suddenly became a lot more tangible. In this one move, Runeas had blunted any aggression I could show to her house, while at the same time tying our houses together in the future.
This went completely against my plan of being an independent, neutral force in Underworld politics, by drawing me in on the side of the Gremory. Conversely, it would drag the Gremory closer to my 'side' of Devil politics, but seeing as no one knew what that even was, the perception would be heavily skewed.
I could stop this of course, by severing my ties with Rias publicly and ending my friendship with her, but that would invite retribution from Sirzechs for hurting his sister. Even without that, Runeas knew that I coveted Rias' friendship for a reason, even if she did not know what that reason was. That would mean that I would be loath to sever it.
I could always do what I was planning anyway, and launch my bid for the Underworld throne. But now I had around a two year time limit to do so without having to navigate this complicated mess.
Truly I was checkmated before the meeting even began.
For all her silliness, Runeas was quite terrifying.
"Well played." I spoke, causing her to beam at me.
"Thank you! I hope that means we can still be friends?" She had a teasing grin on her face as she asked this.
I was exasperated, but replied nonetheless, "We shall see."
-XXX-
Rias was in deep thought as she walked behind her humming Ancestor. She knew political games and schemes were a fact of life down here, but she never knew how entangled within them Damocles was. She also didn't know he was basically planning to declare war on the Underworld.
She could read between the lines. Runeas believed that was his plan, she basically all but spelled it out. Of course, implication was a terrible basis for drawing a conclusion, but the fact that Damocles did not deny it was telling.
"Runey." She spoke, causing Runeas to hum and smile in her direction, "What was that really all about? I have an idea but..."
"Wanting to start the lessons early, are we?" Her smirk turned teasing, "I always liked having an eager student. Very well, let me ask you this; How many friends has Damocles Sagan claimed among your peers?"
"I only know of Riser and I." She wrinkled her nose at the name, as she intently watched her Ancestor shake her head chidingly.
"The Sagan is very careful with his words, especially in public. He has never once called Riser a friend, only a trusted business partner. The two things are very different, especially to a Prince." She waved a finger as she made the points.
"You called him that, and so did my mother. I don't get it, I know Princes are important, but no one has actually told me why." She was tired of being confused.
"Princes were created to Rule, Rias. It's in their blood. You felt it too, didn't you? When Damocles threatened me, that twisting in your gut that a predator has noticed you, that the only way to survive is to submit." Runeas' expression turned thoughtful, "The fact that even I could feel it though, from one so young... He must be incredibly strong."
"So it's an ability Princes have?" Rias asked.
"One of many. I will walk you through them all later, but basically if a Prince is stronger than another Devil, they can force them to understand the difference spiritually. Your own survival instincts will dissuade you from angering them, or going against them. It can be overcome with effort, but it's still a potent ability."
Rias nodded at the explanation, "So him being my friend is more important than I thought?"
"Yes." Runeas agreed, "It's basically him declaring you as a part of his circle, his sphere. He would have to fight to defend you, or be seen as being weak. Your status and ability reflect upon him, despite his family Rank being lower than yours, at least to Older Devils."
"If it's such a big deal, why would he be so quick to do that?" Rias asked, eyes widening, "Unless..."
"You have something that he wants, that he gains from closeness to you. You already showed one of the benefits at his Reveal, when you called your brother off from confronting him." Runeas turned thoughtful, "That's not the only thing though, he's not just interested in protection from your brother, there's something else. Do you know what it could be?"
"No, I have no idea..." Rias felt tears prickling in her eyes, "Was he just my friend because he could gain something from me?"
"Likely so." Runeas responded flippantly, "It's not a bad thing, Rias. All relationships are inherently transactional. The reasons for it at the beginning are immaterial, it's the strength of the bond as it exists in the here and now that matters. And that is strong, seeing as he didn't sever it in that meeting."
"What?!" Rias was broken out of her thoughts at that last piece.
"You becoming Head of the Gremory will force him to get involved in politics, to assist you if nothing else. It runs against his current strategy of remaining aloof. The fact that he did not renounce your friendship means that he places a lot of value within it." Runeas smiled at her descendant.
It was reassuring to hear that, but that brought up another point Rias was unsure about.
"About that... Why are you retiring my father? Why make me Head?" Rias' question caused the smile to fade from Runeas' face.
"As I said, Rias, you are a Gremory. In everything you do, every action you take, the future and interests of the Gremory Family must be your first priority. I do not believe that Zeo is acting in this way any longer." Runeas sighed, "I love your mother, Rias, but Baels are always difficult to deal with."
"My mother?" Rias asked tired of being so confused ever since they arrived for the meeting, "What does she have to do with my Father's position?"
"Nothing. Everything." Runeas stopped staring into Rias' eyes, "War is coming to the Underworld, Rias. This is merely a fact. The Old Satan Faction is gathering supporters and strength, operating behind the scenes but visible for all who know where to look. On top of that, we have a Sagan returned, with an understandable grudge against the New Satans and a Goddess capable of ruling the world at his side. Either one of these could bring the flames of conflict back to our race."
"I'm not the only one who can see it. Even before you were born, the writing was on the wall. The Old Civil War was not won, merely put on pause. I should thank you, I was only able to piece it all together thanks to your Marriage contract with Riser." Runeas started to explain gesturing with her hands for emphasis, "The Phenex are neutral. Zeo and Fyo are close friends, but the families themselves were separated politically. As was shown in the previous civil war, mere friendship is not enough to secure allies."
"So the marriage contract was to secure an alliance for the coming war?" Rias was incredulous and rightfully furious, "A war that no one is even sure will happen? Some hypothetical occurrence that they decided my entire life around?!"
"A fool strives for peace, a wise man ensures it by being ready for war." Runeas quoted, before looking at Rias with pity, "It was Zekram that pushed for it, subtly. He and the Satans have their disagreements, but the status quo benefits him, so he will move to uphold it. He has been very, very naughty, messing with my cute descendants like this. I will punish him severely."
The anger in her ancestors' voice fed into Rias' own, "This whole thing is stupid. I don't care if it was Father, Mother, or the King of hell himself. I decide my own life, not them."
"Well said!" Runeas beamed, "That is exactly the correct attitude to take! Still, they were not wrong to be cautious, the tinder is dry and sparks are flying daily. We will need to do what is best for the Gremory, what I did in the original Civil war."
She smirked, placing a finger on her chin, a mischievous expression shielding the scheming occurring underneath, "Pick the winning side."
What she didn't tell her descendant of course, what she had kept a secret from the Sagan boy, was that there was a way for war to be avoided. It was delicate, and would require her to sadly get more involved than she would like with all the politicking and bullshit that stepping into these power games always brought with it, but there was a path where peace could be achieved.
The Devils were slaves to their natures, they needed a King. Sirzechs lacked the temperament and while Bael could try to fill the shoes, he lacked the balls to actually crown himself. Besides that, both lacked the one thing that they needed to properly cement the Hells under their rule.
Lineage.
-XXX-
Zekram Bael tapped his fingers across the arm of the chair he was reclined in, sipping at his wine as he mulled over the news that he had just received. Runeas had awoken, and quickly took her descendants to task over their bumbling of the Sagan issue. Admittedly, it was turning out to be a bigger problem than even he had imagined, the child gathering power and wealth to himself that made him quite influential.
He was used to decades-long schemes, but he appreciated the reminder that the young often lacked the patience for such things. He had been content for the Sagan to build themselves back into a position of strength, then working on rapprochement and seduction. However, a problem had occurred with his plans, one he did not foresee.
The Sagan had grown too strong.
It honestly irked him, how with the Descent of this 'Ranni' the power balance had been shattered. That would have been bad enough, but then the Sagan had gone and wiped the Tepes off the face of the map. The bloodsuckers were wretches, not a threat to proper Devils, but killing them for good was tricky.
The fact that the boy had managed to do so to the whole lot of them in a single night pointed to significant personal power. This rate of growth was unprecedented. Even Sirzechs took longer to reach this level.
He would have to reassess, especially considering what Runeas had decided to do as her first move after hearing about the situation. Going to the Sagan personally, taking Rias with her. Additionally, she had apparently been most displeased with the Marriage contract between the girl and the Phenex.
That interested him. The timing was too coincidental. Going to meet the Sagan with her unmarried descendant and immediately working to dismantle her betrothal? It pointed to a specific goal.
But why?
Why would she be so desperate to tie herself through her family to the Sagan? He was powerful and a rising star, but there was too much she couldn't know about the boy to make such a snap decision. He closed his eyes and put his mind to work, turning the situation over in his head and recalling every scrap of information he had gathered on the Sagan.
He had done this several times ever since he had heard of the new Goddess, trying to figure out what he missed. The only result was a half-formed suspicion that the Sagan Queen was a priestess of Ranni, but there was nowhere near enough evidence for that.
His ritual produced no new information that he had previously overlooked and he sighed in frustration, looking into the glass of amber liquid he held in his hand. Idly swirling it, he descended even deeper into thought.
What was he missing? There must be something.
Wait. Family.
Who was Damocles' family? They had been dead and buried for five centuries, but his memory was long.
His Father: Malefor Sargatanas, not in line to his house, caused a stir when Pandora agreed to his proposal, otherwise irrelevant. Supposedly a spell creator, began research into Devil biology. No known breakthroughs.
His Mother; Pandora Sagan, only daughter of Remora Sagan, no known father. Very well learned in the power of binding, able to basically remove entire sections of armies in the civil war. Stayed outside of politics, besides supporting the Lucifer Loyalists.
He thought through his memories of the two, quickly focusing on the mother. Something tickled him, a half forgotten fact annoying him with his inability to recall it. Finally, it clicked. There was a rumour, about Pandora's parentage. That she was a daughter of Lucifer himself, a result of his frequent couplings with Remora.
He had dismissed the rumour, believing it false after her death. She was strong enough to display the traits, the multiple wings, the corruptive light. The fact she was killed without ever showcasing them pointed against the theory.
Besides, what child of Lucifer would die so easily? Even Rizevim seemed to always escape unscathed, cockroach that he was.
However, now that he re-examined it, there was a difference between the two.
Pandora was not a coward.
If she hid it, if she refused to showcase the traits to save something she valued more than her life... A child perhaps, that had been stored in stasis? As soon as he opened his mind to the possibility, pieces clicked into place, both about Damocles and Runeas. Recalling how the boy looked, he almost kicked himself. It was right there, almost blindingly obvious to anyone who looked.
It proved that even he was not immune to willful blindness. He thought himself correct oh so long ago and so he easily dismissed the truth his eyes were showing him. Laughter filled the room, mirth filling him at the great trick centuries in the making.
Raising his glass, he tilted it in a toast, "Well played Pandora, well played."
Draining the liquid, his smile faded as he acclimatised to the new information.
"Now..." His voice was a whisper, eyes staring in a specific direction, "What exactly is your goal, Runeas?"
There was no answer, but that was fine.
As always, he would be the one to win regardless.