Chapter 50: Decrees and Heralds
"Hmm," I said, taking in what I was looking at with my Geass, "I think the issue is in visualisation."
"But I am visualising." Rias pouted, "You told me how important that was."
"Yes," I smiled indulgently, "But what are you visualising? I'm guessing you are thinking of the orbs like they are balloons?"
"Yes?" She answered, wondering where I was going with this.
"What are the balloons filled with, Rias? Air and Water react differently to compression. If you are swapping between the two, that could be why some explode and some don't." I explained, causing her to tilt her head at that.
"I see, so if I keep the visualisation of the Power of Destruction as air…" She closed her eyes, once again forming a malevolent red bullet and sending it screaming towards the target.
Like normal, it impacted and expanded, eating into the facsimile of a person. Another bullet formed, about the size of an apple. Her brow furrowed, and it shrunk down to the size of a grape. Firing this one as well, it flew faster through the air and landed, causing the exact same amount of damage.
Her eyes opened as she grinned, "I see! Thank you Damocles! I think I've got it now."
She turned and hugged me at that, pulling her smaller body tightly towards mine.
"Good, well done." She preened under the praise, "But, you'll need to get the time to form them down if you want this to be useful in combat."
She pouted up at me, "Would it kill you to let me celebrate a bit? This has been annoying me for a while, finally figuring out the problem is amazing. Can't I just enjoy it?"
I grinned down to her, "I thought you wanted to be a Champion, Do you think that would come about without practising?"
She rolled her eyes, "Yeah yeah. I'll get back to it."
She released the hug, turning back to the dummy and returning to her practice. I sent an apologetic look to Ranni, who was observing from the side, who merely smiled back towards me.
Rias started to form the orbs, creating smaller and faster projectiles as she did. To be fair to her, she was supremely talented. If she had started training earlier, or took it more seriously, she would be a monster.
However, I could tell. She slacked off. Whenever not participating in these training sessions she did not push herself as hard on her own. In short, she lacked self motivation.
It made my plan for her annoying, but still achievable. If she wasn't so talented, I would have thought it to be unreasonable, but thankfully that was not the case. She wanted to be a Rating Game Champion? I will grant her wish.
My scheming was interrupted by a certain bratty Ancestor, "You know, I'm surprised at how seriously you are taking this. Surely she has plenty of time to get as strong as she wants?"
"There is no reason to be lazy." I turned to Runeas, "Her desire is to be the best. You don't get there without any effort."
"All work and no play will make you a dull boy." She tutted, wagging a finger, "You should relax and enjoy your youth more."
"I 'enjoy my youth' plenty. I just know how to separate work from play." I replied, causing her to grin.
"Oh? You enjoy yourself, you say? Why don't you sit down and tell Auntie Runey all about how you are 'enjoying' your-" She was interrupted by Naomi, wearing her working maid outfit, teleporting into the training area.
"Damocles, you have a visitor." She reported, annoyance writ over her face.
"Oh? I was not aware of any appointments. Who is it?" Her answer caused my mood to plummet.
"Sona Sitri."
"The Sitri are banned from my lands." I replied, irked.
"She hasn't set foot on the manor proper. She is waiting for you at the border." Was the reply, Naomi sharing my feelings on the matter.
I sighed, turning to my invited guests who were watching the exchange with worry and interest, respectively, "I am sorry Rias, to cut this short. I need to go deal with this."
"Sona is my friend, Damocles. I should come with and-" Rias started.
"No." I cut her off, causing her to frown, "The relationship between the Sitri and the Sagan are between us. Getting involved when you have no cause to, will only complicate matters."
"But!" She was stopped by her ancestor, who placed a hand on her shoulder.
"He's correct, Rias. Should you wish to bridge the gap between your two friends, this is not the way to do it. Interfering with either of their plays without full understanding will only backfire."
I nodded to her, slightly conflicted at feeling thankful for her council to her descendant, "Thank you. I doubt I will be back in time to finish this training session, but I will leave you in good hands."
I looked towards CC, who caught my gaze and nodded, causing me to sigh, "Sorry Rias."
"It's fine. You helped me a lot already today. Just… Go easy on her? Please?" She turned her puppy dog eyes to max, causing me to laugh.
"I'll try, but no promises." With that, I walked to Naomi, taking her arm and teleporting to the border of my Manor.
Odin sat on his throne, Gungnir clutched tightly in his hand. It was a spectacular weapon, able to weave fate into its strikes, stabbing through the streams of the future to unerringly find its target. It had felled countless enemies in his hands, giants, gods and monsters alike. However, it was but a toothpick to the thing that Sagan had at his beck and call.
He could read between the lines. She was correct. The only reason this World was not hers is because she didn't want it. None could stop her. He briefly wondered, if that annoyingly powerful Lord of Light was still around, would he even be able to impede her? He shook his head, driving the hypothetical from his head. It didn't matter, it made no difference to his current situation.
He cursed his nature. Knowledge was his vice, he would go to any lengths, sacrifice almost anything that was his to give in order to acquire it. Sometimes, that was a mistake that cut deeply. He could still see it, the true nature of the thing taking a female form. The aurora that slowly spread across the ground, the beautiful light turned into a weapon of devastation, leaving behind nothing but frozen desolation.
All that it froze, all that it killed, was added to its own power. He had felt it, the deep, all consuming rage that drove its relentless destruction. Someone had crossed the Dark Moon and entire dimensions paid the price. Even more, he knew the true nature of what it really was, how the domains that she claimed for herself came to be a part of her. The Dark Moon was a devourer of Gods.
He would have been worried that this was the reason she was here, the goal behind her presence in this world. But that made no sense. If she wanted to eat the divinity that this world had within itself, it would not be a great task to accomplish. Maybe, perhaps, if given enough time, one of their number would be able to rise to a level where they could challenge her, or a trick to seal her away could be discovered.
Short of the Infinite and the Dream combining, nothing that this world called its own would do anything of note. Even in that outlandish scenario, the world would suffer greatly, likely being destroyed in the process. A pyrrhic victory, if that.
Thankfully, as insane as it seemed, Ranni had spoken true. She truly had no care for any of the gods or beings that called this world their own. The only thing she was interested in was her life with the Sagan, her Consort. He had no clue what the Devil had done to get such fierce loyalty from such a being, but for once, He was happy to not search out that knowledge. He felt the danger of poking that particular bee hive.
However, just because he now knew the true nature of the being that had usurped the Moon and shattered Fate, did not mean that he could leave it at that.
Her voice reverberated through his head, his very divinity remembering them, 'Thou shalt be mine Herald.'
The message had been very clear. She did not care what the Norse did, so long as it did not impact her or the Sagan. He was happy to accept that, but there were members of his Pantheon that would not leave well enough alone. He knew Loki was already looking into the matter, it would not surprise him if the Dark Moon was dragged into their affairs anyway.
It left him in quite a difficult situation. Telling Loki not to do something was the best way to make sure he would go and do it immediately. Merely leaving things as they were was a viable strategy, but as King he should do his level best to make sure that anything the Trickster did had minimal consequences for his Realm.
He cursed his son's nature. He loved the boy, as a father, but as a king the brat had caused him no end of headaches.
At the end of the day, Gods were slaves to their nature. An unfortunate truth of the world, one that he had paid a great deal to learn.
Looking up, he stared seriously at the assembled gods and spirits. He had summoned everyone he could to Asgard. Enemies and friends both, all waiting for his proclamation. The last time they were all gathered under this roof, it was to agree to the truce that had halted Ragnarok. The Christian God had forced them to delay their own fate, just to ensure their survival.
Now here he was again, to once more ensure the survival of them all.
"I have a decree. This is perhaps the most serious law I will ever pass." He started, staring down every single soul in attendance, "There is to be no negotiation, no room to argue. My word on this is final."
They all straightened. This was a tacit admission as to how seriously he was taking this. He would be fully willing to restart the averted End Times just to enforce this decree.
"Any interaction, by any who call the Nine Realms home, between the Sagan and the new Goddess, Ranni, is forbidden." That caused some murmurs and widened eyes, the rumours that Odin was looking into the matter being confirmed, "Any who do so are no longer of the Nine Realms. They forfeit their place amongst us, their Names and Deeds will be struck from all records, they no longer exist in my eye."
Shocked exclamations filled the halls at that, the unrest spreading throughout Asgard as his words were relayed to all in the city and beyond.
To the Norse, this was worse than death. Your Saga, your Deeds, the Names you earned, they were you. Proof you existed. Odin, the All-father, had just stated that he would personally erase the existence of any that broke this law. This was unprecedented, he had never gone so far.
As he started to calm the furore, assuring both his enemies and his loyal subjects that he had very good reasoning for this unprecedented step, his eye found his sons. Thor had gripped his hammer, warily looking at the restless denizens shocked at his father's announcement. However, Odin's gaze locked on the expression of his other son.
Internally, he sighed at the smile, the glint of interest in his eyes. He knew it was a vain hope, but he had wished that his son, just for once, just on this one matter, would have listened to him.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Odin prayed.
"Sitri." I spoke, breaking the staring contest between my guard dragon and the heiress, "To what do I owe the unannounced pleasure?"
She pushed up her glasses, "That was very clever, it must be said. Only taking visitors in your manor, refusing to meet any outside of it, yet at the same time banning my family from all your lands? Quite the ingenious move."
"Yet you have found the loophole." I crossed my arms, staring down at the nervous girl, "I appreciate the compliment, but my question remains. What do you want."
She took in a breath, "My birthday is in a month. There will be a ball at the Capitol for it. I am here to deliver you an invitation."
She waved her hand, a letter appearing in her grasp, taking a step forward to offer it towards me. Tiamat growled at the movement, eyes locked on the faintly glowing line that marked the end of my territory. Sona stopped just before it, pausing slightly.
"May I enter?" She tilted her head, hiding her shivering at the Dragon's glare.
"No." I spoke, stepping forward and stopping out of her reach, staring down at the girl, "What do you want to accomplish with this, Sitri? Do you really think that this will smooth over everything?"
"I am not my sister." She spoke, not retracting the invitation, "Nor my mother. Neither of them know that I am doing this."
I raised an eyebrow at that, "So if I show up, will it be a surprise to them? That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen."
She rolled her eyes, "Obviously I will tell them about this after I go home. I'm not an idiot."
"I see." I said, "Then as someone who is not an idiot, please explain what you are trying to achieve with this?"
"Whatever your issues with my family, I had no part in it. Leaving this enmity to fester between us would be foolish." She spoke, causing me to narrow my eyes.
I could see what she was doing. She was attempting to open up dialogue, due to me completely cutting off her family from interacting with mine. This was an attempt to crack open a line of communication in an effort for reconciliation. Of course, that begged the question, why now?
Ranni. It must be, her arrival kicked over the anthill causing a flurry of activity to pick up all around. The winds from the butterfly's wings were still picking up, this just being one more thing that occurred due to that event.
"I find it interesting that you choose now of all times to do this, Heiress Sitri. In fact, this seems… opportunistic. It makes me doubt the sincerity of the act." At my words, she trembled slightly, but remained resolute.
"It does seem like bad timing. You have no reason to believe it, but I was going to do this anyway. Rias is your friend. Having us fight would hurt her." She took in a deep breath, "I don't want that. So I should at least try to avoid that outcome."
Weird as it was, I did believe her. Not because of her words, but because she was an absolutely shit liar. Green. Far, far too green. She was just a girl, trying to do what she thought was best. Stupid.
"Fine. Your invitation has been delivered." I spoke, taking the envelope from her, causing her to jolt in surprise, "I'll send my reply in due time. Take care on your way back."
"Thank you, Lord Sagan." She spoke to my retreating back, to which I did not reply.
Tiamat joined me at my side, "Well, that was amusing."
"Thank you for your service, Tiamat." I replied, causing her to grin.
"You can thank me with a big pork roast."
I laughed, "Very well, that is what we will have for dinner."
She pumped her fist in victory, making me shake my head in amusement. Looking back to the envelope in my hands, I turned it over in my hand. For an invitation to an Heiress' ball, it was rather plain.
Deciding to investigate it later, I stopped by my study in order to stash it somewhere safe, before returning to the training grounds.
Where I was greeted by the sight of a collapsed Peerage and an unimpressed Melina.
"Stop daydreaming." Rias' head rocked back from the magical flick, causing her to rub the impact site with a glare, "Damocles won't kill her on his grounds. Things will be fine."
"I'm just worried about my friend, okay?" She glared at the Queen of Damocles.
She always rubbed up Rias the wrong way, the woman coming off as cold and uncaring. Her cutting words and caustic attitude were just icing on top.
"I'm sure that will work as an excuse. 'Oh, I lost the Rating Game because my friend was sick and I was worried for her.' That will make it all better, I'm sure." The green haired woman rolled her eyes, proving Rias' point.
"She's got you there, Rias." Came the grinning words of her Queen, the other reason she disliked CC.
Akeno and her got on far too well.
"I get it, okay? What are we going to practise now?" She decided that distracting herself was probably the best use of her time at this point.
"Well, I was thinking-" The Sagan Queen stopped, turning towards the side of the field, where Ranni had been observing the training, "Oh? You have a suggestion?"
Rias had forgotten that the Goddess was there. She had been in Damocles' company, observing everything but rarely making herself come to attention. For how supposedly powerful she was, she was frighteningly capable of just blending into the background.
"I am merely concerned." The cool voice from Damocles'… betrothed… flowed throughout the field, "Thou art teaching them the most efficacious usages of their abilities, but without combat experience, tis would merely be theoretical knowledge, no?"
"That's true!" Runey bounced into the conversation, raising a hand in excitement, "Without actually using your abilities against an opponent, you won't know what works and what doesn't!"
"We do spar against each other, though." Rias spoke, causing the Goddess to nod at her.
"Indeed, child. However, sparring against an opponent you are familiar with gives diminishing returns. Thou learn them, they learn thee and it does not allow both to grow." She steepled both pairs of her hands, "Therefore, I have a suggestion."
As she spoke, another woman walked into the field, her red hair falling to her neck and her dull purple eyes looking over the assembly present.
CC scoffed, "I see where this is going. Very well, enjoy your games."
The Sagan Queen stepped back, letting Ranni take control.
"Ranni. You wanted me to come here?" The new woman spoke to the Goddess, completely ignoring the rest of them.
"I did, mine Herald. Thou have some repressed energy. I have found thee an outlet." The Goddess' words caused Runey to perk up in interest.
"Oh! A herald of Ranni? Pleased to meet you! I am Runeas, but you may call me Runey!" She bounded in front of the woman, hand extended.
She was completely ignored, the woman's eves solely on Ranni, "I do not wish to interact with these… people. You know that."
"Melina." The word held a command, "Thou know that is not possible. Closing thyself off will not resolve the issue."
"Fine." She crossed her arms, "Command me then."
Ranni sighed, before addressing Rias and Runeas, whose smile had faded at the rudeness of this new woman, "Mine apologies for Melina. She hath a difficult disposition. Would you do me the favour of sparring with her? It would do thee both some good."
"If you think it would help, Lady Ranni, I would gladly accept." Rias decided that offending Damocles' fiance was not a good idea, the fact that she was a powerful Goddess merely adding to her decision.
"My thanks. Melina, spar with these children, they are in need of combat experience. No Flame, if thou would." Her blue eyes drilled into this Melina, who merely sighed.
"As you command." She turned around and walked a bit further down the field, before slipping into a loose combat stance.
"I will referee." Kasane stated, walking into the middle between Rias' Peerage and Melina.
"Yeah! Kick her ass, Rias!" Runey cheered, causing her to smile.
She turned back towards her peerage, taking in their resolute expressions, "Are you ready?"
At their nods, she prepared herself before facing this mystery Herald of Ranni, interest filling her thoughts as she took in the woman's form.
"Let's do this!"