Chapter 51: Pride
She flew forward in a burst of speed, inserting herself within the sloppy formation of the group facing her. They were clearly trained, getting into position and readying themselves, but they clearly lacked experience. There was no room for lackadaisical movements on the battlefield.
Identifying the red-haired one as the leader, Melina swiftly removed her ability to issue orders. A lightning fast jab to the throat cut off her voice, as Melina spun and raised her leg in a high kick, slamming her heel into the black-haired girl, dispersing the lightning that she was manipulating and blasting her away.
Swaying away from the sword that was swung at her, she wrapped herself around the leader and interposed her body between herself and the swordsman. His thrust aborted, he had a look of indecision on his face that lasted only a moment before it shifted to surprise when she pushed the girl into him, causing him to clumsily drop the sword to catch her.
That allowed the white haired one to close in on her, obviously more comfortable in close combat than the others. They traded a small amount of blows, before she overextended, allowing Melina to throw her to the ground, placing her foot on the neck of the girl in a mirror of what that damnable CC had done to her.
"Surrender." She spoke, causing the just recently untangled duo to pause, "I have her at my mercy."
"I am prepared to grant victory to Melina." The Sagan Knight spoke, watching carefully and ready to intervene at any time.
"Yeah, we got destroyed." The leader sighed, seeming to deflate, "You won."
Melina frowned. She understood from the conversations that she had overheard that this one was attempting to become a champion of her people, to participate in fake battles and become one of the strongest of her race. Yet… she was so… green. No malice, no desire to kill. A demi-god this old in the Lands Between would have already been a veteran, having command of their own personal guard and a victor in many battles.
This display… It was almost pathetic.
"Man, that was disappointing." Rias mimicked her thoughts, rubbing her throat and looking disheartened, "We weren't able to do anything."
Was she that weak? Melina was hardly even the strongest fighter present. She had no idea how strong the champions that this girl aspired to defeat were, but they were likely even more overwhelming than her. She had not even used her most deadly weapon. If this was enough to break her resolve, then she should just give up on her goal now and save herself the trouble.
Rias took in a deep breath, before straightening and looking at her with determination, "Would you mind sparring with us again? I just want a moment to speak with my Peerage, we will tell you when you are ready to go again."
She was struck by that. She had done her best to bulldoze them, to crush them instantly and had succeeded, yet they wanted to go again? She did think that Rias needed to toughen up, but surely she had an idea that this fight was not one that was feasible for her to win at this level?
Still the earnestness in the girl's eyes compelled her to answer.
"Very well." Melina hesitated slightly, before returning back to her starting position, "If you say you are ready, make sure that you are actually in formation first. A real enemy would not give you the time to prepare."
"Thank you for the advice!" The girl who's throat she had attempted to crush smiled at her, "We would be grateful for any advice you could give us."
Confused by the kindness shown to her, Melina merely nodded as she walked. She paused at her starting spot, watching as the defeated group came together and started to discuss something. Their spirits visibly lifted as the conversation went on. As she observed, she heard the voice of Ranni speak to her.
"Thou art confused." The Goddess's tone indicated she found the situation humorous, "Thou cannot comprehend the actions of those children."
"At their age, I had already killed hundreds. They lack any sort of lethal intent." Melina replied, knowing that the Moon would expect an answer.
"Indeed. Tis a sad thing to witness. They are at peace, Melina, untouched by war. They have yet to fight for their lives, to drive the breath out of the lungs of others. Although it might be unfamiliar to thee, you are witnessing how children are supposed to act."
She thought about what the Goddess was telling her, turning it over in her head. She had not considered it before, but Ranni was correct. This world was at peace, not being forced to send their children into the crucible as soon as their powers manifested. Looking at the group with new eyes, she didn't see an inexperienced squad being led by an incompetent commander. Instead, she saw them for what they were, A group of friends struggling to get better together.
"That attitude will not bring them the power they seek. The leader wishes to stand amongst monsters. Unless they get serious, that will not happen." The words felt bitter coming from her, but they rang true nonetheless.
"Correct, mine Herald. Yet, they wish to learn. To improve. They are trusting in thee to help them do so. There is a beauty to that, is there not?" The kindling maiden mulled over the words, reluctantly agreeing to them.
"I suppose there is." She admitted, being brought out of the conversation by Rias calling out to her, the Peerage in formation this time.
"We are ready, Melina!"
They trusted her to help them improve, Ranni said? That was strange to Melina, but it did not feel unwelcome. This time, she allowed them to have the first move, deciding to trust the words of the Dark Moon.
"You may attack when you wish." She spoke, causing obvious surprise from the peerage, but to their credit they quickly recovered.
The sword wielding child and the white haired girl rushed forwards, showing passable teamwork as they engaged her and attempted to pin her in place, while the others bombarded her from a distance, taking to the air to get a height advantage. All in all, with her expectation adjusted, it was a passable attempt, but it also had many flaws.
The hand to hand fighter was too close range, preventing the sorceresses from using their full might, while the Knight was too hesitant to commit to any of his strikes. Sighing, she conjured the Blade of Calling, catching the knight by surprise as he used it to parry his sword and slipping close to the white haired girl, staying within her guard and fighting with elbows and knees.
As she did, the barrage of magic ceased, not able to be used when she was this close in, allowing her to focus solely on the close range fighters. She once again intercepted the sword of the knight, manipulating the blade to interpose it and his arm in-between her and the girl, causing her to pause her attempts to fight the Herald off. Grabbing the off balance knight, she tripped him and hopped backwards.
Immediately, the magic attacks restarted, but she merely lashed out with a kick to the white haired girl, knocking her away and granting her the space to leap into the air. Forming platforms under her, she leapt and flipped through the air, twirling past the increasingly panicky shots of magic, dodging lightning bolts and orbs of destruction by the slimmest of margins as she neared to the flying devils.
Reaching them, she ignored the blast of lightning that greeted her as she went too close to dodge, the pain being suppressed with long practice. Flipping into an axe kick, she slammed the black haired girl down to the ground before moving to once again take out the leader. She weaved around the orbs, before the child did something that surprised her.
Making a larger orb in front of her to ward Melina back, Rias shot it towards the Herald, who slipped around it before going to close in on the heiress. At least, that's what she planned to do, if the orb didn't explode prematurely, with Rias still in the blast area. Melina had reflexively shielded herself, sensing the danger, but the destruction contained in the orb still blasted her out of the air, both her and Rias falling to the ground. She caught herself, landing gently, whereas Rias was lifted gently to the ground by the purple aura of Kasane's gravity.
Melina took stock of the injuries she received, her left arm was useless, mangled beyond functionality from the orb, but it had taken the brunt of it, and the rest of her was still serviceable.
"I am able to continue." She spoke, causing Kasane to shake her head.
"Rating Game rules state if a King is removed the match is over. It is your win." The knight decreed.
"Heh." Said 'King' laughed from the heap she was in on the ground, "At least I managed to get a hit in on you."
"While sacrificing yourself." Melina retorted, "Such an action should be reserved for the direst of circumstances. Especially when you don't know the durability of the one you are fighting."
To prove her point, she briefly pulled on her faith in herself, glowing with her inner gold as her wounds healed, the disabled arm reverting to its pristine state as if time had reversed itself on the limb.
Rias slumped, "You are seriously unfair, you know that?"
Melina merely shook her head, "Bemoaning fairness is the refuge of a coward. Get better."
"You're right. Do you have any advice for us?" Rias accepted the chastisement.
"Some. Gather your warriors, I will heal you while we speak." Melina responded.
As the Peerage gathered around her and listened attentively to her instruction, the golden glow warming them and restoring their wounds, Melina was struck by a feeling of melancholy. Children… It had been a long time since she had the pleasure of interacting with them. Her own, the apostles, were not true life, but she loved them regardless.
She had taught her little brothers and sisters, in the Age before, when the world made sense. With the disappearance of her own brother, she had turned to destruction and rage, killing those same little children she had helped grow up into fine warriors.
She stopped mid sentence as the Goddess spoke into her mind, "History is not doomed to repeat itself. Thou hath a chance here, as do we all, for a different life."
She was right, Melina realised. But, did she deserve to grab such a chance?
She didn't know.
-XXX-
Apparently, Melina had then fought the Gremory Peerage multiple times after that, Healing them after every attempt to let them try again.
By the time I had returned, the score was 5-1, in Melina's favour. The time Rias had won was due to Koneko managing to grab the kindling maiden and hold her still long enough for Akeno to nail her with a lightning blast, slowing her down enough for Kiba to close in for the finish.
"I apologise if she went too rough on you." I spoke to Rias, watching as the rest of her Peerage gladly ate the lunch I had prepared for after training.
In particular, Koneko was absolutely demolishing a stack of brownies, in her own little chocolate heaven.
"Don't apologise!" Rias shook her head, a grain of rice stuck to her cheek, "We learned a lot! I'm really glad she fought with us like she did."
"Umu!" Runeas, who was sitting on the other side of Rias, spoke up, "It's good that they fought someone who did not hold back as much. It is a great experience for them!"
"Well, I'm glad you enjoyed them." I spoke to Rias.
"Enjoying it is a bit…" She trailed off, looking down at that.
Understandable, I suppose.
"You are enjoying this lunch at least." I smiled, leaning over and plucking the rice from her cheek and causing her gaze to lock onto the small grain, "Perhaps a bit too much, eh?"
She blushed slightly at the tease, before her blush turned nuclear as I popped the bit of rice into my mouth.
"Oh wow." Runeas marvelled, "That was smooth. No wonder you're such a lady killer."
"Runey!" Rias shouted, flustered.
"Tis true, mine faithful consort hath transformed into a rakish rogue. Truly, it is deplorable." Ranni, seated to my other side, spoke, causing me to look at her, catching her small grin.
"I apologise, Rias is just too cute when she blushes. I can't stop myself from teasing her." I shrugged, knowing she was playing around, getting better at reading her mood.
"Indeed?" She looked down at the still blushing heiress, her amusement intensifying, "I suppose the appeal is there. Should I join in, as well?"
"Please don't" Rias pleaded, causing me to laugh.
"Alright alright, any more and she will explode." Rias looked at me with relief as I ended the free for all, "Will you need anything more Rias? I have a meeting in the afternoon, so if you do, now is the time to ask."
"Well not exactly." She looked towards her Ancestor, "Runeas wanted to ask you something."
"Yes!" Runeas cheered, "Now now, Damocles. I wanted to discuss your plans going forward."
"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow, "I was unaware that you were involved in any of those."
"Oh, I'm not." She waved it off, "I just know you've been invited to that ball that Lord Paimon holds every year and was wondering whether you will attend."
"I was?" I blinked, surprised by that news.
It tickled something in the back of my mind. Oh that's right, I've been invited to that every year since my reveal. As it's against my stated, very public rules to attend any functions that are not held within the Sagan Manor, I decided to just start burning invitations like that after they kept coming even with my numerous denials.
"Oh yes." Remembering that fact, I raised a finger in recognition, "I won't be attending."
"Building a network is important for young Devils, especially for ones in your position. I know you enjoy your isolation, but it has allowed speculation to run rampant as to your aims. If you wish to bring others to your side, you need to dispel that ambiguity." She said, "I'm giving you this advice as an Old Devil, the longer you wait the harder it will be."
I stared at her, trying to ascertain her motivations here. Why did she decide to try and prod me out of my defensive stance this early? She knew that I would be forced to do so regardless in two years when Rias became the Head of the Gremory, So what was her angle here?
Whatever it was, it didn't matter in the end.
"Runeas, your advice is appreciated, but I could not attend the ball even if I wanted to." I spoke solemnly.
"Why not?" Rias asked, tilting her head curiously.
"I burnt the invitation." I replied, causing both of them to look at me in shock.
Runeas recovered first, bursting out laughing, "Hahaha! That's golden! Oh, I want to tell Paimon that just to see his face!"
"Damocles, that's very rude!" Rias was aghast, but a smile was on her face as she admonished me.
"So is ignoring my repeated reminders that I will not attend any functions outside my lands." I was uncaring for the rather weak complaint.
"Still!" Runeas stopped laughing, a wide smile remaining, "That's perfect! Zekky heard I was back so I got my invitation, I can take you as my plus one!"
Ah. So that was her play here.
"Runeas." I placed down my cutlery, turning to regard her seriously, talking in a no nonsense tone, "You got your win. Our families will be known to be allies in due time. That is already a marked improvement in your situation. So, this is your one warning."
"Don't." My tone cooled, staring her straight in her suddenly wide eyes, "Push it."
The noise in the dining room cut off, everyone suddenly staring at the conversation with rapt attention. Runeas, the target of my words, shivered slightly, swallowing before she replied.
"Understood, Lord Sagan."
I stared her down for a beat longer before I relaxed, releasing some of the tension in the air, "Good. I'm glad we understand each other."
Although less tense, the air was still markedly awkward.
At least until Akeno piped up from across the table, "Satans, that was hot."
-XXX-
"How are you settling in?" I spoke to the little vampire, who was currently straddling me and drinking from my neck.
Pulling back from her feast, she licked the blood of her lips and replied, "Your family is all very kind. It has been nice."
She put her head back into the crook of my neck, but did not resume drinking. Instead she merely pressed her body closer to mine, seemingly attempting to feel my body warmth.
"Damocles?" She questioned, her voice ghosting over my skin.
"Yes, Selene?" I hugged her closer, enjoying the feeling of her body on top of mine.
"Some of your Peerage are your concubines, I can smell it." She said, "Am I not attractive enough to join them?"
"Not at all." I answered, smiling, "You should feel the proof of that, from where you are sitting."
As if to confirm my words, she rolled her hips, feeling the presence of a hard object press into her in response.
"Then why?" She questioned.
"I don't know you very well, Selene. I wanted to give you time to acclimate to your new life before doing any of that." I stroked her hair, causing her to melt even further into my embrace.
"You saved me." She said after luxuriating in my ministrations for a while, "I can't imagine being with anyone else."
Well then.
"Very well, Selene. If you are sure, then after this meeting would you like to go somewhere with me? I know you've seen Kyoto, but there are plenty of other great sights in this world."
She pulled back, looking into my eyes as she slowly leaned down and kissed me, her small tongue slipping between her lips and briefly playing with my own. The action was languid rather than lustful. Interestingly enough, I could not taste my own blood on her tongue.
"I would like that." She answered, pulling back and giving me an impish smile.
Minx.
-XXX-
The meeting I had scheduled was one that I had been dreading for a while. I was used to it now, people wishing to meet with me even with the stipulations I had laid out, all due to Ranni's descent. Still if you had asked me to put money on this one, it was not one I would bet on being likely.
Especially considering this involved a descent into Hell, an event that had not happened until the last war between the Three. Angels, Seraphs, bringing their presence to the Underworld was a major deal.
The two Angels had been hosted briefly by the Satans, but now they were on the way to my Manor. I was situated in my entrance Hall, waiting for them to be guided here by CC. I had sent her and not Naomi as usual due to her ability to regenerate should this go badly. To my side, as ever these days, was Ranni.
"Be at ease, Consort." She said, "I will support thee."
"Thank you Ranni. Your aid these past few weeks has been most welcome." I replied, smiling at her and getting a small one in return.
My anticipation was not at all tempered, but no more words were spoken before the grand doors opened and I met an Angel for the first time.
Devils, as a rule, are ruled by Sin. Our instincts constantly push us to indulge in them, drawing power and sustenance from the act. The Sin many would think I was most susceptible to, especially after my display at the Reveal, would be Rage. However, that was incorrect.
Although Rage was a vice of mine, it was not the main source from which I indulged my sinful nature. No, I very deliberately cultivated and sought after a different one, much more potent and difficult to control.
After all, I Pride myself on my self control.
Said self control, that I was so proud of, was sorely tested the moment I laid eyes on Gabriel. Her pristine white robes, the brilliant shining feathers, the spun gold of her gorgeous hair.
I hated them.
Like a physical blow, my own nature slammed into me. I raged at her, standing before me so readily. I lusted after her, my blood sang for me to defile and break her, to see her get lost in pleasure. My greed lurched, wishing to possess her, to turn her into a jewel of my collection, mine and mine alone.
All the Sins, all of them tempted me to take her, to break her, to force her to fall.
The onslaught was slammed down quickly, barely a breath being taken from when our eyes first met. I struggled, railed against the desires being forced upon me by my instincts.
I was in control of my Sin, not the other way around. I decided when to indulge and when to abstain. My sin was a part of me, yes, but it was a tool under my authority and it rebelling in this way was an affront that rankled me fiercely.
I was not a mindless beast.
I clamped down, forcing my instincts and emotions to calm. I beat back the tide of madness, regaining control of myself a piece at a time, my will slamming into the sea of darkness and forcing it to part.
When I was done, taking in a deep breath, I noticed I had taken a single step towards the Seraph. Raphael, her escort, was warily watching me, hand clenched around thin air but taking no offensive actions.
Gabriel herself, however, merely smiled sadly at me with understanding in her eyes, "Well done, Damocles."
Her voice was like a hammer to my reconstructed control, buckling it inwards, but with a force of will I held a tight leash upon my baser nature.
"May I ask what I did well on, Seraph Gabriel?" I asked, consciously not gritting my teeth.
"Controlling yourself." She replied calmly, "You are the first Sagan to do so this quickly. Your mother actually attempted to disrobe me, only being stopped when the holy vestments burned her."
"I see." I spoke, before calming myself and returning to the matter at hand, "I must apologise, then, for my lapse of decorum."
"No need, Damocles." The Seraph forgave easily, "Remora… her curse lingers on most stridently."
"Still, blaming others is no excuse for a personal failing. Allow me to introduce us. As you know, I am Damocles, the Lord of the Sagan House." I bowed to the two Angels, before indicating the Goddess at my side, "This is Ranni, of the Dark Moon. My Lady and Consort. I believe you are here because of her?"
"Well met. I am Gabriel, the Hope of Heaven, and my escort here is Raphael, it's Healer. I am glad to finally make your acquaintance, but there has been a miscommunication it seems." The Archangel regarded the Goddess briefly before turning back to me, her eyes piercing deeply into my being, "Although the descent of the Dark Moon is of interest to Heaven, I am actually here to speak to you, Damocles."
Wait, what?
What did I do to get her attention?
This did not bode well.