Was this real?
"I don't fucking believe it!"
Evidently Kuisha was not the only one struggling to come to grips with events.
"He won!" Magdaran shouted, leaping up off the couch.
Sairaorg sat slack-jawed next to her on the couch. "He… He beat Bedeze. He humiliated the third highest ranking Rating Game competitor!"
Kuisha didn't speak. Sairaorg leapt off the couch after his brother. The two hugged and cheered, dancing around the room. They discussed the highlights of the match. The shapeshifter. The never before seen Belial. The mountain. Balthazar's fire. Medea.
Kuisha couldn't bring herself to join them. Her eyes were fixed on the screen.
Balthazar and his peerage had been transported out of the Rating Game arena and returned to the site where it was held. Silence greeted them.
One voice called out. Then two. Soon, the entire coliseum was filled with amazed cheers. They began to chant his name.
Balthazar paid them no mind. He shared some words with his peerage before they all walked through a Hole. Where they went, Kuisha didn't know. It wouldn't be the first time she was kept in the dark about her brother.
Kuisha remembered a day so long ago when she returned home. She'd expected to be greeted by her parents' smiles. Instead she found their corpses. If it weren't for Balthazar's crying, she never would have found her infant brother.
She'd done her best to raise him. She gave him everything she thought he needed, but she had little to no idea what she was doing. When Sairaorg first reached out to her, she felt she'd finally found a future, for her and for her brother.
She clearly did not know her little brother as well as she thought.
How long had he been capable of this? How long had he hidden it from her? How much more was he hiding from her? Why had he felt the need to hide it in the first place?
Kuisha had so many questions, yet things were finally starting to make sense. Balthazar had never shown any interest in joining a peerage despite the protection and opportunities it would offer. He had been infuriatingly confident leading up to his match with Bedeze. Kuisha had pressed him so hard to withdraw because she'd thought Bedeze would destroy him. She'd watched a number of Bedeze's Rating Games. She didn't see any way for Balthazar to stand a chance. She didn't want her baby brother to be ruined by their useless uncle.
Balthazar proved her wrong. He proved the Underworld wrong.
If he was capable of this, why not tell her? Had she done something to push him away? Did he not trust her? She was Sairaorg's Queen now, but she was still his sister. Why couldn't he tell her about this?
"I just can't believe it!" Magdaran cheered, a wide smile on his face. "He was outnumbered and made it look like Bedeze was the underdog."
Sairaorg lifted a glass. "To Balthazar! And to the look of utter defeat on Bedeze's face at the end!"
Kuisha could see her King was loving this. He had been glued to the screen the entire fight. Like her, he'd been tense and nervous at the beginning. As the tide clearly turned in Balthazar's favor, Sairaorg and Magdaran started openly cheering him on.
The brothers drank, laughing as they recalled more of the fight. Kuisha wanted to be happy for them. She had been trying to bridge the gap between them for months now. Here they were, hugging and playfully jostling each other while they chatted away with bright smiles on their faces.
Kuisha couldn't find it in her to be happy. A frown was permanently fixed to her face. She looked down at the floor.
Bedeze had wagered all of his holdings against Balthazar. While he never went through the effort to make it official, Bedeze held enough lands and property to be counted as a Baron much like her brother. With Bedeze's resources and lands, Balthazar could become a Viscount if he wanted.
Her brother had been rising like a star and showed no signs of slowing. If anything, the result of this Rating Game would only galvanize his potential. Everyone would be tripping over themselves to extend relations to Balthazar. The business was one thing, but being one of the owners in the business as well as a devil powerful enough to beat Bedeze Abaddon? Kuisha couldn't even begin to predict the boons that would fall upon Balthazar like rain. Alliances, wealth, betrothals – the Underworld would be open to Balthazar now.
Her brother was successful. She'd wanted that for him from when he was so small she had to carry him around in her arms. He was beyond successful. She should be happy. She should be overjoyed for him.
Why did she feel as if a gap had opened between them? Why did it feel like she didn't really know her brother?
X
Diehauser Belial stared down at the picture in his hand. A young woman with bleached blue hair floated in the air, an easy grin on her face.
Diehauser allowed himself a small smile. He had another cousin. Ever since Cleria… Her loss had shook him. She was his cousin, but it had been as if he'd lost his sister. It was so unexpected, so sudden. He still remembered their last conversation. It seemed so normal. She'd been joking with him as they parted. He never saw her again.
"How can you not know!" Diehauser's mother, Calfa, demanded.
His uncle, Adusa, flinched under the weight of his mother's glare. The silver-blue hair that fell passed his shoulders tumbled with the motion. "I… After my wife passed… No woman could compare to her. I kept looking but…"
Diehsuaer's father, Adonis, sighed tiredly. "Adusa, there is a difference between indulging in sin and indulging in stupidity. Bedding so many women that you forget their names and faces due to the sheer volume of them is the latter."
"She has a Sacred Gear." Adusa supplied. "Her mother must be a human."
Calfa narrowed her eyes at him. "How many human women did you sleep with approximately twenty years ago?"
Adusa wilted under Calfa's glare. "Um… I don't know?"
Adonis took a deep breath. "Do you at least remember their names?"
"…No?"
Calfa let out an irritated huff. "So we know nothing about this girl. Her mother could be dead, or she could be the Queen of England."
"I'd remember if I fucked the Queen of England." Adusa said bitterly.
Calfa lightly cuffed him on the back of the head. "You do not get to make snide comments. This is your fault. You sired a child and left that girl to grow up without her father. We never had the chance to know her either. I am very upset with you right now, but I am putting my feelings aside to try to determine where she came from."
"It is very possible she will want nothing to do with us." Adonis said somberly. "From her perspective, she might very well believe that her demonic family did not care for her. She grew up without the slightest trace of our presence. She would have felt abandoned. She would have had to grow and learn to cope with that."
Adusa stared down at the floor. "I really fucked up. I thought… It took us hundreds of years to have Cleria. I didn't think that–"
"That's enough, Adusa." Calfa said tiredly, falling into a chair at the table. "We… We need to make this right."
"I'll go." Diehauser said, drawing the eyes of his family. "I will go speak with her. Rating Game rankings are complicated. Balthazar cannot claim Bedeze's number three seat from one battle, but his victory has already launched him ahead of the competition. I can approach him to offer advice on how to navigate the Rating Game scene. I can inquire about meeting Aqua at that time."
Calfa shook her head. "I don't want to force her into anything. We already wronged her by leaving her alone for so long."
"I won't force anything." Diehauser said easily. "I'll ask Balthazar to pass along that I would like to meet and leave when and how to approach me up to her. I am willing to wait. I just want to get to know my cousin."
Adonis and Calfa exchanged a glance.
"It couldn't hurt to try." Adonis said.
"Could you…" Adusa flinched back as Calfa's glare snapped back to him.
"You will stay away and let us handle first contact. Were I in that girl's shoes, I would want absolutely nothing to do with you." Calfa ordered. "You will meet her on her terms. Is that understood?"
Adusa nodded his head dumbly.
Diehauser stood, still holding the picture of his long lost cousin. "I'll pen a letter to Balthazar then. I will inform you when he replies."
Diehauser left the room. His smile was firmly fixed on his face. He was happy. It would likely take a long time and lots of careful navigation, but he would be able to get to know his new cousin. Diehauser adored family. More family could only be good for him.
X
Heaven's angels were the stewards of humanity. They tended to their Father's creation with all the grace and care He had when He ruled Heaven. Since his Father's death, Michael had been given the honor and privilege of serving as Heaven's leader.
He guided his siblings. He lent aid to the humans in their hour of need. He brokered peace with those that would make war upon this fragile world. He was strong, but he could not accomplish what he did alone. No, he needed his siblings' aid and the aid of those humans of true belief.
Many champions had risen in the time Michael had held his position. His Father's gift to mankind, Sacred Gears, had often chosen the proper host to bring about great change for good in the mortal world. It was Michael's joy and purpose to oversee these champions, to guide them as He would have guided them.
Since the creation of the devil's Evil Pieces, more and more of his Father's champions fell to temptation. Immortality was such an enchanting prize, which was not even speaking of the other sins and vices devils enjoyed. They promised his Father's chosen lives of grandeur and excess. So many had been swayed.
Michael had tried to negotiate with the devils about their rampant theft of Sacred Gear users. He had warned them away from stealing away the gifts his Father gave the mortals. Serafall had laughed in his face when he vaguely threatened her. He had made no progress in curbing the devil's greed since.
He did not let his failing deter him. No, this would only strengthen his resolve. Father's gift to the mortals was the gift of choice. Those who chose to fall to sin would be left to dwell in the Hell they chose for themselves. Those who chose to embrace the light would be given his full attention. Michael would nurture the best of humanity. Together, they would stand against the darkness.
This was how it had been for many years now. More and more Sacred Gear holders fell to temptation. More and more beacons of true faith rose into the light of the angels. Michael shepherded them as best as he was able. His greatest lament would always be his inability to compare to Him. If only his Father were still here to guide the mortals. He would make far fewer mistakes than His flawed son.
"Michael!"
Michael was pulled from his idle thoughts as his sibling flew into the great Hall of Heaven.
"Remiel, what troubles you?"
Remiel's fair face was contorted with worry. He flew up to Michael's side, producing a small screen tablet.
"Remiel, what…" Michael trailed off as Remiel displayed a video. A great serpentine dragon wound its body around a sphinx before biting down on the sphinx's neck. The sphinx vanished in a flash of light.
Michael frowned. He recognized the effect. This was not the first time he had seen a video from one of the Devil's Rating Games.
Michael turned in confusion as Remiel paused the video on the dragon's face. The beast appeared to be showing off his blood-stained teeth in a viscous grin. "What is this, Remiel?"
"Look closer, brother. Do you not recognize this monster?"
Michael turned his attention back to the video. Now that he was focused on the dragon alone, he realized why Remiel was so concerned. The memory of an angel was near-perfect. Michael had seen this dragon before. He was there when his Father claimed the departing soul of the beast for one of his creations. This beast died long before the devils began their foolish games. Something was awry.
"The Colchian Dragon? That is impossible. He is sealed within Perfected State." Michael was fond of that particular Sacred Gear even if its current holder was…troubled.
Many years ago, a pious nun called Sister Elanor held the Sacred Gear. At a time where Black Death spread like rot, claiming the lives of thousands, Sister Elanor stood as a shining light of hope to all who crossed her path. She saved thousands with her unique application of Perfected State. Michael was glad to welcome her spirit into Heaven at the end of her life. She was now remembered on Earth as a Saint, as was deserving of her great deeds and the way in which she gave her life for others.
Focusing back on his brother's worried face, Michael asked, "Was a clone made of the dragon?" It would not be the first time the devils successfully created a clone of a powerful being.
"The church reported Perfected State's current host went missing some months ago. I am as certain as I can be without meeting him in person that this dragon is no copy or illusion. This is the Colchian Dragon."
"Impossible." Michael repeated. "He is sealed in the Sacred Gear."
Remiel's expression grew grave. "No, brother. He is not."
The full weight of the implication struck Michael like a falling star. The dragon was free from the Sacred Gear. That was impossible. Each and every one of his Father's works was a miracle. To undo those miracles should have been impossible. Nothing could have severed the connection between the monster and the Sacred Gear he was bound to.
"We must investigate this." Michael decided.
Remiel bowed his head minutely. "Send me, brother. I will coordinate with the church and discover what has transpired."
Michael smiled. He gently rested his palm against Remiel's cheek. "Be careful, brother. Call for me if you require aid."
"I will not fail, brother." Remiel spun around and marched from the chamber.
Michael watched him go with a small frown on his face. This was troubling. If The Colchian Dragon was truly freed from Perfected State… This was dangerous. What if the method was replicable? His Father had collected numerous powerful beasts and locked them away in Sacred Gears to serve the interests of the humans they once sought to destroy. If these beasts were freed, humanity would lose powerful weapons they would otherwise be able to use in their defense. The freed creatures may very well turn on the humans they were made to serve.
Distant prayers tickled at the edge of Michael's consciousness. A mortal was in grave danger and seeking divine aid.
He would leave this matter in the capable hands of his brother. He had other matters that required his attention.
X
Golden fox tails drifted slowly through the air. Keen eyes and a thoughtful frown sat in front of a screen playing a video taken from a recent Rating Game.
Yasaka did not care for devils. Nearly every interaction the yokai shared with devilkind was rife with strife and unpleasantness. On the best occasions, Yasaka left meetings blisteringly angry. At worst, entire villages were wiped off the map.
Despite her personal feelings for the devil race as a whole, it would be foolish of her not to monitor her enemies. Especially when they were so foolish as to publicly publish their capabilities on the net for the entire world to see.
Yasaka had teams dedicated to watching Rating Games for any potential problems. Her palace held an entire room in its subterranean levels dedicated to housing folders made of profiles about each devil competitor in these Rating Games. Yasaka did not want trouble, but she would be ready when the devils inevitably brought it to her.
Yasaka had teams who watched these Rating Games for her. It was a rare occasion where her people brought film from a contest for her to view personally. The last time it had happened involved one of her tengu defecting to a comparatively powerful devil's peerage as his Knight. After seeing who the contestants in the match were, Yasaka had assumed this film would have some correlation to her wayward Ami. The avian tengu was in the film, but she was clearly not the reason this was brought to her attention.
Yasaka inspected the flaming behemoth of a cat with narrowed eyes. "I have never heard of her. Records would have been kept of a kasha of her power."
"Forgive me, Yasaka-sama." her servant bowed apologetically. "I have scoured our records. There is no mention of any yokai named Matatabi the Two Tailed Wraith or any variation of those names. I have consulted with the shrine maidens. Their inquiries were similarly ineffective at determining the kasha's true identity."
"Thank you." Yasaka said, curt.
Her servant bowed once more before hurrying out of her office.
"What is your assessment, Daisuke?" Yasaka asked.
The raven tengu who served as her loyal attendant bowed shallowly. "This creature is a mystery, Yasaka-sama, but I do not believe she is a problem that affects us."
"Go on."
"Whether Matatabi is a yokai or not, she has joined the devils. She is therefore our enemy."
"This is why I can't take you on any diplomatic missions, Daisuke. You're always so upfront."
"I will treat the devils as anything other than our enemy when they prove to be anything other than our enemy."
Yasaka sighed tiredly, setting the tablet aside. "Have a report written up about Matatabi the same as every other devil. Continue looking for further information and have Haruto create some problems for the devils but do not devote too much attention to this. We have more important things to worry about at present."
A kasha of the size and power Matatabi had demonstrated was almost unheard of, yet still not unheard of. The yokai possessed many defenders that Yasaka was confident could duel Matatabi after witnessing her rather…rudimentary fighting tactics and her lazy approach to the Rating Game as a whole. Yasaka would be interested in having a conversation with the kasha about her origins and reasons for joining with the devils, but she doubted such an opportunity would arise.
She had to focus on her people and her duties. So long as the devils kept to the Underworld, they were not her problem.
X
The Satans had gathered. Ajuka Beelzebub measured the looks on his colleague's faces. There was shock, of course. Ajuka himself had been surprised, something that rarely happened these days. There was also confusion and, in Sirzechs's case, exhaustion. Lucifer had spent the last several hours teleporting around the Underworld to handle the fallout of the Abaddon's Rating Game. The red-haired Super Devil was laying with his head on the table, eyes closed.
"I was wrong." Ajuka said, holding Serafall's gaze. "Thank you for acting as you did. I fear we would have needlessly alienated Balthazar if I moved to claim his mines during the match."
Serafall sighed, waving off his apology. "I get why you were worried, but I hope you can now see why I've been bending over backwards for him."
"We need to bring him firmly into our camp." Falbium said.
"He doesn't want to be subservient to anyone." Serafall said.
"He does not have to answer to us to ally with us." Falbium countered. "For his mines and the items he produced alone he was a worthwhile ally. After this… We cannot allow anyone else an opportunity to claim him."
Ajuka agreed. The might Balthazar displayed in his match against Bedeze bellied belief. An untested peerage defeated the third ranked peerage in the Underworld while greatly outnumbered. Every member of the peerage exhibited great power. Balthazar had gathered legendary figures from the past to his side as well as titanic forces never before seen. Balthazar's peerage had the potential to give himself and Serafall's peerages trouble, if only due to their lack of peerage members at present. Ajuka had questions for the young devil. Many questions.
"Let's deal with the biggest issues first." Serafall said. "Ajuka, did you check on Runa?"
"I did," he confirmed. "She is weak, weaker than a mortal. However, her soul is still intact. Her personality and being remain. Additionally, she is already showing signs of recovery, slow though it will be. Despite his words, the Pawn did not truly steal her soul away. It was pure theatrics."
"Good." Falbium said with a pleased nod. "That quiets the largest problem we have in regards to our local issues."
"No it doesn't." Sirzechs contradicted him, head still resting on the table. HIs eyes were closed, but he was still paying attention. "Whether he sucked her soul out or not, Shang Tsung depowered Runa. It might not be permanent, but it'll probably take her a couple decades to get back up to where she was. That's not even mentioning whatever the hell Medea did to her and Bedeze. People are still up in arms about that too by the way. Rating Games need to be safe or no one will participate in them. That'll lead to them solving disputes in other ways that we want to avoid."
"I'll talk to Balthazar." Serafall said. "He'll probably be willing to keep his peerage in line so long as no one tries to pull what Bedeze did against him. I can probably convince him to keep out of the Rating Game scene entirely if no one antagonizes him."
"People will still want assurances."
"So we add some rules that ban such techniques from use in Rating Games and rework the Rating Game system. It has been neglected for several decades now." Ajuka said. He'd put off improving the Rating Game system in favor of working on other projects. After witnessing all of the ways in which Balthazar's peerage exploited or outright ignored his system, he was eager to work to correct the flaws. He hadn't had a challenge like this in years.
"There's also the Belial situation." Sirzechs said.
Ah yes, the Knight. Aqua. All of Balthazar's peerage had piqued Ajuka's curiosity, but the girl was special even among them. The Underworld was convinced the girl used Worthless to seal Bedeze's ability to use Hole. As far as Ajuka could determine, she had. Her hair made it hard to argue who her father was, but she also possessed an item Ajuka had never seen before.
New Sacred Gears had appeared semi-regularly over the centuries. Whatever system Heaven's founder had imbued into them was an enigma. The length of time between Sacred Gears seeking out new hosts varied. Some Sacred Gears bound to new hosts immediately upon their prior host's death. Some waited upwards of a hundred years. Others waited to bind to a host until they found someone that fit their requirements. There were likely a healthy number of gears that still had yet to be bound to their first host, lying in wait for the proper host. Ajuka assumed the strange weapon Aqua wielded was one such Sacred Gear.
A sword with no edge shaped almost like a medieval key. When Aqua teleported around the arena, she had done so through a medium distinctly separate from Balthazar's Holes. Her method involved a keyhole-shaped tear in space. It was clearly an effect of her Sacred Gear, but what else could it do?
Serafall scoffed. "If Adusa slept around so much that he legitimately doesn't know who Aqua's mother could be, then it's not our problem. It isn't our problem regardless. Aqua is Balthazar's servant. Balthazar and Bedeze just very publicly handled an internal family dispute over the lordship of the House of Abaddon. Balthazar is now the lord of the house. If the Belials want their bastard back, they need to bring it up with Lord Abaddon. We can't interfere in a disagreement between two houses."
Aqua would have to have a mortal mother for her to be born with a Sacred Gear. Ajuka was no stranger to the more lustful practices of his race, but for Adusa Belial to bed so many mortal women that he could not even guess at the identity of Aqua's mother was unique among devils. Devils rarely left their conquests to their own devices. It created no small amount of work for Serafall when devils either took their lovers to Hell with them or disposed of them. The New Satans had been discouraging such activities as of late, but they could only do so much to fight their race's natural proclivities.
"Good enough for me." Sirzechs said, shifting to get more comfortable.
"Serafall, you are on good terms with Balthazar, correct?" Ajuka asked.
"Yes. Why?"
"I would like to speak with him in the near future. Would you be able to set a meeting?"
"I can ask him, but I've got my own issues to sort out with him first. He just dropped a shitload of work on me."
"Understandable. It is not pressing, but I would prefer to speak with him sooner rather than later."
"While we are on the topic," Falbium interjected. "Has the international scene quieted?"
Serafall scowled. "The opposite. The Yokai have raised a stink about Matatabi. None of their claims hold any weight. They're just using it as an excuse to throw some jabs at us. The Greeks on the other hand are being a pain in the ass."
"They want Medea back?" Sizechs said, sitting up in his chair.
"Among other things. Athena is typically my point of contact, but Helios has been going over her head and harassing some of my ambassadors to demand the return of his granddaughter. Then there's the Coal situation…"
Ajuka's attention sharpened. Yes. That.
"Did Balthazar mention the Colchian Dragon in any of your interactions with him?" Ajuka asked. "Do you have any idea how the dragon escaped Perfected State?"
"Shang Tsung was able to use Dreamless Sleep after copying Agatha's powers." Falbium said. "Perhaps the Pawn's ability was involved in freeing the dragon?"
"Regardless," Serafall said pointedly, getting back on topic. "The Greeks want him back. They're citing ancient treaties that they're interpreting in a very specific manner. They blame the Angels, and by extension all of the Abrahamic factions, for stealing away some of their heavy hitters and sealing them away in Sacred Gears."
"Tough." Sirzechs said. "Coal was pretty clear during the Rating Game that he is where he is of his own free will, going so far as to threaten anyone that worked counter to his new King. They can't stop us from reincarnating willing servants."
"No, but they can be petty and drop sanctions on us in retaliation." Serafall said.
"Let them." Ajuka said. "With Balthazar's resources most of our trade agreements with the Greeks become superfluous. Factor in that Medea is likely the one crafting the majority of the items he sells, and we also have access to better versions of anything they could make barring a few exceptions."
"You say that because you're not the one that has to deal with them." Serafall said pointedly.
"I have faith that you will handle this as expertly as you have handled everything in the past." Ajuka said.
Serafall sighed. "Yeah, I'll deal with it."
"And what of Balthazar himself?" Falbium asked.
"What do you mean?" Sirzechs said.
"I am not the only one who was surprised by the power he demonstrated. Yes, his peerage was strong, but he destroyed a mountain in a moment."
This was another topic that had occupied Ajuka's mind in the wake of the Rating Game. Despite the fact that the Rating Game was held to determine which Abaddon would rule their house, the Abaddons themselves did not feature prominently in the match. The fight was largely settled by the King's respective peerages.
With that said, in the short time he was active during the match, Balthazar demonstrated immense power. Widespread control and application of his clan trait. A mountain sundered in a moment. Fire so intense it scorched the air. Balthazar had shown all of this. Ajuka believed the young devil was hiding even more. How strong was he that he was able to defeat his uncle while holding back? Bedeze's clan trait was sealed, but he was still the third ranked seat in the competitive Rating Game scene. Balthazar bested him with minimal effort.
"Did he show any signs of possessing this strength in your previous interactions?" Ajuka asked.
Serafall shook her head. "Everything I saw of him before was mostly stuff Medea had set up. He's kept his own strength hidden. I'd assumed it was because he was using Medea as a shield to protect himself while he got stronger. Now I'm starting to think he was just using her as cover for the things he can do himself. You all know he located the Red Dragon Emperor for me. I thought that it was Medea who found him. I'm not too sure now."
Ajuka made a considering sound. "Medea of Colchis. The Colchian Dragon. A lost Belial bastard. A powerful Yokai we have no record of. And a human who, likely even before he was reincarnated, is capable of siphoning other's strength for himself. An impressive peerage to gather around oneself in such a short time. Too impressive."
"That's not even mentioning The Red Dragon Emperor." Serafall added. "He claimed to know the host of the White Dragon Emperor as well." She smiled, amused. "He said the guy was a prick."
"So it is safe to assume that Balthazar has a method to locate these gifted individuals." Ajuka said.
"Could it be some application of Hole?" Sirzechs said. "We don't know much about it other than what we've seen it used for."
Serafall gripped her chin in thought. "Balthazar told me once that Bedeze was an idiot for how he used Hole. Something about there being more applications of Hole than what Bedeze used it for."
"Could Balthazar's trait have mutated?" Falbium asked. "If he has access to abilities through Hole that Bedeze lacked, it is a possibility."
"A possibility, yes. But one that we have no way to test." Ajuka countered.
Serafall shrugged. "I could just ask him."
Everyone turned to look at her in surprise.
Serafall met their eyes. "I've been running a lot of interference for him. He knows that and is grateful for it. We're on pretty good terms. I can ask him. He may not answer, but it's worth a shot."
Sirzechs chuckled. "I do enjoy simple solutions. Feel free to ask him. If he doesn't tell you, we're no worse off than we would have been otherwise." He stood. "I need to get going. With Bedeze's assets all moving under Balthazar's control, I have to get ahead of things before any local problems crop up. Anything else before I go?"
"There is one more thing." Ajuka said, drawing all attention back to him. He was silent a moment.
"…And that thing is?" Serafall prompted.
Ajuka remained silent.
Ajuka had not improved the Rating Game system in several years. He had other things occupying his time. That did not mean his Rating Game system was faulty. The flaws highlighted by Balthazar's peerage would allow him to improve it, but the existing system was good. He should know. He made it.
"I was not certain whether or not to show you this. I am not entirely sure what it is myself. It may be nothing, but I want your opinions." Ajuka said.
A spell circle spun to life in the center of the table. An image projected above the table, drawing the attention of the assembled Satans.
It was a feed from the Rating Game. None but Ajuka recognized it. They wouldn't. Ajuka had ensured that this particular angle was not broadcast. Until this moment, the only individual who had seen it was himself.
In the projected recording, Medea plunged her dagger down into Runa's chest. This much the others had seen. There was screaming and a flash of light. What they hadn't seen before was a blurred, fractured image of Medea's hand as it disappeared into her cloak.
The image was not clear. Medea had clearly done something that interfered with the scrying magic laid into the Rating Game system, but the image was clear enough to get a very blurred view of something clutched tight in Medea's hand. To anyone else, the blurred red splotch in the viewing would not be noteworthy. Not to Ajuka. He had created the object Medea held in her hand. Likewise, his friends who had helped him at times to complete his project had suspicion of what they had just witnessed.
"What… That looked like–"
"That is not what I wanted to show you." Ajuka cut off Sirzechs, eyes intently focused on the image before him.
"We cannot gloss over Medea of Colchis seemingly ripping out Runa's Queen Piece." Falbium declared, scowling. "Do you have any idea the upheaval we will–"
"Watch." Ajuka cut him off. The Queen Piece was worrying. Ajuka had verified for himself when he had checked Runa for signs of soul tampering. Her Queen Piece was gone. In a strange turn of events, she was still biologically a devil, but the enhancement of the Queen Piece was gone. Whether Runa would stay a devil was uncertain, and something Ajuka would very much like to study. But there was something far more important that required his attention.
The Satans watched in silence as Medea approached Bedeze's trapped form. Her knife descended. Light flashed. An image of a blurred, misshapen cross was barely visible in the palm of Medea's hand.
The table cracked.
All heads turned to Sirzechs. The lethargy that had suffused his frame moments ago was gone. Now, the Satan they had unanimously agreed to name Lucifer stared intently at the frozen image above the table. His hands gripped the side of the table, a long jagged crack splintered away from his grip.
"That is impossible." Sirzechs declared.
"I believed the same." Ajuka said. "I checked Bedeze when I inspected Runa. When I have met him in the past, he has shone like a font of demonic power. Now, he is barely able to display strength equal to your sister."
The room was silent. The silence stretched.
Finally, Serafall said one word, "How?"
"I do not know." Ajuka said. "Rest assured, I will find out. In the meantime, I would request that you speak with Balthazar about–"
"Consider it done." Serafall said, eyes narrowed at the displayed image. "He and I will be having a conversation about this."
"Do not alienate him." Falbium cautioned. "With Medea displaying the capability to remove Evil Pieces, it is all the more necessary we forge strong ties with him."
"Who else knows about this?" Sirzechs asked?
"No one outside of this room." Ajuka replied.
"Good. Let's keep it that way." Sirzechs closed his eyes. He took a deep breath. Slowly, the tension bled from his muscles. He released the table and stepped back. "We'll need to speak with Runa and Bedeze. If anyone–"
"It will not be an issue." Ajuka interjected.
Sirzechs frowned. "You already reached an agreement with them?"
Ajuka's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. "It will not be an issue."
Sirzechs frowned. He searched Ajuka's eyes for something. His frown deepened when he found what he sought.
Ajuka had wholeheartedly supported Sirzechs's promotion to their unofficial head. He was the leader the Underworld needed. His strength kept their foes at bay. His empathy and soft approach to problems allowed them to build bridges. But there were some things his good-natured friend could not do, things necessary for their race. On such occasions, Ajuka handled the matter. Sirzechs did him the courtesy of never asking for details so Ajuka did not have to lie. In this case, Ajuka would not have to lie at all. He would have nothing to do with what became of Bedeze and Runa. His only crime was not undoing the magic someone else cast.
"I'll leave it to you then." Sirzechs said. "Serafall, let us know how your talk with Balthazar goes. Now I really need to go." A teleportation circle whisked him away.
Serafall and Falbium departed soon after. The meeting was adjourned. There was no reason to stay.
Ajuka teleported back to his lab. There were many problems that required his attention. So much to do, so little time.
X
This was wrong. This isn't how things were supposed to be. Runa knew something was wrong, but she couldn't figure out what it was. She spun her spear in her hands, trying to figure out what was so wrong.
The weapon ached in her grasp. She knew she needed to do something. But what?
She felt weak. She shouldn't feel weak. She was descended from the divine. She was trained by one of the greatest warriors to ever live. She was one of the strongest Queens in the Underworld. People had spoken of her in the same breath as Grayfia Lucifuge. She was not weak. Her current state was temporary. Satan Beelzebub had said so!
The Lord Satan had come by two days ago. He inspected her and Bedeze both as part of an inquiry following the completion of the Rating Game.
…The Rating Game. Runa still didn't know how things had gone as they did. Balthazar was supposed to be weak. He was not weak. His peerage was supposed to be overpowered by their numbers. They were not. Balthazar's Queen was supposed to be a no-name witch. She was not a no-name witch. She was Medea. She was Runa's cousin.
Runa spun her spear in her hands, feeling an irritating itching sensation in the back of her skull. She could only quiet the grating feeling by keeping the spear near.
Something was wrong. It wasn't her weak fingers. No. Satan Beelzebub said her strength would come back. What the Pawn did to her was temporary. What Medea did to her was temporary. But neither of those were the wrong thing that itched like a scarab skittering beneath her flesh. It was something else.
"This… I can't let this be the end." Bedeze Abaddon said. His voice was deflated, weak, lacking the power and bravado he once displayed with ease.
Runa spun her spear in her hands.
"I… I'm not really… This can't be the end…" Bedeze said weakly. They were seated together in the small hut Runa had purchased for their romantic getaways. This property was owned by her and her alone, protecting it from the wager Bedeze had placed on all of his holdings. Technically since Runa was Bedeze's Queen, Balthazar could make the argument that her property should be forfeit as well, but he had left them alone. He was content to take everything Bedeze owned and leave them with this pittance.
Runa and Bedeze had seen very little of Balthazar in the wake of the Rating Game. The majority of the forfeitures had been carried out by intermediaries. It seemed like Balthazar wanted nothing to do with them. So, despite the wager and financial ruin, Bedeze and Runa still had this hut and each other.
Of Bedeze's peerage, only Runa was left. Despite their most recent showing against the new Lord Abaddon's peerage, Bedeze's former peerage were all Rating Game tested peerage members. This last game had dropped their individual value greatly, but they were still highly sought after pieces.
After suffering financial ruin at the hands of his nephew, Bedeze was in no position to refuse offers from generous lords and ladies seeking to make his peerage members their own. The funds he and Runa were currently living on were taken from the minor fortune Bedeze made from trading his entire peerage away for unused pieces. Only Runa was left. There were some attempts to trade her away from Bedeze with more coming after Satan Beelzebub announced the results of the examination he'd conducted on her, but Runa had refused to let Bedeze even consider it. Being traded was wrong. She didn't know why, but she needed to be near Bedeze.
She spun her spear anxiously in her hands.
"No… No." Bedeze declared, a measure of strength creeping back into his voice. "This will not be the end. I have friends. I have powerful friends that owe me favors. I can…" He ran a hand over his chest where Medea's knife had pierced him. "I can start again. This isn't the end."
He started laughing as he stood. "Yes. Yes! First, we kill the Belial girl. With her out of the way, I will be able to use Hole again. Then we will go to Zekram. He owes me. Yes, yes! He owes me. He will make me strong again. Then! Then we kill my upstart nephew and his whore of a Queen!"
Runa stopped spinning her spear in her hands. The itching in her head was gone. She could think with perfect clarity. She knew what was wrong. She knew how to fix it.
Bedeze's back was to her. He didn't see the point of Runa's spear until it protruded out the front of his throat.
"Don't worry, Bedeze. I'm fixing us!" Runa said, truly happy as she finally realized what was wrong. She knew how to fix everything. Once she was done, everything would go back to the way it was meant to be. Yes. She was fixing things.
Bedeze fell off her spear. Smiling brightly, Runa pressed the point of her spear to her own throat. "I'll see you soon, Bedeze, my love!" The point of her spear pierced her throat.
Runa lay next to Bedeze, knowing their lives would return to normal.
A dark, corrupt rune glowed a dull violet on the haft of Runa's spear. A shadow sped slunk out of the spear's tip, zipping along the ground away from the hut. The rune faded to nothing.
All was quiet in the hut.
X
"Sona, come on!" Rias called, anxious and insistent. "It's starting! You're going to miss it."
Sona knew she still had several minutes. Interviews such as the one her and Rias were to watch together began slow. They would open with advertisements for their sponsors then move on to a recap of the events that made the interviewee a topic of discussion. Still, she could humor her friend.
After one last glance out the window at where her small peerage trained with Rias's, Sona turned around and began walking back towards Rias. Her friend had invited her to the Gremory estate for the day. It was both a chance for their peerages to get to know each other better and for Sona and Rias to spend time together. With Sona preoccupied training Issei and Rias's time taken up acclimating her newest peerage member to her house, the two friends hadn't had much time to spend together.
Sona sat on the couch at Rias's side. She huffed fondly as Rias scooted over to press into her side. Her friend was clingy with people she liked. It was annoying at times, but more often than not it was endearing. Sona did not remark on Rias's closeness.
The advertisements finished on the screen and the host's face appeared.
"Welcome, one and all! My name is Natalia Braceforth, bringing you this exclusive post-match interview brought to you by Patron's Blood Publishing. I'm here with the victor of our most recent, most exciting Rating Game. Thank you for your attendance, Lord Abaddon. I know you have been very busy in the wake of your success. We are humbled to host you today."
"Thank you for having me." the now undisputed Lord of the House of Abaddon replied.
He did not seem the slightest bit nervous. Many young devils who participated in an interview like this after their first Rating Game did not like the attention. Sona could not detect the slightest trace of any nerves from Balthazar Abaddon.
The interviewer began praising Balthazar's showing during the Rating Game. Playbacks of various altercations appeared on screen as she listed them.
"Hold on." Rias said, fiddling with the remote. "I want to see what other people are saying."
"Rias, I would rather hear from the primary source than see what other people think."
"It's fine, Sona. Don't worry, the comments only take up a little space. Got it!"
The image displayed on the screen adjusted to now account for a live commenter bar along the right side of the screen. Opinions, emoticons and memes flew by at speed as the chat was overwhelmed by the number of people watching and commenting on this interview. The majority of the memes were created from images taken from the match itself. The vast majority featured Matatabi in varying states. From her large monstrous form captioned, 'You've made a mistake, mutt.' to pictures of her sleeping in the tree she'd climbed after fighting jean captioned, 'Matatabi used Catnap! It's super effective!'
This was news. A kind of news not seen in…ever. Balthazar had challenged his uncle to a Rating Game for the right to call himself Lord Abaddon. That had never happened before. A first time competitor without a full peerage had gone up against a reigning Rating Game champion ranked third overall in the Underworld. The outcome seemed to be a foregone conclusion. The strength of Balthazar's peerage had shocked everyone.
Most hadn't even heard Balthazar's name prior to his venture with Magdaran Bael. Even then, they hadn't paid him much mind. That was no longer the case. People were beginning to suspect that Balthazar was the true puppet master in charge of Bael and Abaddon Trading Co. There were even rumors suggesting the young devil had a hand in plots that happened long before his birth. Give the internet an inch and they will take a mile.
Sona was unique in the fact that she had heard Balthazar's name prior to his fame. She was passingly familiar with him for one reason alone; her sister.
The day Serafall appeared and whisked Sona away with little explanation outside of, 'We're getting you a really strong Rook. Stop asking questions, okay?' was now fresh in Sona's mind as she intently watched Balthazar easily answer questions pertaining to his employed strategies in the Rating Game.
Serafall had been circumspect about how she learned Issei held the Boosted Gear. Sona had listened to her sister's every word and filed it away for the future. The Satan's grumbling about the bastard not warning her of Issei's…proclivities stuck in Sona's mind. Was Issei an unrepentant pervert? Yes, but Sona did not care if his eyes wandered so long as he did as he was told. She did not bring him to formal occasions because she did not trust him to behave, but lust was common in Hell. A bit of perversion for the Boosted Gear was a worthwhile trade.
The important part was that Sona had used Serafall's many grumblings to put together a picture of the source of her information. After reincarnating Issei and letting him adjust to life as her servant, Sona did some research. Balthazar Abaddon's name kept coming up as she looked into the various clues Serafall left for her.
It made no sense. Balthazar was a nobody. A forgotten scion of a near-forgotten house. There was no way he would have the Boosted Gear. Only he did not stay that way. Soon after Sona acquired the Boosted Gear, Balthazar stepped onto the Underworld's stage as a Baron. Sona could see traces of her sister's influence thick in the air around Balthazar. He had done something to earn her favor. The timing fit too well to be a coincidence. Still, that left the question of how. How had he found the Boosted Gear?
On screen, profiles of each of his peerage members slowly slid across the screen. A human who could change his form, copying devil bloodline traits and borrowing the ability to use Sacred Gears from their wielders. A small cat made from fire that could erupt into a form mighty enough to easily dispatch one of the stronger Rooks in the Underworld. A half-breed Belial with a Sacred Gear that let her teleport even in the wards of a Rating Game. A Dragon straight from myth that should be trapped in a Sacred Gear. The Witch of Colchis who once travelled with the Argonauts.
Now more than ever, Sona was dying to know how Balthazar had found Issei for Serafall. He'd likely employed the same method to locate the rest of his impressive peerage. Sona's peerage was still small. She could really use some additions of the same caliber as Balthazar's servants. He'd already given her Issei. Maybe he could give her more?
More than that, Sona coveted his strength. Sona was still young. From what she'd learned of Balthazar, he was only a little older than her, yet he already possessed immense power. He had fought little in the Rating Game, but the few times he had joined the battle shook the Underworld. The destruction of a mountain range wasn't particularly noteworthy on the supernatural scale, but to see it from someone so young with so little effort? That wasn't even mentioning whatever that fire he used was. Sona had seen the Phenex's Hellfire in action on multiple occasions. Whatever Balthazar had used put their bloodline trait to shame.
Strength was necessary if one wanted to be respected in the Underworld. Balthazar, a devil barely older than Sona, had just demonstrated strength enough to outperform a devil centuries his senior with a record of handedly defeating his opponents. Sona needed that level of power, both for herself and her peerage.
More memes and lecherous comments sped by as each member of Balthazar's peerage was shown. From the widespread support for Balthazar present in the viewership, one would never think that a short week ago all of these individuals had dismissed Balthazar and his peerage out of hand. Sona had seen the messages from before. Page after page of people disparaging Balthazar for being foolish enough to challenge Bedeze. Now, it was as if they had always supported the young devil. The masses were fickle.
"He's kind of cute." Rias said.
Sona sighed, looking sidelong at her friend.
"What!" Rias said, cheeks flushing. "Look at him! And you saw how he beat Bedeze. He's strong too."
"He disregarded the spirit of Rating Games. Bedeze and Runa are still recovering from their fight."
It was Rias's turn to look at Sona unimpressed. "Because every Rating Game is always so noble. He was outnumbered and up against a powerful opponent. He won. Ajuka said Bedeze and Runa would recover, so it's fine."
As if to mirror their own conversation, the interviewer broached the topic of what was done to Runa during the match.
Balthazar sighed tiredly. "No, my Pawn did not drain her soul. I have already reprimanded him at length for his word choice. His ability lets him temporarily copy the powers of others. The longer he is connected to them, the longer his copies last. The drain was not pleasant on Runa, but she will recover. Satan Beelzebub himself has confirmed this."
The interviewer nodded along. "Yes, we've been told…" She trailed off, holding a finger up to her ear. An earpiece?
The interviewer sucked in a surprised breath. She pulled out her phone and furiously scrolled across the screen.
Balthazar raised an eyebrow at her. "Is there a problem?"
The interviewer looked up at him, then back down at her phone. She took a breath to collect herself. "Lord Abaddon, would it surprise you to learn that Bedeze Abaddon and Runa Boreasdóttir have been found dead in their home?"
You could hear a pin drop in the silence. The flood of comments across the screen halted for several seconds before tripling in speed.
"What!" Rias cried. She pulled out her phone and immediately began pulling up news articles. For the moment, she found nothing.
Balthazar blinked, an expression of genuine shock flashed across his face, a contrast to the controlled politeness he'd held the length of the interview. "What?"
The interviewer turned her phone around so Balthazar could see it. Incidentally, the screen was angled so the camera had a view as well. The camera operator immediately zoomed in on the screen.
Sona's eyes narrowed as the image came into focus. Bedeze and the wan body of Runa lay cradled against each other in a pool of blood. Neither were moving. Their eyes stared vacantly forward.
"This image speaks of foul play." The interviewer continued. "Do you have any comments?"
Balthazar's mouth opened and closed. No sound came out. He couldn't look away from the screen.
A change came over the Lord of the House of Abaddon. In a moment, the cordial demeanor he'd adopted was gone. In its place stood the devil who'd blown apart a mountain with little to no effort. Small Holes the size of baseballs appeared in the air all around him. He spoke through them in rapid succession.
"Coal, Matatabi, Aqua, gather at the manor with Medea and Shang Tsung. No one goes anywhere alone. Someone just killed my uncle and could be coming for me next. Kuisha, are you with Sai?"
"I– What!" a female voice called from one of the Holes. "Did you just say Bedeze is–"
"Are you with Sai?" Balthazar cut her off, an intense frown on his face as he glared at nothing. "Get somewhere where there's other people around. If they went after Bedeze, they might be going after you next. I'll meet you in a few minutes once I make sure my peerage are all okay."
"Lord Abaddon, would you please–"
"Thank you for your time." Balthazar cut off the interviewer. "I need to see to the safety of my people." A point of darkness appeared around his body, swallowing him. The interviewer was left alone on the screen.
The comments were going wild. Everything from shock at Bedeze's supposed demise to the 'cool' way Balthazar had stormed away. There were a fair helping of people also pinning the blame for the deaths on Balthazar as 'obvious'. Sona wasn't too sure. He had seemed legitimately surprised to receive the news. Moments after learning of it, he'd left to protect the only other Abaddon alive as well as his peerage.
"It's real." Rias said, face pale. She turned her phone around so Sona could see. A message had been sent from her brother. Evidently, the Satans had sent a team to the house the moment the broadcast showed the picture. Sona wasn't sure how a news outlet learned of this before her and Rias's siblings, but now that the Satans were involved the scene would be locked down and closely studied.
"What… What do you think happened?" Rias asked.
Sona pursed her lips, watching as the interviewer frantically tried to keep viewership. People were fleeing to news channels en masse. She'd gambled on being able to get the first interview with Balthazar following the event. She'd overestimated his willingness to speak to her.
"I don't know." Sona said.
X
Zekram Bael sat in his chair. He sipped at his wine as he watched the news report before him.
The investigators had completed their inspection of the scene of Bedeze and Runa's deaths. They'd ruled it a murder suicide. After the humiliation she'd suffered in the Rating Game, Runa had snapped and murdered Bedeze before killing herself.
Zekram set his wine to the side, folding his hands in his lap. The investigation matched with what he knew of events.
No one but Bedeze knew that Zekram had been the one to set the dominos falling. Bedeze certainly would have acted of his own volition at some point. Balthazar was too irritating to the man for him to leave him be forever, but Bedeze would have waited longer if Zekram had not given him the push he needed. After the Rating Game, Zekram was certain he'd made the right choice.
Balthazar had been revealed to the Underworld and the greater supernatural both. The enemies of Hell now knew that powerful young talent was on the rise. They would be cautious to make moves against the devils.
Balthazar was powerful. He had gathered exceptional servants around himself, great enough to earn even Zekram's respect. Medea of Colchis? The Colchian Dragon? Even the bastard Belial girl and that kasha. Worthy servants for a devil of such great potential.
Balthazar's potential was tied to the Bael house through Balthazar's ties to Magdaran. Zekram had initially believed Balthazar was using him for his connections and as a shield. He was not so sure now. If Balthazar genuinely cared for Magdaran, then Zekram needed to ensure that he had no reason to be at odds with the boy who would one day assume the title of Lord Bael.
Zekram had pushed the first domino that led to Balthazar's great reveal. He could not allow that fact to come to light. Only one other person knew Zekram was at all involved. Bedeze had never been a particularly great asset. Even after receiving the King Piece Zekram had been so gracious to bequeath upon him, he had only ever spread his influence in Rating Games. With his success and strength, he easily could have achieved all that Balthazar had and more, but he had been content with mediocrity.
Bedeze was a disappointment. Worse, he was now a loose end. Zekram needed him removed.
Imagine Zekram's surprise when his agent arrived at Bedeze's hovel only to find him already dead, murdered at the hands of his insane Queen. It was convenient, almost suspiciously so. The work was already done, but Zekram saw an opportunity to evaluate the potential of a young man Zekram was now sure would grow to be a pillar that would support the rest of the Underworld.
His agent photographed the violent scene and sent it to the agency currently holding an interview with Balthazar. Zekram watched the boy's reaction. He did not believe Balthazar had anything to do with the murder. His shock was too genuine. The slight hint of fear as he called out to his peerage and sister was too real.
Perhaps it really was as simple as it appeared then. Runa had gone insane and killed herself after murdering her King. It would make sense were it not for one glaring detail.
Zekram had ordered his agent to secure Bedeze's King PIece after his death to ensure its existence remained a secret. His agent did not retrieve the King Piece because it was gone. Playing a hunch, the agent had checked Runa's corpse as well. Like Bedeze's King PIece, her Queen Piece was missing.
This news was too important to allow anyone but himself to possess. His agent was destroyed by Zekram's power moments after reporting. Only Zekram knew of the missing pieces now. The Satans would likely learn of the missing Queen Piece when they examined Runa's body, but they had no reason to suspect Bedeze once held a King Piece.
Zekram had considered the problem. He believed he'd reached a conclusion as to what happened to the King Piece. The entire Underworld had been attempting to divine what Medea had done to Bedeze and Runa to cause them such distress. Zerkam believed he alone knew the truth.
Why the witch was interested in the pieces and how she learned of them was inconsequential. Judging by the lengths she went to to conceal her theft of them, she would keep them hidden from the general public. Medea would not have enchanted Runa's spear to drive her to murder herself and Bedeze if she wanted the story to be spread about the Underworld.
Zekram was not certain if she was operating under Balthazar's orders, but Balthazar would assuredly be aware of her activities. Perhaps not the murder, but he knew of the pieces. Zekram would watch him closely. For now, he felt confident allowing Balthazar to remain free. If he had wanted to display the King Piece's existence, he would have done it during the Rating Game when it would have been impossible to cover up the action. No, he wanted it for himself. Zekram could work with the young devil's greed. Removing Balthazar from the board would only weaken the future of the devils. He had no reason to remove the boy when he showed no signs of moving to expose Zekram's plots.
Balthazar was power-hungry. He had been devouring the land around him as he set up his business. He wanted his house to thrive. Zekram could help him. Zekram could make it trivial for Balthazar to achieve his ends. Zekram would leverage Balthazar's greed and drive, using them to turn the young Abaddon into the man Bedeze should have become. He would be a fine ally to serve Magdaran when he became Lord Bael.
Zekram would keep watching. When needed he would steer events in the correct direction. For now, he was content to let things unfold as they may. There was nothing connecting him to any unpleasantness with Balthazar, and he was now two steps ahead of the boy. Balthazar did not know that he knew about his theft of the King Piece. That would be a powerful tool to employ when the time was right.
Perhaps he would order a special-made item from Medea in the near-future? The item would be useful. More importantly, it would allow him to open a line of communication with Balthazar and his Queen both. The new Lord Abaddon was firmly aligned with the New Satans. It was not the worst possible outcome, but Zekram still desired to slowly erode their relationship. The King Piece presented a strong opportunity to do just that. It would take time, but he was patient.
X
A lone woman rested in a pool of still water. She lay naked, submerged beneath the pool, her eyes closed.
She was not sure how long she had remained here. Years at least. Once, she had a beautiful life full of love and joy. Those days were long behind her now. Time marched on. She lost that which she loved. She grew tired of it.
She'd come here, to this pool nestled in the bosom of a cave secluded from the wider world. Powerful magic was layered into the rock and water, obscuring her from the world outside. There were few who knew of her whereabouts.
It was better that way. She wanted to rest. The more people who knew of her, the more people who would attempt to bother her. Already, her restful slumber had been interrupted twice. Both times, her sister had tried to convince her to rejoin the world. Both times, her sister failed. She had no reason to return.
The water trembled around her. Her haven had been disturbed. Her eyes opened.
She rose up out of the water. Her lips parted in a gasp as she tasted air for the first time in years. Her dark hair drifted through the air behind her as she rose to stand atop the water. She frowned as she beheld her visitor.
"You." she said. The words felt strange in her mouth. She had not spoken in quite some time.
"Me." the woman agreed. She was short with a thin frame. Pink hair fell past pointed ears. Her shoulders were draped in a cloak of magical feathers that ruffled as the woman entered her haven. A golden staff tipped with a glowing stone stood proud in her hand. "Nice place."
"I am resting, Circe. Why have you come?" she asked the sister of the man she'd loved. Like all those she loved, her husband was lost to her so long ago.
The witch chuckled, tapping the bottom of her staff against the walls of her haven. "I'm sure you don't enjoy my company any more than I enjoy visiting your little hovel." Her smile faded into an uncertain frown. "But you deserve to know about this."
Circe reached into her robe. Circe's fingers came to rest around a strange block of material the woman atop the water had never seen before. Circe touched the device. A moving image appeared. Sound emanated from the device. The visage of a woman in a dark cloak could be seen on the tiny block.
"Your father is a storm? My mother is of the ocean itself. Your mother is a valkyrie? My father is a king. His father is the sun. My lineage is so thick with Titan blood that I could never be called mortal."
The woman's breath caught in her chest. Her eyes narrowed. The quiet pool beneath her bucked and roiled with her fury.
"You dare!" she bellowed, her voice becoming a screech. The light of her haven dimmed. The walls seemed to press down around the witch who thought to show her illusions such as these.
Circe did not move. "You've been out of touch for a while. The devils have started holding things they call Rating Games where people they reincarnate into devils can fight each other. Oh, right. You missed that too."
Circe did not seem the slightest bit threatened as the nude woman drifted through the air towards her. Her hair flicking violently in the air behind her. The water beneath her churned.
"Okay, quick summary: Devils can reincarnate people now to serve them and they sometimes fight each other. This was taken from the most recent Rating Game. It's got a lot of people up in arms. You have my word that this is genuine. I swear it on my magic."
The floating woman halted. She felt the force of Circe's words wash over her. The pool quieted beneath her. Light returned to the cave. Her feet returned to the water's surface.
Wordlessly, she reached out and took the strange thing. Circe let her pull it away with no resistance. The moment her fingers touched the alien object, she understood it. She knew its components. She understood its function. She understood the video it was showing her and where the video had been taken from. She felt hope swell in her chest.
The woman knelt, cradling the small phone close to her, eyes unmoving from the visage shown to her.
"My name is Medea. It is so good to prop…"
The rest of what Medea said faded, drowned out by the rushing sound of rushing water in the kneeling woman's ears. She paused the video, freezing it as the scrying spell looked beneath the hood of the dark cloak the figure wore. She could clearly see the face of the woman shown on the phone's screen. The lavender hair. The piercing, intelligent eyes. The pointed ears and cunning grin.
Idyia the Knowing Goddess felt tears trailing down her cheeks as she ran her fingers across the face of the woman in the still image.
"My daughter… You're alive."