Chapter 15
"And that there, in the back, is my grandmother, Lady Chysis Gremory. She was the ruling duchess of our house before vesting that power to my father," Rias said, pointing towards a very young-looking devil with the same crimson hair that Rias had. But aside from that shared similarity, Rias and she did not look much alike.
Apparently Rias took more after her mother in her facial structure; Venelana Gremory was a Bael by birth, and Rias seemed to inherit her facial traits. Though the sea-green eyes and crimson hair were what identified her as the daughter of Zeoticus, the current Duke of Gremory and Rias' father.
Meeting both of her parents was an interesting experience. Rias was still clearly miffed by the recent events of her unfortunate betrothal, but her parents seemed to consider the matter already closed. Power, it seemed, reigned supreme in the devil society. When Rias proved her own power by defeating Riser's peerage in the Rating Game, her parents took that as an equitable solution to the betrothal, and at least from a glance when we met them, they acted like nothing spectacular had happened.
Before Rias could point out to me anymore of her relatives, a polite cough introduced another person to our conversation.
We turned and saw a very young and beautiful-looking blonde woman. That, of course, didn't mean anything; just a moment ago, Rias had pointed to her grandmother. A woman who looked to be in her twenties but could have possibly met Arthur Pendragon, so judging devils' age by their looks alone was nonsense.
"Lady Phenex, good evening, it is a pleasure to see you again," Rias said in greeting to the now identified Lady Phenex, mother of Riser and Ravel.
"Young Rias, it is wonderful to see how beautiful you have grown; every day you remind me more and more of young Venelana and Zeoticus."
"Thank you, my lady," replied Rias, gesturing towards me. "Please, let me introduce to you Kairos, a pawn in my peerage."
"A pleasure to meet you, Lady Phenex," I said, giving a half bow just like Lady Grayfia instructed me briefly before attending this gathering.
"It is good to see you in person, young man. I must confess, when I saw you battle my son, I couldn't help but be impressed. Although the last few moments were painful for a mother to watch; you must surely understand."
I looked to Rias, but she gave me a slight nod, so I decided to answer myself, as Rias seemed content for me to handle this.
"I must admit, before the Rating Game, much of our preparation was focused on how to deal with the famous Phenex Clan trait, so we could not afford any half measures. As to what I am assuming you refer to, during the last stages of the battle, when my master had the opportunity to injure Riser with her Power of Destruction … well, we weren't sure if Riser would not suffer permanent damage, given his already exhausted ability to heal his wounds, so we thought it was better to cause damage that, while painful, could still be healed with conventional measures."
"A reasonable concern, it is good that you think of such things. It shows your maturity and foresight," said Lady Phenex before turning to Rias. "Young Rias, hang on to your peerage and take good care of them; you seem to have collected a group of dedicated young men and women to your side."
I noted how the Phenex Matriarch did not confirm or deny what would have been the case with the Phenex healing and Power of Destruction once the Phenex ability was brought to its limit. Clearly, she was trying to preserve the advantage of knowing the exact workings of the healing abilities to herself.
"Now, Rias, I cannot say I am thrilled with the outcome; your parents and I held out hope that you and Riser would have found a way to make this marriage work."
Before Rias could open her mouth to say something, Lady Phenex continued.
"However, I see now that perhaps we may have been too hasty in trying to lead our children's lives. You seem like a capable young woman; you will surely find your own way in the world."
"Thank you, Lady Phenex."
"Now, I would like to again congratulate you on your victory. I hope our houses can continue their amicable relationship. It would please me if you would speak to Riser before you depart back to the human world, if only for closure."
"…of course, Lady Phenex, I shall do so."
"Thank you, I will leave you to enjoy the reception; other interests call for my attention. I bid you good day, Rias, Red Dragon Emperor," said Lady Phenex, and with a small bow of her head, she departed.
/Break
Riser Phenex was not sulking, and he was certainly not moping. Was he smarting from his defeat? Well, yes. Who wouldn't? To be defeated by someone who never fought a single rating game, her peerage untested, and some of them even newly reincarnated.
There were many reasons for Riser to be annoyed at his loss. Alas, he was a high-class devil, just as Rias was, so any defeat had to be taken with grace. His brother Ruval always told him to be humble in victory and gracious in defeat. The problem was that while showing humility in victory was an easy thing to do with his peers, a defeat was not a fruit he tasted often, especially to an unproved devil such as Rias.
"Brother, do you think the Red Dragon Emperor will stay his anger at me?" The voice of his sister brought Riser from his pensive thoughts.
"Worry not, Ravel; the Gremory Pawn will surely appreciate the kindness you extended to Rias's peerage."
His sister worried too much.
Ravel looked down to her feet; her head hung in dejection. "I failed you, brother. If only I had more courage, I could have stalled the Red Dragon Emperor, and you could have won against Lady Rias, I am sure of it."
"You did well, Ravel; what is done is done. Never think I blame you for what happened."
Riser sighed lightly. Ravel was blaming herself for the loss and worrying about Rias' pawn in equal measure. He could see how she would arrive at those conclusions.
When he watched the Rating Game recordings, he took his time to focus on Kairos, Rias' new pawn. While the young devil still has room to grow, the power he displayed was impressive. Riser was sure the Red Dragon Emperor would sweep the underworld once he was properly introduced to their society. Rias' star would surely rise along with it.
Red Dragon Emperor's personal power aside, the way the Gremory peerage managed to work effectively together was what ultimately won them the match. Riser was sure if he had more information on their abilities, just like they had on his peerage, he would have prevailed. But the past was the past, and it would not change the present.
Seeing his mother approach from her talk with his now former betrothed and the man who occupied his thoughts, he gestured for Ravel to pay attention.
"Riser, Ravel, I have spoken with young Rias and the Red Dragon Emperor; it appears they are well disposed towards you despite the Rating Game," she said as she looked towards Riser, the calm eyes of the Phenex matriarch burrowing into her youngest son. "It would be good if you would speak to them yourself. The marriage is now lost, but there is no reason to alienate ourselves from the House of Gremory; be sure to be on your best behaviour."
She paused slightly, looking to her only daughter. "Ravel, it was good that you followed my advice with the Phenex Tear; ingratiating yourself to that man may be to your advantage in the future."
After the Rating Game ended, Riser learned that his mother advised Ravel to gift a Phenex Tear to heal any injuries from the Rating Game. The matriarch of the Phenex clan was a shrewd woman, and seeing a new Longinus-wielding devil appear in the peerage of her friend's daughter, she made sure that their own house would be on good terms with the Gremory clan. Devils lived too long for small things like broken betrothals to sour relations centuries into the future; at least that was her argument.
"They are coming here now," said Lady Phenex without looking back to the approaching Rias and her Pawn. "Be on your best behaviour, I shall go speak with Venelana and Zeoticus now, take care my children."
With her piece said, Lady Phenex left, leaving Riser and Ravel to deal with the incoming devils.
Riser still remembered the insult the Gremory Pawn gave him on their first meeting. His own bruised pride aside, it was well done. If there was one thing he could be sure on, it was that Kairos of the Gremory would not bring shame on Rias when dealing with devil nobility, a problem many a young reincarnated devils faced in their early years.
Putting on his best smile, trying to hide the taste of defeat from his features, Riser approached them as they came closer.
"Rias, Red Dragon Emperor, I would like to formally offer my congratulations on your victory. It was a good match, and the Gremory peerage had a good showing," Riser said with a very slight bow of his head.
Rias lost half a step in her stride, but she seemed to recover quickly. "Riser … Yes, thank you. I hope we can now put this behind us. I would enjoy a proper rating game in the future, once I properly debut with others of my generation."
Before he could make a reply, his sister interrupted the unspoken ceremony of two nobles congratulating each other and offering good fortunes, be they victor or the defeated.
"Lord Red Dragon Emperor, I hope my gift proves my sincerity, and I hope cordial relations can exist between House Phenex and Lady Gremory and yourself."
His sister was overdoing it, the sheepish look on the Gremory Pawn clearly confirming how that man was also unsure what Ravel was doing.
In the recording, Riser saw what Kairos did to Ravel; most likely the young devil did not know it himself, but it was a popular prank older devils like to do during a Rating Game with their younger counterparts. He still remembered heiress Valac terrifying poor young Parslaz Satanchia, making him retire from the entire game. The same thing happening to Ravel was a good teaching moment, even if it may have lost them the match.
The Gremory Pawn appeared to be in a jovial mood, and chose to humour his sister. "It is no matter, Lady Phenex; please know that we are very grateful for your gift. I also wished to apologise to you; frightening you was not something I took joy in, rest assured."
"I see, that is good. Thank you, Lord Red Dragon Emperor. I, Ravel Phenex, accept your apology."
"Just Kairos is fine."
"Lord Kairos then."
…
Riser nudged Ravel slightly, making her jump before nodding at him. "I actually had something I wished to give you, Lord Kairos. As you most likely know, per the rules of the Rating Game, two Phenex Tears are allowed for any Peerage. Since we were unable to use either of the two we brought to the game, I gifted one to Lady Rias to heal any wounds. That was the tear of my brother's queen; the other one I had myself. I would like to gift it to you in recognition of your debut in rating games and as proof of friendship from House Phenex," said Ravel, extending an ornate container with the Tear.
"That is a great gift, Lady Ravel; now I am really feeling bad for frightening you."
Ravel blushed red. "It is no worries; I shall use this moment to grow stronger. My brother always tells me to not show fear, though it is harder to follow sometimes, but he says fear is the mind killer."
A piece of eternal wisdom, thought Riser, and nodded his head at Ravel. Glad she remembered an important piece of wisdom he, as an older brother, imparted on her.
What surprised Riser was how Rias' pawn suddenly jerked his head at Ravel's words.
What surprised him even more were the next words Kairos uttered.
"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration."
Riser's attention was laser-focused on the man opposite him.
A man of culture!
Riser spoke the rest of the litany himself.
"I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone, there will be nothing. Only I will remain."
Ravel stared at Kairos herself in wonder. "You know brother Riser's wisdom?"
Rias herself was looking between Riser and Kairos with an odd expression on her face.
Riser grinned at the Pawn.
"I had an inkling, but I could not be sure if it was a coincidence or not. When I rewatched the Rating Game, I heard the name of your sword. Now I know."
Kairos himself grinned back at the Phenex scion.
"It was not a perfect fit unfortunately, but I encapsulated the difference in the battle cry."
"Yes, you are the Red Dragon, with Ancalagon being the Black one, but what of the Golden one?"
"It is slightly different, but I am afraid I must disappoint you; we all have our secrets, and this one is not something I am able to share."
"Of course, of course, secrets are important; I shall not pry," said Riser, still grinning at the Gremory Pawn. "It was a shame no Vingilot came to save the day for me."
"I was actually wondering about that. I saw little of the devil underworld, but I imagine a construct like that would be possible with magic, would it not?"
Still grinning, Riser answered the question, enthusiasm clear in his voice.
"You are 50 years too late with that idea; Lady Belial already has a flying ship under that name, and I heard a rumour that the Governor-General of the Grigori has something similar. Did you know that he even tried recreating a Silmaril? I would give a fortune to have a look at it; some say he sails on it in the Fallen portion of the Underworld, but no one has been able to confirm the rumour."
The widening of his eyes and the animated way he spoke next persuaded Riser that Kairos of the Gremory peerage was indeed a worthy man of culture.
"Incredible. I wonder if it's possible to meet with anyone who met the professor."
Riser nodded, knowing exactly what Kairos was talking about.
"I know a devil, Marbog Nebiros; he swears he wanted to offer him a place in his own peerage, but he did not yet have his Evil Pieces; he was only a middle-class devil then. By the time he became high-class, the professor had unfortunately passed, a loss felt keenly for the educated of the underworld."
"Truly a shame then."
"Here, let me show you to the refreshment table; we can get something good to drink, and we can discuss some more."
"It would be my pleasure; lead the way, Lord Riser."
"Just Riser is fine. Come along; I saw 1256 Artelas Whisky, it must be from Lord Gremory's own stock. Let us conduct a raid."
"Forward then."
Taking Kairos by the shoulder, Riser could faintly hear his former betrothed speak to Ravel in a faint voice full of disbelief.
"What in Lucifer's name is happening?"
AN: Little Lord of the Rings joke. I like to think that while Rias is a Japanese geek, Riser is someone who enjoys different human works. The refences made by him and Kairos are specifically to Frank Herbert's Dune and J.R.R Tolkien's Silmarillion. There is also Seekvaira Agares who is Mecha fan, so I think it fits into the running joke with the Noble Devils.