14. Out-sight
"Help me understand, Kiba." Rias pronounced. "Your unchanging oath, does it mean anything to you?"
Akeno stood near, bent at the waist, pouring Rias a cup of green tea before moving aside. Koneko, Issei and Asia sat on the sofa across the room, quite as mice, and not a single wasted glance from all three. Anos himself took to leaning on the wall, unbothered. Eyes closed and arms folded, like nothing in this world could even attempt to try him.
The Knight knelt on a knee across from his King with the same dignity one might exercise before royalty rather than a friend since childhood.
Before now, Issei had been trying to talk some sense into him, but Kiba refuses to budge to him. At present, it was Rias' matter to deal with. She would be different.
He hadn't answered yet. "Kiba." She pressed.
"What do you want me to say, Buchou? My judgment was clouded over and I forgot myself in the presence of a holy blade, ruining our training," Kiba's voice had all the gentleness of a closed door, firmly locked with an audible click, "I'd rather forget today exists."
"And I'd have gladly let you," Rias spoke, "until you made me watch the attempted assassination of an innocent man who's done nothing wrong to you nor to anyone else in my peerage. Kiba, you attacked out of turn and would have been killed as a result. And I would have no way of condemning Anos in doing so because it would have been the fair thing to do."
Rias sighed, soothing her throat with her refreshment. She continues, voice not entirely unkind and noticeably more gentle.
"I don't fully begrudge you for handing your emotions over to the wayside, but you're my loyal servant. Except today, you weren't; I don't have a clue what you were. What's worse is that I, your King, had to beg on my knees on your behalf, in front of— almost— my entire peerage. Did you seek to embarrass me in such a way?"
There was no audible answer, just a lowered head and an exposed neck.
"And now you never had the choice about how or when to reveal your past to Issei and Asia both. Coupled with everything mentioned before, we're all a day short on training. All of this could have been avoided if you'd just applied a little more restrain. That's why I'm angry."
Again, nothing.
"Say something," she ordered, "Do you all of a sudden not trust me?"
"...With all due respect, Buchou, It's not about trust," Kiba finally spoke, his voice hard with a noticeable sting in his eyes. When he spoke again, the tone was subdued. "It happened because I was weak. Me, you did nothing wrong, nor did senpai. I thought I could control myself. I was wrong."
Rias reached over, laying a hand to Kiba's shoulder. "You're not weak, Kiba. Far from it. I've known you to be strong when we first met. And while I'd have preferred not to punish you, I can't completely excuse your actions."
Kiba stared down into his lap. It was hard to say what was more mordant: this whole situation itself, or the way it made everyone present ache. Well, almost everyone.
"Apologize to Anos. After which will I have made up my mind."
Kiba's nod of affirmation seemed cruel.
Silence reigned on the rise when the blonde went to approach Anos with all the humility and meekness of child caught in their own inexperience.
And Anos, fittingly, is a phenomenal listener. In the natural light of the open window not far off from him, he cracks a single eye open and glances over, it seemed the scarlet of his eye had shone slightly. The weight of his attention is almost physical, as if, for as long as he deems it, Kiba breathes only because he wills it.
The Knight takes exactly ten careful steps before falling to his knees with his head pressed to the floor in a kowtow. Anos nearly laughs at how serious he is.
"I am so, so sorry, senpai. I was a fool. I know what I've done is unforgivable but if there is anything I can do to earn your—"
"You're forgiven."
"!?"
Kiba flinches back as if Anos had slapped him. In fact, everyone reacts similarly; wincing at those simple words.
The blonde looks up, in his forgivers eyes, a look that roughly translated to: Did you misspeak?
"I do not think you a fool, Kiba." Anos says, before anyone can even begin to think. "Just that you can be foolish. And I would prefer not to see you lost or led astray because of it."
"But I tried to murder you simply because I—"
"I'm being permissible with you so listen and let me finish." Anos says and continues, perfectly cutting off the servant in a manner that is far too deliberate.
"If I held more drama than sense then I would take offense. However, you've already burdened yourself with the mistake and sullied your honor as a Knight. That is punishment enough," Anos catches Rias' glance, "as I see it."
The greatness in Anos is that he's comfortable.
It makes it easy to forget they and he, live very different lives.
"I have high hopes for you and your friends," Anos unfolds his arms, fully turning to the kneeling blonde as he speaks, "so before this infighting among friends prolongs itself any further, I'll end any grievances myself. This trifle is a waste of time after all."
Striking the unforgivable with the unforeseeable— that didn't stop Rias from folding her arms and huffing audibly. The tone in her voice matched her youthful appearance. "Should I chalk this decision up to your boundless experience, Anos?"
Anos smiled at the obvious gibe before easily replying, "As if I could upstage the radiance of a King such as yourself. Although my decision was made with your best interest in mind."
His own gibe, even someone like Issei could see that, but underneath was light honesty. Rias felt her arms loosen, relaxing. There it was again, the way Anos made her chest tighten. Not with shock. Not with anger. But something.
"That's so very like you, Anos," Akeno chimed in. The shift in mood brightening the room a tad.
"Seems I'm spending too much time around you." Anos jested, forming a smile for the Queen. He became more stoic after which, toward the still kneeling Knight.
"I am not your keeper, nor master; you do not answer to me. However, do not think my forgiveness is so cheap. If you're determined to atone then you'll have to work very hard for Rias."
"I... understand." Came the blonde's reply.
Then, Rias sees it; what Anos was doing.
He didn't try to erase what happened, nor what Kiba was. He'd just redirect it. Turned that chaos into control, maybe even purpose.
To Anos, it wasn't so much as forgiveness, but the act of bettering— improving. Kiba made a mistake, no one denied that. The Knight's own admission of it being because he was weak made that much clear, so turning Kiba's own shortcomings into a drive for strength would do far more than any plain punishment.
She smiles in quiet amusement. One day she'll see how Anos does it, even if she has to invent a scenario for it first.
Straightening herself up, Rias places a hand to her hip, standing and addressing her Knight anew.
"Once more, Kiba. I'll ask you." she says, until he's kneeling in front of her again, awaiting her words. The ones that could make or break him.
"Am I your King, Kiba?"
"Yes, Buchou."
"Would you forsake me in any way?"
"Never."
For some time, she simply stared at him. "Keep those words in mind as you solemnly swear to never disappoint me again."
Kiba said his vows the instant he could, swearing up to the heights of Heaven and down to the depths of the Underworld, all to reclaim the right to serve Rias once more.
Throughout it all, Anos kept his touchstone smirk, one to disclose that his expectations were fulfilled.
Back in his former life as the Demon King, there would be no shortage of his subjects who would have fell on their own sword if he ordered it so. Many Demons would have died in Anos' name if need be.
Madness -- some would call it, but it was also loyalty, and the latter is exactly why Anos himself would gladly do the same.
It was rumors and half truths all over; benevolent to his people, tyrannical to everyone else.
It is what he sees in Rias and her peerage.
A part of Anos wondered at times. How accurate would his stories be in the two thousand years of his absence? It couldn't be anything major, he assumed, so for now he'll refocus his thoughts and draw his attention to the red glow that manifests and sprawls across the ORC's marvel floor.
Anos lulls his cherry eyes to its formation. Everyone else follows suit. Soon a symbol is visible and... this should be interesting because Anos isn't fully aware who it is.
The light ceased to be and there was only the chilling breeze.
—————
Two great doors were wide and away opened. The dim orange evening light tinted the green that surrounded what lay past the entrance. A light warm breeze fluttered the leaves and the flowers, and it whispered through, brushing the shoulders like tiny curtains.
The garden stretched further than one could see. Only a few pieces of furniture were set among the abundant flora.
It was all so mesmerizing, at least if you were to ask its current three inhabitants.
Two Satans— a crimson-haired man adorning the armor of a monarch, he sat with one leg over the other. His left arm propping up his chin as he rested his elbow to the arm rest. Twin verdant eyes focused off into the distance.
The woman befit in her green attire, barely on the edge of what could be considered formal, sat with him. Reaching over to an opaque table laid out before them, containing bowls of fruits and plates of teas and desserts. A beautiful crimson pitcher contained their wine, with two jade goblets sitting aside.
The two were not lounging per se but certainly had they took it upon themselves to get comfortable on a lavish couch at both their respective ends. Off to the nearside was another devil, a woman with silver locks and a maid outfit. She stood a few strides from the table, silent, eyes closed as if meditating but face staring ahead at the display.
The extravagant devil monarch of red drew in a deep breath through his nose and made a low noise to the back of his throat.
"Why won't they let us dote on them anymore?" Sirzechs, Lord Lucifer himself, all of sudden vocal in his askance, as if it weighed heavy on his mind.
Serafall seemed to agree. Face contorted into a sour pout, crossed. Sirzechs looked apologetic when lulling his eyes at his fellow Satan— whose mild visage seeped into the air.
The Leviathan had adorned the scorn of a thousand women when factoring her lack of visitation from her younger sister— despite being in the Underworld for some time now— and now she had been ready to leave within the hours. She was only given one visitation, one. Why did Sona avoid her as if she were the plague?
"Aaaahhh— you get it too! My sweet So-tan, she's so mean...! I miss when she was little, she'd never leave my side... we were inseparable!"
Sirzechs felt his easygoing smile threaten a frown. "I sympathize with you well. I had been Rias' greatest idol. As of late, she seems to want nothing to do with me."
Two of the four Satan's shared their grievances. It was a strange life being them, power beyond most measurement, age recorded in centuries, intelligence and charisma at its highest level, and yet — all that does is fit them amongst the billions with feelings and emotions.
Sometimes simply getting asked about your day mattered to someone; devil or otherwise.
For now, Sirzechs carried the conversation, hustling away from the current topic and shifting its core. "So, I take it you've put a break to stalking Sona's fiancée? Voldi-kun was it?" he mused.
"Anos Voldigoad," She says, flush gracing her face in memory of his lengthy... tool, "odd name for a human aside. He seems very knowledgeable about the rules of devil society. And he has some sort of mutual interest with Rias and So-tan both."
Sirzechs gave his fellow Satan an off-center look.
The Leviathan had her ways to watch over this person of interest, but it all came back pretty normal.
Anos did nothing but regular student work in tandem with managing a restaurant. He never even gave a hint of the mage-like powers she knows he had, he completely blended in. A perfect actor – Serafall almost felt it appropriate to giggle, reminiscing on her Levia-tan role and how she fell into it so seamlessly.
"From the little So-tan has told me, he's savvy and very perceptive. From what Rias tells her, he's strong." Serafall finished, cheshire grin; innocent perhaps? One could hope, "the two are also smitten with him, Akeno too~"
Focusing on the former claim, Sirzechs voiced an inquiry, "Rias noted his strength? Did she gauge it in any way?"
A mere man being noted as strong in the eyes of a devil was a rare sight. A Sacred Gear perhaps... if the Lord Lucifer himself could rationalize it.
"He's stronger than Rias and Sona both— including their peerages— combined. At least, that is what your sister theorizes." Serafall marked the look of surprise on Sirzechs visage.
"And you say he's mutually involved with our sisters?" A single nod affirms the thought; how... fascinating.
"Don't tell me you're thinking about getting involved." Serafall eyes him, poking him on his armor chest plate also, "Rias really likes him, and you've already lost speaking terms with her. She would never forgive you for intruding now."
Sirzechs leaned forward, removing his back from the sofa, less comfortable; more professional. "Then I won't. Not directly at the very least."
"Oh, what's this, Sirzechs-chan~? Are you jealous?"
"Of course I am." A frown took his features. "Rias isn't some woman he can lay his hand on; she's my sister. However," He sighs aloud, "if she regards this Anos character in such a way... I will recognize my place and stay out of her personal affairs. She's grown."
Serafall simpered at the crimson monarch before raising the goblet from the table to her mischievous little lips that never went anywhere simple, a sip later, she replies, "So what do you have in mind?"
"Sona and her peerage intend to leave for Kuoh no later than today, is that right?" The Lord Lucifer remarks.
Serafall's pout donned a few tugs at the reminder. Her mouth stretching down. She answered nevertheless. "She's already left."
Not what Sirzechs wanted to hear but there could be graver news he supposes. "Pity."
The title of Lucifer came with a lot of planning, scheming and plenty of decisions that Sirzechs wouldn't force upon anyone unless as some backwards form of torture, that's why he won't approach this in any manner short of delicate.
Maybe he could use this man who warmed his way to his sister's heart. His smile was tight, lips curling into something too forced to be called friendly.
Moving a hand, Sirzechs transmuted particles of the magic in the air into a piece of parchment; a quill and papyrus. Producing short strokes with the former onto the latter, then he produced an envelope, folding it and securing it in hand.
"Grayfia," Sirzechs called.
"Lord Lucifer," Grayfia had already set herself at his side, crossing from far across the open garden. Her voice brought him a strange comfort.
"Inform my little cutie on the recent events involving Phenex, hand her this letter, and tell her that her Onii-sama misses her dearly." Sirzechs declared, he hated ordering Grayfia, but she was stubborn in her duties, with an odd desire to serve; both came in equal measure, "One last thing, this Anos. If you can do so, get him to act in a way that proves his value to Rias. I need to know the company she keeps."
A nod, a reach and then a bow later, the familiar red symbol sprawled to the floor representing the house of Gremory, the lights danced away along with Grayfia.
"We should be on our way ourselves, Serafall." Sirzechs advised, abandoning his seat as Serafall followed suit. "Zekram won't await us any further."
—————
This whole day was so odd. Issei in particular noted this to himself, Asia stuck close to him, looking with eyes of curiosity, Issei shared the same look. It had been one thing after the other — one person after the other.
From Kiba to... this; seriously, again, why is it that every single woman in the supernatural world so supernaturally beautiful? Ahhh— silly question.
Although, Buchou hadn't stopped putting to question with her arrival; the silver-haired maid called Grayfia -- if he heard right. This Grayfia kept her answers to one word a piece. And eventually Buchou's annoyed uproar seemed to die down, just enough so — what hasn't died down is Grayfia's gaze, sliding to senpai.
She didn't blink, didn't speak, just held Anos' eyes, expression so still it felt like a challenge. Even Buchou's irritated-finger tapping to her office desk slowed, and slowly, almost everyone realized what was happening.
"Grayfia?" Rias spoke up before anyone else.
"Lady Rias," Grayfia addresses the Gremory, her voice, tone level. Her eyes did not leave Anos, neither did he leave hers.
"For reasons I cannot fathom, why are you holding such a look, Grayfia?" Rias spoke smoothly, as if lines practiced.
"Simply put, I can't help but be intrigued at the only human amongst you, Lady Rias," Grayfia remarks, slow and deliberate.
Grayfia held onto Anos with a curious look.
"Who are you? And what do you want with the little sister of Lord Lucifer?" The skepticism was clear.
"Now, Grayfia." Rias was quick to begin but Anos was quicker.
"If there is deception in your court, Rias," He said, eyes of cerise look upon the maid faintly, "this woman who pledges her loyalty to your House– and who feels compelled to expose it, should."
"She has no right!" Rias retorted.
"I have every right under Lord Lucifer's instructions." Grayfia spoke dutifully.
"...So," There was a certain spark in her turquoise eyes that came and went, it left them lackluster, "Onii-sama did send you..."
Anos arches an eyebrow at the reaction. Ah, he gets it. The snippy attitude made a little more sense now. He cracked a smile that Grayfia swiftly accounts.
"Is there something you find humorous?"
"Nothing you and I would share a laugh over, no. Though it seems the House of Gremory certainly doesn't have a very high opinion of Rias now, do they?" Anos mocked, the maid's eyes narrowed strictly. "But if you must know, I'm her friend and sworn associate."
"Sworn associate?" Grayfia did not look too amused, "Do you truly believe a mere man can aide a devil in any way that matters— especially one related to one of the four current Satans?"
"Do you really believe that to be true? What nonsense." He says lightly.
Grayfia's eyes flashed with something, "Oh? So when confronted with an adversary who far outclasses your capabilities—"
"No such person exists."
Grayfia scrutinized her icy gaze, she looked offended, yet... enticed. "You are quite outspoken."
"And you know politeness well." Anos remarks with a smirk, honest. "If you'd like, I could show you a glimpse of my best magic. Anything more and the destruction of this world is all but guaranteed."
Her eyes narrowed at this response, obviously displeased at those words. Destruction of the world? That was God's domain. And this man before her was certainly no God.
So who was he to boast such perfect arrogance?
"I don't take kindly to those who jest so openly." The silver-haired devil — one who was hailed as The Strongest Queen — wasn't going to be swayed by words alone, no matter how well placed or well spoken.
"What are you misunderstanding? I'm saying that I don't want to be held responsible for the destruction of this world." The reincarnated man assuredly exclaims.
He didn't want to destroy the world. He lived here for the time being, after all.
"You casually claim to do something that is quite unreasonable, so forgive me for having my doubts," Grayfia didn't know what to feel under Anos' gaze. Even her stoic confidence slightly dwindled in the face of those eyes of his.
Anos' smile edged an inch higher at the maid. Gladly would he shatter the doubts that she so desperately held onto. He slowly held up his hand. Within seconds, countless tiny black particles rose within his grip and what could only be described as a miniature four-dimensional magic circle hovered in his palm.
The magic accumulated in his hand was already greater than even an Ultimate-Class Devil but that wasn't the end. Not even close.
The group of devils starred, awestruck and deeply frightened by the dense and potent magic power. Magic that threatened to suffocate and consume every devil in this room, but most of all, it wanted to destroy everything.
Issei's Sacred Gear reflexively activated at said energy as he practically jumped in front of Asia to defend her. Form what? Who knows.
Kiba's Sword Birth was at his side in an instant. Koneko's hidden nekoshou heritage screamed at her, warning signs like mad. Akeno and Rias both felt the involuntary unfurling of their wings. The latter felt something similar to this on the first night of their meeting, but not to this scale.
The most powerful among them -- Grayfia felt her eyes were wider than before.
Their minds screamed at their body to move, but their souls ignored every command. Perhaps even the depths of the source told them so.
Pandemonium on Earth was near -- is what this destructive energy pronounced. Outside the old building, overhead in the parted clouds, lower to the area where the rivers dried up, the uprooting of the trees, earthquakes rising forth from unlikely places precisely as mountaintops compress into pebbles. Oh how fragile these little things were.
"Alright, this time I'm going to dial it up a bit." Anos' words stunned them all to a prolonged silence.
As if hovering in his palm was the universe itself in the form of a magic circle; his magic grew, and within that single moment of growth had the real effect begun.
Earth itself would remain relatively fine as imperceptible ripples of destructive magic shot above the sky, off into deep, deep space, the traces radiating from Anos' condensed source manifested throughout the very world.
Spatial distortions soundlessly echo throughout every corner of the universe, countless light years away do the crumbling of celestial bodies occur: whole planets tremble before star systems collapse, the turn of whole galaxies become scarily still before a myriad of clusters spiral into naught. For a singular moment, the entire observable universe and the infinite darkness beyond— as if in protest— shook.
Finally having his fill, Anos suppressed the magic in his palm before closing his hand fully. The wisps of his power ceased and all the energy in the room quickly dwindled before vanishing without a trace. Not a single speck of magic could be found and no more leaked from the outside.
In order to lower the influence of his destructive magic from causing universal Armageddon. The reincarnated man - who could destroy so thoroughly that not even the memory would remain - closed off his range from Heaven, the Underworld, and any other dimension in the totality of this creation.
Pity that no one on Earth could truly feel nor appreciate the cosmic significance and restraint that came alongside it. In Anos' actions, not even the devils in the room knew, and they were at the direct epicenter.
Although— particularly those who shared the King and Queen pieces of the peerage caught onto something. In a single instance, one thing was certain; Anos had far surpassed all four Satans.
His earlier claims now felt much less impossible.
Grayfia herself took it the heaviest. Anos' showcase made her feel pitiful. For comparison's sake, Rias' current strongest offensive-magic could destroy the better part of a town; Grayfia's own would do the same to that of a continent, and she herself is far weaker than some of the monsters that exist.
The Strongest Queen speculates this man before her could fatally wound the world itself.
"Curious, are you some manner of deity?" The question came unbidden, Grayfia had alluded to the most powerful deity she could.
"Good guess, but that Hebrew deity, and those who claim to follow him, have nothing to do with me." Anos dispelled that notion.
"Then perhaps, the reincarnation of some ancient existence?"
"That's certainly a possibility," answered Anos; still absorbing the awestricken looks of all in attendance. Truly amusing to the once Demon now man. He'd covet to keep a picture of their faces if his memory wasn't already faultless.
"I see." The maid seemed to have accepted the response. Lips pressed thin. Her eyes bore a greater interest in Anos.
Of course, it's not likely that even if he was an incarnation, would he even be aware of such. Without the devil's magic system, reincarnation was more traditional; he likely wouldn't have his previous memories.
Oh to be so wistfully wrong.
Besides, Grayfia doubts any Evil Piece Ajuka could create wouldn't be able to tie down this man. Mutation Piece or otherwise.
Ophis springs to mind -- she probably hasn't bothered learning anything on how she herself came to be so fearsome that she could even make God wary. Why would she need to? When you are so absurdly, incomprehensibly powerful that you could vanish the creator of the world, you are not misunderstood by anyone but you aren't exactly required to know more than what you are.
A part of the maid eased. According to the Leviathan, Anos had no ill will to her or anyone here.
That was good enough for the maid. It's enlightened self-interest, for her husband at least; if someone as powerful as the man before her was even just neutral to her fellow devils, it was by all means a small victory.
"Let it be my turn to inquire something," Anos' smirk was a touch charming in that moment, "Was acting so militant some form of test from Lord Lucifer?"
Grayfia looks to deflect; Anos would not let her.
"I'm not a blind man nor a fool. Did he ask you to test my abilities? Worth?"
"The Leviathan was right, how perceptive you are." The maid explained, milky hands searching her inside pocket before producing a thick envelope. "It is as you say, that is indeed the case. But I am here for a more personal reason."
The maid's gaze leaves Anos and fixes itself to Rias.
The crimson King finding everything within herself to separate her eyes from Anos to spin them to Grayfia. Walking forward, Rias held it to the maid's every step, even as the envelope fell into her hands. And as regal as Rias could be, she found herself not caring to open the envelope with any grace.
First she read it quietly to herself, after which she glared at the letter, then she atomized it.
Of all the things in the world.
Akeno was the first to break out of her previous stupor, right now her King took priority, "Buchou," the black haired beauty said, "what did it say?"
"The wedding date was pushed forward, way ahead of schedule." Rias' voice was... not kind. "Again."
"But I thought..." Akeno briefly glanced at Grayfia, no words spoken from her, eyes closed. The Himejima felt a pit in her stomach for her King, she puts her eyes to Rias again. "How much time do we have?"
"Not nearly enough." Rias felt her visage burning into Grayfia's figure. The young devil felt hurt, betrayed, not by just the maid, but her own family.
"So when is he arriving?" Rias' tongue was a tongue dipped in poison.
And as if fate itself spun its own humor, the temperature in the room rose, flickers of light emerged from the magic circle in the ORC. Even just the weight of the embers bathed the skin like the afternoon sun. It soon ignited, bursting forward like fireworks before producing the silhouette of a man.
When he swung his arm across to the side, the flames disappeared and the heat receded from the drama-filled display.
"Fuu, it's been quite a while since I last came to the human world." This new arrival announced. Hmm, confident? No, arrogant. Not charming like a certain someone, not in the least.
He looked around, everything looked to bore him until spotting Rias, he smiled. "Rias my love, I have come for you at last."