{Evening, Devil's Meeting Assembly of Lucifaad}
With the resurrection of the Houses of Barbatos and Valefar, it brought back most of the historical records. And from that, I decided to change a few known traditions.
Like the house colors. Valefar was gold, Barbatos was purple.
Instead of sticking to one, I merged them both. That's what everyone saw at my Lordship event — purple and gold together, complementing each other perfectly. Even Ingvild's dress looked stunning.
I'd made plenty of suits in that style, but Ingvild had a whole designer wardrobe — courtesy of the Gremorys.
I should probably get more designs made in the same color scheme.
Anyway, we were seated in the meeting room. Ingvild was beside me, just as every lady sat beside their lord. In my case, it was my queen since I had no significant other.
This was one of those events where partners joined instead of just the lords of each house.
All the major pillars were present, along with some prominent lesser demons and the Bael progenitor, Zekram. Until now, I hadn't seen any of the other progenitors of the pillars — only him.
Looking around, I saw the Satans at one end of the table, Zekram at the other. Two empty seats were placed next to him, but they didn't stay empty for long.
At least not after he made the announcement.
"Considering all the devil heads are here, including the Satans, it should be fine to invite the representatives of the two sides," Zekram said as two magic circles flared behind him. "You two may enter."
The circles were intricate and very different from devil designs. One glowed golden with black edges, the other maroon with purple highlights.
From each, a figure stepped out.
The golden circle revealed a woman with short blonde hair, cut a bit rough so that parts of it jutted out in sharp strands. Paired with her striking red eyes, she had a look that caught attention immediately. She seemed close to my age — maybe a year or two older — and more than pretty.
The maroon circle revealed someone else entirely. Where the first carried mature beauty, this one had a cute, almost doll-like appeal. Shorter in height, elegant, fragile-looking. She was blonde as well, but with a lighter shade, and her red eyes were just a little darker.
"These two are the representatives of the major vampire factions," Zekram introduced. "To my right is the representative of the Tepes Faction, Valerie Tepes, daughter of King Tepes."
[Race: Dhampir (Human–Vampire Hybrid)]
[Rank: High-Class]
Being half-human is what gave her the Longinus.
"And on my left is the representative of the Carmilla faction, Elmenhilde Karnstein, of the noble vampire house Karnstein."
[Race: Pure-Blood Vampire]
[Rank: High-Class]
Elmenhilde… I know I've heard that name before, but I just can't remember where.
"Please, take your seats," Zekram said, pointing to the chairs on either side of him. Both girls sat with practiced elegance.
They were nobles, after all.
As they did, the lords and ladies began flipping through the files laid out before them.
Two things were placed in front of us — a massive file and a digital pad. Most younger devils picked the tablet, while the older ones stuck with the file.
Ingvild took the tablet. Despite being more than comfortable with digital media, I chose the file. Simply because I liked the texture of paper.
It had some interesting information, enough to make almost every devil around us visibly anxious.
Except me.
"Now, I believe everyone is aware of the reason for this gathering," Zekram said, his words making the devils nod. "And while unfortunate, it is a situation we must address."
The real question was how. I kept quiet, waiting to see how things unfolded.
"Before we present our stance, I would like the two representatives to share theirs," Zekram continued, face steady despite the subject on the file. "Lady Elmenhilde, please present the views and stance of the Carmilla faction."
Carmilla first, huh?
The problem with the Carmilla section was the length.
"Good evening, devils of the Underworld." She began just as I flipped through the twenty-one pages dedicated to the Carmilla faction. Out of the entire file, only twenty-one pages.
"I am Elmenhilde Karnstein of House Karnstein, a major noble house of the Carmilla faction," she said, her gaze sweeping across the devils. "It is unfortunate that I must introduce myself under such circumstances, but I believe everyone here understands the severity of the situation that forced this."
She was pretty, no denying that. Not a single flaw on her pale, powdered face.
"But as you know, the world of vampires has not been stable since the era of the True Ancestor."
At that, Valerie shot her a glance. Elmenhilde didn't even bother looking back.
"Over the years, tensions between vampire factions have only worsened. We had hoped for compromise, but that now seems impossible due to a recent event involving devils." For a moment, her face shifted — anger, disappointment… maybe even disgust.
"Recently, matters escalated after a certain group of devils allied themselves with the Tepes faction and attacked us, the Carmilla faction."
Worst case scenario. I wanted Valerie in my peerage, and for that I was praying the Old Satan Faction would side with the Carmilla faction.
But I was a devil. And who listens to a devil's prayers?
"The devils in question have confirmed their alliance with the Tepes, and the Tepes have not denied it either," Elmenhilde continued. "This has severely damaged the Carmilla faction, tipping the scales and causing not just chaos, but death and destruction among our people."
Zekram finally looked at her. "So, what does the Carmilla faction want from us?"
If there's one thing I admire about Zekram, it's his poker face and calm voice.
"Our faction wants the devils to take responsibility for this chaos," she said. "Either deal with the Old Satan Faction and compensate us, or side with us in this war against the Tepes faction." Her eyes flicked to Valerie. "As we have already been at a disadvantage because of a certain half-blood."
I barely stopped myself from smirking.
As dire as the situation was, it was still amusing to watch vampire racism play out.
Elmenhilde finally sat down after one last look at us — the Lords, Ladies, Elders, and the Satans.
And, of course, Zekram was once again the one to speak on our behalf.
"The devil society is sympathetic to what the vampires have endured. War is never easy, and as a race that's gone through civil war ourselves, we understand the destruction it brings." His face softened for a moment before hardening into stone again. "However, I fail to see how the Old Satan Faction's actions are our responsibility, or something we need to answer for."
Ingvild glanced at me, but my eyes stayed fixed on the scene.
Elmenhilde's face tightened. She knew that while they wanted to pin blame on us, we still had the power to refuse — and if it came to it, fight against them.
The only reason we had to take this seriously was the honor our society was bound to uphold.
"The Old Satan Faction is not part of devil society," Akula cut in. "They're a terrorist organization that's been tormenting us for over five hundred years. We're against them as much as you are."
"Then," Elmenhilde seized on that, hope flashing in her tone, "since they're a threat to both of us, why not deal with them together? Help us fight them."
On the surface, it sounded like the obvious solution.
At least to an outsider.
"If I may, Lord Zekram." Valerie finally stood, her voice calm and clear. "I'd like to present the Tepes faction's stance."
Here came the problem.
Zekram gave her a nod. Valerie smiled slightly and began.
"It is unfortunate that the situation has escalated to the point where the Carmilla faction demands compensation from devil society," she said. "Though you must understand, Karnstein, they are under no obligation to do so."
"They are!" Elmenhilde snapped, anger quite audible in her tone. "You went behind everyone's backs and allied with a terrorist devil organization. As victims, we have the right to ask devil society for help against terrorists now attacking us."
Valerie smirked. "And that is where you're wrong, Karnstein. The Old Satan Faction may be considered terrorists by devil society, but to us — to vampires — they are nothing more than a separatist group. They are not listed as terrorists in any of our records. If devils intervene under the pretense of dealing with terrorists, it will be nothing more than devils meddling in their own problems."
And before anyone could challenge that loophole, she cut them off with clarification.
"They would only count as a terrorist organization if the majority of vampire society recognized them as such. And since the Carmilla faction doesn't hold even half the votes, you cannot declare them terrorists."
That was the crux of it.
Neither Carmilla nor Tepes held fifty percent of the power on their own — both sat at roughly forty. The rest was split among minor factions and Nosferatu who sided with whichever camp suited them.
The Carmilla faction could label the Old Satan Faction terrorists for themselves, but not for vampire society as a whole.
"And if the devils act against the Old Satan Faction now, after ignoring countless opportunities in the past, it will look like nothing more than a biased choice — siding with the Carmilla faction against the Tepes." Valerie held the upper hand, and as much as I hated siding with the Old Satan Faction, the Carmilla faction simply didn't have enough weight to back their demands. "The devil society will have enough chances to settle its own conflicts in the future. But if you interfere now, it will be a direct violation of the treaty you signed with the Tepes faction."
Murmurs rippled through the room. Ingvild leaned toward me, whispering something, and the very same question came out of Elmenhilde's mouth a moment later.
"What guarantee do we have that you won't turn the Old Satan Faction against devil society in exchange for their help?" she asked sharply. "They didn't support you for free. You'll owe them, and when this war is over, you'll have to pay that debt."
"That is the question all of us devils share," Serafall said. "As much as we're opposed to the Old Satan Faction — and as much as we're disappointed you accepted their aid — we still don't have a strong reason to move against you or them right now, given the treaty. But if there's even a chance you'll ally with them against us later, doesn't that make it safer to side with the Carmilla faction now and strike first?"
"The Old Satan Faction has been our greatest threat for five centuries," Sirzechs added with a heavy tone. "If they gain the Tepes faction as allies, treaty or not, we will have no choice but to face you. That would undo everything you've built with us." He lifted the file that listed centuries of numbers. "The Tepes faction has heavily invested in devil society for two hundred years. We owe you much. But all of it means nothing if you become a threat to our safety and peace."
The file made it clear: the Tepes faction had poured massive investments into the pillars and infrastructure of devil society. Most of us were indebted to them — financially, at least.
And of course, the Tepes faction wouldn't hesitate to use that debt to their advantage.
Still, if it was proven they were working with the Old Satan Faction against us, all that goodwill would be thrown out the window, and war would follow.
"That won't be the case," Valerie said calmly. She clearly had something prepared.
"How?" Elmenhilde snapped. "Your words mean nothing."
That's when Valerie revealed her trump card.
"True. Words can't be trusted." She lifted her hand, and a parchment appeared. "But vampiric blood pacts can."
Elmenhilde froze at the sight of it.
"This," Valerie said, raising the parchment so everyone could see, "is the blood pact signed between King Tepes and Rizevim Livan Lucifer, the leader of the Old Satan Faction."
At the mention of Rizevim, my fist clenched before I could stop myself.
"Relax." Ingvild's hand gently pressed against mine, easing the tension.
"This pact states that the entire deal between King Tepes and Rizevim was made with one condition," Valerie continued. "Rizevim's faction would aid the Tepes in exchange for a specific artifact. And in return, the Tepes faction would not be obligated to act against devil society just because of the support they received." She handed the parchment to Zekram.
Zekram received the parchment and went through it, trying to make sense of it.
"What is a Vampiric blood pact?" I whispered to Ingvild.
"It's a magical contract created by the True Ancestor. It binds two parties, and if the pact is broken, the one who breaks it has their blood permanently poisoned. And they die a slow, painful death."
Her answer made me both impressed and uneasy.
Because just how powerful was the True Ancestor to pull off something like that?
I noticed Elmenhilde's face go pale—she realized her trump card was gone. With Tepes out of Rizevim's reach, we had no reason to help Carmilla anymore.
"What is the artifact?" Falbium asked, curious.
"That's a secret," Valerie said flatly. "It's more of a keepsake than something powerful, that's all I'll say."
I didn't buy it. Rizevim wouldn't settle for anything useless.
"What Valerie Tepes said is true," Zekram announced. "The pact states that the Tepes faction will not support the Old Satan Faction against the devil pillars."
"And this," Valerie turned to Elmenhilde, "we request that the devil society stay out of this matter. Interfering would violate the treaty, and considering the Tepes faction supported the devil pillars for over two hundred years, we believe we've earned at least this much in return."
You owe us. So shut up.
That's what she meant—and the devils had no choice but to follow.
Elmenhilde's fingers dug into her skirt, nails almost piercing her skin. She was fighting hard to keep her emotions hidden, but I could see it.
And as much as I wanted to side with Valerie, it still felt wrong seeing the Carmilla faction cornered like this.
Especially when the one gaining the most from it all was Rizevim.
That damned devil. The one I wasn't just obligated to fight—I had to kill.
It was what I owed to the original owner of this body. And what Rizevim deserved for trying to control me with those damned ruins carved into my heart.
And as if finally answering me, the system came alive.
[Core Asura Quest Alert!]
[Quest: Pick your poison!
Objective: Choose either the Carmilla or the Tepes faction to fight alongside, no matter what the devils decide.]
[Rewards: ???, ???, ???]
[Rewards depend on the side chosen and the outcome of the war.]
[Note: This is a Core Quest directly tied to answers about the Asura Heart. Rejecting it may mean losing the chance to ever learn the truth.]
That was enough to make me raise my hand.
"Well, I think I'm ready to pick a side."
The room froze. The Satans stared at me with wide eyes and Zekram's frown deepened.
They were all praying I wouldn't screw this up.
Too bad—I had questions that needed answers.
"I won't be sitting this war out. I'm picking a side."
"Faiser!" Serafall gasped, panicked.
"And well…" I looked straight at the broken Elmenhilde. "I choose the Carmilla Faction."
[Alliance Chosen: Carmilla Faction]
Because fuck Rizevim.
******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
{A/N: Got a pat reon named RedLamp01 with 30+ chapters.
Apologies, I am travelling currently. }