Scene 1
"Devils and Angels both house a majority of their power within their wings. While there are some special exceptions, such as the Seraphim and Satans, whose wings can be drastically different from those of their lesser kin, their wings are usually defined by their powers, forsaking the Divine True Forms they received from the God of the Bible.
Well, that answers why they need such a useless feature as wings."
I focused on Lady Sitiri after reading the chapter of the medical book she had given me, which dealt with the clan's research into supernatural bodies.
"Everyone has something to house their powers if they aren't Gods or Dragons. The only ones who lack such things are humans, but their versatility is their greatest strength. Whether it's learning to manipulate life force or signing pacts with Devils, they can do it all the way down to signing pacts with any supernatural species as familiars."
I watched her point toward Mari, who released her wings as I decided to inspect them more closely.
I found traces of her water-based energy hidden near the base of her bat-like wings. They were completely different from my bird-like wings, as she possessed three pairs along her lower back.
"Don't touch them. That's not a gesture you make casually."
I felt my hand get stopped by Lady Sitiri as I realized what I was doing.
"How did the Sitiri clan get information on other species? I doubt the Yokai or even vampires, for that matter, were willing subjects."
I took my seat as Mari folded her wings back in until they practically vanished like magic. This caused me to raise an eyebrow in confusion due to my lack of experience using my own wings.
"Quite the contrary. My clan is one of succubi who descend from an Incubus. If it wasn't my father's own studying, then it was my younger sisters who converted our father's extravagant notes into usable material. Once we uncovered the treasure trove his serious research produced, as he would say."
She shook her head as she spoke, clearly annoyed with her father, whom I had only heard of in passing.
"Research is research in this case. At least it's bloodless and done with willing parties… I guess."
I smiled half-heartedly as I glanced around at the various maids who were watching us.
"The only species missing is a God of the Dead. But let's focus on your need for understanding your wings, since it's partially my fault for forgetting key facts.
"Such as your divinity, which would serve as bloodline abilities. Whether it's the Death Element, which is arguably the one overshadowing everything else, or the Sun Element, which by itself would be hard to find a reason to train, like the Power of Destruction used by Sirzechs.
"Then there is Force, which feels like a lifeless form of life force. But as you've shown, it can be used as an intermediary between your elements. Finally, your Darkness element is more in line with Devilkind than the rest of your abilities. Meanwhile, Lightning, as you said, feels like the element that has taken on more demonic essence since Tí, your Divine Beast, protected the first two of your Domains."
I nodded my head, as I felt the same concerning my inability to complete a magic circle.
"So my Lightning is either interfering with the process, or my return to divinity, even if it is Minor God rank, has created an issue. It would've been easier to figure out before Kronos healed me slightly."
She nodded as I sighed. It was a small inconvenience I didn't have to address yet, with the war calming down to just minor skirmishes between Ajuka and Falbium.
I placed an order for a skeleton crew to maintain their stations along our front against Ajuka. The rest were currently aiding in rebuilding the territory or hunting Demonic Beasts. This gave everyone a chance to rotate between roles, while Rook led the Black Suns in clearing Japan of Stray Devils.
"If it's your Lightning, then we can work around that, since our magic still has its uses. But if it's a divine problem, then there's only one person I'm willing to trust with you.
"Granted, she's as unconventional as it gets. If Mari's report concerning your meeting with her and Yasaka is anything to go by. But her understanding of divinity is unsurpassed if the goal is to maintain a low profile among Gods. Lady Rhea disapproves of the majority of the selections, such as reaching out to the Celts or Voodoo Gods to train your understanding of this world's Laws."
I nodded my head as I understood Grandmother better than most. In my own world, she kept a distant yet overbearing watch over any of her grandchildren. I could only expect things to be worse if another world's Rhea discovered that a new timeline or chain of events was possible.
"The Sorceress Supreme of the Mystic Order. Although I doubt she has much to offer, I'll still remain open to your suggestion. The Sitiri House hasn't led me wrong, so at worst, I'll just waste some time, since I'm sure my brother is finding a way to get to me."
She nodded as she took a sip of tea. My words had hit the target of whom she was speaking.
"Besides that, the Shinto faction is facing a harder time after a new form of Demons was sighted. Or rather, three variants. You'll be able to look into that more if you have the time, but for now, it would appear that our handling of the Stray Devils is earning us trust. Once I have more verified reports on these three demon species, we'll decide whether Rook can handle it or if it's best left for you and Serafall as the Shinto representatives.
"There's also word of the original Mad Scientist of the Three Races beginning to wake up. Or, in his case, leaving his laboratory. So don't be surprised if a Seraphim-ranked Fallen Angel comes to find you. At worst, allow Mari to handle him, since he's the broker of the ceasefire between the Three Races. She'll arrange a better time to meet, since Devils can't reliably go against an active Seraphim.
"The originals are all confined to their dramas, so don't expect even my father to aid you if Azazel decides he wants to test the latest Seraphim-ranked figure. Even if it's the weakest of them."
I frowned, feeling as though I'd been upgraded from Ajuka, who was undoubtedly still trying to get his agents into my circle.
Something Mari had been keeping a tight grip on ever since Serafall's accidental rescue of Gray for Sirzechs. She had shut down over a dozen verified spies attempting to penetrate deeper into the Leviathan forces' decision-making. She was also regulating the clans involved and directing them toward rebuilding farms and outlying villages.
"And Merci? You're sure he's more valuable to me alive? Granted, I don't truly manage my own forces back home. Loyalty is still one of the core values of the mortals under me. Usefulness only matters when I know the blade isn't going to accidentally defund my entire operation.
"He's smart, I'll give him that. But the sole survivor from a clan defeated by the Bael clan is less trustworthy than raising my own Devil clan to a higher rank."
I tapped my finger as I remembered the report from Ethos concerning the real mastermind behind the money and supplies that had been going missing throughout the Leviathan Civil War.
The missing resources had been redirected, mainly by the person playing both sides against the Princess of the Sitiri Clan. Even Falbium had suffered the same issues until he married his two wives, who took direct control over his military and court affairs. This left the man to cultivate his Laws of Sloth, hidden behind his sleepy demeanor.
"Because of the same clan that defeated his clan. If he were truly just a treasonous Devil, then his head would be missing from his shoulders, like those of the Devils he painted as treasonous. He was supplied by the same man he's been secretly reporting to about what occurs concerning you."
I frowned as her last words revealed the truth behind the unusual silence between the Satan Wars of this new generation.
Scene 2
"You all can leave me."
I spoke to the remaining Black Suns who were following me into Mount Orthys. I had decided to take my grandfather's advice that this place was meant for me. Or rather, what was inside me, as he had stated.
I glanced back as I watched them close off the path to the mountain, with some beginning to spread out among the trees. Only thirty remained out of the more than two hundred Devils. Yet they were the strongest of those who had constantly refused to serve in Lady Sitiri's Honor Guard, forcing her to split the rest between Serafall and me.
"I guess there's no point in telling you to leave either, Mari."
I focused on the only maid as Mari continued to shapeshift, as usual, into various maids of Lady Sitiri. She gave a slight nod before I turned and continued up the mountain.
I searched for the spot with the densest cluster of Time Laws, quickly finding a cave between the peak and the ground. I had underestimated what it meant for him to send me here, as each step upward only confirmed that he had turned this place into a refiner of Divine Laws.
I could sense the Death and Sea Laws of his children from this universe. They were similar to those of my own Father and Uncle, though the energy differed in grade. Their Laws naturally reached the Major God level, whereas the ones here were limited by Kronos having them only as children within himself.
My world had forced everyone into survival mode once Zeus refused to close the Golden Era. Yet the benefits of this mountain remained undeniable, and I would have to check the one in my own world for comparison.
I took a seat at the entrance of the cave and focused on Mari, who looked as though she was struggling to reach it. The mountain's Divine Aura naturally pressed down on her, functioning as her own training. I gave her time to catch up instead of rushing deeper inside.
Scene 3
Lady Sitiri POV
"Why are you placing so much effort into him?"
I focused on my father as he grabbed food and drinks from the maid before she could finish setting everything down in a hurry. Most of them had been caught off guard by his sudden appearance outside his chambers.
He had disrupted my peaceful time in the garden after the war had quieted down. He took a sip of his drink before sitting next to me, forcing me to look at him instead of at the rows of flowers in front of which he would have sat.
"Some of us are betting big, while a few are betting small. If I told you, then you'd be unable to stand in front of the kid without trying to rope him into the House even more than you already are. But our plans align in that aspect, so don't think too much about it.
"How's my granddaughter lately? Is she upset at the loss of her position with the forming Leviathan Court?"
I shook my head, having seen the opposite effect on my daughter.
"Quite the opposite. She's enjoying her visits with the Shintos far more than I could. After the stories of Ten's first visit, most of the hostilities have lowered because of his willingness to accompany their young."
I understood that there wasn't much to lose on her side from the lack of control she had enforced over her own forces. Placing her there gave her the status of a figurehead, while Ten became more of a guardian of her throne, like my husband.
"Good. There's no need to be strangers with Ama of the Shintos. If she decides to work more closely with the boy, then that's even more reason to grow closer to the Shinto faction. They're one of the few remaining independent groups among the supernatural. Michael will be able to use that as leverage as well."
I frowned as he single-handedly undermined my plans to keep the various Skyfathers at arm's length.
"Is there a reason why she's interested? You wouldn't tell me otherwise, since even a maybe is enough to get you to leave your room."
He laughed, no doubt finding my question pointless.
"The same reasons you're attaching yourself and your family to him. I can't leave because of the ritual each of us performed to completely turn our Angelic Natures into Devils. It was the natural endpoint of overstepping our stations, while our youngest brother led us into disaster.
"But keep up the good work. That's all I needed to tell you, Head of my Sitiris."
I watched him turn into mist and vanish, leaving me with my peace. That peace was all but ruined now, as I would have to create new plans to accommodate his changes.
Do you guys have lives, or do you just keep following a story that's been in limbo? Come on, guys. I'm trying to quit!
But if I'm going to write it, I might as well put it out there.
Let's just say Patreon is a way to maintain some commitment. There's one tier for $3 (I need to verify that it's a one-time payment and not recurring), and I'm putting everything I have up before I delete the page and switch to a fresh account that I can access directly instead of through the Facebook app. I'm planning to delete that app along with my other socials.
https://patreon.com/NullaxRex?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink