Chapter 45
Castiel P.O.V.
As I reentered the building I try to not get anyone's attention as I am quite a sorry figure right now. My body is full of burn marks, my clothes are barely covering anything and I am so tired that I just want to lay down and pass out cold.
But, this really isn't my day.
"What happened here, Emiya-kun?" I heard a voice saying not long after I entered the place again. Sighing tiredly, I turned to see who it was and saw one of the people that I least wanted to see me like this.
Turning to look at who it was and I saw two stern and stoic faces looking directly at me. This is the first time I am seeing these two in almost two weeks.
"Hello Sona-Kaichou, Tsubaki-Fukukaichou." The two looking at me are Sona Sitri and her Queen Tsubaki Shinra. The two are very well dressed, with long elegant dresses that are extremely beautiful in both of them. I tried to give them a smile, but honestly, I could not do it even when trying.
Wait, why is everything turningblaaaccccckkkk-
///---///
Sona P.O.V.
I have no clue about what is happening
I am now outside of the building where I and my queen (that is right beside me) were watching the game between Rias and Raiser.
While I was seeing the game I could not help but think that this was all unfair.
Rias and I are friends since childhood so I know perfectly well that she did not use to train her peerage even nearly enough. In comparison, I and my peerage had trained much more and for much longer, but suddenly I see that she has suppressed us all.
The training she received from the Tower must have been really amazing.
Ahh~~, the Tower. That is one place I want to, at the absolute least, visit one day.
The Tower is a symbol that it is possible to teach people of different social status and species in the same place. As my dream is to create a rating game school for the low-class and mid-class devils, to give every devil a chance for greatness. As such seeing and understanding how the Tower work is something I really would like to do.
I wanted to use this time after the match to go see Castiel. He is the heir to them and I am an heiress myself so we have the necessary authority to start the talks about a future alliance. Unfortunately, I could not find him, a fact that was made even more painfully clear due to the sadness that Tsubaki getting more and more sad.
She has been like this for the whole week. I wanted to give her more energy so I brought her here in hopes that she might talk with him, or look at him, or do anything really. It is infuriating that she seems to be incapable of even talking with him properly even though she spends so much time talking ABOUT him to me.
After searching throughout the building we managed to talk to the last person that saw him, Issei. He apparently had disappeared for the last 10 minute out of thin air, and even stranger is that no one from the Tower seems to be worried about his safety.
Seeing as we could not do anything more I and Tsubaki decided to go outside to catch a breath of fresh air, we barely got out of the room assigned to us when we saw the man we were searching for.
He was in a terrible shape. He is all hurt and burned, I tried to talk to him and understand what was going on but as soon as he started talking he passed out cold.
Before I could even try to do something Tsubaki took action. She rushed in his direction and carefully took him in her arms, following that she rushed right back to our room and started looking at him intensely to see if he was okay. Her face turned deathly white after a while and then she turned to me and said.
"Sona-sama, he needs immediate help! Please give him a Phoenix Tear."
I can honestly say that I am conflicted. Even though I want to help him I only have this one dose of Phoenix Tear as it is too expensive and I saw no need to buy more. As such, spending this one bottle with Castiel, especially since the relationship between the two sides is not that close, is not something I can do lightly.
Ah, those earnest eyes. Tsubaki was looking at me with such earnest eyes, clearly not believing for a single second that I might not help him. He better be grateful to her as otherwise, I would probably not use this.
After using the Phoenix Tear on him his injuries and burns were healed at a visible speed. He would most likely wake up in a few minutes' tops. Normally this would be my lost since I spent such a precious item just like that, but seeing as Tsubaki was smiling again and the relieve on her face made it worth it. Now, what should I do?
///---///
Castiel P.O.V.
I don't know where I am, but this must be heaven. Well, at least my head is in heaven, this pillow I am using is just so good. I turned to the side and put my hands on the pillow, this creamy and wonderful feeling is wonderful. I just want to sleep a bit mo-
"COUGH! COUGH!... For how long do you intend to continue to sleep." A stern voice said to me. I opened my eyes and what I am seeing is… confusing.
I mean Sone Sitri is looking daggers at me and Tsubaki is… giving me a lap pillow?
Wait. Does that mean… yep, my hand is feeling her legs up while I am laying on her lap.
I instantly jumped away from that spot as soon as my mind processed what happened. I noticed that Tsubaki looked a bit sad at that, probably feeling bad that someone that she doesn't even talk to started feeling her up (I better not think about how amazing it was, clouded mind or not the sensation of her thighs was still that good).
I gave a weak cough so as to try and dispel the bad mood that was in the room. I also realized that my wounds are all healed up, and considering that I probably did not pass-out for that long which means that they must have used a Phoenix Tear on me.
Gratitude, that is the one word that can describe what I am feeling right now. I know that I may usually have a lot of those items, but I also understand that this is a rare commodity that most high-class devils don't even have, so knowing that they used it on me just like that made me extremely grateful.
"Thank you, Sona-Kaichou. I needed the help and the fact that you provided it will not be forgotten." I said to Sona.
She nodded and said.
"No need to say this, you are a student from my school so helping you is just obvious."
I shook my head and said.
"No, no. I still must do something to help you back, it is only proper. Is there anything I can do to help you?" I asked, ideas about what I could do to help her back flooding my mind.
She was about to say something, but then stopped in her tracks. A strange look on her face as she seemed to be considering something. After a few seconds, she said.
"If you insist, I want the same thing you proposed to Rias." Sona said.
.
.
.
.
.
Well… isn't that interesting.
It is funny, I was here thinking on how to propose an alliance with house Sitri and now she is asking for it herself. Really, the world works in mysterious ways.
"Well, what do you have in mind exactly?" I asked, turning my persona into a negotiating type. There is a need for me to think this way as I simply refuse to enter any sort of deal that might be bad for the Tower. I must protect its best interests at all times.
"How about you help us in training and allow for me and my peerage to go visit the Tower in exchange we can do an exchange of intel about magic. Our water and ice type magic in exchange for your know-how about magecraft and the different schools' of magic." Sona proposed after sitting down on a chair that was in the room. Seeing her actions, I sat on the couch as it was the only other place in the room for me to sit and stay up while the other party is sitting down is not a good thing in this sort of scenarios.
Strangely enough, Tsubaki remained sitting on the couch beside me instead of staying beside her king. It is not a problem per say, even though it remains strange.
Now, about that proposition. It is tempting, no questions about that, as it is a well-known fact that the house Sitri is one of the best when it comes to knowledge about everything water-related and that would be a great boom for the Tower as the Tower's main objective is the study of magic till the very limit. But, we can't simply give them full access to all our research as it would be against the laws of any decent magus.
Now, what do I do with this?
"This is a great proposition. So much so that I don't even know how to respond, but this matter and the fact that you helped me are different altogether. I can't put the decisions about the future of the Tower in the balance depending on my own feelings, so I think we should leave the talks of an alliance for another time when we can discuss in a more proper environment. In exchange, I agree to let you and your peerage to visit the Tower, help you guys in training and I can agree to one other request as long as it is not related to the Tower." I said.
There is no way I am making harsh decisions when the betterment of the Tower is involved. Before we can even begin to talk about an alliance we need to find a proper location where there is no chance of eavesdroppers on the walls, thing that I can't say we can have now considering that we are on a building full to the brim with old devils and no one in heaven or hell can convince me that there aren't at the absolute least 8 spies listening in on us this instant. I mean I am seeing five such spies right now thanks to me mystic eye.
As Sona heard my words she didn't seem affected, I bet that she already expected such answer from me. Her reputation for being smart and a talented future leader is well deserved. After, a while a sly smile surged on her pretty face, one that I am oh so used thanks to having to deal with Rin and other sly women all my life.
Sona then continued with a counter proposition.
"If it would be impossible to talk about this matter now I have a question for you. Do you already is contracted to any devil?"
Well, isn't that an interesting question. It is a well-known fact that most, if not all magicians make contracts with supernatural beings. It is mostly nothing that absurd, generally it is just an exchange of magic research material that is provided by both sides and an agreement to help one another in moments of crisis as it is possible to summon the other at any time.
It is quite normal and normally it only lasts for about five to ten years and I was thinking of doing one myself sometime. Maybe with Sairaorg, but it would be mostly useless as he only knows how to fight (not that someone at his level needs more than that).
"Well, to be honest, I don't have any contracted devil right now. Why do you ask?"
Sona smile got even bigger when she said.
"So my second request id for you to contract with Tsubaki."
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.
.
WHAT?
Why would Sona want me to form a contract with Tsubaki? I mean, I can understand how useful this would be not only for Tsubaki as I could help her get much stronger band it would also help in the negotiations as we would be in closer grounds from the get go and could use the contract as an excuse for the other groups and clans to not think that we are planning something.
The Tower already is allied with the house Bael (we helped Sairaorg and are in a good relationship with Zekran Bael), the house Phoenix (my father died helping them rescue Ravel and I helped her in a tight spot due to that ASSHOLIC BARBARIC IDIOT THAT ONE DAY I WILL GUT ALIVE), the house Astaroth (the Maou Ajuka Beelzebub is the contracted devil of Sakura, but that green bastard doesn't help) and now we are also connected with house Gremory due to our recent deal with them. If we suddenly make this alliance, we could raise the suspicion with the other devil houses that could end up attacking us in the dark or in the open.
On the other hand, if I am in a contract with Tsubaki, the Queen of the next head of house Sitri, the suspicion will be lessened somewhat.
But, before I can accept I must make this question to Tsubaki herself.
"Tsubaki, do you want to enter a contract with me?"
///---///
Tsubaki P.O.V.
YES! Yes, yes, yes, a hundred times YES!
It has finally come! My chance of deepening my relationship with him.
We start as contracted magician and devil, and before we know it I am using a beautiful dress and walking down the aisle with him by my side. I can even imagine the beautiful children we will have, with my intelligence and his looks. All will be perfect! But, where do we go on our honeymoon? Maybe Paris, or the beaches of Rio de Janeiro. Speaking of beaches I need to buy a new bikini, my old one is getting tight on my chest, or maybe it is better to use it like that to see his reactions.
No, he would probably tell me to go put another more conservative one as only he can look at me like that. And then he would put me on his arms and kiss me in such a hot way that my bikini will be removed before I even know how and-
///---///
Castiel P.O.V.
See? This is the problem.
It is clear that she doesn't like me. No matter what I ask her she always simply start glaring at me and don't say anything while liberating a strange aura around her that makes me feel strangely threatened, not in a 'will die way' but a different feeling that I just feel sometimes with the girls even though the girls liberate it in a much lesser dose (except for Yuno).
"…so? Do you want it or not?" I asked again. This time she answered.
"Yes, if it is fine for you I would not mind it."
Well, at least she answered this time.
Strangely enough, Sona is making an exasperated face seeing this. She probably wanted Tsubaki and me to be more enthusiastic about it, personally, I don't mind this contract but it is pretty obvious that Tsubaki is forcing herself. She even needed some time to think the words and say them in a not overly robotic way.
After that, it was mostly the formalities to form the contract between me and Tsubaki and then I was out of there. I still need to go look for somewhere quiet and peaceful for me to absorb this spirit bone I received from Zelretch as it is quite a delicate and painful process.
Strangely enough, I could walk not even ten steps out of the room and Serenity was already by my side, and I in another ten Kuroko appeared and clang to me.
///---///
Sona P.O.V.
Well, that went just as good as I could have expected.
I managed to get authorization to visit the Tower and showed an interest in creating an alliance which would make the house Sitri stronger.
We may be the very best in water magic, but in the end, water magic is not that effective in a direct confrontation. While there are some that grow just as strong, if not stronger, than the others most lower rank of our servants usually fall behind when it comes to pure magic powers. If we can create a good and close relation to the Tower we can obtain some new magic researches and also be capable of buying mystic codes that would make us much stronger as a whole instead of depending on the name of my sister and the special guards trained by her queen.
And a bonus is that the second request that I did was accepted quite easily. That means that Tsubaki now has a good reason to stay close to him and maybe she can start talking to him properly, instead of this mess that she is whenever he is around.
I then turned to Tsubaki and opened my mouth to ask what did she think of all this, but decided to not bother. She has that stupid face while flushing all over. Any tentative of conversation now would be as useful as talking to a wall, a specially deaf wall at that.
*sigh* I am too young for this shit.
///---///
Castiel P.O.V.
After returning to the room with the others I saw that there was a new person in there, the rook of Syrzechs Hozuki.
Before he could even begin to discuss anything I said.
"Would it be possible to leave this conversation for another day? I am honest to God" The flash of a headache he had was something 'completely 'unintentional' to me " too tired to deal with anything else right now. I just ran for over three hours inside an active volcano and had to face at the very least 600 robots that launched lasers at me. Not only that I had to fight against a robot that launched flames that are nothing to scoff at and not being enough I was released over 400 meters in the air for a sky fall." I then took a deep breath and said. "I honestly could not be made to give a damn about anything right now. We can talk about business tomorrow morning as I will be in Kuoh anyway."
You know, this is the reason why I like Hozuki more than the others from Syrzechs peerage, he can see when he is not welcome. After listening to what I said he nodded and said that he will come to see me at a later day, then he left the room.
THIS! This is what someone in his position should be like! I can honestly say that he was by far the best choice that Syrzechs had on his peerage.
After that, the others looked at me a bit interested, but to explain why all of this happened I just had to say a single word.
"Zelretch."
And everyone in here nodded in understanding, except Miku but she will hear about him later anyway so there is no real problem there.
"Did you at least got anything for the trouble?" Emily asked, clearly knowing how bad this kind of things can go.
I nodded and said.
"Yep, and this time it was good stuff." I then showed them the spirit bone I had received.
Looking at it and feeling its power the others could not help but be a bit shocked. This thing here is releasing much more energy than my previous two. It probably is a spirit bone born from a beast with more than 100 thousand years old, possibly 4 or 5 hundred if this is the energy the bone is releasing. It still is classified as a 100 thousand years old bone, but the energy and skill's quality in it are on another level.
Getting excited about the prospect of receiving a new bone I decided then and there that I would absorb it already. So I asked for the others to make a perimeter around me so as to make absolutely sure that no one could distract me while I am absorbing this spirit bone.
This place may not be perfect for a long shot, but the deterrence I will get out of this is great news. I know that there are spies looking at us right now, and when they report that they felt a terrifying object and that I absorbed it the others will probably think that I am stronger than I actually am, making them reluctant in crossing me.
As I sat down on the floor in lotus position I held the bone with my left arm. I connected my soul and energy to the bone, thus initiating the whole process. It is very safe, as long as your body and energy can support it anyone could absorb it easily.
When the spirit bone started fusing with my left arm I felt like it was devouring everything I had, the magic energy, life force, even my soul and spirit were all being devoured. However, at the same time that this happened those forces were being purified and then liberated to my body again. This whole process happened many times and after the 35 times, it abruptly stopped. It did not seem natural at all, it was as if there was something stopping it from completing the final cycle.
After that, the bone was integrated into my body and the excess energy was spread throughout it, reinforcing my flesh and bones and making them even stronger. In especial my left arm that got at least three times stronger than before.
The benefits did not stop there as I could feel that my energy was purified well, and even if I still am in the low high-class I already am just one step away from the mid high-class. Not only that but my energy, perception, and spirit are much purer now making them at least 30% more potent than before.
I could only sigh at this. The absorption of a spirit bone always has this sort of effect on the body, making the user much more powerful than before.
I then started feeling the bone, trying to understand what ability it granted me, and I can honestly say that I am impressed by it. This is a truly tyrannical ability.
"So, what is the skill onii-sama?" This time it was Kuroko that asked. The others were looking at me with the same, if not even more curiosity.
I smiled and said it as there was no need to hide it from them, well first I asked for them to make another new bounded field that blocks sound and vision so as to make sure that others don't know what I am capable of.
"There is only one skill this time, and it is called Devouring and as the name suggests it devours. Meaning that I can absorb and assimilate energy from others and attacks. Obviously, any energy that I absorb needs to be refined before I can actually use making me normally only capable of using 10 to 20% of what I take, but the fact that I can forcefully devour any form of energy from my target and turn it usable for myself is still amazing. Close combat against me now will be a BAD idea for anyone that dares." As I explained that the others could not help but show shocked faces.
This skill is OP as fuck. Hard to use but with this, I may finally be capable of using more destructive spells without fear of running out of energy. Now I officially can start an actual new training as I no longer need to fear running out that fast. I have been frozen at the same spot for the last four years, it is more than time for me to step up my game and this bone is exactly what I needed to help me do that.