Vermillion Heir's Duty

I, Nadeira Gremory, am currently diving into the subtle complexities of Illusion Magic while my "friend" Falbium is snoozing away in a corner. Thankfully he does not snore. It has been a year since Falbium and I made our alliance to get out of attending parties, and at first, we succeeded for the first few months, but our mothers figured out that our "playdates" were just excuses to do whatever we wanted in private. Me with my reading and research on different magic systems and Falbium with his naps. But we still meet each other often as we are fine with doing our own thing and not bothering one another in the same room.

Back to Illusion Magic, is roughly divided into two subtypes, mental, which relates to the mind and emotions, and light and sound manipulation, like invisibility and hologram-like images. While I can work out sound and light manipulation on my own, the mental aspect of Illusion requires a guinea pig. I saw Falbium sleeping in the corner of my room since I forbid him from sleeping on my bed and decided to mess with him a little. I grinned as I conjured a translucent red flame in my hand and flung it at the Devil of Sloth.

Falbium's brow furrowed as he tossed and turned in his sleep like he was experiencing a nightmare. I then conjured an ethereal green light and sent it to Falbium. He then started to calm down and fall into a deeper sleep. As I watched my "friend" sleep his day away, I got bored of continuously researching and decided to have some fun with the makeup that Mother gave me and started to "practice" applying on the Devil of Sloth. I started cracking up as I put on lipstick and eye shadow on him but did not do it excessively as I wanted to see if I could make it work on him without it looking too ridiculous.

After I finished my handiwork, I broke out in laughter at Falbium's new appearance and wished I figured out how to recreate a camera to take a picture with for the memories. Falbium furrowed his brows and covered his head with his pillow to block out my laughter which smudged the makeup, which brought out another round of laughter within me. I left Falbium alone as I got my fun and focused on Illusion Magic again. As I worked on "weaving" light to recreate an image of myself, Lisaterra came in and brought some tea and snacks.

" My Lady, I have brought some refreshments and a light meal for you and your "friend." How would you like your tea, my Lady?"

" Just a bit of honey in mine. As for Falbium, he won't care how you make it, so just add one lump of sugar."

Lisaterra nodded in reply and served the tea as I went over to wet my throat. I grabbed one of the cookies to munch on and felt thankful that I remembered a simple recipe for sugar cookies from my past life. Hmm... I need to look for magic related to memories to better preserve my past life's knowledge and whatever useful bits I pick up in this life. Falbium finally got up from his third nap to get a drink and eat some cookies. He downed his tea in one go and stuffed his cheeks with a few cookies so he could go back to sleep sooner.

Lisaterra noticed Falbium's new look and shook her head with a smile of wry amusement. She glanced at me with an inquiring look, and I grinned at her, to which she responded with a helpless look at my antics. Before Falbium went back to sleep, I stopped him.

" Fal, hold up. We need to talk."

Falbium's full name is a mouth full, so I decided to abbreviate his name, and he did not mind. He even responded in kind by using my family nickname in return.

" What about Nade?"

" I would like a sparring match between us."

Falbium looked like he thought that a sparring match would be too troublesome and before he could refuse, I gave him a good reason as to why this was a good idea.

" Look, I know that you are aware a war is just over the horizon, and if we want to survive it, we need to improve our skills as much as possible before it breaks out. A liter of sweat prevents a drop of blood, after all."

He sighed in defeat and agreed to the match.

" Fine... how do we want to do this?"

" Let's first let our parents know, then head to the courtyard."

I went off to one of the foyers where Mom was entertaining Lady Glasya-Labolas while my and Falbium's father was doing whatever. Lady Glasya-Labolas's name is Raina, so I just refer to her as Lady Raina in informal settings. She is a tall woman with long dark purple hair and eyes with a pale complexion. My and Falbium's mom was enjoying tea together while gossiping about all the recent happenings in the Underworld. As I entered, I heard something interesting as Lady Raina informed my mom.

" I heard recently; that Lord Lucifer has been working on some armaments similar to the Biblical One's Sacred Gears."

" Oh? From what I understand of Sacred Gears, they either had a soul contained within them or grant-specific powers to humans, so what of armaments is Lord Lucifer making?"

Lady Raina then answered my mom, looking wary and concerned.

" From what I have gathered, the Satans have found something... strange in the underworld."

" Strange how Raina?"

" Some sort of remains or fossils even from ancient times that don't correlate with any Mythology at all."

My mother furrowed her brows at the implications of such a discovery. The Underworld itself is linked to multiple Mythologies; usually in relation to death and afterlife myths, but none of the Mythos could claim they made it as it existed before the first Primordial Gods came into existence, from what I have learned from the Gremory family library in my research to understand the world I am in and it's Magics. A number of hypotheses popped into my mind at what this could mean, but I need to see the remains myself to confirm anything. Putting that aside, for now, I drew their attention to me.

" Mother, Lady Raina."

" Oh! Nade, my dear, what brings you here?"

" Is my son causing you any trouble Nadeira?"

I smiled and curtsied to Lady Raina as I answered them.

" Fal is being Fal, so he is causing no trouble for me, and Mother, Fal, and I will be sparring soon. Would you and Lady Raina watch over us?"

The Devil Ladies smiled at my request, and my mother answered.

" Certainly, dear."

" I really must ask your secret for motivating my son Nadeira because my husband has given up all hope on getting Falbium to do anything but the bare minimum."

At Lady Raina's request, I answered her.

" It's not complicated. Fal cares about his immediate environment because it would affect his sleep, so I just used that to my advantage."

Lady Raina contemplated my words, and mother then asked me.

" Where will you be sparring at Nade?"

" The courtyard, Mother."

Not long after me, Falbium, Mother, and Lady Raina went to the courtyard for the sparring match. Mother saw what I did to Falbium with the makeup and sighed at my antics, while Lady Raina chuckled at her son's appearance and gave an amused look of approval. I guess Falbium has been worrying his mother about how he usually acts and wants him to do more, but he doesn't comply. Falbium yawned and then asked me.

" How do we want to do this, Nadeira?"

" Let's go with whoever is knocked out or runs out of Demonic power first loses."

Falbium nodded in agreement while still looking sleepy. I then drew out my Demonic Power and materialized it into a dark cloak covering my body along with a scythe-like halberd to make me look like a grim reaper. Falbium coated his body with a dense purple aura around his body with his Demonic Power. I took out a gold coin and flipped it to serve as a signal for our fight. Soon the coin landed on the ground with an audible clink. I quickly created some flares of Demonic Power to imitate jet propulsion which granted me a significant boost in speed.

I swung the ax head of my halberd at the Devil of Sloth, and it clashed against his purple aura, but he was unmoved. I felt my materialized weapon get weaker as it grind against Falbium's defense. His defenses are really annoying, as they absorb any magic-based attack they come in contact with and further strengthen themselves. I pulled back, seeing that I wasn't strong enough yet to break through his so-called Absolute Defense. I changed tactics and focused most of my Demonic Power on strengthening me to my limit.

I swung with my enhanced might, which launched pressurized air at Falbium. He yawned as he waited for it to come to him, but to his surprise and my amusement, he was knocked back by the air blast. After all, it had zero magic in it, so his Absolute Defense couldn't absorb it, and as he looked at me in surprise, I grinned beneath my cloak. I unleashed a fury of air slashes at my friend. He took to the air to evade them, and as he dodged my last attack, I charged at him. I swung my halberd down on him, and he crashed into the courtyard, making a small crater.

Falbium pulled himself out and huffed in annoyance at me for making him work for this fight instead of standing still waiting for me to run out of Demonic Power. He is lazy to a fault, but I am not letting him get out of this fight easily. As he got up, he surrounded himself with barriers, and I made my next move. I generated pure coldness by creating a single point where all the heat energy was transferred to conjuring a small contained fireball. Falbium focused on the fireball until he started to see his breath from the cold that was taking place as the heat was siphoned away by me.

Falbium looked at me with a disgruntled look and sighed as he finally took to the offensive by conjuring orbs of Demonic Power. He launched his attack, but I deflected them with my halberd. As Falbium tried to deal with me, I slowly turned the ground into wet mud by shifting existing moisture and generating my own into the ground near him. He soon noticed that his footing had changed, and I used my next move. I froze the ground with ease, and Falbium, along with it as I set the stage to make it easier to freeze him.

Falbium soon broke out of his icy prison and shivered and sneezed from the cold. He glared at me with a grievance and said with chattering teeth.

" Y-your r-really annoy-ying t-to fight w-with, Nade."

Hardly surprising; after all, I know how to bypass most of his defenses with recreations of natural phenomena indirectly through Magic. I finished him by using my favorite trick in either life, static electricity. Creating two insulators and dry air plus friction with Demonic Power, then zapping the damp ground and Falbium along with it, he was knocked out from being electrocuted. I went to him to heal any damage I had done to him. Healing Magic is a tricky thing for Devils as it usually relates to light and holy Magic, but I found a work-a-round by manipulating a Devil's life force.

Stimulating Falbium's life force and encouraging it to heal certain parts first is a simple manner for me. Mother and Lady Raina saw my handiwork, and Mother started in surprise.

" Nade, dear, I didn't know you could heal someone!"

I shrugged and then replied casually.

" You didn't ask."

I heard Mother sigh and say to me with a bit of pride in her voice.

" You are certainly going to be very desirable once you have built a reputation when you start making contracts."

" Very true, Venelana; your daughter is undoubtedly going to be very popular among contractors."

As Lady Raina added her agreement to my mother's assessment, I can't help but look forward to making deals as the devil. I wonder what I can use souls for exactly?

***

The time had come for Nadeira Gremory to start her official duties as a Devil Noble by seeking out contracts. Before she sets out to the human world for the first time to acquire contracts, her mother and father educated her first on how deals work between Devils and humans. Venelana started the explanation.

" Now, Nade, dear, when entering into a contract, you need to be both thorough and careful with your wording, as you should always leave yourself a loophole to work with while ensuring that no one gets the better of you. For example, let's say a magician wants to study how Devils create spells to break them down and rework it for human use. You need to place restrictions on what types of Magic you are capable of using and a possible loophole that allows you to repeatedly show the same spell over and over to uphold your end of the bargain while having the magician be on the losing end."

Zeoticus Gremory also added his advice to tell his daughter about his personal experiences.

" In my case, one time, I had to serve as a human noble's escort and protect them from other supernatural forces. The human didn't explain as to how I should protect them, so I turned them into a puppet to further my gains as I manipulated them to do my bidding and avoid any unnecessary conflict with other Devils, at least."

Nadeira was hardly surprised as even in her original world, Devils did similar things in legends and works of fiction. As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for. The young Vermillion Heir then asked a question that had been on her mind since she became a Devil.

" What are human souls used for and other forms of payment fine?"

Venelana answered her daughter's query after a shared look with her husband.

" Most Devils acquire souls to either display their "wickedness" or consume them to increase their power. Consuming human souls only grant temporary and hollowed power, so I do not recommend asking for human souls as payment, but whatever suits you or feel would be a fair price for your services."

Nadeira adsorbed this information and already made plans on what she wanted for her payment, knowledge, and rare materials. The Vermillion Heir planned to set up her own library with whatever knowledge and information she could acquire as a number of things on her Earth were lost to the sands of time. The rare materials served as a means of researching certain branches of the supernatural, mainly alchemy and enchanting. These two would allow her to create items to preserve her life and others while expanding her economic influence.

Venelana and Zeoticus continued to talk about the dos and don'ts of making contracts until Nadeira started to get sick of it. The Flaxen hair Madame of Extinction led the Vermillion Heir to the summoning circle that she prepared in advance for the younger Devil's first contract. Venelana hugged her daughter and wished her well.

" Nade, be safe and don't take any idiocy from the humans, okay?"

" Don't worry unless something ridiculous happens; I will be able to manage myself with no issue."

The young Devil entered the circle and was teleported away with a flash of dark light. Zeoticus sniffled and said, sounding both happy and depressed.

" They grow up so fast."

Venelana sighed, looking worried but assured her husband.

" Don't worry, the person summoning Nade is someone with connections to dear Prelati, so things should be fine as they have his recommendation."

***

I saw my surroundings change to a dark chamber with the only lighting being the red magic circle inscribed on to the floor. I looked around, and a tall, pale, dark-haired man in a greenish-grey robe with a sword on his hip with silver ornaments adorning it. I introduced myself with a curtsy to the man I assume was my summoner.

" Greetings, I am Nadeira of the house of Gremory, and who are you?"

The man spoke, but I did not understand what he was saying at first, but the more he spoke, the more I started to understand him, and I knew what language he was speaking. French with an aristocratic flair, and he was cursing someone.

" Devils take you, Prelati! I humored you, and now I have to question the sanctity of my soul. Oh, Lord, forgive me, for I have sinned."

I felt a sudden headache from the Biblical One's title being invoked, and I pointed out to the summoner the meaning behind that.

" You know it can be considered quite rude to speak of the Biblical One in the presence of a devil if not as means of attack against said Devil."

" Apologies and... Oh, Lord, I have sinned once again. I seek your forgiveness!"

And my headache returned once more, and I sighed as I felt that today was going to be a long one.

As the man knelt down and prayed, I told him the facts of the matter.

" First off, your soul is fine as I have no claim over it, nor do I want it as other Devils take souls to reviled in their so-called wickedness."

" Begone foul creature, for I will not believe your lies!"

I looked at him in exasperation and asked.

" What part of my sentence was a lie?"

The man paused from his prayer as he pondered my question.

" I don't know, but you're a devil, so every word that comes out your mouth must be a lie!"

" Really now? The sky is blue, and the grass is usually green. Did I lie just now?"

The man looked confused at my question, and as he tried to think of a retort, I reintroduced myself to him.

" I am Nadeira of the house of Gremory here to fulfill a contract at your behest. May I at least know your name?"

The man struggled as he was clearly at a loss for words, then guardedly told me his name.

" Gilles de Rais..."

" Well, Sir de Rais, let's be clear with one another; you want to be rid of me, yes?"

He nodded guardedly, and I pitched my offer to him.

" Well, the least troublesome way to make me leave is to pay me to do so, and before you ask, no, I don't want your soul as I have no use for it."

" Then what do you want, Devil?!"

I politely asked him.

" Please address me as Nadeira or, if you prefer, Young Gremory as calling me by my race can lead to confusion if there is more than one Devil. And to answer your question, my price for leaving you be is up for negotiation."

Gilles de Rais grumbled a reply.

" Very well then..."

After some lengthy negotiations, I left the French Nobleman after acquiring some books from his personal library. Nothing noteworthy, but it's a start, and to my surprise, my meeting with Gilles de Rais will not be my last one.

***

Duchy of Brittany, Kingdom of France.

Gilles de Rais was overlooking a summoning circle he constructed in the basement of his home, and as it lit up, Nadeira Gremory appeared. Despite Gilles's faith, or maybe because of it, he developed an insatiable curiosity over the supernatural aspect of his faith but unfortunately, the Biblical God and his angels refrain from interacting with their faithful flock for reasons they only know. The Vermillion Heir curtsied her summoner and greeted him.

" Greeting, Sir de Rais, what questions plague you this time?"

Nadeira was surprised at first by the God-fearing noble Frenchman's repeated summons but soon understood that his curiosity got the better of him. Gilles de Rais looked anxious and grim, and the young Devil asked him, looking curious.

" Sir de Rais?"

Gilles then asked in a whisper that Nadeira could still hear despite its faintness.

" Is it possible for someone to hear the voice of God despite their origins?"

" Technically, yes, but previous records of the Biblical One's actions show that he prefers to act indirectly."

Nadeira answered her summoner honestly, ignoring her splitting headache, and then asked.

" What brought this on, Sir de Rais?"

Gilles shuffled uncomfortably for a moment, then answered.

" A simple peasant farm girl has appeared in Domremy that claims she can hear the voice of God and has led the troops there to victory over the British invaders."

Putting aside Nadeira's headache from hearing the Biblical Lord's name invoked, she considered the new information she had just acquired. She then informed her summoner of her thoughts.

" Sir de Rais, do you remember what I said about Sacred Gears?"

" Yes, Devil, I do, but why bring this up?"

Gilles looked at the Vermillion Heir with curiosity, and she presented her hypothesis.

" While I severely doubt a simple farm girl knows anything about military tactics, the fact of the matter is that she still somehow led troops to battle and wins, right?"

The French Nobleman nodded in agreement as Nadeira continued.

" So my guess is that she has some sort of Sacred Gear that gives her advice about battle and such, which she mistakes as the voice of the Biblical One, but unless I meet her, I can't say for sure."

" But a Sacred Gear is an artifact of God, correct?"

Nadeira winced from her returning headache but nodded in acknowledgment, and Gilles then said, looking excited.

" So that girl could've been chosen by God then and is acting his will through her?!"

" There is a possibility, yes."

The French Nobleman smiled as if he had received a revelation.

" Oh, Lord, thank you for your guidance!"

His faith brimming, he then handed Nadira her payment in the form of a book and went off with a spring in his step and exclaimed.

" I set for Domremy!"

Nadeira shrugged at her contractor's enthusiasm and left, not caring or knowing about the current development of European history. A turning point in the Hundred Year War, the appearance of Joan of Arc or Jeanne D'Arc.

***

Within the largest Church of Domremy, a teenage girl on the cusp of womanhood kneeled and prayed to the Biblical God. Within her heart is a wish and a goal to see her homeland free of the invaders.

" Oh, Lord, guide me so that I may carry your humble flock's will and see France as it is meant to be, free of the British."

" *Static* current commander of nearby British forces is *Static*. Recommended actions, *Static* Present oneself as bait to draw out *Static* and *Static*. Secondary course of action, *Static*."

This inhumane voice continued to offer guidance, and the girl's heart filled with faith for her Lord as she continued to pray. The situation did not go unnoticed by heaven. Still, they kept to their usual policy of non-interference in human matters, with the exception of supernatural forces like the devils or the fallen or even other Mythos making moves against the faithful. On high in Heaven, where the Biblical God's Holy System operated from the Lord in all his divine glory, worked on providing the tools all of humanity needed to stand against the dark on their own two feet, Sacred Gears.

They peeked through the Holy System and once again saw the girl from France pray to him with complete faith. He noted as he spoke out loud.

" So the Fount of Wisdom is operating as it should, and young Jeanne is starting to develop the potential of becoming able to pass on her Soul as a Spiritual Inheritance to a worthy vessel. Zeus will, of course, be incensed by this "disrespect" as his pantheon holds the most Soul Inheritance, and there has been a new "Hero" in ages."

There was an indescribable feeling that could be felt in their voice that could make one feel comfortable if they are pure or guilty if they are impure. As the Biblical God toiled away as he watched over humanity, he found one oddity among the faithful, a faithful Noble of France had been making contact with a young devil, and yet there was no change in his faith, unlike the usual heretics that dare to summon devils for whatever reason. When the devils are summoned by some of at least some faith in him, they do everything they can to break that faith so that they are separated from his system.

The Biblical God looked over the records recorded and found out which young devil was contracting the French Nobleman.

" Nadeira Gremory... Another descendent of the original 72 Pillars that my prideful son created but without any inborn gifts except immense Demonic Power. Strange, her Soul is different, not by any major degree but still differently structured from other devils. This may require some investigation, considering that Lucifer's ultimate goal was Transcendental Devil to surpass him or even me."

Unknowingly, Nadeira drew the eye of God.