Chapter 26: Sitdown

Waking up from yet another dreamless night, the first thing Avalon noticed was the lack of a greeting from Pandorica— something he had gotten used to ever since he had received the assistant.

[Young Lord, it would appear that you've woken up earlier than usual.]

'Really? What time is it?'

[4:00 AM.]

'Sheesh, after all the frolicking with nobles that Zekram put me through I thought I'd be out like a light.'

He turned to his right, his shoulder grinding against the woman in question as the contact caused Zekram to let out a faint groan while still asleep.

Zekram forced him to begin his day at 6:00 sharp which was essentially torture for a couch potato such as himself, but going back to sleep now would probably only make him feel worse once it was time to actually get up.

He reached under his blindfold and rubbed his eyes, attempting to stave off his sleepiness while slowly scooting out of the covers to stand upright.

"Mmm," he heard Zekram breath a more audible moan, causing him to slowly turn around with dread. "Filthy mongrel," she mumbled in a dream-like manner.

'Phew, she's still asleep, but what the hell is she even dreaming about?'

Avalon started to undress his nightwear, walking to his wardrobe and taking care not to produce too much sound while opening it.

'Can't you just use a silencing barrier?' Tomoe questioned.

'No, that'll get detected by the excessive amount of barriers in the estate— each of which are linked to her directly.'

But once he put his hand on what was supposed to be his usual striped t-shirt, he noticed that the texture of his clothing felt different.

'Hold on, what happened to my shirt?' He pulled his blindfold up, noticing that a completely different set of attire was now resting in his wardrobe. Instead, there were now multiple sets of white dress shirts and long black pants, alongside a few black blazers to go with the set.

The corner of his mouth twitched, the dots soon connecting as he turned around to face his sleeping fiance.

'So this is how we're going to play? Fine, don't blame me if you suddenly find yourself waking up with Avalanche slobbering over you.'

He reluctantly put his new clothes on, rolling up his sleeves halfway merely out of his spite.

'I don't see the problem, you look handsome in it. She has good fashion sense,' Tomoe added.

'Good fashion sense? She first made me look like bootleg Lelouch, and now I look like bootleg Ruval!'

After taking a moment to glance at himself in the mirror, Avalon readjusted his blindfold and departed from his shared bedroom.

He strolled down the hallway, eventually stopping to stare in a seemingly random direction.

'Ruval and Wilbert are already using one of the training rooms? This early? Talk about diligent,' he nodded in approval.

All the training rooms in the Bael Clan's estate were equipped with barriers designed to mask the Demonic Power of whoever was using it to ensure that the attendants roaming the estate weren't disturbed, alongside protection barriers that kept the infrastructure safe.

However, Avalon's mutation enabled him to see through said masking barriers as if they didn't even exist in the first place. Only Ajuka's barriers were able to keep his senses at bay.

"How long have you guys been at this?" Avalon entered the room, which adopted the shape of a hollowed out, empty marble room with a seemingly limitless amount of space for whoever was using it to work with.

Ruval was on the ground attempting to do a push-up, his face reddened and glistening with sweat while Wilbert used his Gravity Magic to weigh him down.

"I haven't really been keeping count, each time I tell this one to take a break he insists on continuing." Wilbert sighed, the boy who had seeked his tutelage too concentrated to even acknowledge Avalon's presence.

Wilbert's deployment was supposed to begin a week, confusing Avalon as to what Ruval was hoping to achieve in such a short span of time before he'd see his first glimpse of the battlefield.

'It must be his drive to defeat Eurus that's pushing him, she did leave his father bedridden after all. I can only imagine how scary of an experience that was for him,' he surmised.

"Why does he want to focus on his physique? Normally he's more of a mage-type fighter."

"According to him it's because he thinks he's overly reliant on his Clan Trait."

Avalon hummed, actually agreeing with Ruval's mindset quite a bit.

Everytime Ruval sustained a wound that required he needed his Immortality to heal for him, it would take out a significant chunk of Demonic Power from him depending on the amount of damage inflicted.

Since he already had exceptional options when it came to his offense such as his Hell Fire, it was more logical to only rely on Immortality as a last resort. Using it to catch your opponent off-guard or create an opening was a much better use for it than acting as a glorified punching bag.

Especially if you were fighting a Fallen Angel, the natural weakness against Light Magic from being a Devil would make it even harder to sponge damage, furthered by the fact that Ruval was planning to go up against a mutated Fallen Angel.

"Huff… Huh?" Ruval looked around, finally noticing that Wilbert had engaged in conversation with someone. "Oh… Avalon… You're here," the exhausted Phenex said with labored breathing.

"Yeah, I'm here." He chuckled, using his Senjutsu to help aid Ruval's muscle recovery. "It's good to see that you're motivated, but try not to burn yourself out before you actually make it to Krovos."

"Wordplay… Very funny… You still owe me a spar from yesterday… Remember?" He forced a weary smile.

"I'm well aware, but I doubt there would be much of a point in sparring while you can barely hold your breath." Avalon continued his Senjutsu treatment, shocking Ruval at how fast the tension in his body was beginning to dissipate.

"I feel like… I could at least go a round now."

"That's just the placebo talking, I can help your muscles recover but I can't actually replenish your stamina— you still need a lot of rest." Avalon used his demonic threads to weave together a makeshift beanbag for Ruval to sit down on.

"Are these both new techniques of yours?"

"The healing thing technically isn't mine, but my beanbag magic certainly is," he replied playfully.

"Sure, because that's totally all these threads can do." Even if they hadn't interacted in a while, Ruval knew him too well to fall for the ruse. "Avalon, since you've fought that Fallen Angel as well. Can you tell me honestly how strong I'd need to be to beat her?"

"If we're assuming that she's still only as strong as when I initially fought her, then you're going to need to be at least three times as strong as you are now." Out of respect, he decided to give him the plain truth.

"I'm not going to be able to achieve that kind of strength in a week, am I?" He sighed.

"No, but fortunately you don't have to rely solely on your personal strength to defeat her." Wilbert hummed in approval, "Speaking of which, have you recruited anyone into your peerage yet?"

"Unfortunately not, I've been too preoccupied with family matters and my personal training to spend time recruiting."

"There's still plenty of time for that, though I'd appreciate it if you took care of my peerage while you're out there." He was mainly worried for Lars, since Adaloth wouldn't be there to manage Esdeath if she ever got out of hand.

Granted, she had grown a great deal since her first deployment. The passing of Lith had certainly forced her to mature a great deal, emotionally speaking.

But as much as Avalon wanted to continue talking with Ruval, he could sense unexpected company approaching.

"What are you all doing up at this hour?" Adaloth asked, leaning against the doorframe.

"I could say the same to you, and how did you even know we were here?"

"Intuition," she answered cryptically, motioning with her head for him to follow her.

'Is this going to become a daily occurrence?' He grimaced, already having a good idea about where this was going to go.

"I'll catch up with you later," he waved goodbye to both Ruval and Wilbert, following Adaloth as she started to stroll down the hallway. "Well? What's got you up so early?" The Adaloth he knew was quite the heavy sleeper.

"You first," she insisted.

He sighed, "I'm not sure— I just happened to wake up earlier than usual for some reason. Wilbert and Ruval's training probably made my senses act up or something."

"I see, I didn't actually wake up early. I couldn't sleep at all to begin with," she clasped her hands behind her back, the fatigue on her face evident as could be. "I shouldn't need to tell you why."

Avalon halted, "Is this how it's going to be then?" The way he worded it was almost as if the question were rhetorical. "A constant back and forth between us, where you pretend to come to an understanding when we both know you haven't, and never will, which ends up in us having depressing sex just for the cycle to repeat?"

"You're awfully direct," she simpered. "You're supposed to pretend like you don't have the faintest clue about what I'm saying, and only break character once all the foreplay is finished."

"That would get tiring fast."

"That it would," she agreed. "Therefore, I think it's important that we look for a solution."

"I'm not cancelling my engagement."

"I wasn't going to ask you to, at least not right now."

"Then?"

"I want to have a sit down with Zekram, I think it's about time me and her had a blunt discussion."

"Then go do that— there's no reason for you to need to run it by me beforehand," he shrugged. "Unless you plan on doing something beyond talking to her, in that case I'll have to get involved."

"I already told you before that I'm not going to kill her," Avalon's trust wasn't exactly at an all time high upon hearing that. "However, allow me to make one thing crystal clear," she walked up to him, grabbing his collar. "Having to sleep alone while you're beside Zekram every night, is a level of torture that's guaranteed to drive me to madness. It's more than I can bear Avalon."

His lip quivered, a gesture that hadn't gone unnoticed by her. "Don't tell me you're going to ask Zekram if you can sleep with us or something as outlandish as that?"

"That's exactly what I'm going to do," she wore a demented smile. "According to you you're not having sex with each other yet anyways, so I don't see how it's an issue."

He paused before speaking, "...You're insane."

"And who's fault is that?" She tilted her head, a loose bang falling towards her mouth. "It's either that, or I'll end up seriously losing my mind and doing something you won't be able to stop— is that what you want?"

"You're handing me an ultimatum? That's what you think is going to give you the relationship you're looking for?" His hands twitched, a part of him wondering whether the situation was about to escalate.

"That's not how I see it, I simply just want to be with you Avalon. You're not responding well, so I'm pushing you harder until you do. Isn't that a normal thing for a woman to do when she meets a man she likes?"

"That isn't normal Adaloth… Not even a little."

Her smile widened, as if she had got him right where she wanted him. Her fingers creeped up the sides of his face, pulling him closer to her until he could feel her breath hitching against his skin.

"Then tell me Avalon, what is a normal relationship? Since you've experienced one, I'm sure you could educate me."

"I…" He stuttered, a sharp sense of fear plaguing him the more intimate she became.

"What's with the silence? Oh, could it be that— you actually haven't experienced such a thing?"

The one relationship he had was with someone he deemed psychotic, and the conclusion to that relationship was the reason behind why he was standing here today.

"That's no good, you shouldn't lecture other people on something you know nothing about. It's irresponsible," she cupped his right hand with her palms, bringing it towards her and placing it on her cheek. "But since I love you, you're forgiven."

"Why can't you…"

"Hm? Why can't I what?"

"Why can't you just give up…" His voice was more akin to a weak whisper, "I've made it clear that I despise you, yet you insist on pushing me like this again and again. You talk about being driven mad, but isn't that exactly what you're doing to me?"

"Why should I give up? You're what I want after all, did I try to stop you when you aimed to become a Satan? And until I found out about your engagement to Zekram, I don't recall trying to stop you from becoming Great King either. How is it fair that you're allowed to pursue your goals but I can't pursue mine?"

"My goals aren't hurting anyone—"

"They're hurting me Avalon, they're hurting me more than you think you know." Her arms coiled around his waist as she planted the side of her face against his chest, "The Underworld, Devils, Fallen Angels, I don't care for any of it. You're the only one who could give me the love I'm looking for, yet instead of being me you're sleeping with some old hag who just wants you to help her pop out a few children and put a crown on your head."

"I already made it clear that I was aware of that."

Her grip grew tighter, easily enough to make him wince in pain.

"You have a second chance at life, and that's how you're going to spend it? Fucking a heartless woman and attending flimsy parties? Is that what you consider a second chance well spent?"

Avalon thought he already knew the extent of how dangerous his Sister was, he was confident that he gauged her accurately.

How wrong he had been, how terribly wrong.

The physical power she wielded as a Super Devil was only the surface of what he needed to be worried about.

"If she wants stronger children in the Bael Clan so badly, then have children with me. We'll raise them here if that's what it'll take."

"You can't seriously be suggesting that…"

"Do I look like I'm joking?" She reached a hand under his shirt, gently stroking his abdomen. "We've already done it once, there's no part of you that you haven't already given to me— except for your heart." She pushed her tongue into his mouth with a carnal glint in her eyes.

"You're a monster…"

"You can call me that if you want, it won't change my feelings in the slightest." She rimmed his neck, planting a trail of kisses on it in slow succession while starting to slide her hand downwards. "If I have to hurt you before you'll accept my love, then so be it."

Avalon scowled, threads strung from Demonic Power shooting out of his finger tips and binding Adaloth's hands behind her back. "If you're horny, go masturbate or something. I've been quite tolerant with you up till date, but I have no interest in feeding your delusion."

"Is that so?" She surprisingly made no attempt to push him any further, simply tracking him with her piercing eyes as he made his departure.

---

The artificial sun had finally risen over the Underworld, the day in the Bael Estate beginning with Adaloth, Zekram, and Avalon all in a room together. The only male amongst them clearly nervous, and for good reason.

"I thought it was about time you seeked me out," Zekram said calmly while folding one leg over the other. "I doubt you want to beat around the bush so I'll cut straight to it— you're in love with my fiance aren't you?"

Zekram had clearly chosen that word on purpose, leaving Avalon utterly confused as to why she'd want to provoke Adaloth on purpose.

"I am," after their early-morning escapade, Adaloth's stress seemed to have toned down quite a bit. "Honestly speaking, just you being in the same room as him is enough to make me want to slaughter you alongside this pathetic excuse for an estate."

"Pathetic is it?" She grinned, an overwhelming pressure descending on the room as Zekram called upon one of the many, many barriers guarding her and the household. "I'd like to see you prove that claim."

"Enough," Avalon covered the room in demonic threads, creating a wall between Adaloth and Zekram. "You said you wanted to talk with Zekram, so talk with her," he glanced at Zekram. "And stop trying to get a rise out of my Sister, either you both play nice or I end up leaving the two of you altogether."

Both of them reeled back the second those words left his mouth.

As it would appear, Avalon also had become more level-headed after the intensity of his morning with Adaloth had fissured out.

Zekram wanted his power and offspring, and Adaloth wanted his love. That was the foundation he was working with, and the one trump card he could play when the situation called for it.

"Then, Zekram, if you insist on being direct, allow me to do the same— first of all, I want to sleep in the same room as him from now on."

"Are you a toddler? Can't sleep without your Brother to keep you company?"

"Zekram," Avalon called out in an admonishing tone.

She sighed, "Can you blame me? I came here expecting a serious conversation, but all she seems interested in doing is throwing a tantrum. You've also disappointed me Avalon, letting your own Queen get you swept up in her rhythm."

"I'll show you a tantrum," sparks of red lightning started to erupt around her.

"I suddenly feel like buying some milk," Avalon said idly, causing Adaloth to reluctantly settle down. "Nevermind, I think we're all stocked up on that."

'There's no way this is going to result in anything meaningful, Adaloth is too emotional, and Zekram is too apathetic for them to ever be on the same wavelength.'

"So that's all then? You just want to be able to cuddle up with him?" Zekram asked in a clearly mocking tone.

"No, I also want to talk about the matter of you having children with him."

"Oh? This is sure to be amusing," Zekram leaned forward, cupping her hands below her chin.

"If what you're looking for is strong children raised in the Bael Clan, then you're better off letting me have children with him instead." She wrapped her arm around the back of his neck and pulled him close, "They'd be much stronger then whatever bastard you'd end up producing— that's for sure."

'Maybe I should just take my chances and see if I'll be allowed to reincarnate a third time,' Avalon pondered.

'I won't allow it! Not when things are already this heated with just two women around you, I can hardly wait for the third!'

'There's not going to be a third.'

'Whatever you say, Darling.'

"I don't particularly care if you want to have children with him," Avalon raised his head with a questioning look. "We'll get married, and have our own children. If you want to have more with him on top of that then be my guest, it'll only benefit my clan in the long run."

"You misunderstand me Zekram, I'm not offering an addition. I'm offering a substitution," her demeanor grew increasingly hostile.

"Oh, not interested." She stood up, already preparing to leave. "If that was a viable option, I would've brought it up before engaging him."

"Shouldn't I have a say in this—"

"No."

"No," Adaloth replied in unison with Zekram. "Also, I'm not finished talking to you."

"You can sleep with us if that'll keep you satiated, maybe I'll even consider letting you be his second wife. But he will be getting married to me, and we will be having children. That is final, if you insist on debating it then you might as well go smash your head into a brick wall."

'This is going to be fun,' Tomoe beamed.

'For you— for me I'm pretty I'm about to be thrown into the jaws of hell.'

"Filthy hag," Adaloth mumbled.

---

Next chapter or the one after it will be a time skip, and we'll be getting back into the action/power progression part of the story very soon with the war part resuming.

Leave your comments and suggestions below, that's all I really have for this after section.

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