Nearly an hour later, Sairaorg had calmed down to sniffling and he separated from me, a little embarrassed and feeling a lot more relieved and at ease.
"I'm sorry, I-I don't know what-" He flubbed his words, flustered.
I cupped his face and assured him.
"It's okay." I wiped his tears, before lounging back properly in the seat. I turned to him.
"You know, I didn't mean all those bad things I said… about your blood and shaming the Bael clan…"
"You didn't?" He tilted his head cutely.
"Of course not. I just said that so they'd leave you alone." I explained.
And also, to keep our interaction secret.
There are spies from the other clans out here- today more so than other days, because we had to hire a lot more temp staff for the celebration- but even one normal days, a castle this big, needs a lot of servants to upkeep and we can't catch them all. Even if we did, they'd try to turn the ones we have or infiltrate in other ways, so we purposely let some spies be, knowing full well that we can feed them false information. Better the evil known and what not.
And with a plan this risky, I can't afford it leaking.
"I don't like what they were doing either, but what can you do? That's just the way the world is." I sighed, "It's a broken system that preys on the weak and benefits only those at the top. Those that have real power." Not that that isn't the nature of all systems, but hey, the best lies are made entirely of the truth.
"A system where second and third sons are sold for political favours, where the weak are treated like trash, where half devils and hybrids are abhorred and shunned." I laughed self-deprecatingly, "People like you and me, like Iolava, we are not strong enough to do anything about it. Our sin is our weakness. Don't get me wrong, I'm still in a way better place than either of you, but again, for how long? Who knows if Rias will grow up to be another Eneely Vassago. And then what will I do? Nothing! Because I can do nothing. That's the curse of weakness. In our world, the weak have neither the right to complain, nor the power to change anything anything."
I looked at him as I spoke, his face downcast, digesting my words, good.
"That's why, I want to become strong, stronger than the Satans! The strongest devil in the world. So, I can change this broken system." In my favour, was left unsaid.
"To inspire others, to show them they can change their lives for the better too." Sairaorg looked up at me, hope in his eyes.
"Is it possible?"
"Sure it is. I am Riser godsdamned Phenex! Nothing is impossible for me. But I can't do it all alone." I smiled, beaming with confidence, pointing at Sairaorg, "Will you join me, Sai? The strongest devil should have the strongest peerage too, after all."
"But I'm not strong…I don't even have any demonic power…I can't-" He hesitated, mumbling a halfhearted rejection.
"What did I just say?" I smacked him on the head, "Nothing is impossible for me. Who am I?"
"Riser Phenex."
"You're godsdamned right." I summoned my Mutation Piece, a pawn, twirling it between my fingers, "There are other ways to become strong. See this, it's a Mutation Piece. Do you know what those are?"
He nodded.
"That's for you." I threw it to him, "For the day that you finally want to believe. If not in yourself, then believe in the me that believes in you!"
He fumbled around trying to catch it, before looking down at it with eager, yet uncertain eyes. A beat passed, then two, and he mustered up the courage to ask.
"Why me?"
"Because you are you. Because you never give up, no matter the odds." I said, pointing at him, "Because I saw you stand up, again and again after the world beat you down."
I flicked the pawn in his hand lightly.
"Anyone I give this to, will become powerful. But that kind of courage, that's something no money can buy. The will to chase that power, the will to defy fate itself." I poked his chest, stand over him, "You have the heart of a lion, Sai. I know it. That's why I chose you."
"What if it doesn't work? What if even after…I'm-" He didn't quite finish it, as if afraid of his own words.
"As I said, there are many ways to become strong. Even if your demonic power doesn't increase after using this, there's touki and senjutsu that you can learn. In fact, I will make sure you do. I promise you, Sai. I will make you strong, as long as you have the determination to do what needs to be done. The only question I want to ask of you is this. What do want more – To be the heir of the Bael clan, the clan that abandoned you, once again, or to become strong enough to protect your mother, to make it so no one can bully either of you again. Because if you take that pawn, you will never be able to become the heir to the Bael clan, ever again."
"My mother." He chose without hesitation this time, his eyes lit up with determination, "I want to be strong enough to protect my mother. So no one can hurt us again."
"Good. Because if you had chosen the Bael clan over your mother, I might have just smacked the ever-loving shit out of you!" I laughed, and punched his shoulder, "And don't worry. As long as you can keep this a secret, that you're part of my peerage, I will see if we can do something about the Bael clan too."
"Really?"
"Do I have to repeat myself every time? I am-"
"Riser Phenex. Nothing is impossible for you." He smiled, pure and beaming with hope.
"Hehehe, you're learning fast, padawan."
"Padawan?" He blinked in confusion.
"You haven't seen Star Wars?" I asked, and his expression answered for him.
"Oh man, you are in for a treat. We're going to watch the whole series together. I think they're releasing the newest one soon. You'll love it!"
"I'm sure I will." He said, and gave me one final hug, "Thanks, for believing in me."
With that he pressed the Mutation Piece into his chest and accepted the transformation. A red and black magic circle appeared beneath him, spinning as it rose through him, making his skin glow, his hair float in the wind, and just as soon as it had appeared, it vanished, leaving him changed forever.
"I can feel something…it's different from before but…" He tried to form the same magic circle he had tried earlier and this time-
A magic circle appeared on the table and the basket of apples on the table teleported onto his hands.
"I have demonic power!" he cheered, "It's not much but…it's there. I can feel it. I think it'll grow after some training."
"Congratulations." I clapped, and he pulled me into a hug, again, "Okay, we're hugging now? Again? Don't you think you've had enough hugs for today?"
He giggled mischievously and replied.
"No."
I sighed, and returned his hug, before quickly getting him back on track.
"Now, the party is ending soon, so I will need to go back out there to see the guests off. But you will have to wait a few more minutes before going back too. And remember, you can't tell anyone but your mother about what happened here today. Do it in private, where no one else, not even your servants, are present. Only to your mother.
Only in private. Repeat it for me."
"Only to my mother. Only in private." He parroted with a nod.
"Don't start acting any differently now because you have power. No one can know, because if they do, they will try to suppress you harder, stop you from training, or even report it to your father. And that, won't be any good. It'll put all our efforts to waste. SO keep acting the way you were before. Act weak, until you are truly strong. Then you will show them. But not a single moment before, got it?"
He nodded again.
"Okay, now we need to talk about training. What do you do at the Bael estate?"
"I… don't live there anymore." He spoke with some hesitation.
"So where do you live now?"
"A small mansion in the countryside. It's just me and my mother and a few maids."
"And what do you do there all day?"
"I have classes in the morning, then I train myself. I have some books on boxing from the human world and I have VHS tapes from the rating games. I watch them too. Then I practice magic with my mother in the evenings."
"These classes in the morning, you have a private tutor? What does he teach? Does it include magic?"
"Yes, a local tutor. No, he only teaches me etiquette, math, science and economics. My mother teaches me magic. Magic tutors are expensive."
I knew they were on a shoestring budget but sheesh. Not even a magic tutor?
Well, it works out better for me anyway.
"I see. Okay. Keep learning what you are, but after you're done with the classes, I want you to start taking naps."
"Why?"
"Explain this to your mother too, so she doesn't worry, but…we are going to make everyone think you're getting the Sleeping Sickness. Because every night, you're going to come here and start training with me or my mother in both physical and magical aspects. This way not only will they underestimate you and write you off as no threat, but you will also be able to grow stronger, hidden from all those so vile as to wish ill upon you."
"I don't understand that but I will ask my mom." He said in agreement.
"Good. Then I will see you tomorrow night?" I asked full well knowing I would see both him and his mother no later than tomorrow afternoon. One does not simply turn the former heir of the Bael clan into a pawn and not expect consequences. And consequences I was prepared for. Missing out on a pawn like him, however, never.
It was worth the price.
"Yes." He replied, sweetly, unaware of the trouble brewing on the horizon.
As I stood up to leave, he spoke once again.
"You know when I said earlier that I was leaving…I wasn't going to go back to the party. I was going to go back home. I'm glad I didn't."
"Looking like that?" I snorted, "Do you want your mother to go grey from worry?"
I pointed at the spare suit I had taken out for him.
"Clean up and change before you leave. Don't worry your mother too much."
----------x----------
As I walked back to the ballroom, I found another little boy, who looked like a younger version of Sai, maybe an year or a half younger, hanging around some nether roses, observing them gently.
"Do you like roses?"
"Hm? Oh, I um….yes?"
"My mother likes them too, especially the ones she crossbreeds with monkshood. Those are a little ways that way." I pointed out.
"Ah! They must have a really beautiful purple hue then, or perhaps ringed with red white and purple?" He replied excitedly.
"Why yes, she has both of those varieties. And a secret third one too. Can you guess which one that is?"
"Ooh….that…uh…" He got lost in thought for a moment before he hesitantly answered, "Pure white?"
"Ding ding ding! You are….Correct!" I clapped.
"Yay!" He cheered.
"And your prize is…" I flicked my wrist as a piece of cake appeared in my hand, "A slice of the world's finest birthday cake!"
"Oh, no- bffu." He almost gagged, "No more. I ate too many."
"Hahahaha." I laughed, "There's a reason why gluttony is a sin. But then again, we are devils."
"Please don't talk about eating anymo-" He stopped mid-sentence before realizing, "You're Riser Phenex! The gifts…" He looked around puzzled like a chicken before remembering he was in the garden, "are with my mother."
"That I am." I said, "And you are?"
He made a formal bow as he introduced himself.
"I am Magdaran Bael, heir to the Bael clan. My mother told me to find you and make friends. But I don't know how…" He twiddled his little thumbs as he spoke.
"But haven't we had such a pleasant talk already? I think we're already friends, yes?"
"Really?"
"Of course." I replied, shaking his hands, "But the party is almost over, so maybe we should talk again, some other time?"
"Yes!...I mean, yes." He tempered his excitement, "Do you also like plants?"
"Not as much as my mother. I think you should visit us sometime. I'm sure my mother would love to show you around our garden. She has made some really fascinating combinations of plants around here."
"I will visit." He beamed, "For sure!"
"Well then. Until I see you again, Young Lord Bael." I bowed, and made to walk away as he waved his little hands in his oversized peacoat, looking like an adorable little penguin, "Please excuse me."
____________________________________________________________________
Riser pawns Sairaorg.
Magdaran being an adorable little muffin.
Next time on RYLAP, Lady Misla Bael rips our MC a new asshole. And a new myth forms in the Castle Phenex servants union.
Till then, thanks for reading, don't forget to donate your powerstones, and leave a review!
See ya in a few hours because guess what?
Double release, baby!
Woop Woop!