"Ravel is missing?"
Rias' relationship with the Phenex family was a bit of a mixed bag. She absolutely abhorred Riser's condescending attitude and arrogance, especially with his constant reminding of the superiority of Pureblood society. His redeeming qualities were that he genuinely cared about his sister and his Peerage, and if any dared to cross those under his care, there would indeed be hell to pay. His parents treated her as if she was their second daughter, though their remarks on occasion told her that even they had reservations about Riser's attitude. Rias had rarely ever met his brother, but the man had been pleasant enough. Ravel already considered her to be an older sister and wished her marriage the best of luck, though there were times when Ravel could be pushy, as she was clearly on her brother's side of things.
Before she got involved in the Holy Grail War, Rias had been looking for any opportunity to get out of her marriage with Riser. She practically rejoiced when Lancer had come into her life and promptly put Riser in his place when he realized what a pompous ass he was and gave him quite the skewering. Though they were still to be wed, the roles had changed. For once, it was Rias who had the upper hand in their so-called "relationship" and not him. He had to play by her rules, something that irritated him greatly.
Despite her problems with Riser, Rias had no problems with Ravel. In truth, she actually saw her as the little sister she never really had and spoiled her whenever she had the chance. To hear that she was missing, and the look of desperation Riser had on him, spoke volumes on par with his being here. He wouldn't be here unless he was truly desperate.
That was enough to make her alarmed.
"How long has she been gone?"
"Since yesterday." Yubelluna answered. "We contacted Lord Phenex and tried every possible means of communication, but all attempts to find her have failed."
"Perhaps she left on a personal venture?" Yuuto offered.
Riser shook her head. "No, she was studying up for our next Rating Game. Which we were supposed to be at hours ago."
Rias' eyebrows shot up. While she knew that Riser purposely forfeited two Rating Games as a sign of respect for his opponent, to hear that he was willing to not attend and give up by default for the sake of finding her told her how serious it was. Especially since Ravel, the most ardent about them succeeding, had vanished on such an important day.
This was very serious.
"Do you have any idea where she might have gone?" Lancer inquired. "Any clues?"
"If I did, I wouldn't be here!" Riser growled, the room heating up. He quickly quelled his anger when Lancer narrowed his eyes, letting out a tiny amount of his killing intent. Yubelluna tensed, inching closer to her lord. Rias held up a hand, causing Lancer to cease. "I've asked everyone affiliated with House Phenex and even people Ravel was close to, to the best of my knowledge. No one has seen her. If she left of her own volition, she told none of us. She wouldn't do this without reason."
"Maybe she doesn't wanna be found."
Riser grimaced. "I sincerely hope not."
Rias pursed her lips as she folded her arms. It truly was a concern. There were no clues or signs of Ravel's disappearance or where she might have gone. In all likelihood, she had been kidnapped. But who would even be capable of abducting the youngest heir of the House of Phenex right under their noses? Something just wasn't adding up.
"There must be SOMETHING." she said after a moment. "Was she acting any differently before she went missing? Did she seem off to you?"
Riser rubbed his chin. "Not that I recall. You know Ravel, Rias. If she could, she'd spend days on end locked away in her room reading books and studying up on our competition for a Rating Game." He stopped after a moment, eyes uncertain. "But… now that you mention it, she did start becoming a bit evasive. Around the time this whole Holy Grail War thing began, Burent told me that Ravel had been hiding in her room more often. Sometimes, she'd catch her staring at her hand."
"Her hand?" Akeno asked. "Why?"
"I'm not sure, but..." Riser frowned. "Actually, now that I think about it, my brother asked me if Ravel had gotten a tattoo recently. Said he saw a red mark on her hand."
Rias froze.
"... Well." Lancer said, expression mimicking her thoughts. "This just made things complicated."
"Riser." Her voice was tight and full of dread. For once in her life, she was hoping she was wrong. "Ravel's room. Was there any signs of a summoning having been carried out recently? Like a magic circle or a rune carved into the floor?"
"What? No, nothing like that. Why?" Riser asked. He stared at her for a moment, then noticed the mark on her hand. Her Command Seals. Realization dawned on him and paled. "No. That can't be. There's only supposed to be seven ."
"Not anymore." Rias hissed. "Everyone, we're heading out. Find Ravel Phenex before the Executioner or the Overseer does, otherwise there's going to be a war, treaty be damned!"
"WHAT?!" Riser exclaimed. "There's an Executioner in town?! And why would there be a war if the Overseer finds her?!"
"It's because we're currently in a ceasefire upon her orders." Rias answered as she and the other members got to leave. "If she finds out about your sister in the area without her permission..." She didn't need to finish the implication.
There was also the fact that Rias knew that House Phenex wouldn't take this lying down. Even if Ravel didn't know there was a ceasefire, there would still be anger. Tensions were high enough as it was.
From her viewpoint, Ravel Phenex's death may very well be the powder keg. And the Devils weren't ready for a second Great War.
None of them were.