"This is new." Haruto murmured, watching the form of a woman with solid gray hair in a maid outfit appear out of a seal that appeared on his ebony wood desk. The seal acted as a hologram projector of sorts, allowing him to see the woman in three dimensions, something that intrigued Haruto by the sheer application of such a spell.
"Greetings, Lord Death. You have been cordially invited by Lord Lucifer to attend a celebration in honor of his sister's victory over Riser Phenex, and have been granted permission to bring two guests. The celebration is to begin in a few hours, so please be on time if you wish to attend. This seal will act as a teleportation circle twice should you accept. Good Day."
And with her explanation complete, the hologram of the maid disappeared from his view. The seal that appeared on the table before him was replaced by an envelope bearing the same sigil in a flash of purple light. Haruto stared at the envelope, and thought about what he just witnessed.
He was pleased to hear that Koneko, Issei and the rest of the Gremory Group defeated their opponent, but the tone that woman held when she spoke to him… It was discerning. He couldn't get too good of a reading from what little he had seen of the woman, but she certainly carried herself confidently. She was also refined to a high degree, more so than many of the women he had seen so far in this world.
Now why would this woman contact me, and not Sirzechs himself?
Haruto was sure he was about to find out, as it would be incredibly rude of him to turn down an invitation to a victory celebration, especially when he helped the group get into the right mindset for such an incursion. The letter gave him the exact time and after checking the clock, he found he only had three hours left until he was expected to be there.
He stood up and opened up his closet, coming face to face with row upon row of different styles of suit. It was the color of the suits that made Haruto want to call Azazel back and finish telling the man what he really thought about him.
All of his clothes were now black and velvet blue, outside of his school uniform. Many of the outfits he had purchased when out and about around Kuoh were missing as well. Looking back at the clock, Haruto realized that he would not have time to get anything tailored before it was time for the reception to begin.
He also needed to let Bennia and Asia know that they were invited to come with him, as Bennia had helped train them as well, while Asia kept them from becoming too injured after being manhandled by Haruto.
"Why does the supernatural world have to be so… so… over the top about absolutely everything?" Haruto vocalized his internal thoughts as he made his way from the massive space that made up his bedroom to the fourth floor to tell the girls the news.
"Do you see them?"
"They all match, and they match well!"
"Why didn't you wear a red suit to match MY dress, darling?"
The whispers that were being exchanged as Haruto, Asia and Bennia made their way through the crowds of Devils that surrounded them were almost enough to make Haruto want to take the girls and leave immediately. His desire to speak with Sirzechs about any form of misunderstanding that may develop because of Azazel took antecedence over any form of self consciousness he might be feeling, however, so he continued to press forward.
The couples that lined the hallways and surrounded the refreshment tables looked like they belonged in a fairy tale with how lavishly they were clothed. He felt under-dressed and woefully unprepared if he were to be honest with himself.
Haruto was dressed in a velvet blue suit jacket and pant combo, a black dress shirt with a white cravat and black dress shoes that made his feet ache. Two coffin pins were secured on both sides of his suit collar, something Haruto almost went without if not from coercion from Bennia.
She insisted that he was appearing in an official capacity, and that he should look the part. He argued that he held no official capacity, but she was not having it. He eventually relented, knowing that there was no sense in arguing with her, as she would just believe what she wanted. No matter how much logical, conclusive evidence he provided, the outcome would remain the same.
Asia wore a dress the same shade of black as Harutos' shirt with a wide flare at the bottom in a bell shape that left her feet free from any material that might trip her up. A coffin shaped necklace had replaced the silver cross Haruto had seen her clutching at over the past ten days. Her heels were the same shade of black as her dress, and made Asia seem slightly taller than she really was, almost putting the tip of her head at Haruto's chin.
Bennia wore a much more formfitting black dress than Asia, and forwent heels in favor of boots that stopped at her knees. Earrings that matched Haruto's pins and Asia's necklace rested in her ears, and a frilled headband the same shade as her dress held her hair from her face.
Each of the girls wore a long, velvet blue cape that doubled as a scarf as well with coffin engravings in the middle of their lengths, much like the Grim Reapers under Haruto's command now wore. The two were quick to commandeer two of the spare capes, it seems, and just as quick to make sure they matched well.
Overall, they seemed to be the only beings in the room that looked like they were dressed for a funeral. Haruto had the idle thought that he would have fit in with Elizabeth and Igor as Elevator Attendants, and it brought him some form of amusement in such a tense atmosphere.
Haruto and his entourage were finally approached by the same woman that contacted Haruto through holographic projection, wearing the same maid outfit as before. Clearly, she took her job very seriously, as he was sure it was almost compulsive behavior to be showy for the supernatural, no matter the faction. He found that she might be one of the only sane beings left in the world, as he could tell from her posture that she wouldn't be acting like a fool as Sirzechs and Azazel were fond of.
"Lord Death, it is good to receive you in such a timely manner. If you would follow after me, Lord Lucifer is waiting for you this way."
She turned on a heel and began to march through the crowd of people that seemed to part for her easily enough. A look was shared between the three before they moved to follow the maid, whom they still did not know the name of.
She is one serious woman. Bennia thought to herself as she and Asia followed behind Haruto through the crowd of Devils, each feeling hundreds of eyes following their every move.