1989
Raylix let out a breath as he left his bathroom, shutting the door behind him. Completely in the nude (which he had every right to be, considering it was HIS bedroom and all), he made the short trip across his bedroom from the bathroom to his closet, rolling his left hand around as he opened the door with his right hand, stepped inside and shut it behind him.
It had been decided pretty early on in his grounding that Raylix wouldn't be allowed to enlist the 'services' of his favourite maids, so he'd had to make do with the... other ways, that he could satisfy his sex drive. His left (and sometimes his right) hand didn't exactly compare to the intense pleasure that came with being inside an actual woman, but it still got the job done. After his most recent session in the bathroom, the waves of pleasure that came with a self-induced climax slowly ebbed away as Raylix took a further step into his closet.
Raylix's walk-in closet (which automatically lit up with the same metallic orbs that were present in Raylix's bedroom) was an elegant room, as large as a living room in an average house in the Human world, potentially even larger. It was definitely larger than Sabemka and Tomosei's living room, at least. The ceiling and floor were coloured a deep crimson (with the carpet on the floor pleasant for the Gremory Heir's bare feet), with the various closets within the closet being coloured black and white on the outside and inside respectively, with transparent glass allowing Raylix to see the clothes inside.
His eyes scanning over the many, MANY articles of clothing he possessed (some of which would definitely have fetched a pretty penny in the human world, to say the very least), and after pulling on a regular pair of socks and boxer shorts, Raylix picked out a white t-shirt, black jacket and pants, which he fitted onto his body with the kind of practiced ease that came with having dressed yourself for nearly half a millennium.
Once he was done dressing himself, Raylix stepped out of the closet and summoned his scarf and bracelets onto his neck and wrists. After adjusting them to make sure they looked alright on him, he considered just relaxing in his room for most of the day again- nothing better to do while grounded, after all- before there was a knock on his bedroom door.
"Yes?"
Raylix turned slightly towards the door as he heard it being pushed open, expecting either Zeoticus, Venelana or even Grayfia (particularly Grayfia) on the other side: but unfortunately, none of those three potential options were coming walking into the room.
"Good morning, Sir." Josarry inclined his head to Raylix as he entered the bedroom. "Apologies for the early start."
"No, it's fine." Raylix replied. "I'm already up, anyway."
"Your father and mother wish to speak with you downstairs, Sir." Josarry continued. "They asked Ereht and myself to come up and escort you to them."
Raylix sighed, resisting the urge to roll his eyes as he turned around completely towards them.
"Alright, whatever." he replied, his hands slipping into his pockets as he followed Josarry out of his bedroom, locking it once the pair of them were out. Ereht, who was standing right next to the door, probably standing guard for whatever reason. Josarry led the way, exactly two steps in front of Raylix, while Ereht- by contrast- stayed exactly two steps behind. The three Devils didn't encounter any maids, butlers, or anyone of any kind while they walked through the castle's residential wing, though after descending the stairs down into the main hall, they did notice a trio of maids coming out of the kitchen. Zest was one among them, with Raylix returning the brief smile she flashed at him as they passed, just as briefly.
Josarry got out of Raylix's way as the pair of them, plus Ereht, came closer to the open doors to the dining room, through which Raylix walked. He was greeted by the sight of his mother and father, tucking into their morning meals, with maids and butlers lining the walls as the Duke and Duchess Gremory indulged in the best food that their considerable wealth could buy.
Directly opposite of where Venelana was sitting and eating, Raylix noticed a plate of his favourite breakfast meal (Bacon and syrup-drizzled pancakes, a dish from the Human world). Though the scent of such a meal launched a full-on assault on his demonic nostrils almost instantly (and very nearly overpowered him, he could barely remember the last time he'd had it), Raylix couldn't help but feel that there was something afoot. The first time since his parents had specifically asked for him to come downstairs for breakfast in a couple of years, while he was currently grounded (and had been for a good while), and they have his favourite breakfast meal of all time waiting for him when he walks through the door?
Suspicious? Maybe.
"Oh, Raylix!" Venelana, the first out of Raylix's parents to notice their son and Heir walking through the door, spoke up, a second or so after she'd looked up. "Good morning! Please, come and sit down."
Raylix's eyes shifted from Venelana (who gestured to the chair), to the plate of food (which continued to look and smell extraordinarily enticing), to Zeoticus (who didn't say anything, or even look up at him), back to the plate of food, and back to Venelana. After a couple of second's worth of awkward silence between parents and son, Raylix moved further into the dining room, eventually taking his seat opposite his mother, and at her non-verbal insistence, tucked into the bacon/syrup/pancakes combo. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed his mother's eyes flicking to the scarf and bracelets he was wearing, though she made no comment about them.
"I specifically requested that that be made for you, this morning." Venelana remarked, an eyebrow slightly raised as she watched Raylix tearing through the meal like he hadn't eaten in days (he actually had, he just loved this particular meal that Lilith-damn much). "Since we wanted to talk with you this morning, Raylix, I figured that you'd be more... receptive, to talking with us if you'd had your favourite meal."
Raylix did his best to hide a snort, as Venelana had just confirmed what he'd suspected. Judging by the fact that neither Venelana nor Zeoticus noticed said hidden snort, Raylix figured he'd done a pretty good job of doing so.
"Indeed." Zeoticus spoke up, for the first time since Raylix had stepped into the dining room. "Over the past six months, Raylix, you've served your punishment well. Remained within the castle grounds without complained, not attempted to make our maids... *ahem* service, you without my permission, not acted out in any way. I'm both very impressed and very happy, Raylix."
"Mmhmm." Raylix hummed, semi-committally, as he continued tearing into his breakfast. Zeoticus let out a little chuckle, before clearing his throat.
"I'll be plain with you though, Raylix: even though you've clearly changed for the better during the last six months, I doubt many within our society will be willing to put your recent behaviour behind them, particularly the... incident, six months ago. Least of all Zekram himself, after you attacked him like you did. And, to be honest, I can't blame him all that much."
"Right..." Raylix replied, after swallowing his most recent mouthful of food. He'd put together another forkful and had already raised it to his mouth, within the span of a couple of seconds.
"But what's important, Raylix, is that we are." Venelana spoke up, continuing from where Zeoticus had verbally left off. "We're ready to lift your present punishment, and to stick by you, let the Underworld know that you've changed. Though you have to willing to prove that you've changed, too. It's one thing to tell people that you've changed, but quite another to show it. So, the next time we're out and about, in the presence of other noble Devils... show it, okay?"
"Okay." Raylix replied, his voice slightly muffled as he wolfed down the last couple of mouthfuls of breakfast. Zeoticus and Venelana blinked a couple of times at what they'd just witnessed: Raylix had just polished off his morning meal in record time. Granted, it WAS his favourite meal, and he hadn't had it for ages, but still... damn.
Zeoticus was first to shake off his muted shock, however, as his face split into a smile as he looked over at Raylix.
"Fantastic! I'm glad that we could come to an understanding, Raylix." Zeoticus spoke, as Raylix got to his feet. "Now, why don't you run along? I'm sure it would be good for you to stretch your legs this morning, after your confinement for so long. Just be sure to be back this afternoon: just to remind you, Ruvella will be coming today."
"Just her?" Raylix replied, his hands in his jacket-pockets as he turned around. "Not her parents?"
"No, just your fiancée." Venelana replied. "I believe Rika said she and Renzo were visiting someone, today."
"Yes, Diehauser." Zeoticus nodded. "With Phisana Stolas having been out of the question for a while, now- is it even known why that is?"
"Not as far as I know." Venelana replied. "Either way, Rika and Renzo have been trying to secure the co-operation of Diehauser's... daughter, Imogen. Negotiations between the two Clans have been... extensive. Far more extensive than you'd expect a chat over whether or not your daughter can be a bridesmaid really should be, but... oh well."
"Hopefully, Rika is able to get through to Diehauser, and help him see how much of a good thing this would be, particularly for his Heiress." Zeoticus remarked. "Though I suppose we shouldn't worry about that, not when we've got your groomsmen sorted, Raylix."
"Mmhmm." Raylix hummed. Ruvella's two younger brothers, Rarzeth and Riser, and his mother's-side cousin, Magdaran Bael, Heir of the Bael Clan, had all agreed to be his groomsmen for the wedding, with Sirzechs having volunteered long ago to be the best man. As Zeoticus and Venelana changed the subject to talk about something else, Raylix took that as his cue to leave, and promptly left the dining room.
Josarry and Ereht were there right, on either side of the doors to the dining room, as Raylix stepped out, making a beeline for the double-doors- which were opened by the Devils standing outside. Raylix didn't look to see who they were as he made his way down the steps into the castle grounds, with Josarry and Ereht following quickly behind him. The Gremory Heir's five pairs of wings unfurled from his back, initially preparing to take flight, but after a second's pause, he stopped, and turned around.
"Hey, just out of curiosity, how much is Father paying you to... do what you do?"
Josarry and Ereht looked at each other for a second, their rock-solid outward visage broken- however temporarily- by Raylix's sudden question.
"Seven hundred and fifty Souls per day, Sir." Ereht replied, after that second passed. "Why do you ask?"
'Two hundred and seventy-three thousand, seven hundred and fifty Souls per year.' Raylix thought to himself, subconsciously. "Well, how would you like to make some extra?"
Josarry and Ereht looked at each other, again, and then back at Raylix.
"What do you have in mind, Sir?" Josarry asked, as Raylix slowly walked away from the two Devils guarding the Gremory Castle's double-doors, just in case they could hear the three of them talking, even in rather low tones.
"I've got some... private, stuff, that I ne- want, to do today." Raylix replied. "Stuff that I'd rather not have Mother or Father find out about. So, what say the pair of you... leave me alone for this morning, and just tell my parents that we went to Gemyem and just walked around for a little while, because I fancied stretching my legs? And in exchange, your wages for today can be doubled?"
There was silence among Raylix's bodyguards for a few seconds. As they didn't respond, Raylix initially began to suspect that they hadn't heard him, but before he could open his mouth to speak again, Ereht spoke up.
"Ten times our day's wages, and we won't say a word, Sir."
"Five times." Raylix countered.
"Ten." Josarry repeated his fellow bodyguard's counter-offer.
"Five."
"Ten."
"Seven? I'll up it to eight if you stop calling me 'Sir', it's annoying."
A second's silence, as Josarry and Ereht looked at each other again.
"Deal." They replied, in unison.
"Cool." Raylix nodded. "How often do you get your wages?"
"At the end of every week, Si- Raylix." Josarry answered.
"Got it." Raylix remarked, stretching. "Come find me anytime between today and the end of the week, and I'll sort it out for you, okay?"
"Understood, Raylix." The pair of bodyguards replied, in unison, after which Raylix spread his wings and ascended into the air, with his two bodyguards following suit.
"Just follow me for a bit, at least until we're out of sight of the castle." He ordered. "Then we can go our separate ways for the morning. I'll call you when I get back, so we can look like we're back together and you never left our sides."
Turning around in mid-air, Raylix took off, out of the castle grounds, over Gemyem, and out into the countryside of the Gremory territory, with Josarry and Ereht continuing to follow suit. It took them all of ten seconds to be far enough away from the Gremory Castle that there was no way that Raylix, Josarry and Ereht could be seen from the former's home. Nodding at his two bodyguards, who disappeared through transportation-circles, Raylix opened one for himself and made his way through, appearing on the outskirts of Sabemka and Tomosei's village.
Contrary to the aftermath of the event that Zeoticus and Venelana had put on for Raylix seven months ago, Raylix had no hesitation in touching down just outside the village borders, and walking straight into the village.
He didn't have go far into the village to find the one Devil that he was looking for, finding said Devil at the village marketplace. Malech turned around once he was done chatting with what looked like a merchant of Giant Byrd-feathers, and noticed Raylix immediately.
"Raylix?" He blinked, slightly outwardly surprised at the sight of him. That surprise was gone within fractions of a second, however, as he closed the distance between the pair of them within a couple of steps. A smile broke out on his face as his eyes flicked from the scarf, to the bracelets, and back to Raylix's face.
"It's been some time."
"Yeah." Raylix nodded. "I've been... kind of occupied."
"I can imagine." Malech replied, turning around. "Come on, we can walk and talk."
"Right." Raylix muttered, quickly catching up to the dark-haired village chieftain, and falling into step with him as they moved through the village square, passing the statues of Sabemka and Tomosei as they did so.
"It's nice to see you've still got the scarf and bracelets, Raylix." Malech remarked, glancing at the statues as he passed them. "Do your family know that you have them, and what they are?"
"They know I've got them, and I don't know if they know what they are to me." Raylix replied, glancing at the statues himself, for a slightly longer time than Malech had done as he passed. "Though I doubt they'd approve either way, considering they're not the biggest fan of them. Not that that's stopped me from keeping a hold of them, though."
"I should hope not." Malech replied. "And to see you still wearing them..."
"I mean, they're comfortable." Raylix replied. "Why wouldn't I?"
Malech let out a light chuckle, as he continued walking, down a certain street.
"I heard about the gathering, six months ago." the village chieftain spoke up, slowing down and turning to look at Raylix as he caught up to him again. "Everyone here did, via what news is available to us out here. And when you stopped showing up here right from when that gathering took place, we thought something had happened with your family. That you'd been exiled from the Underworld, or something."
"No, I just got grounded." Raylix replied. "I got let off today, for some reason or another. Either way, that's why I'm here."
"I see." Malech nodded. "Though I suppose that, had your parents had another potential Heir waiting in the wings, things could have turned out rather differently for you. And not for the better."
Raylix fell silent for a moment as the pair of Devils kept walking, but he didn't deny Malech's remark. Maybe that would have happened: Zeoticus HAD mentioned it as a possibility, way back then, but only as something that other families could do, right?
…Right?
"Maybe..." Raylix muttered, quietly, as he and Malech continued down the street, and passed the house that used to belong to Sabemka and Tomosei. Raylix took a quick glance at the house, before pointedly averting his eyes: a gesture that didn't go unnoticed by Malech.
"There's a couple of new families in there, now." he remarked, conversationally. "Want to go in and say hi?"
"No." Raylix replied, almost instantly. "No, no thanks. I wouldn't want to intrude."
"Alright." Malech shrugged. "Well, if you ever want to, don't hesitate to do just that. The families in there are super-nice, they'd definitely understand."
"Hm." Raylix hummed, as he and Malech continued past the house, and further down the road towards his own home, which in contrast to Sabemka and Tomosei's former home, was a bungalow with a painted red and white exterior. The Gremory Heir made no comment on it as he and Malech continued towards it. As the pair of them got closer and closer, a tree that the two Devils passed- or rather, something affixed TO that tree- caught Raylix's eye, almost causing him to do a double-take.
It was a poster, for the 'True Underworld Brigade'... whatever that was.
With the speed that he and Malech were walking at, and the position at which the poster had caught Raylix's eye in relation to where Raylix was, he barely had time to get a proper look at the poster before it was out of his sight, and he and Malech came closer to his home. The pair of them were within steps of Malech's front gate when a trio of Devils came around the corner. Raylix normally would've just glanced at them, taking them in as they entered his vision, for half a second at most, but what really caught his attention was the fact that they looked- by all accounts- pretty damn beat-up.
Malech seemed to notice the trio of Devils going past, too, and sighed as they left his and Raylix's sight, and continued down the road. As they left, Raylix noticed the one on the right (a young man with brown hair, his eyes couldn't be seen from where he was standing) holding the one in the middle (a young woman with darker-coloured hair) rather closely, though he winced in pain doing so.
A sigh from Malech caught Raylix's attention again, as he turned back to him.
"Another example of the fine work of Hell's lords and ladies." he remarked, a tinge of sarcasm in his voice as he looked over at Raylix. "Those three are the children of a merchant out here, and they volunteered to head to Gemyem a couple of weeks ago in order to peddle their parent's wares to a those of the territory's largest city."
"That's... nice of them, to do." Raylix replied, turning around and watching the three Devils leaving his and Malech's sight, before looking back at Malech. "But something happened. Didn't it?"
"You could say." Malech replied. "Things were going fine, for a while. They actually managed to get all of their original batch of meat-pies sold, and were ready to get another batch in from their parents to sell in the big city. But then..." he sighed, again. "I guess word reached the dear leaders of this slice of the Underworld, because some more merchants- hired by the Gremory Clan themselves- stepped in with their own, similar, wares."
"...Oh." Raylix replied, getting the beginnings of a sinking feeling within the pit of his stomach. He had an inkling of where this story was going, and he didn't think he would like it.
"Yeah, 'oh' is right." Malech replied. "The pies that the Gremory merchants were selling, extremely similar to the ones that those three were selling- in fact, I wouldn't be surprised if someone actually purchased one and sold it to the Gremory Clan so they could copy it- were much cheaper, and much more could be produced. All of this happened JUST as those three got the new shipment of pies all the way from over here."
"Ahh." Raylix replied. "So, no-one would buy from them?"
"Indeed, not." Malech nodded. "Naturally, they got wind of this, and tried to speak up about it."
"And that-" Raylix jerked his head back at where the trio of beat-up Devils were: they had passed out of sight. "was the result, wasn't it?"
"It was." Malech nodded, again, before sighing. "It's awful, but I guess that's what you get when you're not associated with any of the families that ascended to nobility. Get treated with apathy at best- normally, at least-" he added, his eyes flicking over to Raylix, with the briefest of smiles forming on his face at that moment. "and like shit at worst."
"Hmm." Raylix hummed, sighing. "Malech... I don't know what to say."
"Then don't say anything." Malech replied, a sharp look on his face as he looked at Raylix. "It might be uncomfortable to hear, Raylix, but it's the truth. And honestly, from what I've heard, the other stuff that's been done by other higher-class Devil families to those beneath them... well, it makes what happened with what those merchants did like child's play. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't actual merchants at all." he added, as an afterthought. "Just military thugs dressed as merchants."
"Maybe..." Raylix replied. "And honestly, Malech, maybe you're right. Now that I think about it, the only times I can remember anyone from the Pillars speaking positively about... well, the kind of Devil they'd call a commoner, is when they do something that directly benefits them. Most likely at said commoner's expense, to one degree or another."
"Oh, yeah?" Malech folded his arms, gazing over at Raylix with a sceptical expression on his face.
"Yeah." Raylix replied, gazing right back at the black-haired cloak-wearing chieftain. "Couple of young pricks, back at the party that the... incident with Zekram, happened. Called Sabemka and Tomosei heroic for, and I quote, dying for a noble. And then Zekram went and said that them dying was, and I also quote, the most notable thing that they ever did."
"Wow..." Malech whispered, turning around and taking a couple of breaths. Though his posture seemed calm, Raylix could see one of his fists clenched, so hard that the already-pale Devil's knuckles had gone stark-white. Though this seemed to last for a couple of seconds as Malech, forcibly calming himself, turned around towards Raylix.
"I'm sorry, Raylix, that's just... that's truly horrible. I'm really sorry you had to hear that about your friends."
"Yeah, no kidding." Raylix replied. "And... thanks."
"I suppose what Zekram said was why you attacked him?" Malech asked. "I didn't hear that on the Devil news."
"Of course, not." Raylix muttered. "Yeah, that was the reason."
"Right." Malech nodded. "Anyway, why don't we step inside for something to drink? Definitely more comfortable in there than standing out here."
Raylix shrugged, and silently followed Malech into his home, shutting the door behind him.
----- ----- -----
"I was in Gemyem, stretching my legs after my half-a-year's confinement, got it?" Raylix asked, turning his head to look at Josarry and Ereht, as the three of them flew over the Gremory Castle's border-walls, entering the castle grounds.
"Understood, Raylix." Josarry and Ereht replied, in perfect unison, nodding in perfect unison also.
"Shall we call you 'Sir' when we're in the Gremory Castle?" Ereht added.
"Actually, that'd probably be best, yeah." Raylix nodded. "Good idea, Ereht."
"Thank you, Sir." Ereht replied, as Raylix turned around. A small smile flashed on the Gremory Heir's face as he, plus his two bodyguards, touched down in front of the Gremory Castle, with the guards in front of it opening the doors as soon as they saw who had touched down in front of them. There was no-one in the main hall when Raylix entered the castle, with Josarry and Ereht at his sides, though the door to the castle's lounge was open. Raylix made his way towards it, if only to check inside and see if anyone was there. Better to let SOMEONE know that he was home, he figured.
Though once he got to the door and peeked his head in, he noticed Zeoticus and Venelana sitting on one of the couches, Grayfia stood up near a wall opposite her Lord and Lady, and Ruvella sat down on one of the couches. The latter Devil was the first to notice Raylix, standing up as soon as she saw him. The sudden movement immediately caught Zeoticus and Venelana's attention, as they stood up and turned around as well.
"Raylix!" Zeoticus spoke up, a wide smile plastered onto his face as he made his way around the couch, and moved towards his son. "Ruvella arrived a little earlier than we were expecting, and we were just talking before you came in!"
"Sorry I wasn't home sooner, Father" Raylix replied. "I think time just got away from me, a bit. I was in Gemyem, walking around and stretching my legs, like you suggested."
Neither Josarry or Ereht attempted to contradict Raylix's statement, as Zeoticus' eyes flicked to them, and then back to Raylix. One of Grayfia's eyebrows raised, though since everyone was looking at Raylix rather than her, this went unnoticed.
"Very well, very well, you weren't that late anyway." he replied. "Ruvella's been here only about fifteen minutes."
"We'll give you some time alone, then." Venelana remarked, making her way around the couch as well before turning around. "Grayfia, why don't you start getting lunch prepared for Raylix and Ruvella?"
Grayfia silently inclined her head to Venelana, and made her way out of the room through the door that led to the dining room and kitchens, while Zeoticus and Venelana headed out through the door that Raylix, Josarry and Ereht had entered through. Josarry and Ereht themselves silently left the room behind Zeoticus and Venelana, leaving Raylix and Ruvella alone together.
"You been alright, Ruvella?" Raylix asked, making his way around the couch that his parents had just got off of, and sitting down upon it.
"I'd say so, yes." Ruvella replied. "Preparation for the wedding has been going well, and I've been allowed to see my fiancé, so why wouldn't I be well?"
Raylix hummed, adjusting his position on the couch as his eyes quickly roamed Ruvella's attractive form. Her simple (at least in comparison to the other numbers he'd seen his fiancée in) red dress accentuated her curves very nicely, in his opinion.
"Although, I wouldn't say my parents have been alright, as you say." Ruvella continued. "They... haven't been in the best mood, lately."
"Huh?" Raylix's eyes flicking back up to Ruvella's face. "Isn't something I've done, is it?"
"Oh, no." Ruvella replied, shaking her head. "Definitely not, they've been over the... incident, six months ago for a while, after Lord Zeoticus and Lady Venelana talked with them. It's just that, well, several towns and villages' worth of commoners that inhabit our Clan's territory have... well, they're gone."
"Gone?" Raylix blinked. "Like gone-gone, or... dead-gone?"
"The former." Ruvella replied. "They've deserted. Abandoned their settlements around the territory, forsaken their services to their territory and its overseers, and... well, they're just gone."
"Right..." Raylix remarked. "You got, uh, any idea of the circumstances behind everyone disappearing? Like, you think they were kidnapped? Did they leave voluntarily? If so, why?"
"I think we have, actually." Ruvella replied. "In some of the deserted villages, our Clan's servants found recruitment materials for an extremist group known as the True Underworld Brigade."
"True Underworld Brigade?" Raylix repeated, recalling the recruitment poster that he'd briefly seen back during his walk with Malech. "I... I think I've heard of them."
"Have you?" Ruvella remarked.
"Father must've mentioned them sometime." Raylix replied. "I don't think he mentioned what they were all about, though. Would've probably remembered if he did."
"Fair enough." Ruvella replied, shifting herself from the couch opposite Raylix to the couch that Raylix was currently sat on, scooting slightly closer to him once she'd sat down beside him. Her little scoot closer didn't go unnoticed by the Gremory Heir... though he definitely wasn't opposed to such a gesture.
"So, who are they?" Raylix asked, turning his full attention to the Phenex Heiress. "The True Underworld Brigade, that is."
"As far as I'm aware, they're one of many groups of Devils that seem to oppose the current system." Ruvella replied. "They seek to tear down what the remaining Pillar Clans have built over the last half-millennium. Or at least, that's probably what they want, if they're in opposition to us."
"Right..." Raylix replied, his expression neutral. Tear down the Devil nobility? Didn't sound like a totally horrible idea to him, what with... everything that had happened since the engagement party. "Is it known who's behind this True Underworld Brigade?"
"Probably whatever's left of the Royals Faction, that weren't rounded up and destroyed after the Devil Civil War." Ruvella replied. "Whatever their leadership is, and whatever their goals are, they've been gaining a lot of support among the lower classes in recent years. To the point that they've been able to sway some of those that inhabit our territory, and simply whisk them away to whatever dark corner of Hell they're hiding away in."
"Huh." Raylix nodded. "So, probably something to worry about."
"Mother and Father think so, yes." Ruvella nodded. "I'm not completely sure how it is with you and your family, but a good number of those that live in our territory are employees of PhenexCorp, and a not-insignificant number of said employees just... disappearing, like that, isn't good, to say the least."
"I can imagine..." Raylix replied. "And you're right, I'm not exactly privy to the ins and outs of the Gremory Large Enterprise. Father's just got me looking over a few reports every now and then, though I suppose he'll start involving me more and more, once he's had enough and is ready to step down as Gremory Head... whenever that is."
Ruvella allowed herself a short giggle as she scooted slightly closer to Raylix.
"I'm sure you can't wait to be Duke Gremory, Raylix." she whispered, a gentle smile on her face as she came closer and closer to him. "Just like I can't wait to be the Duchess Gremory..."
Ruvella leaned in those final few inches, before her and Raylix's lips finally touched. Raylix was sure that things would have descended into another kiss between the two of them, had the sound of an ecstatic squeal from the doorway not reached their ears, catching the two Heirs by surprise.
"You see, Rika?" Zeoticus spoke up, a triumphant edge to his voice. "I told you Raylix and Ruvella still liked each other! Even after the little slip-up six months ago, I knew there was still something within the two!"
"I guess... you're right, Zeoticus." Rika Phenex replied. The two Clan Heads and their respective partners crowded the doorway, all getting a look inside as Raylix and Ruvella awkwardly shifted apart, with the four adult nobles stepping into the room at various speeds. Venelana- who seemed to be the one that had squealed, smiled brightly at both Raylix and Ruvella as she and Zeoticus sat down on one of the free couches, with Renzo and Rika taking the other out of the three.
"Good news, Ruvella." Renzo remarked, as he adjusted his position on the couch next to Rika. "Your mother and I were finally able to get Diehauser to see reason, and he's agreed to talk to his... daughter, about the possibility of becoming a bridesmaid at your and Raylix's wedding."
"That IS good news!" Ruvella replied, a smile breaking out on her own face. "Great news, in fact. I really hope Diehauser is able to convince Imogen of how great it would be!"
"I think we all hope that, to one degree or another, Ruvella." Zeoticus remarked, chuckling. "Hell knows it'd be good for her. Though I don't understand why Diehauser took so long to be convinced to just talk to Imogen about it. We're less than two months away from when the wedding, was he just stalling?"
"Maybe, but whatever." Rika replied, raising a hand. "The point is, we've managed to convince him to talk to Imogen about it. Whatever happens next on that front, is up to her. I can only hope she makes the right decision."
"Indeed." Zeoticus nodded. "Anyway, down to business. The wedding invitations have been sent out, to everyone that we agreed upon sending them to, and I've finished putting together the list of smaller items that we need made for the wedding, as well as potential designs for each of everything." The Gremory Lord produced a collection of papers out of a magic-circle, and after Venelana used some of her magic to drag a table into the centre of where the six Devils- including her- were sat, laid them all out on the table.
Rika picked up one of the papers that Zeoticus had laid out, that depicted potential designs for what looked like a cake-knife. The design that Zeoticus had clearly put the most effort into was one that had the handle looking like the stem of a rose, and a fiery design engraved onto the blade of the knife itself.
"Not bad..." Raylix heard the Marchioness musing to herself, as she put the design down. "And you did all these designs yourself, Zeoticus?"
"Well, most of them." Zeoticus replied, good-naturedly. "I might've had help from Venelana at points, but the work was mostly mine."
"I see." Rika nodded, approvingly. "Since you seem to have those figured out, I'll leave that to you. We're just working on scheduling a dress-fitting for Ruvella, that should be happening within the coming days. We also had her floral mock-up done yesterday..."
Raylix was beginning to zone out again. Truth be told, the impending marriage to Ruvella was something that hadn't crossed his mind in any major way since Zeoticus and Venelana had grounded him, six months ago. All that he'd really had to occupy himself with during the last half-year was his books, and memories of Sabemka and Tomosei. There were also the few conversations he'd had with Grayfia about his two best friends... turned out that the Ultimate Queen was a pretty good listener.
The Gremory Heir's eyes shifted around the room, eventually focusing on Gaeneron, affixed in its position above the fireplace. He couldn't even wholly remember exactly when Zeoticus had asked him to surrender the sword, so that he could have it placed up there like some sort of trophy. Though maybe... it would be used again if needed, who knew.
Though speaking of Grayfia, the gorgeous silverette maid entered the room out of the corner of Raylix's eye, with a pair of maids behind her that carried large plates, piled high with sandwiches. A trio of other maids entered the room, carrying drinks for the six nobles.
"-The workload's going to be harder for everyone else left at the headquarters of PhenexCorp," Rika continued, accepting her drink from one of the maids. "What with a third of the commoners in our territory having just pissed off out of nowhere to join the True Underworld Brigade. The least they could do is give us a bit of warning!"
Raylix jolted back to reality, accepting his drink from the maid that offered it to him. With everyone focused on Rika and her mini-tirade against the lower-class Devils that had abandoned their posts within Phenex-controlled territory, no-one focused his little jolt at the mention of the True Underworld Brigade... with only one exception.
As Grayfia took a couple of steps backwards towards the wall, as the other maids retreated from the lounge, her crimson eyes met Raylix's for a tiny fraction of a second. So short of a time that, if anyone were to have been looking in Grayfia and Raylix's direction, they probably wouldn't have even noticed the maid's eyes meeting the Heir's. But Grayfia noticed, alright. She'd heard Ruvella and Raylix discussing the True Underworld Brigade with each other, she'd seen Raylix perking up- out of his zoned-out state- when Rika mentioned the True Underworld Brigade.
She didn't even need a third thing, she was certain that the True Underworld Brigade, whatever that was, was something that Raylix had FAR more of an interest in than everyone else, who seemed to just view it as an annoyance at best, and a menace to 'civilised' Devil society at worst. Expert thought she might be, Grayfia didn't need to try probing Raylix's mind to figure that out.
"I'll be sure to have the outer towns and villages inspected, for any True Underworld Brigade recruitment materials and the like." Zeoticus remarked. "But back to the planning: we've also got to look over the menu one final time. Make sure the meals available are a perfect mixture of Raylix and Ruvella's tastes."
"Oh, absolutely." Rika nodded. "Another thing to add to the list." Her eyes flicked over to Ruvella and Raylix, and then back at Zeoticus and Venelana, before she spoke up again. "Raylix, Ruvella? Why don't you go spend some alone time together, leave the wedding planning to us? We'll talk to you about this later?"
"A wonderful idea, Rika!" Zeoticus nodded, clapping his hands together. "We saw you kissing while we walked in, I'm sure you'd love to get up to... more, than that, upstairs in your room, Raylix!"
Unlike this morning with Josarry and Ereht, Raylix failed to resist the urge to roll his eyes. Ruvella's face, by contrast, turned an extremely deep red, which she attempted to hide by turning said face away from Raylix. Rika let out a small giggle at the sight of her daughter's embarassment, as Raylix sighed and stood up.
"Sure, fine, whatever." he replied, stretching himself, shoving his hands into his pockets and making for the door. "You coming, Ruvella?"
Ruvella nodded, turning her face (which was still dusted a light pink) back towards Raylix, as she stood up and followed him out of the room. The two Clan Heirs left the lounge together, heading for the Gremory Castle's grand staircase in dead silence, before Ruvella spoke up again.
"F-forgive me, Raylix, but I'm not exactly... experienced in, uh, matters of pleasure. I've been told about it, but never had any sort of practice for this moment. At least, not with a man."
"I wouldn't worry." Raylix replied. "I guess it wouldn't be inaccurate to say that I've had enough practice for the both of us. More than enough, now that I think about it."
"R-really?" Ruvella asked, her face reddening again as she and Raylix reached the top of the stairs, and turned into the residential wing. "H-how much experience?"
"Three, three and a half centuries' worth?" Raylix remarked, shrugging. "Maybe more. Honestly, I just stopped counting after a while."
Ruvella nodded as she and Raylix made their way into the residential wing, and began the walk down the hallway to Raylix's bedroom.
"Yes, definitely more than enough." she remarked, just loud enough for Raylix to clearly hear her. "I'll be relying on you to... take the lead, Raylix."
"Sure." Raylix replied, shrugging. As the two noble Devils made their way down the hallway, Raylix noticed Rheliesh making her way down the hallway in the other direction. The blonde favourite noticed them, too, and managed to keep a neutral expression on her face as she passed them, while respectfully inclining her head in their direction. Raylix flashed her a brief smile as he and Ruvella moved past her, coming closer and closer to his bedroom.
Once they were outside his door, Raylix rested his hand on the door to unlock it, before pushing it open and stepping inside, with Ruvella following, and Raylix re-locking the door once they were both inside.
"So, uh..." Ruvella's eyes were down at the floor, only briefly flicking up to Raylix's for fractions of a second at a time. "Shall we... get started?"
----- ----- -----
49 days from the wedding...
"So, how was it?" Malech asked, taking a sip from his teacup. "Being the one to deflower the supposed most desirable non-Satan bachelorette amongst the Devils?"
It was a couple of days later, and after agreeing to pay Josarry and Ereht the extra seven times their paycheck for the day that they would have usually got, he was back at Sabemka and Tomosei's village, and in Malech's house, sharing food and drink with the village chieftain. The Gremory Heir had gotten done talking about what had gone down during the most recent meeting between the Gremory and Phenex Clan… and had just gotten to when he and Ruvella had done the dirty.
"Uh..." Raylix leant back on his chair, letting out a low hum as he tried to find the words. "It was... ahh, kinda hard to put an answer to that into words. Really putting me on the spot there, Malech."
Malech let out a chuckle as he took another sip from his tea.
"Well, maybe I'll give you a question with an answer that's easier to put into words, then." he replied. "Was it good?"
"Yes." Raylix replied, instantly. "I mean, pretty good. Not the best sex I've ever had, but what first time is, right?"
Malech let out another chuckle.
"I can agree with you on that." he replied. "Was the Phenex Heiress the type to... figure things out, so to speak, or did you have to show her the ropes."
"Uhh, I'd say a bit of both." Raylix remarked. "I think she mentioned that she'd had some experience with a woman, I'm guessing her reasonably attractive Bishop, so she at least knew the basics of basics, as far as pleasuring someone goes. She just needed to, eh, be put through her paces when it comes to doing it with me instead of with Salem."
"Right." Malech nodded. "And since I doubt I'll ever get to ask again without it being awkward, that rumour about female descendants of Phenex and their hymens-"
"Untrue." Raylix cut across the chieftain, taking a gulp of his own tea. "Seen it with my own eyes, I can confirm that, unfortunately, it is untrue. No constant taking and re-taking of Ruvella's virginity, I'm afraid. And how was that question ever NOT going to sound awkward, Malech? Seriously..."
"Forgive a perverted old man his curiosity, Raylix!" Malech chuckled, setting his teacup down. "And, honestly, look me in the eyes and tell me that that that's not something you've thought about, on at least one occasion!"
Raylix didn't reply, and made a concerted effort to not meet Malech's eyes, with such an action drawing out another laugh from the dark-haired chieftain.
"My point exactly. Anyway, ahh, we got a bit sidetracked with that conversation. You said there was a more urgent reason for your visit, Raylix?"
"I did, yeah." Raylix nodded. "My family've been told about the True Underworld Brigade, and they'll be on the lookout for anything that could relate to them. Father mentioned that he'd have the towns and villages of this territory searched for anything like that, so- uh- be ready for that."
"I see." Malech nodded, raising a hand to his chin and rubbing it for a second or two. "I'll be sure to let the leaders of the settlements closest to this one know, and hopefully word can spread without your family's knowledge. Thank you, Raylix."
Raylix nodded, as Malech took the final couple of gulps out of his teacup.
"Anyway, how about lunch?" he asked. "Hopefully you don't have some big, fancy, important luncheon to attend today, right?"
"No, that's next week." Raylix replied. "I've got all the time in the world to have lunch with you."
Malech chuckled, and nodded. Within several minutes, he and Raylix had gotten lunch set up on the table they'd been sat at, and were steadily tucking into their afternoon meals.
"So, what's the True Underworld Brigade all about, anyway?" Raylix asked, after swallowing his mouthful of Wulf-steak sandwich. "I think I saw a recruitment poster for it near here, last time I was here. And Ruvella mentioned that a bunch of Devils from her family's territory had pissed off to join it."
"Ah, piqued your curiosity, has it?" Malech asked, raising an eyebrow and lowering his own egg sandwich (with toasted bread) back down to the plate that he'd served it to himself on. "I trust that you haven't told anyone, except me, about this, have you?"
"Got no reason to, so why should I?" Raylix replied, shrugging and leaning back in his chair. "But yeah, you could say that the subject's piqued my curiosity, after having been... I guess exposed is the right term? Exposed, to it twice in the span of one day. Though with what Ruvella said about it, I have a feeling I wasn't getting the full story."
"Did you, now?" Malech remarked, an eyebrow raised. "What did your dear fiancé tell you about them, then? What makes you think you weren't getting the full story?"
"The fact that she's a noble, for one." Raylix replied. "Of course she'd have a bias of some kind when talking about a group that's supposedly anti-that. Or she was just told about the group from her parents, and... you know."
"I do know." Malech nodded. "But what, specifically, did she tell you?"
"Uh, that they're one of many groups that opposed the current system, that whatever was left of the Royals Faction is probably behind it, they've been gaining support among the... lower classes- her words, not mine- and that they wanted to tear down what the remaining Pillar Clans built over the last half-millennium." Raylix replied, recalling Ruvella's words two days ago. "Again, her words, not mine."
"Yeah, those words sound way too formal to come out of your mouth, Raylix." Malech replied, chuckling. "And well, you were right. If that was all that Ms. Princess Phenex told you about the True Underworld Brigade, then you're definitely not getting the whole story from her."
"And, I guess, you can?" Raylix remarked, raising his sandwich to his mouth and taking another bite. "You can give me the whole story?" he asked, his voice muffled due to the sheer amount of meat and bread in his mouth. Malech allowed himself another small chuckle at Raylix's lack of table manners, in spite of his station within the Underworld.
"Perhaps, not all of it." he replied. "But I can definitely give you more of it than you could get out of any of your fellow demonic elite. That good enough for you?"
Raylix nodded, swallowing his chewed-up mouthful of sandwich and setting it down again, as he looked over the table at Malech, who cleared his throat.
"Well, to start with, Ruvella mentioned that there were multiple groups that oppose the way the Underworld's being run, right?" Malech asked. "With the True Underworld Brigade being one of them?"
"She did." Raylix replied. "Why? What are the other ones?"
"The Devils' Reformation Faction, the Anti-Aristocratic Association, the Low-Class Liberation Army, and probably a few more that I can't fully remember the names of, off the top of my head." Malech replied. "Though that whole thing about there being multiple groups? It's... not quite true. Actually, it's not true at all. In reality, there's only one REAL group that's, as Ruvella said, opposed to the current system. Those that risk themselves by going out into the Underworld and swaying those into joining them just use different names or their group, to make sure that it can't be traced back to the main group. The same goes for the recruitment material that gets posted up, occasionally."
"So, they can split everyone's attention into what they think are smaller groups, while in fact, they're a lot bigger than anyone of important suspects." Raylix replied. "That's... that's smart."
Malech nodded, in silent agreement, as he raised his own sandwich to his lips and took another bite out of it.
"Though if this 'main group' goes by multiple names, then the name that the main group actually goes by would have to be a different name, right?" Raylix asked. "What name would that be?"
Malech remained silent for a couple of seconds, finishing his present bite of sandwich, before setting it down again.
"The Old Satan Faction." he replied. "That's their real name. So, I guess what Ruvella said about them being made up of whatever's left of the Royals Faction... might, actually, be true."
"Might?" Raylix repeated.
"Like I said, not the whole story." Malech shrugged. "The Royals' leaders might be dead, but has anyone heard anything of the CHILDREN of those leaders? Because, come on, you really think that there's any chance of those pricks NOT trying to have as many kids as possible, to continue their incredibly important bloodlines?"
Raylix blinked, not entirely certain whether or not Malech was being sarcastic with that last bit.
"I... guess not." the Gremory Heir replied. "And the whole 'tearing down what the nobility's built over the past half-millennium' business, not exactly hard to insinuate what that means."
"No need to, considering that's just spelling it out for you." Malech remarked. "And I trust that I don't need to spell out what's been built over the past half-millennium, that the Old Satan Faction want to tear down?"
"An elitist circle-jerk that treats everyone outside of it as disposable meat-shields?" Raylix asked. "Yeah. I don't think I need to be reminded of that again, considering how I woke up to that reality. Although..." he sighed. "I guess something like that was inevitable, considering that there were enough descendants of the Pillars left after the original Satans were killed. That, plus the fact that the majority of them inherited their progenitor's powers, that Lucifer himself gave to them... I suppose that noble class makes sense, from a certain perspective."
"Just because something 'makes sense from a certain perspective', Raylix, doesn't mean that it's right." Malech replied, his voice unnaturally sharp. "Mass-producing a copy of a merchant's hard work, selling it to the point that said original merchants can't sell anything anymore, and beating the shit out of anyone who speaks up about it right, that might make sense from a certain perspective, but does that make it right?"
"Okay, when I said that-" Raylix began, but Malech cut across him, getting to his feet.
"Throwing a grand party, and inviting everyone that you can in order to find new friends for someone, not even a month after a couple of centuries-long friendships ended with a pair of tragic deaths, that makes sense from a certain perspective." the middle-aged chieftain continued. "But does that make it right?"
"Of course it doesn't!" Raylix replied, his voice stronger before. "I-"
Forcing two noble Devils with nice sets of powers together in marriage, in hopes that they MIGHT make a stronger child, that makes sense from a certain perspective, but does THAT make it right?" Malech cut across Raylix for the second time. "Does it?"
Raylix opened his mouth, but couldn't find the words to offer any kind of retort to Malech's questions, and so closed his mouth. The only sound that occupied the room that Raylix and Malech were in were Malech's breaths, which were rather heavier and more intense than Raylix's. It was damn clear that he was EXTREMELY passionate, about this kind of thing.
Malech's heavy breaths eventually slowed down, and he sat back down, looking back across the table at Raylix.
"I definitely understand what you meant, Raylix." Malech spoke, his voice much calmer now. "And, to a degree, I honestly agree with you. It's just that the justification of something making sense, especially from a certain perspective... well, it's something that you could apply to anything, use to justify almost any action, from the quietly mundane to the absolutely horrific. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if that's the EXACT line of reasoning that some nobles use to justify some of the horrible shit that they've done. It's awful, it's weakening the Devils as a species, and it's why the system of nobility we've been in for half a millennium MUST be dismantled. Wipe the slate clean, burn it down, build a better, stronger, Hell from the ashes."
"And you think the Old Satan Faction plan to do that?" Raylix asked, continuing to gaze at Malech.
"I do." Malech replied, calmly. "Or, at least, I sincerely hope so. It's not like any major change could be made by appealing to the average noble's sense of morality, or anything human like that. Not when they have as much, if not even more direct influence over our side of the Underworld than even the Satans."
"Even the Satans?" Raylix repeated, with Malech nodding in response.
"Yes, even the Satans." he replied. "And not just that, but they're FAR more prepared to use that influence, for better or worse, while the Satans' work is negligible at best, and outright non-existent at worst. I mean, take Falbium Asmodeus for an example: commander-in-chief of the ENTIRE Devil military, and the one that all the Devil soldiers who're loaned out to the Pillar Clans all around the Underworld answer to, and how does he handle it? I'll give you a hint, Raylix, he doesn't! He just says "oh, I'll let you Clan leaders handle it. It's your territory after all", and goes back to bed after that oh-so-stressful TEN SECONDS of work."
"Giving all the Clan leaders carte blanche to enforce their will far stronger than they would have been able to without such soldiers." Raylix continued. "For better, or for worse."
"No 'for better' about it, strictly for worse." Malech replied. "Tell me, Raylix, should someone like THAT be in power over something as important as the military?"
Raylix just shook his head. It was such an obvious answer that it wasn't even worth wasting the effort to speak it.
"Exactly." Malech replied, a rather cold look on his face. "Moving swiftly on from that, how about the one supposedly in charge of all domestic affairs in Hell: your brother, Sirzechs."
Raylix, almost involuntarily, felt his fists clenching as he heard his older brother's name coming up. A small gesture, that didn't go unnoticed by Malech.
"Raylix, I know he's your brother, but-"
"It's not that." Raylix replied. "We just... had a falling out. A pretty major one, before I got grounded six months ago. We... haven't talked since, and I don't have much of a wish to, anymore."
"Ahh." Malech nodded. "Well, then, I can air all my problems with how the Hell's supposed Crimson Saviour is handling things in his home realm without much fear of getting blasted to death by his little brother."
Raylix let out a short, mirthless chuckle in reply to Malech's remark.
"Definitely not." he whispered in reply, as Malech took a breath.
"To begin with, what does Sirzechs do as a Satan? Officially, I mean."
"He handles domestic affairs." Raylix replied. "And... oh. I think I can already see where this is going."
"Of course you can." Malech replied. "What do the other Satans handle? Serafall handles diplomatic affairs, Ajuka is head of the Devils' technology department, and Falbium handles military affairs. Those seem like rather specific jobs, in comparison to what your dear brother has to do, doesn't it? I mean, do you even know how large the 'domestic affairs' umbrella is, especially in comparison to the other three?"
Raylix blinked, as Malech got to his feet again.
"Domestic affairs are LITERALLY EVERYTHING related to what goes on within the borders of our side of Hell, Raylix." Malech explained. "Business, education, healthcare, law enforcement, money, taxes, natural resources, welfare, rights, freedoms, and so much more! Hell, for all we both know, Sirzechs might just have to deal with literally everything else that doesn't fall under Serafall, Ajuka or Falbium's jobs! Don't you think that's a LITTLE imbalanced?"
"Oh, definitely." Raylix replied, nodding. "No shit, right?"
"Indeed, no shit." Malech repeated. "And what do you think happens as a result of that? When one single man, especially someone like Sirzechs, is burdened with that level of responsibility, on top of the prestige that comes with being the symbol around which modern Hell is built?"
"You've probably got the answer on the tip of your tongue, already." Raylix replied. "A better answer than I could come up with within the next moment."
"One of two things are the most likely to happen." Malech ploughed on, as if he hadn't even heard Raylix's remark. "One: he either gives out from overwork and steps down from his role as Satan, leaving someone else to take the symbolic title of Lucifer. In the meantime, the ruling Clan Heads take even more control over their respective territories than they already have, until the new Satan Lucifer, whoever that may be, ascends the throne, and we're right back where we started. And two: he continues his work as Satan Lucifer, but the work he does isn't as good as it could be due to just HOW MUCH WORK he has. You either slack off, or you just take time off and leave the work to another person or persons, rather than- you know- the one who was literally chosen to do that work?"
Even though the majority of Raylix's heart burned with hatred for his older brother, given how he'd metaphorically stabbed it just over six months ago, there was a small minority of his heart that couldn't help but feel for said older brother, especially with how Malech was telling things.
"And who chose him to do that work, again?" Malech asked. "Oh, right, the remaining children of the deceased Pillar Devils. The same remaining children of the deceased Pillars whose descendants conveniently control our side of Hell. It's almost like this situation was, you know, planned, or something."
Raylix let out another short, mirthless laugh.
"Well, when you word it like that..." he replied. "Yeah, things do begin to smell a little bit fishy."
"Extremely." Malech nodded. "Or just outright shitty, for everyone who isn't one of those descendants, or isn't in good with one of them. Though in the end, it just all adds up to another reason why this whole system needs to go down. And if the Old Satan Faction can do that, then, well..."
"Even if their leadership are the children of the leaders of the Royals?" Raylix spoke up, cutting across Malech. "I mean, remember what the Royals wanted? Who's to say that when, hypothetically, they end up taking power in Hell, they don't immediately restart the Great War?"
"That's a good question." Malech replied. "One that, unfortunately, I don't have an answer to. Remember, not the whole story." He let out a short chuckle of his own, as he gently tapped a finger on the table. "But if it came down to it, from my perspective, the POSSIBILITY of things getting better thanks to the Old Satan Faction is better than the CERTAINTY of not getting something better with the nobles in charge, never mind the possibility of things getting worse."
Raylix didn't reply, now seeming incredibly interested in the sight of his unfinished sandwich, which he picked up and began munching on.
"How about from your perspective, Raylix?" Malech asked, looking over at the Gremory Heir as he continued munching on the sandwich. "The rest of your life at the top of the pile, one of the most eligible bachelorettes in all of Hell married to you, your every wish fulfilled... or actually doing something with yourself, and taking a chance to try and fix your broken homeland?"
Raylix's chews slowed down as he raised his head, meeting Malech's eyes. Though he was slow in continuing his meal, his mind was racing as it processed the options in his future that Malech had stated for him. Though once that processing was finished...
The choice, it was rather obvious.