The Touki around his body receded as Raizel stopped and panted, enjoying the sweet ache in his muscles that had been pushed to their limits and were now healing at an alarming rate.
A little tiredness crept in, and he simply chose to fall backwards and lie down on the soft grass, looking at the sky that was crackling with lightning as two beautiful figures engaged in a battle in the sky.
Their bodies were surrounded by Redish-Black Lightning, and even from hundreds of metres away, he could hear their sizzle and crackles.
Both the girls were wearing the same outfits, and they both possessed the same features as well. If anyone else looked at them, they would likely be unable to distinguish between them as they were both completely identical, but Raizel knew which one was his beloved Freya as he could sense her blood.
His dearest friend and maid battled against her own clone, who was just as strong as her and possessed the same powers as her, including the Lucifuge Clan's Trait, Demonic Lightning.
The clone was created by his mother, Freya's Master, who did it to help her Student test her limits and better herself.
This was not some mock battle, but a very serious one, and it could be seen from the pitiful state of their battle armour and the wounds on their bodies that they were fighting with everything they had in them.
And they had been at it for hours.
He was not really worried at seeing Freya hurt and in a sorry state, knowing well that even if she failed, she would not lose her life as the clone would just cease to exist before it could reach that point.
Her wounds were not an issue either as this was not the first time she had gotten hurt, and as always, not a single mark would remain on her beautiful skin after he or his mother were done helping her heal.
Raizel smiled as he watched Freya finally manage to gain a slight advantage over her clone, and it came after she managed to make her Demonic Lightning more concentrated, evolving and growing stronger mid-battle.
He knew his mother was pleased with the sight, and Freya, as always, had not let her Master down.
She was a genius, born a genius, and it was thanks to his Mother that she inherited the complete traits of a Lucifige even though her mother was a Crocell.
Pandora had always treated Freya as her own daughter, personally training her from time to time, and teaching her useful things. And though she never allowed Freya to train as much as Moka or Ban, making her spend a lot of time in studies and serving Raizel as his personal Maid, the girl was always way stronger than both her Demon Friends.
Since their return from the Familiar Forest four months ago, Freya had been training daily with his mother. And it was only today that they were allowed to train together.
Right now, she was an Ultimate-Class Devil, and Raizel was sure that Freya would not lose to even some of the old Devils in the same class.
He was proud of her, and he found her even more beautiful whenever she wore such a serious expression with a coldness in her eyes that could freeze the blood in the veins of her enemies.
She was truly a beautiful Devil.
His thoughts were disturbed by a beautiful screech of a bird that would have travelled very far if they were not inside an Independent dimension, training away from the eyes of people and even the rest of the Peerage, and Raizel could not help but feel a little envious.
He watched a large white bird pierce out the clouds, and with its one flap of the wings, the clouds trembled and thundered with beautiful blue lightning flashing through them and reaching the ground in the form of dozens of lightning bolts.
He always found Thunderbirds very beautiful, and this one, who was still very young, was more beautiful than any he had seen in his life.
Freya had named her Familiar 'Storm', and he found this name very fitting. After all, it was a Magical Creature revered as the Bringer of Storms.
Raizel smiled as the bird rushed towards its Master at a breakneck speed, leaving streaks of lighting in its wake. And when it arrived under her, it allowed her to sit on its back and catch some breath.
Freya's clone, who had been finally defeated, was falling from the sky, but before it could crash, it dispersed into specks of Blood which soon evaporated.
Raizel closed his eyes and took a deep breath, softly exhaling, and opened his eyes again when he sensed the beautiful bird land by his side.
Freya had told him afterwards that it was Pandora who gave her the location of a Thunderbird in the Familiar Forest, and sometimes he really felt like she doted on her a lot more than she doted on him.
His beloved stumbled a little when her feet touched the ground, and he helped her reach his arms telekinetically, allowing her to rest her head on his chest as he hugged her.
Time passed, hours went by, and after Freya recuperated her Demonic Reserves, she opened her eyes and reached for his lips, kissing him softly.
Raizel playfully smiled as he suddenly flipped her over and pinned her under him. His lips hungrily kissed hers, and she encouraged him by wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him onto her.
She let a groan in a complaint when he stopped, but then moaned as he planted kisses on her neck before sinking his fangs into her, drinking her blood.
The wounds on her skin started healing quickly, and in just a matter of a minute, she did not have even a scratch left on her.
She felt rejuvenated, with pleasure pulsating through her body, and then her Demonic Lightning burst out. As if responding to her, the same Demonic Lightning burst out of Raizel's body as well. He had successfully copied it for his temporary use for a couple of months.
When he let go of her, the two punctures on her neck immediately healed.
His crimson orbs met hers, and she lovingly ran her fingers through his hair, conveying to him without voicing a word how much she was yearning for him, and he could only smile and plant a kiss on her forehead.
"Let's go." He said and then helped her up, reaching his hand forward to pet the majestic bird on its head when it asked for it.
Freya summoned a Magical Circle, sending Storm away, and then disappeared as well, taking Raizel with her back to his room in their Castle.
The Drgaoness who was sleeping in his bed sensed their arrival and opened her eyes, sitting up and yawning cutely.
"Your mother is waiting for the two of you in the throne room." She told them and then stood up.
Utilising her Sacred Gear, she equipped a light armour on her body without bothering to take off the Pyjamas she was wearing, all ready to leave with them.
"What's it about?" He curiously asked, but his Knight shook her head, telling him that she was not exactly sure, but knew that they had to leave for somewhere. "You are not going to train with Old Baha?"
"Father has some things to take care of. He will take me with him on his next return."
Erza had met Old Baha a couple of months ago, and Raizel saw the prideful dragon have tears in his eyes for the first time.
He had given her permission to spend as much time as she wanted to spend with him, and for a month, the father and daughter had travelled the Underworld together, getting to know each other.
"I see." He nodded and then entered the dressing room to get changed.
Since they now had Erza in the Peerage, none of them needed to take armour with them, and Raizel just wore a simple outfit with a decorated vest and then helped Freya put on her dress as well.
When the three of them entered the Throne Room, they found the rest of the Peerage already assembled, obediently and attentively standing under the throne where his mother was sitting, her legs crossed, and her right forefinger gently tapping on the armrest.
"Mother!" Raizel approached her and stood in front of his Peerage, bowing to her in a greeting.
"A young Nine-Tailed Demonic Fox has appeared." Pandora lightly said, and all of them were shocked at her words.
"Her mother?" Raizel frowned and asked.
"The late younger sister of Yasaka, the leader of the Western Youkai Faction. She died several years ago in a battle against an Evil Dragon, and Yasaka was unaware that she had given birth to a child." She informed him.
"And her father?"
"Zeoticus Gremory."
To say that they were shocked would be an understatement. It was something they would have never expected.
Demonic Foxes were a result of a union between a Fox Youkai and a Devil or a Demon, and these creatures possessed immense potential thanks to the access to the Demonic Power that they inherited from their parents.
The case was much more special when Nine-Tailed Foxes were involved as they possessed some Divinity. Any child they would have with a Demon or a Devil would be a Pure Fox Youkai, instead of a Demon. But they would still have access to Demoic Power and Devil Magic in addition to their Youkai Powers, which meant that they were dangerous existences with immense potential.
And these Demonic Foxes were also known to be eccentric and volatile.
"The Old Satan Faction is after her." She told him. "And the Evil Dragon who killed her mother is on her tail as well."
"Does Zeoticus know about her?"
"No."
"I see." He smiled.
"She is precious and worthy enough to be a part of your Peerage." Pandora smiled at him. "You can inform Zeoticus afterwards."
"I understand, Mother." He nodded and then accepted the small spherical drone that she summoned and handed to him.
As soon as he clicked the button on it, a holographic list of some people appeared in the air with their details on it.
"On your return, hunt down these Stray-Devils. Eliminate them all."
"Yes!" He acknowledged her command and then memorised the details of all the Stray Devils before teleporting the drone to his room.