The gentle hum of the night filled the room, and the faint, warm glow of the candles reflected off the luxurious red furnishings in the office of Rias Gremory. The leader of the Gremory Clan's peerage sat in her chair, her fingers absently trailing across the magical contract she had just sealed with Gilderoy Lockhart. Beside her stood Akeno Himejima, her ever-loyal Queen and confidante.
As the echoes of Gilderoy's departure faded, a quiet tension settled between the two women. They have been face to face with all manner of devils, fallen angels, and supernatural beings over the years, but Gilderoy Lockhart was a mystery—a wild card they couldn't quite place.
The Sentinel he had promised was a formidable asset, but it wasn't the machine that lingered in Rias's mind. It was him. The man who seemed to straddle the line between wizardry and something far more dangerous. Something that reminded Rias of devils.
Breaking the silence, Rias finally spoke, her voice measured but tinged with curiosity. "Akeno… what do you make of him? Lockhart. There's something about his magic—something that doesn't quite add up."
Akeno smiled slightly, always amused by her leader's perceptiveness. "You noticed it too. His magic… it's not like the usual wizards we've dealt with. It feels closer to ours—closer to devil magic."
Rias nodded, her brow furrowing slightly. She had been feeling that undercurrent ever since Gilderoy had first approached them, long before tonight's deal. "I thought so. It's not just his spells, either. There's something about the way he weaves his magic, like he understands the connection between magic and souls."
Akeno's smile faded, and she moved closer to the desk, her fingers tapping lightly on the wood. "Do you think it's deliberate? Could he be hiding something from us?"
Rias leaned back in her chair, her crimson eyes narrowing in thought. "I don't know. But he's not an ordinary magician, that much is clear. And what bothers me the most is that we don't know where he came from. It's as if he appeared out of nowhere, already possessing powers that rival even the best of our kind."
Akeno's gaze shifted to the contract still glowing faintly on the desk. "It's not just that. It's his history—how we first heard of him. Remember how we discovered Gilderoy Lockhart?"
Rias's lips pressed into a thin line as the memory resurfaced. She remembered it well—how Gilderoy had come to their attention not through diplomacy or alliances, but through violence. His name had first been whispered when he destroyed a hidden cabal of dark mages, an organization of twisted sorcerers that had been operating far too close to Gremory territory.
"Yes," Rias said quietly. "He took down an entire organization of evil mages on his own. We hadn't even been aware of their existance until he wiped them out."
It had been nearly a four months ago when the name Gilderoy Lockhart had first reached Rias's ears. At the time, she had recently been elected at in charge of kuoh city when she heard an increasing number of rogue mages and occultists practicing dark rituals near her territory. These mages had been experimenting with forbidden magic.
Then, one day, they were gone. Destroyed.
News had quickly spread that a magician had single-handedly stormed their stronghold and wiped them out. At first, Rias had been skeptical. No lone human could have achieved something like that—not against an organization so deeply entrenched in dark magic. But as she dug deeper, the rumors persisted. The magician's name? Gilderoy Lockhart.
The reports were vague, but what stood out to Rias was the way he had fought. Witnesses, what few survivors there were, described his magic as overwhelming—fluid, adaptable, and strangely familiar. They spoke of spells that felt too close to devil magic for comfort.
And it wasn't just the destruction of the mages that had caught Rias's attention. It was what happened afterward.
Akeno turned to Rias, her eyes thoughtful. "What bothered me most was what his actions uncovered."
"Khaos Brigade," Rias said quietly, completing her thought.
Akeno nodded. "Lockhart's destruction of the dark mage organization revealed ties to the an organization called Khaos Brigade. Until then, we hadn't known they were operating so close to our territory."
Rias sighed, recalling how the destruction of the dark mages had led to the discovery of a larger and far more dangerous enemy. The Khaos Brigade, a group made up of beings from every pantheon dedicated to disrupting the balance between the underworld, the human world, and heaven, had been using the dark mages to experiment with hybrid magic—magic that combined demonic energy with human souls. It was terrifying, and every pantheon had been preparing for the possibility of war with the brigade ever since.
But Lockhart had acted first, dismantling the mages' organization before the Gremory clan could react. It was efficient. Too efficient.
Rias stood from her desk, moving toward the large window that overlooked the quiet grounds of Kuoh Academy. The night was peaceful, but she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that came whenever she thought of Gilderoy.
"There's something we're missing, Akeno," Rias said, her voice soft but firm. "Lockhart's magic—it feels too familiar. And yet, he claims just a wandering wizard. But the wizards we know don't wield magic like that."
Akeno walked over to join her at the window, her expression thoughtful. "He's dangerous, Rias. And not just because of his power. He's clever. Everything he does feels… calculated."
Rias nodded, her eyes narrowing as she watched the stars twinkle in the night sky. "He could have wiped out those dark mages without drawing attention. Instead, he made sure everyone knew it was him. He wanted us to notice."
"Do you think it was a message?" Akeno asked.
"Yes," Rias said quietly. "He wanted us to know he could handle threats like the Khaos Brigade. But why? What does he gain from showing us his strength?"
Akeno was silent for a moment before speaking. "Perhaps he's looking for an alliance. Maybe he wants to position himself as a force to be reckoned with—someone we need, rather than someone we should be wary of."
Rias frowned, considering the possibility. "Maybe. But it's more than that. There's something about him, something… unsettling. He's powerful, yes, but there's a darkness in him. A darkness he hides well."
Akeno nodded, her eyes serious. "You felt it too."
Rias turned away from the window, pacing the room as she thought aloud. "We've seen his power. We've seen what he's capable of. But we don't know where he came from or what he truly wants. And now, he's asking for help controlling those Sentinels. Why would he need something like that?"
Akeno folded her arms, her expression hardening. "He's not telling us everything. He wants control—over the Sentinels, over whatever he's planning. But we don't know if we can trust him."
Rias stopped pacing, turning to face Akeno. "We need to be careful. He's already proven he can handle threats like the Khaos Brigade, but we don't know if he's aligned with anyone else."
Akeno nodded. "Agreed. If he's playing both sides, we could find ourselves in a very dangerous position."
The mention of the Khaos Brigade brought back memories of their discovery. After Gilderoy had dismantled the dark mages' organization, the Gremory clan had sent investigators to sweep through the remnants of the group. It was then that they uncovered the deeper ties to the Khaos Brigade.
"He knew," Rias said, breaking the silence.
Akeno looked at her, surprised. "What do you mean?"
"Lockhart knew about the Khaos Brigade. He had to have. There's no way he could have dismantled the dark mages without uncovering their connection to the Brigade. But instead of warning us or seeking an alliance, he took them down on his own."
Akeno frowned. "But why? What would he gain from that?"
Rias shook her head. "I don't know. But it's too much of a coincidence. He must have known that we'd be forced to deal with the Khaos Brigade once he exposed them. And now, he's asking for our help with these Sentinels."
Akeno's expression darkened. "You think he's trying to manipulate us."
Rias sighed. "It's possible. He's playing a long game, Akeno. He's positioning himself as someone we can't ignore. But we need to figure out what his true endgame is."
Akeno looked thoughtful, her eyes narrowing. "We could keep him close—work with him, but always with caution."
"Agreed," Rias said, her voice resolute. "We'll help him with the Sentinels. But we'll watch him closely. If he steps out of line, we'll be ready."
The days following Gilderoy's visit were filled with quiet tension. Rias had made her decision, and the Gremory clan had begun preparations to fulfill their part of the contract. They would help Gilderoy control the Sentinels, but they would do so on their terms. Every step of the process would be carefully monitored, and any deviation from the plan would be met with swift action.
Akeno remained by Rias's side throughout, ever watchful, ever cautious. Together, they discussed the possibilities—what Gilderoy might be planning, what his true goals could be.
"I don't trust him," Akeno said one evening as they reviewed the contract again. "He's too smooth, too confident. He's hiding something."
Rias nodded. "I agree. But for now, we play along. We'll help him with the Sentinels, and in the process, we'll learn more about him."
Akeno smiled faintly. "A devil's bargain, then."
Rias returned the smile. "Exactly."
When Gilderoy returned to Kuoh City to finalize the arrangements, the atmosphere between him and Rias had shifted. There was still the veneer of politeness, but beneath it, both parties were well aware that this was no simple exchange. There were deeper currents at play—strategies, counter-strategies, and unspoken agendas.
Rias watched Gilderoy closely as he reviewed the modifications that gremory clan had made to the Sentinel. He seemed satisfied, but Rias could sense the subtle unease in him. He was aware of the power he was wielding, but perhaps not fully aware of the price that came with it.
When the Sentinel finally activated, its eyes glowing with a cold, mechanical light, Rias felt a surge of satisfaction. The machine was under their control—at least for now.
Gilderoy smiled, clearly pleased with the outcome. "Impressive, Lady Gremory. You've more than lived up to your reputation."
Rias returned his smile, though there was a coldness behind it. "Let's hope this partnership continues to be mutually beneficial, Mr. Lockhart."
As Gilderoy prepared to leave with his newly awakened Sentinel, Rias watched him go, her thoughts racing. She had made a deal with a man who walked the line between magician and devil, and though they had come to an agreement, she knew the game was far from over.
There was more to Gilderoy Lockhart than met the eye, and Rias was determined to uncover his true nature—before it was too late.
After Gilderoy's departure, Rias and Akeno sat in the quiet of their office, the tension between them finally easing.
Akeno broke the silence first. "What do you think his next move will be?"
Rias sighed, leaning back in her chair. "I'm not sure. But whatever it is, we'll be ready."
They had entered into a devil's bargain with a man who could either become a powerful ally—or a dangerous enemy. But Rias was not scared of such games. She had been in presence of forces far greater than Gilderoy Lockhart before, and she would not be outmaneuvered.
The pieces were in motion, and though the future was uncertain, Rias Gremory knew one thing for sure:
She would not let this magician outplay her.
She was ready to win.