AN: I feel like I should put a content warning here for implied sexual assault. So I will, just in case it's expected of me.
Contrary to my expectations, when I turn around Grayfia isn't stood there as naked as the day she was born. My luck seemingly isn't that high. Instead, she's near the door, a towel in her hand.
Just to be sure, I probe the area around me for any of those fucking bees, letting out a small sigh of relief when I see none. Back to Grayfia, now.
I'd not paid attention to it until now, but the dress she's wearing shows off a lot less skin than I remembered. Arms, legs, neck, everything's covered. Doesn't hide her astonishing figure, but I suppose that's to the benefit of everyone.
"Lord Mammon." She greets me neutrally, and I can't help but grimace as I'm snapped out of my observations.
I've spent so long being treated like a lesser being that I've forgotten what being respected feels like. After the last few days I'd started believing my name was 'half-breed'.
"I've brought you a towel." She states the obvious shortly after.
I have to strain my eyes to see it, but she doesn't look alright. Both physically and mentally. Her voice is scarily soft, quiet, and her face is red, clearly from crying.
I know I should've expected this given the name of the Companion Quest, but it seems like I'm going to have to give some therapy to an extremely powerful Devil for the sake of making friends once more.
Fuck it. Nothing to lose from being a good person. Aside from maybe another eye.
"Grayfia?" I ask, hoping that she won't just brush me off. She looks up, skittish all of a sudden.
"Yes, Lord Mammon?" Ugh. I think I'm starting to hate how professional she sounds.
"Are you alright?" She looks shocked that I even cared to ask. "You look upset." Clearly, that wasn't the right follow-up.
"I apologise for my unsightly appearance, Lord Mammon. I will take my leave immediately." With that, she starts walking away. Before she reaches the door I stand up and equip my attire, uncaring for my damp state.
"Grayfia, wait!" I sound far more desperate than I want to let off. Mainly because I am.
I can't kill Euclid as I am, not yet. He's a higher level than me, with defenses of higher level than me. Loathe as I am to admit it, I need Grayfia to help me kill her brother.
And thankfully for me, she turns around halfway to the door, fear in her eyes. I'm not sure why in all honesty.
"...What do you require of me, my Lord?" There's a slight shaking in her hand, her eyes refusing to meet mine.
Slowly, I move towards her, not trying to set her off. She's coiled like she's ready to attack, and I absolutely don't want that to happen.
"You look terrible, Grayfia. I wanted to know if there was any way I could help." Eventually, I'm within arms reach of her, and she still won't look at me.
"As I said, I apologise for the unsightly display, but it is of no concern to you." She's got tear tracks down her cheeks. Her face looks pale with fear.
I sigh, and realise that I don't actually know how to get her to talk to me. So, I decide to just talk about my own problems first, either it'll take her mind off whatever ails her or cause her to talk in turn.
Before I can start to talk though, she begins to tear up once more. Having never been in a situation like this, I do the first thing that comes to mind.
As gently as I can, I place my hand on her shoulder and guide her to a bench along the sides of this, admittedly huge, washroom. We sit down, and she's still looking at the floor. I guess it's time to spin a yarn.
"I was sent here to kill you, you know?" Gotta get her attention somehow. She finally looks at me, shocked.
"Is that something you should be telling me, Lord Mammon?" I can feel the small pulse of Mana. She's got a spell at the ready.
"I just wanted you to know. Feels like a weight off my shoulders now. I can't describe it. But yeah, that's what I was initially here for." I can't seem to stop myself from talking now.
"The mission was given to me by Serafall. We met after I'd been held hostage and she rescued me from certain death." Grayfia listens on in interest. Good.
"I knew the whole time that she was manipulating me. I had a power that interested her. But, towards the end, before I was sent here, she said something to me." Grayfia's a little less tense, now.
"She said she wanted to go on a date with me. And it made me happy. So happy. But now, it feels hollow." At her confused look, I continue.
"Whenever I think about her now, I ask myself: Did Serafall really care? Or was I just being strung along the whole time, sent here on a hopeless mission?" To my surprise, she places a hand on my shoulder, offering some comfort.
"She said she was happy to have met me. I was happy too." Grayfia looks at me with some form of sympathy.
"I know it sounds silly speaking it aloud. But I trusted her. I still do. She was a familiar face in the Underworld. But now whenever I think of her, I think of that room, those purple flames. I think of thousands of red eyes." I know it's not her fault.
At the end of the day, they wouldn't have given me a map if they didn't expect me to get out. I just can't help these intrusive thoughts, these asinine theories.
Finally, after I start spilling my own insecurities out, Grayfia calms down. No tears in her eyes and she looks more relaxed than before. As I'd hoped, she begins talking about her own circumstances.
"I suppose I can relate to you, having crisis of faith with someone you trust." Oh? She continues on, thankfully.
"For the last few months, I've been making contact every now and then with a member of the Anti-Satan Army. He was... kind. So, utterly kind. Even after I tried to kill him, he forgave me. Showed me mercy." She clenches a fist in her lap.
Another instance of Sirzechs showing mercy. I'd have assumed he'd learn his lesson after the shit Bidleid has caused, but then again I suppose we all have our flaws.
"We kept meeting on the battlefield. Every time we did, he asked me to defect, to run away with him." She doesn't sound happy looking back on it.
"I never could. I couldn't abandon my father. I couldn't abandon these people." She doesn't mention Euclid.
"We still kept in conversation, no matter how many times I denied him. He was the first real friend I'd made in years." Her fist clenches further, enough that it leaves marks on her hand.
"It didn't take long for the Satan's to discover I'd been talking with him. It happened several days ago. When they discovered who I had been in contact with, they were ready to kill me for my crimes." She starts tearing up once more.
"Daimadosu suggested something worse as punishment. The war had been a losing one for a long time, and they needed security for their bloodlines. I was the strongest female Devil they had available." I can only feel utter disgust at the thought. I can't even muster words in response.
"To my surprise, I was allowed to remain unsullied. It is only out of respect for my father that Bidleid allowed me to keep my dignity." They're all just as reprehensible as eachother. None of them deserve to live.
"Had the decision been up to Daimadosu, I would not be here to speak with you now." Fucking hell. This isn't what I expected from this Companion Quest.
"After that, I spent every moment terrified. When I was next sent out to the battlefield, I ran, desperate to see Sirzechs again. Desperate to get out." She doesn't even care about hiding his identity anymore.
"And when I needed him, when I was at my most scared and alone, he wasn't there." That doesn't sound like Sirzechs at all.
"I tried to reach him, but he never answered. So, I was forced to return to Lucifaad, knowing that if I remained away for too long my father would no doubt be killed." She wipes her face with the sleeve of her dress.
"It's why we could never get away, despite being sent to battle so many times. One of us would always have to stay back in Lucifaad as a hostage." She doesn't even care about looking dignified anymore.
"I found out a few days later that it was an accident on Sirzechs' part. He wanted to answer, but he was occupied." I wonder if that's somehow because of my presence.
"I couldn't bear to tell him about what happened. I couldn't trust him anymore. I know he wants the best. I know he didn't mean to abandon me. But every time I think of him, I think of those eyes, the way they lusted for me. I feel betrayed all over again."
"They haven't let me out of the city since. I don't think I'd be able to speak to him anyways. It's not his fault. I know it isn't. But that doesn't stop me from feeling this way." A heavy breath and a long pause later, she continues. My hand is in agony, but I won't stop her from holding onto it.
"And so now, I go about my days. Waiting for the moment they come for me. I have considered death several times. But I know it will only destroy my family further." When she finishes, Grayfia does nothing but curl in on herself.
The silence lingers for several moments, as I stew in thought. I'm surprised the lengths she'll go for her father. Agh, shit.
Curse me and my bleeding heart. I want to save this scared Devil.
Fuck the plan. Fuck Beneram, the toxin, getting in her good books and her father's approval. None of that matters anymore.
She needs help. She's afraid. I'd never be able to look at myself if I left her in such a horrible situation. I've no doubt it'll make things much, much harder for myself, but she doesn't deserve such a fate. Nobody does.
I'll get her out of this place. Her and her father. I'll spirit away the whole House of Lucifuge if I have to. I just need her help in killing Euclid first.
"Grayfia?" I ask, incredibly hesitant but nonetheless determined to help her.
It seems like my voice snapped her out of her sorrow, because she looks up at me now, her eyes wide as she stammers out an apology.
"Wait. Grayfia, I need to ask you something." She looks confused.
"What is it, Lord Mammon? Have I not bared my heart enough for you?" I ignore the barbed comment.
"I can help you get out. But I need your help with something." She chuckles morosely.
"It is my duty to serve, Lord Mammon. It is the only duty I have ever known. The only one I'll ever know." Fuck, she's gonna need a lot of help. Getting sidetracked.
"I can get you out. You and your father. But, in exchange, I need you to help me kill your brother." I expect outrage. Anger. Instead?
"I understand. Whatever you need of me, I will assist you in." Jackpot.
I can only assume she'd be far less willing if she weren't as desperate to get away from this sickening place. Though maybe she's always been against her brother. Maybe Euclid has that effect.
"Thank you, Grayfia. We can talk more about it tonight." She nods and leaves, finally handing that towel over to me, though it isn't worth much anymore.
I've only made things harder for myself. I should've taken the chance and ran from this place, used one of the underground passageways and got the fuck out of dodge.
But I can't. Every time I consider it, I see my father. I see his hollow eyes. I hear his voice.
Companion Quest: (Saint Among Sinners) unlocked!
Rewards: Grayfia's allegiance. x1 Premium Skill Selection.
Well, now I only have more incentive to do this. I just have to hope Euclid's lab has something I can use to dig myself out of this hole I've gotten myself into.
Maybe one day I'll stop making promises I can't keep. Until then, I'll need to think about any ways I can cause a big enough distraction that I can get the whole House away. I'll also need to think of how I'll gut Euclid.
I can almost feel the exhaustion creeping into my body. The mental suffering I'm putting myself through. But in the end, it's all made worth it when I recall the flicker of hope I saw in her eyes.
Companion Quest: (Broken, Breaking) has been completed!
Rewards: 300EXP (x3 Level Up), 1 Skill Unlock Token, 2 Gacha Pulls!