Chapter 43 apology

"That could've been embarrassing!" Serafall said with a laugh, unceremoniously dropping the bound fallen onto the ground beside her like a sack of potatoes. She walked forward and took the pentagram from Clarissa, giving it a once over. "Something this simple can remove Sacred Gears, huh? Just goes to show the world's crazy." She smiled and pulled Clarissa into a hug, thoroughly surprising my bishop if the witch's tense muscles were anything to go by. "Good job, witch-chan! You'll make a good magical girl some day." Serafall released Clarissa and turned back to me. "I need to get going. Don't forget to meet your guests!" A flash of white engulfed Serafall and the Fallen and they were gone.

Yubelluna looked down at my chest. "I recommend you change, my king. Your shirt is covered in blood."

Blinking in surprise I followed her gaze. I was covered in blood alright. It must have happened when I decapitated the other Fallen and I just hadn't realized at the time.

"That's probably a good idea." I said. The only people I could think of who would visit me were my brother Ruval, who would be okay with waiting an extra five minutes, or Seekvaira Agares. She may have dispensed with decorum in our last meeting, but that didn't mean she would be alright with me striding up to her covered in Fallen Angel fluid.

"Please make refreshments for whoever is here and tell them I will be down in a second." As Yubelluna and Clarissa, who both had been far enough removed from the melee to emerge without blood covering them, headed towards the sitting room, I rushed upstairs and changed quickly.

When I entered the sitting room a few minutes later, I found Yubelluna serving tea to Seekvaira Agares, who had taken a seat on the sofa. Alivian stood behind the sofa, looking as professional as ever.

"I apologize for making you wait." I said, walking towards the chair opposite the sofa.

"Your apology is unnecessary. Lady Leviathan explained you were on an errand for her while we conversed. I would hope whatever pulled her away was not negative?"

I shook my head as I sat down opposite her, taking an offered teacup from Yubelluna. "We retrieved what we were after in Kuoh Town and she decided to take care of it right away. We also captured a Fallen Angel that she took to interrogate."

Seekvaira's eyebrow rose. "You were able to capture a Fallen angel? That is an impressive feat considering their light magic. May I ask how you were able to take her alive?"

In answer, I held my hand out in front of me palm-up and summoned the same fire whips I'd used against the Fallen. Flexing my magic, I hardened the fire into the chains I'd bound the Fallen in.

Seekvaira's eyes widened, and I noted she was far more animated than she was in our first conversation. "That is…I have never seen something like that before." Standing up, she walked around the coffee table and held out her hand. "May I?"

I passed over the chain, allowing Seekvaira to inspect it.

"This is the same material as what is in your queen's pendant, is it not?" she asked, her eyes transfixed on the chain.

"It is. I figured out how to harden my Hellfire a long time ago, but I haven't really had a chance to show off the ability."

Pursing her lips, Seekvaira walked back around the sofa and held the chain out to her queen. "Try to tear this chain apart."

Alivian accepted the chain with a nod of his head, then gripped either end of it. The chain snapped taught with a sound like a hammer banging against an anvil as Alivian pulled. His eyebrows furrowed as his grip tightened. I could hear something creaking as the queen widened his stance. His arms began to shake in exertion. Finally, he opened his mouth and a roar escaped him, his voice like that of a lion that had just dispatched a rival.

The chain snapped apart, pieces flying every which way.

Luckily, I was the only one hit. The gash quickly seared itself closed thanks to my regeneration.

"My apologies, Riser." Seekvaira said, her eyes locked on the freshly-healed patch of skin visible beneath the still-present hole in the shoulder of my shirt. "I did not think."

"No harm was done, Lady Agares. Your apology is unnecessary." I'd injured myself far worse than a simple impalement while I was figuring out my power. This was practically a scraped knee by comparison to some of what I subjected myself to.

Seekvaira frowned as she walked back around the sofa to sit. "I have already told you to call me Seekvaira, Riser. You need not address me with titles."

"Then I will do so, Seekvaira. Was there a purpose to this display?" I said, motioning towards Alivian as the butler straightened his coat and retook his place behind Seekvaira.

She nodded. "I was testing the durability of the material you create. While it may not seem impressive at first, it was strong enough to require Alivian's full strength to break. Depending on how versatile your ability to shape it, I would likely be interested in starting a business venture with you."

I raised my eyebrows. "That sounds interesting, though I would rather we complete our past business before looking to the future."

Seekvaira nodded and said, "Of course. Forgive me for delaying." She sat up straighter, her features once more growing controlled. "I will trade to you my mutation bishop and copies of the Agares family library. Volumes that do not contain family secrets have already been copied and are merely waiting to be delivered."

"And Harpe?" I said, already expecting trouble based on Seekvaira's change in demeanor.

"I am afraid I cannot offer Harpe. The weapon is not mine to give, and you are already receiving my mutation bishop as a part of this bargain. However, my parents elected to offer you a different blade. Alivian?"

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