Chapter 54: Merely

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"The responsibilities that come with this bond are quite mature." The Devil with Familiars were responsible for their Familiars' wellbeing, a Familiar disrespected was a Familiar disloyal, and a Familiar that was disloyal was worse than no Familiar at all.

"I'm sure." Lelouch stated with conviction, staring down at the two who would become his Familiars. "Are you prepared to follow me?" He asked again, to ensure that their choice had not changed.

The dark bird made a sound of agreement, flying over his head in a loop before landing on his shoulder and the wolf merely barked once, remaining in its sitting position.

"Very well, let's get this ritual over with." He would like to get some sleep before the night was out after all. "I still wish to do this in private, so please do not follow me." He announced before he turned away.

Issei grumbled as he stared at Lelouch's retreating back. "Man, what's up with that guy?" He didn't know the teen very well, but even he had been surprised by the fact that the name he had known him by was fake. It irritated him that the older boy had hidden something so fundamental as his name.

Rias grabbed Issei's shoulder before he could follow the mysterious boy who had become her Knight. "Don't Issei, he everyone has a past and if he wants to keep it secret we must respect his wishes." Her eyes narrowed slightly as she took in the back of Lelouch as he walked off into the woods to conduct his Familiar ritual. 'Though this is just yet another question I have to ask.' She thought to herself, ignoring Issei's grumbling. What was Lelouch's true name?

Secrets weren't good for relationships and, while she had been mostly focused on Issei due to both his potential, thanks to his Sacred Gear, and his desperate need of help if he wanted to become a competent Devil (and maybe because she found him a little bit cute), perhaps it was time she tried to strike up a more cordial relationship between herself and her new Knight.

There were a few questions she would like to have answered, questions she'd had ever since she had brought the dark-haired boy into her Peerage. And she wanted to get to know the mysterious teen, because her Peerage were her friends, her family.

Lelouch had been on the outside looking in for quite a bit considering his aloof personality and general lack of interest, the most he had been involved with her was that dodgeball tournament. In contrast, he had a much greater relationship with Koneko and Kiba, and perhaps even Akeno. A Devil without a relationship with their King was liable to become a Stray, and she would need to ensure that didn't happen.

Rias didn't want her reputation besmirched by the fact that a Stray Devil came from her Peerage and she also wanted to avoid the pain it would bring both to herself and her friends.

The first step to avoid that path would lay in getting her questions answered, but not at this time. For now, it was the least she could do to wait. Back home, though, that was a different story.

Ignoring Issei's comment, Lelouch walked alone towards a separate clearing in order to complete the ritual. Ignorant to Rias' plotting to get closer with him, the Devil Knight walked slowly through the underbrush, stopping every few moments to wait and listen for anyone following him.

Not hearing anyone, he continued forward until he eventually reached a clearing that was illuminated by the light of the full moon.

"Okay, this should be far enough." Lelouch murmured to himself while the wolf and the dark bird took a place in front of him. The wolf sat on its hind legs, staring up at him expectantly while the feathered Familiar flapped its wings to land to the right of the wolf.

It hopped around for a moment or two before similarly directing its attention to him. "Let's begin." He took a deep breath and connected himself with the power deep in his soul.

His earlier identity crisis solved, Lelouch held out his right hand directed straight towards the dark bird and the black wolf. 'What I seek… is the future.' Lelouch thought to himself, his conviction becoming stronger as he made his decision.

'That is the kind of man I am.' It had been the decision he had made in the World of C, when confronted by his Father and Mother's plan to unite the living and dead within the Collective Unconsciousness of Humanity. He had deemed that plan foolish, based on a desire to continue wallowing in the past.

But that's exactly how he had been acting ever since he had found himself trapped in this strange world. "I shall not be held back by my past any longer." He declared with finality, knowing with absolute certainty who he truly was. It was a feeling he hadn't had in a long time.

Lelouch vi Britannia, a man whose masks were numerous as they were contradictory but whose true identity was rooted in his love for his little sister and his desire for a future, flared his magical power, a dark magic circle taking root around his two soon to be Familiars.

"In the name of Lelouch vi Britannia, I request that you accept this Contract to become my Familiars and serve me forevermore." His red eyes flashed and his right hand burned slightly as he felt the bond take hold, binding the Blood Raven and the Night Wolf to his power. A burst of magical light scattered around the clearing while a dark laugh echoed in the nigh empty forest.

Ophis hummed lightly as she felt the presence of her power return to the city, revitalizing the stale air with a fresh "scent". "So, he has not fled after all." Her soft voice sounded to the empty air as she maintained her perch near a mansion on the outskirts of Kuoh. "It looks like I won't have to destroy this city after all." A small frown came across her face.

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