Chapter 16: Part 15 - The Power of Lamperouge.
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***
- Greyfia, you will come with me and Euclid to our guest,' Rizevim ordered, standing near one of the fortress windows, looking out at the Resistance troops in the distance.
- Aye,' immediately bowed a nonchalant Servant, dressed in a blue and white maid's uniform, showing off the beautiful and athletic form of her flawless body.
Greifia Lucifug, the Silver-haired Queen of Annihilation, one of the strongest Demons of Hell bowed and left the room. There was no make-up on her perfectly slightly pale skin. Only her thin lips were lightly painted red.
Her lush silver braids swayed as she walked. The uniform was tight around her perfect waist, almost in an hourglass shape.
Greyfia's face was unperturbed, but just the cold look of her grey eyes could scare away any creature of this castle. And not only with her cold look, but with her power she could crush anyone here, except for Rizevim and her older brother Euclid. But she was not far from him....
Black shoes with small heels clattered on the marble hall. She, along with her brother and Rizevim, were in the main building of the fortress city of Lilith. The hems of her blue dress barely reached the floor as she walked towards one prisoner's cell.
Ever since Hell Lord Lucifer had died, she had repeated his words every day before going to sleep...
Find your own happiness...
Let the worthy find you himself....
When the descendants of the First Lords met for the first time during the Troubles, discussing what to do next, she was twenty-three. As she listened to what they were talking about, anger rose in her. They wanted to destroy everything. EVERYTHING they had inherited from their parents and build on what they wanted. Her father and brother reacted calmly with words:
Our duty is to serve Rod Lucifer, his word is law and order.
She couldn't accept that the descendants of the First would destroy everything their parents had built. Besides, she had noticed some changes since Lucifer's death. All the Houses, personal Servants and their Clans subordinate to the Overlords had not continued to be loyal. But Greyfia...didn't feel that feeling - loyalty to the Master - deep inside. When Lucifer commanded, she felt it, but now....
Has her character been affected by the words Lucifer spoke? Anything could have.
Every day she grew more and more frustrated with Lucifer's son and his friends. They wanted to make things worse. To maximise the promotion of the High Ones to high positions and 'use' their resources. And also to please them to keep them loyal. But they didn't see what Greyfia saw. If you give a High a lot of power and don't put a leash on it in time, there will be even greater class inequality than there is now. The descendants of the First thought that since they were the sons of the First Lords, they were bound to be honoured and respected, as if they were their saviours, as if they were their Gods.
And the current Lords are not going to put a leash on them. They think they are too smart just because of their origins, thinking the rest of the people around them are idiots.
But the open proof that they were wrong was right in front of them - Rod Lamperouge. A House that had risen from the ground up to become one of the most powerful Houses in Hell.
Greifia Lucifuge was one of the strongest Demons in the Lords army, a Servant of Rizevim of Lebanon Lucifer. She came from a Clan that had served Lucifer for centuries.
She was not happy...
No, she couldn't stand what was happening around her...
She couldn't stand serving someone who disgusted her. Greyfia is probably the first rebellious Lucifuge in the history of their family. She still remembered Lucifer's words that the worthy one would find her himself.
Would see her, a true predator - a tiger - disguised as a loyal little mouse. She was sickened by the presence of Rizevim and his friends. She was even sick of her own family. Greyfia did not wish to go along with Rizevim and his gang.
Greyfia wished to find a new path. A path she would live for.
To meet the one 'worthy' and be only with him. By his throne, if he wanted to be Lord of the Underworld. By his castle chair, to help in all matters and to remember with pride that I did this together with my Lord. Or just to be near him and to help him in achieving his goals....
Perhaps the departed Lucifer heard her, perhaps the Gods condescended to Demons. But a few days after Rizevim took the outpost that supplies the entire army by river, one Demon was brought in. Servants had caught him while patrolling the area. How much Rizevim exulted when he learnt it was Lelouch Lamperouge!
Greyfia had seen the head of Lamperouge in person....
- I will help you. I see your true nature, Greyfia. You're sick of being among them and I'll help you off the leash, but-- - he said then, -But I want you to fulfil one small whim of mine....
Said he, finding himself completely beaten and wounded, before her feet. But the hard look in his lilac eyes left no chance of refusal. Without realising it herself, she had completed all his errands perfectly. Grayfia had even checked herself for mental bookmarking, one of Lucifuge's secret techniques passed down through generations. But her head was clear. She was doing this of her own free will.
And now she, along with her brother and Rizevim, were right outside his cell.
Euclid opened the door to Lelouch's dark cell. The only light was a window that was almost at the ceiling of the room. There was a grate on it, so the shadows of the iron pipes, which suppressed any magic, fell right in front of Lelouch, who sat with his head down.
- Dear Lord Lamperouge, I hope you like everything here? - Rizevim asked with a sneer.
Lelouch raised his tired and empty eyes.
- 'I am Lelouch of Britain, eleven prince of the Holy British Empire. I am not Lelouch Lamp...' he continued to mumble the phrase, but Rizevim, frustrated, ordered aloud:
- Ohhh, Euclid, proceed.
- Aye!' the Servant bowed, and then put his hand to his head.
Lucifuge closed his eyes and concentrated, and after a few seconds there came a cry full of pain from Lamperouge.
- AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!! STOP, I PRAY YOU, I TOLD YOU WHO I AM...AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
After a dozen seconds, Euclid turns around with a confused face to the Lord that stood with a slight smile.
- Well, tell me. All the plans, the strategist...
- Mister, - Euclid interrupted him and bowed low, as if he had done something wrong, - There's nothing.....
- What?' Rizevim was puzzled. 'What do you mean, nothing?
- That's it,' Euclid lowered himself even more, 'There's only the memory that he is indeed a prince of some human empire. But...
- But? - Rizevim, whose face became momentarily frowning, pushed for an answer.
- No mental influence has been detected... - Euclid informed everyone in a hoarse voice.
Greifia Lucifug's cold and unperturbed mask broke. It was replaced by shock. Her brother, a genius of the past generation who could easily defeat the same Zeotikus Gremori or Roigan Belphegor.
He was someone to whom the Ancestral Gift was given with great ease, and only the Gods could surpass him in mental magic. And now this very same Demon says that he found nothing in Lelouch Lamperouge.
- But...how? Euclid, are you sure?! - Rizevim treated him differently from the other Servants. It was like they were friends.
- Yes, Master, absolutely. I scanned him three times and only his...his true memories were there,' Lucifug did not look up.
Greyfia didn't understand. Was this part of Lamperouge's plan? But then how had he done it? How was he able to do something that not even the Gods could do. Completely alter his memories so that nothing remained. Usually when you mentally seal memories, but according to Euclid, this was not the case.
- I'll help you find your freedom...
But what will she do once she's free?
I don't understand. My feelings are conflicted. I want to leave this society where no one cares about each other. I want...I want to be found by someone worthy...someone I can give my life for in the name of his desires. I'll follow him if he declares war on the Gods, I'll follow him if he declares war on the world! I want out of this lousy world....
Greyfia looked at Lelouch's pathetic and shabby appearance, perplexed to herself.
The demon who had stopped the advance of the Heavenly Dragons into the lands of Hell. The demon who had gained the support of most of the Pillars and subjugated vast lands. A Demon who built an entire empire with its own orders and laws right in front of the Lords' noses. One of the strongest Demons, Lelouch Lamperouge. Who the hell are you? Or is it...is he the one?
- What the hell, Abyss, is going on?!
Rizevim's aura was a match for his robes. Powerful and dense, forcing heads to bow. Euclid immediately found himself on the floor of his own volition. And Greyfia continued to stand with great difficulty.
But Lucifer's son paid no attention to this, as Greyfia was behind him. And after a second, Rizevim pulled himself together and ordered:
- 'Let them continue torturing him,' he said as he left the room.
- Yes!' Euclid bowed immediately and went to the demons to tell them the good news.
Greyfia came out with everyone else and went to her room. It was small, without too much noble farce. But it was very cosy. Just being in this room alone made Greyfia feel calmer.
A small bed in the left corner of the room, a wardrobe across from it, and a small desk beside it. To the right of the bed was a small coat rack with no hooks. Greyfia took off her blue dress and hung it up, leaving her in only one white blouse and short black shorts.
Lucifug collapsed onto the bed with a sigh. The top buttons of her blouse were undone, allowing a glimpse of part of her voluminous breasts. It settled tightly around the girl's perfect waist, and the short shorts allowed her beautiful legs to be admired.
Probably every Demon in the Underworld has an opinion on how the lower class - Low and Middle Class demons - should be treated. But not Greyfia.
Of course, her older brother and Demons Lucifug and Rizevim's subordinates simply couldn't stand those Classes, referring to them as such - 'pathetic mudbloods.' Greyfia couldn't say exactly how she felt about it.
She thought she didn't care about it, but no. She had admired Hell, its beauty and warmth, since she was born. Admired Lucifer for caring for every demon of the race, regardless of their origins. She had seen that world with her own eyes.
Her ancestors had preserved the memories of those days in amulets with the Rod's ability. Greyfia had seen the happy smiles of children and their mothers. The fathers as they returned from work to their families. Despite being raised as Lucifer's loyal puppet, those memories showed compassion in her soul.
- I'll help you find your own path...
It was probably those words of Lelouch's that motivated her to help him. Sighing, she got up from the bed and stretched. It seemed as if her blouse was about to rip under the power of her breasts, but that - to the dismay of the perverted Spirits that flew around like mosquitoes - didn't happen. She got out of bed and walked over to the table, remembering today's mission.
- Exactly ten days from now, at midnight, they will come to you. You will know they are from me. They will hand you a leaflet, which you must then give to me....
Greyfia sighed for the umpteenth time today.
- Okay...I want...I want you to help me, Lord Lamperouge....
***
Greyfia walked down the corridors of the castle under the illusion. As she descended the spiral staircase, she saw two dead demon guards. They had been killed point-blank in the neck, as evidenced by a small stab wound on their skin.
Greyfia, ignoring them, opened the door and entered the castle's main warehouse. The main food supply for the entire garrison that was in the castle was right here. Food, armour, artifacts, explosive barrels and more.
Hoarse cries for help were heard. Greyfia immediately used telekinesis to pull a sword from the wall and it was covered in ice. The right side of her body, along with the sword, was covered in ice, and an Aura of coldness in the form of many snowflakes was emanating from her.
A Demon immediately emerged from the shadows, wearing a white mask with a black smile. Greyfia didn't notice as the Demons that came out of the shadows surrounded her. They all had different masks with designs. One had one eye 'closed' and another had a 'sad' mask.
- Ti nendo (We are the Shadow) - said a male voice, but it seemed to Greyfia as if it wasn't one at all. It was as if he (they?) said it in chorus.
Greyfia knew the language - Ancient Hades. Ancient Hades, the language that the scribes of Hell had invented by Lucifer's plan to be learnt by all demons. But this language did not become popular, as Lucifer had hoped, because it was difficult and incomprehensible for many. But any High Demon, at least out of respect, knew it.
- Ne mi Taro, li shauna? (I need the Third, is he here?) - Greifia asked, looking with her cold grey eyes at the only Demon that spoke to her.
She didn't expect a Demon to approach her from the back. Greyfia didn't feel any energy from the Demons that surrounded her.
- Ka Taro (I am the Third),' said the Demon in a mask with "closed" eyes, with his black hair sticking out slightly from under his hood, "Vota (Here)," he handed Greyfia a leaflet with Lamperouge's coat of arms on it.
Before Greyfia could respond, the Shadows were gone. At least, that's what Lucifuge thought.
- 'If you dare betray the Lord,' said a female voice from behind, holding a demonic dagger to Greyfia's throat, 'You will die instantly, Lucifug. Do not underestimate the Lord.
One of the Shadows disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. Only now having gone through a difficult psychological ordeal, Greyfia looked down at her hands and denied her nonchalant mask. They were trembling.
Greyfia couldn't contain that trembling in front of...what? Greyfia couldn't even mentally touch them, as if the Shadows' masks were protecting them from mind invasion. What to speak of when she couldn't feel anyone near her.
Maybe it was an illusion? Or had she gone mad herself?
- You continue to amaze me, Lord Lamperouge,' Greyfia said aloud, feeling an unknown prick in her chest.
But she didn't give it any thought, writing it off as a past encounter and headed downstairs.
To Lord Lamperouge's cell.
***
Everything's been taken care of. Not a single Guardian in my path. So Lord Lamperouge already had a contact in the fortress, allowing his Shadows to slip through.
I wasn't the only one who betrayed Rizevim...
The Shadows alone prove the Power of the Lamperouge clan...
Greyfia walked over to the cell and looked at one of the Guardians that had been killed. There was a dagger sticking straight out of his forehead, with the magical key to Lelouch's cell hanging from its hilt.
On the note attached to the key was written in ancient Hades, 'Open.'
Even here they had managed to sneak in...
Greyfia with a nonchalant face took the key and opened the cell. Lelouch's face was covered in red whip streaks, just like the rest of his body. Even with the fact that he had recently been changed, his grey robes were once again torn everywhere.
But that wasn't what made Greyfia take a closer look. Lilac eyes sparkled brightly in the darkness, and the left one burned in some strange pattern. Slowly, a change began to happen to Lelouch.
The face full of pain and suffering was replaced by a joyful smile. His empty lilac eyes began to glow in the darkness, and his left eye burned bright red with some pattern that Greyfia did not understand. Lelouch's face crossed with a crazed grin.
Lucifuge couldn't maintain her mask of equanimity and flinched. And after that Lelouch began to laugh quietly. He laughed harder, harder, crazier and crazier.
What is this? This Aura...monstrous....
Lucifug was afraid.
For probably the second time in her life.
The first time was when Lucifer died.
And now...
- HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA... - Lelouch laughed loudly and gleefully, then began to giggle quietly....
And his Aura...
It made you want to kneel down and beg to be spared....
Lelouch abruptly stopped laughing and looked at Lucifuge with a smile.
- You're long, Greyfia,' Lelouch smirked, looking directly at his guest.
Greyfia flinched again at the tenacious gaze of Lamperouge. But after a moment she pulled herself together and said:
- 'You've been asked to give this to me,' Greyfia held out the leaflet, and Lelouch calmly took it.
- Great. Then it's time for you and me to get out of here. Or have you changed your mind?
- No way,' Greyfia was scared for a moment, "I want...I want to come with you," Greyfia whispered the last phrase.
- Well, let's go then,' Lelouch said and began to tear the collar off with his bare hands.
- But, Lord Lamperouge, you can't do that...' There was a loud crack and the magic in the collar was gone.
- You didn't finish, Greyfia,' Lelouch grinned again, looking into Lucifuge's shocked face, 'However, such pathetic artefacts can't stop me.
Greyfia couldn't believe her eyes. She remembered Rizevim's words about this 'exclusive' collar.....
- It's capable of holding and absorbing Dragon King level magic. And what is this low-grade disgrace of a Bael capable of? I wouldn't be surprised if he dies a few days after putting it on....
And right now, Lucifuge, looking at Lelouch kneading his body parts, couldn't believe one thing...
Just how strong is he? Super Demon level? Higher?
But that wasn't the only thing Greyfia was thinking about....
What a powerful torso...with almost no fat at all. So eager to touch...
Greyfia shook her head to ward off such vulgar thoughts. So, putting on her mask of nonchalance once more, she asked:
- Allow me, Lord Lamperouge,' Lelouch turned around, 'Even though your Shadows were able to penetrate the castle, they won't be able to eliminate the entire defence.
- I didn't give them that task,' Lelouch replied, 'Though I'm sure they could have done it without me. But we have to follow the plan of Sazex's assault.
- So you obey Sazex Gremory? - asked the interested Lucifug, as she had long known that Prince Gremory was the one who united the Pillars of Resistance around him.
- Him? Obey him? Don't be naive, Greyfia. That boy has no milk on his lips to command me. I am only pursuing my own goals,' Lelouch said with a frown.
- But, excuse me, according to Rizevim's contacts, you followed Sazex Gremory because he wanted to change the world of Underworld. And you fully supported him in that,' Greyfia said calmly, but clearly wished to ask the question much sooner and get an answer as soon as possible.
Lelouch didn't frown at that, nor did he show his displeasure at her meddling. Which surprised Greyfia greatly, but she didn't show it outwardly.
I had no intention of subjecting Greyfia to Gias, but I know her personal goals and desires. At least a few for sure. In the future, if she's not on my side, it could turn out badly. Especially since I'm not about to put such a marvellous creature in Sazex's hands. (My yum-yum.)
After a languid dozens of seconds of complete silence, Lelouch, staring straight into Lucifug's grey eyes, said:
- I'll tell you...
Greyfia prepared to listen, scanning all around for any intruders.
- The Pillars will devour Sazex faster than he thinks,' Lelouch began, 'It's true that many supported Gremory because of his charisma and naive dreams of peace. He thinks that the High Ones have realised the value of fighting together, and when the War is over, they will continue to work together to build a new world for their descendants. Naive lies! - Lelouch said the last words stiffly.
And Greyfia listened attentively to Lamperouge, watching him take out clothes from his spatial pocket and change his clothes.
- Sazex and his friends will probably be offered high positions after the War, and they will probably accept them,' Lelouch continued, 'Thinking that they are supported by the High, the heads of the Pillars will continue to fight each other behind their backs. For more power. For their own pride. For the sake of their own miserable lives,' Lelouch spat out one word after another.
Greyfia continued to listen to Lord Lamperouge. To understand him. In order to make a decision...
- In that case, it's worth putting a leash on the Highs. After all, if this is not done in time, Sazex and his cronies will become too dependent on their resources. Therefore, many of the Pillars, with the support of Bael, will be as far away as possible from having a rope around their necks. And because Sasex is too naive and romantic, he will refuse the leash and pursue everything on his own so that he can support each other with the help of 'friends'. And then I'll call him a naive fool again - fully clad in the Lords battle armour.
- I'm not so much...
But Lelouch was unstoppable...
- And the situation with the lower classes could get even worse,' Lelouch cut her off, 'There will be conservatives sitting on the OWLs. They're all arrogant idiots who think they're the centre of the earth. And the Pillars will continue to treat the Lower and Middle Classes like rubbish. And then we'll sink to an even lower level than we are now. We'll be...pathetic nobodies...' Lelouch summed up, looking straight into Greyfyre's slightly widened eyes from shock.
Lucifug's heart was pounding hard, and her voice wanted to shake before she could utter a single word. She didn't represent the most powerful Demon as a patriot or a virtuous person. Rather, as the second clan of Bael, where only the Power and the one whose origin was higher ruled.
- Just because someone is born a High, it doesn't mean they are above others,' Lelouch said as if reading Greyfia's thoughts, 'So to avoid the miserable end of not only our race, but the entire magical world, I want to change it. To make it one where I, my family and my subjects can live happily tomorrow. And to do that, I need to completely change the world order....
A light wind blew in that it decided to visit Lelouch's cell through the small window as well.
Despite the fact that they were almost the same height, it seemed that Lelouch was looking down on her, ready to fall on her at any moment. But it wasn't arrogance. Not pride. Something...strange to Greyfia. Playing with his hair, Lelouch looking only into Greyfia's eyes glistening because of the moonlight, said:
- My goal is the Revolution,' Lelouch said, ignoring Greyfia's slight trembling, 'It will affect not only the Underworld, but the other Factions as well. The Celestials, Gods, Dragons, Vampires, Yokai, and others will face change. With the new revolutionary order that I will bring! And in this new world, there will be no discrimination. I will create a world where the Biblical System will be completely rebuilt! In this new world, only I will be the new Grey God that will free the world from the Devil!
Greyfia trembled even more from the unknown feeling in her chest. Perhaps Greyfia herself could have come to exactly the same conclusions after time, but seeing the firm determination in Lord Lamperouge's eyes...
Perhaps he...
- And when the world is cleansed...we will live a happy life. No wars, no killing friends and family for power. Where there will be no greedy higher-ups who will ruin the lives of others just because they want to,' Lelouch finished, continuing to look only into the eyes of the beautiful Roda Lucifuge.
Lamperouge began to study the area, scrutinising with his unique eye. But before Greyfia could draw a conclusion for herself, Lelouch called out to her.
- 'Greyfia,' Lelouch began, gazing intently at Lucifuge, 'When I met you, I told you that I would help you find your way and your freedom,' to which Greyfia nodded, 'Then I guess I have a proposition for you...'
Lamperouge held out his hand to the girl, which for the umpteenth time she fell into a state of shock.
- 'Come with me,' Greyfia shuddered, 'As long as you are with me, I will help and protect you. In return, I ask that you live for me. To live until you make your own decision. A contract...
A scroll of the Blood Pact formed behind Lelouch's back, containing all of the terms that had now been announced.
- I want to hear your answer now. A patrol will be coming soon...
If Greyfia had any doubts, they were gone now. They dissipated like dust in the wind. His every movement, the timbre of his voice, his confident gaze and ideals - made one believe every word the Demon said. But perhaps what convinced her most of all were the words about the world he spoke of. Where she could see the smiles of children and their parents again...
A true utopia...
After a few seconds, Greyfia replied:
- I agree,' she extended her hand to her new Lord.
For the first time in so long, she allowed herself to smile. A gentle and warm feeling inside warmed her in a way that made her want to believe in the hope she had recently been given....
- So be it, Greyfia,' Lelouch said with a smile, 'That's the order!
- That is the deal! - The scroll of the Blood Pact burned in the flames.
- And now, we should take this fortress,' Lelouch grinned and took the leaflet in his hands, 'Now you will pose as a prisoner. I think Rizevim will come running to us immediately....