The devils permeating the hall bent their knees. Rias followed suit, and so did her peerage—still groggy from the turn of events. Sona and her peerage did the same. Grayfia bent the knee, her parents bent the knee, and so did her brother, the Lucifer. The arrogant and prideful Riser was down on both knees, his head pressed to the ground. He was outright prostrating, shivering slightly. Ravel Phenex was no better, though she was a bit more demure in displaying her ecstasy.
It's understandable, Rias thought. I would be no better if the Progenitor of my clan were to pop out of nowhere. The Progenitors held the same status as the Big G upstairs—for devils, at least. Devils were descendants of Demons, beings of extraordinary power, beings who stood on the same level as her brother, the Lucifer. If that were the case, then the prideful devils gathered here would not show such reverence to Adam Phenex. It was his feats, his character, that earned their awe.
Let me see if I still remember them, Rias pondered as Adam motioned for everyone to rise and made his way toward the leader of all devils.
Onii-sama is still wary of him. He must be wondering why a person like this would appear now of all times. Her brother seemed calm outwardly—his smile did not falter, nor were his palms clenched. But the slight tension in his back, making him seem taller than he already was, betrayed him.
In contrast, Adam Phenex was full of openings. He didn't even seem aware of the concept of putting one's guard up. It was almost mocking to everyone present, and yet not one of them could feel insulted by it.
As expected of the one who fought the Heavens and the Grigori to a standstill, Rias clenched her fists as her eyes roamed his figure. He had blonde hair and a sharply angled face. His blue eyes were dim, like the bottom of the ocean at night. A scar cut near his collarbone. His clothing, a Japanese yukata, looked… very flowery, to say the least. There was flamboyance in him. The purple would have clashed horribly with his hair if it had been a lighter shade, but as it was, it held together. He wore wooden sandals and carried no weapon.
All she could feel for him was respect—and yearning. A yearning to be as strong as him. For she had realized that only strength could give her the freedom she craved. If she were as strong as her brother, she would not have been forced into their political machinations. She could simply say no, renege on the marriage contract, and need no explanation for it. That is what strength gave you.
Adam seemed to be done with his conversation with her brother. So lost was she in her musings that she didn't notice the devils in the hall spreading the news to those who had not, or could not, attend. The other Satans would know soon enough—her brother was diligent that way. And Sona, no doubt, would have already contacted her sister.
Adam gaze swept across the hall. His eyes drifted from the gathered devils to Riser and Ravel, who stood respectfully to the side. He walked toward them—to the left of Sirzechs. Adam towered over Riser, beside him; Ravel seemed minuscule.
"I can see that you are Phenex," Adam said, his voice low. "Both of you." He looked at Ravel as well. "What are your names? I would like to know my descendants." His voice softened.
"My Lord, my name is Riser Phenex, the third son of the noble House of Phenex." Riser placed his right palm on his left breast, his left arm ramrod straight at his side. Noble etiquette at its finest. He then motioned to his sister, who stepped forward and curtseyed.
"My name is Ravel Phenex, My Lord. The daughter of the noble House of Phenex."
Adam nodded. "Riser and Ravel. I am pleased to see you two." That was it. He moved on, seemingly uninterested in his own family.
But then his gaze caught Grayfia. He stopped, transfixed, and walked toward her. Her husband—Rias' brother—looked just as confused as she did, but chose a wait-and-see approach. Grayfia stood, as always, in her role as a maid. She looked up at Adam, her silver eyes swirling with magic, powering up.
"What is your name?" Adam asked. His voice was… different. Rias could not place him well enough to judge quickly, but it seemed unlike his relaxed, detached tone from before. He sounded troubled—sad, angry, happy, despairing, all woven together with an aloofness that made him seem like a man trying to run from reality, yet pulled back by something unforgettable.
Grayfia hesitated, but perhaps she saw something in his eyes that made her answer. "Grayfia Lucifuge."
Adam did not reply at once. He stared at her, lost. Finally, he murmured, "Lucifuge… still such a stupid name." Then, his focus sharpened. "Do you know what Lucifuge means?" His lips cracked into faint amusement.
Grayfia shifted in place, her hands tightening behind her. She lowered her eyes, then answered in a flat voice: "Refuge in Lucifer." When she looked up again, her silver eyes carried emotions too complex to unravel. But Adam seemed to read them. He sighed softly and reached out, patting her head the way a father might a daughter's.
"I am sorry."
With that, he moved on. Grayfia stood frozen, her gaze lingering on him. Adam gave Sirzech a brief nod, patted his shoulder, and then stepped toward her—Rias Gremory.
His eyes studied her face intently, flicking between her and her brother, then back again, as if trying to piece her together.
"You are Sirzech's sister, aren't you?" he said. "I had no idea you existed."
Blunt. The words struck her. How could a man have no tact? Her hurt must have shown, because Adam smirked faintly, amused, but offered no comfort. He turned, uninterested, to move on.
"How do I become as strong as you?" Rias blurted.
Her eyes widened at herself, but she did not back down when he turned back, his gaze catching hers, a faint shine within them.
"What makes you think I am strong?" he countered.
Rias scoffed lightly, unable to hide her disbelief.
Adam didn't take offense. If anything, he looked more intrigued. He nodded slowly. "Why do you want to become strong?" he asked, leaning forward slightly, studying her intently.
Rias could feel the stares of everyone—the weight of her peerage, Sona and her peerage, her parents, Riser and Ravel, Grayfia, even her brother the Lucifer. But in this moment, it didn't matter. She had grasped onto something that could not be sacrificed for appearances or opinions.
She stared straight into the eyes of the man who could kill her with a thought, the man who had shaken her brother's composure, the man who embodied everything she desired. She looked into those dim blue eyes and spoke the desire only Akeno knew.
"I want to be strong enough to control my own fate," her voice burned with passion. "Strong enough not to be forced into things I don't want. Strong enough to live my life the way I want."
The words tumbled out in one breath. Heat flushed her cheeks. Embarrassment crawled up her chest. She feared being dismissed like a child, her desire crushed beneath his indifference.
But she needn't have worried.
For Adam's eyes lit up like the rising sun. The temperature in the hall seemed to climb with his smile, pressing against her skin until it was almost unbearable. Whatever he saw in her eyes impressed him. His lips trembled as he tried to contain his smile, before asking a question she would never forget.
"Who are you?"
And for the first time in her life, Rias felt like she could breathe.
"Rias… just Rias."