Author's note: I should have never used a grammar checker; they are only lies that do nothing but ruin everything. I should have just trusted my skills. F.... Well, here you go, guys, too tired to change back the grammar-checked chapter that had more things changed than I want. At least it became much easier to read for most of yall.
Rias is 12 at the moment
---------------------------------------------------------------
It only took approximately two or three minutes before Ravik's mother, father, and two siblings were notified that the deputy leader of their new massive group wanted them in her cave, a cave which was further extended by wooden pillars and adorned with jewels of various charms and colors. A simple hobby and pastime for the deputy commander, Rose, who was also the second strongest in the newly formed 'clan'? Rose shook her head, not sure what their community had become. Previously, before Ravik came around and forcibly combined several groups and tribes, the distinction was clear. Now it is just a cluster of mess that only functioned because Ravik was alive, and the interests of the various previous leaders weren't harmed much. Rose shook her head in quick denial, admitting that she had worded it a bit wrong. "No, it would be wrong; instead, it would be more appropriate to say their interests are aligned perfectly."
Ravik didn't care much for the food distribution, nest allocation, or the divided and revised land that each clan and group owned, which was changing hands every month or so. Instead, he only cares if his personal needs are met and that Harpies would bring him anything that was of interest or anything that would help him get stronger and gain knowledge.
So Ravik had minions, and they had his protection against other groups and some symbol under which they could unite under, without much fear of betrayal amongst them, as, despite Ravik himself never personally dishing out punishment, nobody, certainly nobody, ever thought about clawing him in the back and trying to break the frail balance that their community rests on. Rose shook her head in confusion. "Was it stabbing?" She wondered, trying to remember the few terms she had heard and learnt from Ravik, as, despite her being one of the oldest and strongest harpies in the Familiar forest, she didn't have many opportunities to converse and become well-versed in the communication of words.
"No matter," Rose turned to the mother, father, and two siblings of Ravik, who, following his rise, had also become an important part of the new hierarchy of the clan.
Unfortunately, he didn't seem to love them much, as he only got them a cliff-facing, sun-facing cave and left them there. Not bothering to check up on them, and certainly not cherishing them dearly. But still, they weren't forgotten, and they became one of the few members of the clan who didn't have to hunt and didn't have to give part of their hunt as a tribute, or as Ravik would call it, 'tax'.
"Do you three happen to know where Ravik has gone? Is he planning on something important?" Rose spoke while grabbing a nearby fruit and eating it. "Scree." Unfortunately, his mother and siblings weren't exceptionally smart or strong, so they aren't capable of speech. But they are quite versed in understanding the communication of words, so she didn't have to go through 'normal' means.
---------------------------
A bit older-looking, Mother Harpie looked at the massive Harpie in front of her before shaking her head, not knowing the slightest bit of what was going through the head of her 'child'. But the bigger of her children seemed to have an idea, as she started relaying what little bit of what she knew.
"Scree, scroo, scras..." She made a sound while motioning an action that was quite familiar to her, as she was mimicking her 'son', Ravik – at least that was what he was called now. And what information she got.
Which was that her son was in a bad mood and has been doing the weird, hard-to-breathe and exhausting body training more and more. And that when she came by to drop some fruit yesterday, she saw him in such an especially foul mood that he didn't eat any fruit and only ate meat from the previous night for the meal.
That information made a frown adorn the face of Rose as she looked on in worry. Some part worried if he might just leave one day and that her people's little paradise would be gone the next day. And some small little part was happy that she would be the top Hapry again.
She turned to the direction that he disappeared to and decided to tell her subordinates and several other harpies who were previously also group and tribe leaders to increase the number of men that went to search for things of his interest. As she knew without a doubt that the reason for this shaky but working pyramid of their community was only because the pillar called Ravik was there.
--------------------------------------------------
Wind that was effortlessly cut and the swishing of air that accompanied the rustling of the leaves below him, along with the deep sense of freedom that refused to live, in joy of Ravik.
The sun was shining, and the sky was as bloody red as it ever was, marking another eventless and calm day in the Underworld, or, he could say, the familiar forest.
Truly an unexpected surprise it was to learn that his new life was in the world of anime, even DXD to boot.
As he didn't think it was possible, but multiple facts had already proved that it truly was a DXD world.
The extremely rarely seen, almost akin to a rumour of a dragon named Tiamat being the true ruler and owner of the forest, according to some old tortoise, and some other magical birds that migrated from afar said that it was the territory of the clan called Gremory, a clan of devils.
Then some rarely seen devils were managing the forest, putting down mass fires and taking care of the outer edge of the forest.
But this valuable information only provided Ravik with nothing but uncertainty. He didn't want to become a slave in all but name to a devil to continue his path of growth. As not only does it mean not having the free will to do what he wished, but also his relationship with certain organisations and factions would become bad.
Though he wasn't exactly sure if some faction would look upon him kindly even if he did not join, since his appearance wasn't the most pleasing to the eye, but still, a possible enemy is better than a certain enemy.
Benefits, on the other hand, are quite big and plentiful.
He would gain the almost unageing characteristic of devils, some connections and, most of all, a path to certain power that wasn't some mirage hidden by the mist. Ajuka Beezlebub would surely have research and ideas about his future growth, as despite his confidence in his better-than-average reasoning and thought process, he was a far cry from the true peak of geniuses.
What should he do? Would he even be allowed to join in a peerage of some kind? Would he be yeeted out of the Gremory courtyard for wasting their time? .Uncertainty and a strong desire for freedom still refused the notion of spending centuries not knowing if he would even live and become a high-ranking devil, serving a devil.
Ravik shook his head as he looked about and searched for prey.
The one with considerable strength and who wouldn't flee at the sight of him would be appreciated.
Then he searched single-mindedly while enjoying the wind; he searched for lows and ups, caves and the water, but unfortunately for Ravik, it seemed that any nearby predators had already migrated to somewhere else.
Ravik just shook his beak and refused to give up on his hunt as he searched further and further, to the inner part of the forest. And he saw it, a group of beings who were quite strong and numbered a dozen or so. Just that they were devils, and there wasn't any nook and cranny animal that he could hunt recklessly.
But still, their appearance this deep into the forest seemed to mark something, as he decided to observe them for a bit before leaving back to his home.
He observed how they were scouting the area around them, looking and marking paths akin to a soldier preparing for an operation, cutting down trees that blocked the path and even creating a path that one could walk around comfortably, making Ravik question if someone important was coming and if they were preparing this path for them.
In the next thirty minutes he observed and noted any new activities, other than what Ravik already knew, but they just did what they had done from the start and continued scouting in more and more areas, while also putting down a few hostile or mindless animals in the forest, then noting and recording non-hostile and neutral animals.
Then he turned around and flew back to his home, and while he didn't stretch his claws much, he got more than he wanted, as he got a safer path to connect to and at least not bottom scrub devils. Just that he wasn't sure who and when that 'important' person would come.
But still, it shouldn't be a problem, as he could just send a few harpies to scout and relocate there for a few days or even a week, as he didn't believe that they would do this kind of thing for a few weeks before anything.
The next morning, he sent a few harpies there to scout and live there for a week along with supplies provided by the clan of his. Just that, as if in mockery of his thought of it taking a week at most, it took about ten days before that high and important person came around. Though it is said that the person was a small cub of a devil, who was escorted by a bunch of other people in the shadows and one in the open.
"Alright, call back the rest, and you all can take your rewards from the treasurer." Ravik bypassed them and started to get out of his cave, wanting to meet that important devil prince or princess and to finally try and make a contract of mutually beneficial agreement, as in Ravik's opinion, it would be much safer. What if they aren't here for a familiar? Oh, that is quite unlikely, as probably the only reason a young devil would come to this place is to get a familiar.
On the way out, he met Rose, his deputy commander and commander of the clan in all but the name. "What are you doing here?" Ravik walked towards her, his fingers unconsciously tapping the ground with its long features. Unconscious display of his hurry.
"Are you going to leave?" Rose asked Ravik.
Ravik turned to her in confusion; he had already told her that he was about to leave and might meet a devil or two and to send help when he gave the signal. And here she was, asking him yet again whenever he was about to leave, but still thinking that it must be one of those memories getting foggy when turning old things, he gave her the nod. "Yes, do remember the signal," he said while spreading his wings to take to the sky.
But from the edges of his ears, in a voice that was barely audible even to him, he heard her mutter. "Cold bastard."
He stood frozen in confusion for a second before truly taking to the sky; he questioned what Rose meant by that word and set a reminder for himself to make her remember her place as the second place and deputy as she started to boldly curse and berate him, the leader of the clan, especially in his presence to boot. He dared not imagine what she says to all those around her when he was absent and some part even wondered if the reason for most of the Harpies avoiding him is that Rose was saying anything bad of him behind his back.
And if the contract is established, he could call and make this little clan of his a little better to live. So she wouldn't leave him to die, right?
But still, it was a matter for later as he flew and came to the place that he previously came around. Noting how pristine and clean everything looked now and how some devils were coming in his direction.
-----------------------
(Grayfia)
The forest was quiet, and the wind was harsh as Grayfia Lucifuge escorted her mistress's daughter, Rias, to get her first familiar. A symbolic one, unfortunately, as she wasn't ready for her own true familiar. But this symbolic one shall help her get experience and maturity and become more responsible for her true future one and her peerage.
So following that, Grayfia had prepared thoroughly for this association; between her duty as a maid of the Gremory household and assistant of one of the Maou, Lucifer, she managed to make time and had this area thoroughly scouted and wiped of any hostile animals three times just to be sure.
"Grayfia, which familiar do you think I should get?" Her mistress's daughter, Rias Gremory, asks, her tone affectionate yet restrained. An awkward attempt at trying to sound dignified yet failing on a familiar person.
"Rias-sama, it is your wish to take any that fancy your eyes." Grayfia politely bowed to Lady Rias, who turned to her. Her bright crimson red hair and ocean blue eyes sparkled with curiosity and yet fear of failure.
"Ahem, yes, any ... mm" Young lady Rias sounded so unsure and uncomfortable with the idea of randomly choosing anything that catches her fancy and hoping that it would meet the expectation that her mother, father and brother had placed on her that it almost sounded pitiful. But unfortunately, help was unacceptable.
She was the future head of the Gremory household, a distinguished noble family who ranked one of the highest even among other noble families. So, failure is never an option, and mediocrity is a path that isn't possible for her. But fortunately, she inherited the power of destruction from her mother, mistress Venelena.
Grayfia observed Lady Rias, who was trying to walk as confidently as possible, with as much dignity as a fledgling devil can harbor. Which unfortunately fell miles short of her brother, Lucifer when he was her age. And she did not even prepare herself for this journey by going through the family library, nor did she ask anything from others. A mistake on her part, but a welcome mistake since she was young and still a little fledgling that hadn't learnt to fly.
Unfortunately, she was interrupted from her thought process and her peaceful walk with Lady Rias as a little rat had found its place and just continued hovering nearby them. "I know you are there." She spoke softly, yet coldly, brimming with duality of emotion as she turned to the west, where the little rat found its place.
Leaves rustled from the place she looked at, and ... a disgusting creature came out.
The wind, as if in mockery or even shock, instantly stopped upon it's . The air became heavy and sluggish, while leaves around that thing bent and fell, as if that thing itselfwas a thing that sank into reality itself and created gravity unintentionally by its mere presence.
The empty skull of that thing observes her and Lady Rias with an emotion that an empty skull could create.
It took another step towards them, and the moment it did, fallen or possibly dead devils floated about as it dragged them through the air behind it. Leather-like black-as-night feathers effortlessly floated on its body as it approached and reached ten metres distance. A distance that was more than enough to initiate a fight or negotiate.
It opened the empty skull of it, which, now upon closer inspection, was an exoskeleton instead of a skull, and spread its arm. "I bear no ill will," it said, while spreading its wings on its back and also feathered but long-fingered fingers to display.
While if any other creature had done this gesture, it would have looked like an innocent display that showed that they bear no harm, but not for this specific one. It looked so different from the norm that Grayfia didn't register and just continued casting defensive spells upon pale-faced Rias and sending reinforcement requests to others who were stationed nearby.
"Leave now. I will not give you a second warning." Grayfia spoke coldly, her voice sending the message that spoke that the intruder would not be given another chance and would be effortlessly frozen and killed.
The being just turned its head in a gesture that was almost akin to confusion, but Grayfia knew better, as she knew that this being wouldn't back down after it had already infiltrated Gremory household land, gathered information about young lady Rias's plan for a familiar and had even killed several guards. No doubt it would never give up after it had already done so, and the confused gesture was only a front and another way of mockery as Grayfia prepared her spell to kill this imbecile that knew no better.
And the increased tension and the air that was becoming more and more heavy only further proved it as a leaf gently fell down from a tree to his claw.
And that leaf split akin to a razor meeting paper.
The tension turned high, and the air became cold as Grayfia and the beings looked at one another. Only to be interrupted by young lady Rias. "What are you here for?" She spoke, still shaken upon his appearance and the air that became heavy upon his appearance.
The being turned to young lady Rias, its voice deep, yet calm, but for some reason it sounded like something was screaming. "I wish to become your familiar."
Instantly the sound of something breaking echoed in the heads of Grayfia and Rias as they both gawked at the being who spoke that it wanted to become a familiar. And now that she carefully noticed it, she felt that the voice had an almost relieved and happy tone.