The creature nodded, and the feeling of suffocation that seemed to strangle Venelana's throat almost fully disappeared suddenly, making part of Venelena question if it was only an illusion that her mind crafted while on the side, she silently took a big gulp of air.
"Yes, Madam Venelana, I have come to join in service to the Gremory clan, specifically Lady Rias."
Venelena nodded. "Yes, I have heard about it." She motioned to Grayfia, and she silently filled in tea for both of them in a picture-perfect, ideal maid form. And that perfect form still made her wish that she could just remove Grayfia from her duties and let her assume her formal position. Instead of this...position .
"Do you mind explaining about yourself ?Your past, strength, reason for joining, and most of all, why Rias ?" Venelena echoed while grabbing onto her tea. Sipping it as she continued observing the thing to try her best to determine if it was lying.
The creature did not let Venelena wait long as the moment she gulped her sipped tea, it spoke. "I am Ravik, an mutated harpy, at least from what i know and approximately four year old"
"Mutated harpy huh ?, that would explain his less than stellar appearance and being only four years old, yet capable of this speech craft for a familiar ?my, what a surprise" Venelana's eyebrow rose in surprise. But not too shocked as there are races that could talk, live and think just a year or two after birth and in the end, this is a grand world where even the impossible for one is a simple thing for another..
"And I possess a gravity manipulation ability, capable of freely controlling it without much restriction except for my abilities and saitama. And I came here in hopes that I could further my strength and to explore the wider world. Madam"
Venelana raised her eyebrow in its admittance of manipulation of gravity as it was one of the very rare forms of magic and its declaration of it being not just a one of ability that was severely limited akin to an early stage of sacred gears just made it much more valuable .
While there is some application of similar function and ability in the underworld but it was severely limited.
Increase weight or decrease weight of an object, temporarily ?, Yes
Increase the gravity of certain areas in the field to slow down armies or to train one's army in intense condition ? Possibly with severe cost, though she had never experienced this sort of thing as during the time when she was active, the technology hasn't advanced enough yet and when it did get developed, she stopped paying any attention to this sort of thing.
But for a being who can truly manipulate and control gravity , the future possibility certainly won't be limited to what some new tech in the underworld can do.
"Though, Madam, truthfully speaking, I choose Gremory clan, specifically Lady Rias Gremory because of the rumour that spread through words of mouth" The creature gently tapped his finger and its razor sharp claw effortlessly cut open a hole into the sofa, unknown to the creature but Venelana unfortunately saw it but she didn't say anything. "That the Gremory clan is a clan that treated all their servants and peerage …warmly" It spoke before speaking no more.
Then a comforting silence envelops the room in its embrace as three occupied sat in silence before Venelana smiled.
"How can I refuse such heartfelt words?" Venelana slightly chuckles while gently covering her mouth. "Excuse me if I came out as rude and seemed like I was interrogating you" Her voice rang like a gentle spring and her hand reached out and gave him a contract. "But worries of a mother made me a bit hasty, i hope you don' mind"
The creature made a motion of nodding. If they were to ignore how it creepily jolts down before going up slowly, as if it was a creature without form and without limbs, trying to mimic the action of a living.
—---------------------------
Ravik(POV)
Ravik sighed in relief, feeling like a big boulder fell off his shoulder as he reached out and looked at the contract.
The contract shimmered in faint crimson pulses as if it was alive and symbols that were entirely unknown to him shifted and glimmered as the words came into being in front of him.
Familiar Contract of the Gremory House
The one who accepts shall henceforth be recognized as a Familiar under the authority of the Gremory Heiress, Lady Rias Gremory.
The Familiar shall lend strength, loyalty, and service to the Lady as needed, unless commanded against their life's existence.
The Familiar shall not betray nor abandon the House unless released by the Master or the Head of House.
In return, the Familiar shall be nurtured, protected, and granted the right to grow under the banner of Gremory.
Mutual respect shall bind this oath.
A simple contract that had little as five terms, nothing more and nothing less. And there was even a clause that made it so, he would most certainly be nurtured and protected for his service and his life wouldn't be sacrificed for a childish pride. Making him silently pat himself in the back as it was probably one of the most ideal contracts that he could picture himself with. And if he were to go to any other devil clan, it wouldn't be as ideal as this.
But
Ravik hesitated as he wanted to add a term and adjust one of them to better suit his needs. But his consciousness scolded him for his greed as it warned him that he might just be left with nothing for his greed as he would be akin to a poor man who refused a pot of gold, because of his greed for a mountain of gold, just to be left with nothing in the end.
While his logical side pushed it relentlessly as to not to be a literal servant for eternity for his stupid "emotions". Even if they pushed you away, you could just go around and find another opportunity. It whispered calmly and slowly.
So, Ravik's finger jolted and unknown to him widened the hole on the cut sofa as he raised his head. "It is certainly a generous offer, yes, but I have a little concern and wish to add one and change another" He spoke as he touched upon the contract.
Venelana returned to him an elegant nod, her voice devoid of any emotion. But Grayfia's eyebrow slightly furrowed before disappearing the next second.
Then he spoke. "I wish to add a clause that declares that it needs to be renewed every five years for the first three times, as i unfortunately harbor hesitation and a bit of an confusion, and i wish to make "nurturing" part of clause four to be in more detail, in what way would i be nurtured and what would i be granted of. Madam Venelana" Ravik spoke, his deep voice despite his hesitation reaching every nook and cranny of the room, unknown to him, making this look entirely different from what truly was happening.
Ravik, a mutated distorted harpy whose mere appearance could send cold shivers down the spines of many and beautiful, elegant Venelana, cool and indifferent Grayfia who stood behind her, akin to an Shiverthorn, a flower that only blooms in the harshest of winter.
A crow devil making trade with a noble woman to keep her eternal beauty in place as she sacrifices many. That would be what an inexperienced youngling would see and imagine.
Nevertheless, no matter how weird the situation looked, it wouldn't change what was happening.
Venelana, contrary to Ravik's thought, just nodded with that calm elegance. "Yes, the nurturing part can be specified without any problem, but unfortunately, five year renewal is too short a time, how about every decade renewal ?, this way, it should give a bit more time to you and Rias for the first three times."
Ravik felt part of himself break at the thought as he did the calculation. 12 year old Rias + 10 years =22 year old Rias (After most, if not all the hectic adventure and disaster had started and finished for good). He might live or he might die, hell, Ravik won't put it past him that because of his appearance, the canon might become absolutely impossible and they would all die.
Ravik's gray dark beak part before closing. "Since it already probably derailed, why not ensure that it derailed into a better future ?" His logical side whispered as he nodded his head.
"Yes, five years is too short, decade should be better fit." While some part of him whispered about what part of five years is short ?. Before reminding himself that they are devils, a race whose life expectancy wasn't even specified. Also he should really practice his polite tone that he would probably use a lot in the future, as today, it wasn't great. Maybe he should entirely stop with his modern normal speech ?, after all, he would live for a long and long time if his plan were to succeed and he didn't want to be one of those ancient beings who speaks. "Bro was stressing hard about the exam, but lowkey he didn't even study and somehow still passed—dude's built differently." While spraying their heart and following their words with their body.
Ravik shivered as he decided to never, ever use any slang words.
And in the next few sentences, they easily communicated and agreed on an agreement that Ravik wished he could just hug and sleep with.
But still, he put the thought behind him as he turned his head. "Madam Venelana"
"Miss is enough" She said while lightly smiling.
"Yes, ….. Miss Venelana" Ravik nodded his head. "I am somewhat of a leader of a clan in the familiar forest, you see and I wish to know if it is possible to integrate my clan into the service of the Gremory clan."
Ravik's claw moves slightly and air departs and gets sliced as easily as a razor touching upon a strand of hair. "While they are of meagre ability, I think they would do well in the service of the army, as their support"
Venelana smiled. "Well, that is certainly another surprise, but unfortunately, for matters like this, me and my husband both have to be present to make a decision. How about I tell you my decision tomorrow ?You must certainly be exhausted," Venelana turned Grayfia. "Dear, can you guide our friend to his new home ?, maybe brief him on his schedule ?" She spoke calmly and tranquil, bearing a noble grace.
And he soon departed from the room under her gaze, with Grayfia as a guide and he started walking.
Walking through the halls of an ancient mansion, exiting it and going even further and further before coming to his new home.
A big mansion, Ravik would say but still, but much smaller than the ones the Gremory household lived in but still much bigger than he thought where he would live, though probably with another dozen occupants ?, or is it a temporary arrangement ?
"When Lady Rias was just born, Lord Zeoticus Gremory had this and some other few buildings built for her and future peerage. And this is one of the places the future Rias's peerage was supposed to locate." She explained while guiding him. "Your schedule would be as follows."
"Morning hours, from dawn until mid-day, will be dedicated to advanced physical conditioning. You will refine your aerial maneuvers, hone precision with your claws and talons, and further integrate your gravity manipulation with your wings. An instructor from the Gremory guard will supervise your exercises, focusing on maximizing efficiency and control rather than basic technique."
Her silver eyes slid briefly toward him, assessing.
"Afternoons will be dedicated to magical study and discipline. You will be introduced to the fundamentals of devil magic, alongside specialized lessons to refine your gravity arts. On occasion, Lady Venelana herself may observe, to ensure progress."
A pause, then her tone softened slightly.
"Evenings, before dusk, will focus on refinement. Etiquette, speech, strategy, and the expectations of one tied to a noble house. You are to learn composure, patience, and proper bearing—qualities that matter as much as strength."
Finally, her words concluded like the closing of a book.
"The last portion of the night is yours to rest or pursue independent study. The Gremory believe that growth requires balance, and even the most loyal familiar must be allowed time to breathe."
Grayfia inclined her head, as if to say this was not up for debate.
Ravik felt his beak twitch and dozens of hidden eyes across his body blink in confusion and shock. "Is this truly a schedule that a four year old harpy should be going through ?" Ravik questioned himself but he shook his head. Making part of him wish that he didn't use any polite speech and simply only used what Rose would say as he imagined that the schedule wouldn't be so suffocating as they would feel like they are communicating with a thirteen year old.
But he endured it and just nodded his beak.
"This schedule follows for five days and there would be two days of complete rest. Then the cycle will repeat. This is a preliminary schedule, subject to change based on your performance and consistency"
Suddenly the schedule didn't feel so suffocating anymore.
"I wonder how much they would investigate me ?" Ravik thought as he went inside the mansion.