21 Chapter 21 She stopped talking when I hugged her.

But in that moment, looking at my 'mother's' vengeful smirk as she drank in my shock and pain, watching my 'father's' disappointed eyes stare indifferently at my pain, I realized the truth. They stopped caring about me a while ago, if they ever did in the first place. No parent would draw such sadistic pleasure from their child's suffering.

"You are no longer my parents."

My words shocked the room into silence. Ravel ceased her screaming, Ruval's protests died on his lips, and Raycal stopped yawning to actually listen for once.

"What did you just say?" Lady Phenex asked, her eyes narrowing as she took a threatening step forward, something I hadn't noticed she did before, but now was remembering several independent instances of.

"You are no longer my parents." Turning away from them, I faced Yubelluna. "If you want to–"

"I go where you go." she interrupted me, determination laced in her voice.

I nodded once and engulfed the two of us in a teleportation circle.

"Now listen here, you little–"

Whatever Lady Phenex was about to say was cut off by my teleportation. The main hall of the Phenex mansion had been exchanged for a wrought iron fence.

"Where are we?" Yubelluna asked.

"The den of our enemies." I walked forward and knocked on the fence, knowing the wards placed on it would alert someone that I was there.

A few moments passed, then a guard walked up to the other side of the gate. "State your business."

"I'm here to retrieve something from Lord Gremory. I am willing to pay for its return."

The guard studied me for a moment before the gate opened. "Follow me." he said, walking towards a manor in the distance.

We walked on in silence. Down a gravel path, lined on either side by flowers of various shapes and colors. The great mansion in the distance steadily grew closer, until we were right up to its tall doors. The doors were opened, and the guard led us into a large hall not too dissimilar to the one in the Phenex mansion. Standing at the top of a set of stairs waiting for us, a smug grin on his face, was the red-haired form of Lord Gremory.

"Riser Phenex. I must say it is a surprise to see you here."

"Clarissa. What do you want in exchange for her?"

"The witch? Why, she's a valuable piece, but I suppose I'd be willing to trade her if you were willing to publicly apologize for hunting my Rias, and state that you were the aggressor, attacking her unjustly."

"I wasn't aware that the Gremory house made a habit of lying. I'll have to pass that along to anyone who will care to listen."

Lord Gremory laughed. "I understand your position was not ideal, boy. But you hurt my daughter, so I'll tell you what, I heard you have a mutation bishop among your Evil Pieces. Give me that bishop so I can give it to my daughter, and you can have the witch."

"Done." the word was out of my mouth immediately. A 'real' devil never would never make that trade – Clarissa just wasn't valuable enough. She hadn't proven herself in Rating Games or combat in any way that would increase her value. Most of her time was spent either training me or in her lab so her true strength was unknown. Even so, a mutation bishop was worth far more than her, but I cared about loyalty more than perceived value. If a magical glow rock was what it took to free my mentor, there was no question of whether or not I'd make the trade.

"Riser, wait!" a voice called from behind Lord Gremory as Clarissa emerged behind him. "Do not do–"

"The deal is already made, witch." Refocusing on me, Lord Gremory said, "I trade you my bishop for your mutation bishop."

Pulling my mutation bishop to me from its place wherever it went when it wasn't with me, I said, "I trade my mutation bishop for Clarissa." Immediately, I felt the change. The mutation bishop in my hand was no longer 'mine' while simultaneously, Clarissa was now connected to me in the same way Yubelluna was.

Lord Gremory held his hand out palm-up, and the mutation bishop that moments ago rested in my hand appeared in his. "It was a pleasure doing business with you, Riser. And for the record, there really are no hard feelings. You made the most of a bad situation. My daughter needed to be humbled and I have failed in humbling her where I believe you have just succeeded. You screwed a few things up, but you're young. I hope we can grow to be friends in the future." With those parting words, Lord Gremory turned around and walked deeper into his manor.

"Clarissa, let's go." I said, wanting desperately to be anywhere else.

The witch who had taught me for close to a decade scowled, but hurried over to me. Once she was close enough, I teleported myself, Clarissa and Yubelluna away from Gremory Manor to a sidestreet Yubelluna and I would come to sometimes.

"That was foolish. So foolish I do not have the words to describe it." Clarissa said, frowning down at me disapprovingly. "You lost your mutation bishop retrieving a third rate bishop that has not–"

She stopped talking when I hugged her. "I didn't retrieve a third rate bishop. I got my friend back. There's no price I wouldn't pay for my friends, and unlike my egg donor, I won't ever trade you unless you want me to." Looking to my right to where Yubelluna stood watching the exchange, I added, "Either of you."

"How could a devil grow to be so foolish?" Clarissa said.

I pretended not to notice when she returned the hug, holding me tight with shaking arms. I pretended not to notice when the tears began to fall.

I had no idea what I was going to do now, but the three of us would figure it out.

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