Chapter 56 golden cup

Clarissa pulled various objects out of her robe and began fiddling with them. A small cone had a spell cast through it before it disappeared back into her robe. A yellow ring the color of a sunflower was tugged into an oval shape. A small coin was engulfed in fire until it was completely blacked out on one face.

I had no idea what her preparations would accomplish, or even if she would use all of them, but I knew her better than to suspect she was wasting time.

Kalawarner had accepted my order with a manic grin. She hadn't had a chance to truly cut loose since I'd reincarnated her and had been itching for a legitimate fight. Two small daggers appeared in her hands in a flash of white that she held out to Yubelluna and Valerie after wrapping their handles in a faintly glowing cloth. Clarissa had provided her with enchanted cloth that would allow devils to hold them for short periods of time. So long as the daggers weren't used as a primary weapon, they would be fine. Kalawarner created one more light dagger for Clarissa after the others had taken theirs. There wasn't much else she needed to do to prepare. Her powers would let her craft spears, swords or daggers of light whenever she needed them. It was essentially a far lesser form of the Sacred Gear Rias's knight possessed. I knew that guy's name at one point. Kira? It wasn't important.

Valerie took a deep breath and looked up at me. "Are you sure you want me to use it?"

I met her gaze and said, "Yes. Seekvaira has given us an opportunity to show off to the entire Underworld. We're going to use it to its maximum potential. But," I stressed. "If it proves to be too much and the backlash overwhelms you, I am ordering you to retire yourself. This is a great opportunity, but do not cause any lasting injuries to yourself."

Valerie's eyes grew determined. "I'll pace myself. I'm not going to let the downsides stop me from helping all of you.

One moment, Valerie's hands were empty. The next, a small, golden cup inlaid with emeralds, sapphires, diamonds, rubies and opals simply appeared in her hand. There was no flash of light or sound. One moment it wasn't there, the next it was.

A faint, permeating hum emanated from the cup as Valerie focused. As seconds passed, I felt my muscles strengthen ever so slightly; my limbs limber up. A quick glance around showed everyone else in my peerage reacting similarly.

A chuckle in my head distracted me from Valerie's work.

The cup of christ. It has been a long time since I have been in its presence. Fitting, that we would reunite this day.

Horribly confused at my sword, I opened my mouth to ask for clarification about literally everything it had just said – there were a lot of implications I needed to work over after that statement – when I was interrupted.

"Riser!"

All five of us turned towards the forest where the voice had called from.

"Riser!" the voice called again. "I have a proposition for you!"

I looked at Yubelluna. She gave me a curt nod. My wings exploded out of my back as I said, "You're in charge, Yube. We should still have a little over twenty minutes before the battle begins."

I flew up towards the sound of the voice. I passed over the grove of trees in front of our cave and saw a figure hovering in the air half-way across the ravine. It took me a little bit to make it to them, the arena was large, but when I did arrive, I was a little confused to see Seekvaira waiting for me with a pleasant smile.

"I trust you have been well since we last spoke, Riser?" she said, her hands held properly in front of her, fingers interlaced.

I didn't know what game she was playing here, but, as I'd learned from our previous interactions, she was incredibly intelligent. It was possible she was trying to leverage the dozen cameras that were most certainly watching us right now to accomplish…something.

"Heiress Agares." I said, bowing my head respectfully as I came to rest a few feet in front of her, both of us hovering over the ravine. A small river flowed beneath us between the two great sandstone cliffs on either side. "I have been well. Yourself?"

Seekvaira frowned, her eyebrows furrowing as she said, "I've told you, Riser, call me Seekvaira. The frequency with which I've had to repeat myself grows tiring."

"I apologize, Seekvaira. May I ask why we are parlaying minutes before we are supposed to fight?" I asked, trying to get this conversation over with as fast as possible so I could get back to my peerage.

Smiling at my use of her name, she said, "I have a proposition for you, Riser. As you know, I am incredibly curious about your peerage. Yubelluna's strength is well documented, but the rest are a complete mystery. All I was able to turn up on any of them was a report from Sona Sitri's pawn that Clarissa is a coward who fled from Fallen Angels."

I was very careful to control my expression and my emotions at that moment. Was this her game? She was trying to get me to blow up at her while we were being watched by the entirety of devil society? That wasn't going to happen.

"My peerage did work with that of Heiress Sitri. I cannot say the exact nature of our business, but Clarissa fled on my orders. I would respectfully ask you not to disparage my peerage again."

"I meant no offense, Riser." Seekvaira said quickly, her eyes widening as an emotion passed over her features that I couldn't place. "I was merely attempting to congratulate you on how well you have hidden your capabilities. It was not my intent to insinuate that your bishop was a coward. I did not believe the pawn, but his statement was the only source available regarding anyone other than yourself or Yubelluna. I ask that you forgive me." she finished with…desperation?

Okay…maybe she wasn't trying to get me to lose my cool in front of thousands of devils. Now I was just more confused.

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