Chapter 15: Foundations in Shadow
A thin morning mist coiled over the grounds of House Agares, its silent embrace chilling but serene.
Birds chirped quietly among the trees, unaware that the course of devil society was slowly beginning to bend around a single boy's ambition.
Deep within the estate's private archives, Volundr Agares stood alone, a sealed scroll in hand.
The wax bore the crest of Lucifer.
He broke the seal with practiced ease and unfurled the parchment. The contents were brief:
To Lord Volundr Agares—Your initiative has reached the highest ears. You are permitted to revive your peerage once of age. Continue to walk the path with wisdom.
Signed,
Sirzechs Lucifer
A long breath escaped his lips. Not relief. Not triumph. Something heavier. The acknowledgment was more than permission—it was responsibility from the apex of devil authority.
He burned the scroll in his hand, watching the red-gold flames consume the parchment, leaving only a faint shimmer in the air.
Two days later, an official courier from the Devil Bureau of Military Territories delivered a second scroll, this one bound in crimson and black.
Lirien received it with a raised brow, but said nothing as she handed it off to Volundr.
He took it without ceremony and opened it in private. As he scanned the document, a flicker of satisfaction crossed his face. The approval was finalized.
Access granted:
Vashtar Chasm – A dimensional fold used during the Great War for multi-gravity training.
Frostwrath Plateau – Site of ancient magical disasters; perfect for control development.
Ashen Vault – A sealed space where cursed constructs still roamed.
Each zone, forbidden to most, was now his proving ground.
That night, he retreated to his study and unrolled a blank scroll. He wrote not with flair but purpose, quill scratching in rhythmic strokes.
Peerage Vision: Draft One
He started with core values:
Unity over hierarchy
Adaptability over tradition
Growth through challenge
Then, he outlined the roles—not as game pieces but as identities.
Rook – The one who bears the burden, physically and spiritually. Immovable not just in body, but in heart.
Knight – A blade honed not for flash, but for decisive action. Loyalty must match speed.
Bishop – The soul of wisdom and mysticism. Must challenge even his decisions.
Pawns – Seeds with boundless potential. Every one of them must be nurtured, refined, and released only when ready.
At the top of the scroll, he wrote a single phrase:
"This peerage will not be a ladder. It will be a circle."
He set down the quill and stared out the tall window, the stars beyond gleaming like a thousand unseen futures.
An hour before dawn, Volundr made his way to the Silent Hill—a quiet rise beyond the estate walls, known only to his family. It had once been a place of meditation for his grandfather.
He sat beneath the lone cedar tree and closed his eyes.
Through the connection of Limitless Aura, he felt them.
Sairaorg. Blazing pride and indomitable resolve.
Seekvaira. Grace wrapped around a quiet storm.
Claudius. Steady as obsidian. Unshakable.
Lirien. Cold precision slowly thawing into warmth.
Even Sona's aura shimmered now, cautious but inquisitive.
He smiled faintly. "You're all growing. Even without knowing why. Good."
The night air shifted. Stars wheeled slowly above him as he whispered promises:
"I will not let this be for nothing. You will have the future you deserve. Through me, beyond me, with me."
A sudden breeze blew through the grass, as if the world itself had heard.
As the morning light began to spill over the landscape, a figure approached from the forested path.
Cloaked in grey and bearing the seal of the Underworld's Intelligence Division, the man moved without sound.
Volundr did not move. He simply waited.
The messenger bowed. "Young Lord Agares. The Division has observed your efforts. We believe you may be useful… soon."
Volundr opened one eye. His voice was calm, but heavy with intent.
"Then tell them I'll be ready. But I play no one's pawn."
The man smirked and vanished into the mist.
Volundr stood, dusting dew from his cloak.
Another step had been taken.
End of Chapter 15