The weekend arrived, and Hespera woke like always—slowly, lazily, and completely unbothered by the concept of time.
The soft silk of her sheets clung to her body as she stretched, arching her back like a satisfied feline. Another day, another opportunity for chaos.
Sunlight filtered through the heavy velvet curtains of her bedroom, casting golden streaks across the black and violet decor. Her hair, still tangled from sleep, spilled over the pillows like liquid moonlight, shifting between hues of colors with the slightest movement.
She blinked once. Then twice. Then groaned, throwing an arm over her face.
"Ugh. The Underworld trip is today, isn't it?"
A soft vibration pulsed against her finger in response.
Hespera cracked one eye open, glancing at the blackened silver ring adorned with veins of amethyst and amber—her spatial ring, and currently her spirit sword's chosen method of being annoying.
Noctis.
The moment their connection flared, a familiar, emotionless voice whispered directly into her mind.
"Mistress. Awake?"
Hespera let out a slow, exaggerated sigh. "Noctis, darling. If you're going to be in my head this early, at least make me breakfast."
A pause.
"…Noctis lacks limbs to do so."
Hespera snorted. "Excuses, excuses~"
Still, she finally pushed herself up, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. The plush carpet met her bare feet with a comforting softness.
As much as she loathed the idea of politics and dealing with high-ranking devil families, she did promise Rias.
And, well… she was a little curious.
Not about the Gremorys or about the Phenex clan.
No. She wanted to see just how much she could shake up the Underworld with her presence alone.
Her smirk widened at the thought.
"Oh, this is going to be fun~ I wonder if I will meet a "spoiled young master" there. Hehe, I can't wait!"
And with that, she rose from the bed, already deciding that today's agenda was going to be anything but peaceful.
As she padded toward the bathroom, stretching her arms over her head with a satisfied hum, Hespera called upon her System with a casual command.
"System, open."
Ding!
A sleek, black and silver interface materialized before her, glowing faintly as it hovered in her vision.
Lines of arcane code and notifications scrolled smoothly across the display, listing everything from recent achievements to new updates in her "Chaos Influence" meter.
Hespera hummed, tilting her head as she scanned the new notifications, steam from the shower curling around her like a ghostly veil.
[Title Gained: Cat Tamer]
Effect: Feline-based creatures, Youkai, and Beastkin are more inclined to tolerate your presence... or, in some cases, seek out your attention.
Hespera snickered, remembering how easily she had reduced Koneko to a purring mess with a single well-placed scratch behind the ears.
"Well, that's going to be fun to use."
Her gaze flicked to the next notification.
[Items Earned: Chaos Pieces]
A specialized variant of the Evil Pieces, crafted exclusively for those blessed by the Primordial of Chaos. These pieces do not follow traditional devil hierarchy and are capable of converting beings outside of standard reincarnation laws into something... more.
Hespera's smirk stretched. "Oh, now this... this is interesting."
Unlike the standard Evil Pieces, which turned individuals into devils under the command of a King, these Chaos Pieces were something else entirely.
"Hehe~ Chaos really is spoiling me, huh?"
She flicked her fingers through the system screens, dismissing the item log for now, before glancing at the final notification.
[Skill Gained: Tracker]
You may mark a target with your aura and track them across realms. Even those who attempt to obscure their presence through magical or divine means will find it difficult to escape your sight.
Her amusement deepened.
"Oh? Well, that's going to be interesting. Playing cat and mouse should be quite entertaining in the future."
With a final swipe of her hand, the screens flickered out of existence, and Hespera finally stepped into the shower. The scalding water cascaded over her skin, chasing away the last remnants of sleep as she rolled her shoulders, already thinking of how to best use her newest gifts.
Hespera stepped out of the shower, steam curling around her like an ethereal mist, clinging to the darkened silver of her spatial ring as Noctis hummed in contentment. She flicked her fingers, sending a controlled burst of mana through the air, instantly drying herself off. The strands of her silver-to-violet hair floated for a moment before settling into their usual cascading waves.
She strolled toward her massive walk-in closet, fingers lazily trailing over the polished ebony of her vanity table as she passed.
"Now… what to wear to my grand debut in Hell's aristocracy~?" she mused, lips curling into a slow smirk.
Something dramatic? Mysterious? Or should she go with something deceptively simple, letting her presence alone do all the work?
The standard Kuoh Academy uniform was already dull enough. No way she was about to wear something equally uninspired when meeting the ruling family of the Underworld.
A flick of her wrist, and several outfits appeared before her, suspended mid-air as she inspected them with lazy amusement.
"Hmm~ Too formal. Too stiff. Too boring." She dismissed a few options before pausing at a particular ensemble.
Now this had potential.
Hespera snapped her fingers, and the outfit wrapped around her as if woven from shadows themselves. The moment the fabric settled against her skin, her smirk widened.
A sleek, high-collared black crop top, sleeveless yet snug, the fabric hugging her toned frame showed off her six-pack abs. A silver cross pin adorned the fabric near her collarbone—a small, ironic touch, given her divine and infernal nature.
Over it, she wore a loose, oversized black jacket, draped carelessly off her shoulders like a cloak.
Her lower half was a study in contrast—high-waisted white pants, crisp and sharply tailored, cinched at the waist with a black belt. The fabric, though loose-fitting, only enhanced the power of her physique, tapering slightly before tucking into polished black combat boots.
A singular strap dangled from her belt, adding an extra edge of nonchalance, like she had walked straight out of a dystopian runway and onto the battlefield. (Technically, she kind of is. Nobility battle with their words, right?)
Hespera turned slightly, admiring the balance between elegance and defiance in the mirror.
Yes. This would do.
With a slow, satisfied smirk, she ran a hand over the smooth fabric of her jacket, reveling in the perfect fusion of chaos and control.
"Business but casual, definitely was the best choice," she mused, her tone laced with satisfaction.
With a flick of her wrist, the lingering magic dissipated, and she strode toward the door.
"Timd to see if mom is ready."
~☆~
Meanwhile, in the Underworld…
Within the grand halls of the Gremory estate, the air was thick with discussion. The long dining table, laden with extravagant dishes, sat mostly untouched as the family focused on a far more pressing matter.
The upcoming Rating Game.
And more importantly, the mysterious Hespera Eveningstar.
At the head of the table, Lord Zeoticus Gremory leaned back in his chair, his crimson gaze contemplative. His expression was calm, yet the weight behind his silence was unmistakable.
Beside him, Lady Venelana Gremory, her refined features composed, yet sharp with thought. She had been listening closely to Rias recount her encounters with the enigmatic silver-haired girl.
Sirzechs Lucifer, the famed Maou and older brother of Rias, sat further down, his usual playful demeanor subdued. Even Grayfia, ever the composed Queen, stood silently at his side, her sharp silver eyes unreadable.
And then, of course, Rias herself—the center of the storm.
She had barely touched her meal, fingers lightly tapping against the polished wood of the table as she summarized her encounters with Hespera.
"…She appeared out of nowhere," Rias continued, a note of exasperation in her tone. "And she carries herself as if she has nothing to fear. As if the entire world is merely something for her to toy with."
Venelana hummed softly. "And yet, you invited her to the Underworld."
Rias sighed, resting her chin against her palm. "She offered to help me in the Rating Game against Riser. I'd be a fool not to at least hear her out. That, and…" she hesitated for a brief moment before adding, "She claims to have some relation to the Phenex family."
At this, Lord Zeoticus' brows lifted slightly. "Related? In what way?"
Rias shook her head. "She never clarified. Just that she shares DNA with them."
A pause.
Then—laughter.
Deep, amused, and carrying a note of genuine delight.
Sirzechs.
The Lucifer's lips curled into a smirk, resting his chin against his folded hands.
"How fascinating," he mused. "A wildcard who isn't bound to any of the major factions… yet."
Rias frowned slightly. "Brother, this isn't a joke. There's something off about her."
Sirzechs chuckled. "Oh, I don't doubt that. In fact, I'd be disappointed if she were ordinary." He turned to Venelana. "Mother, what do you think?"
Venelana's sharp violet eyes lingered on her daughter before she exhaled softly. "She has piqued my interest. The fact that you feel uncertain about her suggests she's someone worth watching."
Zeoticus nodded in agreement, though his expression remained unreadable. "We will observe. But I expect a proper introduction when she arrives."
Sirzechs grinned, his mischievous side returning. "Well, it sounds like this Hespera will make the Underworld far more entertaining."
Rias, however, could only sigh. Something told her this was just going to cause even more trouble.