[A New Place To Stand]
There wasn’t a day that went by that Tanya didn’t bemoan her smaller stature. This was especially prevalent when she was forced to contend with someone larger than her, as most people often were. Getting the upper hand on an adult when you struggled to get a book off of a high shelf was exactly as hard as one could imagine.
That being said, it sometimes had its advantages, especially in regards to aerial combat.
Wind whipped through silken hair as she banked left, narrowly avoiding the spell that almost collided with her back. Sweat beaded her brow as she performed a series of evasive maneuvers, but her opponent was a canny one and wasn't willing to be shaken off so easily.
Magic screamed past her ear, close enough that she could feel the displaced air tug at her skin. The spell unraveled in front of her, exploding in a fireball of ash and soot that Tanya narrowly managed to avoid.
He's especially relentless this time, she thought, her jaw locked tight as she spiraled through the air. Trying to outmatch her foe in speed was just asking for defeat, but her smaller body was much more easily maneuverable. If she was careful, she could catch him by surprise and put an end to this.
She could hear him now, just a step behind her. He was going to try and grab her. A mistake.
Grinning madly as she saw her chance, Tanya stalled her momentum entirely. Her acceleration was killed in moments as she stopped on a dime before beginning to plummet back down to earth in a freefall that made her stomach lurch. Her opponent let out a noise of surprise as she passed him by, trying to turn and track her in midair. But by then, Tanya already had her shot.
Gotcha! Tanya's hand snapped out, fingers closing around her opponent's ankle as she plummeted past. With a vicious yank, she pulled herself up and drove her knee into his side with all the force her small body could muster, causing him to gasp and sending them both plummeting to the ground.
Tanya prepared to capitalize. Her opponent was dazed while she, prepared for the sudden shift in movement, was completely in the moment. Her hand snaked towards her opponent's face, magic building, burning, as she prepared to—
“Young masters, I believe that is enough roughhousing for one day. It's time for dinner.”
The voice called a halt to the violence. Tanya's fingers stopped just in front of a chiseled face as she paused. Her opponent blinked as her flame-covered hand came mere centimeters away from singing his hair, before they turned as one to the man standing on the ground.
“Hurry and come down so you can wash up,” the servant called again. “Your mother will be furious if you come to dinner covered in sweat and dirt again.”
Tanya snuffed her flames and released her foe, floating backwards on flaming wings. Ruval pressed a hand to his brow, feeling for any damage. “You were quite determined to win today, sister,” he remarked as they floated back toward the manor grounds.
Tanya brushed a lock of bright hair out of her eyes, gazing at her brother imperiously. “Fighting without the desire to win is pointless. It could hardly be called training if I didn't give it my all.”
Ruval chuckled. “Always so serious. You act like you expect to be called to battle any day now. I hate to tell you, but the war ended some time ago.”
Tanya's response was a noncommittal hum, followed by a scowl as Ruval's hand fell upon her head and mussed her already messy hair.
He chuckled, “I’ll see you at dinner, Tanya.” With one last charming smile, he strode past her and into the manor.
Tanya followed after him, giving the servant a small nod which was received with a bow that was much deeper than warranted, at least in her opinion. But it was only proper. Those of lower stature were simply expected to kowtow before a noble, which was exactly what she was.
From salaryman to soldier to Devil nobility, Tanya mused on her current fate, If nothing else, he's certainly helping me pad my resume.
It had been a little over eight years since Tanya's arrival to this realm, cast into the body of yet another infant by yet another untimely death. Her last life was closed in war and bloodshed, and it was that which ultimately spelled her demise. though after everything she had been through, it was a bit ludicrous to think that it would be a mere piece of stray shrapnel which did her in. She always expected her end to be much more glorious, in the event that her plan to get away from the front lines failed. Which it had, time and time again. Damn that Being X.
Tanya's lips curled downward as she walked the halls of the Phenex estate, her small feet padding against marble floors that probably cost more than she had made in both lives combined. Her arrival here had been strange, so unlike what had happened when she had been pushed in front of that train during her first life. Time didn't stop or slow, there was no sanctimonious voice in her ear bemoaning her lack of faith, none of that. She was simply there one moment, and somewhere else the next. Somewhere uncomfortably warm and dark.
Being born a third time was not really a fate she'd wish on anyone, and honestly she was a bit worried that she was developing a minor case of claustrophobia from the unwanted spent in her mothers' wombs. Not exactly ideal though it could be worse. With all the trauma she’d experienced in her seventy-some odd years of life, a fear of tight spaces was a much more manageable condition than PTSD or—god-forbid—some kind of reverse oedipal complex
Still, despite the ignominy of her repeated rebirths, Tanya could grudgingly admit that her current circumstances were a marked improvement over her previous lives. Being born into nobility was an embarrassment of riches compared to her second or even first go around. Here, she had been born with a silver spoon in her mouth and a title to match.
As the second child and first daughter of House Phenex, she was a member of one of the remaining pillars of Devil society. She had wealth, status, and power from the moment was spawned. Resources that would have made her weep with joy in her second life were simply her birthright here. No need to climb the ranks through blood and sweat, no need to curry favor with fickle superiors or navigate the labyrinthine politics of military bureaucracy just to secure a comfortable position.
It was almost too good to be true, she mused as she passed beneath an archway adorned with the Phenex crest. And that begged the question, where in the world was Being X in all of this?
The entity had been conspicuously silent since her arrival. He hadn't seen fit to gift her a vision or drop by to gloat about her perfect circumstances or interfere in them besides. He has simply been silent. And truth be told, that was more worrisome than his usual meddling.
He was planning something. That she was certain of. And that was part of why she trained so relentlessly. Her last life had proven that Being X wasn't above sending his “holy” agents to do his bidding—Mary Sue had become an irritatingly common occurrence in the latter stages of her life—and in a world where even children touted immortality, she couldn't afford to be lax.
After cleaning herself and dressing, Tanya paused to inspect herself in her washroom mirror. A familiar face stared back at her. Bright blonde hair fell about delicate features still laden with baby fat, and blue eyes were framed by delicate lashes. And there, atop her head, was that blasted ahoge, sticking up like a flag that she had never agreed to wave.
Tanya's eye twitched as she reached up, trying for the thousandth time to smooth down the stubborn strand of hair. It sprung back up immediately, defiant as ever. Of course that'd be a constant in both of her reincarnations. The damn thing was probably written into her soul at this point.
Giving up any attempt at hair care, Tanya departed her chambers and made her way to the dining hall. The opulent double doors swung open automatically as the servants on the other side sensed her coming.
Her family was already seated and waiting. Her mother and father sat at the head of the table, while Ruval sat directly to her father's right. To her mother's left, was a much smaller chair, with a toddler adorned in a small suit making cooing sounds towards the woman.
Tanya's eyes drifted over the toddler: Riser, her younger brother. Currently, he was busy trying to stuff a bread roll into his mouth, much to the exasperation of the nursemaid hovering nearby. Their mother seemed content to let him make his mess, cooing softly at the boy.
“Ah, Tanya. You've finally decided to join us!” her father's voice called, drawing her attention. Lord Phenex was a tall man with sharp features and hair the color of burnished gold that fell past his shoulders. He cut an imposing figure, as was fitting for the head of one of the remaining Pillars. “Come, sit. We were just discussing your spar with Ruval.”
Tanya moved to her seat. “I trust it was satisfactory?”
“More than satisfactory,” her mother chimed in, her voice warm with pride. Lady Phenex shared her husband's golden hair, though hers was worn in an elegant arrangement that only accentuated her natural beauty. “Ruval tells me you nearly had him.”
“I did have him,” Tanya said “If not for the interruption, I would have secured the victory.”
Ruval laughed from across the table, rubbing the back of his head. “I'll admit she's not wrong. Had that been a real fight, I would have been in some real trouble there. She definitely caught me off guard this time.”
Lord Phenex chuckled, a deep rumble that seemed to emanate from his chest. “A Phenex through and through, I see. Though I must say, your progress continues to astound me, daughter. To match Ruval at your age is quite a feat. When I was eight, I could barely manage to fly straight, let alone spar with someone six years my senior.”
Tanya inclined her head at the praise, though inwardly she felt a flicker of amusement at his words. He spoke as if she were some one in a generation talent, yet she knew that this was simply the result of prior experience. The only difference was that this body was younger and the magic was of a different nature. If anything, she was somewhat disappointed in how long it had taken her to reach this level. She should have been further along by now.
“I simply apply myself, Father,” she said, keeping her voice appropriately modest. “There is no secret beyond diligent practice.”
Ruval snorted into his wine glass. “Diligent practice, she says. Sister, you're training in some form from the time you wake up to the time you go to bed. Sometimes even later. I seem to recall you nearly burned down father's study a year ago.”
“And in the process, I learned how to control my own flames when burning from an outside source,” Tanya said a bit smugly. “A trial by fire, as it were.”
Lord Phenex laughed while Lady Phenex sighed, chagrined by the bad pun. A noise had her turning her attention to Riser, who had graduated from stuffing bread rolls into his mouth to squirming in his seat with increasing restlessness. “Riser, dear, please sit still.”
The toddler, predictably, did not sit still. Instead, he let out a whine that quickly escalated into a full wail, his tiny fists beating against the highchair's tray. The nursemaid hovering nearby looked like she wanted to sink into the floor and Lady Phenex sighed. “He's been like this all day. I think someone missed their afternoon nap.” She rose, scooping the squirming toddler into her arms. “I'll put him to bed and return shortly.”
“You spoil him, dear,” Lord Phenex called after her.
“Just as I will spoil the next one,” she called back.
Lord Phenex shook his head, though his eyes softened as he watched his wife depart with the wailing toddler. “She has a soft spot for the boy. Though I suppose that's to be expected—he's the baby of the family.”
“If you don't curb his bad habits, he's going to turn into a nightmare when he's older,” Tanya pointed out.
Ruval raised an eyebrow at her. “He's three, Tanya.”
“And he'll be four, and then five, and then six and ten, and still throwing tantrums if the behavior isn't corrected,” Tanya said. She'd seen it happen several times before in the orphanage where children who learned that crying earned them attention never quite grew out of the habit. She could only imagine what kind of nightmarish adults they became.
Her father hummed, tapping a finger against the table. “Speaking of age, your mother and I have been discussing, Tanya, and we've decided that it's about time you received your Evil Pieces.”
Tanya blinked. She had not expected those words so soon. Due to their low natural birth rates, Devils turned to artificial means of reproducing their species, that being the Evil Piece system. Each pureblood Devil of standing received a set upon reaching an appropriate age, and with them came the right and responsibility to build their own household.
“So early?” She asked. “Ruval only got his set a few years ago.”
“It's earlier than tradition dictates,” Lord Phenex agreed. “But then, you've never been one for tradition. You achieved High Class power quite some time ago and your control over your flames is exceptional for your age. You're more than ready and have been for some time now. Your mother and I just wished to make sure you showcased the proper responsibility. It's a rather big deal.”
Tanya absorbed the news. She hadn't been expecting to get her pieces for at least a few more years. If she were being honest, this wasn't exactly an ideal time.
Being promoted to given access to Evil Pieces at her age meant a drastic increase in both responsibility and expectation. Eyes would be on her, and she couldn't rightly continue to spend all day training like she used to.
Still, it wasn't as if she could say no.
“I'm honored for the opportunity,” she bowed her head. “When will the ceremony take place?”
“The day after tomorrow. As per tradition, you’ll be required to give a speech to Lord Beelzebub to prove that you’re worthy of the opportunity, but I’m sure you’ll have no issue with that. Anyone could see that you’re a bright young girl with a brighter future in our society.”
In Tanya’s personal opinion, a day and a half was not nearly enough time to come up with a proper speech for any significant occasion, much less one as important as this. It seemed she was in for another sleepless night if she wanted to make a good impression.
“Thank you, father.”
Lord Phenex inclined his head, before turning as the doors swept open and Lady Phenex returned to her seat smoothing out her dress as she did so. “Riser is asleep,” she announced, a hint of exhaustion creeping into her otherwise composed voice. “Though I suspect he'll be fussing again within the hour. The boy simply refuses to abide by any sort of schedule.”
“Perhaps he takes after his sister,” Ruval offered, grinning at Tanya.
“I sleep perfectly well, thank you. I simply choose to make the most of my waking hours.” She shot him a look as servants strolled in carrying the main course “Unlike some people who insist on oversleeping.”
“Oversleeping by a mere ten minutes is not something to hold over my head.”
“It is when it caused you to show up to your own ceremony thirty minutes late. You have a tendency to panic when you're in a rush and take even longer. It's quite fascinating.”
“You—”
“Children,” Lord Phenex's voice carried a note of amusement that brooked no argument. Both of his elder children settled back into their seats, and dinner resumed.
Tanya stood before a full-length mirror, eying the girl who stared back at her under a thin layer of makeup. She wasn't one for dresses, but she had to admit, the tailors had outdone themselves with her gown for this evening.
Tanya smoothed down the front of her dress, watching the gold trim catch the light. She looked every bit the part of a young noblewoman, though that did little to settle the nerves inside.
In a few short hours, she would stand before a congregation of Devils and declare her worthiness to hold a King's set. She would need to state her intentions and plans for the future. It was, in essence, an interview conducted before an audience of her peers and superiors, with the added pressure of it being a public affair. By this time tomorrow, practically every ear in the underworld would hear of the little girl who had managed to earn a set of Evil Pieces, or failed spectacularly in the attempt.
Ruval's ceremony had been straightforward. He'd proclaimed his desire to lead House Phenex to greater glory, speaking with the easy charisma that seemed to come naturally to him. The assembled Devils had nodded approvingly, and Ajuka Beelzebub had granted him his set without fuss.
Tanya didn't have that luxury. As the second child and a female besides, she couldn't simply pledge herself to the house. That was Ruval's lane, and stepping on his toes would be poor form. She needed something different that would satisfy the nobility's expectations without painting her into a corner she couldn't escape from.
She'd spent most of yesterday refining her speech, forgoing training almost entirely to focus on the task. It was chock full of niceties of doing right by her house and Devil-kind, with a smattering of vague intention to be greater. Respectable, inoffensive, forgettable. Exactly the kind of thing that gets one rubber-stamped and forgotten about.
A knock at the door drew her from her thoughts. “Tanya?” Her father's voice carried through the heavy oak. “We are set to leave in just a few minutes. Meet us in the foyer and we'll be off.”
“I'll be there shortly, Father.”
She checked herself in the mirror one last time, brushed at the stubborn strand of hair that refused to lay flat, and headed for the door.
All reception ceremonies were to be held in the territory of their creator, Ajuka Beelzebub. Tanya found herself standing at the forefront of a grand hall that had been transformed for the occasion. Long banners bearing the Phenex crest hung from vaulted ceilings,and longer tables lined the perimeter, laden with food and drink that would put most banquets to shame. Guests milled about in their own finery, their conversations creating a low hum that filled the space.
Tanya kept her expression neutral as eyes turned toward her. This was the social aspect of the ceremony, the part where the prospective King was expected to mingle with the assembled nobility and make a good impression. Tanya had never been particularly fond of networking.
Still, she thought, accepting a glass of something sparkling from a passing servant. She took a sniff and then a sip after ascertaining that it was non-alcoholic. it's better than trench warfare.
She spent an eternity exchanging pleasantries with faces she barely recognized and names she'd memorized from her readings. Lord Glasya-Labolas' third cousin was expecting, the Bael representative was hedging their prospects, Lord Vassago didn't want to come but was forced by his wife; it all blurred together after a certain point, and each conversation proved as exhausting as the last
Her father materialized at her side at some point, guiding her gently but firmly away from the Vapula representative she had been making small talk with.
“Tanya, there's someone I'd like you to meet,” Lord Phenex said. “Someone quite important.”
He steered her through the crowd and Tanya let him, relieved at the reprieve from well-wishers and prospective brown-nosers from lower nobility.
They stopped before a figure standing at the edge of the hall, partially obscured by one of the crimson banners. Tanya's first impression was of a man who seemed entirely out out of place at a formal gathering—and not because he lacked an invitation.
He was tall, broad-supported, and bald save for a goatee that wrapped around his chin. His robes were of fine silk, cut impeccably to his form, yet worn in such a way that diminished their grandeur. His eyes were half-lidded, his posture slack, and he carried himself with the energy of someone who had just crawled out of bed and would rather be anywhere else but the waking world.
And yet, none of that diminished the aura of sheer power that Tanya felt rolling off him in lazy waves. Her father was no weakling, but this man's presence eclipsed his the way the sun eclipsed a candle.
“Tanya,” her father said, pride evident in his tone, “this is Lord Falbium Asmodeus, one of the Four Satans who govern our society. Lord Falbium, my daughter.”
Falbium's half-lidded eyes shifted to her, and for a moment, a spark of intrigue flickered behind that languid expression. It was there and gone before she could be certain she hadn't imagined it.
“Your daughter,” he said slowly. “Yes. I see the resemblance.”
Tanya bowed, the motion precise and practiced. “Lord Asmodeus. It is an honor.”
“Mm.” Falbium regarded her for a moment longer, then seemed to lose interest, his gaze drifting toward the refreshment table.
Lord Phenex either didn't notice or chose not to acknowledge the Satan's apparent disinterest. “We're honored to have you here, though I'll admit. I had expected Lord Ajuka to be proceeding over the gathering”
“Ajuka was waylaid,” Falbium said, the words coming out with the pace of honey poured in winter. “An important matter required his personal attention. I was... available”
Lord Phenex let out a bark of laughter. “Lazy as ever, I see.”
While her father laughed, Tanya's eye twitched. She'd read extensively on the political structure of the Underworld since her arrival, and she knew precisely what position Falbium occupied. The Four Satans each governed an aspect of Devil society. Beelzebub oversaw the realm of technology and innovation, Leviathan managed foreign relations, and Asmodeus... was the absolute head of all military affairs in the Underworld.
And yet, the man standing before her looked like he'd rather be getting his teeth pulled than performing his official duties. His posture was abysmal, his attention was wandering, and he'd just openly admitted to being sent because he was the only one with nothing better to do.
Disgraceful, Tanya thought. To occupy a position of such critical importance and treat it with such flagrant disregard was horrific. She of all people could understand wanting an easy, comfortable life, but there was a fundamental difference between desiring comfort and outright neglecting one's responsibilities. A good leader could delegate, certainly, but delegation required oversight, and oversight required at least a modicum of effort.
In the Empire, such an attitude would have been corrected by court-martial followed by swift removal from the position entirely in favor of someone who actually wanted to do the job. A leader who didn't lead was worse than no leader at all. At least the latter circumstance left a vacant position that could be filled.
Still... perhaps this could work in her favor.
“If you don't mind my asking, Lord Asmodeus,” Tanya said, keeping her voice respectful. “I've read extensively on the current state of our military forces. With the other factions growing increasingly active, I've been curious about what reforms you have planned to ensure we remain a viable power.”
Falbium's eyes shifted back to her, a brow raising slowly. For a moment, the languid mask slipped just slightly, revealing a note of attention that hadn't been there before.
His gaze drifted upward, presumably searching the vaulted ceiling for an answer. “There are... ongoing discussions regarding the state of our military readiness.”
“Discussions,” Tanya echoed flatly. She caught herself a moment too late and smoothed her expression. “That is reassuring to hear. Though I'll admit, I've found little mention of concrete initiatives in my readings. Has anything progressed beyond that stage?”
Falbium blinked at her. The silence that followed stretched long enough that Tanya began to wonder if the man had simply zoned out of the conversation entirely. Then, finally: “Not particularly.”
Lord Phenex let out a strained laugh, placing a hand on Tanya's shoulder. “My daughter has something of an interest in military matters, my lord. She can be rather thorough in her curiosity.”
“I can see that,” Falbium said. Something in his tone suggested he wasn't entirely displeased by it.
Tanya ignored her father's tightening grip and pressed on. “The Great War devastated our numbers. Our population is a fraction of what it once was, and while the current peace holds, the other factions have not been idle. The Fallen Angels reorganize under Azazel, and the Church—”
“Young lady,” Lord Phenex cut in, his voice carrying a sharper edge now, “perhaps this is a conversation better suited for another time.”
Falbium waved a hand. “It's fine.” His lidded gaze settled on Tanya with renewed interest. “You seem well-informed for your age.”
“I make it a point to be informed, Lord Asmodeus.”
“Mm.” Falbium fell silent again, and this time Tanya got the impression he was actually thinking rather than simply spacing out. When he spoke again, his voice was sharper, more directed. “You're not wrong. Our military is not what it was. The Great War and the civil war that followed saw to that. But raising the issue and solving it are two very different things. The nobility has little appetite for military expansion these days. Too many remember the casualties.”
“And so nothing is done,” Tanya clicked her tongue.
Falbium shrugged. “Nothing that would meaningfully change the status quo. The infrastructure exists on paper. We have bodies. What we lack is the institutional will to use them effectively, and that is not something I can legislate into existence.”
Tanya studied the man before her, finally seeing his attitude for what it was. It wasn't that he didn't care. It was that he'd stopped expecting anything to change.
He's given up, she realized. She'd seen it in officers who'd been ground down by bureaucratic inertia until they simply stopped trying. It normally led to disaster. A gired man in a position of power was almost as dangerous as an incompetent one, because the system would keep running on momentum long after the man at the helm had stopped steering.
“Why did you accept the position?” Tanya asked, forgoing ang propriety. Her father's hand tightened on her shoulder, a clear warning.
But Falbium didn't bristle in indignation as Tanya would have expected from a man whose authority had just been implicitly questioned by an eight-year-old girl. Instead, he tilted his head, as if genuinely considering the question for the first time in a long while.
“I suppose,” he said slowly, “there was nobody else willing to do it.”
A beat of silence passed between them. Then Falbium straightened just slightly, and turned away. “You should prepare. I believe they're about to call you for your big moment.”
As if on cue, a man's voice rang out across the hall, cutting through the murmur of conversation. “Would Lady Tanya Phenex please present herself before the congregation?”
Lord Phenex exhaled slowly, releasing his grip on her shoulder. “That's your cue, Tanya. Remember everything we discussed.”
Tanya nodded, smoothing down the front of her dress as she turned toward the front of the hall. A path cleared through the gathered nobility, faces turning to watch her as she walked. She kept her chin up and her expression neutral, though her mind was racing.
The hall had been rearranged in her brief conversation with Falbium. Where there had been open space for mingling, there was now a raised platform, upon which sat a long table draped in crimson cloth. Behind it stood several figures of unmistakable authority—the heads and heirs of the remaining Pillars, their creasts displayed proudly upon their person.
And at the center of the table, in a seat that had been conspicuously empty moments ago, sat Ajuka Beelzebub.
He must have arrived while I was talking to Falbium, Tanya noted. The man was lean, with striking green hair and eyes that seemed to peer through her.
“Tanya Phenex,” Ajuka said, his voice carrying easily across the silent hall. “You stand before the congregation of your peers and superiors, seeking the right to bear a King's set. By tradition, you are granted the opportunity to state your intentions. Tell us: what do you intend to do with the power that may be granted to you today?”
Tanya stepped forward to the podium. The prepared speech sat in her mind, fully formed and ready to be delivered. But as she opened her mouth, her eyes drifted to where Falbium stood at the edge of the crowd. The Satan had found a pillar to lean against, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable but sharper than Tanya thought the man capable of.
When she finally spoke, the words that came out of her mouth were not the ones she'd intended the night before.
“I had a speech prepared,” Tanya began slowly. “A finely crafted speech, full of the appropriate words. I would have spoken of my devotion to House Phenex, of my commitment to the responsibilities of a King, of leading my servants with wisdom and care.”
She paused, letting the silence stretch.
“It would have been a good speech, I think. But I find myself unable to deliver it.”
Tanya let her gaze sweep across the assembled faces. “Just moments ago, I had the privilege of speaking with Lord Asmodeus. I asked him about his plans for military reform. His response was... illuminating.” She chose the word carefully. “What I learned is that our military, the force meant to protect Devil society in a world where the other factions grow stronger by the day, languishes. Not from a lack of resources or capability, but from a lack of leadership.”
A murmur rippled through the congregation. Several nobles exchanged uneasy glances and whispers and Tanya very carefully did not look toward her father.
“I do not say this to disparage Lord Asmodeus, but a position of such critical importance should not be filled by obligation alone but by ambition.”
She straightened her spine, drawing herself up to her full, diminutive height. “I am the second child of House Phenex. My brother will inherit the house, and he will lead it well. But my path is my own, and so I will state my intention plainly.”
She paused for a moment, letting silence reign, before speaking clearly for all to hear.
“I intend to claim the seat of the Satan Asmodeus.”
The words fell like stones into still water. For a heartbeat, nobody moved as everyone registered what they were hearing—this insanity spewed form the mouth of an eight year old girl. Then, the congregation erupted.
Voices overlapped in a cascade of whispers that rapidly escalated into open discourse. Nobles turned to one another, some scandalized, others intrigued, a few openly incredulous. Tanya caught fragments as they flew past, incredulous as they were, but she held her ground, her expression set.
“I intend to claim this position,” she repeated louder to cut through the din. “And I intend to lead the Devils into an era of militaristic prosperity. I will ensure that when the other factions look upon us, they see not a declining species clinging to past glories, but a power to be reckoned with. A power capable of defending its interests and its people.”
The whispers continued, louder now, some voices raised in protest while others hummed with reluctant interest. Tanya looked to her father to find that the man had gone very still, his expression caught somewhere between horror and pride.
Her gaze moved past him, locking onto a figure near the back. Their eyes met, and Falbium Asmodeus smiled.