Naki and Habiki were walking through the corridors of a training facility
They were headed to a specialized training ground that the sage potentials use
"I see... So you plan to befriend Bisky to get to Emile." Habiki, leading the way, asked
"By becoming her confidant, I can join their circle, and that'll be infiltration done. All it'll take is to be...different enough, someone who doesn't necessarily respect the norm." Naki skipped forward to keep up with the quick pace Habiki was setting.
"And that's why you showed your black flames in class, to pique her interest?" she asked
"Yeah, although I have to admit, looking back... There were other ways than risking my soul."
Habiki picked up on his self-reflection and sighed, "It's fine. If it makes you feel better, I saw Bisky's eyes light up for the first time in almost forever."
"Oh? sounds like you're related?"
"Yeah... She is, or was, my rival."
They approached the giant sealed magic door.
Naki was amazed by the revelation.
To think the girl who looked so nonchalant would be so strong.
"Rival? What do you mean?"
Habiki muttered a short chant, and a talisman magically appeared on her hand
"Let's just say if she had the blessings of a divine goddess, she would be a prodigy too."
She used the talisman on the door; it shattered the barrier, causing the door to open
"Your plan is good, but I know Bisky. She'll demand to use your power more than once if you want to get into her good books."
She smiled and pointed at Naki's sigil, now exposed
"That means we'll have to repay our debt and earn more of Lucille's mercy."
She turned around, walking in, expecting Naki to follow
He stared at his sigil, the mark was bulging
"Repaying the devil for his mercy... yeah, this should be good," he chuckled in irony and followed in.
The door shut behind them, and a new seal appeared.
THE SAGE TRAINING HALL
The air was free, refreshing, and produced a fragrance that set the mind at ease
Naki inhaled the sweet air, "ahhh, how calming. Smells...familiar..."
Habiki walked forward, taking her shoes off.
"Yeah, the flowers I use in my room produce the same scent. It helps set the mind at ease, which makes for good training or reading."
She set aside her shoes and grabbed her staff.
"Ready up; it's time to begin your lesson on the devil's mercy system."
Naki took off the cloak and folded, "funny how the table turns, huh. By day, you're my student. By night, my teacher"
"I'll confess it was, in hindsight, a good move. We can make use of these training facilities while also ensuring the avenues for fulfilling the devil's mission is an ideal outcome."
"It seems Lucille's foresight is rubbing off on you."
Naki was now barefoot and returned to the position.
"Hopefully not much that that," he scoffed
Habiki chuckled, "It's amazing how you made a deal with the devil and think for one second he won't affect you."
"You're in this for the long haul, Naki, and it's about time you understand the realities of your situation."
Striking her staff on the floor, a breeze circulated through the environment, changing the accents of the walls to amber.
Naki shook, looking around the sudden change in atmosphere.
He turned back to Habiki, whose eyes now glowed amber.
"Ha-habiki?" There was doubt in his voice.
She looked like Habiki, but her demeanor was different.
It felt delicate, it felt super important.
Then, with a voice that was deeper and clearer than Habiki's, she spoke
"We finally meet, devil child."
This voice belonged to Keifa
"Who are you? What did you do to Habiki?" his eyes wavered, balance unstable, but he still managed to look and sound tough. It was an act
"(What is this feeling, why does she feel so...suppressing, suffocating)"
Naki's sigil started bulging rapidly; it was responding to the presence
"At ease. I am Keifa, divine goddess of bells and illusions. You could also say I am Habiki's companion."
"You're the mistress she always speaks of?"
"Yes," she nodded. "Habiki is capable, but I shall be the one teaching you about the power you have, Lucille's power."
Naki gulped and steadied himself.
"(At ease she says. Not so easy when you have the same aura as that of the freaking' devil!)"
"Habiki's is strong, but not yet strong enough to sustain me for long. This means we can't waste much time."
She started walking towards Naki.
Each delicate step she took felt as if she walked on air, leaving behind a glitter of gold dust in its wake.
It was an aftereffect of the earth being caressed by her gentle grace
Habiki was now the epiphany of a goddess. Thus, carried herself like one.
"Lucille gave you power to respect whatever deal you made with him. However, it was all a ploy, to get you wanting more"
Naki glared at her as she stopped approaching just within arms' reach.
"And to get more, you'd have to pay the price of sustenance, in the form of a vice."
"Habiki said the same, but what I don't understand is how that'll help me get rid of these filled-up circles."
He revealed the devil sigil to Keifa, showing it bulging as 6 circles were filled up
"A feature of his mercy system. These circles are..." he hand lingered in the air as she searched for the right word. "bargaining chips,"
"bargaining chips..." Naki murmured
"Yes. 7 chances to use his power without offering anything in return"
Her face tensed up, "The only way you can reclaim these chances is by playing the devil's game."
"The devil's game? what is that?"
"Focus on your sigil, will the center sign to manifest itself in full."
Naki stared at the bulging sigil
"Do so, and everything shall be made clear."
Naki closed his eyes and focused deeply; the bulging intensified
Then suddenly, a black sphere manifested above his hand and burst into flames.
The flames gave way to a panel made of bones and tiny wailing souls orbiting around it.
"What the!"
The interface displayed the following
---------- DEVIL'S MERCY -----------
Soul - Naki.
Title - Devil Child
Vice_Level - 1
Vessel's Path - N/A
Mercy Perks[2/3] - The Devil's Favor, Black Flames of Gehenna
Debt Limit - 678/700 [CRITICAL]
Devil Traits Active- None
Manifestation - LOCKED (req: complete a path)
-> -> -> Swipe Right for Vessel's Path...
--------------------------------------
"What is this!!" Naki exclaimed, taking a step back from the screen that stayed with him
"What you see before you is your status in the devil's game."
Keifa used her finger pointing at the key areas to explain
"As a devil child you have mercy perks, power available to you in the mercy system. Think of these as the power that fill up the circles"
"mercy perks? What is Devil's favor and black flames of ...Gehenna??"
"With extra focus you can discern the details, try it!" she commanded
Naki stared extra hard at the perks and the details previewed before his eyes
---The Devil's Favor: Lucille will act as guardian to ensure no harm comes to the vessel
---Black Flames of Gehenna: Vessel can utilize the black flames to torment threats.
"That'll explain why each time the circle fill up is usually as a result of one of these 2 actions" a sudden whisper in understanding.
"Yes. But you can only set 3 perks at a time, and they come with a debt limit - a limit you're so close to reaching."
"678/700!!!" he exclaimed
"I'd advise you avoid utilization of any mercy perk until you have repaid your debt."
Naki's eyes still fixed on the numbers
"Habiki was right... I have been careless. Approaching Bisky right now would be a bad idea. Especially if she truly needs me to use my powers again" he muttered.
"Be happy you now have some barometer to measure your debt with. Always check your mercy system before committing to any reckless act."
Keifa's words carried both scorn and concern.
Naki nodded and turned to her once again for guidance
"What about this Vessel Path and...Devil's Traits?"
"The Vessel Path is your current leading path in the devil's game. While the traits are the skills and abilities you pick up along the way. A devil's trait is only active if it matches your path selected"
"ummm what?" Naki couldn't follow.
Keifa sighed, "Focus on the interface, and swipe right like instructed"
Naki obeyed and swiped right, he felt a tinge, and a slight cut on his finger
"tsk, that hurt"
It was bleeding, "Why was I hurt?" he said, sucking on the finger to soothe the ticklish pain.
"The Devil's system can only be manipulated in blood, an offering for new information. Take a look."
Naki stared at the next interface
------------VESSEL'S PATH -----------
The Tempter's Path - Merphisto
Next Traits set: [Gambit's game, White Lies]
Current Temptation Level: 0/3
The Trickster's Path - Lohki
Next Traits set: [Shadow trick, Crow's Visage]
Current Crime Level: 0/3
The Reaper's Path - Grimm
Next Traits set: [Aura of darkness, Voice for the undead]
Current Death Level: 0/3
-> -> -> Swipe Right for Devil's Seal...
----------------------------------
"The vessel's path, is the only way you can repay the debt."
Keifa use illustrations in the form of illusions to explain the next steps.
"This is very important information devil child, so listen well."
Naki nodded as Keifa created 3 golden lit dummies
"The mercy system revolves around 3 main vices, which determines you path. Temptation, Crime and Death"
Keifa guided her staff to the first dummy, and then a new dummy appeared before it.
"Temptation is convincing another through words and cunning alone, to have them perform an act of vice."
The new dummy was talking to the first dummy, and suddenly, the first dummy removed an object that looks like a knife
"Succeeding in this act sets you on Merphisto's path"
The first dummy then plunged the knife in its gut and collapsed
Naki's face twitched in disgust, the message was clear
"Crime is performing an act of vice that will usher the devil's idea of chaos"
Keifa activated the second dummy as it put on a dark cloak and engaged in arsons.
"This sets you on Lohki's path"
Then she pointed to the 3rd dummy, her grip on the staff stengthened as she frowned
"Death, the ultimate act of vice. Play the divine judge and take another's life for your own benefit"
The dummy hooded up and backstabbed another dummy than appeared before it.
Naki's looked away, eyes closed.
"Playing the grim reaper sets you on the path of Grimm."
Keifa called off her dummy illusions.
"Each path you level up will grant you the specified set of traits. These traits are tailored towards Lucille's own power as the true devil"
"So you mean to say if I play this...devil's game, and claim all these traits, I become Lucille?" asked Naki.
Keifa looked at him funny, wondering why anyone would want to become Lucille.
"In essence...yes. But not without certain limitations."
Naki stared at the pathways once more.
"(I knew from the very start making a deal with the devil takes me off the path of the righteous, and if I'm to become powerful, I'll have to bargain my way around it)"
Keifa walked away
"(But all of these paths are...awful, and yet I have to do something or else...my soul is forfeit)"
Naki stared at his bulging sigil
"(I have to play this game of temptation, crime or death)"