The moon shimmered over the vast canopy of the Familiar Forest, weaving silver filaments through leaves older than most kingdoms. Every breeze carried the scent of wild herbs and something deeper, something primordial. Distant roars and melodic cries drifted beneath the boughs, like lullabies sung by the forest to those bold enough to trespass.
Lucien stood at the fore. His Noble Attire midnight silk traced in argent sigils caught the moonlight, the Gremory crest faintly aglow. Upon his finger, the Dimensional Core Ring pulsed harmoniously with the land, syncing his heartbeat to the forest's living mana. Even the bravest among them felt the air press close not with wind or magic, but with expectation.
Zatouji, caretaker of the Familiar Forest, appeared along a moss-carpeted path. His knock-off Ash Ketchum cap tilted rakishly over bright, knowing eyes.
"Welcome, young devils," he greeted, voice equal parts mirth and mystery. "The forest remembers every bloodline, every triumph, every fear. Tonight it will measure you in kind."
He paused as ancient power stirred in roots and branches.
"Your familiars reflect your souls. Such bonds are not given—they're earned. Respect them, and they will guide you further than any king's edict."
Peerage members traded looks—some confident, others pensive, all resolved.
⸻
A Dragon Queen Stirs
Far beyond the treeline, beneath a dormant volcano, the Dragon Queen Tiamat cracked open one crystalline eye. A ripple of awareness brushed her senses: a granddaughter walking sacred ground… and the void-tinged aura of a devil-born boy.
So the Void favors him, she mused, violet flames curling between fangs. Reality not the earth shivered when her gaze turned south.
Lucien felt the moment like an icy breath on his spine watched not by Zatouji, nor by friends, but by something draconic and divine. Then it was gone, and the forest beckoned.
Tonight they would meet themselves and return not merely with creatures, but with proof they were ready to forge a legacy.
Zatouji raised his hand. A ring of glyphs blossomed beneath their feet.
"The forest will separate you. Resist, and it rejects you. Yield, and you find truth."
The ground rippled like water, and each devil vanished into mist cast into realms shaped by their souls.
⸻
Personal Trials
Lucien – Embracing the Shadow
He landed in a twilight glade where even moonlight hesitated. Out of the hush emerged a Shadowfang Wolf, its fur woven of living darkness, violet eyes ancient and wary.
Lucien felt loneliness here not as a cage, but a companion. He knelt, palm open.
"I won't command you," he whispered. "Walk with me."
The wolf bowed.
[Bond Established] Shadowfang Wolf
Abilities: [Night-Sight • Silent Step • Shadow Meld]
For the first time, the dark felt like home.
⸻
Velzaria – Fire Meets Flame
Velzaria touched down amid volcanic stone and swirling embers. A Fireheart Phoenix spiraled from above, wings trailing molten gold.
Flame met flame; it was communion, not combat. Heat washed over her cleansing, empowering.
[Bond Established] Fireheart Phoenix
Abilities: [Flame Resurrection • Aerial Mastery • Firestorm Call]
Far away, Tiamat's second eye opened. She has grown…
⸻
Ghislaine – Strength Proven
In a bone-strewn basin, a Steelhide Direwolf challenged her. Fists and fangs clashed like anvils. When the beast finally yielded, Ghislaine released its throat with a grin.
[Bond Established] Steelhide Direwolf
Abilities: [Beast Reinforcement • Predator Senses • Alpha Aura]
Yue – A Silent Communion
A grove bathed in lunar mist greeted Yue. A Lunarglade Nymph stepped from the haze; no words passed, only emotion. Pain, loyalty, love.
[Bond Established] Lunarglade Nymph
Abilities: [Mana Restoration • Lunar Blessing • Regenerative Aura]
Yamato – Spirit of the Warrior
Within a bamboo veil strode a silver Celestial Serpent. Yamato bowed oni horns gleaming and fought a battle of spirit, not steel.
[Bond Established] Celestial Serpent
Abilities: [Mist Veil • Aura Suppression • Dimensional Step]
Kuroka – Dance of Deception
A garden of toxic blooms birthed a Venomshade Panther. Kuroka answered with illusions and purrs, winning curiosity over conquest.
[Bond Established] Venomshade Panther
Abilities: [Toxic Mirage • Illusion Veil • Predator's Grace]
Rangiku – Desire Ignites
An Infernal Kitsune of nine empyreal tails coalesced from smoke and glass. Rangiku stepped into the flame and it crowned her heart.
[Bond Established] Infernal Kitsune
Abilities: [Foxfire Dominion • Illusion Ward • Flame Rebirth]
⸻
Campfire Convergence
Hours later, stars glittered overhead as familiars lounged beside new partners.
Lucien admired Velzaria's phoenix.
"You handled that beautifully."
Kuroka grinned. "Young love~"
Velzaria smirked back. "Couldn't let you hog the spotlight."
Ghislaine, chewing a roasted bone, grunted, "Mine nearly took my arm."
Yamato laughed. "You'd grow it back."
Rangiku lounged with her ember-fox scarf. "Impossible? Hardly."
Yue rested against Lucien's shoulder. "We did well."
He nodded toward the treetops. "The beginning, nothing more."
⸻
The Dragon Queen's Vigil
High above, atop an obsidian peak, Tiamat studied the scene through a crystalline scrying pool. The Shadowfang curled at Lucien's side; Velzaria stood radiant in phoenix light an echo of Ddraig's first fire.
"The Age of Blood and Ash turns again," the Dragon Queen intoned, claw tracing fiery sigils in the air. "Let us see who survives its dawn."
With a rush of embers, she vanished into the Vulcan sky.
⸻
Trials of the Gremory Peerage
Akeno – Stormbound
A Raiju Panther pelt of stormcloud and eyes of living lightning met her open hand. Thunder chose its huntress.
[Bond Established] Raiju Panther
Abilities: [Stormcall Pulse • Thunderstep • Predator Instinct]
Koneko – Spirit in Stillness
A twin-tailed Nekomata mirrored her quiet resolve. Silence crowned them both.
[Bond Established] Nekomata Spirit
Abilities: [Twin Soul Strike • Aura Veil • Reflex Surge]
Gasper – Twilight's Chosen
A Duskmantle Bat, half-shadow, half-dream, settled on his shoulder, sealing dusk-born courage.
[Bond Established] Duskmantle Bat
Abilities: [Echo Cloak • Bloodsense • Umbral Leap]
Yumi – Blade of Sky and Steel
Steel kissed wind as a Mythril Gryphon locked talon with sword. Respect forged their pact.
[Bond Established] Mythril Gryphon
Abilities: [Skybreaker Dive • Wind Ward • Talon Rend]
Rias – Firebird of Dawn
From molten fissure rose a Celestial Seraph, wings of stellar fire. She met its blaze unblinking.
[Bond Established] Celestial Seraph
Abilities: [Solar Aegis • Radiant Pulse • Blazing Wing]
Duskfall Gathering
Under starlight, they reconvened their familiars arrayed like living heraldry:
• Raiju mane crackling electric blue.
• Duskmantle wings whispering through smoke.
• Nekomata tails weaving moonlit patterns.
• Mythril Gryphon preening razor feathers.
• Celestial Seraph glowing like dawn caged in twilight.
Lucien watched, heart swelling with something fiercer than pride.
This was the peerage that would reshape the Underworld.
Tomorrow they would return to the estate; politics and prophecy would resume their relentless march. But tonight, beneath dreaming treetops, the Familiar Forest slumbered and for the first time in centuries, it dreamed of change.