The streets of Venice, Italy were alive with the bustling noise of tourists, gondolas, and street vendors. Roy had taken a rare time off from work, strolling hand-in-hand with Grayfia Lucifuge, enjoying a moment of peace.
The sun reflected off the canals as they laughed quietly, their casual date a rare moment away from the responsibilities of peerages, Evil Pieces, and devil politics.
The Girl in the Dumps
As they walked past a narrow alley, Roy noticed a small, gaunt figure rummaging through discarded scraps of food. The girl appeared to be around Kuroka's age, but much skinnier, her clothes tattered and hair unkempt.
Roy's crimson-gold eyes softened.
"Grayfia… wait a moment."
He approached the girl and offered some of the food he had purchased.
"Here… eat this. Are you alright?"
The girl's large eyes widened. She hesitated, then slowly accepted the food. As she ate, Roy sensed a faint but powerful Sacred Gear aura, one that was scared, cautious… but strong.
"What's your name?" Roy asked gently.
"Lavania… Reni," she whispered, glancing down.
"Why are you out here searching for food?"
Lavania's voice trembled.
"My parents… they're dead. I was admitted to an orphanage, but… it went bankrupt. I… I have nowhere to go."
Roy and Grayfia exchanged glances, their hearts aching.
"Lavania… would you like to come with us?" Roy asked quietly.Lavania's eyes widened."R-Really? You… you mean it?"
"Yes," Grayfia added softly. "We'll help you."
A New Home
Roy and Grayfia brought Lavania back to the Valvas estate, where she was washed, clothed in new attire, and offered a safe, warm place to stay.
"From now on, you'll help me, Grayfia," Lavania said, her voice small but determined.
"Of course," Grayfia replied, smiling softly, though her eyes reflected surprise and awe.
Roy knelt beside her.
"Lavania… you have a talent for magic, and your Sacred Gear… Absolute Demise, is special. You have potential beyond what you realize."
Grayfia's eyes widened at the name.
"Absolute Demise… she… she possesses that?"
Lavania nodded quietly, a faint blush on her cheeks.
"I don't know much about it… but I'll do my best."
Meeting the Nekomata Sisters
Later, Lavania was introduced to Koneko and Kuroka. The sisters immediately sensed the child's resemblance to themselves in suffering and hardship. Memories of their own past struggles, abandonment, and pain surfaced.
"She… she reminds me of us," Kuroka murmured, tail flicking nervously."She's safe now," Koneko said quietly, stepping forward.
Lavania looked up at them shyly.
"You… you're… like sisters to me?"
Koneko and Kuroka exchanged a glance and nodded.
"Yes. We'll look after you, just like we were looked after before," Kuroka said gently.
Tears of relief and gratitude glimmered in Lavania's eyes.
"Thank… thank you… sisters," she whispered.
A New Beginning
Roy watched the three together, smiling softly.
"Lavania, you're part of our family now," he said."We'll train you, protect you, and help you grow stronger."
Grayfia placed a comforting hand on Lavania's shoulder.
"And you'll walk alongside us, child of fate. You're not alone anymore."
Lavania nodded, a spark of hope in her eyes. Her Absolute Demise Sacred Gear pulsed faintly, as if recognizing the warmth and protection of the Valvas estate.
In that moment, the bonds of a new sisterhood were formed, and a new chapter in the Yaksha of Valvas' peerage and family began.