Step through the gates of an Alternate Universe

It's blue.

I don't know where it came from because I am quite certain I never had such a mark before today.

Stretching my right arm out, all I can do is stare at the elegant symbol that's been decorating my hand since this morning. The sounds of a normal day surrounding me as my ever dedicated Peerage continue on with their work.

It's unlike any symbol I had ever seen before. Symmetrical, with graceful lines and curves around a stretched diamond shape at the center. It almost reminds me of a heart. Beautiful, but suspicious. I could not sense a curse, intent, nor a single mote of mana from it. And yet…

Call it the Devil's intuition, but I had a feeling that there was something more to this decoration.

"Kaichou, forgive me for mentioning this, but aren't tattoos against school rules?"

I close my eyes in contemplation as I take in the words of my Queen, ever vigilant, as she stands by my side. All around me, the sounds of a normal day suddenly stop as I feel the stares of my Peerage suddenly shift towards me in confusion.

"Yes, Tsubaki, yes it is."

Soon enough, confusion turns into growing curiosity as a King and her Peerage dedicate a portion of their time trying to solve this mysterious phenomenon. Internet searches, magical texts, both human and otherwise, yielded no results. Finding no answers, Sona could do nothing but bear the blue mark throughout the school as the days pass by.

Hitting a brick wall, the Student Council President made her decision. Swallowing her pride, she sends out a message to her mother; a short and concise summary explaining her predicament. Anticipating for a quick response from her attentive parents, she crossed her fingers in hopes that the message does not come across the desk of a certain, pink Maou.

Her wait was short-lived. A few minutes after sending the message Sona Sitri was alerted by her detection spells, just moments before a wellspring of power engulfs the Student Council room. A blue teleportation sigil, adorning the famous Sitri family crest suddenly appears right before her.

Three figures become visible to the surprise of her Peerage; the first, an elegant woman with silent pride in her blue eyes. Slowly shifting her cold gaze across the other occupants, the light of the teleportation sigil reflecting off her pitch black victorian blouse. She takes in the sight of Sona's Peerage before her gaze finally settles on Sona herself.

Mother.

A noble figure, dressed in a mixture of an old and modern tailored suit. His rugged chin down and a slight frown adorning his regal face, his eyes closed as the light from the sigil dims to a weak glow until they finally open; a pair of unreadable violet eyes reflecting off her own.

Father.

And finally, the shortest amongst the visitors. Her figure clashing with the aristocratic images of the first two, yet no less prestigious in stature. Raven black locks tied in twin ponytails, pink cloth—

Pink?!

"SO-TAN!"

"O-onee-sama?!" Squawked out the normally stoic Student Council President before getting tackled in a bone crushing hug by the third and final figure.

A mixture of awe, astonishment, and at no lack of entertainment stretched across the faces of the room's occupants as they watched their boss get choked out in a death lock by the absurdly pink newcomer.

Serafall Leviathan, the Underworld's strongest female Devil. A Maou that holds order and judgment across millions of Devilkin alike. A being of immeasurable power. Said Maou is now currently crushing her younger sister to an unbridled death, turning her as blue as their clan's adopted color.

"Serafall, please let go of your sister before she passes away from oxygen deprivation," the other female visitor remarks without losing a single beat.

"Oops!"

Loosening her grip, the magical girl can only look on in surprise as her younger sister slumps in her hands, her head falling backwards as they see her soul visibly leave her body.

"So-tan? So-tan! NO! SO-TAN, COME BACK!" Cried out the pink menace.

While Sona's Peerage look on with amusement, Saji Genshirou bears a serious look as he focuses with intensity at the pink Maou; currently in the midst of violently shaking Sona into revival.

He takes a moment before finally concluding his assessment. "Yup, definitely a ten out of ten."

As things settle down, the Lord and Lady of House Sitri take a closer inspection of the mark decorating their youngest daughter's hand.

"I can find no foul play nor is it any mark I have ever encountered before," exclaims Lord Sitri. "The closest resemblance I can identify it with is an ancient and obscure familiar contracting circle I have once come across in my studies many years ago. Though, if I remember correctly, the book never did specify what it summoned."

That caught her attention. A familiar contract, eh? She's certainly never seen one like this before. The mystery deepened further when even her own father, Eärendil Sitri; a master of the Arts, could not find a definitive answer to this riddle.

"I see," replied the Sitri Heiress. Half her attention on his words while the other half is bewildered by her crouching sister, an intense gaze lingering in her eyes as she takes a more focused look at her hand.

"There's hidden power in there."

"Hm? What do you sense from it, my daughter?" cooley asked the Leviathan's mother, Orabelle.

"Well, it's hard to detect at first, but if you really focus, then you can sense the underlying energy interwoven in the spiritual lines beneath the mark. Almost like it was meant to hide some power," her eyes narrow, "–a lot of power."

Sona's eyes widen at her sister's remark. Even after her own closer inspection, she wasn't able to sense much from the mark itself. She was at least able to judge that it was supernatural in origin but watching her sister be serious for the longest time started to hammer in the significance of her remark. Although her serious tone would be a lot more compelling if not for the pink clothes and wand.

"Oh? Well, if it's as powerful as you say it is, how and why would it appear on her hand at this point in time?" questioned Lady Sitri, a look of contemplation gracing her face.

The Leviathan's only response was to continue staring at the blue mark with an unreadable expression.

"It must be a highly crafted form of magic for neither of us to sense anything from it," mused Lord Sitri. "And if it is as you say, then we may be dealing with a potentially powerful familiar."

"Indeed," his wife adds. "The question still remains, however, how and why does my daughter bear this mark?"

"I believe who was the one who gave her the symbol should be asked as well," stated the husband.

The occupants take a moment to ponder their words.

"Sona," perking up from her sister saying her proper name for once, she turns her attention towards her. "If you actually plan to summon this creature, make sure to be... careful." She warned, heavy caution laced under her words.

She looked up, a serious look reflected across her violet eyes.

A silence settles in the room as Sona and her Peerage take in her warning; running thoughts spreading across the room at how serious this whole affair has become.

The lone Pawn broke the silent pause. "What do you mean by that, Maou-sama?"

"Normally, familiars reflect their master's power and are a good indication of how strong the master is," answered Lady Sitri in her daughter's stead. "This is why low-rank Devils have common familiars such as bats, birds, and other small animals but someone like a Maou would possess a griffin or even a lower ranked dragon if they would choose to, a sign of their strength and stature."

"And if the power emanating from that mark is as powerful as my daughter, a Maou, says, and if said mark is indeed a sort of familiar binding contract as my husband suggests, then we may be looking at a sort of creature with as much power as an Ultimate-class Devil, or even a Satan."

Gasps and looks of surprise can be heard all around the room. Even Sona could scarcely believe what her mother is saying.

"Then that's a good thing, right?" asks a hesitant Saji.

"No, it is not," she pronounced, correcting the younger Devil. "Such a situation is dangerous. Like I have said, a familiar is an indication of their master's power and binding a familiar stronger than oneself can only bring disaster. While I have no reservations to my youngest daughter's strength, she is simply too young and…inexperienced... to possess a familiar of such power. If summoned, the familiar will most likely scoff at her stature and may even attempt to kill her."

A brief but incredible flare of power can be felt at the conclusion of those words, causing Sona's Peerage to stumble back a bit and look around bewilderedly for the source.

"I understand mother," replied the Sitri Heiress, eyes still fixed on her crouching elder sister. "I will be as cautious and attentive on the matter as I can be."

She watches as the Leviathan's eyes soften at her words.

After a few more contemplative questions and ideas, the investigation comes to an end.

Saying their goodbyes, mother and father agree to continue doing research on the matter. Informing her that if they find anything else noteworthy that they would send a message as soon as they can.

"So-tan!"

Though it was a quite a task at prying her elder sister away, much to the chagrin of the younger Sitri Heiress. Seeing the pink Maou become serious for the first time in years, she could scarcely believe the person getting unwillingly dragged by the ankles and into the glowing light of the teleportation sigil by her father was one and the same.

"Well, that was entertaining," giggled Meguri Tomoe, one of the Bishops of the group.

"Sure is, and to think, all this time, Kaichou's sister, a Maou, was actually a magical girl! Is that why you always avoided talking about your sister in detail?" asked the bemused, blue-headed Rook, Yura Tsubasa.

Coughing away her embarrassment, Sona looks toward the side as her not-so-secret sister was finally revealed. "Well, if you haven't noticed from her behavior, she's…"

"...a siscon?" smiled the Rook, finishing her sentence. "Yeah, I think we got that much, Kaichou."

"No, what I was going to say was that she is dedicated to her duties as the elder sister, but she tends to be rather…excessive, in her affections."

"That's putting it mildly," someone muttered, generating a round of chuckles.

"Enough," she said with finality, causing everyone to clamp down on their laughter as her cheeks burned with embarrassment. "As entertaining as that was, much to my expense, we now have a lead to what this is."

"Kaichou!" yells out Tomoe, her hand raised up.

"Hm?"

"Since we now know it has something to do with a familiar contract, are you planning on actually summoning it? Like your mom and Maou-sama said, it may not be so safe."

"Yes," Sona thoughtfully responds. "You're right, I understand how dangerous summoning it can be, but we simply cannot ignore it either. There is honestly too many questions and variables to leave it as it is."

She paused. "And besides, the benefits to having such a powerful creature on our side are too good to pass on."

Yes, she understood her mother's warning quite well and the not so subtle mention of her weakness. As tactful and logical her mother made it out to be, she still can't ignore the jab made about her strength.

She may not flaunt it everywhere she goes but she does have her pride after all.

Her thoughts drift back to Rias Gremory; her self-proclaimed rival, and her new Pawn; the Red Dragon Emperor, Issei Hyoudou… as much as I hate admitting it, dismissing his potential simply because of his perverted nature was simply callous of me. I will find a way to control this creature and I'll be damned if I let this opportunity pass me by.

"Head back home. We'll be paying Zatouji-san a visit tomorrow after school for more information."

"The Familiar Master?" questioned Tsubaki, speaking up for the first time.

"Yes, if there is anyone who can give us answers, it'll be him."

"I'm sorry Sitri-dono, but I've never seen this kind of mark before, and frankly, I don't have any useful information to really give you."

Sona sighed.

"However, if someone did indeed give you this mark, I don't think they'll leave you in the dark for long," the Familiar Master adds. "The only suggestion I can give you is that you wait. Sooner or later, a clue that can solve this whole mystery may appear when you least expect it."

Giving her thanks, Sona and her Peerage head back, with nothing else to do but simply continue on with their lives like Zatouji-san suggested or wait for a message from her parents.

A few more days pass by without any more discussions about the blue mark. Normality seems to be settling back in as she and her Peerage continue on with day to day operations. Even Issei seems to be adjusting well to his new situation as a Devil. In fact, Rias has also gained a new addition to her Peerage, an excommunicated nun from the Church, one with a powerful Sacred Gear directed towards unrivaled healing.

She watches with her arms crossed, alone, from the upper story of the school lobby as students walk in from the entrance. Sounds of an average school morning filling the air. Moments later, she sees a particular crimson haired princess and her Peerage enter. Looks of adoration are focused towards Rias and her group while disgust, confusion and even jealousy are directed towards Issei. But it all gets passed by unnoticed as a joyful look plasters his face, a total difference of just a few days ago. Her attention then drift towards the former nun, seeing her eyes filled with cheerful mirth as she smiles and nods at Issei's rather expressive hand gestures and words.

She seems to be adjusting well, she thought with a slight smile.

Tilting her head, she looks towards the Gremory Heiress. Violet and blue eyes meet as they hold their gaze for a moment, giving one another a slight nod of acknowledgment before Rias turns away.

She holds her spot for a few more minutes before turning around, walking back towards the Student Council room as the golden light from the upper windows guide her path.

That night, Sona Sitri lay silent in bed. Her eyes open in view of the ceiling as she contemplates all the information she has gained so far.

I believe who was the one who gave her this should be asked as well, her father's words echoing in her mind.

After a few more minutes of pondering pass by, her eyes begin to slowly close as her consciousness drifts away into the embrace of a deep night's sleep.

Beautiful

It's the closest word she can use to describe the being before her. With long, flowing black hair, alabaster skin and bright, blood-colored lips adorning her face while an unblemished white tunic covers her delicate frame. She hovers before Sona like a radiant goddess in a pitch black background. A darkness not even her night vision can decipher.

But it's her eyes that catch most of her attention. Silver, soulless eyes staring directly at her as if gazing right through her being and into her very soul, judging her.

She can't look away. There's something in those eyes she can't even describe. It scares her, but she can't turn away.

She then tries to speak, to ask her who she is, but she can't seem to open her mouth. As if she's completely paralyzed by her silver gaze.

An indescribable amount of time passes by and her eyes widened in stunned surprise as she sees it. A smile, a gentle, yet no less human smile embraces her lips. After a moment, she speaks. Silent and empty words begin flowing out even as her lips move.

What are you saying?

She tried focusing her ears, but she hears nothing but silence. She then tried reading her lips, but they seem to be incoherent to her.

She stood there, frozen in place as all she can do is stare at the moving pair of lips.

What are you saying?
What are you saying?
What are you saying?

She felt a sharp headache suddenly engulf her mind.

She didn't know how long it took, but just as suddenly as the mysterious figure appeared; she vanished, along with the migraine.

Sona stood in place, alone in a pitch black darkness as she begins to feel a different kind of pain, a burning sensation where the mark is.

She winced, looking down into her hand, eyes wide with surprise once again.

The mark… it's glowing!

This felt like no other dream she had ever experienced before. Yet, somehow, she knew that her physical self is still lying in her bed. Sleeping.

W-wha—

She felt a different feeling, halting her train of thought as a warm and welcoming light appears from behind her, pushing the burning pain and darkness away.

It's going to be okay.

She perks up.

Slowly, despite the warm feeling, she gradually turns around in apprehension.

And what greeted her was a nothing like what she expected.

A star.

A seemingly distant golden star blazing brighter than the sun, yet for some reason, she could look directly at it. And as she did, a feeling of warmth and protectiveness radiated from its very core, melting away all of Sona's fears and anxiety, leaving nothing but naked curiosity.

It's going to be okay.

She didn't hear those words much as she felt them.

She closed her eyes and basked in the light for an indiscernible amount of time until she realized something significant.

I know this feeling, she thought, snapping her eyes back open.

It is a power that is intimately feared by her kind.

A power fatal to all creatures that dwell in the night.

A power that was meant to burn her to ashes at its mere presence.

And yet...

Her eyes widen in shock.

"Are you—"

She opened her eyes.

Was that a dream? she wondered.

It felt way too real and yet…

She thought back at the strange but beautiful woman, the silent dialogue she was speaking, the golden light and finally, that star.

Also...

The mark…!

She brought her right hand up to see the blue mark.

It looks mostly the same but...

Still dressed in her nightgown, the confused Sitri paused her train of thought and looked up from her sitting position.

Wait, why am I…?

Bewildered, she turns her head back and forth, taking stock of her position.

Sunlight beamed through the cracks of her burgundy window covers as the distant sounds of chirping birds fill the room.

A familiar carpet is felt under her feet.

At least I'm back in my room, she thought, sighing in relief.

She then turns her attention to the elegantly crafted clock to her side.

8:36

Luckily, it's a Sunday. Any other day and she would have been rushing to get ready for school to save her perfect attendance score.

Turning her attention back forward, she noticed something odd.

Why am I sitting at my desk…?

She tilted her head down and in the middle of her curiosity, she sees it.

A single sheet of paper laid out before of her, written in words she has no recollection of ever seeing.

Her eyes widen.

"It's in my handwriting," she whispered to herself.

"Kaichoooou, it's midnight, why are we here at midnight?" moaned out the katana wielding Knight.

"Meguri, just trust the President on this one," answered Tsubaki in Sona's stead.

Dressed in their school uniform, Sona and her Peerage are currently residing in the Student Council room, all the furniture neatly pushed to the sides to make space at the center.

Taking out the vial of platinum her King has requested Tsubaki to obtain, the Queen hands it over to her, eyes filled with curiosity concerning the whole situation as even she wasn't privy to her King's current thoughts.

Giving her Queen a nod of thanks, Tsubaki takes a few steps back and watches her King begin drawing out a perfect circle. Not a word is spoken as they all watch the Sitri Heiress steadily add in details a moment later, a look of intense concentration cemented on her face.

A ritual? But don't Devils normally use their energy to create sigils? The bespectacled Queen wondered.

She and the others continue watching in silence.

Time passes by and eventually, some members of the group begin whispering their questions to one another.

"Aren't rituals like these performed only by human magicians?" she heard someone ask.

"Normally, yeah. In fact, we don't even need to say any sort of incantation or use materials like them," answered a different voice.

"I don't know, but I think it has to do with that mark we've been trying to figure out for a while now."

"Hey, do you see that?" she heard Saji point out.

The Queen perked up and looked.

"Kaichou's mark, it changed. Didn't it use to be all blue?"

Tsubaki focused on her King's hand until she saw it. A small, golden diamond shape sitting at the center of the mark. She had never seen it before, she was certain of it.

Trying to get a better focus on the mark, she didn't realize when her King finished her task until she stood back up.

She shifted her attention towards the finished pentagram. It was different, she noticed, different than any other sigil she has seen before but no more exotic than anything else either.

Honestly, it looked quite ordinary.

But then she felt it. She wasn't the only one, as everyone perked up from the steadily growing shift of energy coming from the sigil.

And then she remembered. The school sits on top of one of the largest and strongest ley lines in the country. Also, the peak of a Devil's power always lay in between the time of midnight and 3 AM. The witching hour. The time when it is said that the divide between Earth and the supernatural realm is at its thinnest.

She looked over at the clock.

12:46

"Everyone," Tsubaki, at the sudden address, quickly turns her attention back to her King. "I want to thank you all for your patience."

"From what you can infer, what I am about to attempt is the actual summoning ritual. I want everyone on their guard in the event things don't turn out as planned," she listens attentively to her best friend, the person who once saved her life. "If things do go completely out of our control, then a spell I have already set in place would alert my sister of the situation immediately."

She tensed. Despite remembering the warnings from her King's mother, she knew Sona the best and she would never rely on her sister for anything. Seeing how her precautions included her sister, the Leviathan, made her all the warier.

– Play Count It From Zero –

Taking a deep breath, the ever vigilant Queen summons her naginata. A simple yet elegant weapon that has served by her side since before her time as a Devil.

She takes her stance.

Glancing around, she notices everyone readying themselves as well, a mixture of determination and apprehension easily seen on their faces. This is the moment they would prove their loyalty. In the event that circumstances turn out for the worse, they would sacrifice themselves for their King, the one person they have dedicated themselves wholeheartedly to.

She looked back at Sona, eyes filled with utter resolve, as she gives her the slightest of nods.

We're ready.

Nodding back to my Queen, I turn my attention to the task before me.

It was odd having the knowledge implanted in me since this morning. The knowledge was so intimate, so complete that I almost couldn't believe that I was fretting over figuring it out for nearly two weeks. But despite my insight of the ritual, and how to perform it, I still had no idea what I'll be summoning.

I thought back to the figure in my 'dream.' Were those words I wrote in my sleep from her? Was she the cause of all of this? And that star, what did that have to do with any of thi—

I sighed, taking a deep breath.

I need to calm down. Fretting over strange visions won't help me at this moment.

Despite how calm I looked on the outside I can feel my heart pounding in my chest.

Breathe, Sona, breathe.

I've already memorized the words, but it's still odd, I've never felt this nervous in all my life.

I shut my eyes and stretch out my right arm, feeling the energy beneath my mark for the first time.

I can feel it somehow, a soft, blue glow as if responding to my intent as I focus on my spiritual core.

All is quiet as I take a moment to begin drawing out the demonic energy within me.

"Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill.

Let each be turned over Five Times, simply Breaking Asunder the fulfilled time,"

I began.

"Let Silver and Steel be the Essence. Let Stone and Spirit be the Foundation."

I feel it, the rushing sense of power…

"As Salvation guides me.

Raise a Wall, against the Falling Wind.

Close the Four Cardinal Gates from the Crown.

Come Forth and follow the Forked Road to the Kingdom,"

I utter, gaining volume.

Energy begins coursing through my system as I force open my eyes with fierce intensity, ignoring the growing buildup of light before me.

"I Hereby Propose—

Thou shalt Serve my Command, and my Fate shall be thy Sword.

Abiding to the Beckonings of the World.

If thou shall Submit to this Will and Reason... then Answer My Call!"

The sigil crackles with unrestrained power. My Peerage watching on with an unbridled mixture of shock and awe as a breeze begins to pick up from the gathering amount of raw mana.

"Hear my Oath! I shall be all that is Good in the Eternal World.

I shall have Dominion over all of the Evils of Hell!"

The breeze picks up speed, becoming a fierce gale as it kicks dust all across the room and the light blazes intensely forcing several members of my Peerage to take a few steps back, shielding their eyes.

"From the Seventh Heaven and in accordance of the Three Great Powers, come forth from the Hall of Heroes, Guardian of the Balance!"

I slam my eyes shut, no longer able to handle the intensity as the blinding flash of light engulfs the entire room.

I stood for what it felt like an eternity, my eyes still closed and my arms raised up protectively.

"D-did she do it?" I heard someone hesitantly ask.

For a moment, I was afraid I hadn't.

Then, a clear, strong and distinctly masculine voice makes itself known from the center of the heavy dust cloud, blocking my vision.

"My, my, my. What an interesting group of people you all are."

I force my eyes open, hearing the shuffling footsteps of my Peerage retaking their stances.

Putting my arms down, I try my best composing myself. Just before the dust suddenly blows away from a brief flare of his power, compelling me to take in the sight and putting me on guard for a short moment.

Tall.

That was the first word that came to mind as I take in the rest of his features.

Tan skin with snow white hair. An exotic look. Form fitting black body armor that somehow still shows off his well-developed abs. Corded muscles brimming across his figure. Bare arms rippled with muscle that end with a pair of black gloves. Black trousers lined with leather-like straps. Steel toed boots of polished tips and finally, an ivory colored cloak hanging from his left side.

Well, he certainly isn't bad looking, that's for sure.

A smirk lines his angled face, steel-grey eyes filled with amusement as they look directly into mine.

"Standing at the center of the summoning circle, I take it you're the one that was summoned?" I asked.

His smirk grows more pronounced at my question. "Indeed I am, and can I assume you were the one who summoned me?"

"Yes. Yes I did," I answered him back, adding more steel mirth into my words.

He breaks contact with me and sweeps his gaze around him. Weapons, magic, and looks of confusion pointed directly at him.

"Everyone," I declared. "Stand down."

Everyone hesitates, holding their position.

"Now."

At my command, they lower their guard, looks of confusion and even some apprehension can still be seen on their faces.

I look over at my Queen, confident light brown eyes meeting mine as she gives me a silent nod.

I quirk a smile. Ever vigilant, I thought, nodding back.

I turn my attention back to our new arrival to find him looking back at me with an odd sense of approval. "Well then, since we got that out of the way, can I ask your name?"

"Unfortunately, that is a question I cannot answer."

"What?! Why?!" I heard Saji suddenly blurt out.

Sighing, I was about to reprimand my Pawn for his rudeness until I heard the new figure speak once more.

"Because it is a name I have long since forgotten," he answered back, unfazed. "Even if I hadn't, I discarded it back when I was still alive. It served me no use."

Back when you were still alive? I thought with a raised eyebrow.

Deciding to let my Pawn's rudeness slide, I asked, "Then what shall we call you?"

In a thoughtful pose, he put his finger under his lower lip, taking a moment to answer. "This is indeed a unique summoning, unlike any I've ever been in before, but for convenience's sake," he paused, giving me an amused smile. "Just call me…

...Archer."

A/N: Thanks to Andivia for the Beta