"The world isn't perfect. But it's there for us, doing the best it …that's what makes it so damiful."

  — Roy Mustang, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

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  Seeing his sister finally smile, Roy breathed a sigh of relief.

  "Would you like to sit down and join us for dinner, Sis?" Roy invited.

  "No, thank you. I just came to check if you were sg off. It seems you're doing quite well," Grayfia deed softly. "There are still many matters to attend to back at the family estate. I'll be returning now."

  "Oh, alright," Roy said, a hint of disappoi in his voice.

  Grayfia smiled faintly, a magic circle appearih her feet. In the instant, she was gone.

  "Whew..." Saeko, Shizuka, and the others sighed in relief once Grayfia had departed.

  Her presence had exerted siderable pressure on them.

  "Haha, that was my older sister, Grayfia. Don't let her serious demeanor fool you, she's actually a very kind person!" Roy chuckled, seeing their reas.

  "She seems very powerful," Shizuka remarked with admiration.

  "And very stern," Saya added, feeling that Roy's sister wasn't easy to approach.

  "That onee- is scary!" Alice said, ging to Roy's arm.

  "Haha! Don't be afraid, Alice. Once you get to know her, you'll realize she's actually very kind, despite her serious exterior," Roy reassured Alice, patting her head.

  "Really?"

  "Of course!"

  ....

  When it was time for bed, although everyone had their own rooms, they all ended up gathering in Roy's room. Fortunately, it acious enough to aodate them all.

  He had anticipated something might happen that night, but with Alice present, any sus were out of the question.

  The day, Roy apanied Saeko and Saya to school.

  Shizuka, Yuriko, and Rika were no longer suitable for attending school, and Alice was still too young. Thus, Roy left them at home.

  He had already taught them some basic magid provided them with spellbooks, instrug them to study while he was at school.

  He would tiheir magical education after he returned. Although Roy's own magical abilities were somewhat g, he was more than capable of teag them the fuals.

  ...

  At Kuoh Academy, ihe student cil room:

  "Sona-senpai!" Roy greeted Sona with a smile as he entered.

  Sona's full name was Sona Sitri, the heiress of the prestigious Sitri , a family of high-css devils.

  She specialized in water magid was a close friend of Rias, holding the third-highest popurity ranking at Kuoh Academy.

  She was exceptionally intelligent, skilled in strategy and tactics.

  Her short bck hair and gsses gave her a schorly and refined appearahough not as fmboyant as Rias, Sona possessed a quiet elegance, and her gsses added to her charm.

  "Roy-kun! What brings you here today?" Sona asked, surprised by his visit. Her gaze then shifted to Saeko and Saya standing behind him.

  Roy stepped aside, revealing the two girls.

  "These are my new servants. I'd like to request your assistah their enrollment procedures," Roy stated frankly.

  While Kuoh Academy had a principal, the true power resided with the student cil, led by Sona. Therefore, enrolling Saeko and Saya required her approval.

  "I see..."

  Sona gave Roy a thoughtful look before calling for Tsubaki Shinra.

  Tsubaki was Sona's Queen and her right-hand woman.

  "Tsubaki, please take them and haheir enrollment."

  "Yes, Sona-kaichou."

  Tsubaki nodded and turo Saeko and Saya.

  The two girls looked to Roy fuidance.

  "Go ahead. I'll pick you up after school," Roy reassured them.

  Saeko and Saya followed Tsubaki out of the room.

  Roy remained, knowing Sona had more to say.

  "Grayfia Lucifuge, the Silver-Haired Extin Queen, once tended with the Maou Leviathan for the title of the stro female devil in the Underworld."

  "Under her leadership, the Lucifuge has bee one of the most powerful devil families in the Underworld. And as the sole heir of the Lucifuge ..."

  "Although your talent is...average, I trust you won't bring shame upon the Lucifuge name," Sona said, ostensibly reting the Lucifuge family's achievements, but her words carried a subtle reprimand.

  Roy's lips twitched.

  After such a long preamble, it turned out Sona's was his choice of servants - two ordinary humans.

  Though not as direct as Grayfia, her meaning was clear.

  He couldn't help but find the situation somewhat amusing. He knew Sona and Rias had high standards, but he hadn't realized just *how* high.

  Ihey held little i in ordinary humans, uhey possessed Sacred Gears.

  Sona hadn't detected Saeko's tent potential, hence her veiled criticism.

  Therefore, despite the pointed nature of her words, Roy felt no anger, only a touch of gratitude.

  "Don't worry, Sona-senpai. I won't disgrace the Lucifuge name," Roy assured her early.

  A smile finally graced Sona's face. Roy's response seemed to have satisfied her.

  However, seeing Sona's rare smile, a mischievous thought crossed Roy's mind.

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