(A/N: Deleted the chapter temporarily to add the status board at the bottom.)
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Kaya could be seen eating a five-star meal in one of Rome's finest restaurants. "This is so fancy!" Kaya exclaimed as she saw all the waiters serving the other customers.
Dulio nodded as he patiently waited for his food. He tapped a pen against the table as he sat.
"Hey Dulio, can I ask a question?" Kaya asked.
"You already have, but go ahead." Dulio responded.
Kaya pouted before moving onto her question, "Was the lightning you shot from your hands earlier also magic?"
Dulio shook his head, "No. That was an ability of my Sacred Gear, Zenith Tempest."
"The Longinus?" Kaya asked to make sure her assumption was correct.
"Yes." He responded.
"Cool." Kaya stated offhandingly causing Dulio to lean away in exaggerated shock.
"That's the reaction I got? I expected something more.. shocked or excited." Dulio said somewhat sad.
"Well.. I don't really care about your Longinus," Kaya said bluntly.
Dulio's jaw hung open at her statement before he fixed himself. "Well, I suppose that's a somewhat unexpected answer. I thought young children like you thought they were cool," He said somewhat sadly.
"Mhm. Canis Lykaon is way better Sacred Gear anyways," Kaya said as she stuck her tongue out at the man.
"Hmph, as if. Zenith Tempest is clearly better!" Dulio argued.
"Nuh uh. I got a big puppy companion that shoots swords from its shadows while you make bubbles and storms." Kaya said triumphantly. Dulio shrunk in his chair as he contemplated his life.
"I really do make bubbles and storms. I'm like a cheap visual effects creator for movies. I feel as if I lived a lie." Dulio said somewhat depressed.
Kaya, now feeling bad, decided to cheer him up. "Well.. at least you can make storms right? Along with other weather stuff! I guess that the bubbles are pretty cool as well."
"Yeah! I guess you're right! I am pretty awesome!" He stated proudly as he regained his previous attitude.
"Isn't pride a sin?" Kaya asked.
"Yes! However there is nothing wrong with being overjoyed about the ever-so gracious gift my lord has bestowed upon me. I feel nothing but gratitude as I dedicate myself to him as he has done so much for me." Dulio was about to continue before he was cut off by Kaya.
"Okay okay! I don't want to hear you starting to recite bible verses! They hurt my head." Kaya said as she cut off his rant.
Dulio sheepishly looked at Kaya, "I apologize. Sometimes I just get to caught up in praising and showing my gratitude to my benevolent Lord."
"Yeah, yeah I got it. Can we get our food now? The waitress has been watching you for the past 5 minutes as you ranted. I'm pretty sure she likes you.. in the not so wholesome way." Kaya said as she shot a look towards the mesmerized waitress.
Personally, Kaya didn't understand the attraction other women had to Dulio in the restaurant. Mainly due to her not hitting puberty yet, or maybe due to something else? Shrugging her shoulders she saw the waitress snap out of her trance as she shyly served the food.
Dulio smiled at the waitress, "Thank you dear and remember, lust is sin."
The waitress blushed as she walked away to another table. Kaya watched the odd behavior with slight interest, she has never seen a person act like that before.
Kaya began to pick at her food as she began to eat hungrily. "Dis is shoo good!" She said as she ate the food. The hospital food she ate in the past few days was alright but never tasty like the food she was enjoying right now.
Dulio nodded sagely as he similarly stuffed his face full of food. "So. I suppose that you, like myself, also have a Sacred Gear?"
Kaya nodded rapidly, "Canis Lykaon,"
Dulio raised an eyebrow in surprise, "Well I suppose that shouldn't surprise me as you were talking about it earlier.. along with the Sacred Gear I could sense in you. So that would make us both Longinus users then?"
"Yup!" Kaya said in-between bites of food.
The two continued to small-talk for a while as they finished their food and Dulio payed the bill as Kaya had no money.
As they began to walk out of the restaurant Dulio stopped, "Oh my, it seems as though the reason I was sent here for has decided to show themselves."
Stepping into a back alley while Kaya followed in slight intrigue, a large group of Naberius clan devils appeared from their summoning circles.
The all began to grin as they noticed an exorcist there but their grin widened even further upon noticing Kaya.
Once Kaya saw the familiar mark of the Naberius household embroidered into their suits she began to shake. Stiff with fear she stood still. Dulio noticed the change and stood in front of her.
"Would you mind explaining why a large group of pure-blooded devils such as yourselves are here in the Human Realm?" Dulio asked kindly.
A leading devil sneered, "Why should we tell you exorcist! Go back to worshiping your imbecile G-"
The devil was cut off as he was turned to dust by a blast of holy lightning that appeared from a rain cloud rotating around Dulio's hand. "Why are you here?" Dulio asked once again just more serious this time.
The devils, now recognizing one of the Church's strongest exorcists and wielder of the Longinus Zenith Tempest, shook in fear. One decided to speak up, "U-Uhm we are here to take back what is rightfully our heirs! We have been searching for her ever since she escaped our Realm. Kaya Vulpes come with us immediately and spare further bloodshed!" The devil spoke as he regained his false confidence.
Kaya stiffened even further upon hearing their reasoning. She grabbed Dulio's shirt as her eyes began to turn teary, "Please don't let them take me." She said quietly as she shuffled behind the much taller man.
Dulio merely patted her head as he nodded, "Of course while I might not be the most reliable man, but I have a duty to protect the innocents.. and to taste fine cuisine." He added unashamed.
Kaya gave a shaky smile as she released his shirt from her hands. The devils whom were watching decided that it was enough waiting around and charged. Dulio merely smirked as all the devils froze in a torrent of ice.
However, due to his slight carelessness he didn't notice a summoning circle for the Naberius house appear behind Kaya. Walking out of it was a singular mid-class devil as he held a written seal in his hand. He slammed his hand directly on Kaya's forehead causing her to stagger back in shock.
The seal in his hand disappeared before reappearing on Kaya's forehead. "HAHAHA! With that the Naberius house wins! That tracking seal will never come off without the heirs acknowledgement! You foolish gi-" The devil was about to finish before he was skewered by 15 pitch-black swords.
"You talk too much," Kaya said simply. While she might be afraid of a large group of mid-class devils like the previous threat, a singular one in a fight could barely compete.
Dulio kneeled in front of Kaya and tapped the invisible tracker seal on her forehead. "Well.. this is bad."
"Why?" Kaya asked although she herself knew that the tracker seal would spell trouble.
"Well.. I could remove it, however it would most likely kill you. Since its pure devil magic it requires holy magic to dispel it.. and since its so close to your brain it could cause a fatal amount of damage." Dulio said.
Kaya became downtrodden, "So I have to keep running everyday unless I go directly to the Naberius heir to have it removed?"
Dulio shook his head, "No. While I can't necessarily remove it, I know a few spells to temporarily stop its purpose for a while. Now that we finished eating however, we should get you back to your parents. I am sure they are worried sick about you."
Kaya stiffened as Dulio began to walk away as she followed him, "Uh- Mr. Dulio?"
"Yes Kaya?" Dulio asked.
"I don't have any parents.. in the Human Realm at least." Kaya said.
"I could send you to the Underwo-" Dulio prepared a teleportation seal as he talked.
"NO! I mean.. no thank you. Me and my mother.. we don't get along very well." Kaya said nervously.
Dulio raised an eyebrow but said nothing, "I suppose you have a place to go?"
Kaya shuffled nervously in her position. "Uhh... no?"
Dulio sighed, "Well.. at least I can show you some spells to protect yourself.. your Sacred Gear can also do most of the work."
At the mention of Sacred Gear, Kaya made hers appear as a large black wolfhound appeared with a sword in its maw. Although for a reason unknown to Kaya, Inugami was unnervingly quiet and lifeless.
Patting the soft head of fur, Inugami didn't speak as it stood still. "Inu.. why aren't you talking," Kaya said somewhat sadly.
"Ahem, Kaya? Would you please explain why Canis Lykaon would speak? While he is an avatar Sacred Gear he doesn't have a subconscious." Dulio asked curiously.
Kaya frowned, "Of course he does! How else would he be talking to me!"
"Young one.. no he doesn't. Look at your Sacred Gear and really 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 at it." Dulio emphasized.
Kaya's eyes began to glow indicating she was using her eye-ability. The world slowed as she saw new woven strings connecting her and Dulio. Almost instinctively she knew what the strings meant, they were signs of Fate. All living beings held a Fate, no matter how small. Even looking at a certain string for too long with her current concept progress caused her brain to overload from its complexity.
Pushing past the mind-numbing migraine, she looked in Inugami's direction. Her Sacred Gear had no strings, he.. no.. it had no soul.. it was a lifeless tool. Tears began to pool in Kaya's eyes the longer she looked at her Sacred Gear.
Dulios frown deepened, "Come here for a moment."
Kaya, still being in her own world, denied the proof in front of her and shook her head rapidly. "No! No! No! NOOO! Inu is one of my best friends! I refuse to believe you! You can't make me!" Kaya screamed at Dulio.
Dulios eyes softened, "Poor child. Let me help you. Your mental health is clearly deteriorating, let me heal you."
Kaya kept shaking her head before sending a blast of magma in Dulios direction. "SHUT UP! STOP TALKING! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!" Kaya screamed as she began to cry.
Dulio wavered slightly at the sight of the broken girl. Steeling himself and in an attempt to help her he rushed at her at speeds she couldn't react to. Placing a firm palm on her forehead he began to use non-holy healing magic to check and ease her mental state.
"Dissociative identity disorder, PTSD, night terrors, deep running hatred of devils, autophobia (fear of being alone), philophobia. Poor child. Don't worry.. you're safe, I'll make sure of it." Dulio cooed as he pulled Kaya into a hug.
"I'm sorry for what you had to go through. I know you don't want to hear this now but whatever you thought existed.. never existed. He was merely a fragment of your consciousness you unknowingly separated in order to retain your mind. I-I- *sigh*, you might not like that but you MUST accept it." Dulio said with a stern yet gentle tone.
'Everything was a lie? Everything we went through together.. that was just me attempting to hide the fact that I was alone? This is a dream isn't it? It must be.. please!' Kaya thought as she dug her fingernail into her arm.
Feeling a familiar surge of pain and trail of crimson blood running down her forearm she cracked.
Kaya laid still and stiff in the older man's arms. Gone where her thoughts of love and friendship, broken were her dreams. After all, first she lost Raine and Anna. Now Inugami? She was truly alone in the world. What was she supposed to live for now?
Dulio thought of something while he was busy holding Kaya, "Oh well.. Griselda is 𝐧𝐨𝐭 going to like this plan." He muttered low enough for Kaya not to hear.
Shaking Kaya's shoulder gently she looked up at him. Her eyes dull as she gazed lifelessly as he began to speak, "I'm adopting you."
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Concept Progress:
Fire: (Expert)
Earth: (Master)
Water: (Expert)
Wind: (Basic)
Shadows (Fed to Canis Lykaon): (Master)
Fate: (Basic)
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Items: Raine's Ghost, Hospital Cane
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Sacred Gear Progress:
Canis Lykaon Telumkinesis: (Half-Expert)
Balance Breaker: (Locked)
Further abilities unknown.
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Devil Progress:
Devil Energy Reserves: High Mid-Class
All-Seeing Eye/Eyes of Providence: Half-Awakened
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P.S: How is the story going so far?