Chapter XXI
"Centuries I was kept in the shadows... Knowing nothing. It matters little now."
After a thousand years, the moment finally arrived where Angels of the highest order in the Kingdom of Heaven sat in uncomfortable silence in the face of the most beautiful Archangel ever known; Gabriel. Not, it should be noted, because she was furious. That played a role on its own as well, but their fear grew due to what she had regained; her maturity as God's Messenger, and the buried memory of her exiled brother.
Pressurized by the pleading eyes of his compatriots, Michael attempted, "...Dear sister, perhaps we can-"
"Please, brother. I wish only for their view. Nothing more." Gabriel said, calmly. "I trust they are gathered here to express their opinion regarding this matter and not stare at the reflections on the table and pretend they know nothing."
Everyone present became even more concerned. If there was anything else equally memorable as the Outcast's heinous treason for turning against their Creator, it would be his wit. Hearing that coming from her mouth, no matter how softly spoken her tune was, it was an unwelcome semblance.
Yet still they said nothing.
Gabriel frowned. Disappointed. "Brother Ariel? Do you have nothing to add?" The Archangel in the golden armor could be seen wondering why he was the first pick. "Brother Uriel? Won't you share us your thoughts?" The lips of Archangel of Wisdom remained shut. "Is there no soul in this room who can provide a reasonable argument to detain me from inviting our own brother?"
"It is unwise to bring him here, dear sister." Archangel Sariel suggested. "A thousand years it may be, he is nonetheless a rather rebellious and desirous individual. Two chaotic traits noticeably unfit for this place."
"What he desired was freedom, not chaos. If he is rebellious, explain to me why he did not protest during his trial? Thousands of Angels regarded him with disdain without needing a reason and yet he stood in silence. Thousands jeered him as if he was already an outcast." Her expression went bitter. It was an ugly memory. One she wished she still forget. "He was an Archangel. He is my brother. Am I not the only one whose memory was cleansed?"
The Archangels wilted.
All except Michael. "Sister, as badly as you want him to return, he is not without his punishment."
"He was dead." Gabriel reminded. "If death didn't shed him from that sentence, what will? Need I remind you that it was your very own decision that caused Father to banish His most beloved son?"
"He led a rebellion against Heaven." Sariel brought up another point.
"Another of the many things that would be avoided had he stayed here. That rebellion is no more." Said point was shot down. "The war has been resolved. Banished and stripped off their powers... those who followed him cannot live as long as us. Be it Earth or Hell, he's alone."
"You long for him, sister." Uriel finally spoke. "That we understand. You loved him as a brother."
"And I love him still." Gabriel reminded.
"...Of course. An honest mistake." The Archangel of Wisdom continued, "But will the same be said for those who lives here? Angels will be wary of him. Some may hold scorn. Contempt. An Angel needs to refrain themselves from these emotions. Even here, he will remain to be seen as an exiled prince. Not to mention his desire for freedom; won't his stay become another punishment instead?"
The Archangels took a breath of relief, regardless how awful it felt to see Gabriel's face.
Michael felt he had betrayed her. It was him who suggested their Father to seal her memory. Otherwise, she would never leave her bedchamber. She would weep for him until this very moment, and her stiffened lips implied she was about to.
He wouldn't able to understand her admiration for their brother. Not then, not now. Helel spent more time with her than he did with other Archangels. Taught her everything he knew that was good. Made her laugh the way no other could. He felt sorry for them both. For the tragedy that had befallen them.
Michael realized he wanted their exiled brother back. Sitting on one of the chairs with his leisured attitude and his jests. As long as it was needed to return the smile of their sister.
'If he wasn't Lucifer... could this end differently?' "I had thought of seeing him and talking to him, to discover if we need to worry for another war myself." He earned a hopeful look from Gabriel. It warmed his heart instantly. "Should we put this talk on hold for the time, sister? Mayhap you want to see him?"
Although she reserved her joy, Gabriel's face alighted with hope. "How? He resides in a place held by the Devils. To cross that lands would result a broken pact. Why did I detain myself from breaking the peace these few days?"
"There will be no need for that peace to be broken." Michael promised. "I have sent a letter of request to the Devils days before. We'll need to wait for the reply."
"And if there is never a reply?"
"...Then we'll need to wait for him to move elsewhere that isn't under the Devil or the Fallen's jurisdiction."
It was the only option for them and perhaps for the entire Kingdom of Heaven to recover some ties with the Exiled Prince. Because the letter Michael spent writing and contemplated for hours had become nothing more than a pile of ashes sitting in the hearth of Castle Bael.
Break
"You're not coming with us, Yuuto, and that is final. Koneko's tired and you were nearly killed. Someone has to bring her and Asia home safely." Was Rias' stern order to her rebellious Knight, who conceded this time. "Head back to the school. Sona should be there. And stay there until we're back."
Surprisingly, the Bishop had another say. "But I can help?"
"Of course, Asia. I don't mean anything bad by saying this; but you can't defend yourself." Rias told her as soft as she possibly could. "I don't and I won't blame you for that, but you have to understand if... a fight occurs later, me or Akeno will have to keep you from harm."
Asia fidgeted with her fingers. "Oh... y-yes... I'm sorry I can't do more..."
"No one's blaming you, Asia." Gently grabbing her shoulder, Rias smiled warmly, making sure she got her point across. "Your talent is healing others, not hurting them. And if you're hurt... who else can heal as good as you do?"
"...Are you going alone with Akeno-senpai, Buchou?" Kiba asked. Koneko was in his arms, resting.
"I've told Sona about this." Akeno answered for Rias. Her tone was much more serious compared to her usual airy one. There's the time and place for everything; she understood this. "She said Saji and Yura are the nearest to that place. The rest will need time to prepare."
"Good." Rias nodded. She then stared out at the pouring rain. "We'll meet with them first and make plans later."
"What about Lucifer-san?" Kiba asked.
"He's... busy at the moment. My grandfather is talking to him, most likely. I don't know when he will be back." She allowed a smile. After all of this had calmed down, she wanted to see him. There is a calm after the storm, after all. "The rain's letting up. Let's go Akeno. The rest of you; stay safe."
"Yes. You too Buchou, Akeno-senpai. I'm... sorry..." Kiba muttered. Shame made him unable to look at her in the eyes. "I was an idiot."
"You're forgiven." Rias smiled softly, cutting his apology short. "I'll listen to the rest of it when we get back."
Now Kiba felt like twice the idiot. Any other master and he was likely to be branded a Stray.
"Be careful..." Asia sincerely said. "Please bring back Sensei safely."
"We will."
Kiba watched his seniors left under the subsiding rain, taking off to the skies. Their damp clothes glued to their body didn't bother them, and they didn't let the current situations cloud their mind or hasten their decision.
Years later, he still was far behind them.
"We better get going too." Kiba said. "Stay close, Asia."
Asia stayed close by him the entire walk to her and her teacher's shared apartment, not once she stopped worrying the girl cradled in his arms or her two seniors. It was all that she could do apart from healing and praying, and her healing was not needed now, and praying hurts.
Break
Never could stay put; was Lucifer's opinion about a certain Gremory, who had seemingly left the school building without notice. Doubtlessly, a Devil's duty must be the major reason for this act of disappearance of hers.
"A Devil's duty." Lucifer repeated those words out loud. As he stared at the ceiling of his crimson princess' room, he sniggered as he found the phrase didn't sound less silly. "Duty... burden more like."
Defending your territories while stripping theirs. Killing them while defending your men. Crushing their morale while keeping yours inspired. Plenty others that Lucifer would rather not dig away from his tomb. He was freed from Heaven and all of their rules and do-gooder morals, yet those chains of responsibilities were then bound to his feet. All because he was appointed leadership.
Why did it have to be so hard for a being like him to live freely and do whatever he wants whenever he wants?
'Most likely due to others' existence.', Lucifer answered meekly. If no one was around, he could do just that. Unfortunately, there are others and always will be unless a homicidal maniac with enough destructive power and complete lack of heart and cunningly-wired brain decided to commit an all-race genocide.
He found it reassuring that neither his Father or His brother were crazy enough to do that.
Other gods could dare and try. If they looked past their differences and joined into one massive army, a unit, there's little that could stop them. Luckily, they were proud and haughty bunch that he suspected shaking hands was considered taboo for them. However, if that was cast aside, his Father and Uncle will have quite the trouble.
Mars and Hades were the first to pop into his mind. But Mars was a literal knobhead. All muscle with no brains. Most of his believers died along with the demise of the great Roman Empire despite he was named of a planet, and now his name was unheard of along with the rest of his brothers and sisters. A gentle nudge of his Father's finger would dent his armor.
As for that boney fellow, the Ruler of the Realm of the Dead did despise and avoid other races who had flesh like they carried bone tumor. The Great War might have had a different ending had he agreed to lend the Devils his Grim Reapers. They could never hold a candle against his Uncle's, but their numbers will make up for it. Great cavalrymen without a doubt. Their skeletal horses could fly and their hooves left trails of mystical blue flames.
Lucifer always wanted a flying horse that leaves trails of mystical blue flames.
Yet, putting everything that had happened into reconsideration, perhaps everything turned out for the best for all that mattered. Now Hell was just a misplaced name and no longer a desolate, fiery pit of doom. There existed a pretty flower meadow where he could run and sing until kingdom come. The Devils - putting their low number and low birth rate aside - lived prosperously. Even the smallest noble house had a castle and tracts of lands.
All of this was achieved without him regardless of what Bael told him. Things went just fine without the Godfather of Devils, Prince of Darkness and all those epithets that kept showing up without regards. He saw no need putting him amidst all of these things again and add more epithets into his name.
Taking Rias off from that dutiful world was proven to be tough. It seemed Zekram's dutifulness ran hot in her veins out of all things that could have been.
It didn't bother him. In due time, she'll learn how to take things easier. He'll simply have to teach her better. And he should ask her a name for their soon-to-come Ragdoll cat her brother's still searching. He wasn't great with remembering names, less at giving them. He'd name the cat Ser Pounce-a-lot should the naming fall to him.
At the moment there was no fiery redhead to cuddle unfortunately, and the blanket weren't as soft as her body, but he'll learn to make do. For now, Lucifer settled for an afternoon nap.
A very brief one. The plump pillows and the velvety blanket surrounding him was about to manage lulling him to sleep when there were knocks scraping the door. He groaned loud and clear, making sure he found the knocks were not welcome.
"Just get in."
His voice didn't reach as the knocks repeated themselves.
"Oh bloody hell—just open the bloody door and get in." Grumbling, Lucifer rose from the bed and headed for the door. He found a young bespectacled girl with black hair that reached her knees. He had seen her face somewhere, but she mustn't had left an impression on him since he didn't recall her name.
She's a Devil, that was for certain. And since she wasn't any of Rias' lackeys, it could only mean one thing. "What earth-shattering matter requires my attention this time?"
"Sir- S-Sir Lucifer... Sir. I didn't... expect to see you here." Tsubaki stuttered, averting her eyes. Not because he was shirtless and his body was athletic and appeasing, but because it was only covered by a green boxer briefs. "P-pardon my interruption..."
"Yes, yes. You're pardoned." Lucifer said lazily. Pardon this, pardon that. It was like he was living in a royal place. Well the mannerism was royal alright. A royal pain in the arse.
"...Th-thank you..."
"Aren't you well-mannered, giving gratitude to a man in his underwear. Just don't go kneeling in front of me, dear, and we'll get along just fine."
Tsubaki did not know how to respond to that. Or where to look. "Y-yes... thank you Sir Lucifer... S-Sir..."
"Well then? Are you here strictly to thank me?"
"N-no! I'm here to— I-I'm here to examine if you have returned... and a-and..."
"Aaand...?" Lucifer made a face. An amused one. He didn't recall seeing this kind of expression when he was summoned by the Student Council. Maybe he should consider showing up with only his boxer more often.
"K-K-" Tsubaki took a long and deep breath. "P-P-President asked for your presence at the Student Council's room! I-it's imperative that you are there! Th-thank you very much!" And thus, Tsubaki Shinra stormed off the corridor despite the school's regulation to not run in corridors. It was her very first crime as a perfect student.
"Why? Can't we have the meeting here?! ...And off she goes."
Meanwhile, back at the door, Lord Lucifer and his Forrest Green Boxer sneered at himself with much self-satisfaction. His nap was cut off, but not for nothing at the very least.
His walk through the school was filled with his random humming and whistling. Despite his mulling, he did not, ladies and gentlemen, arrive in the Student Council's room with only his underwear. No. He showed up with his grey dress shirt and his usual black pants. Not his most respectable appearance, but this was a school. And if it was respect he wanted, he wouldn't care for theirs.
"Lord Lucifer, thank you for coming." Sona welcomed him from behind her desk. Her tone had significant difference in intonation and deference. It seemed that Sirzechs had spread the word.
"Thank you for thanking me." He quipped in kind, glancing around the room. It was as boring as he remembered, but with fewer people who disrespected him, now that they knew who he was. Typical. Like most of the apostles aside from that one guy. He forgot.
As well as the presence of the nun and the hot-blooded girl, sat in the middle couches of three.
Wonderful. New playthings. "And here I thought we've severed our ties, never to see each other's faces." He began in a sing-song voice, waltzing around Reya Kusaka, Tomoe Meguri, and Momo Hanakai. Not that he remembered any of these names. Rias had kept him acquainted enough, and he never felt any inclination to be buddy-buddy with her best friend or her lackeys.
He sat down at the seat to their left and lifted one of his leg, his brown eyes set on the two religious females. "Should I have expected this sudden change of heart?"
"We are here not to spur nor reignite our past's grievances, Mr. Lucifer." Griselda Quarta didn't bite, but Xenovia Quarta did it without thinking. If the sister didn't prevent her from getting up her seat and threaten the Dapper Devil.
That pacifist answer didn't appeal to him. At least not to his childish part.
"I mean no disrespect Lord Lucifer, but as long as I am here, I cannot have you start quarrels with our guests."
"What, not even a little? So why am I here then." He asked in a clueless, innocent voice. "I could be sleeping right now. And I should be."
"I'd like to think you would wish to know about the current condition." Sona replied. "Rather, if you already knew of the cause for these current situations."
"So in simpler term; I'm a suspect." He could see through her sugar-coated words, and Lucifer was not amused. He was thoroughly disappointed by her horrible judge of his character, and his day was now in ruins. Despite so, he kept his voice lighthearted. "What is it now. If it's your candy you think I nabbed, I didn't. I dislike sweets. Nearly as much as I dislike false accusations."
Considerably, the air thickened. His lighthearted voice inspired terror as his words of warning cut deep.
"Mr. Lucifer, I assure you, we mean no ill will."
"Yes, yes - save it sister." Lucifer had enough of formalities and correctness in one day, thank you very much. "Get to the point so we can all save our precious time shall we?"
"Certainly." Griselda said quietly. Xenovia looked she was about to burst. Lucifer didn't mind as her attempt at containing herself was rather amusing. A diamond in the rough. The only silver lining he found so far. "Our companion, Irina, has disappeared for almost two hours by now. She was mourning at the town's cemetery, but we've looked there and through the town without result. If, by chance, you have seen her after our last visit, please do inform us."
That cracked a chuckle out of him. "Not only your swords are missing, and now your little girl had vanished under your pretty nose. At least now I know who not to call if ever require something to be kept."
"It is entirely my mistake." Griselda admitted.
"'Course it is. You're her watcher." Sniggered the Devil, carefreely. "But no. I was resting at our room. I did not see anyone – except a very old friend of mine but... it really is not your concern at the moment isn't it?"
"...Might I ask who this 'old friend' of yours is... Lord Lucifer?" Sona asked cautiously, uncertainly as she didn't want to ignite Lucifer's wrath. But her curiosity got the best of her.
"They are Zekram and the delightful Lady Paimon. They gave me a grand tour around Hell. He's gotten fat, honestly speaking – my prime suspects being the pies."
"I see..." Now she wished she wasn't so fearful of asking, because his reply was carried with nonchalance, as if he didn't intend or would bother to hide it.
Nevertheless, a private conversation with the Great King Bael and the infamous Scarlet Lady of House Paimon. A discussion she would want to hear no doubt.
"My apology for diverting the subject." Sona turned to look at the sister and the uneasy teenager. "Have you tried searching the town's outskirts?"
Her black veil swayed as she shook her head. "No, we have not. Are there any places of interest that might have gained our attention?"
Sona was thinking, considering if she should or shouldn't tell something she knew. Lucifer could tell. Her facial expression didn't change but the silence said it all.
"There might be. It is an abandoned church belonging to the Grigori until roughly last month. However, I must forbid you from proceeding to that place."
"Any particular reason we are allowed to know?" Griselda asked without pressure, though the suspicion level had clearly risen.
"Presently, there is a dispute against the Fallen Angels. You've requested our blatant disregard regarding your activities. Should you interfere, we will have it revoked."
"...I understand." Griselda closed her eyes solemnly. "Then I believe there is nothing left to be said. We thank you for your time."
Sona raised from her seat as Griselda got up. Lucifer stopped bothering long since and was planning on getting to know the motherly-aired Kusaka Reya better after this dull talk is over.
"What?! No, no, no- Irina could be in that place for all we know!"
"Xenovia."
"No!" She stomped as she stood, putting Sona's servants on alert. "She's my friend. I don't care if all of you are going to implant a tracking spell or fly over my head, I'm going there and see for myself and none of you can stop me."
"I can if you want." Lucifer offhandedly offered Sona. "Done it once. Just say the magic words."
Xenovia made a sound at that. Sounded like a quiet grunt of disapproval.
"N-no... I believe it won't be necessary." The bespectacled Devil said with a hint of unease. Lucifer had expected as much. He did say those things not out of contempt but more to see the girl's reaction. Although, he wouldn't go back on his words either.
Under Griselda's calm but piercing gaze, Xenovia reluctantly eased her temper. "I apologize for my companion's discourtesy."
"It's fine. If that is what you wish for, then so be it. We will not stop you, but the terms will not change. Should the girl you are searching be in that place, we will lend you our aid in exchange of yours, with the condition that you will obey our demands there and let us oversee your search for the missing Excaliburs afterwards. However, the condition still applies regardless of her whereabouts."
If they agreed, the Devils will get the most benefits of either outcome. A one-sided proposal. Clever. Lucifer commended her mind for that. Now everything relied on the sister. Would she agree, he wondered. Xenovia did too. It was the first time he saw her looking hopefully and nervously at the blonde sister.
"I accept your terms." To his small surprise, she agreed. And so readily as well. He suspected she would do it anyway.
Xenovia looked as though she had found hope.
"Are you certain?" Sona asked. "Those who have chosen you as their envoys might have a different voice in this. Shouldn't you be more concerned on finding the artifacts rather than your companion?"
And now she was shifting the entire responsibility for the sister to take, and was said methodically. This girl was indeed a sly Devil.
"Finding the Excaliburs the task we are assigned to, I admit. But lives should worth more than swords even if it is an irreplaceable artifact. Her life is as equally irreplaceable, if not more."
Lucifer had a different opinion on that. An Excalibur is an Excalibur. A girl's a girl. Men had tried to create another Excalibur – the complete one – to no avail. Breeding a gifted girl, on the other hand, not only it wasn't as hard nor require a very saintly blacksmith or alchemist, it offered more fun to be had as well. Then again, he had never forged a shiny sword of justice and such.
But really. He didn't care about either subjects. Fewer Holy Swords; the better. Fewer people who have capabilities to wield them; the better.
"Very well." Sona said with a faint, elegant smile forming on her lips. "You may proceed as you see fit. Shinra will accompany you and inform the Devils once you are there. Rias will hold the highest chain of command until she says otherwise. Until then, farewell."
Finally, a name that he gave a damn. It seemed his napping will need to wait.
"Well why don't you say so? What are we waiting for then?" Lord Lucifer said as he tore down yet another portal leading directly to the old abandoned church, to the same place where he met Rias and her small band of misfits, much to everyone's surprise. "Come on then. Get on with it."
Break
She believed it couldn't be worse. She was wrong. 'It could always be worse.' a bitter reminder echoed as Rias eyed the steeple of the godforsaken church in the distance, peeking above the trees. She should have had it destroyed the first time she stepped there and wrote it off as accidental damage.
"What do you think Senpai?" Asked Genshirou Saji. Sona's Pawn and the only male member in her peerage. She mentioned his eagerness was commendable. Rias will tell her that his deliberation was commendable as well, unlike this certain Knight of hers. "I can feel them. I just can't tell how much of them are there. I'd go closer to take a look inside, but Yura-san didn't let me."
"Didn't you say you were scared?"
"No I didn't. It was raining heavily at that time. You must've misheard it." Saji was quick to deny Yura's claim and shoved it under the rug.
Rias could only offer to care little of his braveries or lack thereof, however. "If there's only a few, their presence shouldn't reach this far."
"It's either their number or their strength." Akeno followed. "Although... it almost feels as if they're boasting instead of being cautious... Don't they realize they're camping in the Devils' ground?"
"They have one of our own... it's likely they're challenging us." Rias scowled. "Keeping her as hostage... unforgivable."
"Did Kiba-kun say anything about that place?" Asked the tomboyish second-year, hoping to douse Rias' growing anger.
"He was too focused in fighting a priest to care about anything else." Rias said regretfully. "There was the girl the church sent, however. Are there any words from the sister?"
"I don't think so... If there is, Kaichou hasn't told me yet." Which was highly unlikely. Sona always kept her peerage informed including things that weren't meant to be their concern. As her closest friend, Rias knew that much.
Saji paused for a good couple of seconds. "...This is really happening." He mumbled to no one in particular. "I'm honestly very nervous. What should we do Senpai?"
"We can wait for Meguri-chan or more." Yura offered her piece.
"Is there enough time?" Akeno added, sounding uncharacteristically concerned. "I'll gladly blast that building anytime Buchou~"
"I'd let you if Rossweisse or the girl wasn't inside." Rias would rather not lose a peerage or increase her workloads. Lucifer would very not like that. The churches wouldn't as well, regardless the number of headaches they had caused. "Let me think for a moment."
They let her think for as long as the moment needed whilst the drizzle teemed. They waited under the makeshift umbrella Akeno had created by using air magic to shield them from the rainwater, and their clothes were dried using the same magic. Saji never got to express how their underwear was showing through their wet clothes verbally, but Rias' bold red brassiere or Akeno's daring blacks would be forever treasured in his head.
Compared to Yura's, they... lacked the means to be compared to. '...Then again... Her face and her chest do make girls flock.'
This world could be unfair. And Saji felt like an awful person for thinking about that, and mentally apologized to his blue-haired companion.
"There might be not much time." Rias suddenly spoke. "One way that I think of is using distractions. A fight isn't needed. Three of you will spread out and create noises to gain their attention and move elsewhere and do the same. Or, you can stick together in case you're caught."
"While you sneak in alone?" Akeno and Sona's group immediately found the plan unsupportable. "You know I can't let you do that, Rias. I won't be able to save your skin if I can't see you."
Rias chuckled confidently. "I'll just have to save my own if that's the case."
"They won't leave the place completely barren." Saji spoke his mind. Though if they do, it would be very stupid of them. "What if there's still many of them?"
"I'll obliterate them." Rias answered simply. "Don't forget you are allowed to hurt them, or even kill them if need be. This place is no longer theirs because of their very own mistake, and holding my servant hostage is a deed deserving death. They will not get out of this alive."
Despite the fact she was one of the "Great Onee-sama", Saji still found her terrifying. Another reminder that a Pure Devil's morals wasn't as humane like a Reincarnated Devil like him or Yura. The other Onee-sama smiled, though... as if she found the Gremory's ruthlessness appeasing. Saji felt highly uneasy.
'Queen of Sadists indeed...' With a smile like that, she would be every masochist's dream. His classmates would testify. Not him though. What was happening again?
He had gotten too nervous that he didn't realize the plan was in motion. The crimson-haired heiress had gone elsewhere to hide and lie in wait, while her Queen had stormed off with a peculiar smile playing on her lips as if she would be savoring the coming moment.
Meanwhile, he was still here, standing and doing nothing but being lost in his thoughts. "Damn... There they go." he muttered aloud. "Guess that's what makes them different."
"Are you scared, Saji-kun?"
That was a tease on his pride as a man. "W-well of course not!" He rebuked. He went quiet after that. "They're so confident in this... I mean... I've never killed a person. You've never killed anyone too... right?"
"No, of course not." She said naturally. "We don't have to kill anyone; we just have to... lure them to someplace else."
"I know that." Saji brushed away his wet light brown hair from his forehead. "What I don't get is how they just look so... ready."
Yura understood where he was headed with this talk. "...Kaichou said that becoming a Devil will eat away your conscience gradually. You won't feel as guilty when you do something bad than you would if you're still a human."
"...She did say that." He sighed, wiping away the rainwater off his brows as he glanced down. He shouldn't have worn his shoes. Now they were all muddy and grasses clung to them. He should've worn his slippers.
"Gremory-senpai is pure blooded, and most of her servants have been a Devil longer than us, and some of them aren't even human to start with. I think that's why they took care of the Stray Devils more than we do. They're just... more used to it." Yura pointed out.
At the moment, Saji didn't know what to feel; relieved because he didn't have to kill as often, or ashamed because he hadn't done as much as them.
"You're so bothered with killing like you will." Yura chuckled, "Worry more about getting out alive. Kaichou will be mad too if one of us get hurt or kidnapped like Sensei."
As a barrier separating the area with the human world erected, the two Sona's servants brought themselves on track.
"...Right... Sensei..." He whispered, energizing himself by shoving away the killing and focused more on getting the job done. "Wouldn't want a new civics teacher. They'll notice me dozing off straightaway. Let's go save her. Can't have Akeno-senpai stealing the show!"
He'll do just fine if she stole all the kills, though. That one Saji was completely sure he wouldn't mind missing.
Rias waited behind the bushes as she saw Saji and Yura both heading towards Akeno's direction, attracting several more Fallen Angels who were meant to stay behind while the others chased after Akeno. Originally there were around a dozen of them. When she counted only four remained stationed, she made her move.
She wasn't as deft as either Koneko or Kiba to move undetected or kill them as fast without alarming the others. Her strategies will have to make up for it.
Or her powers.
They were ineffective against a phoenix, but crows aren't immortals.
A black orb-like projectile blazed through the air and a head, and as the body hit the ground and tumbled down the stairs, she conjured more and more as Rias made her way.
"Shit- there's another one over here! Sonuvabitch killed Jevon!"
So much for stealth. It was never her forte anyway. Like javelins, they lunged their light spears at her. Their meek holy power possessed little difficulty for her unholy power to consume.
"I am Rias Gremory. Daughter of Zeoticus Gremory and Venelana Gremory. You have someone of mine. Where is she?" She stated calmly, loud, and clear while the black orbs swiveled around her, contracting and violently spasming due to its unstable energy.
"The Gremory bitch..." She heard one of them whispered, and quickly silenced the man with a Power of Destruction to his head.
Colors were drained off their faces as their companion joined his other headless friend, spewing blood from their severed neck.
"Bring her back to me and I'll let you live." Rias lowered her head and let them know she wasn't merciless. The difference in their power was obvious. These Fallen Angels were neither an Angel nor a Devil born from two powerful Devils.
"H-heh, sorry to disappoint you my lady. But either way, we'll be dead anyway. Our boss doesn't like failures." Another man said, as brave as his shaking knees could manage to muster. "We're in luck though, he doesn't like Devils more."
She furrowed her eyebrows. "Boss...?"
"Indeed I do." Kokabiel emerged from the depth of the church, unfurling his ten black wings as he raised to the air, and swiped the remaining of his men with one fell swoop of one wing. "I despise weaklings. I despise weaklings who resorts to cheap underhanded tactic such as sneaking in and utilizing a diversion."
"Kokabiel..." She whispered. Oddly enough, she was more bothered with the headless corpses that were his doing rather than hers. "Have you no respect to your men?"
"If he's respectful then I'm a fucking saint!" A man shouted. Rias recognized the voice. It was Freed. He was standing by the entrance of the church, arms crossed and wearing the same grin.
Both of them ignored the former priest.
"Respect is earned. Becoming my underlings does not guarantee it." He said with his everlasting 'I'm very evil' grin as he crossed his arms. His evil red eyes did little help in toning down his hostility. "How kind of you to come here to grovel, Satan's little sister."
"I am Rias Gremory." She said proudly. Lucifer had to make her bow down to him, and he will need to do just as much. "I'm here to retrieve my servant."
Kokabiel raised a thin black brow. "Your servant? Ah... you mean the Valkyrie?"
"Yes. Her." Rias prepared a new set of her destructive spells. Meeting Kokabiel was unexpected and rendered her plan ineffective, but it offered possible explanations as to why her Bishop had yet to return. "You're crossing the line, Kokabiel. The Satans will not approve of this. You're threatening the white peace."
It was then his grin somehow widened. He was smiling. Smiling wider as if something good had happened or was about to happen.
The world fell through her feet. Good for him was likely horrible for her.
"I defeated her, Gremory. She was... disappointing."
They said that rage blinds. It did. The unbridled fury exploded within her and clouded over her wiser judgement, and the black orbs on her hands violently twitched. She suddenly understood Kiba's reasoning. Why he became his vengeful old self.
This malignant crow killed her servant. Forgiveness was no longer an option.
The caster's strength and desire for destruction fueled the potency of their Power of Destruction. And right now, Rias wished nothing but his death. First few spheres she shot were easily whisked away by his wings, but the next few had sent a few feathers flying.
Kokabiel's grin widened as his wings took the brunt of the flurry of demonic magic. Thirst of vengeance granted her strength. Good. The stronger she becomes; the more satisfaction he'll gain after defeating her. Losing a few feathers meant nothing.
"This is the fearsome Power of Destruction that killed my men...? He grated as he caught the destructive ball with an open palm as he casually walked towards the Ruin Princess. It twitched violently before it was crushed afterwards.
He frowned then. "More... More! Is this the extent of your power?! Is the master as weak as her servant? Or is it because you both are a Devil?! Is that a tear I see...? The Valkyrie was pathetic but she never shed a tear. You are inferior to your own servant. Pitiful, you Devils are."
Her anguished scream tore into the air as Rias shot another spell pointblank right into the center of his stomach. Kokabiel only let out a grunt as his grin had gotten an inch wider. The shot tore apart his ornate green garment, revealing the muscled pale skin beneath, unaffected by the same power that could reduce a person into ashes.
Rias glared into his pair of red eyes through her vision blurred from tears. She did not move an inch despite he was towering against her.
Kokabiel grinned as a blazing yellow light sword materialized by his right hand. "What you think I am does not matter. The end justifies it. If I have to be a fool for there to be a war; then so be it."
Her eyes widened as the realization dawned on her. It was exactly a war he sought in all of this.
"You're a fool to risk a war. If you think I will risk that much, even if... even if you killed her, I won't put the entire Underworld to war just to have you killed." Her brother wouldn't approve of it either, and she understood why.
"You won't. I agree; her death is too insignificant. But what of yours?"
She distanced herself from him this time. Kokabiel allowed it. He found it more rewarding to slay a struggling whelp than one who succumbed immediately without a fight.
"Mark my words. This will be a day to remember, Gremory. The fallen will rise. All others will fall."
Break
Moments passed until the blurs clear and returned her vision. Pillars, a flight of stairs, a ceiling so tall that it reminded her of the Grand Hall of Valhalla. Maybe because she was lying on the floor. She didn't see anyone from her limited vision, but even so, she couldn't make out where she was now, and trying to remember where she was then only hurt her head. Worse, her throat still dry and started to taste like iron and smelled of blood.
A drink.
When she was little, when she could barely lift her father's wooden practice sword, her parents told her the first thing they searched after winning a battle was a drink. Father would reach for the nearest person and demand wine, beer, anything with alcohol while her mother would ask for water. They never mentioned it would be the same case if she lost.
Her throat was a desert and her lips sifted with cracks and dried blood.
Sight, smell, and taste, the next sense she regained was touch.
'It's cold.' She didn't know if it was ever this cold in this springtime, but she felt cold. She had her armor on, but many parts were chipped or torn. Her skirts were ripped, her breastplate fractured, and possibly a few of her ribs due to the tightness she felt.
Lastly, sound. She heard coarse coughs scraping against the marble floor behind her, echoing throughout the large room. Irina, wasn't that her name?
"Nnh..." She groaned meekly as she tried to lift her body, recoiling in pain as the wound in her back throbbed like it was about to burst, followed with the crying of the bruises covering her body begging her to not move a muscle. It was too painful that she shed a tear despite herself.
As it was, Rose forced herself to stand, staggering in the attempt. She slowly reached for her back, and hissed as she touched the rough scar. It seemed that their light weapons had meld her flesh instantly.
Devil's weakness... what a fearsome thing.
Trying to ignore the thumping pain, she looked at the young girl. She was lying on her side, her eyes shut, but her flushed face wasn't without a pained expression as cold-sweats dribbled down her chin.
Her marred and bruised back... The shallow cuts were flaring angry red, though the blood had dried. She felt awful for her. For everything that had happened. Enemy or not, nobody deserves this. She was just a girl.
"Are you... are you alright...?"
No response. Irina was resting. Rose felt it was best to let her. She couldn't find it in herself to wake the girl.
She wished to help, but there was little she could do. Her magical reserves had run out. There wasn't a single drop left for her to revert back to her everyday clothes. At least then she would have something to cover the girl's body. She barely had enough strength to stand, and the huge double doors which was their only exit refused to budge. Either it was locked, or she was too weak.
"We'll get out of here..." She whispered to encourage herself. "...Somehow..." and proceeded to discourage herself the next second.
Wearily, she sat back down, and lied down, careful not to accidentally stretch her scar. She didn't feel she had enough strength to inspect the room or get up the stairs leading to a huge cross.
She was spent, and she couldn't rely on the injured girl to miraculously take down dozens of Fallen Angels either. Or anyone. Lucifer... perhaps. But does he know where she is? Or rather... does he care enough?
He had Rias after all is said and done. Someone he held dearly and loved him back in return. They slept on the same bed, and whenever she stole a glance, it was obvious they were fond of each other. Understandable. Rias spent more time with him.
Still, she wanted him here. Having him beside her made her feel better and he kept the demons away. The dark thoughts that mauled her more than often and more than enough.
'What's going to happen now...?' She wondered. Especially when hope kept dimming. People often said hope dies last. The Northerners said that too. 'Fight until hope dies', or 'hope dies last'. The words of the braves.
They never said what's left after it dies, and she was afraid to find out.
Irina shivered, muttering something incomprehensible with her shivery voice. Rose moved closer to her then. If she couldn't heal or seal her wounds, she still could keep them both warm until whatever may come, comes to them.
The large double doors flung open. Kokabiel entered, and on his face sported a grin filled with self-satisfaction Loki often wore whenever his schemes worked. And soon enough, as he came in full view of her, she found out why. Grasped tightly in his pale hand was a lock of crimson hair, and coating the sand-colored marble floor in red was the blood left by her battered body.
"Rias...?"
It took effort, but she lifted her face. The right part of her forehead was cloaked in red as it ran down her right eye and to the edge of her lips.
"Rose... Rossweisse..." Her voice was as weak and quiet like a whisper. She smiled then. "You're... you're alright..."
She let off a soft sigh as Rossweisse's scream tore the air. '...It... doesn't hurt...' She noted dimly as she stared down at the shining golden light sword protruding from her chest, quietly sizzling as her blood flowed through. Maybe because there was so much adrenaline from her previous fight. Perhaps because of the amount of injuries she had sustained had numbed her senses.
Kokabiel flung the heiress without regards and unceremoniously. His final insult to the Gremory heiress. Rias rolled a few times before stopping, leaving blotches or red in her trail.
Rose's eyes went wide with horror as fear pricked her cheeks. "Rias...?" She left Irina's side, and went to the unmoving Gremory's, falling near her and immediately pressed the gaping wound on her chest. Blood quickly seeped into her hands.
The shirt covering her stomach was soaked in blood as if every thread of it was red. Red trickling down from a corner of her lips. Even some strands of her crimson hair had specks of differently-shaded red. There was far too much red. Too much that she was sick of seeing it.
"No... no no no...! J-just keep breathing Rias... A-A-Asia will be here soon. Hang in there please...!"
Glazed blue-green eyes looked at her. "Luci... Lucifer..."
"He'll be here soon too! He'll... he'll make everything right; I-I know he will! Just don't go!"
"Love him... you..."
"What...? What do you mean? Rias...? Rias?!" Her hand clambered to touch her neck, shook her shoulder gently, searched for a beating vein. Any sign of life. She found none. "Rias?! RIAS?!"
"Well isn't that sad?" Another figure emerged from the opened door, and the smirk he wore wasn't less horrid to be seen. Freed gave a mock salute as he leaned by the doorframe. "Slut was hard to kill you know? Kept getting up. So very persistent. Hey... isn't she just like you?! It's like it's a thing for you Devils."
That monster. That monster killed her. "What... what have you done...?"
"What have I done?" Kokabiel's chest swelled with pride as he laughed, standing tall and strong above her and the dead Gremory. His laughter stopped as sudden as his change of expression; grim and menacing as how a leader of Fallen Angels should. "What I've done is what should have been done the very day you vile bats set foot upon this city and mocked my kind. The very day the name 'Fallen Angel' was reduced to dust and become a mat for your kind to dirt off the soles of your shoes with."
She cried. Rias didn't deserve this. "But... why? Why did you kill her? What has she done to you?! You've had your swords!"
"Not much more than my own kinsmen being trodden down. If not for that peace-whoring bastard, we would have been remembered not as the meek who fled a war. Not as cowards who forsook the deaths of those who had fallen for our cause. Even if we lose, we'll go down with honor."
Honor? What was he saying? Why didn't it all make sense to her? He's still alive, isn't he?
"Why her?!"
"Why...?" His chuckles were mocking. "She was Satan's precious little sister. Those swords were meant to draw her. Lure her into the open. Never for me. For her brother to crawl out of his cave. A threat of this town's destruction will bear that result yet now it is no longer a necessity... It is a shame to have gone to such great length only to have her offer herself. And it is all thanks to you, Valkyrie of the North."
Rose froze. She saw the light, and it was terrible.
"A Devil you might have become, Valkyrie. Our enemy. But today? You are our hero."
To be continued...