Kaito slowly approached the entrance of Kuoh Academy, his eyes focused on the imposing gate leading to the campus.
He walked towards the Occult Research Club building.
As he neared the club's entrance, he noticed an unusual commotion. In front of the building, Kiba and Xenovia stood face to face, swords drawn, as if ready to fight.
"What's going on here?"
Immediately, all heads turned in his direction. Rias and Akeno, who were nearby, looked surprised to see Kaito there. Their eyes widened momentarily, but they quickly returned to their usual calm and composed demeanor.
"Kaito?" Rias said softly, her voice carrying a slight hesitation.
Kiba, who was about to strike Xenovia, paused for a moment upon hearing Kaito's name, turning slightly to face him. Koneko, silently observing everything, also noticed Kaito's arrival but, as usual, didn't show much emotion.
Xenovia and Irina, on the other hand, maintained neutral expressions. To them, Kaito was just another Devil, not of great importance.
"What's going on?" Kaito repeated, his eyes now fixed on Xenovia and Kiba, who still held their weapons ready for combat.
"Oh, Kaito! What a nice surprise!" Akeno responded enthusiastically, her voice tinged with a playful tone, as she observed the tension between Kiba and Xenovia.
She took a step forward, placing a hand thoughtfully on her chin.
"These girls, Xenovia and Irina, came to us to talk about the Excaliburs stolen by the Church. They said they need to recover the sacred swords, but... well, Xenovia hasn't shown much respect for Rias."
Akeno smiled mischievously, but there was a hint of concern in her eyes. "Xenovia treated our president as if she were just another Devil, which, of course, really upset Kiba. Now, he's determined to take justice into his own hands."
"Those sacred swords hold special meaning for Kiba," Akeno continued, her tone more serious now. "Their presence affects him deeply. On top of that, Xenovia's arrogance has only heightened the tension."
Kaito glanced at Kiba, who maintained his aggressive stance, clearly disturbed by the presence of the Excaliburs. Xenovia, on the other hand, didn't seem intimidated by the situation, her eyes cold and determined as she stared back at Kiba.
Irina, standing beside Xenovia, kept a more relaxed posture, but her eyes were alert to every movement, ready to intervene if necessary.
Kaito, with a calm expression, took a few steps toward Rias and Akeno, positioning himself beside them. He crossed his arms, his eyes now fixed on the brewing battlefield in front of him.
Kiba moved first, his sword slicing through the air with impressive speed, while Xenovia barely moved, waiting for the precise moment to react.
CLANG!
The sound of the clash between swords was deafening. The two fighters glared at each other up close for a brief moment, their blades locked against each other, sparks flying from the impact.
"You... don't understand... the pain those swords caused!" Kiba shouted, forcing his sword against Xenovia's.
Xenovia, with a slight smile, skillfully stepped back, deflecting Kiba's blade and, with a quick and calculated movement, delivered a sideways slash.
SWISH!
Before Kiba could react, Xenovia's blade struck him from the side, causing him to lose his balance for a moment. The force of the impact sent him staggering back several steps, his eyes wide with surprise.
"You're acting on emotion, Devil," Xenovia said.
Kaito, observing the battle beside Rias and Akeno, narrowed his eyes, noticing the difference in skill between the two combatants. Kiba, clearly driven by anger and hatred, was being outclassed by Xenovia's precision and coldness.
Now more enraged than ever, Kiba rushed at Xenovia again, his sword glowing with a demonic aura. But no matter how fast or skilled he was, Xenovia always seemed one step ahead.
CLANG! CLANG! SWISH!
Every strike Kiba attempted was blocked or easily dodged by Xenovia, who countered with surgical precision. In just a few moves, she had already disarmed Kiba, his sword flying through the air before crashing to the ground with a loud thud.
THUD!
Kiba, now disarmed and defenseless, fell to his knees, his breathing heavy and labored. He looked at Xenovia with anger but also with a sense of helplessness. He had been defeated in a humiliating manner.
"You were defeated by your own weakness," Xenovia said coldly, lowering her sword and looking at Kiba with evident disdain.
The scene left the atmosphere tense, and Kaito, still with his arms crossed, silently watched Kiba's humiliation.
"Stay out of the matter of the sacred swords," Xenovia said.
She sheathed her sword with a fluid motion, casting a contemptuous glance at Kiba, still kneeling on the ground.
"Let's go, Irina."
Irina, who had remained silent throughout the fight, placed a hand on the small cross hanging from her neck, kissing it lightly before murmuring, "Amen." With that, she followed Xenovia, leaving the group behind.
Kaito, watching the two leave, remained silent, his eyes still fixed on Xenovia until she disappeared from view.
"Let's go inside," Rias said calmly.
Everyone nodded and began moving towards the entrance of the Occult Research Club building. The atmosphere was heavy, and the silence that followed the group was broken only by the echo of their footsteps on the ground.
...
Inside the club, the environment was quieter, but the tension from what had just happened outside still lingered in the air.
Rias sat in the main chair, crossing her legs, with Koneko and Akeno by her side. Kiba, visibly shaken, remained silent, staring at the floor, his frustration evident. He was still processing the humiliation he had suffered at the hands of Xenovia.
Kaito stood against the wall, observing the dynamics between the group.
"I... failed," Kiba muttered, his voice heavy with frustration as he kept his gaze fixed on the floor.
"Kiba, it wasn't your fault," Rias said gently, trying to calm her knight. "That fight wasn't meant to happen now. You acted with your heart, and she took advantage of it."
Kiba clenched his fists, his hands trembling slightly. "But I... should be stronger! The Excaliburs... they..."
Kaito watched silently, his eyes fixed on the defeated knight. He understood Kiba's pain, but he knew that acting out of emotion would never be the right path.
Suddenly, Kiba stood up abruptly, his anger overflowing. "I can't sit here, Rias! I need to do something about those damned swords!"
"Kiba!" Rias exclaimed, her voice firm, but before she could finish, Kiba was already heading towards the door.
"I'll go alone. I can't wait any longer," he said, his voice filled with determination. He pushed the club's door open and left quickly, not listening to his president's words.
The door closed with a bang, leaving the atmosphere even heavier than before.
Rias sighed deeply, frustrated by Kiba's impulsive behavior.
"He's not thinking clearly... and it could cost him dearly."
"He needs time," Kaito said, moving away from the wall.
"But let's change the subject. I want to talk about my first Peerage member."
"First Peerage member?" Akeno asked, her expression lighting up with excitement.
Kaito nodded, a slight smile appearing on his lips. "Yes, the first person to join was Thalia."
Akeno, still excited, seemed eager about the news. "Thalia, huh? Never heard of her. Who is she?"
Kaito looked at Akeno, noticing her curiosity. "She's a talented warrior, has a connection with lightning, and... she's a demigod."
"A demigod?" Akeno asked with a surprised expression, but she quickly recovered. "Interesting... and she's strong, isn't she?"
"Yes, very strong," Kaito replied, his eyes glowing with the memory of the battles alongside Thalia. "She's already helped me in some important fights."
Akeno seemed initially impressed, but as the conversation progressed, her excitement began to fade. She crossed her arms, and her expression became a bit more serious.
"A girl, then?" Akeno murmured, her tone now more neutral.
Rias, noticing the change in Akeno's behavior, simply watched in silence, fully aware of what was happening.
Kaito, on the other hand, seemed oblivious. "Yes, with her as my Queen, I'm sure our Peerage will become even stronger."
Akeno let out a light sigh, a forced smile appearing on her lips. "It's good to know you've found someone so valuable to help you, Kaito."
Rias, who couldn't help but notice Akeno's slight jealousy, decided to intervene before the situation became even more awkward. "Thalia seems like an interesting addition, Kaito. I'm sure she'll bring a lot of strength to your Peerage."
Kaito simply nodded, satisfied with Rias' response. Meanwhile, Akeno kept her gaze slightly distant, clearly still processing the situation.
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