Rias settled onto the bed beside Akeno, the soft mattress dipping slightly under their weight. They both directed their attention to Izashi, who stood before them with a calm but serious demeanor. "Alright," he began, his voice steady, "you both know that Rias and I received our Evil Pieces yesterday. Akeno, do you remember when I asked Rias to stay behind because I needed to talk to her?"
Akeno nodded, a flicker of jealousy sparking in her chest as she recalled the moment. She had felt a pang of envy when Izashi had chosen to confide in Rias, leaving her out of the conversation. However, her curiosity overpowered her jealousy as she waited for Izashi to continue.
"So, during that time," Izashi continued, "I decided to conduct an experiment. I placed my Queen Evil Piece inside Rias, and to my surprise, her King Piece didn't reject it. Instead, it connected with mine."
Akeno's eyes widened, the realization dawning on her like the first rays of the morning sun. Izashi's words echoed in her mind, and the implications of what he was saying slowly began to take shape. But before she could fully process it, Izashi spoke again, his tone firmer, "You being Rias's Queen now makes you my Queen as well. Do you understand what this means, Akeno?"
The revelation hit Akeno with the force of a tidal wave. Her heart pounded in her chest, and a sense of excitement welled up within her. This was everything she had ever wanted—a chance to be by Izashi's side, to support him as his Queen. She couldn't help but smile as she asked, "So, I'm guessing that in front of everyone else, I have to act like Rias's Queen, but when we're alone, I can be your Queen?"
Izashi nodded, his expression softening. "Exactly. I want to keep this secret for now. If anyone finds out that I've managed to make another King a member of my peerage, it would raise too many questions. The Devils might start investigating how I was able to do it, and I could end up in a lab, being dissected like a specimen. Not even Sirzechs would be able to protect me from that."
His words were a mix of truth and carefully crafted lies, designed to protect the secret he held. He didn't know how much influence Sirzechs truly wielded in the Devil council, but he couldn't afford to take any chances. The last thing he wanted was to become a subject of study for the Devil scientists.
Akeno and Rias listened intently, their faces reflecting the gravity of the situation. They trusted Izashi completely, and the thought of him being harmed because of this secret filled them with dread. Akeno's heart swelled with emotion as she thought to herself, 'Izashi-kun could have kept this from me. He didn't have to tell me anything, yet he chose to trust me with this secret. It's my duty to protect him and trust him in return.'
Rias, already aware of the situation, remained calm, though the weight of the secret still pressed on her. She had always been close to Izashi, and now that bond felt even stronger, intertwined with the trust they shared. Izashi's smile returned as he looked at them both. "Alright, let's go meet with Sister Grayfia now. We can't neglect our training."
The three of them made their way to the training room, where they found Grayfia waiting, her posture as composed and regal as ever. She glanced at Rias and Izashi, her expression unreadable, before giving them their instructions. "Rias-sama, Izashi-sama, continue working on your control. I want to see significant improvement in your mastery of the Power of Destruction."
They both nodded, responding in unison, "Yes, Sister."
With that, they began their training, focusing on refining their control over the destructive power they wielded. Izashi held back, not using his full strength, knowing that better control would serve him well in the future. He also saw this as an opportunity to hone his ability to manipulate the Golden Energy, though he knew it would be unwise to reveal that power in the Underworld just yet.
Grayfia's sharp gaze turned toward Akeno, and she seemed to sense something different about her. "Akeno," she began, her tone curious yet firm, "who revived you to be their Queen?"
Akeno, calm despite the unexpected question, replied, "Rias revived me as her Queen. How did you know?"
A slight smile tugged at the corners of Grayfia's lips as she answered, "I can feel the Devil Magic within you. It's unmistakable. But enough questions for now. Today, you'll be training in Lightning Magic. I can sense that it's your most proficient element."
Akeno nodded in agreement, though her thoughts momentarily drifted to her past. Lightning had always been her element, but it also reminded her of her father and the painful memories associated with him. She bit her lip, glancing briefly in Izashi's direction, her heart heavy with the fear of rejection. Would Izashi still accept her if he knew the truth about her heritage? The questions plagued her mind, and every day, she battled the urge to confide in him.
But today, something had changed. Izashi had shared his secret with her, trusting her with something so vital to his safety. She felt a surge of courage, a determination to reveal her own truth. She was tired of hiding, tired of the fear that gripped her heart every time she thought of her lineage.
Their training continued without any surprises, and soon it was time to return to their rooms. As they walked back, Akeno kept stealing glances at Izashi, trying to muster the courage to ask Rias if she could speak to him alone. The words formed in her mind, but every time she opened her mouth to speak, they dissolved into silence.
Fortunately, a servant approached them, bowing deeply before speaking. "Greetings, Rias-sama, Izashi-sama. Lord Gremory requests Rias-sama's presence in his room."
Rias furrowed her brows in mild confusion but nodded, turning to Izashi. "Izashi-kun, go to your room. I'll come to see you as soon as I'm done talking with Father."
Izashi, not overly concerned, suspected he knew why their father wanted to speak with Rias. As she walked away, he turned to Akeno, his eyes narrowing slightly in observation. "So, you've been wanting to talk to me alone, haven't you? I noticed you've been glancing at me."
Akeno's heart skipped a beat, her face flushing slightly. She hadn't realized he'd been watching her so closely, and the thought made her cheeks warm with embarrassment. It also meant that he'd been paying attention to her, noticing her in ways she hadn't expected. "Yes," she admitted softly, "there's something I need to talk to you about."
Izashi's gaze softened, and he gave her a reassuring smile. "Alright, let's discuss it in your room. If we go to mine, Rias-chan might interrupt us."
Akeno nodded, grateful for the chance to speak with him privately. She led the way to her room, her heart pounding with anticipation and fear. As they entered, Izashi gently took her hand, his touch warm and comforting. "Don't worry," he said softly, "you can talk to me about anything."
His words gave her the strength she needed, and she nodded again, feeling a strange confidence surge within her. Once inside her room, Izashi took a moment to glance around, taking in the soft, feminine atmosphere that reflected Akeno's personality. He moved to sit on her bed, his eyes never leaving her as he asked, "Alright, what is it you want to talk about?"
Akeno's nerves flared up again, but she knew there was no turning back. She had to tell him the truth, no matter how terrifying the prospect was. Without another word, she released her wings, revealing her dual heritage. One wing, dark and bat-like, resonated with Devil energy, while the other, a crow's wing with sleek black feathers, was a clear sign of her Fallen Angel blood.
She closed her eyes, bracing herself for the worst. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she could barely breathe as she waited for his reaction. She had prepared herself for disgust, for rejection, for words of hatred that would confirm her deepest fears.
But instead, she heard something entirely different. "Such beautiful wings," Izashi murmured, his voice filled with admiration. "I wish I had wings like that."
Akeno's eyes flew open in shock. She peeked through her fingers to see him standing there, a genuine smile on his face, completely unbothered by her revelation. His words weren't filled with scorn or disgust; they were filled with sincerity.
This wasn't what she had expected at all. Izashi, born into a high-ranking Devil family, had every reason to hate Fallen Angels. She had been taught that Devils were supposed to kill Fallen Angels on sight, to despise them for their very existence. Yet, here he was, complimenting her wings as if they were the most natural thing in the world.