The days at the Shadowed Cliff Castle passed in a blur of bruises, exhaustion, and hard truths for Rias and her peerage. Training under Garp was nothing short of grueling, but the physical toll wasn't the only challenge they faced. Over the course of their stay, they began to learn more about Raizer Phoenix—his life, his achievements, and the world he had built for himself.
The more they learned, the more they realized how little they truly understood him.
The Business Genius
One evening, after a particularly brutal training session, Garp decided to share a few more stories about his protégé. Rias and her team sat around the fire pit in the courtyard, sore and exhausted, while Garp leaned back with his signature grin.
"Let me tell you something about Raizer," Garp began, his voice booming with pride. "That boy isn't just a fighter—he's a damn genius when it comes to business."
"Business?" Kiba asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yep," Garp said, nodding. "He started his first company when he was ten years old. Ten! While you were running around playing games, he was already building trade networks and negotiating deals with people most devils can't even approach."
"Ten?" Rias repeated, her eyes wide.
"That's right," Garp said, grinning. "And not just any deals. He's got partnerships with some of the most powerful and reclusive races in the supernatural world."
"Like who?" Akeno asked cautiously.
Garp chuckled. "The Garudas, the Marid Jinn, the Naga Kingdom, and even the Djinn of the Desert. You name it, he's done it. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get the Garudas to even look at you, let alone agree to a trade? Raizer did it before he turned fifteen."
Reality Hits Hard
The weight of Garp's words settled heavily over Rias and her peerage.
"He was running an empire while we were still in school," Koneko said quietly, her usual monotone voice tinged with a hint of awe.
"While we were playing around, he was building connections with the strongest races in the world," Kiba added, his voice low.
Issei groaned, clutching his head. "I don't get it. How does he have time to do all this and train? Does the guy even sleep?"
Garp laughed. "Not much, I'll tell you that. Between training, managing his businesses, and handling his peerage, that boy's been working harder than anyone I've ever seen."
Rias bit her lip, her mind racing. For years, she had believed the rumors about Raizer being a womanizer, someone who relied on his family's name rather than his abilities. But now, she was beginning to see the truth.
"He never had time to be a womanizer," Akeno murmured, echoing Rias's thoughts. "He's either training or working. That's all he's ever done."
A Chance Encounter
Weeks passed, and the rigorous training continued. One evening, after another grueling day, Rias decided to take a walk along the cliffs surrounding the castle. The cool evening breeze and the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks below offered a rare moment of peace.
As she rounded a bend in the path, she spotted Raizer Phoenix sitting on the edge of the cliff, a glass of wine in his hand. The golden light of the setting sun cast a warm glow over his features, making him look unusually serene.
Rias hesitated, unsure if she should approach. But curiosity—and a lingering sense of guilt—pushed her forward.
A Conversation by the Cliffside
"You're not training," Rias said as she approached, trying to keep her tone neutral.
Raizer glanced at her, his golden eyes glinting with faint amusement. "Noticed that, did you?"
She crossed her arms. "I just didn't think you'd ever stop. You seem to have an endless supply of energy."
Raizer smirked, swirling the wine in his glass. "Even I need to relax sometimes. This is my 'don't bother me' hour, so if you've come to complain about the training, save it."
Rias rolled her eyes but sat down a few feet away from him. "I wasn't going to complain."
"Really?" Raizer said, raising an eyebrow. "That's a first."
She glared at him, though there was no real heat in her expression. "You know, you're not as funny as you think you are."
"And yet, here you are," Raizer said, taking a sip of his wine.
An Apology of Sorts
They sat in silence for a moment, the sound of the waves filling the space between them. Finally, Rias spoke.
"I… wanted to apologize," she said quietly.
Raizer glanced at her, one eyebrow raised. "For what?"
"For judging you," she admitted, her voice hesitant. "I believed the rumors about you—about you being a womanizer, someone who never took anything seriously. But now… I see I was wrong."
Raizer leaned back, resting his elbows on the ground. "Well, that's refreshing. Took you long enough to figure it out."
Rias bristled. "I'm trying to be serious here!"
"And I'm trying to relax," Raizer replied, smirking. "But go on, don't let me stop you."
She sighed, resisting the urge to throttle him. "I just… I didn't realize how hard you've worked. You've built, achieved so much, and you've done it all on your own terms. I misjudged you."
Raizer tilted his head, studying her for a moment. "You're not the first person to make assumptions about me, and you won't be the last. The difference is, I don't care what people think."
"That must be nice," Rias muttered.
"It is," Raizer said, smirking again. "You should try it sometime. But then again, considering how much time you spend worrying about your image, it might be a bit of a stretch for you."
Rias flushed, torn between irritation and embarrassment. "I get it, okay? I made a mistake. You don't have to rub it in."
Raizer's smirk softened into something resembling a smile. "Relax, Rias. I'm just messing with you."
A Lesson in Perspective
Rias looked out at the horizon, the setting sun painting the sky in shades of orange and gold. "How do you do it?" she asked after a moment.
"Do what?"
"Everything," she said, gesturing vaguely. "The training, the business, the alliances. How do you handle it all without… breaking?"
Raizer shrugged. "Simple. I don't think about it too much. I set goals, I work toward them, and I don't waste time on things that don't matter."
"Like what?"
"Like worrying about what other people think," he said pointedly, giving her a sideways glance. "Or playing house with a bunch of undertrained misfits instead of turning them into an actual team."
Rias winced, his words hitting uncomfortably close to home.
"You're stronger than you think, Rias," Raizer continued, his tone unusually serious. "You just need to stop making excuses and start taking responsibility."
She frowned, his words stirring something inside her. "Is that what you did?"
Raizer's smirk returned. "What do you think?"
Light-Hearted Banter
The tension eased slightly as the conversation shifted to lighter topics.
"So," Rias said, her lips twitching into a small smile, "do you ever take a break from being insufferable?"
"Why would I?" Raizer replied, grinning. "It's one of my best qualities."
Rias rolled her eyes. "You're impossible."
"And you're predictable," Raizer shot back.
"Predictable?"
"Yep," he said, standing up and brushing off his clothes. "You care too much about what people think, you hate being wrong, and you're more stubborn than a mule."
Rias glared at him, but there was a faint glimmer of amusement in her eyes. "And what about you? What's your fatal flaw?"
Raizer smirked. "I don't have one."
Cliffhanger: A New Understanding
As Raizer walked away, Rias remained seated, staring out at the horizon. For the first time, she began to see him not as an enemy or a rival, but as someone to learn from.
Whether she liked it or not, Raizer Phoenix had forced her to confront her own weaknesses—and maybe, just maybe, she was starting to understand why.
This chapter balances humor, character development, and a growing mutual understanding between Rias and Raizer. Let me know if you'd like to adjust or expand further!