Hiyama's mansion –
POV: Hiyama –
"Why?" Raynare asked.
"Why what? I responded with an eyebrow raised.
"I can understand why you may seek to be amicable with the devils, but why go out of your way to help Lord Baraqiel's daughter?" Perhaps it was a better question than I would care to admit. I firmly believed that it was just the right thing to do, but perhaps there was a deeper reason.
Raynare broke me out of my thoughts again, "It seems every action you have taken thus far in the supernatural world is to help others. Even when those people are your enemies, like I was…" She trailed off at the end. I suppose I should have expected one of the fallen to question why I spared them, when I was far above them in strength. We all knew now that had a fight broken out that night, I would have won.
She was right though; all I've done thus far was help or protect people from their fates in canon. I know I didn't do that to Dohnaseek, but he had showed up with my sister nearby, so I reacted with as much force as possible.
However, for everyone else, I averted their deaths that they would have suffered in canon. Taking the Fallen Trio into my house as servants, revealing Kokabiel's plot, helping Akeno with her daddy issues, and now I was setting up to handle Riser. It wasn't like I didn't know about the benefits to taking those actions, but it was incredibly dangerous. I hadn't even given much thought on how I have derailed canon; I acknowledged that I did, but I never registered how dangerous things would likely get as a result.
Even now, Kokabiel was out there uncaptured. He could still show up to Kuoh looking for revenge.
That wasn't all either, I was still technically the heir to the throne Heaven. Michael was probably going to come looking for me eventually. That was probably the best thing that could happen to me now though. Azazel doesn't even visit often enough to protect me if Kokabiel shows up. The question is, will it be Kokabiel or Michael who gets to me first?
Regardless, I'll need to be prepared for either.
Finishing my contemplation, I look up at Raynare, "I don't know why. It just happens, like some entity is puppeteering me. I know my connection to God is deeper than any other existence out there. Maybe he is doing it? I knew about the benefits to such actions before I did it, but it was still my first instinct to do these things." I was concerned about the idea of Logos Reverie affecting me, but I never voiced it until now. Though I couldn't tell Raynare about the derailment of canon, that was the primary reason I was concerned.
Raynare looks concerned at me, she walks around the table pulling me and the chair out from under the desk. Then to my surprise she sits in my lap while looking into my eyes and holding my head in her hands.
Feeling comfortable for the first time in a while I leaned into her touch, "Sometimes I don't know who is the real me. If it's Hiyama or God in control. I feel him you know… There in the back of my head, watching me, influencing me. Maybe I am him, or rather turning into him."
At that she pulls me into her cleavage as she hugs me, "If it is any consolation, you saved my life. If it weren't for you, I would have likely chased Lord Azazel until someone killed me or he killed me. I wanted to be loved so bad… I didn't even remember what love was. I had associated it with power, with prestige. That if only I could impress them then they would show me love-"
She paused for a moment before continuing, "but you, you showed me differently when Azazel would have killed us, you took us in despite the wrongs we committed against you. Even then, those who would have taken us as servants would abuse us. You have showed me what it means to love, not in a romantic way, but in a way, I had only seen God give to humans. Though, now I think I love you in a romantic way. You may not return it, but know that regardless of what is happening with your sacred gear I will love you all the same…"
By the end of her confession, she had been crying. I pull my head out of her cleavage to bring my hand to her cheek, it seemed as if time stopped right then…
I couldn't look away from those beautiful eyes-
I felt her breath hitch as I stared. It didn't take long till I was bringing her closer. I locked lips with her, it was Heaven on Earth. We kept at it for only God knows how long, but when we did it was because Shiori had entered the room…
"Don't stop on my account~" She teased. To my infinite displeasure Raynare got off of me and stood at the side of the desk. Now being officially interrupted I looked at Shiori.
"What?" I said in a displeased tone.
"I was going to ask if I could go out with Kala to shop, but now I found something far more interesting…" She said with barely contained mirth.
"Well, I can't stop you from obsessing over this as is expected from you, but you can obsess over it in the car with Kalawarner." I take the key of the car from the side drawer and toss it to her. "Now get out."
Amused, Shiori made her exit, I could see her gossiping with Kalawarner in the car as they left from the window.
Once I was sure she left the house, I began to speak on a more serious topic "I wish to learn more conventional magic." I had been thinking about it for a while, despite my abilities being technically far superior to human magic it had its limitations. If something happened where I couldn't speak, I'd be screwed. Having magic as a backup was essential for my survivability.
In theory, I could develop magic that would allow me to grow another mouth to use Logos Reverie. So, I definitely needed to know at least some magic.
Raynare looked somewhat puzzled before she seemingly understood why, "I can teach you. Would you like to join Shiori during her lessons?"
"No, you will teach me separately I don't want to intrude on Shiori. She needs a different training style than I do, I prefer theory more than practical so I can innovate and learn on my own. Shiori prefers the instinctual development of doing what feels best." I explained. Raynare seemed pleased enough at being able to teach me in private lessons.
"Would you like to start now?" I nodded to her question.
"Well, you already know that human magic has three primary parts. First, you must have a good sense of energy. Second you must know a process that would result in the desired effect. Third, you must imprint that process on a magic circle. You already have the first two parts down easily; the only remaining part is making a magic circle." Raynare paused for a moment, she got a few papers and a pencil off the side of my desk, she began to draw a magic circle.
"The way you make a magic circle is a combination of Runic magic and Devil Imagination magic. You must use a language with a written form; any language will do but languages that have singular symbols that can have complex meanings are better." She explained.
Having a question, I cut her off, "Why is such a language better?"
"Well, despite it being more difficult to learn, it helps keep the magic circle as simple as possible when making it. Every single time you preform magic you will need to make a magic circle from scratch, so the less words or symbols the better." It made sense, human magic required more effort than most other magics as magic didn't come easy for mankind.
"So, is it fair to say the advantage Runic magic would have the advantage in that it is simpler to cast magic, but its effects are weaker? Whereas devil magic is faster, but requires extreme concentration? Then human magic, although more complicated and slower than both, is way more stable and consistent in its power?" I was kind of assuming from what made sense in my head rather than actual knowledge, but it seems I was correct because Raynare smiled.
"You are exactly right. So, what do you think Angelic magic's advantage is?" she asked. That was an interesting question, I assume the angelic use of light is entirely instinctive and scales without much effort to the strength of the user.
"Is it because it is mostly instinctual, so it is easier to learn and scales well with the strength of the user?" Raynare smiled at my answer.
"It seems we have an intuitive magician." I was grateful for the praise, but I pushed past it and moved to continue the lesson.
"So, how do I create a magic circle?" I asked.
"Like Devil magic it is mostly visualization, but instead of visualizing the effect you must visualize the magic circle. Here is a basic magic circle, it will summon a small flame that can ignite the fireplace." She hands me the finished drawing of the magic circle. The symbols were Japanese characters, so I already knew what they meant.
I studied the magic circle for a few moments and then put it down. I visualized the same circle with the same steps of creating a fire. All it had was a description of hydrogen gas forming to a single point, then the heat of the gases increased until it combusted in a small flame.
It took me a few tries, but eventually I created the magic circle and imbued it with magical power resulting in a golden magic circle appearing and a small orange flame was above it. I then released the small flame into the fireplace causing the wood to ignite.
It was a start I guess, but the only other way to develop faster was to become a devil and I wasn't gonna become a devil.
After getting a feeling of what it was like to use magic we began to work on theory and various languages that could be used. We practiced for a few hours, where I would ask questions about certain spells, and I even created a few basic spells of my own. I also asked Raynare a bit about artificing, and requested she make some miscellaneous machines in the lab for convenience such as medical equipment, and various other basic things that made life way easier.
After Shiori and Kalawarner came back we had dinner and went to sleep, not without Shiori teasing us further. Though I must say, Kalawarner seemed rather jealous of Raynare after hearing what happened.
At this point I think a harem is inevitable in this world…
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A/N: So what do you guys think? Any constructive criticism is welcome. Also, be sure to leave a review and power stones as that is my motivation.