Dragons, Devils and Saints, Oh my!
.
As I lay upon my throne of comfiness, floating in that blissful state just after I wake up and realize I have nothing urgent to do for the whole day.
For most people, it would be because it's currently Sunday and they have no work to wake up for.
As for me, it's simply that I didn't do anything anyway.
So of course, it had to be ruined.
"Adam," I heard a familiar, motherly voice call out to me, "Adam, It's time to wake up sleepy head."
"Erghhh…" I elegantly made the sound of a displeased walrus as I rub the gunk out of my eyes. I blink them open to see the face of the woman who has been taking care of me for the past 6 years of my new life.
A beautiful face of an older woman, mid-twenties or so, and with a gentle smile on her face and warm brown eyes, her nun's habit hiding her hair and a small silver cross dangling from her neck.
"And before you say anything Adam, yes, Our Lord did, in fact, rest on Sunday and no, that doesn't mean you get to spend all day in bed." Sister Agatha strikes me down before I could even go on the offensive like I usually do when this happens.
"You could at least let me say it first, Sis," I grumble out half-heartedly as Sister Agatha just smiles at me and opens up the curtains, letting the sunlight spill into the large bedroom. I look around with lidded eyes to see that the other children in the orphanage had already woken up from their bunk beds, probably about 10 minutes ago or so.
"The others tried waking you up first and as usual, none of them could." Sister Agatha says lightly, amusement lacing her tone. After opening the curtains and straightening out any beds that the other children missed, she comes to me and gently pats my bedridden hair as I let out a little yawn and stretch my arms, "Come on, I managed to save you some breakfast, Adam. Hurry up though or it'll get cold."
At the mention of food, I start to feel the empty void that is my stomach after my once in a blue moon of peaceful sleep, "Thanks, Sis. I'll be right there."
I wave at Sister Agatha as she leaves the bedroom and I drag myself out of my throne known also as my bed. After making sure it was neat and tidy, I make my way to the bathroom.
As a 6-year-old boy, I wasn't especially tall but thankfully the Sisters and Mother Superior managed to get their hands on some steps for the kids on the smaller side to reach the sinks.
I bloody hated it of course, but I couldn't really speed up ageing or force myself to grow taller, unfortunately.
After washing my face and drying it, I take a look in the mirror to see if I had missed anything.
A familiar young boys face with golden blond hair and bright blue eyes looked back at me, matching my motions as I grab my toothbrush.
6 years since my 'reincarnation' and I still can't get over the fact that I'm a natural blond. It didn't even change anything, it was just weird to look at considering I had black hair in my previous life.
And isn't that even more bizarre to think about?
I don't really remember how I died. Hell, I'm not even sure if I died at all really, it was so sudden.
I went to bed one night and then…
Nothing.
I remember opening up my eyes to an inky darkness, a Void, floating in nothingness.
I remember trying to move my limbs.
Only to discover I didn't have any.
I remember trying to breathe.
Only to discover I didn't have a nose.
I remember trying to scream.
Only to discover I didn't have a mouth.
It was...unpleasant, to say the least. I don't know how long I 'floated' in that Void, being little more than quite possibly a lost soul in a sea of inky blackness. Could've been anything, ranging from mere minutes to long years.
I just don't know.
Until without any warning whatsoever…
I was born again.
Which sucked in entirely different ways because going from having no body and no senses to having a weak, baby body with small but muted senses scared the shit out of me, to say the least.
My re-birth and the days after it are a bit hazy to me, but I know there was shouting, screaming and I was covered in disgusting things I don't ever want to think about again. Eventually, I could feel someone pick me, wrap me in a thick blanket and start driving me somewhere.
I don't know how long we drove for or even where we drove from in the first place, but eventually, we stopped and the shadowy figure picked me up once again. I tried to get a good look at their face, but not only was it dark and my eyesight sucked as a baby, I think they may have wrapped up their face in a scarf or something.
Soon enough, we came upon an old, large building with a massive door knocker on the front. The figure gently dropped me on the floor, knocked three times on the door and promptly left. I presume they were either the woman who gave birth to me or maybe even the man who fathered me, but to be honest, I don't really care.
I was more worried about what was going to happen to me and the fact that someone had just left a very confused, very scared reincarnated baby outside a door of an old building that may or may not be used for illegal organ trafficking.
A moment later, the front door opened, the lights from the lit up hallway causing my underdeveloped vision to be blinded a bit. I could feel someone's hands gently pick me up in their arms and carried me inside. And the rest is history, as they say.
From what I could gather, this world is actually almost a complete copy of my old world. Hell, I'm actually willing to bet I time travelled rather than get reborn in a different world considering the year right now is 2001 rather than 2018.
If it wasn't for one thing.
Looking down at my hand, I tentatively raise it up to my face.
And with a thought, I feel a warm heat start to develop in my hand and starts giving off a somewhat bright, but gentle light.
I do not have a fucking clue what this is. At all.
All I know is that this started a couple of weeks ago…
.
.
I stand in front of the door to the Mother Superior's office and I look down at my hands, shaking uncontrollably after what I just did.
My attempts at taking deep breaths to calm down turn into nothing more than quick, panicking gasps for air.
I have to, needed to get some help about this or at least tell someone else about it.
Because I'm pretty sure that people aren't supposed light up like light bulbs, for God's sake.
It's currently 12:00 PM or so at night so all the other kids have already gone to bed so no one else should've seen it, but considering my hand just lit up light a god damn Christmas tree for no bloody reason, I wouldn't be surprised if I woke someone else up by accident.
I just wanted a glass of water! Why did I glow like some sort of mutant!?
Oh god, am I in the X-Men or something? Am I secretly a mutant, but my mutant power is turn into the world's first human light bulb? Bloody hell, what a cop-out.
Taking a quick breath and shaking my head of any thoughts about the X-Men, I force my shaking hand to knock on the Mother Superior's office door.
Only for it to open, revealing a shapely woman in a nun's habit. Her long, brown hair, flowed freely behind her back and her emerald green eyes, adorned with a pair of thin glasses, looked at me with a mischievous glint and a raised brow.
"Adam, you do know that it is well past your bedtime?" Sister Anastasia said, giving me an amused look, pushing up her glasses.
"Er...y-yeah," I mumble and squash down the feeling of having a bedtime like I'm a child, "I-Is the Mother Superior in? I...kinda have something to show her…"
I don't know what it was that I said or did, but Sister Anastasia's look of amusement almost immediately shifted into one of worry, her brow furrowed and her smirk turning into a frown.
"Adam, are you okay? Did something happen?" She kneels down, her face level with mine and puts the back of her hand on my forehead for a moment.
"Sister, I'm fine." I gently push her hand away, "But can I see Mother Basilissa, please? Something weird happened to me and I just...need someone else to see it."
Apparently whatever I said caused Sister Anastasia's to fall into a grim look, "Adam, what-"
"Anastasia. Let him in." An elderly woman's voice said aloud behind her, causing her to look behind for a moment, before looking back at me, biting her bottom lip. She lets out a tired sigh and stands up, gently putting her hand on my back and urging me forward through the door.
The Mother Superior's office is a somewhat large, dimly lit room, more like a study than anything. A couple of full bookcases lined the walls, a smouldering fireplace on the opposite side with three comfy looking chairs surrounding a small table. There was a desk with some papers on it and an unlit electrical lamp.
Sister Agatha and Mother Basilissa are sitting by the fireplace, Sister Agatha looking just as worried as Sister Anastasia while Mother Superior gives me a cool, neutral look.
Mother Superior, or Mother Basilissa, is the elderly nun that runs the orphanage that I and the other kids call home and was probably the sternest woman I ever met, in this life or the previous one.
Her steel grey eyes, along with her thick-rimmed glasses and wrinkled face, looking down at me without any emotion just made me think that this was a bad idea. It's not like I didn't care for her, I did. It's just…
God, this woman makes me feel small sometimes and to say nothing of when someone causes some trouble around here.
I need to learn how to glare like that someday.
"Child," Mother Basilissa says, her voice crisp and clipped, "It is not like you to be up so late. Usually, you are the first to sleep and last to rise."
And God knows how much I don't want to be here.
"Well…" I said, cringing at what I'm about to show, "Just, don't freak out? Please?"
Mother Basilissa just raises a single eyebrow but doesn't say anything else. Sister Agatha moves to get up but Mother Basilissa just gives her a look, forcing her to sit back down.
Without another word, I bring my hands up and concentrate on the same feeling as before. If I remember right, my hands lit up when I wanted to see in the dark so if I just repeat that…
Just as soon as I thought about it, my hands start to glow with a faint light and gradually glow brighter and brighter until it looks like my hands are lightbulbs, the dimly lit room is filled with light.
I look down at my light-filled hands for a moment. My hands felt...warm, cosy almost like they were being heated by a campfire. It didn't feel uncomfortable, but that didn't help the unease at the fact that I'm a mutant.
I heard Sister Agatha and Anastasia let out a gasp, but nothing from Mother Basilissa. I hesitantly look up from my glowing hands to Mother Basilissa.
I expected a look of shock or, maybe, a look of revulsion. I expected something.
I didn't expect only slightly wide eyes that soon narrowed into slits into a look I've never seen before.
After a couple of seconds, no one had said anything while I stood there with my hands out and luminous like some sort of mini light bulb.
"...Tadah?" I said and gestured in a pathetic way to 'lighten' up the mood as it were.
"Adam." Mother Basilissa said, her tone surprisingly normal and her eyes returning to normal. She leans forward and gently takes ahold of my vibrantly glowing her hands into her own.
"Let me say this first: There is nothing wrong with you."
"Ah…I guess it was kinda written all over my face?"
Mother Basilissa gives me a small smile, "I've known you since you were just a babe, Adam. I can tell when you're afraid of something."
"And this isn't something to be scared of?!" I said hysterically as I look down at my vibrant hands, still held in her own.
"You'll see," Mother Basilissa just says mysteriously, "Now then. Tell us everything that occurred just before this happened. Don't leave out a single detail."
.
.
After telling them the events that lead up to the incident and how it felt, all the Nuns looked at each other for a moment. Eventually, Mother Basilissa said that she knew someone that could help me and they'll see if they can come by.
So I'm expecting to meet the world's strongest telepath or a woman that can control the weather. Or maybe Wolverine? God, that would suck.
Still though, despite all that, The Mother Superior and the Sisters aren't acting all that different around me and they don't treat me like I'm the Antichrist so that helps a lot.
I was never a big believer in God or religion in my previous life. The irony that I was reincarnated into another isn't lost on me in the least and even now, I more or less pay lip service to God despite being raised in a Protestant Orphanage by literal nuns.
It wasn't because I thought I was smarter or that I was above being religious. It just wasn't really for me personally, I just don't think I have the dedication to be a proper Christian is all.
But, after all this and meeting Sister Agatha, Anastasia and Mother Basilissa…
Saying a few prayers of thanks and making an effort seems like a small price to pay.
Rinsing out my mouth with water and cleaning my face, I shoot off to spend another day in my new life.
.
.
2 women, one old and weary, the other young but worried, sat together in silence in a dimly lit room, only illuminated by the faint rays of sun that shone through the gaps in the curtains.
The old woman sat in a large charge, reading a book that came from one of the adventures back when she was younger. It was a catalogue, an encyclopedia, about items of great power that some Humans were born with.
And it was completely worthless to her.
Nothing in the book, old as it may be, helped her in slightest. None of the items even remotely came close to help identify what was happening with her youngest child.
Frustrated, she shut the book with a clap and put it down her lap. She removed her glasses and rubbed her tired, old eyes and let out a sigh.
"Nothing?" Sister Anastasia said, not bothering to hide the disappointment in her voice.
"Nothing," Mother Basilissa said to one of her students.
"...Could it be a new one? I mean, you said it yourself that some new Sacred Gears have appeared since you retired years ago. Maybe this is one of them?" Sister Antasisasa asks her elder.
"It's not outside the realms of possibility," Mother Basilissa admits but rubs her aching forehead, "But, I very much doubt it. There is only one Sacred Gear that I can think of that expels Holy Energy like Adam did, but I would recognize Incinerate Anthem, never mind the fact that I already know who wields such a weapon."
Sister Anastasia bites her bottom lip, looking at her lap in silence for a moment.
"Argh!" The Sister suddenly stands up and screams in frustrations, messing up her habit and her long brown hair spilling forth, "Mother Superior, this isn't fair! There's no reason why you can't train him liked you trained us!"
"You know why, child." Mother Basilissa said quietly, staring into the unlit fireplace while her student rages about.
"The Vatican stopped coming around here years ago!" The younger woman shouts in rage, "You trained us even though you weren't supposed too! What difference would training Adam, even a little, make?!"
"The difference," Mother Basilissa cold voice sliced through the younger woman's rage like a sharp knife, "Is that I trained you and Agatha out of necessity for this village's safety and for the safety of the children of this Orphanage. The difference is that you and Agatha were already fully aware of the Supernatural when you came to me. I will not force Adam to enter a world such as ours. Do I make myself clear?"
Mother Basilissa coldly stared at her pupil who's red-hot rage evaporated under her mentors glare. The younger woman's shoulders slumped and she dropped down onto her chair, not even bothering to fix her habit.
"...It's only a matter of time. He doesn't have a choice, you know. You can't shelter him forever."
"Nor do I intend to. But, he is a child. Let him enjoy that, at least for a while longer."
"Hmph, you call everyone a child though," Sister Anastasia mutters under her breath, but says nothing more.
Just after Sister Antatisa's muttering, the door behind them opened up with a click and Sister Agatha came through.
"Agatha," Mother Basilissa greets her other pupil, "How is he? Well?"
"Mhm," Agatha gives a small nod of confirmation and seats down on the third and final chair, "Adam's fine. He's the same as any other morning. He's outside right now, playing with the others after they dragged him off."
"Good. Then, have you two noticed anything then?" The Mother Superior asks her students, who both replied in the negative.
"I haven't noticed anything during my patrols," Sister Agatha said, her voice quiet and gentle like always, "I've been keeping an eye out for Devils, Fallen Angels, anything really. I've even gone beyond the borders of the village to see if someone is waiting and found nothing."
"I see. Anastasia?"
"Nothing," Sister Anastasia shakes her head, "I've placed more Wards around the village and here and even 'updated' them to detect Angels, along with Vampires and Werewolves. The only thing I could think of that wouldn't trip them would be Youkais from Japan, but that would be pointless considering how none of them leave their homeland."
Mother Basilissa lets a small breath of relief, "Good, that's good. Now then, I have a question for the both of you: What do you know about the so-called Miracle Children?"
Both of the Sisters face scrunched up in thought and Sister Anastasia gets up from her slouch to sit properly, "Miracle Children? You mean those people that are Half-Human and Half-Angel? They actually exist?"
"Eh?" Sister Agatha tilts her head in confusion, "But I thought Angels couldn't have any lustful thoughts unless they Fall? How could they even have kids?"
"It's possible," Mother Basilissa clarifies, "But it's rare. Very rare. Not only are the rituals involved long and complex, but there must be no lust of any kind during the act itself. Most Angels Fall during it, of course, but that's neither here nor there."
Sister Anastasia back shoots up straight and gives a pointed look at her teacher, "Then you think Adam could be-!"
"I thought so as well at first," Mother Basilissa shakes her head, "So I called in a few favours to look into it, but there have been no reports of any missing Angels or even the ritual taking place anywhere."
"But Adam was left on our doorstep though," Sister Agatha chimes in, "We don't know who his parents are. They could even be a Fallen Angel and a Human, rather than an Angel and a Human."
"True, and that is far more likely than an Angel being one of his parents," Mother Basilissa nods, "But if that was the case, I find it very hard that they would be able to approach us without us knowing. Even harder to believe would be the fact they just didn't take him to Grigori and then raise him there, considering how hard it is for Angels, Fallen or not, to have children."
Sister Agatha bites her lip and looks down in thought while Sister Anastasia lets out a frustrated groan and hold her head in her hands, thoughts racing through both of their heads.
Mother Basilissa leans back onto her chair, "There is something you two should know, about Adam and about today."
Both of the Sister look up to their mentor in confusion.
"As you know, What Adam did was generate Holy Energy or Holy Magic."
"Yeah," Sister Anastasia nods, "We know that already though. I can even glow like he did with magic."
As an example, Sister Anastasia held up a hand and soon after, it glows with a blue, ethereal light rather than the warm, gentle yellow glow of Adams.
"Hell, I even bet Agatha here can do something like this and she sucks with magic."
"Muu…" Agatha looks at her sister in arms with puffed out cheeks, "It's not my fault that magic doesn't agree with me…"
"In any case," Mother Basilissa cuts through the inevitable argument, "Anastasia, Agatha, let me ask you this: What is the difference between the elements that some Magicians find themselves aligned with and what Adam did?"
Sister Agatha looks towards her sister in arms with a shameful smile who just let out a sigh. After some thought, Sister Antatisa's eyes suddenly grow wide.
"...That's impossible. There is no reason for him to be able to do this."
"Uhmmm…"
"Oh, right," Sister Anastasia looks at Agatha, "More often than not, Magicians have a natural element they're aligned with that makes certain spells stronger. The elements are: Fire, Water, Earth, Wind and Thunder. This is for human Magicians though, Devils like the Baels have Destruction or Fallen Angels like Baraqiel can have something like Lightning, a mixture of Light and Thunder element."
"Oh…" Sister Agatha nods in understanding at her sisters' explanation but frowns at what she said, "But, Adam is a human. How was he able to-"
"He shouldn't be able to." Sister Anastasia interrupts, "Holy and Light are the Domain of God and his Angels. Adam using it like he did would be like a human using magic like a Devil"
"But, can't Exorcists use Holy magic? Mother Baslissila used it before didn't she?"
"That is true, Agatha. But, what you are forgetting that those Exorcists have had years of experience fighter and training behind them." Mother Basilissa explain to the two enraptured Sisters, "And even then, using Holy magic for combat just isn't possible for most of them. Most of them could only make barriers or very few could infuse their bodies with Holy magic."
Sister Agatha still looks confused at the explanation and Sister Anastasia lets out a sigh.
"Think of it like this, Agatha. Do you know who Vasco Strada is?"
"O-of course I know who he is!" Sister Agatha looks at Anastasia, gobsmacked, "Just because I don't get magic like you do, doesn't mean I'm an idiot!"
"Could've fooled me," Sister Anastasia mutters under her breath but carries on, "What Adam did was infuse himself with Holy magic and that glow was the result. The only other Exorcist that I can think of that does that, is Vasco Strada himself."
Sister Agatha looks at her sister with eyes so wide, they looked like they may fall out, and looks at Mother Basilissa who nods at her suspensions.
"...Oh."
"Yes," Mother Basilissa lets out a sigh, "Oh. In fact, that moves me onto the other matter I was hoping to discuss. The friend I was talking about was, in fact, Vasco Strada-"
The Sisters let out a guffaw, "M-Mother Superior, didn't you just say something amazing right now?"
"-But, he couldn't make it," Mother Basilissa carries on, not caring about the stares of her students, "He's busy training his apprentice right now, so he is sending someone else instead that should be arriving today."
The Sisters look at each in worry, "...Mother Superior, if the Vatican finds out what Adam can do, they'll rip him to shreds trying to figure how. We've already seen what they're willing to do children about the Excaliburs for Heaven's sake."
"That," Mother Basilissa's voice suddenly turned cold and sharp like an icicle, "Was a splinter faction of fanatics that went under everyone's nose to carry out heinous deeds, supposedly, in the name of our Lord and Heaven. All but one have been brought to justice for that abomination of experiments and both of you know that."
Both the Sister flinched at the icy glare and tone of their mentor, "But it still happened, Mother Superior!" Sister Agatha seethes, "There might still be some of those who will do anything to manipulate Holy magic like Adam could! And we won't be able to protect him if they decided to do anything to him!"
During her rant, Sister Agatha had stood up with shaking fists and a flushed red face, glaring at the woman who trained her. The woman in question stared back, unflinching until she let out a tired sigh.
"You two, listen. Because I'm only going to say this once."
"The Exorcist arriving today is one sent by Vasco Strada himself and I trust his judgment, so if the Exorcist leaves without Adam, I very much doubt anyone will come looking for him. If that does happen, I will train Adam to defend himself, nothing more, nothing less. I will not force one of my youngest children to become a soldier of war, do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Mother Superior." Both of the Sisters mumbled out like chastised children.
"Good," The Mother Superior nods, "But, if he is offered to become an Exorcist and he accepts, then the both of you are not to interfere with his choice."
"But, Mother Superior, he's just a child. To make a choice like that…" Sister Agatha said, worry clearly written on her face, "It just doesn't seem right."
"...No, no it isn't," Mother Basilissa sighs, her shoulders slumping slightly, "But, it is only a matter of time that something like this will come out. The bigger the secret and longer it is hidden, the bigger the fallout. If Adam is not prepared when his abilities are shown to the world, and I do mean when, then he will be torn apart by foes stronger than us and there will be nothing we can do. No, the only way for him to survive would be for him to become stronger and becoming an Exorcist will be the best first step for him."
The Sisters sat in silence, Anastasia had her arms crossed and her lip bitten in thought while Agatha wrung the hem of her dress and her gaze looking downward.
"...I understand, Mother Superior." Sister Agatha eventually says while Sister Anastasia let's out a sigh and slumps against the chair, but doesn't say anything.
"But…" Sister Agatha mutters under her breath, "What about Sam? Considering how close she is with Adam and how she might react to the Exorcist…"
Sister Anastasia stiffens and looks towards Mother Basilissa who just sits there calmly.
"Let me deal with little Samantha. In any case, the both of you need to get ready soon. The Exorcist is-"
Ding Dong.
"-About to arrive any minute now."
.
.
Sometimes, I wish I wasn't a kid.
Don't get me wrong, I didn't have any particular hang-ups about being a kid again but I did wish sometimes that-
"Come on Sleepy Adam!"
-I was a bit older-
"Is your brain still asleep? Geez, you're so slow!"
-so I could show this snot-nosed brat-
"This is what you get for sleeping like a lazy bum all day!"
-how to play Tag like a pro instead of this bloody mess.
"You know, if you stop running away, I could catch you." I offered to the older girl I'm currently chasing.
Samantha swishes her head to look at me, her bright red pigtails swinging around in the air and god damn giggles at me.
"That's not how you play Tag, silly! Where would be the fun in that?"
"The fun would be for me, mostly," I admit shamelessly as I took a couple of deep breaths and another look at Samantha.
Samantha is one of the older children at Saint George's Orphanage, the orphanage where I and the other kids lived at and my elder by about 4 years, give or take.
And probably the only one that actually went out of their way to annoy me.
I wasn't really the one for running around and playing like the others. Chalk it up to my experience with my other life, but I much prefer just laying around and doing nothing. Especially when I have literally nothing to do as a kid.
But Samantha, it seems, doesn't share that sentiment and takes every opportunity to drag me out my peaceful rest to run around and play and all bothersome that stuff.
It wasn't a recent thing either, she's always done this ever since I was a baby. Whenever she could, she would make me try and walk or make me crawl from place to place.
The worst thing is that if I didn't, she starts tearing up and the guilt I felt just kinda forces me to do what she wants.
In the end, I just do what she wants because it's easier than resisting.
"Whatcha gonna do, Adam?" Samantha stands away from me just far enough that I can't reach her with my tiny child arms.
Damn this small body of mine.
Though I do have one idea…
Samantha stands there with a closed eye smile, slightly swaying from side to side and humming without a care in the world.
Fool.
As quick as I could, I spring forward in a leap to grab her!
Only for her to slither out of my leap at the last moment. Without missing a beat, she wraps her arms around my midsection and brings me in with a rough hug.
Fuck.
I look up at her with a tired glare and she looks down at me with a snake-like smile and her big brown eyes are filled with mirth.
"Ehehe, got you!" She giggles as she swings me about like some sort of giant stuffed toy.
You know, this works well enough.
I give her arm a weak slap and flash her a grin of my own.
"Tag. You're it."
Now, in the fairness of competition, she should let me g-
"Mmmmmmnope!"
Or not.
"You can't be serious."
"Mhmmm!" She nods rapidly while she looks down at me with a big goofy grin on her face, "I'm hugging you which means I'm touching you and that means you're It."
Stupid kids and their stupid logic.
"But if you let me go, you can chase me. Wouldn't that be more fun?"
For the love of the Almighty, just let me g-!
"Mmmmmmnope!"
For God's sake!
"Ehehehe…" Samantha carries on giggling and leans down to rub her cheek against mine.
Oh good God, not again.
"Why do you keep doing this? Have I done you some wrong, Sam? Did I do something to you in a previous life?" I moan theatrically, causing Samantha to cutely giggle some more.
"Naaa, you're just warm to cuddle, you know. Why wouldn't I do this?" Samantha smiles as she said this and continues her cheek rubbing, uncaring about the other kids playing around us.
I roll my eyes at her usual answer and bring up my hands to pry her arms away from my stomach.
Or try to at least.
"God, you're like a python you know that? What do you even eat?" I said to Samantha as I try my best to pry her arms off of me.
The thing is, I wasn't playing around either. I'm legitimately using all I can to try and move her arms off of me.
They didn't budge. It was like trying to rip off the iron bars of a prison cell.
Christ almighty, was this girl a mutant too?
"How rude!" Samantha pouts at me, "Pythons are ugly little things. Why not something like an asp or a cobra? They're much cuter than a python!"
"What is wrong with you?" I mutter dejectedly and give up trying to pry these mutant arms of hers. Seriously, this girl had a grip like nothing else.
I resign myself to the fate of being a glorified warmer to this girl. She'll get bored soon enough and then-
"Adam, Samantha. I hope we're not disrupting you two." I heard the amused, elderly voice of my saviour behind us.
"Nope, Mother Superior, we're just playing-!" Samantha turns around with my limp body in her grip, seeing the Sisters and Mother Superior looking amused as always.
Except it just wasn't them.
There's a person extra.
The extra person was a handsome young man, couldn't be older than 20 or 22, with blond hair like men but he has forest green eyes instead of blue and he was wearing priests clothes adorned with crosses.
He gave me and Samantha a warm smile and I would've let my guard down if it wasn't the fact that Samantha just went stock still as soon as she saw him.
The arms around me tightened enough that I started to have a little trouble breathing, but I wasn't that worried. I trust Samantha enough not to seriously hurt me and I'm more worried about her reaction.
I look up to see Samantha looking at the newcomer with...fear?
Her eyes had widened into saucers and her mouth was agape. Her arms even started to shake.
"Sam? Sam, you okay?" I ask her, ignoring the newcomer.
Jesus, who the hell is this guy?
Samantha snaps back to look at me, her normally warm brown eyes filled with chilling dread. They soften a bit upon seeing me, but her arms just get tighter around me like I'll disappear or something.
"I-uhm-hiss-" Samantha stutters out, her voice taking a tone I don't think I've ever heard before.
Was that a hiss at the end?
"Samantha dear," Mother Superior says, her voice soothing and gentle, "Adam needs to come with us, I'm afraid. Don't worry, he'll be alright."
Samantha looks between Mother Superior and me for a moment before shakily nodding. Her arms around me tighten for a second before she slowly lets me go and I drop to the ground.
"Adam, this is Dulio Gesualdo. He's here to help you." Mother Superior tells as he gives me a small nod and another smile.
"Hello Adam, Samantha. Nice to meet you." He said to us with a genuinely warm smile on his face.
I glance at Samantha to see that she's calm down a bit and she isn't gaping anymore or shaking, but I still got the feeling of wariness from her.
I look at the Sisters and see that Sister Agatha is giving me a stiff smile and Sister Anastasia's eyes flicker to Dulio every so often.
It's at this moment I realised they're standing side by side to him like they're guarding him. Or escorting.
Jesus, talk about being locked out of the loop.
"Errr, yeah. Nice to meet you too." I hesitantly gave him a nod of my own and look to Mother Superior, "You mean the...thing?"
Mother Superior just gave me a nod while Samantha gives me a worried and confused look.
"Right then," I mutter under my breath and look to Samantha, "Don't worry Sam. It's nothing big. I'll be gone for a minute, two tops."
That's the biggest lie I've ever told, but the poor girl is already scared to death. Don't need to make it worse.
"Muuu...alright then." She pouts at me, but eventually steps away, "You promise?"
I couldn't help but smile at her, "I promise."
Still though. Dulio Gesualdo.
Where have I heard that name before?
.
.
"So, Adam. If you don't mind, can you tell me some things about yourself?" Dulio asks me while he sits opposite to me like some sort of therapist. The Sisters and Mothers sat by me and Dulio on extra chairs, forming a sort of circle.
After making sure that Sam was alright, I followed the Nuns and Dulio into the Mother Superior's office. During the trip, Dulio kept asking me questions. Surprisingly normal questions though, like what was life like in the orphanage, how the other kids and all that.
I presumed he knew what I could do, but he didn't seem in any rush to know about it. Or maybe he doesn't know?
"Errr, sure. Anything specific you wanna know?"
Dulio tilts his head slightly and hums for a bit, "If you don't mind me asking, but do you know who your parents are?"
As soon as he asked that, the Sisters and Mother Superior gazes flicked between me and Dulio.
My parents? Not what I expected, but okay.
"No, I don't. I'm not really interested in learning who they are either." I told Dulio who's eyes opened a little bit at what a said. He wasn't the only one either as the Sisters and Mother Superior looked at me with astonished expressions.
"Really? Not even a little bit?" He asked me, probably surprised at my attitude.
"Yep," I said, popping the p, "Mother Superior and the Sisters raised me. They're more family to me than my Mum or Dad will ever be. Plus, if they're not interested in having me, why should I be interested in having them?"
What's not being said is the fact I already had a family in my previous life and it's not like I'm a child mentally. I'm not going to bother worrying about some man and woman not wanting me.
"Adam…" I heard Sister Agatha say under her breath.
Sister Agatha's face was bright red along with Sister Anastasia's. The Mother Superior was stoic as ever, but even I could see a tinge of red on her cheeks.
"What? Did I say something wrong?" I ask them as I swivel my head in confusion to look at the Nuns.
I mean, it was the truth. It was like having three Moms at some points, but it was these three that 'raised' me in a sense and if it wasn't here, I'm pretty sure I would be in a crack house or something.
"Hahahahaha," Dulio lets out a mirthful laugh and gives me a smile, "No, Adam. I don't think you did."
"Alright then…" I said as I look back to Dulio, "In that case, I got a question for you."
Dulio looks surprised for a moment "Oh? Go ahead then."
"Why was Sam so scared of you?" I bluntly ask him, causing his eyes to widen a bit and his warm smile suddenly became awkward.
"Ah…" He rubs the back of his head and his eyes dart around, looking at the Nuns who all looked at each other in similar awkward manners.
Seriously?
I let out a sigh and spoke up, "Alright then, let me change that question: Are you going to hurt Sam?"
Dulio looked shocked for a split second before he just gives me a small smile.
"I promise, I have no intention of hurting your friend. I have no ill will against her, I assure you."
He didn't seem like he was lying to me…
"Alright. I trust you," I tell him after a while, "I don't think Mother Superior would let you in if you were a dangerous person anyway."
"Yes, Mother Basilissa does have a...certain way with words," The way he shuddered told me enough, "But enough of that. Adam, I've been told what you can do. If it isn't any trouble, I would like to see it for myself."
Ah, right. I suppose that is why he's here. I was expecting Charles Xavier or Storm, but I suppose that was a bit far fetched to expect.
Nodding, I bring up my hands so everyone can get a good look and with a thought like last time, my hands begin to glow with a bright but gentle light.
"Oh my…" Dulio said as he leans in to take a closer look, his face surprisingly blank, "No spell circle or runes…"
Wait, what? Did he just say something about a spell? Or something about runes?
"Adam, when you do this," He nods to my hands, "Do you just think about it? No words or anything like that?"
He's taking this a lot better than I thought he would. Is sort of stuff common or what?
"Err, yeah. It first happened about a week or two ago. I woke up in the middle of the night and I wanted a glass of water, but I couldn't see anything. When I thought about wanting to see, this happened." I wave around my hands to show him.
"Hmmm…" Dulio hums as he keeps peering at my hands. He glances at Mother Superior who takes a deep breath with closed eyes. She eventually gives Dulio a nod.
Dulio gives a solemn nod back and looks me straight in the eye, no longer smiling, "Adam, what I'm going to tell you is 100% true. I have no doubt that all of it will seem...hard to believe, but trust me. I have no intention of lying to you about this."
Trust me, after what I've been through, I doubt you can surprise me.
I look at Mother Superior, who gives me a small nod. Sister Agatha gives me a small but strained smile. Sister Anastasia rubs the back of her head and lets out a sigh but eventually gives me a nod.
Well.
"Alright...If Mother Superior and the Sisters trust you, I'll believe you for whatever you're going to tell me."
Dulio smiles at me, "Thank you. Now, it all began a long, long time ago. A war simply known as the Great War erupted between three species: The Devils, the Angels and The Fallen Angels…"
And so Dulio told me about the Three Factions.
About the Devils, inhabitants of the Underworld and followers of Lucifer, Beelzebub, Leviathan and Asmodeus. The Four Great Satans.
About the Fallen Angels, Angels who have sinned against Heaven or strayed from their path. The Watchers of Grigori with wings of black led by Azazel, the Scapegoat.
About the Angels, made and blessed by the Almighty himself, Wardens of the High Heavens. The Hosts of the High Heavens were led by the Four Seraphim, Angels that have reached the peak with 12 wings: Michael, Uriel, Gabriel and Raphael.
He told me about the Great War that had erupted between the Three Factions and how it had almost driven all of them to extinction and eventually they settled into a cold war.
He told me about Sacred Gears, gifts from God to Humans to fight against evil and protect themselves from others that would harm them.
Eventually, he finished and the only sound that could be heard came from outside, the laughter of children playing echoing out.
Well.
Good news: I'm not in the X-Men.
Bad news: I'm in Highschool DxD.
I honestly don't know which is worse.
"So…" I look down at my hands, still glowing bright, "That was a neat story and all. But that doesn't really explain this."
I waved my hands about to emphasise why we were here in the first place.
I mean, after being reborn and seeing that inky Void, living my life in Highschool DxD is a bit...weird, but I've seen worse when I was dead.
Much worse.
Funny how he didn't mention the Longinus or Dragons, but I suppose he didn't want to overload me in information, which brings me to my next point.
Dulio Gesualdo.
If I remember, wasn't this guy an Exorcist or something? And wasn't he high rank as well?
How the hell did Mother Superior get someone like him?
"Uhmmm, right." Dulio looks at me weirdly for a moment, "You...don't have any questions at all? Nothing?"
"Nah," I shake my head, "Don't get me wrong, I believe you about the Supernatural, but you know. My hands are still glowing like I'm a lightbulb and I still don't know why. That's more important to me right now."
"Snrk!" I see Sister Anastasia cover her mouth and her shoulders start to shake, looking away from everyone else.
"S-Sister, it isn't funny…" Sister Agatha admonishes her, but even she has a slight smile on her face.
Apparently, that was enough to disperse the tense atmosphere in the room. Mother Basilissa lets out a sigh but finally gives me a smile.
Dulio just smiles at me, "Alright then. What you're doing right now is challenging Holy Magic and infusing yourself with it. The glow is simply a byproduct of it."
Huh.
I look down at my glowing hands, "So this is magic. Neat."
I couldn't help but frown though. That just raises more questions if anything.
"Why Holy Magic though? One of those whatchamacallits? Sacred Gears?" I ask Dulio.
Aren't Sacred Gears stored in the Soul or something? If that's the case, why-
"Nope."
Oh.
"Wait, what?" I look up at Dulio who's leant back in his chair with his hands behind his head.
"I have a Sacred Gear myself and I've been part of the Supernatural for most of my life. I have never once encountered a Sacred Gear that could infuse its wielder with Holy Magic."
Of course.
"But...it's just magic, right? I mean, if the Supernatural is real, magic doesn't seem that big of a deal."
Dulio scratches the back of his head and gives me an awkward smile, "You're not wrong about magic being no big deal but…"
Oh good God no.
"...It's the Holy thing, isn't it? That isn't exactly normal?"
"Yep," Dulio gives me a nod, "Using Holy Magic isn't impossible for Humans, but that requires years of training and natural talent, sometimes not even then."
I look down at my glowing hands and I couldn't help but wonder if God is playing a joke on me.
Oh wait.
God's dead.
Shit.
"...So what now?" I ask, not even bothering to look up.
"Now, I have an offer for you, Adam." Dulio leans in and I look up from my hands to him.
"How would you like to become an Exorcist?" He offers with a smile.
What.
"What."
"Ah, right. I don't think I told you about Exorcists." Dulio looks sheepish for a moment before putting on his usual smile, "Exorcists are people from the Church who protect ordinary Humans from Supernatural threats such as Devils or Fallen Angels."
I know what Exorcists are, but that's beside the point.
"Are you offering me this because of what I can do or because you actually think I would be a good Exorcist?"
Just because I can do this doesn't mean I'll be good at fighting at Devils or whatever. Sure, it'll help but I've seen what someone like Rias can do. She'll probably just kill me before I could touch her and to say nothing of her Peerage.
"Hmmm, a bit of both," Dulio tells me with honesty, "True, what you can do is nothing short of a miracle and could evolve into a powerful weapon and well...let's just call it a hunch but I wouldn't offer you this if I didn't honestly think you could do it."
Great. He's betting this on a bloody 'hunch'.
I look at Mother Superior and the Sisters, all three of them with blank faces and relaxed postures.
"It's your choice, Adam." Mother Superior simply says to me when she catches my eye.
Looks like I'm on my own here.
I look down at my hands, glowing brightly with Holiness and isn't that a weird thought to have?
I don't really care about Highschool DxD.
I don't care about the story of Issei Hyoudou or Rias Gremory. I only know these people as characters in a story, unlike the people I've grown up with and call family. Whether I change the story or not, I don't care about it really.
But I do have something I care about.
"...Why was Sam scared of you? Is she a Devil?" I ask Dulio, staring him straight in the eye.
"And if she was?" Dulio asks me seamlessly, "If you were an Exorcist and she was a Devil, what would that change?"
You motherfucker.
"Sam is my friend," I practically spit out at him, ignoring how my hands glowed brighter for a brief instance, "And nothing will change that."
Dulio gives me a warm smile, ignoring the withering glare I'm giving him, "I promised, remember? I have no intention of hurting Samantha."
"Hmph," I let out a huff and look back down at my hands, thoughts racing through my head.
"Tell me honestly: What are the chances of actually keeping out of trouble if I don't become an Exorcist?"
"Low," Dulio tells me bluntly, "Very low. As you grow older, your magic will grow stronger, albeit not as much as it would without proper training. Eventually, someone will notice and could deem you a threat in the making. Or they might you want for themselves."
Like a Devil's Peerage or the Grigori.
Wait, would I even work as a Devil? Seems like I would explode or something if I did.
I wasn't really worried about myself, honestly. I've already died before and I think that may have numbed me to a number things.
No, I was more worried about here. The orphanage, the kids and the women who raised me. I have no doubt that Mother Superior and the Sisters could protect themselves and the other kids, but they weren't the strongest.
Not by a long shot.
And it would be my fault. If someone really wanted me, to figure out what I can do and use it, all they had to do was simply hold this place hostage.
And it would be my fault.
No. No, I can't do that. They shouldn't suffer for someone like me, someone who's already lived a life.
And so there was only one choice.
I look Dulio straight in the eye and give him my answer.
.
.
"Ehhhhhhhhhhh?!" The gathered kids scream, Samantha being strangely silent, "Adam's getting adopted?!"
Taking my hands off of my ears after that collective scream, I give them a dry look.
"Why is this so surprising? This is an orphanage, you know. I'm not even the first kid to be adopted."
"Because you're so creepy!" One of the kids yell out, "And weird!" another one yells out.
All the other kids' hum and nod in agreement, causing Sisters Agatha and Anastasia to giggle while Mother Superior smirks.
Bastards. All of them, bastards.
Behind me, Dulio lets out a loud laugh at my predicament and I would've snapped at him if it wasn't for a certain girl walking over to me.
Oh no.
I couldn't see Samantha's face, her long red hair hiding her face.
Before I could say anything or even say sorry, Samantha swings her arms around me and squeezes. Tight.
"Idiot," She hiccups while she tries to kill me by asphyxiation, "Why didn't you tell me?"
I had to tap her arms for to let go and I finally got a good look at her face.
Her tear ridden face with red puffy eyes.
I think this may be the first time I made a girl cry, in both lives.
God, do I feel like a piece of shit.
"...Sorry, Sam," I said quietly, "It just kinda turned out this way. Dulio told me...somethings and it's safer this way. Trust me on this. Please."
One of the kids started singing that stupid K.I.S.S song that kids sing before he got smacked by Sister Anastasia.
"...Oh. So you know-"
"I know that you're my friend and that I care about you. Nothing is going to change that." I interrupted her before she could say anything else. She looks at me, gobsmacked while I just give her a smile.
"Tell you what. When we're older, we'll meet again if you want."
"R-really?"
"Yeah. I promise."
Samantha rubs her puffy red with her hand and holds a pinky with the other.
Of course.
"Promise." She simply said and sniffs.
Rolling my eyes but with a smile, I lock my pinky with hers.
"Promise."
She gives me a heartfelt smile and a hug before joining the other kids, her face beaming.
"Honestly, I never thought you would be the one gone so soon." Mother Superior approaches me along with Sister Agatha and Anastasia.
I just give her a shrug and a smile, "Funny how life works."
"Indeed it is," She lets out a sigh and kneels down to my level. She fishes something out of her robe and shows it to me.
It was a silver necklace that shone in the light. The pendant was of a sharp sword made into a shape of the Cross that Jesus was crucified on with a small sentence engraved on it.
Gladius Domini Deus.
"This is a memento from my younger days. It seems only fitting that I pass it on to you." She tells me and gives it to me. I gently take it from her, looking at the expensive necklace in wonder.
"T-thank you. I'll take care of it."
She simply smiles at me, "It's yours now, my child. Do what you will with it."
"Do be careful, Adam. And make sure that you don't break your promise to Samantha." Sister Agatha tells me, looking like she's going to cry at any moment.
"She's right Adam. Only trash make girls cry, you know." Sister Anastasia teases me with a smile but frowns soon after, "But yeah. Good luck, Adam. You know where to go if you need some help."
"I'll make sure to keep that in mind," I mutter dryly as I put the necklace on.
I look at everyone that's gathered. Everyone that I've known for years.
Fuck it.
"Ah!" Mother Superior yelps as I throw my hands around her neck in a hug.
"Oh my…"
"Ha!"
"Thanks. Thanks for everything." I said to the woman who named me Adam and took me in.
"...You fool," She hugs me back for a moment before pushing me away, "Now go. Before I change my mind."
I couldn't help the smile that wormed it's on my face and after grabbing my backpack, I race off to the gate where Dulio is standing, smiling at me.
"Ready?"
I give him a solid nod,"Ready."
"See ya, Adam! We'll miss you!"
"Adam's a bit weird, but he's okay! Treat him well, Mister Dulio!
I turn around and wave goodbye to everyone. The kids shout their goodbyes, Samantha yelling that we'll see each other again and Mother Superior dabbing her eyes with a tissue.
Sister Anastasia is waving her arms with a wide smile about while Sister Agatha is blowing her nose, her eyes streaming with tears.
I had to force myself to look away finally. I can still hear the shouts even as we exit the estate.
I rub my eyes with my sleeve to get the tears out of it. Dulio has his hands behind his head and whistling away, looking away from me but I can still see his smile.
"Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up." I mutter as I rub my eyes dry.
Dulio lets out a chuckle, "I'm not laughing at you, you know. It was quite heartwarming to see you so close to everyone."
"Whatever," I said under my breath, my cheeks burning, "Are off then?"
"Mhmmmmmm, you know what? Let's get some food first. I'm starving." Dulio said out of the blue.
I look up at him to see him smiling without a care in the world as if he didn't just say something stupid.
"Really? Now?"
"Of course. You know I was in Japan when I was called here? I haven't had anything to eat for hours!" He pouts like a child, "So, do you know any good places around here?"
I let out a sigh at my 'older brother' but I had to agree with him. I've only eaten breakfast so far and it's midday right now.
"There's a good fish and chip place that's not far from here. Come on, I'll show you."
Dulio lets out a big "yes!" and follows me to the fish and chips while I thought over my adoption.
Adam Gesualdo.
Doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, but I refuse to get rid of the name I was given.
Dulio wasn't my adoptive father, but my 'big brother' I suppose. The reason for the adoption was supposedly for the fact that no one knew who my birth parents were but I suspect there was more to it than that.
Oh well.
I don't know what the future has in store for me. Good, bad, mediocre, not a clue.
But I doubt any of it will surprise me.
I mean, what's' the worst that can happen?
.
.
Here it is, the winner of the poll. I planned for it to be longer, but this was a good stopping point and this chapter was fighting me every bloody sentence. The problem being is that while DxD has an interesting world, it doesn't have a very fleshed out one so I'm just kinda filling in the holes by myself, especially with the Holy Magic.
Now, let's talk about the Holy Magic. I just want to stress out that the SI is 100% Human. This will be fleshed out next chapter, but Adam is 100% Human, no half Angel, no half anything. His Holy Magic, I guess you could call it Adam's way of being relevant much later in the story. The power levels of DxD get insane later on and Adam just needs that little bit to keep him relevant. Right now, Adam is pretty shit tier. His Holy Magic can seriously hurt Devils, but he has to get close to them to actually hurt them. At least for now.
As for his Sacred Gear, I was planning on revealing that this chap, but like I said, this was a good stopping point. It'll be revealed in the next for sure. If you want to find it out, I'll say it's one that's been shown in the Anime so it's not an OC one I made and it's not a Longinus. For more hints, look at his necklace.
And now, onto the main topic: Harems.
I'll be honest, Harems are a guilty pleasure of mine. I like em, but they don't really make sense in certain stories while they do in other stories. Honestly, I wasn't going to include a Harem here, but after thinking it over, I honestly can't decide. Having a Harem for a self-insert is self-wanky as fuck and isn't really something I'm comfortable with, but it could also work to enhance the story on where I plan to take it. I'll keep thinking it over, but tell me what you guys think.
For those who are wondering when Canon starts, it'll be a couple of chapters yet. Not like 30, but more like 2 or 3. Plus, don't worry about any excessive OC characters. The ones you see in this chap will be the only ones.
That's it for this long ass A/N. Have a good one.