Hello dears!

And here we have the first chapter of Bring me to Life, in which Allen is taught a few of the facts he needs to know as a new Akuma. I tried my best not making it an info dump, but in all honesty it was not logical for Mana to not give Allen the informations he does, and it was logical for them to talk about it as they moved to the meeting with the Noahs. So while this chapter is a discussion between them, it is a very important chapter.
It isn't just about informations on this AU's world, but also, let's say there might be little hints of something.

They also happen to talk gender, as Mana is actually wanting to make sure he knows what Allen prefers. This also leads to why I am now tagging on AO3 "Intersex character" which refer to Allen. Noahs aren't, as explained they are hermaphrodites in the literal sense (able to change sex). Most Noahs don't actively change it all the time, and each have their own preferences too. I don't think it will really play a part later, but this all came into Allen and Mana discussion, and so I wanted to make it all clear(er).

I hope you will enjoy, and feel free to comment about anything that you think might be a hint~!
I would say there are four hints, and one or two more exist but I would say it's only because I know, well, what I know.
There's also something present in the prologue that also shows a bit here, but as tempting as it is to give a hint, I will wait a bit more~

Bring me to Life

Chapter 1: The ways of Hell

Soft steps barely sounded as Mana lead the way in the corridor, Allen's presence at his side. It wouldn't take too long for all the Noahs to join at the meeting hall, Adam had already called for them, and it was Mana's task to watch over the interactions. But first, it was important to give Allen an explanation, especially as the poor Akuma looked a bit confused.

"Have you heard of Hell before?" Mana asked, and Allen shook head negatively.

"Not in a right away, at least. Some people say that's where sinners go, while others only speak about it as the realm of demons." Allen couldn't help a snort at the light scowl Mana showed.

"Hell is the world of darkness, while Astral is the one of light. Demons do exist though, they are the beasts born here. And us Noahs, are the first beings born here."

"So you've never been to Astral?" Allen questionned, pensive.

"No. We were aware of another place, because light flows into our world, becoming darkness. It is the flow of magic." Mana smiled as Allen's eyes lit up in understanding. "That is why humans that learned magic find their way here after their death. The magic that touched their souls make them float here."

"So… You Noahs welcome and give a new life to magicians that passed away?" There was something almost awed in Allen's gaze, that made Mana's cheek flush a bit.

"That's correct, beings like you are Akumas. My brother has always known how to create the skeleton, what your soul latched onto to have a body fitting for Hell. And I'm the one who gives the breath of life." Mana reached out, petting the white hairs, grinning at little bit at the way Allen's ears twitched in a sigh of contentement. "The rest of the clan oversee Hell, so they each have their territory, and their own energy. Because Akumas were once magicians, they have a stronger ability with magic here. In other words, they tend to be stronger than demons, at least in theory."

Allen breathed out a laugh. "It's not that simple, is it?"

Mana watched as Allen lifted a hand, closing and opening fingers. "You can tell, right? Your energy isn't settled, it's different now, from light to darkness. And something feels missing. That's because Akumas need to be claimed by a Noah."

Allen frowned, voice smaller at the inquiry of, "Claimed..?" and looking so confused.

Mana knew it was because the remains of being human felt unsure, but the Akuma felt thrilled. "All Akumas have a dominant energy's signature, and they only settle when they form a pact with the Noah that energy belong to. Not being claimed can lead to your new body… crumbling." He paused, and felt himself rest an arm around Allen's shoulders, pulling the Akuma close, and it had the desired effect when he felt how Allen's frame relaxed, trusting silver eyes on him. "You still have traces of your human's mind right now, so it feels weird. But as the ones who own Hell, it is eventually harmful to not belong to a Noah's territory. My brother, as the Creator of all Akumas, does give you protection, but you need the correct one, too."

Allen nodded in understanding, though hesitation showed. "He… can control me though, right?"

Mana showed surprise. "Your senses are well developped, if you could tell… But yes, though we honestly rarely use it, if never. All Akumas would have to obey if he desired, and the same applies toward the Noah they belong to. This is why the Fourteenth Noah exist, though. He can negate orders."

"Fourteenth?" Allen asked, gaze on Mana's face.

Mana chuckled. "There are fourteen Noahs, my older brother Adam and I are the First, and my twin brother is the Fourteenth. The twelve others each have a territory, with demons and Akumas both."

"Are they all your family? Don't you have Akumas, then? You and your brothers." And there was a sadness in Allen's voice, that tugged at Mana's heart.

Mana had to look forward as Allen looked down. "We are family, but in a wider sense. Only some of us are actual siblings, because we were born from the same energy. Me and my brothers, there's Tyki and Sheryl too, and then Jasdero and Devit." Mana sighed. "While my brothers and I do have our unique energy too, Akumas need to belong to a territory. It isn't just for their energy to settle, but to grow stronger."

"What do you mean? Why is it needed?" Allen's ears lowered a bit. "Do we need to fight?"

Mana looked at Allen for a few second, frowning lightly at the trace of uneasiness, almost fear. "I wouldn't say you need to. Akumas can only grow stronger fighting against demons and Akumas of other territories. And, well, us Noahs love to challenge each other. Try to extend a bit territory, though small bits. We're always in friendly war, you could say." He shrugged. "That's our nature, and we love it, which is also the case for demons. But we know that Akumas are different. You still have memories of your previous life, if vague, don't you?"

Allen shivered a bit, nodding. "Humans from Astral rarely have a positive memory of wars and battles. So it takes time getting used to it?"

Mana smiled. "Yes, though not all grows to do it as much as demons. Most Akumas keep some level of human's mindset, too." His arm finally lifted from Allen's shoulders, to ruffle Allen's hairs again, grinning at the little squeak he earned. "And as I said, Noahs look out for their Akumas. You won't have to fight more than you want to."

"And if I… don't want to? At all?" Allen looked away, to the opposing side. "Everyone seem to want it in some level, enjoy it… But I just want to… live here."

Mana observed Allen, sensing how the energy still hadn't settled. His heart thumped harder, small hope wishpering, maybe that is because he really is yours. "It can be something demons might not understand, but your Noah would."

Allen's hand reached out to take Mana's, and silver eyes were back on the Noah, and Mana was already feeling his heart shatter at the faint hope. "Who is my Noah?"

Mana's hand held Allen's tighter, but his hesitation seemed to be betrayal enough, because he saw the sad acceptance show. "Right now, I can't tell." Now that did surprise Allen. "Energy can take time to settle, especially depending how you… died in Astral." Mana saw and felt how Allen tensed, and he was quick to add, "No one going to ask you. We consider Astral's life as the past, and no one has to share their past if they don't want to."

Allen smiled faintly, but it dropped soon. "So… that's why there's this… meeting?"

Mana's thumb rubbed the back of Allen's hand. "Yes. There will be all twelve Noahs, and your soul will be able to sense who is best for you. But it first has to be in contact with all Noahs."

"It's my choice? Will I really know?" The somewhat wide eyed look was rather adorable. Or so Mana thought, making Allen's face flush a bit, from the way Mana's gaze took a softer, fonder glint.

"You will. There will be Noahs you also feel closer too, as your resonate with their energy more than some others, but I can assure you. Once you've been in contact with them all, you will be able to tell which one is yours. Or which ones. In very rare cases, you can resonate with two at equal level. However, you can still choose only one, as two can be hard on your soul, even after settling. And you can only grow stronger fighting other territories, and some Noahs don't want Akumas to fight the demons of their own territories; so if you belong to two territories rather than one… You can guess how hard it can be to grow stronger. But that's only a problem for those that want to grow fast."

"So if it happens to me, all I'll really have to ask myself is if I can handle two claims, am I right?"

Mana had to hide his surprise. Surely, Allen wasn't aware..? "That's pretty much it." Even if Allen felt the resonances, Mana had to remind himself, it might be temporary, and Adam had reminded him it wouldn't be fair, or good for Allen. But Allen had mentionned not wanting to fight…

Mana had to push the thoughts at the back of his mind. Still, his gaze drifted to Allen again, though like a few times now since they left the Egg's room, he couldn't help the way his eyes took into the whole of Allen's body.

He didn't know what made him feel more flustered, that he felt embarrassed to roam over Allen's body like that, or that he felt the way it made him feel warm, mind mercilessly reminding him he had seen this body naked.

It seemed Allen noticed the way Mana kept throwing looks though, because a small, almost fond smile formed. "Do you want to ask me something?"

Mana felt his cheeks flush for good this time, but he laughed a little bit, allowing his gaze to be as curious as he felt, soothed by how Allen didn't seem angry. "We tend to refer to Akumas as neutral beings, but some want to be refered to as they used to be. Or, in some cases, how they wanted to be refered to, deep down."

Allen tilted their head, lifting an eyebrow. "You mean if I see myself as male or female?"

Mana chuckled. "Among others ways. Us Noahs are able to change our sex, independantly from our body, and so we felt as confused as the first few Akumas when they didn't understand why we asked them if they could change. Adam and I took forever realizing that, no, we didn't mess up with the first Akumas, humans aren't hermaphrodites beings."

Allen couldn't help the snort. "Now that sounds like a funny way of learning about the humans', ah, anatomy." They teased, seeming to enjoy Mana's laugh even as cheeks flushed more.

"Oh, totally. One got really offended, too. A bit too happy being a man, to be honest." Malcom might be one of the oldest Akuma, but by the fires, he was a prideful pain to deal with. "But that is why we ended up asking to be told more about how humans work, and after the first few times we asked what someone prefered to be refered to as, we noticed that quite a few feel happy." He scratched his cheek with a finger, smile soft. "It's the ones who are really touched that convinced us it was a good idea. We didn't even know most humans assume rather than ask."

Allen's expression fell a bit, frowning. "They do, don't they?" They muttered, but soon they showed a gentle smile. "I don't mind being seen as neutral, but I've refered to myself as he before. I enjoy my masculine body," he added, grinning as Mana's eyes travelled down said body without control, again. Allen knew what Mana was thinking about however, so his smile softened. "Have you met Akumas with bodies like mine before?"

Mana returned the smile, nodding. "That was another time we felt confused, we thought we did mess up. Poor thing was afraid we would try to change them, when they liked how they are. Another, on the other hand, asked us if we could something about it. It actually took a bit of time after they went to their Noah, but they learned how to."

"I see… Then I guess you also wonder about what I want?" At Mana's nod, Allen shrugged. "Like I say, my body mostly masculine, I don't care that it's the only place it's not. Or, halfway you can say."

It took willpower not to chuckle at Mana's flushed face, Allen found it adorable. And so grateful this was the Noah who welcomed new Akumas. Mana's presence was soothing, and Allen event wanted to call it pure.

It made him curious about this twin brother Mana mentionned, were they similar? Or were they different? What about the other Noahs? But he guessed he would soon discover, before they reached large double doors, and he knew before Mana told him, "Here we are!" that this was the doors of the meeting hall.

The doors to a new life… Here we go, I guess.

To be continued…