I was on edge the whole day.
Not for just one reason, the storm spirits watching me from the windows were unsettling enough, but I had a strange sort of tingling in my core…I briefly wondered if this is what it felt like for farmers who felt it was about to rain.
There was a storm coming that was for sure, I just had to figure out from where, how bad, and what I could do fend it off without real issue.
Somehow though, I knew it was big.
Classes ended in a blur, a statement to how off put I was, and I headed up to the Student Council room as per schedule.
The door was ajar slightly, something I wasn't particularly surprised about, and I walked in. Sona was absent it seemed, that was strange, she couldn't have been gone long if she left the door open. I carried about my normal business, heading into the kitchen and beginning prep. I was thinking a salad with sliced chicken and some dressings. Maybe some toast to go with it. I set about my task, unable to shake the eerie feeling that chased my stomach, and eventually, I sighed.
"Come out Aella."
I felt my collar flap, as the shadow that curled beneath it suddenly flew out, like a long scarf of black wing, before it coiled in on itself like a snake, and faded into existence. Aella greeted me, standing tall and firm, though her eyes bore more of a silent question more than anything else.
"What is required of me?"
"I've had an uneasy feeling all day…is it because of you?"
I knew it was blunt, but I felt like she might have an answer.
"The Winds of Change have started to advance" she said after a small pause. I wasn't entirely sure if she was being vague on purpose because she knew, or if she was trying to be helpful.
But she was right, change is coming, and fast…and not in a peaceful way.
"Your three companions, what are their names?"
She blinked, before nodded, "Tempest, Cane, and Lite."
I was surprised, those sounded like fairly modern names. Were they trying to be considerate?
"Are they comfortable with them?"
"They answer."
She wasn't the right person for this was she? Awe well, they weren't bad afterall. I nodded in acceptance, "Introduce me later, it would be a problem here."
"Agreed." She said with a nod, and I couldn't help but feel but more rigid in her stoic presence. Was it intentional?
"Relax Aella. You may have followed Wrath, but I am not him, I am only his container. I freed you because of your connection with him…but if possible friendly terms would be preferable."
She stared at me.
…
Mk, that failed I guess.
The door suddenly opened, and Aella burst, immediately scattering and hiding beneath my clothing. In came Sona, along with the majority of the council.
Looking troubled.
This is the part where I don't stick my nose in and just do what I normally do-
"Gray Fortis." I heard Sona call, and I winced, "Give me a moment."
She did…but I felt her eyes practically stared through the back of my head like heatrays, trying to melt their way into my skull to make me move faster manually. I put the finishing dressigns, tossed it to mix it all together, before I grabbed the knife I used for cutting, and headed over, plopping down on the floor and looking at her.
"Alright, what's up?"
"Are you prepared to fight Riser to the death?"
That was a very extreme question.
"It's my understanding that he can't die. My job is to beat him until he no longer wishes to live. If you are asking whether or not I'm confident I can do that, then yes, I am."
"Do you think you are capable without breaking your piece?"
I speared a few leaves onto a slice of chicken, and stared at it.
Wasn't cooked all the way through, guess I might been to bring some from home if I want this done right.
"I made a promise to Rias." I said evenly, before biting the whole thing off, and staring at Sona powerfully, chewing and swallowing, "I told her that even if my piece breaks, even if I have to level Hell's castle to the ground, she will be free of this."
"Does that mean you're prepared to make Hell your enemy?"
I didn't even blink, "I plan to make an enemy of God. I'm sorry if this offends you, but compared to Him, the lot of you don't compare."
She frowned, "That does not mean you're strong enough."
"No, but it means I know I will be. I've spent a lot of time growing accustomed to its influence. In a sense, I'm in a perfect position to absorb a considerable amount of power. I'm not one to hold things over people's heads…but my predecessors have raided Hell before, four times actually, and none of them went down without achieving what they wanted…and I am already ready to surpass them."
I have held many conversations with Ajax about my power's history, it had quite the impressive track record.
She held my gaze for a time, before she smiled a little, "Then promise me something."
"Depends on the promise, I already have one to keep."
"Return to her after you break your piece."
I blinked, trying to hide my reaction, "The hope is that I don't."
"You may have fooled Rias…but it's not so well hidden from me. The moment you part, you…darken. Your planning on defeating Riser, breaking your piece during or soon after, and declaring your independence. You want to use Riser's defeat as a show of strength to encourage the Devils to leave you alone, whilst also taking the crosshairs off of Rias and her Peerage…am I correct?"
I swallowed, I mean, those are some nice bonuses, but my reasons were far more selfish, "I will set her free, that is the promise I made."
"You realize that losing you here will shatter her confidence."
"She has a strong peerage, all of them capable, even the pervert…he took eight pieces, mutated even! He holds a Longinus, a power called a God-Killer, and he is incredibly easy to motivate. He will be enough."
"It's not power she is after."
I didn't reply…I knew that. I know she didn't recruit me just for power, even if I didn't want to believe it. She was my genuine shot at having everything I ever wanted. But I knew, I knew if I clung to it, I would only bring it to a bitter end sooner.
"I will not promise to become her piece once again. That will depend entirely on her…After she's been freed, and what circumstances follow after…we will see."
