Hello everybody. This is now the second part of this chapter. Sorry this took longer than I said but I had problems to write some parts. To be honest I think I should slow down the rate that I update. It isn´t like that do much but I do this because I feel like it and at the moment this feels a bit more like a chore. I will not discontinue this story however.
Anyways I hope you like it and I will see... well you will read of me at the end again.
"Some of you may die but this is a sacrifice I am willing to make." = Talking
"Crap. CRAP. I need to go on a toilet." = Yelling
´Ah he is a man of culture.´ = Thinking
Back in the presence in front of the council room…
´Man the last few days were tiring. Reya-san really hardcore about the magic lesson but at least I know the spell to make a familiar contract now.´
My magic lesson started the next day of the hunt and were intense. Not physically even if I spent hours using spells other and other again. No the hardest part was the mental aspect of it. You need to know much in order to cast even one spell.
And then there also was Tomoe who challenge me every training in order to test her sword style against mine.
With a last sigh I knock and leave those thoughts behind. Upon entering I was greeted by Ruruko-san, Gen-san and Sona-kaichou.
"Hey guys. Am I early or what is up with the others?" I ask into the room. It is unusual for the others not being present.
"Hello Issei-san. The others are going patrolling. It will be only us today." Sona-kaichou answers my question. "Now that you have arrived let us go."
And with that we group to gather and use a teleportation circle to travel to the familiar forest.
Familiar Forest (3rd POV)
"So this is the familiar forest? Looks ominous." Issei says as he look around.
"Ohoho it is full moon today. The perfect time to look for a familiar." A voice comes from one of the trees.
As the group look toward the direction of the voice and see a man there. The man wears a white tank top and grey shorts. On his back he carries a big yellow backpack. He also has unkept hair which is a bit tamed by his cap and a ribbon.
"Who is that guy?" Asks Genshirou.
"Boy, I am Zatouji. And I will be your guide this fine night." The now named Zatouji says. "Now then what kind of familiar do you want? A strong one? A fast one? One that can heal? With my help you will… Wait why is a human here?"
"Is that a problem?" Sona asks with her normal monotone voice but hidden in it was a slight edge.
Zatouji shivers and quickly replies: "NO. No, there isn´t. I was just surprised that is all. It is not common for human to appear here."
"Good. Then let us start." And with that they start their search.
"So you three still didn´t tell me what kind of familiar you want." States Zatouji.
"Well I want a strong one. Something I can rely on to have my back." Genshirou says.
"That is surprising mature of you, Gen-kun." Sona states upon hearing Genshirou´s reason.
"Oh come on, Kaichou. I am often mature." Replies Genshirou a bit hurt.
"Um… Well I would like a cute one." Ruruko says.
"Eh a cute one? For your first familiar you should choose something useful. The boy has the right mentality. What about you, human boy." Zatouji asks Issei.
"Hm well to be honest I didn´t really think about it since I wasn´t sure if I could even do the familiar contact on time. But I guess something with which I could fly would be useful or something which helps me gather information would also be good." Issei answers.
"Ah this are wise choices for you, I feel it. And do not worry. I had people who had less of an idea than you or even the little girl here." Zatouji says before turning toward Genshirou. "I may have an idea for a familiar for you. It can breathes fire and back in the ancient times was quite feared. So are you interested?"
"Yes." Says Genshirou while think to himself: ´Oh boy. This sounds like a dragon.´
With that Zatouji takes the lead and guides them in a specific direction.
"Say Zatouji-san, what can be a familiar?" asks Issei.
"Well, if we going to be theoretical then everything and everyone that poses mana can be a familiar. From the smallest insect to even the mightiest magician. Tiamat herself could even become a familiar. But nobody manage to do that but not because of a lack of trying." Zatouji says with a hint of amusement.
As they continue to walk they hear a loud roar coming from the direction they are going.
"What was that?" asks Ruruko while sliding a bit closer to Genshirou.
"That would be what I had in mind for your friend. It is a chimera. And not one of those who were created in some lab but a natural chimera." Zatouji reveals toward the group while standing as if he expects to be praised.
"A natural chimera?" Genshirou only replies. Clearly not having any idea what the man is talking about.
Before Zatouji could explain Issei answers: "If it is what I think it is then it is a monster form Greek mythology with the body and a head of a lion, the tail is a sneak with potent venom and it has a second goat head. It also has the ability to breath fire."
"Boy, for not having put many thought into your familiar you do know your stuff." Zatouji says with a bit of respect.
Before Issei could say anything more the group started to hear a sound. At first it was extremely faint but overtime it became louder. It didn´t take long for the group to figure out that the sounds resemble wing beatings.
Then came a second roar. This time much closer to the group. The group quickly figured out that what ever the sound of wing beatings make is trying to escape the chimera. After a moment a black pegasus appears out of the woods and lands close to them. At first both Zatouji and Issei are wondering why the pegasus has such trouble to escape the chimera since pegasus are quite a bit faster than chimeras but then Ruruko notices something which answers their wondering.
"Look, it is hurt." Ruruko says as she points at a wound near of one of the wings of the pagasus. It isn´t something deadly but the wound clearly slows down the peagasus. Not a moment later three chimeras appear as well out of the woods.
"What are we going to do?" asks Genshirou. But before anyone could say anything Issei already moved and shoot an energy wave toward a chimera who was about to leap at the pegasus.
"I won´t let it die here." Issei states as if he says the sky is blue… as if he is saying the sky is red in the familiar forest.
"Well seems like that we fight." Genshirou says and everyone prepare for the fight.
Issei and Genshirou go toward the chimera who is nearest to the pegasus. As Ruruko, Zatouji and Sona turn toward the other chimeras.
As Issei tries to close in on his target the chimera starts to breath fire. While Issei manages to evade he also loses the ground he gained and retreads back toward Genshirou.
"Damnit this would easier if I had my spear." Issei curses to himself but is by Genshirou.
"Wait you know how to a spear? Why didn´t you tell us that?"
"First now isn´t really the time but to give you a short answer. Arondight was simply the better choice than any other weapon I own."
"Wait how many weapons do you own?"
"Well a xiphos, an aphis if you want to count it, a dory, a bow but I am not great with it and Arondight of course. The spear is actually my preferred weapon but not by much."
"Seriously?" Genshirou mumbles to himself as Issei returns his complete focus back on the chimera. "Augh doesn´t matter right now. Line." With that Genshirou´s Sacred Gear appears and shoots toward the chimera´s front legs and binds them.
Now that the chimera´s movement is reduced Issei move to the back of the chimera and attacks the snake. Issei knows that as long as the chimera has all of its head trying some kind of surprise attack will be as good as impossible. So he decided to take care of the easiest one for now.
The snake part notices Issei and once he was close enough it lunges at him. But he manage to evade and tries to counter but instead of cutting it off the whole chimera leaps toward Genshirou and evades with that action Issei´s attack.
Genshirou stumbles a bit at the sudden lunge but manage to evade the chimera by open his wings and taking into the sky. It is something he often uses against Issei since the human cannot follow him there. In the sky Genshirou can both take a breather and use his beneficial position for his next attack.
Genshirou flies higher and higher and because his line is still connected with the chimera it is forced on its hindlegs. This is something which surprises it. Issei takes this opportunity and cuts of the snake part and wounds its hindlegs.
The chimera screams in pain and tries to turn toward Issei to bite him. But it is unable to do so because of Genshirou´s line. So it turns its lion head back toward Genshirou and breathes fire. In order to evade the fire Genshirou releases his line and retreats toward Issei who went back to the pegasus.
"Now with the snake taken care of, defeating the rest should be much easier." Issei says.
Genshirou nods and takes the opportunity to look toward Sona, Ruruko and Zatouji. Sona is taking on a chimera alone and seems to have no trouble doing so with her water manipulation. Ruruko and Zatouji on the other hand seem to have trouble fighting their chimera.
Ruruko isn´t able to hit the chimera since whenever she tries close in to it, it ever attacks with its claws and heads or uses its fire breath. Zatouji or more precious his familiars doesn´t seem to be able to help her. Zatouji himself doesn´t seem to have any offensive spells or other magic that could help and his familiars are simply to weak to be a concern for the chimera. The only reason their weren´t hurt yet is because Ruruko became a Rook and tanked every hit. But slowly she gets exhausted.
"Damnit. Rrurko-chan and Zatouji-san have trouble with their chimera." Genshirou tells Issei. "What should we do?"
After a short moment Issei replies: "You go help them. With its hindlegs inquired I should be able to stall enough time for you guys or Sona-kaichou to defeat one of the chimera."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Now go." And with that Genshirou goes to help Ruruko and Zatouji.
"Now how to deal with you?" Issei asks himself as he regards the chimera.
He starts to gather energy for his special attack. But to attack but to protect should chimera uses its fire breath. While Issei may be able to evade it, he isn´t sure if the pegasus behind hi could do the same.
And like predicted the chimera uses its breath attack. What he however didn´t predict is that chimera would use its own fire as cover as it lunges at him.
Issei is not able to completely evade the attack and one of the claws manage to gravely wound Issei´s leg. Now with his mobility limited he wasn´t as confident in buying enough time for the others to deal with their chimeras and come to his help.
While he and chimera are both hurt, it doesn´t mean that they are in the disadvantageous position. The chimera´s breath attack can be far more often and doesn´t take as long to use as Issei´s special move. This gives it a huge advantage.
Before Issei could come up with a plan he feels something nudge me from behind me. Not enough for me to loss my balance but enough to get my attention. As he half turns behind him, he sees the pegasus behind him.
Upon seeing that it has Issei´s attention, it turns its head toward its back.
It takes Issei a moment to realize what it want but asks it anyway: "Do you really want me to ride on your back?" It neighs in responds.
"Okay then but I need to tell you I never rode a pegasus." Says Issei as he climbs on its back.
´So what now?´ Issei thinks to himself. With him on the pegasus he gained more speed than before but that speed doesn´t equals moveability. In addition he has never fought on a horse back and needs to be careful to not fall down.
But before Issei could decide on an action the chimera decided that it had enough of waiting. It uses its breath attack. The pegasus takes a few steps away from the flames range. But the chimera used the fire yet again as a cover for its second attack. This time however instead to do any damage or killing its target it is suddenly flung away by a strong wind.
This takes Issei by surprise but it also gives him an strategy. But before he could make this strategy into reality he needed confirm his theory first. So he turned toward Zatouji and asks: "Zatouji-san! Can pegasus use wind magic?"
"Yes! They are good in it!" Came the quick reply from the guide.
"Hey, I have an idea how we can defeat the chimera." Issei says and pats the pegasus to get its attention. "The next time it uses its fire breath, create some kind of upwind and then run toward its lion head. Leave the rest to me."
At first it doesn´t replies and Issei fears that it may throw him of for his idea. This plan takes quite a bit of trust because a single mistake could kill them. Because of that he cannot really be sadden by his temporally partner but he has enough knowledge of physic to know that the hot fire plus the upwind should be enough to ride under it. While the fire hinders Issei to see the chimera the same is true on the other side of the fire. It cannot see him and that is on what is betting on.
After another moment of silence the pegasus neighs in what Issei guesses is agreement. And not a moment to soon as the chimera is back on its legs and is readying another breath attack. Issei silently prays to the gods that his plan works.
Upon releasing the attack the pegasus starts to run and a small tornado appears under the flames and like planned the flames rise high enough for them to ride under it.
Issei would have released a sigh of release if his part of the plan isn´t next. Upon coming nearer and nearer Issei readies Arondight which had gathered energy for a while now and upon coming in strike range of the lion head Issei yells: "Arondight Overload!"
An explosion happened at the spot where Issei hit but he and the pegasus are a safe distant away.
Issei turns toward to the chimera but sees that it is dead. "Puh, that went better than I awaited. Thank you Lady Athena, Lord Ares and Lady Nike for giving me this victory. You alright, partner?"
The pagesus neighs only as a reply before it sits down but Issei stays on its back and lays on it.
"Say, I came here to look for a familiar. Are you interested to become mine?"
Before it could answer a voice calls out to them: "What already forgot about us and replaced us with a horse?"
"Nah Gen-san. I knew you could beat the other chimeras so why the need to worry?" Issei calmly replies as he looks toward the others as they make their way toward him.
"Issei-san, let me see your leg. And you, Zatouji-san, please look at the pegasus." Sona commands.
After a few moments all wounds got treated.
"I am sorry, Issei, but I do not know healing magic to heal your wound. The bandage is the best I can do." Sona apologizes. It is extremely embarrassing for since she was the one to invite Issei and now he got hurt on the trip.
"It is okay, Sona-kaichou. I can´t use healing magic myself and wouldn´t do as a good job with the bandage as you did. So it is fine." Replies Issei.
"What now? Gen-kun, Issei-san and I haven´t found a familiar yet but I don´t think it would be smart to continue to search with Issei-san wounded." Ruruko asks.
"We should leave. We still can come back another time." Sona says and the others agree.
"I am sorry that you guys didn´t find a familiar and that the boy got hurt." Zatouji apologizes as it was his idea to look for a chimera.
As they prepare to return home the pegasus neighs and nudges Issei.
"Right. I still need your answer but I guess you accept?" Issei asks and the pegasus neighs in agreement.
"Well at least one of us got a familiar" Genshirou sighs as Issei makes a familiar contact with the pegasus.
"Great job, boy. You should probably know that it is a male and maybe give it a name." Zatouji says as he observes the ritual.
"Hm alright. Then your name shall be Blackjack." Issei says.
Later in the student council room…
"Issei-san, please wait a moment. There is something I want to ask you." Sona says as they return.
"Sure. What is it?"
"Issei-san would you be willing to become a part of my Peerage? I had observed you over the last weeks and determined that you are a good fit for it. Do not worry if you want to decline no one will hold it against you." Sona asks Issei. Both Genshirou and Ruruko are quiet and observing Issei.
"I am honored that you would ask me…" Issei begins to say and at that the devils begin to smile. "…but I will decline." This shocked the devils but Sona recovers quickly.
"May I know why?" Sona asks in a calm voice.
"I have nothing against working for you but… I just don´t want to lose my humanity yet. Maybe later in my life but not now." Issei says.
"I understand. I hope we continue to work together from time to time. I wish you a good night, Issei-san." Sona says.
Issei says his goodbyes and leaves. After a moment of silence Ruruko says: "Well that´s a shame."
"Yes but we will respect his decision." Sona says.
Issei´s home
Issei enters his home and notice that the light in the living room is still on. Wondering why it still is on he goes to the living room. As Issei enters the room he is surprised at what he sees. Sitting on the couch are his parents but it isn´t them who surprises him. It is Akeno who sits on the other side of them.
"Akeno-chan? Why are you back? When came you back?" Asks Issei.
"Ise-kun, you are back." Akeno says as she stands up and goes over to him to give him a hug. But as she does it Issei lets out a hiss as he needed to shift his weight onto his injured leg. "What happened, Ise-kun? Which leg is it injured?"
As Issei shows her his leg and tells her and his parents what happened, Akeno summons Twilight Healing and heals Issei leg.
"Wow. Thanks Akeno-chan." Issei says as he gives her a hug but then he gets an idea. "Hey Akeno-chan, can you heal my new familiar?"
At Akeno confirms that she, Issei and his parents to the backyard where he summons Blackjack.
"Not to sound ungrateful or unhappy but you still haven´t answered why you are back?" Issei asks.
"As you remembers the Grigori owned Sitri-san compensation. Well, one of the things that they wanted was direct contact to the leaders of the Grigori so I was chosen to be that contact since Sitri-san already knows me. And since your mother said I could stay here, we will from now on live together, Darling." Explains Akeno.
The last part was said with a huge amount of teasing and Issei fears how his school life will be from now on.
Well this is the second part of chapter 4. But since it took my longer than I wanted I also made a side story. So enjoy.
PS. Yes the pegasus is took from Percy Jackson.
Side story: The importance of devil´s wings and the high ground
Genshirou and Issei are sparing a while now and Issei pushes Genshirou back with every maneuver he does. Everytime Genshirou tries to use line to catch Issei, Issei evades and attacks him. This process repeats itself until Genshirou takes into the sky after another failed attempt.
"Give up Issei." Genshirou says with a large smile as a quote comes to his mind. "I have the high ground."
At first Issei doesn't react but then he smiles and says: "You are underestimate my power."
Issei sprints toward a nearby tree and Genshirou figures out what he is planning.
"Don´t try it." But Issei already jumps toward the tree and then from it toward Genshirou.
Issei closes in on Genshirou but before he is in striking range he starts to fall. Before Issei could land on the ground a line from Genshirou catches one of his arm.
Now hanging in the air and unable to evade any further range attack Issei sighs and says: "You win, Gen-san. I give up."
"I told you. I had the high ground." Genshirou says with a cocky smile.
"Oh shut up. I still cannot believe you did a quote from Star Wars and I went along." Says Issei. "Oh well. That was a good strategy. You guys are using your wings so rarely that at times I forget about them. Why aren´t you guys your wing so often by the way?"
"Because they aren´t so useful in a fight." Genshirou says as if issei´s question was dumb.
"Why shouldn´t they be useful? There are great for mobility. You can simply fly over disadvantageous terrain or evade people who can´t fly. Even if the opponent can fly He or she still needs to follow you which give you the opportunity to put them in a hard to evade position."
Genshirou at first seems to want says argument against what Issei said and opens his mouth but then a look of realization comes over him and he slowly closes his mouth.
And like that Genshirou learned the importance of devil´s wings and the high ground or high sky. Something he later uses and creates a little reputation for himself.
I hope you guys liked it. To be honest I am not really happy with it but I also wanted to upload this chapter. Maybe I will redo this chapter but not for now. Now I want to do something different.
Anyways I wish you guys a good day and goodbye with my best regards.