The blank stare on my face said everything. Meeting Diehauser was one thing, but Serafall, that's a disaster waiting to happen. From the stories I've heard, her hobby of convincing men to become magical girls is what scares me the most. My body reactively shivered at the thought; a bright pink dress and a wand sound like something straight out of a horror movie. One name should be enough to get your attention, Mil-tan ... That's enough said. When I first saw him in the show, I laughed my ass off. But now that I'm with Serafall, I'm scared for my masculinity.
Alright, alright. I might be fabricating some stuff here. Don't misunderstand; I'm still frightened by the prospect of being five feet from this ... this ... 'monstrosity.' However, something in the back of my mind tells me that Serafall's character is more complex than what meets the eye.
The majority of the time, you see her as a hyperactive magical girl that's obsessed with her sister. Maybe a little too extreme if she's willing to attack heaven for the sake of her 'Sona-tan.' But I can't help but think that her eccentric personality is just a facade. History shows that she witnessed and played a huge role in ending the Devil Civil War.
From my experiences, war changes people. When I was a guidance counselor in my previous life, I met several students' parents who served in the military. They all seem normal and content with their lives when someone is around. But when no one is looking, they have this blank gaze in their eyes, almost as if they are no longer with us.
The way they hold their children also catches my eye. Compared to the others, their body posture is more protective, seemingly scared that they will lose what they have in their hands.
I can't say that I can apply everything I have mentioned to Serafall. But my gut is telling me that there might be a whole other side of her that people don't see. And to be honest, I don't want to find out. My goal is to live a peaceful life where the insane/OP/weird individuals leave me alone.
But it's kind of hard to accomplish something like that when the damn Maou is fucking dragging me around on a leash!
Many of you have probably seen how crazy Serafall is from DxD material. However, forcing a kid to wear a child leash takes the cake. I look at the backpack straps around my armpits along with the chest harness attached to it. The bright pink glitter and stickers of Hello Kitty don't make it any better.
Yeah ... the scene looks absolutely ridiculous, yet I'm the one who's suffering this punishment. Have I done something to anger God cause I'm positive that I didn't do anything that would deserve being basically a pet to a damn Satan?
But then again, that bastard has been dead for a while. I sighed as I looked at my feet dangling in front of me with my ass on the ground. I could feel my pants heating up from being dragged around, as friction wasn't being my friend at this moment. If I didn't do anything soon, my ass was about to be exposed to the world.
My best bet in this situation was to send an SOS to the other woman with us. But only if she could stop giggling while trailing behind us. Damn Cleria and her dumbass ideas. Whenever I agree to do something for her, it always ends up in a clusterfuck.
I mean, the main objective here was to meet Diehauser, yet that crafty bastard came up with the excuse of needing to go to a meeting when Serafall proposed a picnic. I call bullshit, knowing that the man probably wants to get as far away from Serafall. I'll remember this Diehauser cause if shit hits the fan later on, you're by yourself.
I glared at the grayed-haired girl, trying to get her to help me. It's not that much to ask, is it?!
The only response I got was a shrug, but that smirk on her told me enough as she was not in the mood to assist me at all. And why am I friends with this terrible female is beyond me? I need to hang out with better friends.
Eventually, that dreadful experience concluded when we arrived at our destination.
The sight was quite scenic and beautiful for an outdoor location in the Underworld. The dark color sky that was usually present was no longer there, as it must be magic since everything looked like the Human world. The blue sky and lush green grass felt nostalgic. It has been five years since I have seen a view like this, and I have missed seeing what I used to call normal. The Underworld was a crazy place, and personally, the DxD universe was a shitshow.
Serafall guided Cleria and me to a spot underneath a large tree. She snapped her fingers, and suddenly, a large blanket appeared on the ground beside us with a picnic basket filled with sandwiches and a pitcher of what looked like orange juice.
She also took off that dreadful thing attached to me, as a teasing look appeared on her face. This Maou was enjoying this way too much. Is messing with me a sport now? First, it was Cleria. Now it's a lunatic dressed as a magical girl. I don't know if Sona was born yet, but find someone else to deal with your crazies.
As we all took a seat, I peeked at the other two individuals beside me. A year ago, people would think my reputation couldn't attract any prominent figures in the Underworld. And here I am sitting with these females who can probably kill me with a flick of a finger. I'm starting to think that I am a magnet for trouble.
"So, what do you think about the view?" Cleria asked while passing me a sandwich that I accepted. I still haven't forgiven her for throwing me to the wolves, otherwise known as Serafall. But it would be better to go with the flow and pray for an uneventful outing.
"Quite beautiful; reminds me of the Human world based on all the pictures I've seen." Not exactly a lie since Rhys Phenex never left the Underworld, but I can't exactly go around and tell people that I was a human in my previous life.
"Hmmm, glad you think so." She replied. "I've been managing a territory in a country called Japan and am quite fond of the view up there."
At those words, a shiver ran up my spine. I know that Cleria was bound to supervise Kuoh, but it can't be this early? Can it?
I wanted to curse Ichiei Shibumi and his apathy towards the events before the main story. Some extra details or a timeline would be handy, but no, the author's/main protagonist's sex fantasies are more important than everything else.
An image of Cleria dying popped up in my head ... And for the first time in this life, my nerves were going haywire.
Is this fear?
I might view Cleria as a person who is annoying, manipulative, and troublesome 90% of the time. But she's important to me and doesn't deserve to be a sacrificial tool that will drive the plot forwards.
DxD might be a story, and Cleria Belial might be a fictional character in the past. But now, she's a living person, and the world around me is as real as it can get.
I hope my facial expressions didn't show my internal turmoil cause I was freaking out. My goal since birth was to get away from the supernatural and live a stable life. There was no point in dealing with my shit family and the power-obsessed nature of Devil kind.
But now, everything is different. I was no longer alone cause Cleria Belial, unlike other Devils, decided to fuck all the rules/traditions/bias and barged into my life like a hurricane. She wasn't just a bitch who made my life tough but the first person to reach her hand out to a boy who had nothing. In a cheesy way, she brought some light into my life.
What am I supposed to do now? Stay on course to my original plans, or fuck canon? I hold the key to changing many future events. However, am I willing to act on that information? I don't know.
I took a bite of my sandwich, trying to calm myself down.
Why am I even having a difficult time making a choice? The decision should be obvious. Saving her should be the only thing in my mind. But what if something goes wrong? Will I even be able to do anything about it? Even with Devil parents, I'm a human with no power, no nothing.
This shit can wait. I need to think this through when I'm alone. For now, let's push my worries to the back of my mind.
"I see." I responded. "So that's why you've been away more frequently recently."
"Yeah, it's a lot of responsibility, but I have nothing negative to say about the experience." She leaned back with her hands on the ground. A small smile appeared on her face. "I really love it up there; a world where everybody can co-exist in harmony despite race, gender, or beliefs. I know that there are many hiccups along the way that result in conflict and violence, but at least they're trying."
"That's a lot different than the Underworld then."
She scoffed. "It's like comparing an apple to an orange. Humans may be known for many things, but their willingness to try new things and make changes is what I find admirable. Devil culture has been stagnant for centuries as all the elders and high-class Devils seem to have a stick up their ass."
Serafall giggled at her statement, clearly amused. "You are absolutely right, Cleria-chan. To be honest, I hate those bullies too. If I could do something about it, I would've changed them all into magical girls. Maybe that'll loosen them up!"
"That sounds amazing, Levia-tan. That'll easily solve half the problems in the Underworld!" They were having fun with where the conversation was going, but I brought them back to Earth by cutting in.
"Not everything's that easy. If you force change, then retaliation will be the only result." I made eye contact with Serafall as I continued. "The previous generations have experienced it once before and seen the aftermath. I hope they'll use that as a lesson to make sure that the past doesn't repeat itself."
The holder of the Leviathan title's eyes widened, surprised by my perspective on the situation. I ignored whatever expression she had as I found my sandwich to be the most intriguing thing at the moment.
"Well. Well. You aren't what I imagined at all." She declared, grinning brightly, losing some of that childish tone in her voice. "Guess that's what happens when I listen to all the rumors about you."
I snorted. "Like I could care about what others say about me."
"I think you're underestimating who you are. You are, after all, a son of house Phenex."
My laughter was the result of what she said. Cleria didn't seem too surprised by my behavior since she has witnessed what my family is like to me. But Serafall looked confused, ignorant about what I have to deal with daily.
"You're mistaken. I'm no son of house Phenex. To them, I am no more than a stain to their prestigious legacy." I answered with disdain.
While my mother and my eldest brother might be a different story compared to the other three assholes, they'd haven't done anything to get in my good graces either. They seem to love me despite everything that has happened, but in the end, they're just bystanders who are too scared to act or are unwilling to do anything to help me.
"There are moments where I wonder why I was born?" Those words came out naturally as a quiet mumble, but of course, enhanced Devil hearing is a thing in this world.
Cleria quickly reached over and grabbed my right hand in a comforting manner; her mood soured as she seemed unhappy at what I accidentally conveyed.
"There's no reason for you to think like that." She chastised me softly. "You're still young, despite how mature you are. You have plenty of time to find your purpose in life."
"I don't think it's as easy as you say."
"I'm not saying that it'll be. But I know one day, you will recognize your self-worth."
I turned my head away from her, blushing, slightly embarrassed at how much faith she had in me. What does she see that I don't? I like to think that I know myself better than anyone else. And I know that I'm no one special. But the conviction in her voice really made me believe.
"I hope you're right."
"I know I am. I'll make sure of it." She beamed, playfully ruffling my hair.
These are the times when I'm glad I had someone like her. I always thought that I could handle everything by myself. But having someone to share some of my burdens felt warm and bubbly. It's nice feeling this way, even if my mind is trying to reject everything she just said.
While all of this was happening, the corner of my eye caught Serafall observing me analytically. Compared to before, it's like she has become a completely different person. Gone was the magical girl persona, and replaced with a cold, emotionless woman studying me as if I was a test subject.
I don't know why her personality did a 180, but how she looked at me reminded me why she was one of the strongest beings in this world. She was undoubtedly someone not to make an enemy. If you end up as a hostile, death will be the result.
Who knows what she sees me as currently, but I can't let my guard down at all when people like her exist.
My instincts tell me that it's best if I un-associate myself from her. I don't want to be involved with her more than I have to.
Is this a dream? I'm positive that I passed out immediately after being dropped off by Cleria. Serafall was outside of my paygrade, and dealing with her was more exhausting than I thought.
I scanned my surroundings and noticed that I was floating slightly in the air. Oh, okay, no questions about it. I'm most certainly in a dream.
I don't know where I was, but in the distance, a group of black silhouettes standing in a circle caught my attention. Well, as strange as it may seem, the scene got me curious. I've had lucid dreams in the past, but this felt a lot different.
Interesting ... I wonder how do I move towards them? It seemed like my question triggered something as my body began drifting closer and closer to them.
About 20 feet away, I came to a stop. Now that I can see better, the silhouettes varied by gender and size, all staring at a brown-rusty book on the ground.
Can they notice my presence? I wasn't too far away, but if they did detect me, they were doing a great job ignoring my intrusion.
Unexpectedly, all of them began to speak. The way they spoke each word simultaneously in a monotone voice was creepy enough. However, their words sent chills all over my body.
"The path to greatness is one shrouded with mystery."
"But that never stopped us."
"To trudge through any obstacles is what differentiates us from the others."
"Even if the path is full of despair, we chose this life."
"And for that reason, we have no one else to blame but ourselves."
"Nevertheless, there are no regrets."
"We did what we had to do, and those actions will echo through time."
"And now, you will be our legacy."
All of a sudden, those individuals turned their focus on me. Those last words are ominous, and them breaking their huddle to walk toward me wasn't a good sign.
I tried willing myself to move away, but it was no use. I was stuck.
In an instant, I got surrounded. It was unnerving with all that was going on.
I needed to get out of here. I needed to wake up.
Why was this occurring in the first place? I never had a dream like this; it feels way too real.
One of the silhouettes broke its formation around me as it carried the book that they were looking at previously. Without warning, it pushed the item into my hands.
'Our Stories' was what I saw on the cover, and that was all she wrote. The moment I touched the book, a bright light engulfed me, and I was no longer there.
I woke up in shock. Sweat dripped down my face.
What the hell was that? I began clenching my hands open and close, trying to stabilize my mental state. No way was that an ordinary dream. If anybody says otherwise, they are the biggest liars in the world.
I could be going insane due to being in the DxD universe, and weird is what people in this world expect.
Those silhouettes ... What were they? It's like they were waiting for me all this time. Why? And that weird book ... There were so many things I wanted to know. But it's not like anyone could help explain what I witnessed.
Ughhh, this was frustrating. Yet somehow, I feel strangely relieved. I don't know why, and there's no correct way of describing it.
For now, I'll have to move on. I can't overthink it. It might be a random dream for all I know. There are more pressing concerns that I have to deal with, and extra distractions won't help me at all.
A few days later, I heard a knock on my door.
No Devil in the right mind would visit a person like me. So it could only be one person.
I sighed, knowing that it was Cleria visiting again. She always picks the worst times to come here.
I had enough on my plate thinking about the future.
After fighting with myself for days, I decided to do what I truly wanted for once. I could care less about the repercussions.
Cleria isn't someone I am willing to lose, and the opportunity to save her is still there. She won't suffer the same fate as canon. I'll make sure of it. Diehauser won't lose a cousin, and the Underworld won't lose a bright girl who I believe will do great things later on in life.
I reached for the door and swung it open.
"Cleria, it's seven in the morning. Don't you have anything better to do? I swear you always ... "
I had to stop myself from continuing after noticing that it wasn't her. I wished that it was now that I saw who it actually was.
"Rhys-chan. I came to visit." Even though I met her only once, I know that high-pitched childish voice by heart now.
Serafall Leviathan ... Shit. Not who I was expecting and not who I wanted to see.
Beside her, a small girl with black hair styled in a short bob cut was hiding behind her leg. That better not be who I think it is.
"This is my sister, So-tan!" She exclaimed cheerfully before picking up the said girl to show her off.
Motherfucker!
Sorry about the delayed update, everyone. I had to rewrite this chapter multiple times since I had difficulty deciding how to proceed with the story. That may be why I jumped around a bit in this chapter, and some parts may not be as cohesive as the others.
To be honest, it's been a while since I've read the light novels and watched the anime. I need a refresher here or there, so I gotta revisit some stuff. But I'll most likely change certain aspects of DxD to fit it in with my vision of this story.
Ages of Characters:
-Cleria: 15 years old
-Rhys: 5 years old
-Sona: 3 years old
-Serafall: You don't want to know
So Fate stuff is slowly being incorporated into this story. It's taking a bit, but I promise it will all be revealed soon. Fingers crossed, though.
I look forward to what you all have to say about this story. Thank you for all your support!
