(EDIT) Not a new chapter unfortunately, but I feel like with the upcoming events that will occur within Chapter 7 onwards, I felt it necessary to comb through the Fic to look for opportunities to add extra info.

As such, this version of Chapter 2 is far darker than the first version. Also, for Chapter 7, I will only include a reference towards a potential child death, not enough to warrant a Trigger Warning but enough to know that when I said to take this seriously, I fucking meant it.

Lots of things that are omitted and not mentioned in the Fic are ideas and topics that you have to discover yourself through the visual, text and even story cues and events. It gets easier to understand the story and intentions behind future events the more times you ask why.

Why is Abslon so reluctant to remember? What could he have been involved in. Why the weird dream in the Prologue? etc.

For the sake of chapters ongoing Chapter 7, I'll make this warning. The story given will be extremely dark and the only way to progress is if you question almost anything Abslon and the other characters say and do. It's not a story that going to be handed to you so easily, and is extremely rewarding for those try to figure out what happens next and the reasons behind it.

Sorry for the lecture, but I just wanted to nip this in the bud before it becomes a problem later.

Shi The Sin of Sloth: Holy Shit you made me so happy with that review! You were actually half-right about my reason for including Serafall, but I obviously can't tell you the other because [SPOILER].

I'm also excited for when Grayfia finally appears, I think you would especially like what I do with her.

heleltd: There is a valid reason why Abslon was so hurt in the past and is still reliving the memories in the present, but I won't tell because [MASSIVE SPOILER].

... But I won't deny that I too am getting a kick out of making him suffer a bit.

Zack Sager: Abslon isn't human, he doesn't belong to any of the Three Factions, nor is he Norse, Celtic, Egyptian etc. he isn't human but he isn't a Supernatural creature either. and he isn't a hybrid of sort.

What Abslon is correlates to a special ability he possesses which I can't fully reveal because of [MASSIVE SPOILER]. however, I have given subtle and very hard to find clues as to what his power is and what could he be.

In fact there is a clue in this chapter too. See if you can find it.

Abslon

Chisato Hasegawa.

As Tristan had explained earlier, she is my therapist. Tall, mysterious and beautiful with an Honors degree in psychology, which doubles up with the fact she'd been working with Tristan for years.

Coincidently, she's also very good at her job, but that's why I don't like her.

In many of her numerous sessions with me, she tries to make me remember them each time. Logically, both Nonami and I could see the mental benefits to come with disturbing the hidden darkness.

I can see the benefits clearly, but each session I find myself reluctant to remember what had happened in that cursed place.

Which is why I am always a bit nervous sitting before her like this. Turning the heater on and giving me hot chocolate to combat the cold winds of winter in the air.

"How are you feeling?" She always starts with that question. I guess that's how all therapists start their conversations with their patients. Wanting to get as much info out of them before beginning the session. Taking a sip of the hot chocolate, I answered.

"I had a dream, last night."

She had raised her eyebrows, and gave me all her attention.

"Is it the same one you always had? The one with the black chains?" questioned Chisato. Placing her mug of coffee on her wooden coaster on the coffee table.

"This one was different, had a lot of mirrors, and a lot of voices."

"Interesting. How long have you been having these dreams?"

"A few weeks now, ever since you did that little exercise last month?"

I felt as though that was a good answer as it seemed to have cause her to dial back in thought. Eventually she placed the mug down, and too her place next to me.

"Let us do a little remembering. Perhaps you'll be able to find what that dream had meant by doing this, no?"

I shook my head.

"I know you're scared, I know that you don't want to remember. But we can't do anything else unless you learn to forgive yourself. Only then, could be given the right to move on." Chisato explained, gripping my hand through every turn.

How can I forgive myself?

"You're a strong kid, Abslon." She claimed, positioning me on the couch so that lay face up onto the ceiling.

"No, I'm not strong."

That's right. If I was, I wouldn't be in this room with you. If I was strong, then I wouldn't have to remember everything that had happened.

If I was strong.

Then he'd be beside me, right now.

Like it had always been before...

Like it always was.

Graciously, Chisato kept silent after that comment of mine. Choosing to instead focus on getting me as comfortable as possible before sitting on a chair that had been positioned beside the sofa.

She had placed both of her clod hands on my cheeks and looked into my eyes.

"Just like last time, okay? You're going to close your eyes, and I'm going to say a word. When I do, I want you to say the first thing that comes to mind."

"Okay." I responded.

Chisato gave me a small smile as she let go of my cheeks and took a notepad in hand.

"Now, close your eyes." She stated.

I relaxed my head against one of the pillows and began to close my eyes, after a few minutes of this she had finally began to speak.

"Are you ready?"

I nodded my head. "As ready as I'll ever be."

"Fire." She began.

A little spark flashed within the blackness. And soon the dark was repelled by a small, fading ember of flame. Held in between two, small, dirty and trembling hands.

"Heat, warmth and comfort." I answered.

"Lotus."

Sounds of small foot crunches sounded within my mind. My hand almost felt as though I were being pulled by someone. A small hand eloped with mine, it was as cold, wet and dirty as the other that I've seen, but this one had more energy, more uniqueness, more…life.

"Beautiful, cold and rare." I answered.

"Stone."

My head stings with a sharp pain. Like I was hit by something. Instinctively, I made motions towards my knees. Feeling the phantom pain of skin scraping off from the impact of sharp stone on the ground.

I could feel Chisato hold me down as I made any and all attempt to ease the pain on my knees.

"Cold and hard, it hurts."

"Light."

The pain ceased, and I was continuously subjected to very faint and smooth strokes against my face. I was resting on something soft, made out of numerous other things that were soft and other things that were sharp.

Feathers?

I could see the visage of a pained face, trying their hardest to look towards me with a smile. Failing, despite its light repelling the creeping darkness that stalked her.

"The cruel truth, and the ultimate lie."

"Abslon!"

"Darkness."

Nothing. I couldn't make out anything within the encroaching abyss. I couldn't feel how its emptiness made my hairs stand on end nor hear any wisp of its sinister echo.

Suddenly it hit me. I couldn't feel anything at all.

Couldn't see, touch or hear anything except the rapid beating of my heart and the encroaching anxiety from the fact that despite all that I've lost, I could feel that I wasn't alone in this abyss.

The words escaped faster than I could think.

"Can't move. Can't see anything. I'm scared, please help me."

"Wow! You're a fast learner, Abslon. That's so cool."

"Chains."

Pain. Stabbing at me through my hands and feet. Banded onto rusted chains. Even now as I laid there on the sofa I could still make out the visage of her menacing crimson eyes, lingering on my body. As if by instinct, I slowly moved my hand to feel my neck.

Yes. The pain was still there. The pain of her razor-like nails sliding across my neck and pricking my skin.

I could feel my throat tighten, I felt like I was being choked by her. By her mere visage.

Soon, I heard the rapid clapping of heels against the carpet. And Chisato stood over me, hand over my chest.

"Abslon?" she called out, gently tapping against my shoulder.

"Let me out, let me out, let me out—"

"You belong to me."

"I can't breathe, I can't see—"

"You bear no name nor any purpose, but to serve my every whim and desire."

The strangulation intensified, I began kicking against the air in an effort to escape the events occurring. Chisato's rough shake on my shoulder was enough to bring any sort of rationality I had lost back to me.

Stay calm, breathe slowly. In through the nose, out through the mouth.

"I don't care if they are philosophical."

"Hey, Abslon…"

"And I don't care if they are foolish."

Chisato paled, small beads of sweat dripping from her forehead as she panted and stared into my eyes, hand on my chest while the other brandished an orange bottle of pills. Seemingly ready to force them down my throat should the memories intensify any further.

"So."

Slowly, I placed my hand on hers and gave a little nod to continue.

"Hope." She started.

I heard a loud crack sound through rushing torrents of wind. For a moment, there was an intense sharp pain, the next, nothing. Just like the Abyss from before. Seeing nothing, hearing nothing and feeling nothing, apart from a wetness oozing down my forehead and looking down the dark, smoking barrel of a black handgun.

"Did we mean anything to you?"

"Shall we get started, my pet?"

"Despair."

Sona

She was no stranger to the amount of normalcy being the Student Council President would bring her. In fact, she had much preferred this as contrast to being the heiress of House Sitri. Where she would constantly be controlled by her parents which try to grow their power through her.

Whereas, here on Earth. As the Student Council President, Sona Shitori. She felt as though she didn't have to watch her back lest she end up like her friend. Nearly entrapped into an arranged marriage that had nearly succeeded if it were not for a pawn to horny for his own good.

She liked freedom. And she had liked the control.

However, sometimes. Even she had to admit, that the devil in her was getting bored of this normalcy at times.

Sona looked towards the window which reflected the night sky, then towards the small amount of people gathered in the council office that she could call her comrades.

Saji Genishirou, Tsubasa Yura, Momo Hanakai and her best friend, Tsubaki Shinra.

They all sat before her in amicable silence during the night. When devils like them were most active.

Waiting for Sona to decide what they should do.

Normally, they'd wait until midnight for Sona to make her decision. And while that happened, numerous things had occurred to pass the time.

Despite his normal perverse nature, and his blatant exuberance of romantic interest for her. Sona had to admit that her disciplinarian, Saji, had a knack for storytelling.

While he couldn't tell. Sona would from time to time listen to whatever stories had spun from the mind of her blonde haired pawn. His tales that drew from heroic tales, to eldritch horrors had always helped to distract Sona from thinking too much during this time of indecisiveness.

And while attaining the Prison Dragon Viritra was but a stroke of the unnaturally high luck her race possessed, the true charm of Saji, didn't lie with the Intelligence she seeks in a romantic partner.

No. while Saji wasn't smart, he was clever.

One might argue that intellect and cleverness are one in the same. However, that's not the way Sona had saw it.

As intelligent as Sona was, she can never hope to be as resourceful or good at using what she has on hand like Saji is.

That's where being clever comes in. and the true charm of the Sitri Peerage.

Unlike her Gremory rival, she had never once aimed for overwhelming strength, and had instead opted for recruiting the people who were very good at the things that she was never good at.

Thus, making her and her peerage and deadly foe when it comes to coordination.

"Hey, Saji."

Speaking of which.

Saji had turned to face the resident bishop, Momo Hanakai. "Do you have another story to tell us in the meantime?" Sona had noticed that when targeted by that question, Saji's eyes took a shine to her.

"I do actually." Good, she was beginning think too deeply again.

Saji dug in his school bag and had brought out an old newspaper, its headlines highlighting the supernatural event that had occurred in a small town near Kuoh and Harajuku years ago.

Within the newspaper, Sona could make out the destruction of the old and now ruined small town of Yotsuba within the headlines that read the famous date.

19 July 2009

She was curious, what kind of tale was spinning within her disciplinarian's head that had made knowledge of this incident relevant?

"So get this, all of us already know that the Yotsuba incident was indeed supernatural?" Sona had instead chosen to listen carefully to her pawns words, to see if he had a point.

"Then that makes what I'm about to tell you a bit easier to believe." Saji had claimed, making Sona slightly role her eyes. Is there any need to doubt whether his story is true or not? They themselves are supposed eldritch monstrosities that regular humans don't know nor don't believe they exist.

"It all starts with this young boy. He was born into a family of four. A mother, father and an elder sister about four years older than him."

"This was your regular, run-of-the-mill family. Father was the breadwinner and the mother was a beautiful housewife. They're daughter however, was a child prodigy in the field of Science and Technological development. Managing to create various inventions that were sold to various states, and made they're family the elite of the elite."

"Within four years, the daughter had started branching out towards various fields such as Agricultural development and medical study." Saji explained. In all honesty, the girl he had described in his story sounded really impressive. If she had been there nine years ago, that girl probably would have been her queen, instead of Tsubaki.

"During this time. The boy was just born, and raised graciously by the family in hopes they'll yet again cultivate another child genius. However, this turned out to be for naught as he did not inherit the genius of his older sister and was neglected by everyone else but the elder daughter herself."

"But then, one day. The eldest daughter had died. Cause of death unknown but the higher-ups suspected supernatural foul play on the devils side. It had occurred when the Great War was still raging on strong." Ah yes, she remembered. The Yotsuba incident had occurred during the time she was still kept in the safety of Vesarima, under orders of her older sister to keep her safe.

"With the death of their oldest daughter, and their only source of income gone. The once elite of the elite family fell into decline. And things had begun to spiral out of control." As expected from a once noble family. She remembered Serafall and the other Satans having to deal with the emotional fallout of the many Noble Houses that had been lost during the Great War.

"The father, out of depression and regret, turned to alcoholism. And had started to get abusive with his wife and youngest child. This had carried on for a while, but one year later. The father had died because of severe depression and overdosing. Leaving the child and the mother alone."

"Eventually, the mother succumbed as well. Died because of the wounds inflicted upon months of abuse taking effect. The child was reported missing. However, only two months later. A massacre occurred on the 19th of July."

"Everyone within Yotsuba was killed in one night."

Tsubaki and Momo gave a disturbed gasp, Sona could see that those two already had an idea of the culprit, yet couldn't reveal their motive behind it.

Regardless of their disturbed looks, Saji continued his tale. "This had lead the Japanese Government to close down Yotsuba and investigate. Apparently each and every one of the victims had their bodies ripped to shreds."

"The child was never found, and to this day it is still believed that he is the culprit. However, some theorized that, like his entire family, he had died out or had succumbed to his wounds. Or maybe, he's still on the run. Unfortunately, I guess we'll never know that answer."

With Saji's tale now concluded. The room remained in disturbed silence. "Where did you even hear a story like that, Saji?" Momo asked. It seemed as though she was slightly disturbed by the tale. Scare tactics aside, Momo held a valid point. Sona too, had wondered where he had heard that story from.

The disciplinarian sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "I heard about it from Murayama. Her relatives used to live in Yotsuba until the incident." Momo gave Saji a look. "And when exactly did you have time to chat her up, Mr. Disciplinarian?" she questioned fiercely.

"We had an accident in PE today. I accompanied Murayama to the nurse's office and kept her company till the bell rang. It was my fault it happened, so it was the least I could do for her." Saji explained. As expected from the Student council, taking responsibility for their actions.

Still, Sona could tell that the story would have an effect on morale and performance later on, and was currently working on a way to nip it in the bud. She could see that the story had even managed to disturb her queen a little.

With only five minutes until midnight, she had made a decision.

"Everyone."

Within mere seconds, Sona held everyone's attention. "As disturbing as the event was, let us not forget that it had only occurred nine years ago. Long before you all knew of the existence of devils." She began, speaking her honest thoughts on the story she'd heard.

"And because of that, sadly. Even if the Yotsuba incident had occurred before your very eyes. I highly doubt any of you would've been able to do anything about it." This was the cruel truth.

If the incident was indeed caused by a supernatural incident from the devils, then Sona was afraid that her peerage's souls would've amounted to nothing but snacks for the absolute monsters that had appeared during the war.

"So let us instead focus on protecting that which we could hold, and not those we wish we could forget. Let us grow even stronger so that a tragedy like that never occurs within Kuoh." That's right. That is their duty, not as the Student Council, but one of the Governors of Kuoh.

If she could not protect this school, and her fellow students. Then she would not deserve to even dream about opening her school in Vesarima.

Sona could feel a hand clench her shoulder, and turned to see her queen, Tsubaki, giving her a warm smile as if she already knows what's going through her head.

"What would you have us do, President?" she questioned. Sona had only now noticed that it was past midnight and after that speech, everyone was waiting enthusiastically for her next instruction.

"We'll be doing some combat training tonight. We've gathered enough contracts last week, and I have a feeling that you all have been getting rusty since the School Festival."

It was a great success. Among other things, however, she still needed Saji to attain greater control over his power and realize its versatility.

After the declaration, Sona stood from her desk and made her way out the door. The Student council members following closely behind whilst Tsubaki closed the door to the council room and joined the rest.

While continuing their walk, Sona had stopped for a moment and looked out the window and into the night sky.

"Is there something wrong, President?" consulted Momo. The others looked just as puzzled at the sudden halt in their stride.

"All of you. Split up and check if each classroom is in order. When that is done, assemble at the gymnasium." Sona commanded.

"It will be done, President." They declared. The peerage kneeled before summoning the Sitri glyph beneath their feet and vanishing within the span of a moment.

Yet again, leaving Sona alone to her dark thoughts.

In a slower stride, the lonely devil began to make her way across the hallway, down the stairs of the lobby, and out of the back entrance into the school's field.

With a school as high of a stature as Kuoh Academy, Sona always was a tad bit surprised that the gymnasium was a bit bigger than even the New School building. She supposed it was built like that by the previous founders in the case of emergency shelter.

When she reached the door, Sona brandished a key and unlocked it. She took notice of the white headband with red embroidery that the resident pervert had made on the day of they're supposed dodge ball match. Laid timelessly still on the floor.

It seemed as though the room hadn't been used in a while. There were still a few dodge balls that were lucky to survive that match still rolling around, widespread across the gymnasium.

In fact, one rolled until it touched her feet. And as she took hold of it, she took notice of its dents and dust. By all rights, it had even deflated a little. But still had enough air in it to make a hard bounce when Sona kept tossing it onto the floor.

She shrugged.

It wasn't as though she had anything to do at the moment besides waiting. It sounded like a compelling enough reason to idle and pick up the ball.

She began to bounce the dodge ball against the wooden floor of the gymnasium. Each time, slamming harder on the slightly deflated dodge ball to see how high the maroon orifice could reach.

Admittedly, she was curious. Could it eventually hit the ceiling if she kept bouncing it like this? What if she used a bit of demonic power just like the last time she held a ball such as this in her hand?

During the balls decent, Sona had skilfully caught it between her hands without once looking up. And as she held the ball and trailed her palms across its roughened and dusty rubber, she narrowed her eyes.

She wanted a new thing to think about, slamming the ball and thinking about how much power shell need to bounce it through the ceiling got a bit tedious for her right around her 35th estimation.

Rias?

Slowly, she facepalmed and gave an exasperated sigh.

Sona could already feel the aneurysm approaching just by mentioning her naïve sister governor.

What of the Yotsuba incident Saji had mentioned?

She shook her head. Too many unknowns, and too little concern for something that had occurred nine years before her little venture into Kuoh.

She could not deny that she was a tad bit interested in the event, but Sona could feel that she wasn't in the correct mindset tonight to solve any mystery.

Then what of her sin?

That was another can of worms that Sona couldn't be bothered open at this point in time.

It was moments like these that Sona hated the most, when she was alone, and had nothing to think about.

She thought she'd feel good for this brief relief from thinking of her doubts, regrets and whatnot.

But she was wrong, she hated this moment more.

It made her feel like nothing. Nothing to say, do or even think. She had to think. But she didn't want to think. She wanted to do something. But what could she do?

Do something, anything! She didn't want to become stagnant. She feared not being able to move, not being able to hear, see and feel.

If she couldn't move, speak or even think.

Then her dream might as well be dead.

Before Sona even knew it, the ball bounced once again. But its sound grew much more distant. With her arms raised and the ball halfway across the dark gymnasium, she realized that she must have thrown it while she was in her little-too-deep monologue.

The sound of the gymnasium doors opening and the numerous filament lamps turning on. She draped her arm around her eyes, covering them to avoid the sting of the filament lamps.

Numerous footsteps drew her attention to the entrance in which Tsubaki laid in wait, along with the rest of her peerage members.

"Madam President, we've arrived and had accomplished our nightly patrol." Her queen announced as she gave a slight bow.

Excellent diligence as always. Sona silently praised her second-in-command.

"A good job, now let's get started." Sona praised, removing her purple contacts and placing them on a table nearby.

Tsubaki had raised from her bow.

"Might I ask what will we be focusing on tonight?"

A valid question, Sona noted. They don't usually spend their training sessions here on Kuoh where it can so easily be observed by the Gremory.

So saying that training will commence in the Gym would warrant an explanation from her.

"I was aiming to make Saji's Dragon King form more versatile within a closed space, since that would be the only weakness of our trump card." Sona explained, removing her glasses.

"Hence the enclosed, training venue." Tsubaki assumed.

"Precisely."

A few minutes have passed of the peerage stretching before the training session, and Sona could not stop the irritation rising within her eye sockets. Given that at night, she's able to see more clearly cause of the slight redness her eyes possessed. She can't see very well in the light without using her glasses.

But since her glasses were meant to suppress magical power, she had no mind to put them back on for this training session. No matter how big the power gap was between her and her peerage.

So during their stretching, the peerage, for the last five minutes have observed Sona rapidly opening and closing her eyes.

Since none in her peerage were Pure-Blood, they were not affected by this irritation. As the vision of Reincarnated Devils shifts to accommodate day and night.

"Is something the matter, President?" Tsubaki asked, stretching her legs doing the split, whilst leaning to one side.

Sona turned to her disciplinarian, who seemed to have finished stretching long ago, and is simply waiting for her command.

"Saji, kill the lights. It's making it hard for me to see."

Irritating too. But Sona felt it unnecessary for her peerage to know that much about one of her weaknesses.

Hearing her command, the gymnasium fell to darkness a few seconds later. And with it, Sona's irritated eyes.

And gave way to a new feeling

"After all, creatures like us, bloom in the consuming darkness."

It was like a sudden awakening from slumber. And the stinging sensation within her eyes had pleased her.

As soon as the lights turned off, the whole peerage could feel the pressure increase, and the atmosphere change.

The only things glowing in that room, were the drops of sweat from each member, And a pair of menacingly demonic violet eyes that cast a spell on them.

And kept them paralyzed with fear.

Abslon

"I'm here again."

I could feel it. The cold stone beneath my bare feet and the wind blowing against my wounded skin. It wasn't cold at least, it just felt like nothing. Perhaps even the wind was somehow made stagnant inside of that place.

Cruel and unfeeling as she was, that woman had a knack for making the impossible seem like a Wednesday.

Chisato's voice had drowned out long ago, replaced by the small taps of stone skirting across the street and chains rattling against the ground.

For some reason, whenever I'm in this dream, everything feels just as real as it once did when I was there in person.

I could hear the roar of still wind and feel the rough callouses on my dirty hands. The cold stone sent a sharp chill down my spine through each step I took.

And even though I relived this hundreds of times, my nose still curled up at the disgusting stench of blood, piss and god-knows-what flowed down the gutters of those Slums.

"Was it always like this?" Chisato asked. I wonder that too sometimes, if Estrella was always like this. People dying each week and getting raped the next.

Did the casual disregard for death begin when I arrived? When Red-Eyed Saint caressed my cheek, strangled my throat and called me her pet?

A lump caught inside my throat. I trailed my hand softly across my throat and looked down one of many dark alleyways.

A scene like this was common, sewage gushing out onto the street, rats skittering about, and the trashcans looted, with many a dead men resting on the garbage bags.

The only things that could serve as an ironically preferred place of rest or an appropriate dish for the ever ravenous crows. It depended on whether you lost your mind to the hunger and famine, or the anguish of your futility and weakness.

Ghastly silhouettes passed by without sparing me a single glance. Some knelt and prayed while others cradled their children, the remaining few partook of the rotting dead men. As if they were no different from the beasts that prowled through the god-awful street.

"I don't know." I answered.

Each time I looked down this alleyway, more of these silhouettes appeared. As if seeing this got so common that I had started to care less and less about the people I've seen there as I stared down the pale eyes of the corpse.

Or perhaps, they too represent the people I've tried to lock away. Because I was scared, that the longer I stared. At the rotting corpse and the people that consumed its flesh, I might begin to see myself as what I truly was.

In the end, I. and the people who were eating the dead men, were not so different.

I was just the beast that lived.

"Hey. You shouldn't move around much, don't you remember? You're hurt silly! Oh, I suppose you can't help it. You haven't seen things like this before in that Crypt right?"

Those words rang through my ears so clearly, it felt as though the person that said them was still here to strong-arm me towards the place she said it.

The little stone bridge. It was one of the places that I've tried, but have never truly forgotten.

It certainly was never the most aesthetically pleasing memory I had, given the many horrific events that had occurred on it.

The bridge itself wasn't all that memorable. It spanned over a small lake, just like the ones you'd find suspending over water if you have been to Venice a couple of times.

Instead, it was the sight that the center of the bridge would span over the ever expanding horizon.

A Castle in the distant view, seemingly like a mystical lucid dream between us children. To be honest, I think she was the only one who has seen it that way. All I ever saw it as was a castle made of quartz-like marble, ounces of stone.

And an ocean of blood.

She used to call it Estrella Castle. A simple name that tended to fit how majestic it looked when she and I hovered over our little stone bridge and gazed at it.

Out of the two of us, she was the only one who smiled when she looked at it. It had often frustrated me when she talked about the Castle and the Red-Eyed Saint with such fervor whilst I knew different.

Perhaps things would've turned out differently if I had said something?

We probably would've never gotten along as well as we did, but I would have preferred it to the immense amount of guilt I felt when I pictured her.

"Then, when we get back. Why don't I show you my favorite spot?"

"It seems like you have some pleasant memories with this 'someone' a girlfriend perhaps?" Chisato asked, her voice booming much louder and hoarser than the fading wisps in my mind.

"No. more of a friend really."

I didn't really have the wish to look for a romantic partner nor did I even want friends at that time. All I wanted was to get out of that place.

"Why? Why did you want to get out?" Chisato asked, seemingly curious at this statement, taking down notes.

"…"

"Abslon."

"Just, leave it Chisato. I don't want to talk about it."

Even if I had escaped that place. The Crypt and Estrella Castle. I had no place to go back to. Was it the pain, the atmosphere or was it the essence of stagnancy in the air around me the futility behind my pleas or my wishes of escape?

Was I always afraid of remaining stagnant, and unchanging? Was I just running away from the stillness?

Since when had I begun to feel this way?

"To what? To look at the castle silly! Look at how beautiful it looks at night!"

Ah, yes. I think it started when I met her for the first time.

"Who?" Chisato asked

"Her name was Emihide." It still pained me to say her name after all the time that has passed, and all we've experienced.

But, she definitely was and would always be the first one I ever called a friend.

"What did she look like?" Chisato asked, no doubt trying to probe info about Emihide from me whilst documenting it on that notebook of hers.

I took notice as to how rugged her voice sounded in that question. "You should stop smoking Chisato. It's killing your lungs and your voice."

"And you ought to stop drinking sanguine with Tristan. Seriously, you're 16. If I'm killing my lungs chain-smoking as old as I am, I bet that you'd be burying your kidney by the time I get cancer and grow bald." Chisato commented, and from the smell in the air, smoked a cigarette.

"You're 29, Chisato."

"That's beside the point." Chisato argued.

"He just likes to see me drunk. Apparently boosting the sarsaparilla makes me a special type of drunk." The hangover afterwards sucks though.

Chisato sighed. "He's such an irresponsible guardian." By the sounds she was making, she seemed to have moved the chair closer to the sofa.

"He's just laid back. Probably cause of all of his work."

I know that Chisato knew what I was doing, I didn't want to relive more of those memories from Estrella Castle today, so I was trying to change the subject.

I'm grateful she always goes along with this plan. Because it means I'll be remembering something more pleasant than that place.

"Why don't we take a break? Tell me more about this 'Emihide' of yours." Chisato reasoned, turning the page of her notebook.

"What would you like to know?"

"What did she look like?"

"I can't remember much."

"I want you to try."

"It's been nine years, Chisato. I don't know how much of my brain has recovered since then. Tristan never tells me about those." I've only been to this therapy session about two times in my life. It had once happened when I was really young and unstable.

No one ever talks about that time. Not even Tristan, when I get him drunk and try to pry him for information.

"Abslon, Trust me." Chisato pleaded.

"Last time I trusted someone, I lost one of my friends. And she—" I halted in silence. Damn it, of all the times to remember her.

"…What? Who is she?" Chisato questioned.

"…"

"Abslon. Who. Is. she?" She asked once again.

"…stop."

"What happened to you?"

"Chisato…"

"Abslon…what did she do to you—"

"Chisato! Please just stop."

"…" Chisato remained silent as I begun to open my eyes again. The various visions of Estrella Castle and the Crypt disappearing.

I sat up against the beige sofa, hands through my hair as I try to regulate my breathing just as Nonami had taught me once, during one of my psychological triggers much like this one.

Chisato stood from her seat and in her hands, had offered me a bottle of sparkling water. Reluctantly I accepted it before rapidly chugging the cool, refreshing water down my dry throat. Quenching my thirst and bringing a sense of relaxation.

"I'm sorry."

I waved it off. "It's alright, you didn't know. And were just doing your job." Just as she had been for a long time now.

For the next few moments. Both Chisato and I sat in ever growing, awkward silence. Neither of us speaking, in fear of unintentionally offending the other, like what had recently occurred.

"She had unusual hair. A deep violet." Reluctantly, I began. I didn't want to sit in silence forever. It was about as cruel as the memories she makes me remember.

"Who?" Chisato asked.

"Emihide."

"Oh. Really?"

"Pretty much. Yep."

Chisato began to relax in her chair, as she placed her notebook on the coffee table nearby and held both her hands together. "What else can you tell me about her?" she asked.

"She was really bubbly. The sort of person who can be friends with just about anyone. But she didn't know much." Always so clumsy and trusting. Constantly leaning on her best friend to keep her safe.

A could feel my lips rising to a smile just remembering all the times she had me tag along in one of her little escapades to that little bridge at night. Always brightening up whenever she looked upon Estrella Castle.

"She also had amicable wanderlust. Often disappearing at night and taking me with her. Sometimes to join her stargazing and other times too look at Estrella Castle." Chisato gave me a small pleasant smile as she heard me talk about the pleasant times I had with Emihide.

"She was the oldest amongst us at the time, but we never took her seriously when she would pout at us. Her chubby cheeks made her look like a baby."

Chisato gave a light chuckle. "I remember teasing my little brother a lot because of that when he was young." She commented.

"You have a younger brother?"

She nodded. "He's 19 this year. Real prudish, kind of like these 'tsunderes' Tobio keeps telling you about."

"The annoying type?"

"You and him won't get along, trust me."

"Because he's a quote-on-quote, tsundere?" I asked, making quotation marks in the air with my hands.

"Cause he's the type to just get into your business. He wants to know everything about you immediately as he meets you. And when he doesn't, he throws a tantrum. Annoying little shit." Chisato cursed, taking out her cigarette and placing the remains in the ashtray on the coffee table.

"He's applied to work at the Moonshade Corporation many times and the only reason he isn't working with me in Research and Development, is because Tristan doesn't like the brat."

Chisato took out a box of cigarettes and placed one of them into her mouth. Following up with a silver lighter, she lit the cigarette and took a puff.

"Do you know how hard it is for Tristan not to like you, or at least willing to acknowledge you? I've been friends with him for years and I know that you'd have to be one hell of a crappy person for him not to like you."

Fair, Tristan was very laid back and was cool with most things. He gave the impression that he was a good friend, rather than strict guardian and or boss.

It was then that I had once again delved into Chisato's most relaxed state. Constantly spewing obscenities and chain-smoking. At this stage, the air she gives off when I'm not passive-smoking with her in the room feels like when I'm with Tristan on another one of our Saturday night escapades with Tobio.

I could see why she's Tristan's best friend. She was more logical and a bit colder than him, but there were similar in most aspects

"Yeah, it was the same with Emihide."

Everyone liked her, there was not one person in our little circle that did not brighten up with her little, child-like, bubbly presence.

Chisato took in another puff of smoke. Then she gave me a melancholic smile. "Was that time, fun for you?"

"The greatest. In fact, it was a blast."

Sona

"Good work. That's another successful training session."

The Sitri peerage were on the ground, panting at the hard work out they've endured.

Sona grabbed a water bottle she had prepared from a desk nearby in the gymnasium and offered it to her queen.

"I could see that you've been improving Mirror Alice. And you're magic by extension. Excellent work, as expected from my queen."

And she had meant it as well, Sona had never expected that Tsubaki's Sacred Gear could diverge to an affinity for mirror magic.

"Thank you for your praise Madam President." Humble, even in the face of much deserved praise. Sona felt that she should be awarded.

But that could come at a later stage. It seems as though they have a spy, a familiar one, if the magic she was feeling was any indication.

"Were done for tonight. Ensure that everyone returns safely, then come back and lock up the Gym. When that is done, you're dismissed. I'm counting on you once again, Tsubaki." Sona ordered her queen.

In response, Tsubaki gave a little bow, placing her hand on the part of her chest where her heart was and declaring. "It shall be done, President." Before walking towards the other peerage members.

Sona silently slipped outside of the gym to ensure that no one would follow her to this private meeting. When she confirmed that everything had gone to plan, she began.

"Come out, Rias."

Very quickly, a red sigil manifested on the ground. And in a show with red sparkles, the voluptuous redhead herself had appeared. Leaning on the wall behind the gymnasium, right next to Sona.

"My, Sona. How lovely it is to see you this evening." She greeted eloquently as though she didn't expect to meet her here.

Most would have been tempted to drag the conversation out longer for the sake of appeasing this powerful devil. However. Sona, who is already more than used to deal with the likes of her, was a fan of cruel bluntness.

"You were spying on me. Why?" Sona claimed. Folding her arms and waiting for an explanation from the resident redhead.

"I wasn't spying. I was just checking in on you." Rias replied. Yes, if only. Sona knew that Rias only tended to 'check up on her' if she had wanted a favor from her.

Most wouldn't know, but Rias was her friend and her worst enemy. Simply because Sona had envied her strength, just like many of the devils unfortunate enough to be acquainted with her.

Sairaorg had it the worst, in both birth and hatred for Rias. And being honest, at times Sona could reason with him as to why he had hated her.

All that latent power, and it went to a waste of sperm like her.

A devil which chose to have that latent power fade away into nothingness as she indulged in her desires as her parents, family and her uber-powerful big brother spoiled her rotten. Money, items even the peerage members she had were handed to her on a silver platter.

Its secret thoughts like these that Sona kept to herself. But it's these secrets that nurture and raise the fire of hatred in her stomach.

"What do you want?" Sona said bluntly. She had wanted to get rid of the current thoughts running around in her head.

"Nothing."

"I don't believe you."

"Really?" Rias pouted.

"Don't give me that look. You owe me way too many favors at this point Rias."

She sighed. "You got me, but there really is nothing this time." Rias said, shifting closer to Sona.

"Then what, you came here to spot any weaknesses in my peerage you can exploit?" Sona questioned, facing Rias with an annoyed look on her face.

"I just want to arrange a joint training session one of these days."

"Ah, for the tournament yes?" It was weird, Sona knows that the tournament is only starting next year June 21st. She had wondered why Rias had wanted to arrange such a thing.

"So, how about it?" Rias asked, and Sona seriously had to contemplate the decision.

She knew that Rias peerage was a lot more powerful than hers, so sparring against them would provide sufficient training perks, but then she had to take into consideration of their explanation towards being absent from the Academy for that allotted time and the example it would set of how she would manage her school in Vesarima.

But, then again. She could continue stacking up favors from Rias, and use that to get enough backing for the construction and founding of her school should things with her parents go sideways.

From the heiress of the House of Gremory, Satan Lucifer, and her older sister, Satan Leviathan.

"Alright, I'll play to your little tune, Gremory. Get ready to pay up on all those favors you owe me soon."

The amount of political power she would garner up for the sake of her school would put most of the annoying Elder devils to shame.