This prologue is being released along with the first chapter of this fanfiction.
For information on how to help this project, read the next chapter
Disclaimer: I do not own High School DXD or the other works I refer to.
The sound of birds marks the beginning of the morning.
The sunlight passes through an ostentatious curtain and illuminates a gigantic room, a room that, if seen by a normal person, could belong to a princess.
Walls that look like they came from a castle, furniture that looks like they're made of the most expensive marble and mahogany, the inlaid details really look like they're made of real gold and a bed that looks like it's bigger than a king-size.
The only strange elements in this elegant room fit for royalty are the numerous otaku nature objects scattered around the room. Manga and anime spread all over the place, several action figures on top of furniture, a Gunpla in the middle of the assembly and the most glaring, a real samurai armor from the twelfth century in such immaculate condition that it would be accepted in any museum in the world as a main attraction.
This is the room of Rias Gremory, heir to the Gremory clan, members of the 72 pillars and one of the most powerful families of her race, the devils.
Normally she would spend the beginning of the morning playing visual novels or watching anime until school time, but today is a special day, so she wants to be 100% prepared. Today is the opening of the new school year, your first day as a third year and the day of your best friend's public presentation to all the new students.
A knock on the door wakes her up fully. "Miss President, it's time to wake up".
"I'm going Akeno". I get up and look at myself in the full-length mirror in the bedroom and see myself and i see a beautiful young woman with a voluptuous body, white skin and blue eyes, but her most distinctive feature is her long, beautiful crimson hair that reaches down to her thighs with a single hair strand sticking out from the top. She is drop-dead gorgeous, and she knows it.
"Let's go" She says for herself and in a magic pass what was once the naked body is now present a female school uniform from the school of Kuoh, which consists of a white long-sleeved, button-down shirt, with a black ribbon on her shirt collar worn under a black shoulder cape and a matching button-down corset, a magenta skirt with white accents, and brown dress shoes over white crew-length socks.
"Good morning Greamory Heiress!" When I leave the room I see the group of maids that my father sent to the human world to take care of the mansion and pass on information to the family. I don't like their presence, they limit my freedom. I know my family wants to keep an eye on me, mainly because my time is running out, so i do my best to ignore them
At no time did the employees complain or even speak so as not to show complete devotion to Rias and her family, as usual.
The school corridors are calm, it was to be expected since it was the first day of school and the students, freshmen and seniors, were getting ready for the opening ceremony, this is the perfect time for a meeting between devils, without the danger of something falling on unprepared or uninvited ears.
"So, did you find any interesting candidates Rias?"
The young girl with a slim figure, black hair styled in a short bob cut and violet eyes standing in the middle of the aisle facing Rias is Sona Sitri, known as Sona Shitori by the humans at school.
She's a third year and student council president since her first year here, but more importantly, like her childhood friend, Sona is an upper-class noble devil, heir to the Sitri family and part of a select group of young pure devils who proved to be extremely strong or influential for their age.
"I still don't know Sona. It's too early to know if this batch of students is as good as the last one, isn't it?" Stressing the last words as she looked at Sona's new servants a few steps behind her, the ones who had been normal humans less than a year ago.
"Huh. It's not my fault you're looking for a perfect knight in golden armor to serve you." If such words were heard by anyone else it would seem that the relationship between the two heiresses was an ugly rivalry, but Rias' smile says otherwise.
"You know me, I just want the best"
"Ahhh... Do what you want Rias, but you know your time is running out. Now if you'll excuse me, I have the opening performance to prepare for". Thus, the heiress of the Sitri goes on her way, being followed by her servants.
With her back turned, Sona didn't notice that her friend's smile faded after the last statement. A very low spoken "I know it well" ended up not being heard.
And so the long red haired heiress goes the opposite way.
At no time did both girls' servants speak to each other without their master's permission, as usual.
Kuoh Academy is a high-status school, with very well-equipped classrooms and buildings big enough for all of the high school's 3000+ students.
The gym couldn't be different, with a wide wooden floor, wide enough to accommodate the 1000-odd chairs for the freshman ceremony.
Rias was sitting not in the middle of the students, but in chairs placed on the wall of the stage along with the teachers and the student council president, normally this would be a strange sight to have a normal student without a title being together with the people who coordinate the school, but it wasn't, since Rias' fame is so great that it has already passed the walls of Kuoh, either because of the rumors of her wealth and noble family or because of her beauty that gave her the nickname of Madonna of Kuoh Academy, and sincerely, even if there were no such facilitators, a hypnosis spell would do the trick.
The school principal, who is more of a puppet for the heiresses, is making the typical presentation to the new students, with the classic sayings of mutual respect and a focus on excellence.
However, those who know the least of how the school works know that the real speech will be soon after, perhaps that is why apparently few students are paying attention to the young madam who is speaking.
A benefit of being one of the two biggest donors to the school is the right to "recommend" new school rules and guidelines and Sona has taken advantage of this since her freshman year at Kuoh.
Before the start of the school year, all students, no matter what year, must take a 200-question test with the aim of measuring average knowledge and most importantly, for entry and stay in school, Sona swears that the purpose of this is maintain the high grade of student's quality, but Rias knows that what she is all about is the prize that comes for the first place, the simple chance to give the last speech to the freshmen.
What can I say, devils love spotlights.
"And it is with these last words that I will reveal the name of the highest scorer of the annual interclass test"
Even before the nomination of the highest ranked, Sona already raises her chin, showing the confidence of who was the best for two consecutive years fairly, as usual.
"It's my pleasure to take the 3rd year to the microphone... Lance Lotte... Hmm... What?".
"...".
Suddenly, two different worlds appear in that gym, in one, the whispering of doubts of those seated and the seniors who came to hear the famous student council president, in the other, a sepulchral silence of those seated on the stage, the most apparent shock being that of the heiress with glasses with wide eyes and open mouth, This expression is rarely seen on Sona's face, even by the people closest to her.
None of the teachers dared to move or speak out, even though the principal's discomfort was apparent, a discomfort that only stopped when "he" appeared.
"Cough cough, with your director's permission, but I think now is my turn to speak".
Suddenly, a man who was out of sight appears on stage behind the inattentive director, but not even the two devils could perceive his arrival. When did he climb the stairs to the stage? Was he already here?
But the most apparent doubt for anyone with the least sensitivity to the supernatural.
Why don't I feel anything coming from him? Not even a Soul?
Realizing the savior of her embarrassment, the director moves away from the microphone to the man's arrival, and at that moment everyone in the audience shuts up when they see the picturesque figure that has arrived.
Not a boy. A tall man, around 5 feet and 10 inches, crimson eyes with large eyelashes and a short, unkempt and wavy black hair that reached halfway to his forehead.
But the three elements that certainly drew the most attention were the light brown skin that showed at least one of foreign descent, the bandages that covered almost the entirety of his left hand and most shockingly, a simple white patch over his left eye.
After silence formed in the entire gym, he began to speak calmly.
"I know what all of you are thinking, I came to see one of the muses of the school, not this weird guy who looks like he's seen too much anime".
Of all the things he could say, this was one that no one expected, to the point where no one even laughed at the joke.
"I mean, seriously, who does this guy think he is to come up here and say whatever he wants"
The teachers start to get restless and I notice that Sona is getting ready to get up and stop him.
"Well, it's a very simple answer" suddenly, in a strong voice that followed the man's serious face. He declares to everyone.
"I am just like all of you"
"..."
The second sepulchral silence descends on the venue, and all those present fully focus on the one standing on the stage.
"How many of you know what you want out of life?
How many of you think you don't have enough to do what you want in life?
Why are we here? What do we get for being here?"
"I unfortunately don't know the answer to any of these questions, but I'm sure of one thing, all humans, not just those inside of her, but those outside, have the same doubts as all of us".
"But here's the problem, how to solve it?
It is unfortunate, but I must say that the way we are, it is impossible to find a solution".
"And the only way I've found in my short life is to accept how small we are…"
A second of silence, and then an explosion that took the entire audience.
"But so what!"
"So what if they are smarter, we can use our own intelligence and their pretensions as weapons!"
"So what if they are stronger, we will see that strength as a weakness and attack where they are lacking!"
"So what if they were born in a golden cradle! I will see their pride as a chain, and pull them out of my way."
A sigh, and the calm voice returns.
"We live in a dangerous world and no matter how strong we get, we can't save everyone."
"But I know that if we try hard, we can at least try to save those on our side."
"And finally, you must be wondering why I think so much of people I don't even know"
And a small smile appears.
"Because like I said, I'm just like you. Thanks for your attention."
He turns his back and starts to walk out the back stage door, but before he leaves I'm sure he heard the clapping ovation coming from the students. Probably only few of the students present understood the message behind the speech, but even these disengaged students felt the intensity of the speech.
Rias Gremory and Sona Sitri run after him, it would be more prudent if they organize with their servants, but the two cannot ignore the conclusion they reached, the man who just passed is a threat that must either be attached or eliminated now.
In the corridor off the court that gives to the open air, the man with the eyepatch leaves the place after showing his heart for strangers, maybe he wasn't really heard by anyone there, maybe those false words were just for himself, but his goal was certainly achieved, the attention of the two puny princesses.
"I see myself as polite and fair, so I will introduce myself by being completely honest with you two"
The man turns and faces the two women who followed him with a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes.
"It's truly not a pleasure meeting you two Rias Gremory and Sona Sitri. My name is Lance Lotte, a magician and Sacred Gear user and my goal here is to use you guys to improve this shit world and show how puny you kind are."
"That said, see you tomorrow"
And with a pass of magic, a shadow that is spreading until reaching his feet absorbs him and he disappears without leaving a trace.
Sona and I didn't react but we both certainly know what's going through each other's minds.
I wish today was a normal day as usual.
