I don't own Highschool DxD
Thoughts: '.'
Speech: "."
The book: "."
Chapter 1
"The world is indeed comic, but the joke is on mankind" - H.P Lovecraft
Seth was always a weird kid. Something he understood from the beginning. His behavior was always erratic. He was also altogether unhinged. It started with the death of his parents. Something seemed wrong with the way they went. Well not the act itself, that was rational. They were butchered into pieces when he got home. The realization that we were all so flimsy, was what shook him. That's what got him curious. Seth spent his youth searching for the reason why humans were made that way.
He turned to science and religion, but there was always something telling him the answers aren't so simple. Which leads to now. In a forest deep in Russia. Seth opened the door to the dilapidated shack with bated breath. The air was cold but he could care less now. Now that he was so close. A light snow and light poured in through the window. The book was laying in the snow rusted floor, out of place amidst the numerous skeletons rotting away. His eyes widened and an uneasy chuckle left his chest. 'Seems Lovecraft had the right of it.' He thought.
He himself, Seth Shore, had finally found it. The thing that had nearly driven him mad. The truth to human nature was right in front of him. A rare moment of clarity suddenly passed through his head. Memories of a normal youth going through school, struggling to deal with his family's death. After that though… At this point Seth could no longer remember why he started this journey in particular. It's like something was pushing him this way. He shook his head and pushed his thoughts away. He slowly walked towards the dark pink book with undecipherable words on it. Each step to him seemed harder and harder. He ignored the loud whispers that were tickling his ears. He then fervently and carefully picked up the book. The previous unintelligible words suddenly made sense. Like a switch was flipped. Giggles escaped his emaciated body. Seth almost dropped the book when the whispers became clearer.
"Your heart's desires, altogether in one place."
Tears came to his eyes as he beheld the true nature of reality. The warm book held all the answers.
"The time of human filth has ended. And you shall be the herald. Wish one final time, my dear envoy." The clearly female voice spoke softly and surely, almost in a motherly tone. The maddening whispers and sporadic thoughts vanished, and Seth felt empty, but clear. Suddenly everything shifted and Seth was in his younger body. Tears were falling down his face as he stared at his butchered family. The inhumanity of the whole act.
I wish I lived in a world where I could stop this from happening.
The wish he had since he was young. The wish stated in his memory.
Everything shifted back and Seth was holding the book up to the ceiling, with the pages flipping upwards. The female whisper started again.
"So it shall be, live in bliss. Soon I shall be fully awake and all of creation will be mine as I see fit... One final thing, my dearest Seth, take my boon. And always know that your fate lies with me."
Seth's eyes could barely hold themselves open by the end of the speech. He had no reason to fight it either. For the first time in a long time, Seth Shore felt peace.
Seth woke up with frantic panting. He could have sworn just a few minutes ago… He was then shook from his thoughts as felt warmth on his stomach. He looked down and saw that the same book he had just read was on his stomach. With younger hands than he had in a long time he grabbed it slowly and stroked the surface. Everything about the book felt right. He then took a breath and looked around him. He had no idea where he was, what had just happened, and why he was younger, but that didn't matter, because he had the book. The flesh-like cover opened in front of him and he stared at the blank pages in confusion.
'Why did it open randomly?' Like magic words wrote itself like a hand was guiding it.
To ease your confusion. He grinned and laughed. His wish had come true. His journey, all of it was real!
He then pulled the thick wool blanket off him and sat up in the bed he found himself in.
'Where am I?' He then looked down at the book, waiting impatiently.
You're in a different reality, one where your wish will come true. The words shook something in him. Shaking his head he glanced at the antiquated architecture around the room. Victorian style furniture decorated the dark room with a desk in the corner of the room, his room.
'Where is my location exactly.'
Kuoh Town, Japan.
The answer surprised him. He looked at his small hands and flexed his fingers, trying to let reality sink in. He glanced out the window and realized that it was night and he was up on the second floor. He turned around and sat at the desk slowly pushing away sheets of paper on the wooden seat. Seth then realized that it was schoolwork with simple questions about math.
He glanced at the book in his hands and opened it up.
'What is my identity in this world?' Seth was almost surprised at the ease in which he was taking this. Something huge for a normal person was taken in without a flinch. One doesn't simply get thrown into a new reality after all.
Seth Shore, Age 10, Male, Orphan, Currently residing within his deceased family's home in Kuoh town, Japan. Enrolled in Kuoh Elementary. Former resident of the Kuoh Orphanage.
Thoughts raced through his mind. The prevalent one was the fact he had no family even in this world. Sadness came through his mind, before he quickly shut it down with ease.
'I came to terms with this a long time ago.' The frightening control of his emotions was clearly abnormal. He was always an emotional person. Something he struggled with constantly through his childhood.
'What happened to me?'
The book floated in front of him before opening.
A side effect of the boon given to you by the Great One.
Which leads to another question.
'What was the boon then?'
The pages remained blank, and after a few minutes he realized that he wasn't getting an answer.
'Is it beneficial?'
Yes
The written script made him grin. It quickly wore off and Seth realized that he had no idea of the schedule this body had. He could be late to something, which wouldn't be good if he wanted to settle into this new world.
'Was this body doing anything today?' Seth asked in his mind.
Yes, your coordinator will be here to take you to school in seven hours.
'Coordinator?' That makes sense, as Seth really doubted he was left to his own devices as a ten year old. Sighing, Seth quickly took a shower and brushed his teeth and looked at himself in the mirror. Brown hair cut short and vivid green eyes. His face was pale and gaunt, almost giving off a royal look. He was also short and young. Frowning, he realized he would have to go through puberty again.
Walking back into his room he quickly got dressed. After putting on a white shirt and black pants he realized that the book was nowhere to be found. He then blinked in surprise as the book appeared in front of him, floating. As if it was there the whole time.
Seth then went downstairs, with the book disappearing again. He quickly searched the fridge and found that it was mostly barren with a few groceries here and there. He grabbed the eggs and made himself scrambled eggs.
'It's been ages since I've had a decent meal.'
He had often gone hungry in search of the truth. Now that he found it, he felt like he could breathe again. He then checked the time hesitantly and with dread.
'I'm not looking forward to school.' School was bad enough when he was relatively normal. And right now, despite being clear headed, something was still wrong. Like a clock out of rhythm. Seth looked down at his hands again. After witnessing how fragile reality is, and how easy it was twisted, something changed within him. Seth grimaced and warmth touched his chest. He looked down at the book and smiled as he petted the book on the spine. He opened the book and asked
'Are you alive?'
More than you know.
Intriguing.
Another thought crossed his mind.
'Can someone steal you?'
No force on this world can separate us.
Something like that should cause dread. But to Seth, he merely cracked his lips into a smile. He then checked out the rest of his house while he was waiting. A simple yet rustic two storied house, with a bathroom, living room, kitchen and bedroom. It was filled with the bare minimum furniture. And a rather old television. A chessboard was on the table in front of the couch with pieces already in scattered places on the board.
'Was I playing with someone?' Seth mentally asked the floating book. Pages unfurled.
Yourself.
Depressing. He then sat down on the couch and continued the game against himself. It was then Seth noticed the first huge difference in his previous self. Instantly hundreds of possibilities played through his mind on what each piece had the possibility of doing.
'Must be the boon at work.' Whatever it was, it made him incredibly more intelligent. To the point of absurdity. Suddenly opportunities opened up in his mind. He could accomplish a lot with a large intellect. Certainly more than his previous life. A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. Seth quickly shook himself off and made his way to the door. Taking a deep breath he opened the door.
A blonde haired woman in a white blouse and skirt waved at him cheerfully.
"Hey kiddo, time for school."
'Seeing the cheerful greeting means they had a previous relationship… or she's just naturally that happy.'
Either one bothered him
"Did you take your medicine?" The lady asked patiently. Quickly coming up with a lie, Seth nodded his head.
"Yes." She nodded her head and beckoned him to follow her. They made there way outside and Seth took in the bright morning sun. It bathed the street in an early morning glow. The trees around the neighborhood had bloomed, and all the yards were meticulously cut. He walked up to the black car and entered in the front seat. Looking out the tinted windows, Seth could tell this would be an uneventful day.
'I wonder who this lady is? Did my previous body have a friendship with her? Am I acting out of ordinary?'
Seth then blinked in surprise as the ancient book appeared before him, shocking him, he quickly glanced and realized that she hadn't noticed. Or couldn't notice. The book floated then floated in front of him before opening up.
Aizawa Kosaka. No previous relationship. No, you're acting exactly as predicted by everyone.
He smiled as reality settled in.
'Can you answer every question I have?'
No.
'Can anyone see you?'
Only in combat.
A pit formed in his stomach.
'This obviously means conflict is in the future.'
The car stopped and he was jostled out of his thoughts.
"Here ya' go, I'll pick you up after school.~"
The day continued on with Seth showing his intelligence quickly.
Lunch.
Just like in his previous life, he had made no friends. Honestly it was to be expected, he had the mind of a grown adult, trying to fit in with children is unrealistic… still though. Watching all the other children laugh and play made his heart ache.
'What should I do now?'
His book opened in front of him.
Join the chess club.
'Interesting, it's true I would excel there…'
He nods his head and follows the guidance given to him.
He entered the door to the chess club and grabbed the attention of a brown haired boy who quickly gestured to him to follow and brought a finger to his mouth, signaling him to be quiet. Seth nodded his head and walked into the next room where there were all sorts of people gathered around the computer which was being projected on the wall.
"Oh? A new member? Excellent, come here." A man on the screen said. Seth walked up to the seat in front of the projector and sat down with a shaky feeling in his stomach.
"You know how to play, right?" The man said as a program opened. It was a simple chess game.
"He's the Grandmaster Chess Player of Kuoh, Izayoi-sama!" A boy Seth's age said as he grinned at Seth.
"I make it a point to appraise all new club members." The intensity of his stare made Seth uncomfortable. He looked down at something, and the first piece moved.
Thirty minutes later and the match was a stalemate to his couldn't help but grin at the challenge for his new mind. Then the bell rang. Seth got up to go back to class, but was interrupted.
"Sit down, I'll make an excuse." Izayoi said seriously. Seth felt uneasy but nodded.
"Do you play a lot of chess, young man?"
The older man said stoically.
Seth shook his head truthfully. He really didn't, at least in his old world. It was only thanks to his absurd intelligence that he was able to last this long. And then a pawn moved. Thousands of possibilities passed through his mind. Now that he really focused he could see it. The end of the match.
Two hours passed with a stoic Izayoi and equally stoic Seth. The other club mates of Seth's had long left for the rest of their classes. Despite the intense game, Seth felt like he was in his element. He absolutely loved to push his newfound intelligence.
'The old man doesn't see it does he?' Finally, the end of the match. Before he could move his Knight, red words flashed through the program, painting the shaded room red.
Forfeit
Seth sighed in relief. It seemed the old man knew a losing battle.
The older man sighed, making Seth wary, before it dissolved into laughter.
"Do you know who I am, young man?" Izayoi said cheerfully
"Someone way too good at chess." Seth replied in a rare tone of sarcasm.
"I am the Japanese Grand Champion, Izayoi Ryu, and one of the best in the world. It's astonishing, I don't think anyone who ever lived had this much raw talent." Seth shook his head. Seth could barely play the game. What he was good at, that became apparent, was calculations.
"What's your name, kid." The older man said with a small smile.
"Seth Shore."
"How would you like to be my apprentice, Seth"
It seemed that it was a big decision to become one.
'Is this really what I want?' Seth thought seriously.
"What would that entail?" Seth said finally.
"I will teach you the subtle art of chess, and you will compete in tournaments. Recognition is what you'll get." Izayoi said gleefully.
"I need to think about it." Seth said truthfully. The old man sighed before nodding his head.
"It's pretty much a no brainer boyo."
The school bell rang twice, signaling the end of the day. Seth got up and quickly made his way outside, not looking back. He couldn't wait to get back to the car so he could discuss his problems with his book.
As he walked out he ignored the groups of people walking about and made his way to the black car that drove him there.
The lady, Aizawa, was there waiting for him. She waved and gestured to the car. He then opened the door, taking solace in the silence that had appeared.
"How was your day, make any friends?" Aizawa said, making Seth wince.
"Not really." Seth replied slowly.
"Don't give up! Everyone deserves a friend!"
Seth had to hold in a scoff.
'Even someone who doomed humanity?'
They made their way home and she waved him goodbye, but not before saying
"Be sure to take your night medication, it's very important." Seth nodded his head and went inside.
He sighed in relief at the silence after the door was shut.
'Dealing with people is irritating.'
He sat down on the couch, staring at the old television without turning it on. His mind wandered to him being here.
'What should I do here?' Seth then looked down at his hands and realized that he was holding his book. The pages opened and words appeared.
Whatever your heart wishes. I'd recommend taking the old man's offer.
Ah, the old man.
'The book never let me down so far. It's pretty much the only thing I can rely on.'
His mind turned to Aizawa Kosaka. What she had said really bothered him. 'Friends are dumb.' He really did doom humanity though. 'All of creation' The voice said in particular.
'If this really is a different world. Could that mean magic exists?' It's not so far of a stretch, considering current circumstances.
Yes. Seth glanced at the words, before smiling.
'Teach me.'
Very well, the first one is free.
'Odd, I wonder what that-' Pain coursed through his body, particularly his eyes. Pain unlike anything a human could ever endure. Something… something was entering him.
Seth could barely keep his eyes open and his mouth was stretched open, frozen with true agony. Seth then promptly passed out, unable to endure it any longer.
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