Stealth Check: 1 - 1000 = Failure, (Author Stealth 1 + 0 party assist)
Uh... Look at the time! I'll just put this thing here...Yes. *pats new chapter nervously into its proper place before hurriedly returning back to the depths of the Beyond-err-internet*
Murphy's Intervening Hand
Alphonse stared silently, frozen to his spot, as he tried to comprehend the situation he just landed himself in. One moment, he fought against Viser for both Yui's and his right to walk away whole and uneaten. The next? A party of five seem to have appeared out of nowhere and trespassed onto the compound. Albeit, a chunk of the fence's perimeter is now missing, allowing for an easier access. Not only that, a number of trees with their trunks sliced neatly with no sign of any fallen logs made the location unique. Though, if they are academy students, as he liked to hope.
"Hey!" he called out to them, "Shirai-san's injured. Call an ambulance!" The silhouettes seem to meld with each other. Alphonse hearing may not be able to compete against the superhuman qualities of the Devil like Viser without help, but they seem to be in a hushed discussion of sorts; raising the hairs on the back of his neck in suspicion. They may not be what they seem to appear.
His mind raced at the sort of implication he concluded from the still patchy information he took away from the recently departed stray devil. These people must be working for whoever is assigned as the 'overseer' of Kuoh Town. Alphonse subtly stepped back, taking care not to alarm them. If they are working for the overseer they must be either devils themselves, or extraordinary kiths. He knew fighting whoever they are isn't feasible, given he has Yui lying helpless on his arms. He knew his chances of escaping is close to zero. He certainly can't use his grimoire to help facilitate his escape with his hands full as it is. And, he'll be damned if he abandoned her. She is practically his responsibility for allowing her into harm's way.
Even if he did manage to successfully escape with such low odds, they already know of his face and connections to the academy. Which makes tracking him down a breeze, not unless he decides to go 'off-the-grid'. His only remaining option available is to resolve this through his meager powers of diplomacy. Alphonse mentally winced, Merla. He bit the bottom of his lips in nervous concentration. He already made his opening move, a blatant request for somewhere more public than an empty warehouse. Now, he awaits their response. The ball is on their court, so to speak.
The devil known as Rias studied the young man as her peerage converged at her, waiting for her command. She knew him not by his reputation as the only male student in the entirety of the third year students. Nor by his more common and more modest reputation amongst his peers as a reclusive bookworm.
No, Rias knew of him by the rather impressive score he earned during the academy's infamously difficult entrance exam. The turnout during the transition to coed, which saw almost all those who took the exam to fail spectacularly, forced the faculty to lower the barrier of entry for next year's hopeful. Even she had difficulty with the exams, and she had the advantage of having been taught by the schools' faculty themselves courtesy of his father. Only Sona scored higher, acing every subject using her superior intellect coupled with her outstanding work ethic.
"Koneko," she addressed her Rook, "Are you sure the scent originated from there?" Rias cocked her head at the general direction of the gaping maw which used to be the warehouse's façade. The white-haired first-year only nodded in confirmation.
"Rias, do you think they encountered the stray?"Akeno piped in.
"Evidence points out that they did. The huge surge of magic came from this location. The haphazard missing chunk of wall is quite a telling clue."
"Which begs the question, where is Viser? And, more importantly, how are they still alive?" There was a sparkle dancing at her best friend's eyes, "Is he also a wielder of a Sacred Gear? Are you going to collect another boy into the peerage?" Before Rias could confirm or refute her claim of collecting the boy as some kind of hobby, Issei jumped into the conversation.
"No! We can't have another male! Kiba's already one too many!" He knowingly address his only male peer disrespectfully.
Koneko 'lightly' punched Issei's elbow and spoke softly, "be nice." Issei jumped, laughing forcefully as the first year perfectly hit the nerve located in his elbow and sent a painful jolt up and down his arm.
Rias ignored Issei's adorable outburst and subsequent silly dance, focusing on the problem at hand. If Alphonse did not, in anyway, know about the supernatural world and possessed no sacred gear of any kind, she could simple alter his and the injured Yui's memories and send them on their merry way to the hospital.
However, if he did possess a Sacred Gear and is able to use it in a competent manner, then he really is a desirable candidate as a member of her peerage. The matter of convincing him complicates matters entirely. In fact, she doesn't know anything more about him other than those she already mentioned. She passed him over as a candidate due to being anything other than an ordinary human. He didn't have the air of being extraordinary as most Sacred Gear wielders' unconsciously emanated. Which is how she selected Issei in the first place. The only thing she knew is he wasn't like her pawn, who she could simply understand based on his earthly desires and manipulate him using those same desires. Nor is he similar to her knight. Who she found dying and agreed to be reincarnated for revenge.
"Akeno. How well do you know Alphonse?"
"Hmm", Akeno tapped her chin with a well-manicured finger. "Not much I'm afraid. He passes most of his free time nose glued to his books. He also have a good standing with both teachers and students alike. And, he is considered to be quite a catch by the third years. Given he is the only male amongst the third years. This is before Kiba-kun's enrollment of course." She winked at the poor knight who she knew had a quite a difficult time with his popularity since his enrollment. The Queen of Rias could also tell from the glare Issei gave to Alphonse that he grew an immediate dislike of the boy. She smiled as she continued to aggrandize the simple bookworm.
"He's smart, coupled with a voice that melts a girl's heart. He'd be more popular than the both of us combined if he decides to use that particular gift for anything other than speaking when spoken to. Add to that is his rugged good looks, he could probably establish a gaggle of girls at his beck and call in no time."
Rias look at her friend dubiously, obvious to the fact Akeno is exaggerating and outright lying much of it. Alphonse, she admits, is a few notch lower in the intellect department compared to Sona, Which is very impressive for a non-devil. Also, he isn't anyway near the level of Kiba in the appearance department. She mentally shook her thoughts straight, discussing him with her peerage wasn't going anywhere; given he isn't comparatively well-known throughout the campus. With little to go on, she'll just have to use her feminine charms to keep him off-balance to extract information out of him.
Rias emerged from the shadows, bathing half of her face with the last light of the fading sun. She plastered a disarming smile as she walked a couple of steps forward. Her back was ramrod straight, emphasizing her chest with a bounce as she stop with a hand resting on the curve of her hips. Her other hand pushed her crimson hair over her shoulder, exposing her neck. It took Alphonse all of his willpower not to take in the sensual way the red-haired girl presented herself to him. He forced himself to stare at the crystalline blue eyes, lest he is taken in by the honeyed trap. There wasn't really a time to curse puberty once again as the girl opened her mouth to speak.
"Darcozzi-san is it?" Rias tilted her head to make herself more endearing, "My name's Rias Gremory," she could see him subtly jerked his head back as he heard her name. She thought nothing of it as most people almost always reacts the same way when she talks to them. Unbeknownst to her, his reaction is for an altogether different reason. "President of the Occult Research Club", she continued without missing a beat. "Those over there are the other club members." She indicated to the rest of her peerage standing nearby. "Can you tell me what happened here? And also, to Shirai-san of course."
"She needs medical attention right away. We need to get to the hospital." Alphonse reiterated again, completely ignoring Rias's inquiry. His voice sounded parch and hollow.
Rias blinked in surprised before brushing it off, "We'll take you and Shirai-san there after you answer my simple question." She could see his Adam's apple move as he gulped.
"Shirai-san's injured," his tone sounded surer. He squared his shoulder and a hint of steel creeped into his voice, "her condition takes precedence over your questions." The two stayed quiet as neither is willing to back down from the other. Both wore guarded expressions as the two tensely studied one another.
Rias, to say the least, was surprised at Alphonse's reaction. She was so sure before that her devilish charms would work against him as it did to so many before him. She didn't expect such steadfast resistance from him of all people. She looked at girl in his arms, then back to Alphonse. He is worried about the girl. From the black and blue bruises she could see, her injury could be life-threatening. I could… Rias frowned. She wasn't above using such underhanded method. It might not endear him to her after this. Which means, any hopes of him joining her peerage goes down the drain.
Meanwhile, Alphonse was sweating by the bucket. All because he had the fortune of running right into Rias Gremory. He mentally spat her name out like he swallowed something bitter. A memory tickled at the back of his head and an image floated up of a man. He was almost a splitting image with the woman in front of him. The same shade of crimson hair. He looked older, but not by much from her. He easily repressed the foreign memory and the image faded as he blinked. This is not the time to be getting distracted. But still, why is a devil attending an academy for humans? All sorts of gruesome images filled his imagination before he could stop himself and took a calming breath. He knew they were both at an impasse. He wasn't going to budge until something favorable blows his way.
The two might have continued their staring contest for some time. But, luckily, a hormonal teenager decided he didn't like his Buchou staring at some other boy so much.
"Hey! You!" Issei jumped out of the shadows, tired of some third year nobody blatantly refusing one of the Great Onee-samas. Who is he to ignore the sexy Buchou's request? I wouldn't. If she asked me to strip. I would do it in a heartbeat. He threateningly pointed a finger towards Alphonse, "You better answer Buchou immediately and tell her already about the Stray Devil, dammit!"
Rias was the only one to notice how Alphonse imperceptibly turn his piercing gaze directly at Issei, with one grey eye seemingly glinting from the sun's fading light. There was no hint of confusion shown on his face. A fact she immediately picked up on. Did he know about Stray Devils then? She retained her genial smile as she continued studying Alphonse. Judging by his reaction, he does know what a stray devil is.
Great. Just great. They're here for that postenago? Madiccho! First it was Viser. And now? I just happen to land in the crosshairs of a member of the Gremory's, who also happens to attend Kuoh. He shut his eyes as a pulsing headache came to fruition.
He softly spat out with a tone that would make any Skaenite applaud, "Se futtito! What else can go wrong today?!"
As is just so happens, a peculiar force of nature with a penchant for bringing more trouble rolled its infinite-sided die.
The immediate area around Alphonse and Rias is suddenly bathe in a particularly soothing blue light, pushing the encroaching shadows back. A bright blue circle interposed itself between the two. Rias immediately knew at the first glance who the owner of the intricate sigil is. She pondered on how she directly zeroed in on her location for a teleportation circle to be used. She hadn't even told her yet of the orders from the Archduke about the loose tray devil in town.
Meanwhile, Alphonse took a few steps back; wary of the magic circle which made its sudden appearance without preamble. If he had held his wits about, he would certainly notice the similarities between the rotating sigil and the one comfortably tucked inside his grimoire. Alas, Alphonse had enough surprises for one day and he immediately started channeling the ambient soul energy in the area, preparing to cast a defensive shield to protect the two of them. However, with a certain law still in play, the gathered fragments imploded under its chaotic nature and rebounded. His own soul was used a conduit as it turned into a very powerful shockwave, pushing back everyone within fifty paces, violently.
Rias and most of the members of the Occult Research Club flew backwards. Akeno yelped in surprise as she crashed against a tree. Issei, meanwhile, flew farther than the rest of them. He tumbled and landed on the dirt and grass. Kiba, even he was caught off guard by the sudden force, flipped once in midair, landing on his feet; a sword already in hand, ready to use it for a quick counter attack. Only Koneko was able to withstand the blast, her uniform dancing vigorously as the air rushed past her. Rias who received the brunt of the shockwave, hit the ground awkwardly. Her neat flowing hair is now in disarray. She earned scrapes and bruises on legs and arms and there was also a bruise forming on her forehead.
It wasn't just them who were affected by the sudden turn of events. Alphonse's face contorted into a silent scream from the unseen effect of the failed spell. A small number of soul fragments, which hadn't been used up from the shockwave, tried to stitch themselves into his soul in an effort to repair themselves, becoming whole once again. Like the physical body's immune system, his soul identified the intrusion and fought back the foreign entities with impunity.
It was just a brief instant, but to Alphonse, it felt almost an eternity. He felt…drained. His arms slackened and Yui fell from his arms. Without her weight bearing him down, he swung backwards with an unnatural gait and fell on his back. Before the darkness completely took him, his blurry vision saw two silhouettes appear after a blue flash. One of them appear to stare at him in surprise as he hit the ground.
Sona's rather impassive face faltered slightly at the sight before her as the magic circle and its light faded, plunging everything back onto the twilight. She found Rias sitting on the ground rubbing a hand on her forehead. She surveyed the area before her and found Rias's peerage scattered all over. Akeno leaned against the trunk of a tree looking no better than her King. Only Koneko and Kiba were left unscathed from whatever form of attack they weathered.
Tsubaki placed a hand on her shoulder and pointed at the opposite direction. "Sona! Look." Sona turned just in time to find Alphonse's head bouncing off the asphalt, hard. He laid there, still as a rock. A couple of paces from him, laid a blood soak Yui.
"Tsubaki! Go and take care of them. I'll see to Rias and her peerage." Sona watched for a moment as her Queen hurriedly slid next to the grievously injured Yui and quickly administered healing magic. Her eyes fell to the unmoving form of Alphonse. The front of his shirt is covered with dried blood, but he didn't seem to have any outstanding injury save for the slowly trickling blood coming from the back of his head. She blinked and pulled her gaze away and settled on Rias's, who gingerly rubbed the fast forming bruise on her head.
Before she could speak, Rias beat her to the punch. "Sona. I'm surprised to see you here."
"The same thing could be said to you," Sona replied, pushing her glasses habitually before offering a hand to her. "Why are you here?"
"Hunting a Stray Devil that moved in recently." Rias took the offered hand and used it to pull herself up, wincing as she did so. "Orders from the Archduke." She brushed her disarrayed hair with a hand. "Why are you here? Did you received the same orders?"
"I'm here," Sona jab her thumb behind her, "on the account of him getting into something way beyond his head." Rias raised her eyebrow at the tone she used in addressing 'him'. She peered at her and then at the unconscious Alphonse. A smile tugging at the edge of her lips.
"Oh. I didn't know Alphonse-san is a good candidate. Not until now anyway." Sona noticed Rias's growing interest for Alphonse and curled her lips into a disapproving frown. In the light of her recent recruitment method with her new pawn, she doubt the same manner would be well received. If she knew him as well as she hope, he wasn't someone who'll simply bow down in servitude despite is rather blasé demeanor outside of his interest.
In the end, being a good friend to the two parties involve; Sona decidedly nipped Rias's growing interest in adding another member to her peerage. "I look forward to having him amongst my peerage ranks." She noticed, however minute it was, that Rias deflated somewhat from hearing the news. A few seconds later, she beamed; chasing the storm clouds away from her face and gave the Sitri Heiress a congratulatory pat on the shoulder.
"I'm happy for you. It seems he already knows about his Sacred Gear. Though, I'm afraid he doesn't know how to use it properly yet." Sona didn't correct her friend's wrong assumptions of him having a Sacred Gear. Given her familiar's frantic screeching earlier, his method of magic seem to be based on the usage of cards already inscribed with specific type of spells. It wasn't unique per say, but it wasn't widely used for anything other than utility, like the teleportation circle she drew which Tsubaki slipped to Alphonse's person.
"Tell me," Sona started, looking to shed some light seconds before she came into the picture. "What happened to yourself and the rest of your peerage?"
Rias shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know." She peered past Sona's shoulder. "One moment, we having a tense yet civil conversation. The next an invisible force slammed against me." She looked back to Sona and gave her a wry smile, "I guess your showy entrance must have rattled him." Sona blinked at her in confusion.
"You mean to tell me. This," she gestured at Rias's bruised form, "are due to him panicking?"
"Clearly. Or else, he would still be standing. There must be some kind of unseen feedback which knocked him out cold." Rias turned to look at her peerage members. Already, Akeno took care of her injuries and is now seeing to Issei, much to the pawn's delight. Koneko smoothed the wrinkles of her uniform, staring at Alphonse with a wary eye. The ever dutiful Kiba stood next to her, inquiring at her well-being.
I should see to my mission. I need to confirm if Viser is still alive. Or, if your newest acquisition managed to deal with her. Permanently." Rias walked past Sona and stopped just a few paces. She craned her neck back to Sona. "Do you want to come?"
Sona curtly shook her head, knowing that they survived their ordeal with the Stray Devil is enough for her. "You go on ahead. I'll take Alphonse and Yui back to the academy." Rias nodded and bid her farewell.
[Chapter End]
So yes. To answer the unasked question, this was almost done before Deadfire came out. Oops. Didn't work on this for a month and a half till I finished the game. Twice. And, I may go through another playthrough before The Beast of Winter DLC comes out.
What this means for the couple of folks anticipatingly waiting for the next installment of this rather boring work (and not reading something else)? Well, I assure you, I've been writing it alongside this chapter and It's frankly not in a state I could post it yet. I still need to weave it around with some semblence of cohesion and all sorts jazz. Not promising a release date. It's better this way.
So on that note, I hope you enjoy it *jauntily waves goodbye*