"Talking"

'Thinking'

("The Voice")

('The Voice Thinking')

(Attack)

Chapter 3 - Fallen From Grace - A Fight For Your Life!

"Would you kindly die please?" The girl donning the black wings said in a sadistic tone while readying a beam of light in the shape of a spear. She had a evil smile and ominous aura to her.

("Child I suggest you be on your guard. She's going for the kill.") the voice once again on the alert readying Cassius for another squabble

"I swear it's just one thing after another tonight.." Cassius muttered to himself as he went into fighting stance. Immediately readying himself into a defensive stance.

("That light is dangerous. If you're not careful here you will die.")

"Looks ominous enough so I figured as much. Still appreciate you looking out for me."

'He can talk to his Sacred Gear? Shit.' the girl's expression changed with her hand still grasping the light. 'This kid might know how to use it then. This puts a damper on things.'

("I think it's time for you to fight, child. I shall lend you my power.")

His left hand started glowing. Cassius was taken aback as the girl threw her spear straight at him. Cassius saw the spear as he readied himself as his left hand opened up his palm open. "Whenever you're ready. Here's hoping you can do this."

("Have faith. Put your trust in me, child.") the voice cooed the stressed Cassius.

A glowing purple light emerged along with the eerie light. Waves of energy propelled themselves towards the spear as it slowly approaches the open palm.

(Suppress.) the voice echoed as the light spear slowly shrunk as before it came into contact with Cassius, the spear of light disappeared. Both Cassius and the girl with the black wings were shocked. Cassius looked at his hand as the glow disappears revealing an intricate glove like gauntlet. It looked as if lacked color and appeared to have cracks in it. A purple gem lies in the middle of the hand as chains trail down Cassius's finger leading to claws attaached on his fingers.

"Well this is a neat trinket, eh? This must be the Sacred Gear that people are talking about." A smirk creeped on Cassius's face as he looked back at the girl who is still in shock but quickly comes to.

('It is, my child. Granted this is the base form in other words the weakest. Still to think that you were able to bring out it's physical form in such a short time.') the voice seem surprised.

('This new wielder of mine may prove to be very interesting.')

"Y-You're kidding me? How? How is this possible? You should've just been a frail human that should've just died. " the girl with the wings. "You're just a human." She muttered as she threw two more light spears at him as Cassius steps to the side as both trail through the forest. The girl began to panic and taken steps back.

"So it seems my reflexes are quick too. This your doing?" Cassius inquired his left hand.

("So it seems. Seems the activation and power of the Sacred Gear has enhanced you somehow.)

"That's pretty neat." he looked back at the girl. "Who the hell are you supoosed to be anyway? Mind telling me why you're trying to kill me?"

The girl had no answers. She was seething in rage and was full of desperation as she lunged towards Cassius as he readied himself again.

Before she could land a strike her wings flung her backkwards at the last second as someone went for a sword slash. Cassius didn't know who that was but he took it as a chance to book it so he did. The stranger looked back before returning to the girl with wings. Amber vibrant eyes stared down the girl as she held up a sword. The point at the end was towards the girl.

"O Lord." the stranger began. "Let this soul whose fallen from grace find everlasting peace." she lunged towards the girl as the girl readied a light spear. A slash was made and a scream was uttered

Later on Cassius was traversing through the forest and came across an abandoned shed. It was beaten up but seems better than hiding in bushes.

"Let's get inside. Seems a decent place to rest a bit." he said as he started walking to the shed before a sharp pain zipped through his head. The cold claws of the gauntlet glove like piece clutched his head as he fell to his knees in pain. "Ah fuck! What is happening? My..head..hurts." he strained talking as if even speaking a word contributed to the pain.

("Must be from the activation of the Sacred Gear. This was your first time using it so maybe it took a lot out of you.") the voice calmly responded.

"Shit! Fuck this hurts!" he shouted still clinging to his head as he slowly got up as he stumbled inside.

("Find a place to sit, child. We might have to wait till this subsides.")

Cassius bit his bottom lip as he sat on the tattered floor of the shed. His back leaning up against the wall. He looked around in a daze of sorts taking a gander around the shed.

Cassius turned to hear footsteps approaching the door to the shed. He was feeling very weak and couldn't even stand. He slowly backed away sliding towards the back wall till he couldn't move. Cassius was shaking with anxious energy. His breath was ragged and sporadic. He was on the verge of hyperventilating.

"Please be still. I'm not going to harm you." the figure slowly approached Cassius. The shadows shrouded the stranger's appearance. "I beseech you, please allow me to assist you."

The woman slowly let out a delicate hand towards the weak Cassius. His glazed over eyes looked at the hand and back up at the figure. The woman knelt before Cassius as she slowly flipped over the hood.

"Goodness. You look pale you poor thing." She reached for the mask but Cassius jerked his head away as she withdrew her hand. She didn't appear to be an imposing figure or something of malicious intent. She looked to be gentle and compassionate as a soft smile was on her face. Those vibrant amber eyes that pierced through the girl earlier met with Cassius's eyes in tenderness.

" I promise I won't hurt you. Let me help you."

Cassius looked at her. Hesitant for a moment, but then he feels the gentle warmth this stranger brings and nodded slightly. She smiled upon him accepting her assistance.

"Here." she softly latched onto Cassius's trembling hand. Another hand slowly placed onto Cassius' eyes.

"Please focus on resting, poor soul. I'll take you somewhere where we can give you proper rest and find out what's wrong." she softly said as a white circle enveloped them as Cassius' eyes slowly drifted shut. The circle shot a beam underneath both of them as they both disappeared.

Shortly after Rias and her peerage walked into the shed. They investigated the surrounding area and no one else appeared to be in sight. They gathered in the middle of the shed.

"So not only humans are after this Sacred Gear user, but also fallen angels and angels as well. I must say this boy must be interesting if all matter of being are after him." Rias going over everything. She saw fallen angel feathers nearby and there she sensed energy from an angel around the area.

"Oh Rias. Sounds like he intrigues you! You planning on asking him to join the peerage?"

"As much as I would love to, Akeno, I'm pretty sure we come near him at all he'll book it again like earlier. We need to find a way to show we don't mean any harm."

"I would say that's an idea," Kiba began, "But do you think that the angel took him and teleported away? He might already not be an option."

"You may be right. It's unfortunate." Rias chuckled. "I'm very curious to what that Sacred Gear is. Let's return to the club and go over what we know. We'll have to try and find him whenever he shows up again.

"Right." Akeno, Koneko and Kiba said simultaneously as the group began their way out of the forest.

Cassius' eyes slowly drifted open. He looked around to see a white bedroom. White walls, two windows hidden behind shades, and a small desk with a delicate desk lamp on top of it. He slowly sat up as he held his head. He checked to see his mask still on and sighed in relief. He stepped out of the room and looked around.

"Where am I?" Cassius muttered to himself.

(I don't know. Surely though this beats bushes and sheds.) the voice in his left hand cued in.

"That's indeed true there, my friend." he said as he heard steps coming up the stairs. It was the stranger from before. He recognized those amber eyes.

"Oh! You're awake! Glad to see you're up!" she spoke in a cheerful tone towards Cassius. Cassius chuckled a bit for he could find it adorable. Her upbeat personality despite barely knowing this person at all.

"Well don't be shy! Come downstairs I'll make you something to eat!"

She stepped away, probably heading to the kitchen as Cassius followed.

"Oh! In case you're wondering you're clothes are being washed at the moment. Don't worry I didn't take the mask of course. Figured you wanted to keep your identity a secret." she chuckled again as he couldn't help but laugh along. To Cassius this change from yesterday was really nice and he felt safe for once in his life.

"So? If I may ask?" Cassius began. "You were wearing a robe before correct? Was that just for show or are you from another group like the devils I saw earlier?"

"Oh yeah I'm an exorcist!" she said in that trademark cheerful tone. " I pretty much more or less work or the church."

"The chruch huh? Interesting."

"Yeah. I lived pretty much my life following the beliefs of God."

"You mean that made up person said to create every-" he stopped himself realizing what he was saying. You know what on second thought, I'll rescind that comment. After everything I seen that night, anything is possible." he chuckled nervously as she laughed along. She then began to cook some food. Cassius watching her as she went through the process with finesse.

"You are interesting I'll give you that much." the stranger said as she finished cooking Cassius his breakfast. She got herself a plate too placing both on the counter. "Okay let's dig in!"

"Thank you for the food." Cassius expressing his gratitude in a gentle manner. Before pulling down his mask about to dig in.

The girl looked up at Cassius with a gentle smile before it faded into a look of shock. The fork she had slipped from her hand onto the plate as she immediately shot up from her seat. She walked over to Cassius with her amber eyes looking down on one important detail.

The scar on Cassius's cheek. A flood of memories came out of nowhere flashing through the girl's head as tears welled up. She was on the verge of breaking down before she managed to get one word out.

"C-Cassius?" she whimpered. The cheerfulness appeared to be gone as Cassius shot up looking at the amber eyes filled with tears. He had a look of extreme confusion as the girl took her pink ponytail and threw it over her left shoulder. It was long and flowing down like a waterfall. She was doing her best to keep herself from crying.

Upon seeing that like the girl a flood of memories washed over Cassius. He shot up too as he looked deep into those amber eyes. He had a pained look on his faces for this was a reunion between childhood friends who drifted apart due to Cassius's unfortunate fate. Only to reunite as if by fate itself the day of his escape from the cult. Cassius' stature calmed as he processed everything and knew without a doubt it was her. His childhood friend.

"Lucille." he said gently a soft smile was seen. "It's good to see you again."