Before reading this chapter, I just want to get some comments out of the way concerning this fic. This is in regards to Justin D, a guest fanfic reader who likes this fic. Justin, thanks for liking this story! For some reason I can't reply to his comment, but this would be the way to clear some points in the comments section. Here's what's going down.
Remember, this whole story takes place before DXD New. This story does not take place in the Excalibur arc and is in no relation to any arc from DXD New or DXD Born or to anything in the light novels much further along. Kokabiel is not present nor will he ever be present in this story. I made Richie the knight due to his fast mobility and I think to me it fits very well. Xenovia was never planned to be in this story in the first place. However, I did have plans on her for a possible sequel to the fic. Yes, I have thoughts and notes typed up for a possible sequel, but that doesn't mean it's considered to be worked on. As for the pairings, right now it's just Asia so you'll have to wait and see if there any multiple pairings. I know who Jeanne and Le Fay are in the light novels but remember, this takes place after the first season. Now that I got that outta the way. Let the story begin!
It was now getting dark. The sky turned into a very darker shade of blue with stars glistening high. The weather was very calm and most of the citizens of the town were now inside of their homes to rest until the start of a brand-new day tomorrow. During the night, both Issei, along with Rias' newest acquisition, Richie, we're riding along a bicycle. Issei's bike to be exact. The bike was fit for two. Issei was in control of the wheel while Richie was riding along the back holding on his shoulder with one hand and holding a navigation device with another. The device was given by Akeno before the two headed outside. The look of it had two screens. One on the top and on the bottom. The top screen was used as a map while the bottom was used how many deliveries were made and was used to have the user pinpoint and choose to make his or her own deliveries. It's used to keep track of how many deliveries were successful with certain pinpoints to know where to make those deliveries.
"Okay, that's done. Which one's next?" Issei asked Richie from behind.
Richie looks over his map. "Next one should be about...0.8 miles northbound from where we are."
"Crap! Almost another mile?" Issei exclaimed.
"C'mon, we're practically halfway there. The sooner we get things done, the better for us to kill some spare time. Besides, Rias said she has something in stored for me to do next when we're done."
"Man! It feels like we've been at it for so many hours. So, it's that way down that hill?"
"That's what the GPS says. Yep, straight on." Richie reads.
"Hold on tight." He informed Richie. The indigo dragon warrior held on tight onto Issei's shoulders before gliding down a hill with an insane amount of momentum.
*HOURS EARLIER*
Akeno used her measuring tape to document more on Richie's body sizes. From his front torso to his feet. He stands still as Akeno writes down the necessary measurements she needs.
"Let's see. Shirt size in a large. Size 11 shoes. Waist size at around 32 inches." she wrote.
"What's all this for?" he asked.
"For you to be fitted for your school uniform, silly boy. You start going with us tomorrow."
"Oh yeah, that's right. I forgot Rias told me about school."
Issei was informed that he would be joined with Richie later. He had to wait for him outside until Rias was finished discussing with him.
"Now that you're one of us, you should know a few things before heading out. Devils grant power to human for an agreed price known as a pact. In the old days, humans draw magic circles to summon us. To save time to compensate this issue, we now make deliveries to those who need us to better have the convenience. Since you're new, you'll be tagging along with Issei throughout your first assignment. You'll get to learn first hands on what it takes to be a devil. I did however had plans on having you do this alone, but because you're from a different world, I'm having you stick with a buddy for now, at least until you're familiar with this town."
"Okay, that sounds easy enough." he thought while packing the small bulks of leaflets in the bag.
"Don't think that it's going to be easy. It takes time and patience to obtain a contract." Rias added before laying both her hands on his shoulders from behind him, whispering in the boy's ear. "Should you do well and maybe you'll have servants of your own like me one day."
"Time-out." He said making a t-shaped hand signal. "Did you say I can servants all on my own?"
"Only if you're effort is excellent." She said with a smile.
"Okay, let's break it down. Let's say if my services were well off the charts, then I get my own servants? Just like that?"
"Yes." She happily affirmed.
"And I can have them do whatever, and whenever I want them to. Like make me dinner, clean up, and bring me something like food or other items I may need at any time. Right?"
"Uh-huh."
Richie gave himself a very uptight expression in his face. His mouth opened in happened to imagine what it was like to have his own servants. "This is gonna be too sweet! I can have people do what I want without lifting a finger!" he gasped.
"As long as you do a good job, but it's not all about having servants. Who knows? You'll maybe be higher ranking devil someday." she hints.
*HOURS LATER*
"A higher-ranking devil, huh. I wonder what kind of perks you get besides being a regular devil." He thought. "Hey Issei, can I ask you something.?"
"Yeah, Richie?" he replied.
"I just wanna know-what's it like getting a contract?"
"How should I know? I never gotten one."
"Really?!"
"Yeah, it's actually kinda hard as balls to get one to be honest. At least my overall reviews have been pretty good, so besides that there's actually something to enjoy." He says stopping his bike." But when I do get my contracts enough to be a high rank devil soon, I'm gonna be one step closer to become harem king!" he shouted.
Richie raised an eyebrow in question. "Harem King?"
"Yeah. When I become harem king, I'm gonna do a lot of things when I'm surrounded by girls. Very special things, if you know what I mean." he chuckled looking behind him. "And hell, who knows? You might someday get girls on your own in one way. Think about it Richie, having girls doing whatever you want, however, at any time, day or night with no limits. I can see it now. Girls with big boobs catering to your every whim as far as the eye could see, Richie my friend! Whaddya think!"
"Hold up. My servants don't have to be just a mix of guys and girls. It can be all ladies with no restrictions!? I'd never thought of it that way." He said with a faint blushing smile holding his chin. "Holy crap, this guy's a bigger perv than Tyrone! But servants full of sexy ladies would be amazing. If I became a high-ranking devil in the future, the possibilities could be endless!" He thought. "Then there's no time to waste! Let's get these deliveries done! I say the sooner we get contracts, the better chances we'll have at getting some girls on our laps!"
"That's the spirit! Let's do this! How many more deliveries we got so far?"
"Just thirty more down that block on the right and we're done." Richie pointed.
"Roger." Issei affirmed.
*LATER THAT EVENING*
The two boys returned upstairs to the old school building. The rest of the peerage were waiting for them to return after their assignments were over. Rias was quietly sitting down at her desk with Akeno at her right side while everyone else was standing. Suddenly, they heard the door knob turn. The door opened and out came Issei and Richie.
"We're back! Sorry it took a while, but our assignment is finally done. All of the leaflets were delivered just like you ask." Richie told Rias.
"Nice work, you two. Your assignment may be done, but your job isn't quite over just yet." She said. "It's now time for the last phase, getting a contract. Richie, I think you're just about ready."
"R-Really? I'm making a pact? Right here, right now? Are you sure about that?"
"Nervous?" She asks.
"Yeah, a little bit. I mean-I just don't wanna mess this up, y'know."
Rias assured him. "Relax, you'll do fine. However, we do have a bit of an issue. It seems that Kiba and Asia are each double booked with two requests. I need you two to take over one from whichever whom. Richie, this'll be good practice for you."
Richie raises his left hand first. "I'll take Asia's place! If that's okay with you, Issei." he asks.
"It's cool. I'll just take one of Kiba's for tonight." Issei agreed.
"Thank you, Richie. I'm very appreciated for you to cover for me." Asia smiled with a bow.
"Y-You're welcome, Asia." Richie politely responded rubbing his hand behind his head.
Rias stood up from her desk. "Alright, let's get started! Akeno, if you would start us off, please."
"You know I'm always happy to." said Akeno. She walked over to the back of the room with the most space. She spread her arms apart with her eyes close to summon a huge, red, magic circle from beneath her feet. Richie was in awestruck to witness devil magic for the first time.
"Amazing. What is that she's doing?" He asked Rias.
"Summoning a transportation circle. It'll be the fastest way you'll get to your client. Oh, I almost forgot. Before you step in, if I may, hold out your right hand."
He did as he was told and held out his right palm to Rias. "O-Okay?"
The crimson haired girl casted a small, red, circular symbol on the base of his palm with her index finger. "This is a seal. It serves as proof that you represent the house of Gremory. When you get your destination, just stay calm and do as I tell you. You think you're up for it?"
"Wicked." He said softly looking at his right hand. "Wait, so I-I'm going first?! Shouldn't someone with more experience take the wheel on this one? I mean, I am a rookie and I still got a lot to learn from this."
"Come on Richie, you got this!" Issei told him with encouragement. "Remember our talk from earlier? Servants, Richie! Get in the game!"
Richie recalled their conversation beforehand. He took one deep breath in and out. "Alrighty then. I think I'm totally up for this. I'm not scared. Let's do this thing!"
"That's what I love hear. Now, off you go. Make me proud." Rias chimed as Richie walked towards the center of the magic circle.
"You can do it, Richie! I know you can." Asia encouraged him.
"Over to Sunset to where I'm from, look out servants, here I come!" he rhymed in his head.
Starting from the bottom of his shoes towards the top of his torso, he started to glisten as the transportation circle was getting ready to send him off to his respected client. He was mesmerized by the amount of light emitting from the entire circle. So much so that a light wind began blowing upward to his body. With his head up high, he felt like the whole process was working. He closes his eyes hoping for the best. His entire body immediately gave away a very white shine surrounding him. It was like a car getting ready start and accelerate with great speed. Rias, including the rest of the peerage we're happy to see this go into full swing, but just as soon as the magic circle was getting ready to send him off with a great amount of white light, it suddenly disappeared into small particles of magic dust. Richie was still standing in the exact spot where the magic circle once stood. He was still inside the clubroom. The boy opened his eyes to discover that nothing has happened.
"Uh-oh." muttered Issei.
Richie opened his eyes. Seeing the peerage members and the interior of the clubroom left him puzzled. He wondered why the magic circle didn't send him to the appropriate location.
"What happened?" He questioned. "Did I break circle? Is it because I'm new?"
"No, you didn't break it." Rias replied crossing her arms. "Even newer devils can be sent through transportation circles."
"Looks like Issei and Richie got another thing in common, huh president?" Akeno told Rias.
Issei heard what Akeno said and immediately sweat dropped with his head down by the embarrassment. He too couldn't go to the client's destination through a magic circle. Richie also heard Akeno's statement.
"You're saying Issei can't go through magic circles either?" Richie asked.
"Don't silly. He can go through as long as someone is in control the transportation. He just can't do it by himself, that's all." Akeno giggled.
"Yeah, yeah. Ha ha ha. Very funny. Why not make fun of Issei instead? How about that?" Issei muttered in upset.
"If I can't go through by myself via magic, then how do I get to my client?"
Rias responded. "Since you can't make the jump, there's only one other way you can get to you client."
"Yeah, like what?"
Moments later, Issei was pedaling his bike as fast as he could possibly could. As the same as delivering the leaflets, Richie sat behind Issei with his pocket gps, only this time his nearest pinpoint was his client. Richie however, wasn't to happy of having to go through manual transportation. Issei wasn't too keen either. He still felt antsy after what Akeno said, but on the brighter side, it was true that he's not the only one that can't make the jump to his client. Issei felt at least a little bit glad not being the lone one. He had to drop off Richie first then go to his own client.
"Whoever heard of a devil riding along bicycle to get a contract?! This sucks! The one time I get to experience demonic magic and already I can't go through as something simple as a transportation circle." Richie sighed. "But on the plus side, at least I'm not alone. Rias said it's because I have low devil energy, the circle won't work on anyone that much power. From now on, I'm gonna make sure I get stronger. The stronger I get, the more energy I have. The more energy I have, the better chances of fighting Alexandria faster."
Richie looks down at his gps to figure out where his current location is. With Issei's speedy pedaling, the red moving dot was getting faster and closer until the screen read, "You've Arrived!".
"Issei, stop!" He exclaimed. Issei heard Richie to immediately hit the brakes on his bikes to stop abruptly in front of a house.
"Is this the place?" Issei said.
"Yep, house number 154. Dead on." Richie replied as soon as he stepped off behind Issei.
"Well, I'm off to make a pact. Wish me luck. If there's any trouble, you have my phone number. You got this."
"Yeah, I know. I'll be fine."
"Well, okay. I'll see you later." Issei replied before pedaling off to his client until Richie...
"ISSEI, WAIT!" Richie shouted.
"What is it? Did you forget something?"
"I... never gotten the chance to thank you for saving my life last night." Richie expressed his gratitude.
"Oh, uh, you're welcome. It's no big deal, really."
"It is a big deal. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't even be standing here talking to you now. My whole mission would've been a bust if you and your friends didn't help me. So, I wanna say, thank you. I should also thank Rias too for doing the same. She's a life saver too y'know, literally."
Issei heard his words very carefully. He was right. If he hadn't come to Rias with that information or didn't notice the spot on his cell phone, Richie would've died. He also thought about the time Rias saved him from his encounter with Raynare when she killed him. Twice. He then flashes back to the moment he transformed into that weird half dragon half human form from that fight. Where did all that power come from? Issei stood with his head down with a blank stare just thinking before Richie notice something.
"Helloooo. Earth to Issei." Richie said waving his hand in front of his face along with multiple snapping of the fingers.
"Huh. What. Oh, yeah. Sorry about that. I just spaced out for a moment. Anyways, you're welcome, Richie." He said accepting his gratitude. "I gotta go. I don't wanna be late. Just call me if there's trouble!" He shouted as he pedaled out to his client.
"What's going on with him? Who knows? But what I do know is I better go in there make this pact. Let's get it!" He exclaimed before ringing the doorbell.
When the doorbell rang, he heard loud footsteps coming from within the house as if someone inside was expecting somebody. He then heard the door knob turn until the door opened.
"Thank God! Asia, I'm so glad you could make...wait a minute. You're not Asia." a black-haired boy said.
"No, I'm actually not. I'm from the Gremory house. Asia was a bit overbooked, so I had to take over one of her spots and here I am."
"I'm sorry, but Asia has to be the one to babysit my little brother while I'm away to see my girlfriend. I summoned her, not you. Look, you're kinda wasting my time. Sorry, nothing personal really." the black-haired boy said before shutting the door, but Richie on the other hand blocked the end doorway with his foot.
"Please! What if I can babysit your brother or anything, something, really?!"
"Hmmmmmm, you do sound pretty desperate. My brother is gonna be totally batshit upset that Asia's not coming. But if you can handle my brother like you said you would, why not? Get inside.
"Whew. Thank You." Richie sighed of relief as he entered this household. Richie and his client were walking upstairs towards the entrance of the little brother's bedroom. While climbing the stairs, they began to introduce to one another.
"By the way, I didn't get your name, devil. What is it?"
"My name is Richie. Richie Louisè." He introduced. "And you are?"
"Keinichi Yamamoto. But everyone calls me Kei for short. Your name sounds so weird. You must be a foreigner or something." Keinichi answered as they arrived at the top. "Anyway, let's get this out of the way. If you must know, my mom had to put me in charge while she's away with her boyfriend but the thing, is my girlfriend called and says needs me at her house to spends some alone time. Plus, I'm grounded. I need you to babysit my brother for three hours until I come back.
"So, you hired a devil to babysit your brother, even though your mom told you to in the first place and knowing well if it all crumbles down you're going to be grounded until you graduate high school."
"That's the plan! By the way, have you ever taken care of kids before? Just asking."
"I've looked after my two cousins twice every month before. It was chaos at first three months, but after that things were a lot cooler later."
"Great! A guy with expertise. Now, stay outside while I tell my brother." Kei said opening his brother's door. "Ren! You got a minute!"
"Hey, didn't people ever tell you to knock!?" Ren shouted while relaxing in his bed playing his portable video game wearing his red shirt, and khaki shorts with his socks on. "What do you want?" the white-haired boy said.
"Look, I'm going out to run an errand. I won't be back in about a few hours, so I hired a babysitter for you til' I get back."
"No way! Mom says you were supposed to watch me! If you leave, I'm telling her right now that you left me in the house by myself." Ren exclaimed picking up his cell phone.
"Okay, but if you do that, then I guess that I'll have to tell Mom that you were the one that ate a mom's special musubi today and you know how much mom can't live without it."
"But it was you that ate the musubi!"
"I know. Wanna bet that I can beat you before you reach mom?" Keinichi said with a devilish smile with his hand on getting ready to speed dial his mom on his cell phone.
"Okay, fine. You win. I won't tell Mom."
"Good. You know Asia, right? The girl I would told you that she would be babysitting today.
"Yeah, the cute girl you showed me a photo of. What about her?"
"That's the problem. She's overbooked so she won't be babysitting you tonight."
"WHAT!" Ren shouted.
"But cheer up. I got a new babysitter for ya. Richie, you can come in now!" Kei exclaimed. Richie entered inside Ren's room. "Ren, this is Richie. He's gonna be babysitting you til' I get back."
Ren sat up to get out of his bed. Richie walked closer to give the boy a handshake. "Nice to meet you, Ren. I hope we can be good friends tonight.
"Looks like you too are getting along just fine. I'm out. Information is on the refrigerator. Should anything happen my number is on there as well. His bedtime is ten o' clock. And make sure he doesn't have sugar. Good luck, Richie! Your gonna need it!" Kei yelled running downstairs and out the door locking behind him.
"Well, Ren it's about 8 o'clock now so why don't we just…"
"Listen...to me! You're new here so I'm gonna lay some ground rules. I do what I want, watch what I see, and eat what I eat, whenever I want. This is my house. Got it?!" Ren pointed as he walked out his bedroom sliding down the banister to the living room.
"Hey Ren! Don't be sliding down the banister like that!" Richie shouted. Oh God, I'm sounding like my mom. And it feels kind of great. Okay. This kid is a bit of a brat. Smart mouth at best, but it's cool. I've handled worse. How bad it could get?
*1 HOUR LATER*
The first floor of the house was a complete mess. Ren's stuff was everywhere. Toys, shoes, plates where he had eaten, and all sorts of other stuff were all over the living room area. In past couple of hours, Ren was on a frenzy. He ate cookies and other sweets from the kitchen that he wasn't supposed to. He was in a total sugar rush. Bouncing in and out from couches, running up and down the stairs, including sliding down the stairs too many times. All seems a lot of fun too him until he eventually crashed on the couch.
"Finally. He crashed." He said with a sigh of relief. "The last thing I need is another damn sugar rush. Cookies, sweets, candy, and anything sugar related are stored to higher ground so there's no way for him to get all coked up like that. Now the only one thing left to do is...cleaning up" he said picking up a broom.
In a span of an hour, Richie was almost done cleaning the whole lower floor of the house. Going down the nitty gritty of cleaning every orphis that Ren had laid his hands on or even marked. From the living room, to the stairs, and to the kitchen he managed to get everything all tidy and clean before Ren could make things worse in risk of losing his contract. In the kitchen, Richie was just about done washing the two last two dishes Ren ate from.
"There." He said putting the plate and glass away in the cabinet. "I don't know how much I can handle all this. Hell, my cousins don't act like this and they're the same age as him. They do nothing but eat and play video games til it's bedtime. Kei should be back from his girlfriend's house for not much longer. Just hope the mom doesn't come back so soon. Maybe I should just rest my eyes for a bit, til Kei comes back. I'll rest in front of Ren so that way I'm close to him." He said with a little yawn.
Richie closed his eyes to take a small snooze after all the work he had done. Washing the dishes, cleaning up messes, keeping an eye on Ren the whole night. A babysitter deserves some rest after all the mayhem. With thirty minutes passed, Richie got up to stretch and opened his eyes to awake from his snooze.
"Mmmhmmm, that was a good snooze if I say so myself." He said with a stretch. He then turns his eyes toward the couch that Ren was resting. Unfortunately, Ren wasn't sleeping on the couch.
"Ren? Ren, where'd you go?" Richie wondered. "You better not be making a mess in the kitchen! I just cleaned it after that rush you had! Ren?!"
Richie looked inside the kitchen. Ren was not sitting down at the dining table. He checked the inside of the cupboard to see if he was playing a joke or hide and seek. He was not inside or anywhere inside the kitchen.
"He probably went to bed. I'd better go check. Better for him to to be in bed anyway." He said running upstairs.
Up the stairs he went to reach Ren's bedroom door. He turns the doorknob peek inside Ren's bedroom. Presumably, the lights would be on if Ren would be inside the whole time but hadn't went to bed yet and it would be off if he'd went. The lights were on, but Ren was nowhere to be found.
"He's not in his room. Okay, I'd better check-everywhere!" He assured himself.
Richie decided to check inside the mother's bedroom. He opened the door to see the mother's bed neatly made. It hadn't been touched since. The boy went inside just in case. The bathroom, the closet, under the bed. Nowhere.
He shouted his name in the room multiple times, searching high and low. "Ren! Ren, this is no time for games! I mean it Ren! Where are you!?
Richie checked the main bathroom. He checked inside the tub. Nothing. Inside the sink cabinet, nothing. There was another door presumably the guest room. He checked there inside and out. Still no Ren. He decided to go back downstairs to double check to find him. He rushed and rushed desperately to find the little white-haired boy. He looked inside the garage. The boy was nowhere to be seen.
"Crap! If I hadn't taken that stupid nap, none of this wouldn't have happened. Kei is going to kill me if he finds out I lost Ren!" He worried pacing back and forth getting ready to freak out. He looked straight at the front door and noticed something odd. The doorknob was in the unlocked position."
"Why is this door knob in the front unlocked? I could've sworn Kei locked it behind himself on the way out. Unless...Ren must've went outside!" He exclaimed in his mind.
Richie opened the door to look outside if Ren had been outside. He wasn't in front of the house. The chances of him being inside the house were slim to none. He rushed back inside the house to desperately find a flashlight. His first guess was in the kitchen drawer. Sure enough, he was right. The first drawer he pulled, out contained a good sized, yet bright LED flashlight. He exited the house to search for Ren. Richie searched behind the backyard. The backyard was nothing but a small swing set and a big tree. He checked around the entire backyard. Ren was not there.
Richie stood back in front of the house flashing his light back and forth on the sides of the street. "Looks like I have no choice. I have to search the entire street til' Kei gets back. If I call Kei now, he'll go ballistic. Not calling him would be even worse. Screw it! Contract or no contract, it was my responsibility to take care of him. Let's see, his cell number should be on my phone last, I check. Found it!" He exclaimed.
Just before he could hit the green call button, he heard a faint noise. The noise sounded like it was coming right side of the street. At first, he thought it sounded like a cat meowing in the distance, but as he listens closely he could hear the faint sound a little clearly.
"That noise. It sounds like a someone is...crying? REN!" He gasped.
Richie with full speed ran toward the right side of the street to flow the sound of the crying voice. He hoped he finally found Ren after all that time spent searching for him. He didn't care about anything else but the responsibility and safety of Kei's little brother. Richie ran and ran until he saw a small child with white hair sitting in the middle of a small intersecting street.
"Help me! Big brother! Richie! Where are you!" the child sobbed.
Richie raced toward the kid. With a great sigh of relief, he finally found Ren sitting on his knees crying with his face covered up.
"Ren! There you are! I've been looking all over for you! You're in a lot of trouble for what you've gotten yourself into! You had me worried sick, what's wrong with you? Anyway, more importantly, thank goodness, you're alright. Now come on, let's go home before your brother gets back."
He reached out with his right hand to help pick up the child back on his feet. The child quickly turned his head. His face made a very devious grin wearing cross earrings on both sides of his ears. Yellow eyes were revealed in front of Richie. The kid quickly grabbed a hold of Richie's right arm thereby holding it very tightly. So tight Richie couldn't get him off.
"What the-you're not Ren! Hey! Let me go!" Richie exclaimed.
"Finally! You're mine!" the child said in a much deeper feminine voice.
Before he knew it a cyclone of black feather swirled around Richie and the kid. As the feathers grown bigger and blacker, the kid grew in size. The black feathers disappeared until it was revealed to be…
"Alexandria!" Richie yelled.
"The one and only." She replied. "It's been a while. Hasn't it? I'd thought I'd never catch up to you!" she said still hoping to Richie very tightly.
"This whole thing was an ambush? Why the hell were you dressed as Ren?!"
"Oh, so is that what the kid's name was!? If you're so curious, why don't you ask him yourself!" Alexandria exclaimed throwing Richie toward a big tree near the street corner.
Richie slid down behind the tree feeling the force of impact from that throw Alexandria executed. He fell on his side until he saw a pair of sneakers wrapped together with rope, hidden inside a bush.
"What the…?" He questioned.
He opened the bush to reveal the real Ren all tied up and gagged. His hands were tied behind his back along with a piece of clothing wrapped tightly inside and around his mouth. Fortunately, he was still awake from the rope bondage received from. Ren squirmed, wriggled, and shout with all his might to try and free himself out.
"Ren! Don't move! I'm gonna get you outta here!" Richie told Ren.
Richie attempted to untie Ren from the back. When he touched the rope, he immediately felt a severe burning sensation from touching it.
"AGHHH! My hands! Why is this rope so burning hot!"
"Oh yeah, those ropes I used were enchanted through series of holy energy. Any devil should know that touching anything made from pure light should feel a very uncomfortable, severe burning sensation. Wait a sec, you're a devil now aren't you? Oh, this night just keeps getting better and better!" she says with a slasher grin.
"Then, how come Ren isn't burned by it?" He asked blowing his hand to cool off.
"I just told you. He isn't a devil like you so the effects of fallen angel magic don't harm to those who are human."
"How did you know I was coming this way?"
"I've been following you." she says coming closer toward him.
"Stay back! I'm warning you!" Richie yelled. He held his right arm in front of him. He attempted to defend himself with the Prodigy Gear, but it seems that it's not awakening yet.
"And do what! Use that shitty ass little shield the Indigo Dragon Empress gave you. You're pulling my leg. Such a shame. We could've rekindled our whole relationship. Oh well, it's time for you to die, anyway." Alexandria said with a devious smile.
Time was running out. Richie had to think about something to either evade from Alexandria or block her upcoming attack. He slapped the top of his hand on repeat in an attempt to awake the Prodigy Gear. "Come on. Please work. Unlock!? Go!? Activate!? Aeris!?"
Alexandria walked casually closer and closer to Richie as she summoned a bow and arrow made from holy energy from both her hands. She stopped dead in her tracks to get ready to shoot She aimed the bow straight at his heart and pulled back on the drawstring.
"I guess this is it. I'm gonna die." Richie thought standing scared stiff less.
As soon as Alexandria was going to release her drawstring. She hears something in the distance on her right. A loud whizzing noise from afar downhill. The closer the noise came, the louder it got. The noise came closer when it was revealed to be a man riding on a bicycle. The bike going at breakneck speed without any warning, hit Alexandria so hard that she rolled all the way to the opposite direction. The light bow and arrow quickly disappeared as soon as it landed on the ground. The man was launched out of his bike and rolled toward a few feet away from both Richie and Ren. Richie ducked for cover. He ran across to the man to the man that flew out of his bike. That man turned out to be Issei.
"Agh! Crap! Issei exclaimed getting up rubbing his head.
"Issei?" He called.
"Richie?" Issei was struggling to get up.
"Crap dude, let me help you up!"
Richie reached out his right arm to help Issei up from his right hand. "Agh! Easy now." He said.
"I got ya. You took a nasty fall back there. How'd you know I was in trouble?"
"Thanks. I didn't. I couldn't control the brakes on my bike so I went too fast going downhill. I think my brakes might be shot."
Alexandria soon got up after the major collision with Issei's bike. She started rubbing her head to get some sort of relief, but the relief caused minor damage to her head than expected. The hit caused her to bleed from the side of her forehead. She opens her eyes to see blood showing on the skin of her hand. Blood was dripping down from her head to her cheek. Upon instant thought, she sees the culprit that done the damage to her. The emotions in her were infuriated with a great deal of boiling rage. Because of this, she spread out her black wings in a great deal of anger followed by an inflamed yell. She instantaneously flew toward the standing Red Dragon Emperor with an insane amount of speed, causing herself to slam Issei into a light pole with her right arm to choke him out.
"Issei!" yelled Richie.
"You got a lot of fucking nerve, you know that!" Alexandria gritted under her teeth. "To think, as pathetic as you, can take me out? I don't think so, prick!"
Issei struggle to escape the clutches of the fallen angel by using both hands. He quickly summons his Boosted Gear with his left arm. Alexandria charges in for the punch and quickly swings in to complete the hit. The hit resulted in a fail as Issei blocked it with to Boosted Gear.
*BOOST!*
Issei quickly gained more power from his sacred Gear. It was enough to budge out of her hold, but not enough to be free. He was still struggling, but not for long. "Boosted Gear!" He chanted.
*BOOST!*
The red dragon warrior gained even more power. Little bit enough to break free out of her arm choke hold. Issei grabbed Alexandria by her shirt. With all his might he starts throwing her across the wall from a few feet behind him. The sudden force of the throw cause the fallen angel to break through a brick wall.
"Woah." Richie said to himself being impressed by Issei's power. "What strength."
Richie wasn't the only one impressed by Issei's Boosted Gear. Ren on the other hand witnessed before his eyes the power of Issei's sacred Gear. His eyes had widened with amazement by the sure skill he pulled.
"That ought to teach ya. Asshole.' Issei panted.
He started rubbing his throat with heavy breaths trying to recuperate himself after Alexandria attacked him. He began stepping back almost a a few yards across from Alexandria to get to safety. Richie began to look back and forth to both Issei and Alexandria, but suddenly he starts seeing a glistening flash of purple light coming from the hole of the brick wall. He then realized that Alexandria wasn't down for the count. She still had one more plan up her sleeve. As the dust clouds soon dissipate, Richie sees a clear view of Alexandria with her wings spread out holding her bow and arrow of light.
"ISSEI, WATCH OUT!" Richie yelled.
Issei did not see Alexandria standing back up on her own two feet or even the the light emitting from her bow and arrow until he heard Richie called his name. His head turn toward Richie and heard his warning. He then turned his head toward Alexandria through the wall, with her bow and arrow all set up. Issei quickly reacted with a gasp. He recalls the exact moment he saved Asia at the church. When he saved her, it was all thanks to the Prodigy Gear. Earlier, he couldn't awaken the Prodigy Gear from before in the ambush. But the question is, would it work this time? The boy made had made decision. A decision of sacrifice. Richie ran as fast as he possibly could with an immense amount of speed in an aim to save Issei.
"Please. I can't let this happen. I'm all out of options! He thought all over to himself with tears starting to develop in his eyes. Richie jumped out feets away from Issei's right side. He screamed from the top of his lungs with a mighty yell.
"PRODIGYYYYYYYY!"
By the time Richie jumped up in front of Issei, Alexandria released her light arrow. Richie's top right hand started to shine a bright cyan light. That light eventually turned itself into a cyan embedded jewel which would later evolve entirely into the familiar indigo colored, dragon gauntlet with orange spikes gutting out from the bottom. All this together, his newly adapted devil wings eventually sprung out of his back. The Prodigy Gear had now been officially unleashed. The magic indigo shield appears from right out of the center cyan embezzled jewel. Richie landed on the ground, shoulder first, in front Issei. Alexandria's light arrow was precisely and immediately blocked by the magic shield. However, the arrow didn't fall on the ground as it impacted on the shield nor was it stuck on like any normal arrow would. It ricocheted on to the center shield, having the arrow bounce back to the same trajectory where Alexandria fired. Soon after, the fast arrow landed on the inside of her left shoulder. She screamed a ferociously in a great deal of pain of having that light arrow pierce a few inches through her upper body. If she were a devil, she would've had the same burning sensation as Richie but twenty times worse. The pain she felt was more so of a sharp, stinging sensation by any ordinary human made arrow. Both boys were indeed safe for now. Issei on the other hand, was perplexed by the power he saw in Richie. Using his shield from the Prodigy Gear to defend and deflect an attack. Finally, the shield ultimately dissipated from Richie's sacred gear, but Richie did not pass out like last time. The boy was still up and on alert. Issei and Richie soon bare witness the look of the Prodigy Gear.
"Woah. Is that the—" Issei said.
"Prodigy Gear." Richie finished for him.
"No way!
Issei, with his boosted gear still active, does a little side by side comparison to Richie's Prodigy Gear.
"My Boosted Gear. I-It's exactly the same as your Prodigy Gear. Ddraig and Aeris...they're really both related." Issei convinced himself in a mystified way before turning to Richie. "Are you okay?"
"I'm alright. Just a bit banged up from that landing. I should ask the same way about you."
Suddenly, the both hear a loud screeching roar from the hole on the brick wall. Alexandria rejuvenated herself with the arrow still attached inside herself. She pulled the arrow out of herself in an infatic deal of animosity as if the arrow was nothing. Blood was coming out the recently made wound.
"I'm not finished with you two!" Alexandria yelled. She summons a huge light arrow from her right hand, directly aiming the arrow at the two devils. Issei and Richie ultimately stood up in front of Alexandria. The two still have the enough energy to fight her off. They hilted their active sacred gears in front of each other, balling their fists as they get ready. Richie's shield also magically appears with a will of determination showing on his face.
"I've got your back, whenever you're ready." Richie told Issei.
"Same here." Issei responded.
*RIIIIIIING* Alexandria heard her cell phone's ringer go off. She looks at the caller I.D. to see his brother's name on the screen.
"WHAT! I'M VERY BUSY!" she hollered.
"Slight change of plans. Uncle wants you back. ASAP!" Alexavier tells her.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN CHANGE OF PLANS!? ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS?! I'M THIS CLOSE TO ANIALITING THESE TWO!" She pointed.
Issei looks to Richie with a confused look on his face. "She stopped her attack to take a phone call?" he whispered.
"I don't know. But still, stay on your toes. She paused her attack for something. She could pull anything at any moment."
"Right!" Issei agreed.
"Bail out now! That's his order!" Alexavier shouted.
"You're kidding!? Fine! I'll be on my way, dammit!" She shouted back at her phone, closing it back in anger. She then pointed her finger at the two devils. "This isn't over you little pieces of shit! The next time I get my hands on you, that shield and the all its hidden power coursing through your sacred gear will be ours. That goes for you too, Issei Hyoudou! Our plan will succeed! The race of the fallen angels will prevail in a new world order of war!"
Alexandria spread out her big black wings once more. She launched herself up towards the dark sky with intense speed, ultimately disappearing as black feathers rain down on top of Richie and Issei.
"Yeah, we'll see about that." Richie muttered angrily. His devil wings later then reverted back into his body.
"A new world order? What'd she mean by that?"
Richie realized that he didn't tell Issei or even the rest of the group on why Freed wanted to have the other relics in the first place.
"Oh crap! I forgot to tell them why! I think I better tell them right now." he thought. "Issei, there's something you should know more all about this. I'm here because-"
The two hear a loud muffling and screaming noise. Richie knew who was making that noise.
"Ren! Issei, c'mon and help me!" He exclaimed. Issei followed Richie to the bushes next to the tree. Issei sees a person wriggling around inside the bushes. He helps Richie pull him out of there still tied up with ropes that still contained holy magic within.
"Help me untie him. But don't touch the rope!"
"Why. What's the matter?"
"Alexandria said used some sort of holy magic to that burns every time a devil touches it. We have to use a tool or something to cut these off." Richie said.
Issei realized he had something in his pocket that could untie Ren. He reached down in his right pocket to pull out one small tool.
"What about this swiss-army knife?"
"That could work. It wouldn't hurt to try. Give it here." Richie asked.
Issei handed over the swiss army to Richie to save Ren out of Alexandria's clutches. Richie opens the first knife from the small tool. He proceeds to use the knife to cut the ropes that were bounded on his feet. He tries to avoid touching there ropes to prevent from burning himself. Upon the first attempt, he sees the knife going through the rope. Twines of rope began to break off, but the more he cut through, the tougher it would be. With a sheer of force, he cuts through harder and harder until…
*SNAP*
The ropes from the back of Ren's feet were finally released. Richie soon after began to cut through more of the ropes where his hands were also bounded.
*SNAP*
He could easily move again now that his arms and hands were free. Ren, with no hesitation, began hugging Richie while sobbing in tears running down his face. "Richie! Thank you for saving me! I'm sorry! I promise, I'll never go off on my own like that, never. Don't tell my brother about any of this. Please, Richie!" Ren wailed and sobbed.
"Ren. It's okay. I've got you. You're safe with me now. Everything's fine." Richie comforted him. "Did that white-haired girl hurt you?"
"No. She kidnapped me up while I was outside. Then tied me up and threw me in the bushes. She said if I scream or do anything, she'll kill my whole family."
After hearing that, Richie squeezed his left hand to form a fist. He was angry after hearing that threat. Squeezing his hand so hard that his palm began to show red marks where his nails pressed against. He could still feel the feel the first degree burn on his left hand from touching the light ropes from earlier. Some marks were also bleeding. Issei looking down overheard what Ren said. He himself was also mad, gritting his teeth.
"Woah! Richie, what's that thing on your right arm?" Ren asked.
"Oh crap! The Prodigy Gear. How do I turn it off? Okay, don't panic. I'll just make some stuff up. Little kids will believe almost anything, right?" He thought. "Oh, this thing? It's a guard for my arm. Whenever I'm going I wear it just wear it to make me look cool. Ward off the bad guys y'know? Look it's getting late. Your brother is gonna be home any moment. Issei, would you mind walking with us back to Ren's house.
"Oh, sure thing." Issei replied. "Let me get my bike."
Ren climbed up on top of Richie's back to piggyback him to his house. Richie gladly accepts it. Issei walked over toward his bike to see the damage was done on his bike. Unfortunately, the results shown were bad. His handlebars had two jagged dents, a loose brake cable, and a flat front tire.
"Great, it's gonna take me while to get this damn thing fixed. I don't even wanna know how much it's gonna cost to get my handlebars fixed." Issei grunted with disappointment.
"I don't live far from here. My house is up the street. You can use some parts in the kitchen my brother keeps You can fix your bike up from there if you want. It might not be much, but it's something."
"Kick-ass! Thank Ren!"
"No problem." Ren replied followed with a big yawn. He knows and both Issei and Richie know that it was time for bed.
"Sounds like someone sleepy. Let's go so you can hop to bed." Richie said to Ren.
And so, all three went on back to Ren's house. With the bike suffering from minor damages, Issei had to walk his bike beside him as Richie carries Ren on his back. Ren's eyes began to get a little heavy, resting his head on Richie's back shoulder. Minutes later, they all made it back to the front of the house. Richie enters first to see if the brother made it home. He tells Issei to wait outside while he checks. He lays Ren onto the couch for a short while to go upstairs. He knocks on the door of Ren and Kei's room. Nobody answered. Richie entered in with a sigh of relief with no Kei in sight. To be on the safe side, he also checked inside their mom's bedroom to see she made it inside. Nobody was their also.
*BZZZZZ*
A vibrating sensation was felt up on inside his right pocket. It was his cell phone containing a text message from Kei. The message read that Kei would be coming back home in about 30 minutes. He ran back downstairs to get Ren by carrying him in front instead on his back this time. Richie opens back the door to let Issei in.
"Okay, the coast is clear. You can come in." Richie said allowing Issei in the house. "His brother is coming back in about thirty minutes. I don't have time to keep you in here for long. Last I checked when I was cleaning, there was a box of hex screws and some duct tape somewhere in one of the kitchen drawers. That should fix your brake cable and your front tire. I also found a bike pump upstairs in Kei and Ren's room. I'll bring it down to you as soon as I'm done putting Ren to bed."
"Alright. I'll go look." said Issei.
Issei goes toward the kitchen straight ahead to find the right parts to fix his bike. He looks inside the first drawer. No tools. Then the second drawer. No tools either. With the third time being the charm, he looks inside the third drawer. To much succession he finds a roll of duct tape and a box of different sized hex screws.
"Perfect. Now to fix my bike." He said walking back outside before shutting the door behind him.
Issei moves his bike in front of the porch light to get a better inspection on his bicycle. Since he can do anything about the handle bars, the only problem he focused were his tire and brake cable.
Back inside the house, Richie finished putting on Ren's pajamas for the night. Ren was so tired that he didn't want to put them by himself. Richie did not mind at all. He does this with his cousins all the time when they were ready for bed. Richie then placed Ren inside the covers of his bed. The little boy later went to sleep without any hesitation or fuss about it.
"Welp. Good night, Ren." he quietly said rubbing his hair gently. Richie grabbed the bike pump for out of the room to give to who was fixing his bike outside. He runs back downstairs to give Issei the bike pump. Issei hears a door open. Without looking, he knows it was Richie.
"Here's the bike pump, Issei." Richie lended him.
"Thanks. The brake cable and tires are ready to go. I just need to give this thing some air and we're done." Issei said beginning to pump his bike. "When your client gets back, we can head back at the clubroom."
"Yeah-Issei, about what happened earlier-"
"I know. I finally got a chance to see your sacred gear live and up close. I can't believe my Boosted Gear and your Prodigy Gear look practically the same. When Akeno said your power was based on offensive attacks, she wasn't kidding. So, all you have is just a shield?"
"Uh-huh. About what Akeno said earlier. That I had some type of magic within this thing. Alexandria mentioned it too during the ambush."
"She said something about being hidden inside you."
"Yeah. I've got this weird feeling that it's not just the shield they're after. Or even the Prodigy Gear. Rias and Akeno might seem to know more about this type of magic than we do."
"I'd say go for it. If anybody knows more about magic spells and stuff, it's them. Maybe even Asia knows it too. Who knows? There! All filled." Issei finished pumping his bike tire.
"Yeah. You might be right. Speaking about the shield, there's something you oughta know about why Freed and his crew were after the three artifacts in the first place. The real reason they're after my both my Prodigy Gear and the shield is that their trying to-"
*BZZZZZ*
Richie once again was interrupted. He felt a familiar buzzing vibration back inside his pocket. He knew that his phone was going off. He opened the phone to see a new text message from Kei.
"Richie, I'm actually coming back home sooner after all. I'll see you in about five minutes. -Kei."
"What! This soon!?"
"What's the matter?" asked Issei.
"Kei is coming home in five minutes! You gotta get outta here. I gotta figure out how to get rid of this thing!" Kei exclaimed waiving his Prodigy Gear up and down forcely. Issei soon stopped him.
"Richie, look. Just calm the fuck down. I'm sure there's a way. Let's see." Issei started to wonder with his hands on his chin. "When I released my boosted gear for the first time, it usually turns itself off. For you, it may be different. Try to focus as much as you can on turning it off. Relax. Concentrate. Think." He tells him.
"OK, here goes." Richie understood. He shuts his eyes to try and relax himself. Concentrating on reverting the Prodigy Gear back to his normal right arm once more. "Alright. Focus. Relax. Concentrate."
His right arm where the Prodigy Gear was present, slowly started to glow a bright indigo color. In a matter of seconds, it soon disappeared back to his original right arm. Richie felt a cool breeze on his arm. His Prodigy Gear was gone.
"Issei, it's gone! You were right. It worked! Oh, I thought I'd never see this thing again." He said kissing his right arm many times. Issei on the other hand gave him a weird glare directly. "Oh, how I wished you hadn't seen that. Look, Kei will be here in about a few minutes. I suggest you go a few houses down the way we came and stay there til I get my contract. If he finds out I invited you, he'll seem suspicious."
"Good Idea. I'll see you on the other side." Issei told Richie as he starts to walk beside his bike. And Richie."
"Yeah?"
"Good luck." Issei said with a thumbs up.
"Thanks." Richie replied with a thumbs up back at him.
When Issei walked just a few houses down, Richie went back inside the house. He then sat down to relax on the couch his mind after everything that had happened. Before he could get a couple of minutes of peace, he hears the door knob turning immediately sitting back up. The door opens to reveal Kei with tons of pink kiss marks all over his face.
"Kei, welcome back home." Richie said getting up from the couch as he walked to Kei. As he approached Kei, he was surprised to see a bunch of kiss marks all on his face. "I see that you had a great time with your girlfriend."
"Richie, you've no idea the night I had tonight." Kei said.
"Tell me about it." He thought rolling his eyes.
"All she wanted was these lips and this face for the whole night." He pointed. "She kept begging for more for every moment I try to get off of her. Just leaving to go get a glass of water for a few and she would practically miss me.
"Talk about quality time." Richie chuckled
"So, how's Ren?"
"Ren...Ren was good. Believe it or not. He's been behaving very well. In fact, he went to bed early with no trouble at all."
"Really? Ren has always been a hassle to get him to go to bed this early in time. It's been like that since he was three. That's very surprising." shocked Kei. "And you managed to do that all by yourself. Plus, I see you did a lot of extra cleaning around here. I'd say you did a great job tonight. In return, I assume you wanted some form of payment. That being my soul, right?"
"Right. If you would just sign here and input your feedback on the back, everything would be all set." Richie told him. He handed Kei the Gremory sealed leaflet and a pen to sign his signature and his feedback on the back. A given indication that he would be agreeing to the terms and conditions of the contract, thereby selling his soul to the Gremory household.
Outside, Issei was still waiting outside just three houses down the right of Kei's house. The time that took for him to wait was about seven minutes.
"Man, what's taking him so long." He complained. From a distance to the left, Issei sees Richie running toward him fast. "Took you long enough."
"Hey, it was my first time getting a contract. Cut me some slack, will ya?" Richie panted in response.
"You could've at least let me know by text that you were-wait, did you say your first contract?"
"Behold! All signed, marked, and ready for Rias!" Richie revealed him the completed leaflet.
"Alright! Kick-ass!" Issei cheered. "Your first day on the job and already you got your first contract! I'm so proud of you-buuut I'm also a bit jealous."
"Let me guess. You didn't get a contract?" Richie said putting his contract in his jacket pocket.
"That would be a big fat no."
"Wow, that sucks." Richie replied. He looked over Issei's facial expression about not getting his contract. Issei may be smiling for him now, but deep-down Richie could sense the feeling of disappointment inside the Red Dragon Warrior. He puts hand on top of his left shoulder.
"Don't worry too much. I'm sure you'll be able get one someday. You and I we'll be one step closer to getting our own servants. Am I right?
"You got that right." Issei responded. "C'mon, let's head back to the clubroom. They're probably waiting for us. Hop on."
Richie soon got on behind Issei, but rather carefully. He didn't want to show any sign of a painful expression from the burns he received on his palms. The boy chose to suck it up until he gets back to the old school building. Issei starts to pedal back toward the direction from where he dropped off Richie back to their base.
AT THE CLUBROOM
Richie was sitting down on the couch next to Asia who was treating his hands with her sacred gear, Twilight Healing. Asia hovered her hands over his palms, concentrating on healing his first degree burns from touching the ropes Ren was tied to. She could see the burns disappearing back into the same skin pigment. Richie could feel a slight tingling sensation in the process from start to finish. The pain was later subsided. As soon as she was done, she did a double check by gently touching and rubbing both his hands to see if Richie still feel any burning sensations. By the time her hands had touched his palms, Richie began to blush red slightly for a brief time. He could feel her soft, smooth hands running from his by the former nun.
"How do your hands feel now?" Asia asked.
"Th-They actually feel better. My burns are all gone now. Your healing powers really come in handy. Thanks so much, Asia!" Richie appreciated.
"Hey, I'm always here to help out." Asia smiled with a chuckle.
"Richie. Issei is telling me that you and him were attacked recently. That you saved his life. Care to explain what happened back there?" Rias asked.
"Okay. While I was babysitting, this kid got loose and ran outside the door. It wasn't until a few moments later that I head crying outside. I thought it was him...but it wasn't. It was Alexandria."
"So, you were ambushed." Rias said.
"Yeah. She kidnapped and bounded Ren by rope. Something she said about being made of holy light."
"No wonder your hands got burned back there. You were trying to untie him." Asia said.
"Uh-huh. How'd you know?" he asked.
"Whenever anything that's made of holy energy or any amount of pure light comes in contact with a devil, it can do a lot of damage more so than you think. The results can be devastating if not fatal, should your let your guard down. Especially, should a fallen angel ever possess a sacred gear of their own." Rias interjected. "Sorry to interrupt. Please continue."
"Anyways, I was close to being killed if it weren't for Issei crashing into her. I couldn't believe the strength he had. He launched her through a wall like a badass it was that awesome. Then after, Alexandria had a clear shot on Issei when she used her light arrow, but somehow my Prodigy Gear awakened so I blocked with my shield." Richie tells them clutching his hand in front of him in a form of a fist until his arm turned itself back into the Prodigy Gear. "Hey, it's back!"
The group came closer to Richie to observe what the Prodigy Gear looked like as soon as it appeared right in front of their eyes. All were astonished by the appearance.
"Incredible! The legendary hidden longinus. The Prodigy Gear that was once inherited by the Indigo Dragon Impress." Kiba said.
"Amazing. It's hard to believe that it looks exactly like Issei's." Stunned Asia.
"Well, I'll be." Impressed Rias. "Congratulations Richie. You've now unlocked your Prodigy Gear. Now you can have the ability to turn it on or turn it back however you wish."
"This is so wicked." Richie quietly said in awe. The Prodigy Gear soon disappeared back to Richie's normal right arm.
"I knew you could do Richie! I'm so proud of you!" Asia cheered.
Richie happily nodded. "Gee. Thanks, Asia"
"So am I. This is a wonderous achievement for you, sweet face." said Akeno.
"Awesome sauce, kid." Koneko congratulated him.
"Well done, Richie. I'm truthfully grateful to see your Prodigy Gear first hand up close. But there's something you need to know. This is crucial. One last minor detail me and Akeno left out about your sacred gear. The shield and the Prodigy Gear aren't just the only things they're after. What Freed Sellzen wants is something even powerful.
"Then, what else are they're after?" He questioned.
"A certain type of power we thought to be extinct, but now it's more dangerous than it was back then. Richie, your Prodigy Gear is embedded with a significant amount of arcane magic."
"Arcane magic?" Richie looked down with his hand on his chin. "Y'know, now that you mentioned it, that does sounds familiar. I feel like I remember it from somewhere."
"It does?" Said Asia
"Yeah, I remember now! My friend Blake used to play this game on his computer like all the time. It was like some open world role playing game he begged me many times to get into. He played as a mage that uses arcane attacks. But, all that is in a video game. It's all fiction. You're telling me this arcane magic is real in this world too?"
"Arcane magic is as real as it gets." Akeno said. "This power was often used by witches, mages, necromancers, wizards, or anyone who wanted to learn magic. Its energy is innately volatile. Welding upon one's self requires intense precision for offense attacks and high tense concentration on defensive maneuvers. Arcane magic became so powerful it was almost bent on total corruption. Those who became corrupted suffered from addiction by the intense power. People young or old who grew addicted experienced withdrawal, which cause their deaths moments later in their lifespan. It became so powerful that any who wanted to learn magic were completely forbidden to do so due to how dangerous it can be."
The facts Akeno told about arcane magic left the Gremory peerage baffled. A dangerous power that almost cause a major impact on the world is now in the hands of the one that wield the Prodigy Gear. That individual happens to be Richie.
"It's still unknown how and why the Indigo Dragon Empress was able to acquire arcane power in the first place. There's little to no researchable information about this. Until now, you're probably last human being in this world to have possess this power, hon." Akeno finished.
*FLASHBACK*
"The next time I get my hands on you, that shield and the all its hidden power coursing through your sacred gear will be ours." said Alexandria.
"Of course! That's why!" Richie exclaimed slamming his fist on his palm.
"Huh? Richie, what's up with you?" Issei asked.
"Issei, earlier during the ambush, Alexandria didn't even bother attacking us."
"Yeah, but what about it?"
"Why did you think she didn't?"
"She stopped after she answered her phone. Which is pretty strange. Why would she suddenly stop to pick up her cell phone in the middle of an attack like that?"
"Right. As soon as she fled, I remember what she said to us. The hidden power in my sacred gear will be theirs. She didn't mention anything about a hidden power much earlier. What if in that call she took someone relayed intel about that? Someone she knew. The only two people she knows are Alexavier…"
"And Freed." Issei finished him.
"Exactly!" Richie concurred.
"No effin' wonder! Those bastards probably knew about all your power before we knew anything about what it could do! That's why she didn't even bother getting us!"
"Now I've seen everything. Freed must've dove deeper about the Indigo Dragon Empress much earlier than we thought. An exorcist like him wanting this type of power can lead to disastrous results at a severe rate. There's no telling what Freed could do now that he has possession of both the amulet and the sword. Especially for an expert on holy magic."
"I do." Richie stood up. "What he's planning to do with both the artifacts is worse. From what Aeris told me before I was sent here, the amulet is more powerful than both the shield and the sword. He and his crew are going to use whatever power the amulet contains to kickstart bigger great war."
"What did you say!?" Rias exclaimed her question.
"If you knew what he was planning, why didn't you come forward with this of information? Kiba asked him.
"I'm so sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen." He apologized with his head down. "Everything was just so overwhelming for me in this world. I just became a devil and all that I almost forgot. I was gonna tell Issei about it. Twice even. Please forgive me."
Rias stood up from desk to walk up toward Richie face to face. His head was still down after the apology. "It's alright. Apology accepted." she said picking his head back up. Richie stared back at Rias in her light teal eyes. "From now on, if there's any important information you come across, let me and Akeno first hand. You are my knight after all."
Rias sat on the too her desk with her legs crossed and hands on her chin, possibly thinking of some sort of plan.
"Thank you. So, what do we do now?"
"The only way to do is to think of ways to get the empress' artifacts before they could get you and before he starts something that could tear apart both factions of devils and angels. Since you and Issei carry a sacred gear in relation to the twin dragons, you two are public enemy number one. Especially you, Richie. Possessing that much arcane power in that sacred gear of yours makes you an even bigger target. Which is why Issei won't be the only one to help you. I and the rest of the Gremory family will do what we can to help you get them back."
"You will?" He said in astonishment.
"Just remember this. Now that you have the power to release your sacred gear by yourself combined with the arcane energy within, don't think that you can use it to fight your enemies at your own will. That's disrespectful to the rest of us. Nonetheless, with all the information gathered here, you are not allowed to use your Prodigy Gear unless it's on training grounds or when the proper training is done. Understand?"
"Yes ma'am. I understand." Richie said. As he understood, his facial expression grew into an upset emotion combined with a ton disappointment. "Issei, would you mind walking outside with me. I just need some air that's all."
"Oh. Uh, sure thing." Issei agrees.
"Mind if I come with you?" Asia stood up to ask.
"Thanks, Asia. But I think I just wanna be alone with Issei for a bit. I hope you understand. Oh, I almost forgot. I was supposed to give this to you, miss president."
Richie lays down a brown small piece of paper on Rias' desk. He and Issei leave the room through the double doors. Asia became quite concerned about Richie. She could tell by the emotion given in his face.
"Excuse me, but I have to use the bathroom for a bit." Asia said as she exited the room moments later.
Akeno picks up the piece of paper that Richie place upon. She reads until further inspection that it was a completed contract. Akeno flipped over to see some of the feedback provided on the other side. Richie officially made his first pact.
"Prez, you should take a look at this." Akeno says handing her the leaflet.
Rias retrieved the leaflet from Akeno closely. She reads the entire feedback on the back of the leaflet along with a signature from Richie's client.
"He made his first pact." She said under her breath.
"I feel so bad for him. He made such a great impression on us. The poor thing got his first contract on his first day after everything that's happened to him. Why'd you have to go so hard on him?" Akeno asked.
"I'm not trying to be he hard on him. He needs to know that with great power comes great responsibility. I don't want him to get overestimated of himself. He's got a long way to go before crossing enemy lines. This is a first time for us that a human or anyone from another world, another dimension, traveled on a quest summoned by the empress.
"But not just an empress. An empress that's related to the Red Dragon Emperor, with a lot of power hidden inside him." Akeno added.
"One thing's for sure, he's one of us now. We need to be sure what's best for him from all of us. It's going to be a long road ahead of us. I'm unsure what to expect. To add on to this, I simply won't allow anyone harming my two loyal servants. Not while I'm around."
After washing her hands in the main upstairs restroom of the old school building, Asia exited out of the bathroom. She walks towards the top banister of the stairs to see Issei and Richie walking out the door to have their talk.
"I know I shouldn't sneak around to eavesdrop on them." she thought to herself. "But I want to be there to help them."
Asia paced herself down the stairs until she reached the front door. Issei forgot to close the door completely shut. The front door was cracked slightly an inch from the door hinge which gave Asia had clear access to hear their conversation. Meanwhile, Issei looked behind Richie who was sitting down on the porch with his head resting on his knees. His emotions were a mix of distress and anger. Issei comes closer to talk to him.
"Hey, are you feeling okay?" He asks.
"Yeah, a little bit."
"Wanna talk about it?"
Richie stood up. "I don't get it! I get brought back to life as a devil! I got my first contract! Alexandria ambushes me, almost killing me and you! I saved your life when I unlocked my sacred gear twice, by myself! I can't even use it again! I forgot to tell everyone about what Freed is gonna do when he has both artifacts. Pretty much, the majority probably hate me for telling them this late! I'm just so...so...frustrated!" He yelled sitting back down with tears flowing down his right eye. "Of all the humans she cherry picked out of a billion people in my world, why did it had to be me? I was living so well as a normal teenager and now this happened."
"She doesn't hate you."
"What?" he asked wiping a tear.
"I said she doesn't hate you. She's just worried about you."
"How do you know that?"
"Look, if it makes you feel any better. I suffered the same treatment as you."
"You did."
"Before I became a devil, I used to date a girl name Yuna Amano. Even now, that name still gives me chills. At first things were going well, that is until she killed me. I thought I was going to die. Then I thought about that girl with red hair and big boobs who goes to my school. That girl was Rias Gremory.
"That's sounds awfully familiar me. I got killed, thought about wishing to live another day and then Rias saved me. I guess we do have a lot of things in common don't we."
"The point is, yeah Rias can be stern at times, but that doesn't mean that she hates you. Don't let it overshadow you, understand? Hell, none of us aren't even mad at you! We think you're a really awesome guy!"
"For real?"
"For real. I was so glad that you gotten your first contract. I couldn't even get mine on the first day. Also, I never gotten the chance to say thanks for saving my ass earlier." He said punching his right shoulder. "For a rookie like yourself, you sure have a lot on your plate with you having the Prodigy Gear and all that arcane magic. Don't get so worked up about all this. We'll get you the artifacts and get you home. I just know we will."
"Yeah, I just hope so." Richie said as he looked up at the bright night sky.
"Hey, look it's getting late. I'm gonna head on home in a little while. You're more than welcome to stay in my room. I'll let Rias and Asia know that you'll be staying."
"Thanks, Issei. Wait-Asia lives with you too?!"
"Yeah. Is that a problem?"
"Oh, no, no, no." Richie said waving his hands. "I have no problem with that whatsoever at all. I just didn't know you'd be living with two girls in the same house. It seems rather unheard of. Doesn't your mom or dad know your living with them?
"Yeah, they actually don't mind. As long as I don't go full on perv mode on them."
"But when your mom and dad come back, they're going to find out sooner or later that a total stranger is living in your house."
"Eh, don't worry about. I'm sure Rias will plan something for them. She did the same for Asia when she moved in, so I'm sure you might have a fair shot at staying. You're feeling any better now?"
"Honestly, yeah. Much better."
On that note, the two boys stepped off the porch and walked back inside the old school building. Asia could see the two walking toward the front door. She quickly hid behind the door as soon as it opened. Issei and Richie didn't see her behind the door so the two were focused on getting upstairs. Asia closed the door behind her and sighed, thinking about what she overheard.
"Richie might be moving in with us? I'm sure that's good thing. At least he doesn't have to worry on finding a place to stay. Having Richie with us would be a great addition. I'm just glad he's okay." Asia thought to herself with a smile as she looked upstairs where Richie and Issei were walking.