The moonlight felt nice against Vasco's skin. A light breeze caressing him as he peeled a mango to eat whole. In his youth he would've resented these moments of peace and quiet. But now in his old age, he thanked Heaven for them.

He reflexively lifted his arm, catching a blade he knew all too well, without thinking.

"Hoh?" He twisted his wrist, hearing the groans of struggle as he saw the blade of Durandal between his fingertips "Ah! If it isn't little Bia? I knew I recognized the aura of my old partner."

He released the holy blade, and the current host of Durandal threw herself back, sword above and ready to strike at any moment.

Vasco chuckled, seeing the young exorcist so full of life and ready to play with him. It made the older exorcist feel all the more proud of his journey. That he'd be remembered well past his prime, still inspiring the younger generation as his muscles become sore and his bones fragile.

"Your Eminence." Little Bia said with that strange tone of hers, trying to mimic the adults "I've trained non-stop since the last time we met. I'm ready."

"You sure are, young lady! Did you get taller? Kids these days grow so fast…"

Xenovia rushed, throwing a swing with all her weight behind it. Vasco used his left hand to redirect it. As he still had his mango on the right.

She didn't stop, though. She corrected her footing and swung again, trying to make it harder for Vasco to catch it.

Another flick of the wrist had Durandal slice the air above his head. Vasco used his teeth to keep peeling the fruit.

He looked at the young girl, face squeezed into a frown as he kept deflecting her swings.

He let her peel a bit of the fruit with one of them, but swung his other arm and took out Durandal from between her arms when his mind caught up to his reflexes.

"Ah, I'm sorry old friend. I should know better than to use you for this. Do forgive these old bones for the impertinence." He held Durandal in a knight stance before giving it back to Xenovia, spinning it around his fingers to have the pommel pointing in her direction "Now. Tell me, little Bia. What did you do wrong?"

"I…" The girl panted, covered in sweat and frustration "I'm not strong enough…."

Vasco smiled, feeling the wind change and the air grow colder.

"Is that so? Then do your best to grow stronger."

"Yes, your Eminence." Xenovia bowed, fists trembling.

"How mean, old man." A voice echoed in the wind. Vasco smiled broadly "Will you not at least give her a hint?"

"Little Bia has her own Master." Vasco replied as Xenovia got back on guard. The fact that she hadn't noticed said a lot of how much longer her road still was "Who am I to deny their bond? It's up to the young ones to seek counsel, and use every resource available to them to pursue their goals."

A young lad appeared from within the shadows. Clad in black, hood obscuring his features but for a single red orb glowing with power in place for an eye. Followed by a group of young ladies equally hidden in the darkness.

Vasco's back popped in anticipation, his muscles reflexively getting ready for his young sparring partner.

"Show yourself!" Xenovia had Durandal up in the air again. Anger and distrust written all over her face.

Well, Vasco didn't mind if she met this lad. It'd be good for her.

"My name is Shadow. The one that seeks the shadow and reveals the shadows." The lad replied, uncaring of the holy blade being pointed in his direction "I trust I have not arrived at an awkward time?"

"Not at all." Vasco laughed it off "Although I have never seen your followers before. I do wonder what the occasion is."

Shadow lifted an arm.

A young girl meekly walked from amidst their ranks. Vasco recognized her vaguely, but Xenovia's bristling anger simply confirmed his suspicion.

"Asia Argento?" The old exorcist blinked "What is the meaning of this?"

"I gave her a choice." Shadow told him "Yet she's too pure-hearted, too kind for the world Shadow Garden dwells in. I trust no institute on principle, but I have tested your Eminence by the blade."

Shadow's face appeared from within the darkness of his hood, masked as the upper side was, letting a cheeky smile show.

"If it's Mister Vasco, I believe she'll be in good hands."

"How dare you treat his Eminence so casually?" Little Bia growled, Durandal now pointed at the blonde trembling in place "And to bring a witch into Holy Ground. You…"

"Xenovia, lower your weapon." Vasco stated "Now."

"But…"

Vasco turned around, the fruit in his hand exploding as his grip on it increased slightly. In his youth, this wouldn't have been a problem. Yet now he had these sorts of problems…

"Xenovia Quarta, sheathe Durandal now. This is an order."

"...Sir." The girl flinched, Shadow's followers got into a fighting stance as one with black hair and funny animal ears leapt at him.

"Don't."

"Eeek!"

Shadow grabbed her by the tail mid-pounce, throwing her back to be caught by the blonde elf closest to him.

"Sorry, old man. This one is…"

"Ah, don't worry too much my friend. Youngsters these days are like that." Vasco waved him off, getting back to his spot to take a small tower to clean his hands off "We must be understanding."

Shadow nodded, but didn't add something else. Instead, she turned to Asia Argento, wordlessly prompting her to approach Vasco.

"I trust there is a good reason to bring her here?"

"As I said, it is because I trust you." Shadow said, but Vasco detected something else behind his words. This lad was always like that, but Vasco knew him by the blade. If he wanted Vasco to take care of Asia Argento, he could trust that the lad's earnest intentions were pure enough.

"I see… Girl. Have you accepted God back in your heart?" Vasco threw the towel away, reaching out and getting Asia to place a hand for him to grab with both of his.

"I've always had him in my heart!" The girl's eyes were pure in their determination, wavering gone as her faith shone through her whole being "I believe in His love! I believe He loves everyone equally! And I will do so to follow his teachings!"

Ah…

"Your heart is kind." Vasco separated from her "I can see why this lad would bring you back here."

"Then…?"

Vasco turned to Shadow "I'll take care of her."

Shadow smiled "Thank you, your Eminence."

"Please, you don't have to be so formal!" The old exorcist laughed "It doesn't suit you."

Then he turned around, seeing little Bia struggle to keep her composure in check.

"Say, young lad." Vasco smiled cheekily, getting his young friend's attention instantly "You said I was mean to little Bia… Mind giving her a couple of pointers?"

Shadow's smirk of understanding was vicious.

It'd be good for her, Vasco told himself again. But eyed Asia Argento hoping her skill was worth all the fuss she had caused with her excommunication.

Back in Kuoh, a pillar of pure golden light pierced the Heaven. Or rather, it shone down on the town until the visage of golden wings revealed itself.

"That's not very 'be humble, be kind, love your neighbour' from his part." Vali Lucifer told his d—told Azazel as one of the Seraphs entered the human world.

"Michael is the most pragmatic of the bunch." The General Governor chuckled, placing a hand on Vali's shoulder as if to encourage to make that sort of comment more often "If it were anyone else, there would be people having their eyes scorched from seeing their True Form."

Vali hummed "I see."

The Seraph became a golden light in the sky, and broke a couple of sound barriers as he moved in a straight line to get well above Kuoh Academy, where everyone that wasn't busy could see him.

"See, this is pretty standard Heavenly Host stuff." Azazel leaned in, whispering to Vali even though most beings around could hear him "Watch, he's gonna say 'fear not, for I have come'."

"Fear not, Children of Man. For I, He Who Is Like God, have come."

"You missed a part." Vali commented, deadpan.

"Shuush, you. It's been a while, okay?" Azazel dropped his hand as he walked away from Vali "Yo, Michael! Been a while, pal!"

The devils weren't as glad to see the archangel as Azazel appeared to be.

If Vali entered Balance Breaker now… Would Azazel let fight Michael? Kokabiel had been injured beyond normal healing means. Azazel had to bow his head to ask for Phenex Tears after this 'Shadow Garden' was done with him. Which, in a way, interested Vali more than the archangel in front of him.

But Shadow Garden had disappeared, and getting his team to track them would take a while. What could he do to satiate this battle lust in the meantime?

"Hey, buddy." A devil stepped forward, placing a hand on Vali's shoulder as he endured. He was built like an absolute unit, with purple eyes and short hair "You alright?"

"I'm fine." Vali shrugged the hand off… It didn't bulge "Mind stop touching me? It's unpleasant."

The devil grinned "Oh? Are you sure about it?"

"What's your deal?" Vali fully turned to face the taller man "Do you want a fight?"

The devil's grin widened "I think that's what you are looking for."

"Quit it. It won't end the way you're thinking." Vali scoffed. That was true, but he didn't need to agree with this person.

"Oh, that'd be marvellous. I came here because I heard my cousin was in trouble, but dealing with her fiancé isn't exactly what I had in mind." The guy cracked his knuckles "I know that stare, I know how you try to hold back. I have my reasons, and I heard you're tough."

Vali grinned "Fine, who's the fool?"

"Sairaorg Bael." He extended one of his thick hands "Please take care of me, I heard we're in the middle of something revolutionary."

Vali's eye twitched. Peace… It seemed like this guy liked the idea.

"Sure thing." Vali didn't, but he didn't have to say it out loud either.