On a stormy night in California, a weary man emerged from his bathroom, the routines of bedtime ready to usher him into slumber's gentle embrace. Beyond his bathroom, the television droned on, spewing updates about the latest forest fires in Nevada. Refusing to let negativity disturb his serenity, he snatched the remote, silencing the broadcast.

Just as he prepared to surrender to the solace of his blankets, a jarring ring echoed from his kitchen. Annoyed, he answered with a begrudging "hello."

"Good evening, sir. I hope I'm not intruding," the voice on the other end exuded enthusiasm.

"No, of course not," he replied, though his weariness hung heavily in the air.

"You won't believe what we've uncovered," the caller continued, aiming to pique his curiosity.

"What did you find?" he responded, a hint of irritation in his voice.

"Well, sir, another Safaitic inscription has been discovered, in the southern regions of Jordan."

"And?"

"It's written in a proto-Arabic script, just like you suspected, and it contains a genealogy of names, similar to the others." The caller continued, growing increasingly animated.

"But here's the twist, sir," he added with a dramatic pause. "One of the genealogical names is 'Tawfilos.'"

The room fell silent as the man processed this astonishing revelation. It was as if weariness and sleepiness had been swept away by a tidal wave of intrigue.

"Wait, really? Tawfilos? That's a Greek name! Are you suggesting the inscriber had a Greek ancestor?" The man's excitement broke through the fatigue.

"Yes, precisely! A Greek grandfather, it seems. This indicates cultural awareness and integration at that point. It means you were right, sir..." The caller's voice trailed off, and he paused, expecting a response.

The man's mind raced with the implications of this discovery. "Send me an image of the inscription," he finally instructed. "I'll analyze it and include it in my presentation later."

"Of course. Have a good evening, sir," the caller replied cheerfully.

"You too," the man said before ending the call. He clenched his fist, savoring the victory of this revelation. Elation coursing through his veins, he performed a strange, impromptu dance before hurrying back to bed.

That Night

Three hours later, he was in the midst of a peaceful dream when disconcerting sounds began to permeate his apartment. An abrupt crash jolted him from his slumber. He fumbled to switch on the lamp, his eyes scanning the room for any intruders. Lethargy tugging at his senses, he switched off the lamp and returned to bed.

But then, his door creaked open. Panic seized him, and he slowly uncovered his face, praying it was just his imagination. His hopes crumbled as he laid eyes on a chilling silhouette-a feminine figure with enormous bat-like wings. His voice failed him in terror as he opened his mouth to scream.

And thus, on that fateful night, a devil descended upon him, kidnapping him from his room and spiriting him away into the unknown.

Meanwhile

A week had passed since the intense Rating Game, and Asia had spent the time wisely. She enjoyed moments with members of the Kendo club, belted out songs at karaoke, and dedicated herself to mastering her newfound powers. Most importantly, she sought to capture Issei's attention, given Rias's apparent interest in him.

One day, Sona Sitri summoned her to the student council room, sparking Asia's curiosity. As she entered, she expected to find Sona and her peerage, but instead, only Sona awaited her. The absence of her overworked student council members puzzled Asia.

"Where are the others?" she inquired.

"I sent them home early," Sona replied, a warm smile gracing her lips. "It's Friday, and they deserve some rest. Come with me; there's something I want to show you."

Perplexed but intrigued, Asia followed Sona as they closed up the school building. Their destination remained shrouded in mystery, as Sona hadn't divulged any hints. They eventually reached the residential area of Kuoh, not far from where Asia and Issei lived.

Curiosity gnawed at Asia, and she couldn't help but question Sona's change in demeanor. "So, how have you been since the game?"

"I've been doing quite well, thank you," Asia replied, taken aback by the shift in Sona's tone.

"That's good to hear," Sona said, her tone softer. "And what about your Sacred Gear? Have you discovered anything new?"

"Issei mentioned that during the game, I could make Riser ill, but I haven't been able to replicate it since then," Asia confessed, her gaze falling to her hands.

Sona grinned cryptically. "Oh, that's quite unfortunate. But don't worry, something tells me that from now on, things are about to change."

They arrived at a grand house, one that clearly belonged to Sona. As they entered, Asia gazed around the opulent living room in awe. She was accustomed to smaller living spaces, and the sheer size of Sona's abode left her astonished.

"Would you like a drink?" Sona offered.

"Yes, please," Asia replied, her voice trembling slightly.

Sona poured a glass of orange punch and handed it to her. "Make yourself at home."

After sipping the refreshing drink, Sona led Asia to a narrow hallway, and her curiosity deepened. They eventually reached a door leading to the basement. Sona opened it and uttered, "Brace yourself."

Asia clung to Sona as they descended the stairs, where they were met with strange, unsettling sounds. As they reached the basement, Sona switched on a dim light, revealing an unsettling scene-a man in blue-striped pajamas, bound to a chair, struggling desperately to free himself. The cacophony intensified upon the intrusion of light. Sona silenced the man with a forceful orb of water.

"What's going on here?" Asia asked, her voice trembling.

"This is no ordinary man, Asia," Sona explained calmly. "Asia, meet Dr. Ahmad Al Jallad, one of the world's foremost linguists, specializing in Semitic languages. He's going to assist you in learning the Sabaean language."

Dr. Ahmad Al Jallad was bewildered, unnerved by the oddity of the situation. What frightened him most, was the fact that something about them felt inhuman.

"Salam!" Asia greeted him with an awkward excitement.

The linguist merely tilted his head, his expression a mix of uncertainty, intrigue, and perhaps a touch of fear. He had never imagined he would acquire crazy obsessed fans of his work from as far away as Japan.

"Good. Now that you've met, you can begin your lessons tomorrow since it's the weekend. For now, you should return home and rest."

Sona escorted Asia back to Issei's house, their journey ending as the sun set. As they reached the residence, Sona bid Asia farewell and turned to leave.

"Wait, Sona," Asia called out.

Sona turned back, her inquisitive gaze fixed on Asia.

"Hmm? What is it, Asia?" she asked, her curiosity evident.

Asia fidgeted nervously with her hands. "Th... thank you. Thank you for everything!" she said, bowing respectfully.

Sona was taken aback but soon reciprocated with a gesture of respect. "You're welcome. See you tomorrow."

"Also, please be kind to him!" Asia shouted.

"Of course," Sona responded, letting out a chuckle before turning away and disappearing into the night.

Asia rushed inside to escape the chilly night air. Rias greeted her at the door, and Asia quickly prepared herself for the adventures that awaited her on the morrow

The Next Day

Asia observed in amazement as Dr. Ahmad devoured the toasted bread and orange juice before him. He had eight slices, and in less than a minute, they vanished into his voracious appetite. Following this impressive display of gluttony, Dr. Ahmad leaned back in his chair, letting the food settle in his now-sated stomach. He turned his attention to Asia, who had watched his eating prowess with wide eyes. The room fell into an awkward silence, the tension growing.

Asia and Dr. Ahmad locked eyes, both unsure how to break the uneasy atmosphere that had enveloped them. His eyes were red from exhaustion, and dark bags beneath them attested to his restless state.

"Apologies, young lady. Please pardon my manners; I haven't eaten in two days," Dr. Ahmad explained, his gaze distant as he remembered the dusty basement, the frigid air, and the unnerving darkness.

"It's all my fault," Asia admitted, her voice tinged with regret. "Sona did this to you to help me."

Ahmad's lips curved into a weary smile. "La, Don't worry, Habibti. Unlike my captor, you seem like a wonderful child."

"Really? You think so? Thank you, sir!" Asia exclaimed, her cheerfulness returning.

"Don't mention it. Now, I'm not sure if I was imagining things or if Sona was speaking metaphorically, but correct me if I'm wrong-she said she's a...devil?"

"Yes" She uttered cheerfully, adding to the horror Ahmad felt.

"Oh, t...that ffffffffff...fine, what about you?" Ahmad asked.

"Yes" She responded, shaking his head as she smiled sheepishly. Ahmad was horrified beyond comprehension. He had spent most of his time on semitic studies, learning every possible semitic language. And as an Arab himself, he was interested in diving deep into his pre-islamic ancestry. He deciphered every inscription he came across, uncovering ancient practises, even taking a dip in the mysteries of the bible. But not once in his head, as a secular scholar, did he imagine that these supernatural things to be true.

He heart bit faster, sweat developed all over his face and he could feel the his body getting heavier.

"Sir? Sir? Are you okay?" Asia asked as he waved her hand closer to his face. Ahmad noticed the gapped distance and immediately fell to the ground in fright, distancing himself away from her. Asia knew what was happening inside him. It was sad now that she'll have to accept the ordinary people would be frightened if they knew her true self now. This included Murayama and Katase, who she had made great friends with, would they fear him if they found out. Not wanting to scare the man anymore, she retracted her hand and went to sit down.

Ahmad opened his eyes and saw that she was back in her desk. She could see the sadness in her eyes, perhaps maybe he had gone to far. Maybe there's more layers to her being, regardless of her demonic nature. So after picking himself up from the ground, Ahmad grabbed a seat and sat next to her.

"I'm sorry, perhaps I overreacted" the Doctor apologized.

"It okay doctor, it makes sense since you're only learning of the supernatural for the first time. People are always frightened by the odd. It's something I found out the hard way while I was still in the church." Asia responded giving a feint smile.

"Church? so you weren't always a devil?" The doctor questioned, puzzled.

"No," she replied, chuckling lightly. "You see, to enable humans to battle the supernatural, God granted them Sacred Gears-special relics that perform miracles. Some are born with them, while others aren't. I manifested my own Sacred Gear, Twilight Healing, at a young age. As a devout Christian, I always wanted to use it for the Church. But when they discovered I could heal devils as well, they shunned me and sent me here as a form of excommunication."

Ahmad listened intently, his heart heavy with sympathy for the young girl. Her journey had been marked by rejection and hardship, yet she remained faithful to her faith, even after her church had betrayed her. He marveled at her resilience, her enduring ability to smile and laugh.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that," Ahmad said empathetically. "If only I had known about your struggles..."

"It's okay," Asia replied, her gaze distant as she reflected on her experiences. "Even though I lost something precious, becoming a devil has brought me so much. I've made wonderful friends who genuinely care for and love me, regardless of who I am. They've risked their lives to protect me and are always there for me. That's why I want to be my best for them, so I can be there for them too."

"I have human friends too, but it's sad that they don't know what I am." She continued, looking down"

"I wouldn't be too sure." Ahmad stated, pointing his thumb to his chest.

"Because this human friend does!" Dr. Ahmad stated loudly, he meant every word. Asia, overcome with emotion, suddenly embraced Ahmad. He was taken aback, as he had not expected devils to be so affectionate. However, life continued to surprise him. He patted her gently on the back before she pulled away, allowing him to regain his composure.

"Now, if I'm not mistaken, we're here to teach someone Sabaic, correct? This is gonna be tough though, think you're ready?"

Ahmad asked with newfound enthusiasm. Asia was bewildered by the sudden change in tone but was eager to embark on her journey to learn the mysterious language behind her Sacred Gear. She retrieved her book and stationary, ready to begin.

"I'm ready," she declared, her smirk reflecting her determination. Ahmad returned the gesture, and with that, their lesson began.

Semitic languages, with their intricate histories, are threads of a linguistic tapestry woven across the ages. They share a common origin, stemming from the proto-Semitic dialect that emerged in the Levant. Dr. Ahmad didn't plunge directly into the intricacies of Sabaic grammar. Instead, he took Asia on a journey through the rich history of Afroasiatic languages.

He painted a vivid picture of how these languages branched into east and west Semitic groups. The former gave birth to Akkadian, the earliest attested Semitic language, and subsequently diverged into Babylonian and Assyrian. In contrast, west Semitic languages split into three branches: Northwest, Central, and Southern.

He delved into the Northwest Semitic languages, revealing their evolution into Canaanite languages like Phoenician, Moabite, and Punic, but more fascinating, how they split into Aramaic and Hebrew, which would later become the languages of the Old Testament.

Central Semitic languages evolved into Arabic, the language of the Quran, and Maltese. But the cherry on top was the Southern Semitic languages, which ventured into Africa around 2000 years ago. This journey led to the development of the proto-Ethiopic dialect, later known as Ge'ez, the liturgical language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tawahedo Church. Simultaneously, in Yemen, South Arabian languages like Minaic, Qatabanic, Hadhramautic, and, most importantly, Sabaic flourished.

Asia absorbed the historical richness of these languages, captivated by their shared roots and intricate evolution. She marveled at the interconnectedness of these tongues and the vastness of their impact on human history.

But the true delight came when Dr. Ahmad shifted his focus to the Sabaic dialect, the very language that had drawn Asia's eager curiosity. He recounted how the Sabaeans of Yemen and their Abyssinian brethren, known as D'mt, had once shared a similar language around the 10th century. After extensive cultural exchange, the Kingdoms of Saba in Yemen and D'mt in Abyssinia had emerged. However, D'mt's eventual decline around 400 BC, due to civil wars and Nubian-Egyptian incursions, marked a separation in their linguistic journey.

The Kingdom of Aksum arose from the ashes of D'mt, and King GDRT visited Saba. Dr. Ahmad detailed how the languages had diverged further during this period, leading to subsequent diffrences in cultures, and eventually, conflicts and the eventual demise of both kingdoms was inevitable. The Sabaean language dwindled, replaced by Arabic or evolving into minor dialects like Mehri, Shehri, Harsusi, and Soqotri.

Upon concluding this historical lecture, Ahmad proceeded to highlight the commonalities among Semitic languages, such as their use of abjad scripts, initial greetings all sharing the consonental root "slm," and the number four consistently being "Arba" across all Semitic tongues. Asia's understanding was swift for those languages still in use, like Arabic and Hebrew. Yet, she faced challenges with extinct or strictly liturgical languages such as Akkadian, Sabaic, and Ge'ez. Surprisingly, halfway through the lecture, Ahmad found himself speaking Arabic, a testament to Asia's quick grasp of the material.

After the theoretical part, Ahmad taught Asia some basic Sabaic words-greetings like "𐩯𐩡𐩣 𐩽 𐩱𐩡𐩺𐩫𐩣" (Salamu Aleikumu', meaning "Peace be with you" or hello) and "𐩱𐩰 𐩽 𐩲𐩡𐩥𐩫" (ufa alauka/ki', meaning "How are you"). Five hours of learning took its toll, and Ahmad assigned Asia some homework to complete. Astonishingly, within thirty minutes, Asia submitted her work, each answer correct. Exhausted but content, they wrapped up the lesson.

The sound of the gate opening interrupted their moment. It was Sona, returning home around 8 PM.

"Hey, Asia?"

"Yes, sir," she replied, her smile reflecting the joy of her newfound knowledge.

"I'm feeling a bit parched after all the talking. Could you fetch me a glass of water before I return to the basement?" Ahmad asked, with a light chuckle.

Asia agreed and hurried to the kitchen, picking up a washed glass and filling it with water. However, as she turned back to hand it to him, Sona entered the house.

"Oh, hello there, Asia!" Sona greeted her with a warm smile.

"Ms. Sona, how are you?" Asia responded politely.

"I'm fine, thank you. How was your lesson?" Sona inquired gracefully.

"It was wonderful! I learned so much about Semitic languages. Mr. Ahmad is an excellent teacher," Asia replied with enthusiasm.

Sona, however, seemed somewhat concerned. "He didn't try anything unusual, did he?"

Asia quickly reassured her. "No, not at all. Well, he was frightened when he found out I was a devil, but we eventually became great friends."

Curiosity piqued, Sona asked about Ahmad's current whereabouts.

"He's still in the other room. He asked me to get him a glass of water," Asia informed her.

Together, they walked to the room where the lesson had taken place. But to their surprise, Ahmad had vanished, and the nearby window was wide open. He had used it to escape the house. Sona sighed in exasperation, while Asia stood there, baffled by the sudden turn of events.

"He ran away," Asia stated, her confusion evident.

"Why would he run away? Does he not like me?" She pondered aloud.

Meanwhile, Ahmad found himself wandering the quiet streets of Kuoh. Dressed in a simple white T-shirt and shorts, he couldn't help but feel the chill of the night. Eventually, hunger joined the list of discomforts he endured.

"I'm sorry, Asia. You're a good person. But for the sake of my own life, I can't get entangled in yours. I hope you can forgive me," he murmured to himself, his footsteps echoing in the empty streets.

To Be Continued