POV Shirou.
Night fell over the city. The last rays of the sunset gave their warmth to the earth and disappeared without a trace. Shadows enveloped the park, and the lights of the lampposts lit up - the only thing that dispersed the approaching darkness.
I stood in the middle of this park, where a battle had taken place not long ago. Strange as it may sound, I fought with my girlfriend, now ex, I suppose. Somehow, I managed to cross paths with fallen angels, and as a result, one of them was sent to eliminate me. Although I managed to defend myself, one thing still bothers me. Amano Yuma or Raynare's strange behavior on our date. At first glance, nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but upon closer inspection, I could see a sense of alienation. She tried to kill me as she was ordered to, but... if that's the case, why did she bother warning me?
"Now I'm leaving, but you better not cross my path again. Otherwise, I'll definitely kill you!" digging deeper, it becomes unclear. Why openly ask not to be found and hide oneself? If her mission is to eliminate me, then failure would result in punishment. She knew that. And still, she retreated without even calling for backup. And that means she didn't want to do it. She didn't want to kill me. And... over that, she ended up in danger. No, because of me. Because I defended myself, she will suffer. Ddraig said that the fallen angel community is quite harsh. What could happen to her for failing the mission? And what if it's death? I'm not entirely sure, but I can't dismiss the possibility. Which means I need to find her as soon as possible. Even if she has to attack me again. If she truly needs saving, I will extend a helping hand. But if not... well, I always knew I couldn't save those who don't want to be saved.
After all, Rin was right. Girls are quite difficult to understand.
Bright red light illuminated the dark park. I shook my head a few times trying to find the source, but it turned out that the glow was coming from my pocket. From there, the flyer that was handed to me on the way before swiftly flew out and brightly flickered, transforming into a crimson pentagram. The patterns on the summoning circle were completely unfamiliar to me, but I remembered that they usually depicted the sigils of various types of demons.
The pentagram hung in the air at head level, slowly spinning and descending. At the same time, there was a tangible increase in magical energy in the air. It was simply enormous, like an endless well, a roaring river, or a relentless waterfall. The lower the seal descended, the more distinct the figure began to appear. First the head, then the rest, and before me, in all her glory, stood the high-class, in every sense of the word, devil. As soon as the circle completed its summoning, a powerful surge of demonic energy erupted in all directions, rapidly dispersing through the surroundings. Caught in this surge, I involuntarily took a couple of steps back. There was no doubt. Right now, I was left alone with one of the most dangerous creatures in this world.
When the airflow subsided a bit, I could finally see the young girl in detail. The first thing that caught my eye was the school uniform of my Kuoh Academy. I couldn't believe it; all this time I was so close to the demonic society and didn't even suspect it. Damn, I was a fool back then, and I remain to be one. Such mistakes are unforgivable for a magus, mainly because they often end up being the last ones a magus makes in their life. Magecraft and death go hand in hand. In the old world, I learned this lesson well.
But let's get back to her appearance. The most attention-grabbing feature was her hair. I had never seen such a bright and vibrant, lively and red color in my life. It seemed like a waterfall of blood, flowing from your slain enemies. And it... it was beautiful. I was literally enchanted by this sight. The pentagram was also red, like the light illuminating this park, but this hair overshadowed everything. It was so exquisite. Life seemed to flow through them. Bright and immaculate life.
Damn, got distracted again. Heh-heh, I'm hopeless. The girl's face wasn't Japanese; her facial features resembled more European ones, it was obvious that she was a foreigner. A slightly upturned nose, crimson lips forming a smirk, and such lively eyes. Like two precious stones under the morning sun's rays. Spending time with Rin, I've seen my fair share of stones, and none could compare in beauty to those eyes.
I knew this girl. Gremory Rias. A student from abroad and the school idol of the entire Academy. I caught glimpses of her a few times during walks. She's the president of the Occult Research Club and a very well-known figure. Beautiful and an excellent student, a girl from high society. I even admired her a bit. And she turned out to be a devil.
Crossing her arms over her beautiful, ample chest, the girl dramatically unfurled two demonic wings behind her back, emanating even more of her power into the space. The pressure was starting to get on my nerves, but I'll endure. I didn't train so hard for nothing. However, my body had other plans and automatically summoned Kanshou and Bakuya.
She looked at my swords with interest.
"It seems I'm very lucky. I never would have thought that you are the very loner one who eliminates strays in the city," a devil charmingly smiled. "I think I should thank you, Emiya-kun."
How did she know? I'm sure I didn't leave any traces, and my Gear cannot be tracked under certain circumstances.
"On what basis do you think that, Gremory-san?" I swallowed the lump in my throat and asked, hoping to get an answer.
"The residual emanations of magic from your swords. We found exactly the same ones in an abandoned house on the outskirts of the city when we received the order to eliminate the stray devil Weiss. It happened last Friday, so they haven't completely disappeared yet."
I see, not enough time has passed. It seems in previous cases, they arrived too late at the scene, causing the emanations to completely dissipate. But this time luck was not on my side.
"Did you set the pentagram for me?"
"That's right. We were monitoring you when we found out that the fallen angels were targeting you."
"Why?"
"I want to discuss something with you, Emiya-kun. And I really hope that you also just want to talk." She looked meaningfully at my hands, which were tightly gripping the blades, and smirked.
"Do we have anything to talk about?"
"Of course. About the fallen angels, for example."
And then I understood. She planned everything. This tone and pronunciation, she definitely wants something from me. And in the negotiations, she decided to put the information about the fallen angels and possibly Raynare on the scales. It seems I have no choice; I know too little. I'll have to agree. I hope it's worth it.
"Alright." I allowed myself to relax and sigh. The blades disappeared from my hands, making Rias smile again. "Let's negotiate."
"Wonderful. But such matters should not be discussed just anywhere. Come to the Occult Research Club building tomorrow evening. I swear on the honor of the Gremory family that no one will harm you."
"Agreed."
"Great. See you tomorrow then."
Under her feet, the seal flared up again, and she disappeared. Only she knew where to. And I had only one question.
Who will clean up the park?
*
The door closed behind me. Turning the key in the lock, I took off my shoes and walked into the living room, which greeted me with its usual silence. Tossing my jacket onto the couch, I walked into the kitchen and put the kettle on to boil. Weary, I slumped into the armchair and barely noticed when Kuro leaped onto my feet. Glancing at the clock, which showed eleven o'clock, I uttered:
"Don't even ask. We don't eat after ten."
"Nya," she looked at me disapprovingly.
"Have a conscience, they almost sent your owner to the afterlife today, and you're begging for food?"
"Nya?!" Did she sound... concerned? Sometimes I feel like she completely understands me. Ah, no, it's probably just my imagination or stress.
"Don't worry. I'll manage somehow," I allowed myself to smile. There were bigger problems that had been resolved.
A quiet click echoed from the kitchen, notifying me that the kettle was ready to fulfill its purpose. I spent the next twenty minutes in complete silence, sipping the hot beverage. Tomorrow I'll have a tough day ahead and it's best to mentally prepare for it.
With these thoughts in mind, I collapsed onto my bed in my room and quickly fell asleep.
*
The morning greeted me with the bright rays of the sun mercilessly hitting my eyes. Glancing at the clock, I satisfactorily noted 5:53 a.m. Getting out of bed and changing my clothes, I went downstairs and stepped out into the backyard. The cool breeze and the bright sun - all I needed for a workout. I try to keep myself in shape every day because you never know when you need it. Next, I washed up and had breakfast, which I prepared leisurely and thoughtfully. And as for Kuro, she needs something other than cat food. She prefers fresh fish prepared by me, of all things. It's quite ridiculous, considering that all other domestic cats eat commercial cat food without problems. But it's not difficult for me. After breakfast, I put on my uniform, grabbed my things, and went to school.
"Be a good cat, Kuro, and look after the house. I'm counting on you," I said to my pet as I closed the door.
"Nya," came the response as I left.
*
The bell rang. Classes were over, and students hurried home or stayed for club activities. There were about five hours left until the appointed meeting, so I decided to take a walk and check that park I was in yesterday. If demons are keeping an eye on the city, they definitely do not want to be drawing attention to themselves. I grabbed my bag and headed there.
As I expected, the park was completely intact. They even fixed the fountain. It's a pity I can't do that; magecraft holds many possibilities, but my abilities are severely limited. It's nice to have a Sword as my Origin, of course, but I remember in my early childhood, I used to dream I would learn to throw fireballs or lightning. But I have no regrets. Thanks to my Origin, a sword that's one of the three dearest things to me, is always with me and ready to come to my aid at the first call. I can't help but wonder what happened to Excalibur in this world and why I saw... that in Irina's house?
"Aw!" A female voice came from behind, followed by the sound of a fall. Turning around, I saw a girl sprawled on the sidewalk, with her suitcase open and its contents scattered across the road.
Without much thought, I approached her and extended my hand. "Are you hurt?"
"Everything is fine. Thank you very much." she said and took my hand. With a simple motion, I helped her to stand on her feet. Wait, did she say that... in Italian?
"You can thank me now, partner. I've broken your language barrier. Now you can even understand Eskimos. Devils gain a similar ability during reincarnation. It was easy for me to copy it," spoke Ddraig, who had been silent since the morning.
"Yeah, thanks. I wouldn't have been able to pull that off myself," I replied to the dragon. The Reality Marble is constantly active within my body, so I can freely communicate with him.
A gust of wind blew off the girl's headgear, revealing her face to me. A petite blonde girl of around sixteen with green eyes and an innocent expression. But her attire, that monastic robe, ruined it all. Since Kirei, I've had a slight aversion to monks and priests. But... let's be realistic, the girl hardly deserves any ill treatment from me. So I can tolerate it. Maybe I'm just getting worked up over nothing.
I glanced at the fallen suitcase and pointed to it with my hand.
"Do you need help?"
"No, thank you!" she exclaimed anxiously and rushed to gather her scattered belongings. "Why am I so clumsy?"
"Time will heal it."
"I met such a kind and helpful young man that understands me; it must be a divine intervention. Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet! My name is Asia. Asia Argento."
"Emiya Shirou, nice to meet you, Asia."
We shook hands.
"Um... Shirou-san, I'm afraid I'll still need your help. It seems like I got lost, and I'm a bit embarrassed."
"No problem. Where were you trying to go?"
"I was transferred to the local church for service. I just don't know exactly where it is."
"The church, you say? Well, in this city, there's only one church. Let's go; I'll take you there."
"Thanks again!"
That's how I escorted a nun named Asia to the local church. On the way, we chatted and asked each other about various details. According to her story, she was invited here with the permission of her order. It seems that one of the local priests urgently needed an assistant because he had too much work. And here she is. A rather strange story. A girl comes from abroad to an unfamiliar country, and they didn't even provide her with an escort. Moreover, they made her find her own way. Have the local holy men become so audacious? Where is the so-called help for one's neighbor and showing care? I'll definitely visit there sometime and... remind them of their duties. As for me, I mainly talked about the life of a regular high school student. But Asia seemed genuinely interested; it seems she doesn't know much about the outside world. She must have spent her entire childhood in her monastery.
Suddenly I heard a child's cry. I turned my head to the right and came across a playground. A boy with a scraped knee was crying in pain. As soon as Asia saw this, she immediately ran towards him. I followed her and witnessed an interesting scene.
"Well, well, there's no need to cry over such a little scratch, you're a brave boy," she said to the boy, reaching out to his knee. Green light appeared on her fingers, and the ring she wore on her left hand shimmered. I watched in awe as the damaged tissue on the boy's leg returned to normal. Within a few seconds, the wound completely healed. I was amazed. This girl is a wielder of a Sacred Gear.
The crying stopped, and the boy looked at his knee in astonishment. Smiling, he thanked Asiya and ran off to continue his activities.
This girl is very kind to others and tries to help everyone she meets. Such an innocent soul, she... is very much like me. Except for one thing. Her desire to help comes from the heart. While mine... comes from a broken soul that made a vow from guilt. In other words, her willingness is merely her choice, while my ideal was borrowed. I didn't create it, I only adopted it. Heh, Tosaka said it was wrong, that my worldview is distorted, and that I don't value my own life. That I'm willing to sacrifice myself to save anyone, even if it means dying in the process. But is that really the case? Can the desire to help someone be misguided? No. If I let such a fragile obstacle as concern for myself stop me, then how can I even attempt to become a hero of justice? How can I uphold my ideals if I place myself above others? And so, I refused. I refused to put myself on the same level as everyone else. This self-sacrifice is the path of a Hero. It cannot be wrong.
You would give me a powerful slap for such thoughts, Tohsaka. I'm truly hopeless.
And at that moment, it hit me. If this girl ever needs help, I'll come. Regardless of the reason and without relying on any justification. Because she has the potential to save many more people than I do.
We continued our walk.
"Did I shock you, perhaps?" Asia asked, looking into my eyes.
"A little. It's quite rare to meet someone with a Sacred Gear on the road like that," I replied.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't resist," she said.
"No need to apologize. It's an incredible power; use it wisely," I advised.
"Yes, it was a gift from our Lord. For that, I am immensely grateful to Him," she said.
"Oh, and there's the church," I pointed to the green-covered hill in the distance as we turned at another intersection. Meanwhile, it was starting to get dark. And then I remembered that I had a meeting scheduled with Rias Gremory.
"Words can't express my gratitude to you, Shirou-san! How about I treat you to some tea at the church at least?" Asia suggested.
"I'm sorry, but no. I need to hurry to my meeting; otherwise, I'll be late. Let's do it another time!" I declined and waved goodbye. Watching her for a moment, I headed towards the Academy.
"You'll always be welcome at the church!" she called after me.
*
By the time I reached the vicinity of the Academy, night had fallen over the city. It was the time of the devils, as they grew stronger at night. I hadn't even walked a single street when I felt an unpleasant sensation. It was as if everything around me had instantly changed. The air itself distorted and became filled with malice, while the space took on a violet hue. Was this a barrier?
I heard the sound of heels behind me.
"So it's true. Raynare didn't complete the mission," a voice said.
I turned around. Not far from me, a girl was approaching, but she wasn't human. She had thin legs, a tall stature. Clumps of long, dark blue hair gathered in a ponytail adorned her head, while her golden eyes looked at me with fierce hatred or disgust. She was dressed in a business-like burgundy suit, with the top buttons shamelessly undone, allowing me to appreciate her ample bosom.
What the hell are you thinking, Emiya? She mentioned Raynare!
"Do you know Raynare?!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the street and fading into the walls of the erected barrier.
The girl with an icy gaze stared straight into my eyes. And that ice pierced through me. She was very angry.
"Because of you..."
A yellow spear appeared in her hand.
"Trace..."
"... she awaits punishment!!!"
"... on!"
A strike. A blade materialized above my head and instantly sped toward the enemy projectile. In a second, the weapons met, shattering into pieces and breaking each other apart.
"What the hell, why don't you die?!" The girl unfurled her two raven wings and armed herself once again. Another fallen angel?! It appeared they had a whole group stationed in the city.
"Hell no! Do you think anyone would just stand still, folding their arms when someone comes for their life?!" I retorted and threw two more blades at her. But she effortlessly dodged them.
I dove into the nearest alley. Until my gear adapts to my needs, I won't be able to fight them in the air. I need to lure her into a trap and pin her to the ground. I hope she won't refuse to talk to me after that. Her words are distracting me.
"You won't escape!" she shouted, rushing after me. But there was nowhere to run. We were within the barrier's confines. If I wanted to, I could break it, but for now, it was working in my favor. By staying here, my actions wouldn't put the people around me at risk.
While I ran through the alley, the fallen angel managed to descend and hurl another spear. It was risky, but I had to play along. Let her believe that I was already defeated.
The lance of light flew towards my right side, striking me and causing a piercing wound. Instantly, a wild pain and burning sensation erupted within me. The lance pierced through me, finishing its descent on the asphalt, and the explosive shockwave threw me out of the alleyway, just as I was about to reach its end. Tumbling through the air a couple of times, I crashed onto the road, rolling a few meters and leaving behind a bloody trail. It hurt. It hurt like hell. It felt as if red-hot spikes were piercing me, counting my ribs along the way. But it could have been worse. I hope that I won't get used to this.
"What, is that all? I can't believe it. If you're so weak, why didn't she complete the mission?" As I had planned, the fallen angel descended to the ground right next to me, apparently prepared to deliver the final blow. "Doesn't matter. I'll fix her mistake, and hopefully, it will lessen her punishment."
The angel raised the lance of light above my head. Somehow, I must have lost my mind. Because now, under this faintly purple moonlight and with such a serious expression on her face, she looks quite adorable.
"...on."
"What are you..."
A sword materialized in the air, directly above the fallen angel's head.
"Disperse the projectiles."
The girl noticed the threat too late, but still attempted to jump away. More than a dozen blades appeared above her, but their numbers suddenly stopped increasing. Grabbing her by the leg, I forcefully threw her to the ground with all the strength I had.
"All copies, engage in battle."
The swords all shot towards the target at once, but they didn't harm her. The blades pierced straight into the road, dangerously close to the fallen angel's body. The blades aimed at the space around her arms, legs, and neck. In the resulting "prison," the angel couldn't move an inch. These blades were crafted with incredibly sharp edges. One wrong move, and she could easily cut herself into pieces. She couldn't take flight, attack, or even break these copies easily.
I spat out the accumulated blood and leaned against the wall of the building where I had recently landed.
"Steel is my body," the aria resounded. The mirror of the soul, Unlimited Blade Works, responded within my body and immediately began strengthening tissues and healing my body by enhancing regeneration. Now, all I had to do was lie here for about half an hour, and I'd be good as new. Now I had my own informant, but I'd have to figure out an easier way to acquire one later.
"Release me, pitiful human!" the fallen angel attempted to jerk herself free, but cuts appeared on her hands, from which blood began to flow, effectively dampening her enthusiasm.
"Emiya Shirou. And you?" I inquired.
"K-Kalawarna," she replied after a pause. She wasn't in a position to dictate terms.
"I need to know something about Raynare," I said.
"Do you think I'll talk to you?" she snarled.
" 'Because of you, she awaits punishment,' " I quoted. "And that look. I've seen it before. You care about her. Tell me, who are you to Raynare?"
Once again, there was a pause as the girl collected her thoughts.
"What will this knowledge give you? And why are you so fixated on her? Do you want to seek revenge for her attempt to kill you?!" she asked.
"No. I want to help her," I replied.
"Help her? Don't make me laugh," the fallen angel smirked. "What can one person do?"
"The result is right in front of you," I pointed to the cage of blades.
The fallen angel swallowed her prepared retort. She had no argument against my statement.
"I will release you if you tell me. I give you my word," I employed the next argument in my arsenal.
"We'll see," the girl sighed. "We're running out of options, and now I don't know what to do. So, listen. The story is actually quite short. Raynare's parents were angels of God, and when they fell in love with each other, they fell, joining our ranks. After that, she was born. But a few years later, they died as a result of infighting among the Grigori. That's the general name for the leaders of the fallen, by the way. So, Raynare was left all alone, and I started looking after her. Over time, we grew close and became like sisters. I didn't have parents either, and we decided to stick together no matter what. Eventually, we both pledged loyalty to Lord Kokabiel and began serving him. It continued until the moment a request for your elimination came, personally approved by the Lord. Then we arrived in this city and started observing, and the rest, you already know."
"And how does this relate to the failure of the task?"
"The Lord is known as one of the most severe and swift in punishing the fallen. One of his amusements is the cruel killing of traitors in front of his subordinates. And now, Raynae has become one of them."
"What?!"
"Soon she will be sent to meet with the Lord. And... she will die. That's why I was looking for you. To fix the mistake."
A shiver ran through my body. I felt dizzy and hot, my chest felt like it was on fire. And my head felt empty. To kill. Just for failing an order? Just because I defended myself? What nonsense! Absolute obedience or death?! I cannot accept this. And I will not accept it. But the fact remains unchanged. She will suffer because of me. Because of my aspirations and ideals. She will suffer... if I do nothing.
"Where is the lair?" I ask with difficulty, trying to gather my thoughts and at the same time speeding up my regeneration. Time is very precious right now.
"The local church, but... what is on your mind?"
"You know her better than I do. So tell me, does she want to live? Or has she already accepted death?" I ask the main question. If she doesn't want to be saved, if she doesn't need it, then everything is pointless. But if not... then I will go forward without looking back and without regrets.
Kalawarrna answered without hesitation.
"She wants to live." the words finally sounded. "She wanted... until she met you. Now, when you asked that... it seems to me, she just wants to protect you from the fallen's persecution…"
She didn't have time to finish. The blades that had bound her body evaporated, giving her full freedom of movement. The fallen stood up and looked me straight in the eye.
"Now I have no doubts. I will free her."
"Fool. There are still two more fallen and a crowd of exorcists there. You won't be able to handle it."
"Then help me. I don't think they expect an attack from behind. You would make my task easier."
Kalawarna thought again. And this time, for a long time. By the time she spoke again, my wound had almost healed. She took a deep breath.
"This is all for Raynare. I hope you know what to do." she wearily extended her hand to me. "Emiya Shirou."
"Yeah, count on me." I reached out in response, and Kalawarna helped me to stand up.
"I'll be waiting. You have two days for everything. Get ready."
Those were her last words for today. Spreading her wings once again, she flew off and quickly disappeared from sight, leaving me alone. As promised, I headed towards another unfortunate meeting. Damn, this day really turned out to be difficult.
*
By the time I reached the walls of the old school building, my legs had finally stopped limping. The wound still hurt, of course, but it was healing successfully, which couldn't help but make me happy. Honestly, it wouldn't hurt to postpone my acquaintance with the local den of higher-ranking devils and just go straight home to take a bath, especially since my cat was hungry. Troublesome. But, as befits a hero, I sacrifice my well-being for the greater good. I don't even know what to expect from this meeting, but... if they have important information, it's worth at least listening.
I continued walking towards the entrance.
"Do you have an appointment, Emiya-san?" someone sneaked up behind me.
"Hey, Kiba, didn't expect you to be a devil. And yes, Rias invited me," I turned my head and locked eyes with the blonde guy. Also with his sword, which he held in his hands. The sword was not bad, but it slightly bothered me that it had no history of its own. And that was strange. It was as if he had just taken it off the anvil.
"I know," he smiled.
"Then why ask?"
"Well, I'm sort of a gatekeeper and all. Need to follow the rules."
Kiba Yuuto. A student of the Kuoh Academy, just like me. Seventeen years old, blonde, and... the epitome of a bishonen. His face speaks for itself, causing most of the girls at Kuoh to fall for him. But surprisingly, he doesn't boast about it at all and even tries not to show it unnecessarily. I think you could call him a normal guy. We've crossed paths several times, which is not surprising since in a place like our Academy, guys have to stick together. We could be called acquaintances, but definitely not friends.
As Kiba's gaze lowered slightly below my shoulder, it became more serious.
"Were you injured?"
"Well, what else does it looks like?"
"I can call for help."
"Don't worry, it's already healing. Can you take me to Gremory?"
Kiba sighed and gestured for me to follow him, and we both entered the building. Going up to the second floor, he opened the door at the end of the corridor and invited me inside. The room itself was dimly lit, not with lamps, as some might think, but with wax candles despite it being night outside. However, there was enough furniture. Two closets stood on the left near the entrance, a chest of drawers rested in the far corner, a large writing desk right across from the entrance at the end of the room, and two sofas in the middle with a table between them. Speaking of the sofas, a girl with short white hair and a petite figure was seated on one of them. And there was... a shower in the room? What in damnation? Well... I think it's better not to summon even more damnation here.
"Let me introduce you, Emiya-san. This is a member of our club, first-year student Toujou Koneko," Kiba introduced the girl.
Could it be that even such a little girl is a devil? That's... sad.
The girl nodded slightly, but when she looked at me, she immediately became alert.
"What happened?" she asked.
"I'm Emiya Shirou. Nice to meet you," I replied with a smile. "Nothing special, just an ordinary day."
She only nodded in response and continued to eat her sweets. I was slightly taken aback by her indifference.
"Yuuto, is that him?" a loud voice came from the adjacent room. It was Rias' voice.
"Yes, President," the swordsman responded and sat on the couch, waiting for the main figure to arrive.
Meanwhile, I decided to stand for a moment since sitting was a bit uncomfortable. At that moment, Rias Gremory finally entered the room accompanied by another girl whom I also recognized. Himejima Akeno, as far as I remember Rias' best friend and vice-president of this club. These two were inseparable. Oh, right, she's also the second most beautiful girl among girls of the academy. And seeing her in front of me... I must say, they weren't lying. An elegant stride, a mesmerizing half-smile, long black hair tied in a ponytail, and purple eyes. Just their presence alone can capture the attention of those around them in any place. However, regardless of what or who I saw here, one thing was clear: I couldn't let my guard down. After all, they were all devils. And I was currently in the heart of my potential enemy's lair.
"Nice to see you again, Emiya-kun. Welcome to the Occult Research Club. Allow me…" Rias calmly walked over and sat behind the large writing desk, but when she looked at me, she immediately faltered. It's no wonder; I must look a bit disheveled at the moment. The left side of my jeans was soaked with dried blood that had previously flowed from my left side. My white shirt was no longer pristine and had a few tears, and my jacket was stained with road dust. Right now, I looked more like a homeless person than a magus. It was even a little embarrassing.
"Arara," Akeno covered her mouth with her palm. "What happened to you on the way here, Shirou-kun?"
"I played a game of tag with a fallen angel. She was the tagger," I replied.
Akeno let out a soft laugh at my statement but quickly composed herself upon seeing Rias's angry expression.
"Why are fallen beings roaming around my territory as if it were their own home, when I promised my guest inviolability, Akeno?" the redhead crossed her arms and glanced briefly at her friend, awaiting an answer.
"Please forgive me, President. I thought I had the situation under control. I will find out the details later. But the fact that Shirou-kun survived this encounter undoubtedly shows him in a favorable light, don't you think?" Akeno offered her smile once again.
"You're right. But incidents like these cast a shadow on my reputation, as if I'm incapable of keeping my word."
"Don't worry. It was... quite a useful encounter." I interjected with my remark.
"Nonetheless, allow me to help you, Shirou-kun." Akeno happily chimed in and moved towards me. I didn't sense any aggression from her or the others, so I decided to accept her help. As she sat me down on the couch, the girl began to tend to my almost-healed wound and simultaneously clean and restore my clothes. At that moment, I had mixed feelings. On one hand, it was very pleasant, but on the other hand, she looked at me like a lioness eyeing her prey. It was a strange sensation.
Meanwhile, Rias continued her speech.
"Now, let me introduce you to all of my lovely servants. My Queen and expert in magic, Himejima Akeno. Kiba Yuuto, my faithful knight and swordsman. Toujou Koneko, my formidable rook and master of hand-to-hand combat. Our bishop is unfortunately absent due to... certain circumstances, but he is currently occupied with other matters. We are delighted to welcome you.
All the mentioned individuals slightly bowed as a sign of greeting, and Akeno managed to send me a very... promising smile. I even started to feel a bit warm.
"Allow me to brew some tea," the mentioned Queen said, finishing up with my recovery and heading towards the kitchen. It seems quite livable in this building. The Student Council President, Sitri Sona, must bite her elbows every year when she sees how much budget one single club consumes. I know horrors, I glimpsed at those dreadful numbers.
"Now, let's get down to business, Gremory-san. I don't want to waste your time, and I'm a bit tired after today, so let's get straight to the point. Why did you call me here?" I asked.
"Very well, I'll be straightforward," the girl stood up from her seat and struck a rather dramatic pose. "Emiya Shirou, I want you to become my servant!" she pointed at me with her finger.
"I refuse," I replied.
Rias hesitated upon hearing my answer. It seemed like she didn't expect that at all. And I responded almost automatically, although I clearly heard everything. What the hell was she expecting? A scene flashed before my eyes—a wounded, desperate person, and... the Will of humanity. No, I must push these thoughts away. I will never do something like that. Well, there goes my mood for today.
"But why?" she asked in surprise.
"And you still have to ask? You're devils. You secretly promise people the fulfillment of their desires and take their souls as payment, thereby increasing your own power. I will never serve someone like that," I said firmly.
Rias was left speechless. She was astonished by the iron will in my words.
"Emiya-kun, let me ask how much you know about modern devils?" she finally said.
"A little, actually. I haven't encountered representatives of your kind, except for strays, of course."
I politely accepted a cup of hot tea from Akeno's hands and looked at Rias again.
"Then let me tell you. Modern devil society is different from the past. It all started with the battle of the three factions against the heavenly dragons, the red and white ones. Once, we truly took human souls in exchange for materializing their wishes, causing the person who used our services to be unable to reach paradise in the heavens and ultimately die. But now, everything has changed. After that terrible battle, the ranks of demons were significantly reduced. Entire noble houses were completely destroyed. Because of this, changes were introduced into our contracts with humans. It is now prohibited to take a person's soul all at once to avoid drawing the attention of both heaven and fallen angels. Moreover, we are now obligated to maintain order within our designated territories. I should also add that we always inform the person about the price they will have to pay for their wish, and we never force anyone into a deal. People come to us of their own free will. And there are hardly any daredevils asking for something in exchange for their lives. Nowadays, we are trying to coexist, and as you can see, there is still a delicate balance."
"But you're taking people's souls, and for what? That's the most precious thing a person has."
"For survival," she answered very seriously. "While there may be a truce among the factions, small skirmishes still occur every day. We need to become stronger, otherwise we will be destroyed. And I don't want to lose my dear servants. They are my family."
Now it was my turn to be surprised. A devil, who is supposed to be evil and deceitful, was protecting her beloved people like a mother. She had more humanity in her than many humans I had encountered. Or was I being biased? Was it a mistake to divide everyone into black and white? Devils being evil and angels being good. That's what I thought. I was so blind and didn't notice the possibility that there could be good devils among the creatures of hell, just as there could be despicable villains among the priests of the church. And if people willingly come to them for wish fulfillment... it's their choice.
"I must say that the modern devils have found a compromise. Now they can increase their power safely, avoiding human sacrifices. Just the way you like it, partner. Ha, a hero and a noble deviless, you would make quite a pair!" the old lizard decided to joke. But there is a grain of truth in his words, as always. However...
"I have listened to your truth and accepted your words. But I still cannot be your servant. I have a different path on my mind," I said, finishing my tea and bowing slightly before standing up and heading towards the exit. After taking a few steps, I turned back and looked at this club and its occupants again. Today, I learned a valuable lesson, and I think it's only fair to thank the owner of this building accordingly.
"I see, it's a pity, but as I said, it's your decision," she sighed.
"But I can be a friend," I added.
Rias looked at me with surprise, and I simply smiled again and walked out of the room.
End of Shirou's POV.
*
"Everything went better than I thought, although not quite as expected," Rias said, leaning back in her chair. "But a friend isn't a bad outcome."
"Ara-ara. Did he really appeal to you that much?" Akeno teased.
"Pot calling kettle black. You were quite literally devouring him with your eyes"
"Well, President, he blushed so cutely; I couldn't take my eyes off him. I'd love for him to join our little family," Himejima dreamily smiled.
"By the way, what do you think of him, Koneko?" Rias asked the young girl.
To Rias' surprise, Koneko set her (!) sweets aside on the table and went deep (!) in thought (!). Her expression was very puzzled at that moment. Gremory became more serious and stared intently at her rook, awaiting her response.
"You were right, boss. There's a faint scent of dragon on him," she finally answered.
"Could it be that we've finally found him? Is it possible he's Sekiryuutei?" Kiba pondered.
"It's getting more and more interesting," Akeno remarked.
"But there was something else," Koneko continued, her statement trailing into silence.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not entirely sure. It also smelled like... steel and... glass? I don't understand."
"If even you couldn't identify it, we definitely need to keep a close eye on him."
"President, how about inviting him to our club? Not as a demon but as a regular member of the group," Akeno suggested.
"Not a bad idea; that way, he'll be within our sight. It's settled; I'll invite him tomorrow."
*
Kalawarna smoothly landed on the steps of the city church and folded her black wings. Without waiting for an invitation, she gently pushed open the door and entered inside. Walking through the hall, she made her way to a statue at the far end of the room and, touching the pedestal, found a hidden switch. With a quiet click, the statue moved aside, revealing a passage leading downwards, into the depths of a tunnel.
Before the fallen angel, a large space opened up beneath the church. A massive hall with a grand stone staircase, upon which a towering cross stood.
"You're late," a voice echoed from the far corner of the room. Its owner was a middle-aged man in a grey suit and a hat reminiscent of those worn in 1990s America.
"There were complications. The target disappeared into the territory of the Gremory devil clan," Calawarna replied.
"You let him slip away? How embarrassing. I should have gone myself," said a small girl, around fourteen years old, dressed in a black dress, standing next to the man.
"Dohnaseek, Mittelt, fall back. You wouldn't have achieved anything either," Calawarna dismissed the two.
"So, she will die after all. Well, nothing can be done. She has had her chance," ignoring the insult, Dohnaseek chuckled, his gaze fixed on one of the prison cells nearby. Inside the cell hung a girl in a peculiar leather outfit, her face and back showing marks from whip lashes, while her arms and legs bore several bruises. The girl was unconscious.
Calawarna had to make a great effort to ignore the laughter of this outcast and looked with pain at the cell where her named sister was imprisoned.
On the way here, she replayed the conversation with that strange person at least twenty times in her head, the one she couldn't quite understand. His thought process was unknown to her and seemed completely unpredictable. But one thing she knew for sure, in his quest to save Raynare, he was absolutely sincere. Even though fallen angels lose their heavenly blessings, some abilities remain, like the ability to sense lies. This was enough to believe in the slim possibility of the guy's plan coming to fruition.
The fallen one was taking a big risk, but in the choice between servitude and salvation, she would definitely choose salvation.
Two projectiles flew into the fallen one's back. Small spheres of white energy. These were paralyzing curses. Her body was thrown against the wall and then onto the floor.
"Easy," Dohnaseek grinned triumphantly. "You thought we didn't know about your little alliance?"
"You bastards... you've been watching me," Calawarna tried to get up, but her limbs felt like cotton.
The small fallen angel laughed loudly.
"How foolish! Trading the favor of Lord Kokabiel for some girl and a regular human! Nonsense! When we turn you both in, we will undoubtedly rise in the hierarchy."
Dohnaseek opened the cell containing Raynare and, in one swift motion, tossed Calawarna inside. The cell closed once again.
"Wait for your fate, traitors. And as for the guy, we'll deal with him personally."