brolyk445: This all took place in his subconscious during the 2 days he was asleep before the Tower attack. That was a what-if scenario in his head if Seekvaira had found him first.
ARSLOTHES: They do make a super cute couple :)
CourtMageMerlin: Awww, I am so glad to hear that! I'll admit, when designing Roots of Hope back in the day making Dorian a devil under her was a close contender. That, and now Rossweisse has weaponized her alcohol intolerance. XD
Divine Blizzard: Sorry for the confusion haha. It's a good thing he has that huge bed and a spell to restore stamina...though the sleep schedule should help him survive lol. And you got that right, he is a guy after all with those types of interests. Imagine what would happen if Iggy turned her clothe-making prowess to that end LOL.
German Science: And now all the women know about it...he may come home one night to a very uplifting surprise. XD I can't give away major spoilers for this chapter, though thankfully Dorian is not the recipient of the possession but I hope you still enjoy it nonetheless :)
xXwolfsterXx644: Indeed ;) I may not show every time they are together, but that doesn't mean they don't have more than one since their first time.
OBSERVER01: I am so glad you liked where things could have gone (both in-world and for this story itself). That really means a lot you like their interactions. Imo, for a harem to really work all of the girls need to have good chemistry for good or ill. :D
fanficcyberman: I sent you a full reply via PM. Okay, that image of Iggy having a lawyers had me die laugh LOL. "My client has the right to remain silent of her intimate knowledge of Dorian's preferences." XD I am so glad you enjoyed it. We've been doing well and I hope the same is true for you and your loved ones my friend :)
Ragna126: Sorry about the delays. Work has been picking up and with the usual post-arc hiatus I have been taking my time on these downtime chapters and the next arc.
Okaze: You and me both, these downtime sweet chapters are among my favorite to write. And indeed, I may not have been a fan of how Issei's development went in canon, but he is not an inherently bad character. The bits of changes I've made are all the difference to me and I am so glad you agree.
avenger3576: Sorry, can't do anything like hints and such, though Irina and Seekvaira are working on it lol. I never wanted Dorian to have a massive harem, and six is a good number. Did you have any you liked seeing him with other than them?
Guest1: It was a good run...but also a good way to go XD
Gan315: It's great to see you again man :D I am sorry to hear all that happened, but hope things can only go up from here :) I've been doing pretty well, moving up in work which is great for my budget but a bit rough getting to write as much as I used to. I may be a bit slower, but no sign of stopping yet ;)
Guest2: Thank you so much! And not to worry, she's working towards it...just has to find a way around that pesky detail of being an angel XD
Shadow king: They would be nice to get to showcase more. I was considering some side stories later on or maybe additional cameos. I got the main of each future couple planned. Super hard to resist showing them yet XD
chidoriprime: And their neighbors were ever grateful for that XD
7: Well, angels can recover now just like devils. They have their own piece system known as the Brave Saints which is how Irina became an angel. Without that, yea I'd probably do the same or rely on their exorcist troops who are normal humans. Yea...Irina needs to find a way around that. I realized she and Seekvaira never interact in canon, so I think the two bonding over their mutual feelings they have yet to reveal will be a nice touch. And no, the Crossroads won't be with Team Gremory 100% of the time, I mostly had them close due to the main story along with wanting to develop both. They'll be together a bunch for the downtime chapters but come the next arc (which will be an original one), it will be focusing on the Crossroads and other teams while Rias and her group are still in Kuoh. Working on it now in fact ;)
rabatek: She will always be #1 ;) As Thrud said last time, if she were set on no one being near Dorian than the rest wouldn't get the chance. It's growing, but won't get as ridiculously large as canon.
Guest3: Hmmm, I see. Not many Greek or fallen angel characters (only 1 canon woman other than Raynare lol). That would round out the alliance checklist Ratatoskr has for him XD
TheLycan2026: Sorry for the confusion, I probably could have been clearer at the start before the first dream intermission. That really means a lot! I hope you enjoy this new chapter. :D
Dragonx411: Exactly, they are the reason he was out cold for 2 days. Well, Kassaegtha hangs out there, but thanks to the deal with Despoina, she won't actually read his mind. And yes haha, Dorian is a fan of Star Wars while Rose has a...guilty pleasure interest in the doujinshi made by the school's manga club XD. I am glad you enjoyed it and hope you've been doing well too! :D
And with that…ONTO THE SHOW!
That is a fascinating contraption, what else can it do?
This was the first thought Seekvaira Agares had upon awakening that morning to the calm state of the Crossroad Tower. Nothing had prompted it, simply a single moment of curiosity, something the heiress was totally incapable of ignoring. Coupled with it being a mechanical marvel designed by Azazel himself whose inner machinations were wholly unknown; she was unable to quell her mecha-otaku within.
He's shot lasers from it, enhanced strength even in tandem with his Gear and can detach it. But Azazel implied there was far more that may reveal themselves when a moment of need presents itself. She spent the early hours making her preparations, foregoing sleep to placate the itch in the back of her mind.
"Good morning Seekvaira!" Dorian called out as she passed through the kitchen. The others were not up but Dorian was behind the counter with Hecuba. His ineptitude at cooking was legendary, making it clear he was either trying to improve his craft or planning to poison them all. Even with that thought, she kept her professional demeanor.
"It is," she raised her mug of coffee. "What is being prepared?"
"Scrambled eggs, that is, it was supposed to be," the redheaded Spartan answered while in the process of extinguishing a black plume behind him. "I just don't understand it, you can master powers spanning the mythological spectrum, learned the advanced magic circles of Rossweisse herself and can put together team strategies across a dozen people…how do cooking techniques elude you so utterly!?"
"I'm doing my best!" Dorian insisted, turning with an apologetic head nod to Seekvaira back into the kitchen. "Ms. Lily stopped letting me try after a while, I thought I set the stove correctly."
"It was turned up to 35, it was meant to be 3.5!" Seldom had Hecuba's cool started cracking so efficiently without Bennia's presence. "That's okay, I can fix this, you can handle the toast. JUST push down the bread and let me know when it pops up."
"No problem!" Dorian turned to the impressive line of toasters each with a dozen slots to accommodate everyone when they awoke. Without hesitation, he pressed the lever down to lower the bread into the toaster. To his dismay, as soon as it reached the bottom, the lever, along with the rows of bread, popped up once more. "Um…Hecub…" Dorian froze as he turned, seeing his teammate still battling the flames left from his attempt at cooking the eggs. A sense of terror seized him no doubt felt by her troops when her near-infinite patience was tested. He glanced back, sweat beading on his brow hoping she didn't notice. Frantically, he started looking over for the malfunction.
Reflexive instinct, Seekvaira held up a clipboard as she sat in the cafeteria acting none the wiser. Put him into the proper situation and his arm will try to find ways of fixing it. She felt slightly guilty but hid it well, one of the devices in her possession having both turned up the burners and disabled the toaster when she passed by. How will it try to help you here?
"Um, maybe…" Dorian was surprised as a screwdriver suddenly poked through his right forefinger. Without hesitating, he opened up one of the toasters while Hecuba was still distracted and looked through it. He realized too late that he had no idea what looked right or wrong and thus opening it was a pointless endeavor. Closing it up, he scanned over the surface, mind racing fast all the while Seekvaira jotted down notes on her clipboard.
"Maybe I can toast them a different way," Dorian started to consider when, on cue, a small nozzle appeared from his middle finger. Exhaling, a burst of flame suddenly emerged from it that made him jump.
"What was that?" Hecuba peeked over, thankfully not far enough to notice the bread was still sitting atop the toasters.
"Nothing, just a burp, excuse me," he ducked back down and got to work. Using the blenders making morning drinks and bursts of stove-flames from Hecuba as cover, he quickly started blasting each side of toast with the flames from his hand. While he was covered by the counter, Seekvaira had a small ant-sized spy camera crawling on the wall allowing her to see his progress.
With the proper materials at his disposal, he doesn't like putting burden on his teammates. A fine quality in a leader, though his composure during this could use some work and he must grow more comfortable with delegating. She barely noticed the slight smirk on her face at how hard he was working despite the disadvantage she had left him. The Agares heiress liked that side of him.
"Wow, these came out better than usual," Hecuba complimented several minutes later to a surprisingly sweaty Dorian. "Did you do anything different?"
"No," he quickly answered. "Just pushed down the button and waited."
"In any case, I know you can wield a blade, how about chopping up some potatoes. I was thinking of including some hash browns so Kuroka stops making fun of my traditional food. I already laid out some on the cutting board."
"That looks delicious," Seekvaira allowed herself to relax as she saw the golden glow of the immaculately scrambled eggs and appealing color of the toast that was just right. "Two slices please."
"Got plenty, and you're the first to…"
Both Spartan and devil jumped a mile as a loud THUNK resounded behind the counter, causing them to turn on a dime. Looking quite guilty and bewildered, Dorian was standing over the cutting board, his hand flat on the table as if doing a judo chop. What had him so concerned, was the fact that while looking for a knife to cut, his arm had slammed downward on its own. On the edge of his hand, a blade had appeared so sharp that it not only cut clean through the potato, but the cutting board as well lodging in the table where it appeared to be stuck. Despite his best efforts while attempting to downplay it, Dorian could not extricate his hand from the table.
"Um, oops?"
Screwdriver, torch AND blade…this day may be more productive than I originally hoped.
Occult Research Club…
"Had a productive morning?" Rias asked from behind her large desk that adorned the Occult Research Clubroom. "You don't have to work so hard so soon after becoming part of the family."
"It's no problem at all," Catherine remarked from her seat having given the updates on her recent contracts completed. "I must admit the requests in this town are…quaint." Rias did not want to even think of the ones she was more accustomed to.
"Glad to hear it, I know there can be quite a few keeping the others busy."
"Yuuto shared a good number of his excess ones for me to get started, Issei as well." Rias smirked behind her booklet at the casual use of the first names of the men of the peerage.
Recent battles had allowed them all to gain ranking, however she knew, or at least hoped, that life-threatening conflicts would not become the norm in the years to come. When not partaking in Ratings Games or battling forces bent on ending the world as they know it, devil contracts were still the most reliable means to increasing status in Hell. That day was particularly busy with Kiba still off cooking dinner for a single office-lady as he had developed a routine for. Akeno would be back soon from a more risqué contract massaging a client's feet…the outfit they had asked her to wear during it being more questionable than the actual act.
It is nice Zepar understands some of the contracts she takes, though it seems she's toned back a bit since dating him.
Asia was reading to a class of children to help an overworked schoolteacher, Koneko showing a group of bullies not to judge a book by its cover, even Honda had gotten work as a mascot at a ballgame for a struggling team. The thought of a suit of armor wearing a costume over it of a giant baseball bat made Catherine chuckle internally in its ridiculousness. Issei had yet to return from his own recent contract, something to do with a classic system binge-tournament of video games. Gasper had even gotten a contract helping a young medical resident study for his exams. More than once he had asked if the young devil-vampire could slow down time to give him longer to study.
"They were…unorthodox, but no true issue," Catherine continued her report. "I helped clean out an equipment shed, gave basic swordsmanship lessons and helped rearrange an apartment before his date showed up."
"Then you may be able to help me with a contract of my own I've been waiting on," Rias slid her a letter already opened. The young Knight took it and started to read.
She deserves the gentler contracts for now. Nothing involving the Church or performing suggestive tasks like Akeno revels in. This one has been far too long getting to, it may be interesting.
"At the museum?"
"As soon as a few others arrive, we'll go down together," the Gremory heiress smiled confidently. "From what I hear, they uncovered QUITE the find…"
Later, in the Crossroad living room…
"This has been an odd day," Dorian sighed in relief as breakfast was over, slouching onto a sofa. "Three features of the arm appearing in one morning," he looked at his mechanical right hand over and over as if expecting another to show itself. "Who knew cooking breakfast could be so dangerous?"
"That means it can only go up from here," Iggy retorted in her usual bubbly tone, rounding the couch with a tray covered in peanut butter sandwiches. "Is this the episode we filmed last week Rossweisse wanted to see?"
"Should be," Dorian snatched a sandwich and bit into it with a satisfying smile. "Lady Freyja wanted to see it too, we're not far from the season finale." He handed her half of his sandwich that she eagerly accepted and started nibbling on. "It's too bad she had to stay after with Rossweisse, once this episode ends, we can set the next to record."
"I…won't sacrifice any of my comrades," Dorian as the High King proclaimed on the screen while staggering to his feet. "I showed Lady Grim the appeal of life, purged your virus from Cy-Devil Knight, admitted my love for the Thunder Maiden and protected my domain. Once we stop you here, the land will be safe!"
"Bold words," a dark shape from the shadows muttered. "But you cannot hope to stop me with the power you currently possess. Your home is not so insurmountable."
"Perhaps not, but I have gained knowledge from far-off lands. Magic of the sun is known to a much greater degree in the deserts of the east for example."
"That may be so," the shape started to emerge from the black corner. "But will it be enough to face…your own brother?"
Iggy's eyes went wide and she leaned into Dorian a bit more at his character's look of shocked horror upon seeing the one who emerged into the light. A familiar silver-haired man who did not look very enthusiastic about being there but that actually translated perfectly into his performance.
"My…brother?" He muttered as the screen froze on his final expression with credits rolling.
"The High King's brother!? What a turn of events!" Irina jubilantly proclaimed as the narrator. "But who is this man, how can he be related to our hero?! Find out next time as all will be revealed in the exciting conclusion!"
"No idea how they talked Vali into this," Dorian started reaching for the remote to record the upcoming program. "I knew he was on Issei's show, but ever since Odin adopted him, he just…um, Iggy…where is the remote?"
"It's over on the…" she froze upon glancing to the end table where she was certain it had been only a moment ago to find it missing. The pair's hearts began to race as they started searching high and low and under every piece of furniture scrambling to find it. They only had less than five minutes until the next episode started and knew Rossweisse wouldn't want to miss a moment to say nothing of the other fans in the tower who were off on missions unable to see it live. "Bennia is going to be so disappointed…then kill me!"
And landmine trap everywhere I go for certain, Dorian knew her too well. Plus, everyone else if they miss the latest episode and get spoiled before it airs again or the DVDs arrive!
"Scenario 2," Seekvaira whispered to herself from a safe distance in the other room eyeing them around the corner with the remote tucked safely in her pocket. "Can his arm interface with other electronic devices?" She scribbled the question down once more. "Surely, it should be child's play to send the correct signal to begin recording." Dorian and Iggy were panicking as the minutes ticked by nearing to when the program would start. Pillows were thrown, cushions overturned with not one piece of furniture left untouched. Sure enough, they could not find the elusive remote. Finally, they were down to the last minute with no luck.
It can't be helped, Seekvaira sighed realizing she must have miscalculated. I just need to tell them I already set the recording and…
"Dorian, what is that?" Iggy pointed to his right palm. As the Einherjar looked, he noticed what appeared to be a keypad had risen from the depths. Thinking fast, he pressed a button clearly adorned with a recording symbol. To his joy and relief, the television beeped just as the program started, recording just in time. Dorian slumped into the couch utterly spent, heart racing, as the High King theme song started playing.
This tale is of an age long ago, when myths and legends were interwoven into the fabric of life. The Ancient Gods were petty and cruel, plaguing the land with strife. Only one dared to stand in their way…The High King!
Iggy was already bobbing her head back and forth to the upbeat heroic tune that followed not noticing Seekvaira inch closer. Even she had to admit the theme song put together was quite catchy and inspirational.
The young leader possessed a power the era had never seen, a power surpassed only by that of his heart. From one end of his domain to the other he walked confronting the minions of those seeking to foster turmoil. But wherever there was evil, wherever an innocent would suffer, there would be…The High King!
A montage of past episodes started to play as the theme song built in intensity depicting Dorian fighting monsters, carrying children from burning buildings and kissing the High Queen at the end of each battle. While Iggy could never resist humming along, Dorian was still analyzing the new remote in his hand seeing what else it could do as the episode started.
I should apologize, Seekvaira stepped forward seeing how out of breath the young man was worried he would miss the request Rossweisse had made him. I want to learn as much as I can, but I shouldn't torment him so. He is kind, I am sure he will…
"Huh, 'Launch,' I wonder what that does." Dorian muttered as he pressed one of the mysterious buttons that had appeared on his palm. "Maybe it'll launch another screen?"
Seekvaira froze, realizing too late as the signals from his hand interfaced with her wings causing both to protrude from her back. To her horror, her mechanical appendage and augmentations were now under the control of the palm-remote having just given a single command.
Launch.
The Crossroad leader and Iggy were very surprised as Seekvaira jetted at full speed right through the room, slamming into the far wall so fast they couldn't react in the slightest. As the pair rushed to her side, the devil heiress' eyes were spinning, glasses knocked clear. They barely overheard the program continuing as they started looking her over.
"That's right, your brother," Vali remarked in his usual stern tone. "I…I am…"
"Wait, I heard of you from the Oppai Dragon!" Bennia as Lady Grim approached to his side. "You are the next dread Dragon of the North…The Butt Dragon Emperor!"
Later…
"Ooooh…where am I?" Seekvaira groggily asked while sitting up from what seemed to be a rather comfortable sofa. A warm compress was laid against her head and her shoes had been removed.
"Easy there," Dorian approached with a steaming cup Iggy had made from a teabag. Without Akeno nearby, it was far safer than Dorian himself trying to make one. "That was a big hit, your jets must have malfunctioned.
"Y-yes, that must have been it," she accepted the cup with a guilty expression glancing away only then realizing her glasses were gone too. With a motion to the table, Dorian picked them up and presented them to her, the heiress quickly donning them not used to being seen without them. "I do believe karma found its way to me."
"Karma?"
"N-nothing!" She blurted out at his complete ignorance to her schemes that day before taking a sip of the tea. "This is good, simple but soothing and very hot."
"You can thank this," he held up his right hand, the surface slightly red denoting the presence of a heater inside. "We didn't know when you'd wake, so I kept it warm."
Warm hands…noted.
"I'm not familiar with the machinery, but we can take a look if the wings are malfunctioning after Rossweisse gets back."
"That won't be necessary, I just…mmph," she groaned sitting up too fast, her back sore from laying down for so long coupled with the hard hit. "I am sure it was just a kink in the system, a diagnostic later will find the issue." She cracked her back in a way that was clearly not satisfying. Dorian looked on with a face contemplating how to help, the young heiress couldn't miss it. "You need not be so concerned."
"I sort of do," he admitted at last, the lingering guilt evident on his face. "I mean, you lost your wing and it was my fault. That's the same as…" He paused while glancing at his right hand, unable to finish but Seekvaira knew full-well what he meant.
…it's the same as losing an arm.
"The blame is not yours," she assured him, looking dead into his eyes. "Only Diodora and his allies share that charge, it was your hand that severed it, but it was necessary. Were it not for your quick action, I would have lost far more than just a wing. Dorian, do not think on it another moment, I assure you, there is no reason to. That day led to where we are now and I would not be here otherwise." She gripped her shoulder again, still sore as she made the statement.
"Thank you," Dorian muttered, seeming like the burden of guilt had lessened if only a bit. "But, can I at least help with that?" He motioned towards her shoulders. "Rose said I do massages quite well."
"I suppose there is no harm," she acquiesced after a moment, feeling comfortable around him. "You may proceed." The Agares heiress turned around, leaning over the couch to give him access to her back while brushing her long hair out of the way. It took a moment to register it was a strangely similar position she'd been in when Rossweisse had first helped to design her wings. "Just the shoulders, the rest is…mmmh."
She tried to stifle the sigh of contentment as Dorian started massaging her shoulders. As Rossweisse had mentioned more than once, while no expert he was quite good at finding the points of stress and pressing into them just right. Despite normally only doing so when losing herself in a new invention of contraption, Seekvaira found her mind and body truly relaxing as if the troubles of the world were nowhere to be found.
This is so good…ahem, is quite nice. If doing such things makes him feel less guilty over my maiming, I see no reason not to allow him to do this on a semi-regular basis. His hands are so…Eep!
As the thought of scheduling future sessions entered her mind, Seekvaira suddenly felt a surge pass through her. Without warning, Dorian's right hand, currently massaging between her shoulder blades, started vibrating at incredible speeds. Unprepared for such an action, the young devil gripped the couch in front of her gasping loudly as the reverberations hit just the right spot turning her limbs to jelly. Her reaction was certainly unexpected by Dorian, who stopped immediately, putting his hands up as if surrendering.
"Wh-what was that?" Seekvaira asked with a turn, her face flushed trying to quickly fix her glasses back into place and straighten her hair that had become disheveled.
"A back massager that seems to keep showing up at random," he held forward his right hand still vibrating loudly in the air. "Rossweisse and Thrud were quite fond of it, but if you aren't, I can figure out how to turn it off."
"N-no!" She had to recompose herself after the moment of weakness. "That is to say, you may continue, it was just…unexpected. Perhaps you can help with this to make things easier." She motioned to the zipper that was clearly difficult to reach on her own.
Seeing her meaning, Dorian slowly ran the zipper down opening the back of her top realizing just how seldom she showed any skin, her clothes often chosen for maximum coverage. Yet now, her shapely lines and smooth skin were visible to him. None would have denied her beauty in that moment. With only a moment of delay, the Einherjar went back to massaging her back and shoulders, the heiress tensing at the direct touch trying to cover up the fact she had started breathing heavier with each moment.
"Perhaps we might find the other devices implanted inside your hand together? I-it is a fascinating invention." Seekvaira was so relaxed that she made the request that had hounded her all day so casually.
"I think I would like that," she could practically hear the smile without turning around. "You're a genius at this sort of thing, that should make it much easier finding them all. As amazing as Rose is at magic, or Thrud at combat, Iggy with clothes or Kuroka with Sage Arts…you are just incredible at technology. Right now, the features just show up at random or when it thinks I need it."
Th-the devices reveal themselves when in need. I am c-certain that it sensed he was partaking of a massage like this and created that massager vibration unit. Yes, that must be it, there is no other logical explanation. I shouldn't have tried deceiving him to learn his arm's secrets. We will know each other for many ye-years, plenty of time for us to know one another…
In that moment as she started growing accustomed to Dorian's touch, the color drained from her face. Far in the distance, the shapes of a young woman and squirrel could be seen watching. Ratatoskr and Aika were spying from far off around a corner, their faces both warped into the most unbearably incorrigible expressions possible by mortal beings. Seekvaira froze, daring not to move as Dorian continued his ministrations that were feeling better and better by the second. The clearly suggestive glances and motions the two were doing caused a thought to pass through her mind that she would have never considered otherwise.
Wait, what if this is not a back massager, then wha…Azazel wouldn't have! Just what kind of lewd device did that perverted fallen angel put in this arm and why would me being near Dorian have set it off!?
Kuoh Town History Museum…
"Thank you for arriving so promptly Lady Gremory," the head researcher greeted her cordially with a stern handshake. "I am afraid our own techniques of discovery were coming up quite empty."
Rias walked inside flanked by Catherine and Issei with Akeno and Koneko bringing up the rear alongside Asia. Kiba, Gasper and Honda were the only ones unable to get out of their respective duties to attend. Each one glanced about at the displays of ancient artifacts discovered and brought in for investigation. They didn't know where to look first as they spotted who had arrived before them.
"Ravel, good to see you," Rias greeted the youngest Phenex whom she had invited back when they'd watched over the sleeping Dorian. "You got here early, and I see you brought a friend."
"Lady Rias, L-Lord Issei," she spun on her heels not having seen them arrive. Beside her, the acting-head of the Leviathan family bowed politely. "Of course, you invited me, it would be rude not to come!"
"Red Dragon Emperor Issei," Ingvild Leviathan looked relieved to see him still unable to explain the inexplicable pull she felt when he was near. "I did not know you were connoisseurs of history."
"Well, I'm not really," he admitted awkwardly, barely able to resist staring at the endowed woman who looked at him with such eyes. "Rias was the one who got the contract to look into this thing. What are you doing here?"
"Keeping the family running while Katerea is recovering is difficult. Ravel-chan was willing to show me the ropes and help me adapt to this more modern world." She poked at one of the giant lights illuminating the center of the room. "Humanity and devilkind have advanced so far."
"That," Ravel interrupted to motion towards the focus of their attention. "And this is a really wondrous sight!"
Before them laid a large ornate sarcophagus covered in hieroglyphics that were completely different from others they had passed on the way in. What caught Issei's eyes most is how pristine it was as most things being so old would have been damaged or worn out, yet the object before them looked like it had been freshly polished rather than holed up in some musty tomb for thousands of years.
"There doesn't seem to be a means of opening it without damaging the contents. It is truly remarkable. The markings are unlike anything we've ever seen…that is until we got your flier, they are strangely similar but in a distant sense."
"We'll take it from here professor," she assured him with a crossing of her arms. "And if we succeed, you'll keep up your end of the contract?"
"Of course, if you can open this relic, I would be more than happy to start teaching at any facility you wish!" He was ecstatic, his voice full of honesty. "I am guessing Kuoh Academy?"
"Actually, I had another one in mind," Rias thought of Sona and Sairaorg's dream of a place where devils of lower birth could study. "But we can discuss that later." The older mustached man thanked her again before heading out to let them work. "Now then," she clapped her hands together. "Does anyone have some insight?" She was clearly giving the others a chance to flex their talents or knowledge on the task at hand.
"They look like devil markings, but weirder. But also remind me of…" Issei almost blurted out the first thing that came to mind, his thoughts immediately drawn to a pair of circles that vaguely resembled breasts and nipples, a goofy grin spreading across his face. Koneko facepalmed at how obvious he was being.
"Yes, far older. It's hard to tell with these seals over it, but they're almost like…" Rias started as she leaned over the sarcophagus. Unintentionally, her impressive breasts overlapped the very symbols that had made Issei giddy, causing the rest to light up suddenly.
"That actually did it!?" Catherine asked incredulously as the lid slid backwards to reveal a purplish-blue mist that seeped out from within. They tried to avoid it, but with the near-explosive decompression from the years trapped inside, it quickly filled the room. Fortunately, it appeared to not be dangerous as it dissipated seemingly without issue.
"Woah, a mummy." Issei muttered as he inched closer, looking over the contents.
A thin emaciated body was laying down arms crossed over its chest staring up. It was covered with bandages as he'd expected from years of monster movies, though they were frayed in many places leaving sickly brown and grey patches of skin visible including on its head. Scattered around it were odd objects ranging from scrolls, incense candles, and staves among other things. It was when he saw what looked like a collection of strings that caught his attention.
I've seen enough magazines to know better, those aren't strings, that's a…!
"Red Dragon Emperor, be careful!" Ingvild called out, clearly sensing something nefarious from the casket, but it was too late. From one of the openings in the bandages, an eyelid shot open revealing a lone intense red pupil that locked onto the devil pawn in an instant. Issei fell backwards with a scream that cut off quickly as he froze in place, yet his mouth remained opened.
I-I can't move my body! What is going on!?
"Issei!" Asia called out, about to rush forward but was stopped by Catherine. "What happened?"
"It seems there was a presence in that sarcophagus," Rias explained, sighing but realizing that Issei was unharmed which was the most important thing. "A pleasure to meet you," she turned back towards him. "I will try to be cordial, but first you must explain who you are and why you've taken control of my precious Issei."
The team tensed up as their teammate suddenly began to cackle, it was his voice but deeper, darker in a way that made even Asia shirk back. His eyes were glowing red now just as the lifeless mummy had been only a few moments ago. Finally, he put on a sneer and looked up at the Gremory heiress.
"Ah, my name is Unas," he announced loudly, taking up dramatic and over-the top poses that made Koneko cringe in embarrassment. "Remember it, for I was the mightiest sorcerer of my era! So great was my prowess of magic and women that I was sealed away by jealous rivals until today!"
"I see, well that is all well and good but I can't have you taking my servants. Return Issei to me, NOW!" Her voice went from sweet and polite to stern in a flash as she shot a finger towards him, eyes piercing his. She was being polite as was expected, but his smile was rubbing her the wrong way.
"That is quite impossible."
"What was that?"
"As you can see, my body is still unmoving," he motioned towards it in a sweeping motion. "So great was my power that the passage of time could not stop me, but these seals across my sarcophagus prevent all but my mind from moving."
So let me go and find your own damn body! Issei screamed internally but couldn't be heard by any but Unas who ignored his pleas.
"Ara ara, so someone was stronger than your mighty sorcery?" Akeno teased while twirling her hair, finding the situation interesting while probing for any weakness that could help free Issei.
"It does seem to be quite the inconsistency," Ingvild agreed. "I don't recall any like him being famous before I succumbed to the sleep disease."
"They were nothing compared to me," Unas continued. "But I was ambushed while unprepared by a powerful and…enticing devil, thus I have been left like this trapped behind these dreaded seals. Until these are undone, I am afraid I will need to stay inside this boy's mind, though considering how similar we are, I do not find it an unappealing vessel."
I DO!
"A powerful devil?" Catherine asked, pondering the power needed to set up a curse to last millennia. "Could it have been an Old Satan?" Koneko shrugged along with Asia.
"I, however, do find it unappealing," Rias stood up tall again. "I do not care what it takes, but I will ensure the safety of Issei at all costs. So tell me, sorcerer Unas, what will it take to break these seals?"
P-President! Issei's eyes were practically filled with tears touched by the clear determination she had to free him despite knowing almost nothing about the man inhabiting his body. No, not President…Rias!
"There are three levels in total," he held up the corresponding number of fingers pointing to three triangles interlaid with impossibly complex seals adorning the sarcophagus. "Specific criteria must be met in order to break them with each more…alluring than the last." Koneko balled up her fists, unable to fathom dealing with someone more perverted than Issei himself.
"Then tell me," Rias stared him down. "What is the first?"
Unas grinned with an eerie gleam in his eyes as he held up the strings of metal in the sarcophagus, the team now seeing there were two sets.
"One may not be enough, but two performing the first ceremony will shatter that seal in an instant!"
"Two?" Catherine asked as it slowly dawned on her what the strings actually were. "Who did you have in mind?"
Crossroad Tower…
"This is better," Seekvaira sighed as she closed the door to Dorian's room certain that the pair of Ratatoskr and Aika could not spy on them within. Her demeanor had improved infinitely with her body feeling lighter than it had in a long time. "You have accumulated so much."
She glanced over his desk covered in documents on missions, team payments, applications and more. He handled what he could, but she had been assisting with the more managerial paperwork and duties. In all her time, however, she had not been able to look over his personal space so closely. A large fang adorned the wall prominently hanging by a chain.
"A tooth of Fenrir?" She asked while running a finger over the rough edge.
"The same stuck in my arm when he took it off," he confirmed, gripping his right shoulder tightly recalling the pain that led to him now using a mechanical prosthetic. "I couldn't bear to get rid of it, plus Brokkr mentioned you can never have too many items with god-slaying properties."
"Fenrir's tooth, plants from Vanaheim, are these all your trophies of past victories? Your people's tradition of taking one from each foe is fascinating."
"Just the ones that aren't dangerous," Dorian explained. "Any weapons like the replica Mjolnir I keep in the Roads for safety. Jeanne's sword especially needs A LOT of seals and wards after getting coated in that poison of Samael."
"I see you also enjoy models of buildings?" She spotted his collection of famous landmarks from across the world. Not too many, but enough to catch her eye.
"A bit, they're just simple ones but I find it a nice calming activity, why?"
"I…may know a bit about that," she slowly opened up while looking over the rest. "I have a similar collection in my room back home. I do not tell many about it."
"What kind of collection?"
"Mostly mecha units, some other terrain or space-bound vehicles from my favorite…" Wait, why am I telling him? Seekvaira may have shared her love of technology with the team, but years of keeping her private activities secret gave her pause. "S-such a collection is for my PRIVATE time and is not to be included on any discussions with our allies either in business or personal talks…is that understood?"
"I-I won't say a word," Dorian felt a killing intent wash over him seeing Seekvaira staring down at him in a terrifying way with how the light seemed reflect off her glasses. It was obvious what she was saying.
Tell anyone about this collection and you may not survive.
"That being said...perhaps I could show you sometime." She added at the last moment that caused the aura of dread to disperse.
"I-I don't know if I could trust myself on putting together things with extra-small parts," he held up his hands to hammer home just how much larger they were from her dainty fingers. "The lyre fits just right."
"You play for the DeviTube channel you made; I have heard it there but not often elsewhere. Maybe…" Seekvaira seemed to realize just how she was talking and cleared her throat. "I think I would like to hear it more…and maybe a new ship in a bottle to replace the Nagalfr? It does leave a noticeable empty space on the shelf."
"I asked if Lady Freyja had any like that from Asgard. I heard they have a few vessels similar to the Nagalfr called Skíðblaðnir, though none quite as big. Apparently, they have an entire model line of them and she's sending me some over next week. Vidar wanted to see if the Nagalfr could even get its own."
"Wait a moment, that is not from your land," Seekvaira reached out to seize an item that the Einherjar had not thought on in many weeks. "Where did you get this?"
"That?" He looked over the golden ankh she now cradled in her hands. "That is what Zephyrdor's brother, Zaebos, was holding onto in Helheim. It's Egyptian, but beyond that, I haven't learned anything about it."
"I know this design," she adjusted her glasses slightly to get a better look. "The Agares family is quite old, in ages past we had alliances with the Egyptian Pantheon, though it has been a long time since such bonds were tested."
Dorian immediately sat up a little straighter, coming up behind Seekvaira to look at the ankh a bit closer. He did not realize just how close he now was to her, but the mature heiress was.
"Do you recognize it?"
"J-just that its make seems to suggest that it came from the First Dynasty, you can see it in the grooves here. Sometimes they would be used as receptacles of power, able to detect and contain matching waves from miles off."
"So that's why it has just been a paperweight until now? Because no one around us uses Egyptian magic?"
"It is possible. I remember that mother used to tell me an old story about…"
The pair jumped, Dorian reflexively gripping her shoulders to shield her if needed at the sudden beeping from the now-active ankh. As they realized that it was no threat and the awkward ambiance between them dissipated, three symbols shimmered into existence upon its golden surface.
"These are…! Oh no, Dorian, we have to go, now!"
"Go where?" He asked as Seekvaira started generating a portal that opened to a vast desert. She poked her head inside before turning to him with a look of concern.
"Wherever it has gone! One of my family's charges, something we were trying to make sure stayed buried…it's missing!"
Kuoh Museum…
He will die by my hand as soon as Issei is safe, Catherine chanted internally as she stood beside Rias, the rest of the team watching with shocked or, in Ingvild's case, interested expressions.
The women were wearing matching sets of what could only be described as jewel-covered bikinis that left next to nothing to the imagination. Their faces contrasted the vibrant, alluring garb perfectly being completely flat and serious, focused on the task that had been given to them. They heard what needed to be done, and to help Issei, the two women were going to do just that.
And…breathe.
The pair started gyrating their hips in unison, the rippling effect transferring to their bellies transfixing everyone's eyes upon them. The alluring belly dance continued, Rias and Catherine gripping hands as they spun around one another, breasts bouncing as was surely the desire of Unas in that situation yet they continued. In a surprising move, they backed into one another, pressing their bottoms together and sliding down then back up.
"AMAZING!" Unas called out in Issei's voice, the young Pawn shouting exactly the same while trapped within the confines of his own mind. He could not take his eyes off the pair while practically drooling. "Devil women are surely the greatest on this Earth!"
"The…absolute worst," Koneko muttered under her breath taking all her willpower knowing it wasn't her friend in control to keep her from pummeling him.
"They are doing so much for Issei," Ingvild muttered under her breath. "They must love him truly."
"Rias…" Catherine whispered as they turned to face one another, pressing close and spinning as one. "May I kill him?"
"Once we get him out of Issei, you have permission to do whatever you feel is necessary. Just a few more moves to go."
In a sudden switch, Catherine lifted Rias into the air by her waist, letting her flip gracefully over and to the ground so that they were back-to-back once more. In sync with one another, they started gyrating once more causing the jeweled tassels on the bikinis to bounce melodiously. With the last thrust of their hips, the first of the three triangular seals disintegrated which allowed them to see the overall sigil beneath a little better. Ravel was the first to remark.
"Is that, the Agares family crest?"
"An old variant," Ingvild confirmed. "Devil families do not change their sigils often, even to such a small degree. This must be even older than we guessed."
"An Agares sealed you?" Akeno tilted her head in confusion, now realizing it was not an Old Satan. "Now why would they do that?"
"Because I was so magnificent!" Unas replied. "They feared how amazing my power was and so in a fit of jealousy, sealed me away. But now, thanks to you girls, I will soon be free! It just requires the second seal next," he spun on the team eyeing each of them one by one before his focus fell on Koneko.
"Your gaze is quite disgusting," Koneko sighed upon realizing she had his attention. "Nothing like Issei's at all, much worse."
Koneko! Issei took the words as a supreme compliment. I knew I wasn't totally the worst to you!
"Ah, but only one as cute as you can break the second seal," he grinned maliciously. "For just like those sappy stories that the Seeva…ahem, I mean the foul devil who sealed me enjoyed, it can only be broken by love's kiss! Or, failing that, any kiss from a cute girl."
"Wha…?" Koneko looked as shocked as the others that he'd focused on her for this task. Her gaze quickly narrowed at him, obviously not interested. Next to her, Ravel was steaming, eye twitching at the decision made.
"A simple kiss, a peck, a smooch," Unas continued spouting synonyms as he inched closer with puckered lips. "Such a simple request to help free your friend and myself," his words of selflessness did not match his actions as even his hands were now reaching towards the young nekoshou with wiggling fingers.
Hey! Not cool! Issei called out from his mental prison. She's with Gasper, keep your…um, MY hands off her! His defense of her was unnecessary as Koneko reacted instinctively, a fist impacting straight into Issei's forehead.
"I…guess not," Unas groaned in pain as he tumbled backwards to the floor.
"Lord Issei! Are you alr…?" Ravel rushed forward to help a little too quickly, tripping over one of the power cables connected to the lights overlooking the sarcophagus due to her longer dress. She fell forward, face colliding with Issei's lips leaving an unintended kiss upon it.
JACKPOT! Issei and Unas simultaneously called out as the second seal vanished before their eyes.
"I-it was supposed to be on my terms!" Ravel cried while touching her lips, the smile and blush on her face betraying her words just how happy she was to have done such a thing with Issei. She raised a hand covered in flame, but was dragged back by Asia who, while jealous that she hadn't the chance to be the one kissed, was glad that Ravel finally got what she'd wanted for so long.
"That's two down, be sure to keep your word," Rias stared down Unas who wasn't paying attention, rather eyeing the nearly broken curse. "And Issei will not be harmed?"
"Yea yea, of course," he spun, red eyes looking even more manic than before. "Now, it is time for the FINAL seal, the last holding my amazing power in check! The act that will be greater than any before!"
"Greater?" Catherine didn't like the sound of that as she tried covering herself as best she could, still stuck in the bikini with Rias. "How so?"
"I must…stick my head into a woman's chest!" He pointed dramatically forward towards Akeno, the most well-endowed of everyone in the room. "Only that will free my entrapped soul!"
Can you NOT pick girls dating my friends you creepy bastard? Issei's willpower caused his controlled-hand to stop before it could get much closer to Akeno.
"What, you don't want to?" Unas growled, eyes flipping back between red and brown with each switch. "She has the largest."
No arguing with you there, but A). I can't feel my hands anyway, and B). I think even Zepar would lose his cool if he found out. Despite his best efforts, Unas was inching closer and closer all the while not noticing how calm and mischievous Akeno's expression was.
"Ara ara, is that so?" Her eye twinkled. "If you wanted to join a harem of my own, all you had to do was ask…though you would be my second husband after Zepar."
"WHAT!?" Issei and Unas blurted out, taking a step back bumping into someone. Turning around, they saw Ingvild standing there with arms outstretched.
"The Red Dragon Emperor, I-issei promised to help me understand this new era, and I will repay that in kind!" Without a word, she grabbed Issei's head and pulled him into her admittedly impressive bosom. "If this frees him, I won't hesitate to help just as much as the others do!"
She's almost as big as Rias! Technically she's over 100 years older than me…but from this angle I don't really care. Wait, it's oddly quiet in here again.
"Wait!" Issei blurted out to Ingvild without making any attempt to escape her grasp; his eyes now brown once more. "He's gone! I think that last one did it!" At the same time, a dark shadow shot out of his back, disappearing within the sarcophagus. The completion of the last trial was interrupted as the front doors blew open behind them revealing two shapes.
"What have you done?" Seekvaira Agares demanded, Dorian Held standing beside her. Their arrival, precipitated by the heiress sensing imprisoning seals set up in ages past being weakened, was too late as the casket bristled with power. All they could do was brace themselves.
Everyone got their defenses up in time, Dorian blocking for the blonde-green devil with his wrist-shield. As the smoke cleared, only a crater remained where the sarcophagus had been now replaced by a thin man covered in bandages wearing an ornate headdress.
"I am free!" Unas declared while stretching his arms wide. "Ah, my FULL power has been restored, bow before me devils for I am greater than you all, I…Seevara, is that you?" He turned with a gasp upon seeing Seekvaira shielded by Dorian. "And is HE the one who was so much more appealing than I to be your lover!?" The Einherjar stood there glancing back to her looking very confused. "Surely he could not hope to compare to the bliss I'd give you!"
"Just how full of yourself are you?" Dorian could not help but counter despite not knowing the man. "Don't even think of taking another step towards her."
"I am not my grandmother," Seekvaira pushed up her glasses while reveling in the Einherjar's words. "Nor is Dorian my grandfather, I know of your imprisonment well, though thought your tomb had been lost to the sands thousands of years ago. Your sentence was for eternity beyond death, after all."
"And for what!?" He roared as the bandages around his body began to glow. "For merely trying to consummate the love between us that she KNOWS was there?! No matter what she told you, she is the real devil here!"
"Ah, so it was something like that," Rias stood tall somehow maintaining her confident demeanor despite the ridiculously skimpy bikini. "You aren't some great sorcerer who was ostracized for jealousy of your talents…you're just a creepy man who didn't know the meaning of the word no."
"You don't know what you're talking about," he growled, telling everyone that she had hit the nail on the head. "Well, now I can be repaid for that humiliation by taking her granddaughter who resembles her so!"
Dozens of bandages whipped forth from his body centered squarely on Seekvaira seeking her out. Dorian was faster, roots in equal numbers exploding from the ground to contest each one. At the same time, more emerged from Unas' back to seize the members of Rias' peerage, Ingvild and Ravel.
"What's going on?" Rias called out. "I can't use my powers!"
"How can he do this?" Ingvild was shocked knowing full well how strong she had grown even while asleep. She wrestled with the bandages but for each success, three more bound her in midair. "It's like he can cancel out our magics rather than overpowering them."
"It's pointless," the mad priest boasted. "I prided myself on creating magics of my homeland that can counter those of devils. I am not sure why her servant can contend against me so, nor yours," he looked down as Issei also eluded capture along with Catherine who slashed the bandages using her sword that he refused to ask where she'd been hiding it.
"I am no devil servant," Dorian countered as he summoned Musphelheim fires to coat his roots, burning any bandages that touched them. "You are not laying a finger on her!" He stepped squarely between him and Seekvaira, pushing back, surprised to actually hit resistance realizing that Unas was growing stronger by the second.
"I-it's draining our powers!" Rias called out in a tone that Issei clearly thought was alluring, the others similarly trapped by his bandages forming the most awkward of choruses with their moans of as the magical energy in their bodies was funneled into the Egyptian priest.
"I challenged the head of the Agares family in my prime," Unas bragged some more. "Give me just a few moments and…" His claims of power were halted as a green blast struck him in the face sending him backwards into a wall.
"Have I ever said how smart it was to not use devil energy in those?" Dorian remarked upon spotting Seekvaira had unfurled her wings, the mechanical construct of scientific origin having fired a beam that briefly slowed their opponent. Several small platforms had separated from her now surrounding Unas with rapidly firing bursts. "I guess they didn't have laser technology in his time to absorb."
"You have, but I do not mind hearing it more. His magics are centered squarely to be advantageous against devil magic. Against all others, he appears to take more damage."
"If I go into my Balance Breaker…"
"You would level half the building at least, the destruction of historical artifacts would be unacceptable." She warned, seeing just how strong Unas was growing. "We need to find a way to get those bandages off of the others to cut off his power, then deal with him." She saw Dorian reach into his cloak. "Please tell me you brought it."
"I did, it was reverberating when you mentioned Unas so I thought it may come in hand, it's from his homeland right?" He unveiled the object in his hands drawing a nod of approval from her.
"Those are just bandages, leave this one to me, Goldie," Issei promised as he leapt forward with his Sacred Gear drawn. "They're basically clothes!"
BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! EXPLOSION!
"Damn all of you devils!" Unas shouted as he raised a scepter towards Issei unleashing an immense blast. It was clear he'd taken a lot from Rias and her peerage, his power shaking the very foundations of the building.
"And now for this!" Issei ducked beneath the attack, slapping Unas on his chest and leaving a familiar mark. "Dress Break!"
With a single snap, the bandages around Unas' body disintegrated following up to each of the women, freeing them. One by one, they slumped to the floor, Unas fuming between the loss of his battery and naked state.
"I still have enough power for this!" His scepter was raised high, more power than before many times over building to an apex. Everyone prepared themselves for the incoming spell.
"Dorian, the ankh!"
"Got it! Like this?" Dorian held aloft the item he'd brought from home, the ankh he'd acquired during his time in Helheim that until then had been collecting dust in his room. Before Unas could unleash his attack, the energy he'd been building suddenly left him, flowing through the air into the ankh until nothing was left. The perverted man could only stand there, mouth agape as it faded away before his very eyes.
"H-how, how did you receive an artifact of the first Pharaoh? The power he used to subjugate his enemies and conquer a realm…"
"That sounds like a fun tale," Rias Gremory remarked as she raised high above on her devil wings. "Fortunately, you won't be there to hear it…Akeno?"
"Of course, President," she smiled while raising her own hands, six wings exploding from her back. "I almost envy him for what he's about to experience," her masochistic expression was on full display as Heavenly Lightning erupted from her fingers at the same time as Destruction from Rias, Musphelheim from Dorian and a Dragon Shot from Issei. Even Ingvild, Catherine, Ravel and Koneko joined in venting their frustrations at all they had seen. Unas barely had time to let out a scream as the attacks encompassed him utterly. Even then, his sturdy body held on.
"Leave this to me," Seekvaira rose high with magic circles surrounding her. "Unas, you have annoyed the Agares family and their allies for far too long. In the name of my mother, father, grandmother, grandfather and honored ancestor, I seal you back into the tomb that shall be yours until the ending of this world."
As fast as they had been destroyed, the three seals reformed and multiplied to nine, Unas' body returning to pure energy being dragged back towards a small urn that had survived the sarcophagus' destruction. As the wails ended with his futile claims of resistance, the room was filled with blissful silence. It was over.
Not long after…
"We'll make sure to bury him deeper this time," Seekvaira assured Rias as she took the urn which had been reinforced with more seals courtesy of Dorian to prevent any escape. As it was, he wouldn't even be able to possess anyone like he did to Issei. "I wish I'd gotten here sooner, how long did it take for him to train his mind to get past the wards, I wonder."
"You helped end things, that means more than I can say Seek-chan," she smiled to her childhood friend. "One thing that did confuse me. If your family were the ones who placed those seals on Unas, why were the trials so…perverted?"
"Grandmother has a sense of humor despite rumors to the contrary," Seekvaira tried to explain. For the first time in a while that Rias could recall it almost seemed like the Agares heiress was trying to hold back laughter. "They were the actions that she was certain no woman would EVER want to do for Unas."
"That's the thing hanging in your office, right?" Issei looked over the ankh turning it upside down and trying to determine just what it could do. "That really drained him dry."
"Yes, clearly it's more than I assumed," Dorian was equally entranced by the ankh which was now glowing in steady pulses empowered by the stolen energy of Unas. "It makes me wonder what Zaebos was doing with it in Helheim. Hela told me he had it on him when he was taken there."
"When I found him, his memory was fragmented and all he could say was he had been traveling in Egypt when Diodora sprung his trap. Perhaps there is more happening in those distant lands than we thought? I wish we had more contacts there; father may be able to see if our family ties are still active there."
"I'll see what I can find out too," Dorian promised. "The Crossroads have grown large since the Underworld attack, maybe one of our allies has roots in Egypt as well. One of the Hero Faction who attacked me had gear of similar make…"
"Are you going to keep that?" Issei asked Catherine as she had gotten out of the bikini and back into her uniform. "Rias said she liked hers, so…"
"It is…not my style," the Knight admitted while seeming like she was not trying to make eye contact. "If you wanted to see me in other more revealing attire…I will send you a list of what I am quite fond of. But only if you do the same."
"Really!?" Issei had to restrain himself from leaping with joy. "I'll only pick your favorites; I swear to that. Man, I am starving after all that, want to get something to eat? My treat." The two walked off together side-by-side with even Catherine smiling contently. Ingvild watched them go with a slightly jealous sigh before opening a pathway back to Leviathan territory.
"My grandmother had odd tastes," Seekvaira approached the table where the ornate bikini now laid. "They were left in there once she found out he quite fancied her in them."
"I imagine finding that out about a relative is…awkward."
"More than you know," Seekvaira sighed. "Who would be interested in such a thing?" The Agares heiress looked at Dorian who, to her surprise, had a slight blush on his cheeks and would not even glance in the outfit's direction. It was then that Seekvaira recalled the interest in a particular science fiction film's clothing she and Irina had heard through a closed door not long ago Dorian had and how this outfit quite resembled it.
"Y-yea," he cleared his throat a bit too loudly. "I'll check to make sure nothing else is around that can cause issues. At least we locked away something that wanted to hurt your family, especially with what he wanted to do with your grandmother and then you…"
"Yes," Seekvaira noticed the frustration in Dorian's voice, the idea of Unas making her his bride against her will truly made his blood boil. "I must admit you were quite dashing. There is still time in the day, perhaps we could find another use or two of that hand of yours before the sun sets?"
"I would really like that," he admitted, being completely smitten with her focus. She noted the final departing smile as he turned to leave.
"Who would be interested in such an outfit indeed?"
When she was certain no one was looking, the Agares heiress quickly snatched the extra bikini and stuffed it into her pockets. It was so small and skimpy that she had little difficulty in concealing it. As if she had not done anything at all, she pushed up her glasses and followed Dorian adding one more thing to her internal list she had learned about him without the young Einherjar saying a word.
Seekvaira learns more about Dorian than she had imagined that day all the while stopping an ancient annoyance to her family and assisting Rias all at the same time. Learning more of the mysterious ankh located in Helheim, Dorian's attention turns in small part to the distant land of Egypt...home to some of the most ancient cultures to ever exist. More chapters of the Crossroads next time. Until then, I hope everyone stays safe, Reads and Reviews...but most of all Enjoys! :D