Chapter 3: Growth

Issei quickly decided he was glad that he hadn't left his room to explore so far during his stay, the temptation had been there even with the mass of toys and books he had in his collection. There had always been something or temptation, a pull but each time he opened the door to have a look around fear of the unknown pulled him right back into the safety of his room. Now though he was glad for it. The winding, twisting hallways were like a labyrinth ready to consume him so as Yuno lead Issei away along their path he did everything he could to keep pace with Yuno fearful of being left behind with no idea where he was in the spiderweb of hallways that seemed to have no end.

After some time the pair finally arrived at a set of double doors that took up the entire end of the hallway. Yuno wasted no time in opening the two seemingly huge heavy doors by placing a hand on each and pushing. With an audible groan the door gave way opening like a wide mouth into a huge hall that was coloured a deep blood red, with fine gold linings everywhere. The gold was spread like spiderwebs along the floor, the walls and the pillars that decorated the length of the hall. At the opposing end of the great hall sat a fine black stone throne that was lined with gold much like the rest of the hall but also had red softer pillowed sections that comforted the young handsome man who sat upon the throne. The man had shoulder length crimson hair and sapphire eyes that reflected the purple flames that lit the room. He wore a fine white shirt with black dress trousers, he wore a black and gold overcoat along with a necktie that bore a crimson ruby. As Issei moved closer to the throne he could see a smile along the man's face then from behind the throne stepped out Grayfia in a black shirt with golden accents that matched the throne the man sat upon, she wore blue jeans and had a sapphire blue scarf that matched the man's eyes. She also had two long braids each tied with a pink bow at the ends well the rest of her hair was left loose along her back. Grayfia stood at attention beside the man with a similar kind smile for Issei when he and Yuno reached the throne. Yuno bowed to the waist before speaking, keeping her face down. "My lord, My lady, I present Issei Hyoudou as requested."

Grayfia nodded. "Thank you, Yuno, you are dismissed."

Without pause Yuno took two steps back, still bowing, placing her behind Issei before she stepped to the left as she raised to her full height and stepped into the shadows behind one of the pillars of the great hall. Issei's attention remained on the man on the throne who had yet to make a move, he matched Issei attention seeming to be taking him in. Then with a sudden breath the man spoke in a deep level voice, "My man is Sirzech Lucifer. I am the lord of this castle as well as the domain we find ourselves in. You have of course met my wife Grayfia who I must say has told me much praise about you and your progress during your time in our care but it is time for you to learn some of the truths about your new life. One of which is that we are Devils."

Issei froze. Fear rose in him and his mouth moved without thinking. "Are you evil?"

Sirzech laughed wholeheartedly. Then he looked at Issei with a smile. "That depends on who you ask, to the church and heaven we most certainly are. Honestly we are just businessmen nowadays making deals with mankind. We don't wish for too much chaos or destruction although we are very capable of it much like the heavens themselves. There is a lot to learn about our society, so much that it can't all be explained in a single meeting. We can however make one thing clear. You Issei are also a Devil or at least a reincarnated Devil. You came close to death during the attack on your family and I took measures to ensure you survived."

"Why". Issei's voice was quiet when he asked the question as he tried to sort through his own feelings, finding it odd that he didn't feel much of anything other than slight confusion.

Sirzech grinned like he had won a great prize. "Because my boy you have something of a very unique gift, one that I will very much like to add to my house. But let us not dwell on such matters for the time being. Let us instead look to the future. How would you like to continue to further your education?"

Issei nodded. "I like learning, Nathius said he had taught me all he could though."

Grayfia answered for Sirzech when he looked at her. "He was only permitted to teach you reading and basic mathematics until you understood the truth of what you were. Now that you do he can further expand upon your education. A task he has been enjoying immensely."

Sirzech turned to Issei again with another smile. "Well then let's not keep him away from his favourite student but Issei I have a request. You might know that we have arranged for other instructors, if you feel like you want to explore a more physical area of education simply inform Yuno and she will make arrangements." Issei silently accepted before he bowed much like Yuno had, which made the couple smile widely before Yuno appeared at his side and led him back to his room, where he was given the rest of the day to relax.

The next day after Breakfast, Nathius entered the room with a large grin on his face, his arms encumbered with a selection of thick books that made Issei dread the coming lessons. "Issei it's time we take things in a new direction. Rather than reading books of fiction it's time we delve into books of fact. Now I have a number of subjects for us to follow so why don't you look them over and pick one that interests you. Simply look at the titles and I will explain what each subject involves.

From there Nathius' lessons changed like a growing tree, starting with the strong foundation they had made the lessons before slowly branched off into numerous topics and subjects. Starting with Science, Nathius told Issei about physics, chemistry and biology giving equal parts amazing experiments and mind numbing theory studies. Next the pair studied geography which was bonded with history. Geography taught Issei the layout and landmarks that made up with the human world where history taught how that layout had changed from the effect of the amount of science affecting the world along with the action of all those that are associated with the world. It was also a study of records and facts collected from devils who had lived through the many lifetimes humans suffered; the topics ranged from the brilliance to the abominations humanity caused. There were also studies taken into the wide range of arts. From painting to music Issei studied it all. Every lesson was different, building on what was taught from before, jumping from subject to subject to build on what was most recently taught.

Days turn to weeks then to years changing Issei body and mind, from a young boy to a young teen. His lessons expanded his mind making it shift and changed, he slowly lost interest in the toys he had been gifted and began to feel a desire to move, the urge to get out of the room getting stronger as time passed. So one morning he followed Sirzechs request and asked for some physical training to see what it would involve which oddly made Yuno show Issei a small smile of excitement. Later that day after Nathius lessons Issei was led out of the room by Yuno during the time he was normally granted alone. She led him in the opposite direction she had towards Sirzechs' throne, instead leading him down a shorter trip down the labyrinthian hallways to another large set of doors that were smaller than the ones to Sirzechs' throne. Opening the door led into a large open empty space, standing beside Yuno Issei looked confused. Yuno for her part gave Issei a once over looking disappointment. Then she looked into eyes with a similar expectation Nathius gave him. "After today you will dress accordingly for our lessons or you will face the price."

Issei looked down at his own outfit of a black hoodie and jeans with a pair of trainers he had pulled off the wardrobe that morning with confusion. "I don't understand, what am I supposed to do, what price will I be paying?"

"Light, easy to move in clothes would be best. As for the price you will find out now. Run!" Yuno's voice seemed to carry a demand in it that made Issei act, moving into a slow uncomfortable run. It was horrible. Firstly Issei discovered that he had spent far too much time cooped up in the small room because his body just didn't want to move and Yuno wanted him to move at pace, running beside him in her maid outfit barking orders for him to speed up when he moved too slowly. That led to the second part of his new torturous exercise. He was sweating, A lot, as he was led by Yuno around the large empty room. His jeans seemed to stick to his legs and his jumper only made him sweat even more where his feet were the best off they still quickly grew sore at the mass of movement. That soreness spread over his whole body but oddly as horrible as it was, it also felt amazing, almost freeing to be able to move so much. That was until the heat became too much and Issei was forced to stop and void his stomach, he then collapsed onto his back incredibly short of breath.

Yuno looked him over and nodded once, handing Issei a bottle of water . "You survived forty-five minutes, that was very well done, rest for now and then we'll move on to something else."

Issei was granted what he figured was too short a time before Yuno had him stand, she then had him make a fist. She then corrected him on how to properly form his fist by taking his thumb out of his enclosed fingers. Then she had him get into a stance with his legs at shoulder widths apart and fist resting at his waist, she then got him to throw a fist forward to connect with her hand which she held out in front of him. "Hit my hand with your first one and after another until I say stop."

Doing as he was told, Issei hit her hand with his fist which seemed to do absolutely nothing to her until his arms were burning and his hands were sore. When Yuno saw and felt Issei fist hit her hand with minimal effort did she let him stop and rest once again. Once he was recover she led him out the hall back to his room where he was told to rest, a short while later Issei was brought food by Yuno in a normal fashion showing no sign that she had put him through a form of physical torture only a short while ago. The pair remain in their customary silence until Issei finished his meal and Yuno her tasks round his room. Then she looked at him with what seemed like uncertainty. "Shall I tell my lord you would like Physical training implemented into your daily schedule."

Issei looked at the chest and its boring contents. Then back to Yuno, his body was sore but he still remembered the freedom he had felt. So he gave a simple nod, "you can take those away too if you don't mind." Before moving to his bed and passing out, he never heard the door close.

The next day a new pattern emerged, starting off the same as the rest with Yuno serving Issei with breakfast and tending to his room before leaving him to get ready for this day. Then Nathius would arrive and go over the day's lesson with him. Yuno had stopped attending the lessons when issei had agreed to Physical training as she prepared her own lessons for him. It was once the lessons ended that Issei days changed the most, now shortly after Nathius left with his books Issei was collected by Yuno who took him to the large empty hall which she called her Gym. Yuno started her lessons off the same as before by having Issei run around the large room and joining him to encourage him to move faster, Yuno had Issei run until he physically couldn't anymore then she let him rest, then once Yuno thought enough time had pass she had Issei stand up and begin punches against her hand. They kept the same routine for several days before Yuno made a change, the first was to add obstacles to the path that Issei ran starting with what Nathius had described as tires for Issei to hop through. If he tripped Yuno would pester him until he rose to his feet and carried on, next she added a rope climb and a rope swing which Issei had to climb every so often. Finally Yuno added some pendulums that swung along Issei's course, he had to dodge them or risk getting hit by a firm sack of something that felt pretty solid. After Issei ran the obstacle course which had become pretty fun if he was being honest, Yuno had him add kicks to his punches. She held one hand at chest height well the other as held at her abdomen would bark an order like. 'Three punches followed by a right kick then two punches and a left kick!' and she expected Issei to perform exactly what she ordered. Failure responded in Yuno launching an attack of her own which she expected Issei to defend against, not that she had warned him about that ahead of time. It was at this time Yuno put Issei into a proper stance with his arms up to defend and legs apart that made it easier to move and had him do the punches and strikes as she moved and danced around the gym, expecting Issei to chase her and perform all the attacks. Again failure had Issei defending. It was during this when Issei noticed a personal change.

It started during one of the moments that he was defending from one of Yuno assaults that he heard a soft hum of something when Yuno suddenly seemed to slow down allowing him to just about block her. The hum happened again during one of his runs which allowed him to move slightly faster and last slightly longer before his body gave in. slowly the hum turned into a whisper and the flood of quick power grew as he heard the word 'Boost.' echo softly in his mind whenever his body reached breaking point. Yuno seemed to notice the change after sometime and when it happened as she started to push him harder but always seemed to be disappointed when nothing further happened.

The newest routine lasted longer than any other, the cycle of it blending together into one long blur, there times when the system broke and no one but Yuno came for Issei for breakfast and dinner but when he asked about it she said nothing just going about her tasks, although Issei did noticed it happened when he was at his most exhausted. Unable to think or focus on anything let alone move like Yuno expected him to, Issei had taken to calling those days his rest days. However like all the other cycles it came to a quick unexpected end. Only it was Nathius who ended it with a simple statement that sent a shock of fear through Issei that he had felt for a very long time. "Today is to be the last day of your lessons."

"What? Why?" Issei's words were full of shock and fear.

"Because Lord Sirzechs feels like it is time for your lessons to be taken in a different direction, so much so for the first time has told me what to teach you. So come sit Issei, it's time you learn one of the biggest parts of our culture." Nathius' words seemed to hold a hint of sadness as he gestured to Issei to the table which held a simple box.

Issei sat at the table silently waiting for Nathius' lesson. Nathius sat a moment after Issei opened the box to reveal chess pieces placed in an even row. They were the purest white Issei had ever seen, which wasn't a hard contest because the mass of hallways he found himself in were often made up of red, black and gold so it might have just been some time since he had seen the colour. Looking from the chess pieces back to Nathius, Issei waited for the lesson to begin. Nathius kept his gaze on the pieces as he spoke. "As you know there are three main Factions to life. Angels, Fallen Angels and of course Devils. Each Faction has suffered greatly over the years and numerous wars which has led to dwindling numbers on all sides. As such each has created other ways of reproductioning when our own traditional ways yield such low results. The Angels carefully select faithful humans of pure heart. The Fallen indulge their desire with humans spreading their seeds or collecting it from a large crop. Whereas the Devils of the high class choose to save and reincarnate those that have suffered greatly using what is known as our Evil Pieces, they then use those we reincarnate in something we like to call the Rating Game but that is a lesson for another time. Instead let me tell you how this reincarnation works. The Devil or in this case the King offers someone a contract to enter their house in most instances as a path to save the target's life, then they are given a piece that most suits them, the piece connected to their life force subjugating the reincarnated devil to the King's will. A Devil that rebels against their King most commonly dies but in some cases the devil is twisted into an abomination that will only seek to cause chaos and death."

"Do I have some of these pieces inside me?" Issei asked quietly.

"Yes," Was Nathius' simple reply.

"Is Sirzechs my King?" Issei's voice was hard, expecting betrayal.

"No, I have no idea who your King is."

Issei nodded his head looking at the pieces then he looked at Nathius. "Do you have a piece?"

Nathius softly shook his head as he closed the chess piece box. "No neither me nor Yuno, along with many members of the house that serve Lord Sirzechs don't have a Piece, our standing is simply too low for a high class devil to pay us that sort of attention."

"What do you mean?"

"As Reincarnated Devils have mixed into the Devil's blood lines the purity of our blood lessens makes our power weaker. Over time bloodlines weaken further as more devil's children interbreed until you get devils so weak they have no standing in our world and are treated like slaves. All the Devils serving Sirzechs are of the Mid Class hand picked for the areas that we work in." Nathius spoke and moved slowly, biding his time as he finished his intrusion. Then he surprised Issei by bowing to him. "It has been an honour and privilege to teach you young man. I suspect you will grow to do great things, if you ever require anything that will not affect the Lord or Devil kind in a negative way I will do all I can to assist you."

Nathius then rose and headed out the door just as Yuno entered. She gave Nathius a level look which told Both Issei and Nathius that she had heard him but made no comment as she levelled her gaze on Issei. "Lord Sirzechs requests your presence."

Yuno then spun on her heel and led the way out of the room, Issei moving after her, his gaze flicking to Nathius who departed in the opposite direction before he returned his focus to Yuno who moved at a fast march. The pair spent a long time walking the halls before Yuno spoke in a quiet whisper. "I echo Nathius' words, should you require assistance I will do what I can to assist."

Taken aback, Issei remained silent as he followed Yuno to Sirzechs' throne room.