Chapter Three "Friendly, Old Faces"
I stood by the window, watching Issei as he gazed out at the night sky. The moonlight cast a soft glow on his face, highlighting the pensive expression that had settled there. A wave of guilt washed over me as Shirou's voice echoed in my mind.
You shouldn't have let Issei die, she whispered disapprovingly. You wouldn't have let such a thing happen if-
I am not you, Shirou, I interrupted firmly. You are you, and I am me. Don't confuse the two.
Her displeasure radiated through our shared consciousness, but I pushed it aside. Still, I couldn't ignore the fresh memories of that fateful night - the night of Issei's death as a human and rebirth as a devil.
You took advantage of Issei's... Shirou began.
Perverted nature? I finished with a wry chuckle, recalling Issei's reputation at school and the dossier I had read before recruiting him.
I was going to say 'undisciplined nature,' Shirou corrected. But that's beside the point. You knew his obsession with women and used the excuse of "healing him" after reincarnation to manipulate his emotions, ensuring his loyalty to you as his new master.
My cheeks burned as I remembered presenting myself naked to Issei, exploiting his well-known obsession with women - especially breasts - to cement his connection to me. Shirou's disapproval only intensified my growing guilt.
You should have paid more attention to Raynare, Shirou continued sternly. If you had, Issei wouldn't have died in the first place.
I sighed, acknowledging the truth in her words. "You're right," I murmured aloud. "My recruitment pitch was too effective. Issei seemed to accept his new life as a devil far too easily, probably because of my... charm offensive and his newfound goal of becoming a High-ranked Devil with his own harem."
My fingers curled into fists as I recalled seizing the opportunity presented by his death. In my desperation to escape my arranged marriage, I had reincarnated him into my peerage without a second thought, seeing him as a potential ace against Riser rather than a person whose life had been irrevocably changed.
The guilt gnawed at me relentlessly. I had taken advantage of his situation, his innocence, and his naivety. In my haste to solve my own problems, I had thrust him into a world he knew nothing about, burdening him with responsibilities he had never asked for.
As I watched Issei's silhouette outlined against the starry sky, I couldn't help but wonder how different things might have been if I had made other choices. If I had protected him from the fallen angel, or if I had allowed him to rest in peace instead of dragging him into the supernatural world.
"Issei," I called softly, breaking the silence that had settled between us.
He turned, his eyes meeting mine. "Yes, President?"
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the conversation ahead. "I owe you an apology," I began, my voice barely above a whisper. "I've been... less than honest with you about many things."
Issei's brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"
I moved closer, choosing my words carefully. "When I reincarnated you as a devil, I didn't give you all the information you deserved. I manipulated your feelings, took advantage of your... interests." I felt my cheeks flush again but pressed on. "I was so focused on my own problems that I didn't consider the full impact on your life."
Issei's eyes widened, a mix of emotions flashing across his face - surprise, hurt, and something else I couldn't quite identify. "President, I-"
I raised a hand to gently silence him. "Please, let me finish. You deserve to know the whole truth, Issei. About why I recruited you and what I felt that led me to make some questionable decisions in hindsight." I took a deep breath and begun. "Here is what I felt before and during my choice of selecting you as my Pawn..."
O O O
I had just finished explaining everything to Issei, my heart heavy with the weight of my confession, when a familiar magic circle appeared in the room. My body tensed, recognizing the teleportation spell that would whisk me back to the Underworld. No doubt my family was eager to discuss the unexpected outcome of the Rating Game.
But before the spell could take effect, the door burst open. Sona Sitri strode in, her violet eyes blazing with an intensity I had never seen before. Her usually composed demeanor was gone, replaced by an almost frantic energy.
"Rias!" she called out, her voice sharp and urgent. "Wait!"
I froze, caught off guard by her sudden appearance. "Sona? What are you-"
She cut me off, closing the distance between us in a few quick strides. "The power you used in the Rating Game," she said, her words tumbling out in a rush. "That wasn't Devil magic. What was it? And..." she hesitated for a moment, her eyes searching mine. "Do you have any connection to Shirou Emiya?"
The name hit me like a physical blow. I felt Shirou's presence stir within me, a mixture of surprise and curiosity radiating through our shared consciousness. How did Sona know that name?
"I... what?" I stammered, trying to process her questions. The teleportation circle beneath my feet began to glow brighter, signaling its imminent activation. "Sona, I don't understand. How do you know about-"
"There's no time!" Sona interrupted, reaching out to grab my arm. Her touch was electric, filled with a desperation I couldn't comprehend. "Rias, please. I need to know. Are you... are you her?"
The magic circle pulsed, and I felt the familiar pull of teleportation magic. Sona's grip on my arm tightened, her eyes pleading for answers.
"Sona," I said as magic circle started to glow brightly. "We will have to have this conversation later-"
The magic circle beneath my feet pulsed brightly, the pull of teleportation magic growing stronger with each passing second. Sona's grip on my arm tightened, her eyes still pleading for answers I didn't have time to give. Just as I felt the familiar sensation of being whisked away, a sound like shattering glass pierced the air.
The magic circle flickered and faded, its power dissipating into nothingness. I blinked in confusion, my mind reeling from the abrupt cancellation of the spell. What could have possibly interrupted a teleportation circle cast by my family?
I scanned the room, searching for the source of the interference. My eyes landed on a familiar figure, and I felt a surge of anger and frustration rise within me. There, standing nonchalantly in the corner of the room, was EMIYA.
His tall frame was relaxed, one hand casually holding the ornate dagger I recognized as Rule Breaker. The smirk on his face only fueled my growing rage.
"You," I hissed, my voice dripping with venom. "What are you doing here?"
EMIYA's smirk widened. "Now, now, Rias. Is that any way to greet an old friend?"
I could feel Shirou's presence stirring within me, a mix of exasperation and fondness that I found that was very bizarre. But my own emotions were far less complicated. All I felt was the overwhelming urge to wipe that smug look off his face.
"Friend?" I spat. "You're nothing but a nuisance. Do you have any idea what you've just done?"
He shrugged, twirling Rule Breaker between his fingers. "Prevented you from running away from an important conversation, I'd say."
I opened my mouth to retort, but Sona's voice cut through my anger.
"EMIYA," she said, her tone a mixture of relief and irritation. "I told you to wait."
I whirled to face her, my eyes wide with disbelief. "You know him? Sona, what's going on?"
Sona's expression softened as she met my gaze. "Rias, there's so much we need to talk about. But first, I need to know..." She hesitated, then pressed on. "Are you her? Are you Shirou?"
The room fell silent, the weight of her question hanging in the air. I could feel both EMIYA and Sona watching me intently, waiting for my response. And deep within me, I felt Shirou's presence grow stronger, pushing against the barriers of our shared consciousness.
I was about to respond when a thunderous crash shook the room. The wall to my left exploded inward, showering us with debris. Through the dust and chaos, a figure emerged, his golden hair gleaming in the moonlight that now streamed through the gaping hole.
"EMIYA!" Arthur Pendragon roared, his emerald eyes blazing with fury. "What do you think you're doing here?!"
Before I could even process what was happening, Arthur lunged at EMIYA with inhuman speed. His sword, Excalibur, materialized in his hand, its holy light illuminating the room with a golden glow.
EMIYA barely had time to react, quickly projecting Kanshou and Bakuya to block Arthur's strike. The clash of their weapons sent shockwaves through the air, rattling the windows and knocking over furniture.
"You bastard!" Arthur snarled, his face contorted with rage as he pressed his attack. "You tried to kill Shirou! I'll make you pay for that!"
EMIYA's eyes widened in surprise, but he didn't lose his focus. He parried Arthur's furious strikes, the twin blades in his hands moving in perfect synchronization. "What are you talking about?" he grunted, deflecting a particularly vicious slash aimed at his throat.
Arthur didn't respond with words. Instead, he unleashed a flurry of attacks, each strike more powerful than the last. Excalibur left trails of golden light in its wake, creating a dazzling display of swordsmanship that was both beautiful and terrifying.
EMIYA was on the defensive, his movements precise and calculated as he dodged and blocked. The room around us was being torn apart by their battle. Bookshelves splintered, desks were cleaved in two, and the floor cracked under the force of their clashing weapons.
"You don't deserve to be near her!" Arthur shouted, his voice dripping with venom. He feinted left, then spun around, bringing Excalibur down in a devastating overhead strike.
EMIYA crossed Kanshou and Bakuya above his head, catching Excalibur between them. The impact drove him to one knee, the floor beneath him cratering from the force. "You're mistaken!" EMIYA gritted out, his arms trembling under the strain of holding back Arthur's attack.
With a burst of strength, EMIYA pushed Arthur back, creating some distance between them. He took the opportunity to project a barrage of swords, sending them hurtling towards Arthur.
Arthur's eyes narrowed, his body moving with fluid grace as he deflected the incoming blades. Excalibur sang through the air, its holy light disintegrating the projected weapons on contact. "No more tricks, Archer!" he growled, charging forward once again.
The two warriors clashed in the center of the room, their weapons a blur of motion. Sparks flew with each impact, and the very air seemed to vibrate with the intensity of their battle. I watched in awe, unable to tear my eyes away from the display of skill and power before me.
EMIYA ducked under a horizontal slash, retaliating with a sweeping kick that Arthur nimbly avoided. "Listen to me!" EMIYA shouted, frustration evident in his voice. "I'm not your enemy!"
But Arthur was beyond reason. His eyes were filled with a mixture of rage and determination as he pressed his assault. "Liar!" he spat, unleashing a devastating combo that forced EMIYA back. "I won't let you hurt her again!"
Their battle raged on, neither warrior giving an inch. The room, once a place of study and peace, had been transformed into a war zone. Debris littered the floor, and the walls were scarred with deep gashes from their missed strikes.
As I watched them fight, I couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu. The way they moved, the intensity of their battle – it all felt strangely familiar. Shirou's presence within me stirred, memories of a similar confrontation flickering through our shared consciousness.
The fight showed no signs of slowing down. Arthur and EMIYA were evenly matched, their skills honed by countless battles. Every attack was met with a perfect defense, every feint countered flawlessly. It was a deadly dance, beautiful in its brutality.
"Why won't you just die?!" Arthur roared, his frustration mounting as EMIYA continued to match him blow for blow.
EMIYA's response was grim. "Been there, done that," he quipped, a humorless smile on his face as he parried another strike.
Their weapons clashed once more, the impact sending shockwaves through the room. As they stood there, locked in a contest of strength, I heard Sona finally react to the fight before us.
"Arthur, still cannot forgive EMIYA even when it has been decades... since he tried to kill you to erase his existence with a time paradox." Sona groaned while pinching her nose.
Rias, said Shirou in my mind. Can I take control?
I didn't know exactly what was going on because I hadn't assimilated the specific set of memories for me to understand why Arthur and EMIYA were fighting or what Sona was talking about, but I agreed to Shirou's request.
"This isn't just about EMIYA trying to kill me," my mouth said under Shirou's control. "Arthur," she shouted, "this is about how EMIYA, during our time at Chaldea, become lovers with your parallel world counterpart, Arturia Pendragon, isn't it?!"
Arthur's aggressive momentum faltered, his eyes widening in shock. He stumbled back a step, Excalibur lowering slightly as he processed Shirou's words.
"Wha—what are you talking about?!" Arthur choked out, his voice cracking in denial.
His grip on Excalibur wavered, the holy sword dipping as confusion clouded his features. The relentless fury that had driven him moments ago seemed to dissipate like mist under the sun.
EMIYA took advantage of Arthur's hesitation, stepping back to catch his breath, though he kept Kanshou and Bakuya at the ready.
I watched in amazement as the fight between Arthur and EMIYA shifted dramatically. Arthur's fierce determination crumbled, replaced by a mix of embarrassment and denial that colored his cheeks a deep red.
"That's... that's not true!" Arthur sputtered, his grip on Excalibur loosening further. "I'm angry because he tried to kill you, Shirou! That's all!"
But even as he said it, I could see the truth in his eyes. The way he avoided EMIYA's gaze, the slight tremor in his voice – it all betrayed his true feelings.
EMIYA, for his part, looked utterly flabbergasted. His usual smirk was gone, replaced by an expression of disbelief and growing anger.
"You've got to be kidding me," EMIYA growled, his grip tightening on Kanshou and Bakuya. "All this time, all these fights... because you're jealous of my relationship with Arturia?"
Arthur's face flushed an even deeper shade of red. "I'm not jealous!" he protested weakly, but his words lacked conviction.
EMIYA's disbelief quickly morphed into rage. "You mean to tell me," he said, his voice dangerously low, "that you've been trying to kill me every time we meet, not because I once attempted to kill Shirou, but because you're upset about my relationship with your parallel self?"
The tension in the room was palpable. I could feel Shirou's amusement bubbling up within me, but it was overshadowed by my own shock at the revelation.
"I... I..." Arthur stammered, clearly at a loss for words.
EMIYA's patience snapped. With a roar of frustration, he lunged at Arthur, his blades flashing in the dim light. "You self-righteous, jealous fool!" he shouted, unleashing a flurry of strikes that forced Arthur back.
Arthur, caught off guard by EMIYA's sudden assault and still reeling from the exposure of his true feelings, could only defend. Excalibur moved frantically, parrying EMIYA's relentless attacks.
"Do you have any idea," EMIYA grunted between strikes, "how guilty I've felt all this? Thinking you hated me for something else?"
Arthur stumbled back, his defenses faltering under EMIYA's onslaught. "I... I didn't mean..."
But EMIYA was beyond listening now. His attacks grew more ferocious, fueled by years of misplaced guilt and newfound anger. "And all this time," he snarled, "it was just because you couldn't handle the fact that in another world, another you found happiness with me?"
I watched in awe as EMIYA's fighting style shifted. No longer was he just defending or trying to subdue Arthur. Now, he was fighting with the intent to hurt, to punish. Each strike of Kanshou and Bakuya carried the weight of his anger and frustration.
Arthur, still off-balance from the revelation and EMIYA's sudden aggression, was being driven back. His movements were no longer the fluid, graceful attacks of before, but desperate, barely-in-time blocks and dodges.
"EMIYA, wait!" Arthur pleaded, narrowly avoiding a slash that would have opened his chest. "Let me explain!"
But EMIYA was beyond words now. His eyes blazed with a fury, his movements a blur as he pressed his advantage.
As I watched the battle unfold, I felt a strange sensation bubbling up within me. It took me a moment to realize it was Shirou, and she was... giggling?
Oh my, Shirou's voice echoed in my mind, tinged with amusement. To think, King Arthur, who believed that being a ruler meant forsaking all human emotion, is now throwing a tantrum over his parallel self's love life.
Suddenly, a new presence made itself known. A petite blonde figure appeared in a flash of light, her blue eyes twinkling with mischief. She surveyed the scene with an amused smirk. With a wave of her hand and a few muttered words, a shimmering barrier sprang up around Arthur and EMIYA. The sounds of their battle became muffled, as if coming from far away.
"There," she said, satisfaction clear in her voice. "Now they can't hear us. Let them work out their... issues." She turned to me, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Let's talk, Shirou."
I blinked, taken aback by her forwardness. "I... what?"
Her grin widened. "Oh, come now. Don't be shy. I'm dying to know all the juicy details. How much of your past life can you remember? What level of your past abilities do you currently have? Are you one person or do you have multiple personalities like I had possessed in my past life: Morgan the human, Morgan the witch and Vivan the Fairy?"
Rias, Shirou's voice whispered in my mind. Be careful of Morgan le Fay. She can be a very reliable ally, a dangerous enemy and anything in between depending on her mood.
"Oh, this is very interesting..." Morgan muttered as she seemed to peer into my soul. "So you are made up of two separate personalities..."
"Rias has two separate personalities?" Sona repeated incredulously, speaking up for the first time since Arthur had happened and started fighting EMIYA.
"Am I speaking to Ishtar? Ereshkigal?" Morgan asked as turned to Sona.
Shirou sighed and I started to feel a headache as I started to assimilate the memories for me to understand what Morgan was talking about, almost as if Shirou was feeding me the right information.
O O O
From a secluded vantage point, hidden from even the keenest supernatural senses, Sirzechs Lucifer watched the unfolding chaos with a mixture of relief and growing concern. His crimson hair, a trademark of the Gremory clan, rustled gently in the night breeze as he observed the scene below with sharp, calculating eyes.
Beside him, Grayfia stood silent and vigilant, her silver hair gleaming in the moonlight. Her expression remained impassive, but Sirzechs could sense the tension radiating from his wife and Queen.
"She's safe," Sirzechs murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. The knot of worry that had formed in his chest when Rias failed to teleport to the Gremory manor began to loosen. He had rushed to investigate, fearing the worst, only to find his little sister in the middle of a conversation with two other girls while watching two men fight each other.
Grayfia nodded slightly, her eyes narrowed as she stared at one man in particular. "What is a Counter Guardian doing here?"
Sirzechs carefully watched while keeping a close eye on his younger sister. His instincts told him that his sister was the reason for the Counter Guardian's presence, but he couldn't let his guard down. Counter Guardians were akin to the final solution, the nuke so to speak at Alaya's disposal, when the continued survival of humanity was at stake.
The Lucifer's brow furrowed as he stared at EMIYA. "Thankfully, the Counter Guardian isn't being empowered by Counter Force or Kuoh wouldn't be standing."
"Do you think it is time to let Rias know about Alaya and Counter Force?" Grayfia asked in a troubled tone.
Sirzechs let out a frustrated sigh. As one of the rulers of devilkind, he should have informed Rias about Alaya and Counter Force, but he had been pushing this matter to a later day so as to prolong Rias's childhood. The burden of knowing about one of the supernatural world's greatest secrets was not a small one. Many supernatural beings felt their entire world flipped upon its head when their belief that humanity was left alone to maintain their dominance of Earth wasn't out of supernatural races doting on humanity or seeing them as ants to be left alone.
The reason why humanity was allowed to spread itself across the Earth and not be conquered or driven extinct was because of Alaya and Counter Force. If forced upon, it was no joke to suggest that humanity likely would come out on top while most of the supernatural races were greatly weakened or driven to extinction thanks to Counter Guardians being deployed to ensure the continued survival of mankind.
If Sirzechs suddenly felt compelled to kill humanity in the millions, Counter Guardians that could contain him would appear, and that was no small task as he was one of the most powerful individuals currently alive.
"We can cross that bridge later as long as the Counter Guardian shows no hostile intent," said Sirzechs. His gaze shifted to where Morgan stood with Rias and Sona. "We should also consider the possibility of Gaia being involved given that a Great Mother class fairy has appeared."
His head throbbed thinking about Alaya and Gaia being involved at once. Gaia, the will of the planet itself, was an even more ancient and inscrutable force than Alaya. If both Alaya and Gaia had taken an interest in events surrounding his sister...
"Do you think a war surpassing the Biblical Great War is about to unfold? One between Gaia and Alaya?" Grayfia asked grimly.
"I hope not..." Sirzechs grumbled. "Let's observe a bit longer before approaching the Counter Guardian and Great Mother fairy..."
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