Don X Don (High School DxD Miracle Child SI Chapter 6)
Xenovia Quarta (13 Years Old)
It's been three years since the first time Lady Gabriel first visited Lady Rachelle.
In that time, Lady Rachelle grew a pair of wings once each year. She truly was the Miraculous Child of Lady Gabriel, to gain so much power in such a small amount of time, as if by destiny.
The now ten winged Lady Rachelle, would spend nearly all her time blessing each and every member of the church, every single day, even going as far as to take over all healing duties in the Bolsena Town. The piety of the faithful within the town they lived had never rose higher, and never seems to come down.
Truly Lady Rachelle was a blessing upon this world. She would even feel pain when she woke up from now using her powers for other, and only after the day is over, and she had finished her last blessing and healing, does she feel relieved.
Xenovia swore in her heart that she'll strive to hold that same amount of devotion.
As for Milo, ever since that first meeting with Lady Gabriel, he would join in on every meeting between the heavenly mother and daughter. Attitude toward the boy different from that first meeting. While a good chunk of those within the church seem glad, and even joyous to hear how diligent Milo was, even if his form of prayer was unorthodox, some like Xenovia, either felt ambivalent, or outright disliked his bastardized take on what faith was. If it wasn't because Lady Gabriel never objected, or admonished Milo for his belief, that those dissatisfied held their tongue, but their attitude toward the boy had changed since.
Either Milo was given more duties while supervised by a nun or priest that would try to preach for him that he was wrong, or read the Bible to him to do so. Milo just accepted it all with an amused uncaring smile, even at time just chatting said priest or sister, that made it difficult to dislike him, even if they scold him for his carefree attitude.
Xenovia wasn't fully sure how to interact with Milo.
She stared at the blue colored Holy Sword with a gold sharpened edge, that had been gifted to her. An reward for all her training and faith paying off. She was now the official wielder of the Sword of Roland, Durandal.
Yet even while she held the blade, she wasn't able to celebrate the moment. For one she can't fully control the blade's aura, requiring her to sealed it in a pocket dimension attached to her. For another she can't use it for long, as it requires immense stamina and focus to bring out its full power.
"Wow, it's looks so cool! Can I try giving it a swing?"
"Absolutely not! Only someone that can wield Holy Swords can even hold it. You'll just get hurt!
That had been her exchange with Milo, when she showed him the blade to brag to inspire him. Yet she hadn't let him so much as touch the sword. She wasn't sure if he would have succeeded or not, but she didn't want to take the risk, if it turns out that him not being qualified would have hurt him. Surely that was the only reason.
...She hadn't been able to replicate his stupid training method either.
She couldn't swing her Holy Swords five thousand times a day, with a prayer to God between however many strikes, like he did with his limbs. That is, if he was still at five thousand.
Dammit, why is Milo bothering me even in my thoughts this much? Maybe I should pray more to get rid of these thoughts. Xenovia sighed. Am I lacking in faith?
A knock came to her room's door.
"Sister Xenovia, Father Cornelius wants to speak to you." Said one of the sisters in the church.
"R-Right away." Xenovia stood up, and rushed out.
She wondered what could Father Cornelius want with her? She had finished her duties for the day, and there wasn't much else for her to day. Even Lady Rachelle turned in for the day, so she could rest.
"Milo is a Grigori spy!?" Xenovia shouted.
"No, no! Of course not. That's not what I'm saying Xenovia." Father Cornelius immediately said, placating her. It was a good thing that he made a barrier on the room, to make their conversation private beforehand. "It is merely a suspicion given how he came to our church. Didn't you say it was Sister Griselda that pick up Milo after he approached her?"
"Yes, he warned Sister Griselda of some Devils in the area, of the city we were in. Sister Griselda took care of them, and then said that she would take Milo with us to the church here." Xenovia recounted.
"Yes, well, that all seems fine. I trust in Griselda's judgement on what she did that day, yet the more Milo lived and interacted with the children, and the nuns and priests here, the more, well...nothing is overtly bad. Yet his attitude might be rubbing off on others here. Sloth is a sin for a reason, and it can open the gate to others. I don't think he's doing so intentionally, but his views on what constitutes as faith, is slightly problematic. I wouldn't dare to say Lady Gabriel is unwise as to allow him to speak and act so freely, if his actions were damaging to the faith of the believers, yet I'm only human, and can't help but be considered."
"All understandable, Father." Xenovia nodded. Father Cornelius' worries were ones that echoed in her mind before.
'Thus, I simply wish to give Milo a test that I want for you to assist in. What I'm about to ask of him and you as well, isn't a lie, but I'm speaking with you beforehand, so you can act as a watcher on his actions as well, as a precaution." Father Cornelius explained.
"Of course, Father. I will carry out this duty without faltering. You can count on me." Xenovia nodded with frim determination in her eyes.
"I know, Xenovia. I know. It's why I asked you in the first place. Your Sister Griselda's charge, and were trained by her. You even been granted the honor of wielding Durandal and succeeded in being acknowledged as it's wielder. There is no one more qualified for this mission. Of course, I ask for your discretion. Do not mention this request of mine to anyone, in order to not tip the child off, just in case. I'm sure my worries are for nothing, but...as I said, just in case."
"I understand." Xenovia nodded once more, feeling focused and set in her conviction now that she had a mission to go on. She smiled, as she felt all her previous worries wash away in the face of her task.
A knock came to the door, and after Father Cornelius spoke for the person to enter, the boy of the topic they spoke off, stepped in.
"Ah, Milo, please, please, come in my child." Father Cornelius smiled pleasantly. Pleasantries were exchanged as Milo sad down.
"Hey, Xenovia, still haven't gotten tired of playing with Durandal." He said jokingly.
"Hmm," Xenovia grunted, as she stayed focused on Milo, watching his every move.
Father Cornelius coughed, making Xenovia remember that her task is to be inconspicuous while carrying out her mission.
"Right, of course. I mean, of course, I'm not playing with the Holy Sword!" Xenovia protested firmly.
Milo blinked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Chill, it was just a joke." He laughed her off.
"Right, of course." Xenovia nodded.
Milo looked at her like she's weird.
"Right," Father Cornelius spoke up before awkwardness could start. "Milo, Xenovia, I called you both here because you're the closest to the Miracle Child, and thus those who would be most who would care about her, and defend her."
"Of course!" Xenovia stated, as if that was in question.
"Well, yeah obviously, she's my best friend." Milo said as if that doesn't need stating. "Sorry, Xenovia." He added on with a chuckle.
"There is no dishonor is losing to Lady Rachelle in that regard. Rather I would worry about your brain, if that wasn't the case." Xenovia said back, falling into her usual routine with Milo.
Milo snorted and chuckle.
"I'm afraid that our worries about Lady Rachelle's safety has finally been realized." Father Cornelius' words cut through the jovial mood. Xenovia looked at the priest in shock, while Milo's expression turned to one of deadly seriousness. "Thankfully the location of Lady Rachelle is still well hidden, but it's only natural with all the blessing and healing she's been doing in this town that word would start circulating around."
"Hadn't precautious been already taken about that, otherwise why allow her to be known by the town at all?" Milo immediately questioned.
Xenovia glared at Milo's presumption, and questioning of the church elder, yet Father Cornelius didn't seem bothered, and even expected the question.
"Only those within the church know she's the Miracle Child, as for the townsfolk, they are half-aware of the supernatural, thus Lady Rachelle's abilities aren't exceptional to them, since they don't know better. And it's not like there aren't other churches that also provide healing services with their prayers." He explained. "So father, the rumor is that there might be a Miracle Child in this region of Lazio.
"We don't know for how long that would stay as the case, thus Milo, I wanted to ask you to take on a most difficult task." To the shock of both children, Father Cornelius outright bowed his head in his plea. "Should the rumors grow, and the enemies of God circle in, till they find this church, please take up the duty of protecting Lady Rachelle, by pretending to be the Miracle Child." Xenovia's mouth dropped, while Milo sat back with an intrigued look. "It was good fortune that you took her ladyship's last name on a whim as a child. Maybe it was even a sign from God." Father Cornelius looked at Milo with calm pleading smile. "So I ask Milo, will you take on this holy mission in the name of God?"