Eating Your Weight: Feathered Omens

The day was mostly normal after the incident on the roof, barring the fact that I had to walk around with my dick covered in drying spit all day. I was looking forward to going home and taking a shower and telling Miyo about what happened, but that was still a ways away.

Right now, I was once again in the ORC room, lounging lazily on the couch across from Rias as the redhead worked on something across from me. Akeno was running late for our magic lessons. Apparently she had gotten caught up helping one of her teachers and would be a little bit, which was fine. I wasn't really in a hurry.

“Shouldn't you be working on your homework?” Rias broke through my lazy daze. I glanced at her, taking in her judgmental look, and shook my head.

“Homework is supposed to be done at home, Rias. That's why it has home in the name.” I said sagely, letting my eyes drift shut once again, “If you do it at school, it's just regular work. I’m following the rules.”

“That’s some sound logic you’ve got there.” By the sound of her voice, Rias clearly didn't subscribe to the same beliefs that I did. She turned back to her work, “By the way, I asked my brother about the cult we spoke about.”

My eyes popped open again as I gave the girl my rapt attention, “And? What did he say? Do you guys have any idea who they are?”

Putting down her pencil, Rias made a so-so gesture with one hand. “Somewhat. There have been several cults dedicated to Ragnarök as I'm sure you can imagine. Northern Europe especially has had at least three major ones in the past few centuries, but they were all wiped out when their zealotry began leaking into the human world. There was one, though, that seemed to fit the description you gave: The Cult of Midgard.”

I made a face and Rias grinned, “Original name, I know. Despite that, they were a serious threat. According to records, they were powerful enough that some of the big factions at the time were worried, including the greater Norse Faction. It probably didn't help that there were rumors that some major gods allied themselves with them instead of Odin. They were active around the same time as Nidhogg himself and when he disappeared, they did as well, just shortly after.”

“Disappeared, huh?”

Rias nodded, “Most people thought they self-destructed from infighting but from everything my brother was able to find, they just up and vanished one day. A key player taken off the board, just like that, never to be seen again.”

“Until I awakened Abyss Eater and Nidhogg's power seeped out into the world again.” I finished for her, “Their entire goal was to steal his power but when he died, the big G got to him first. Maybe they knew he'd show up eventually in a Sacred Gear and just went into hibernation until they caught a whiff of his power.”

“At which point they sought it out and found you.” Rias nodded.

That didn't tell much, if I was being honest. I already knew that the cult was powerful and had been around for a while considering how they dealt with Nidhogg. I needed something more concrete.

“Did anybody know who their leader was?” I asked, hoping for a little more info. To my dismay, Rias shook her head.

“Not as far as I'm aware. There were rumors that it was a god or at least the descendant of one but that could be literally hundreds of people. The Norse aren't quite as precocious as the Greeks, but they're still gods.”

“Which means I could have pretty much anyone after me.” I groaned “Agnir said he was a descendant of Modi, not even his son or grandson. I could be dealing with thousands of assholes who are tangentially related to some god or another.”

“That's unlikely, but certainly not impossible. You’ve managed to make quite the enemy, haven't you?”

“I didn't do anything. This was between them and Nidhogg before my great grandmother was even born. I just inherited it.” I groaned, leaning my head back on the arm of the couch.

Rias watched me, slowly twirling her pencil between her fingers, “Well… I know you said that you want to deal with the cult alone, but maybe you don't have to?"

“Hmm?” I glanced at her only to find her watching me intently, “What do you mean?”

Rias smiled, “I still have a few spots open on my peerage. If you're interested, I could reincarnate you as a part of my family and then you'd have us to help you against the cult.”

A recruitment pitch? She said it like she just thought of the idea, but I could tell by the eager look in her eyes that the prospect of reincarnating me was one that had been on her mind for a while now.

I raised an eyebrow, “We basically just met and you're asking to basically adopt me? Isn't there some kind of official process for things like this?”

“Not really.” Rias shrugged, “If you were a Devil from another noble house, I'd probably have to speak with the elders of said house and get their permission but apart from that, there isn't really a lot of ceremony when it comes to joining peerages. Pretty much everyone you've met joined by pure chance.”

Weird. And also not at all what I expected from the heiress to one of the most important clans in the Underworld. The sister of a Satan picking up strays… somehow I didn't think Sona was the same. I bet joining her peerage was more like a job interview. Including the suits and anxiety as you wondered whether or not you got the job, all the while she just stared at you from across the table, completely silent and definitely judging your nervousness.

“So? What do you say?” Rias was on the edge of her seat, watching me intently as I digested her offer. Unfortunately, she wasn't going to get the answer she wanted.

“Even if I was the type to give up psuedo-dragonhood to be a Devil full time,” I said slowly, causing her to instantly deflate at the implication, “do you really think you're strong enough to reincarnate me?”

“I have enough pawns that it would be worth the attempt at least.” Rias sighed, “But you're probably right. If it was just a few days ago, I probably would've been able to reincarnate you with a Rook or Knight piece but you've gotten stronger. At this point, I'm not sure anything short of a Queen would work, and even then…”

She sat back, studying me intently, "Honestly, your rate of growth is astounding. You might be stronger than me by now just based off of your raw magical power.”

I preened, “The benefits of a well-balanced diet.” Of Evil Pieces and Sacred Gears, of course. Who needed to eat their greens when they had demonic magic to fill their stomach?

“That might not be a good thing.” Rias warned "You're going to draw attention if you keep growing at this rate. You're already bordering on High-Class even though when we met you, you were only around as strong as Tsubaki or Akeno. People are going to notice, and not all of them are going to have your best interests at heart."

“Well Nidhogg said that a real dragon takes all comers so I guess I better get used to it.”

Besides, it wasn't really like I can afford to stop growing stronger if I have to literal gods after me. If my power was going to draw the attention of people who desired it for themselves or simply wanted me dead, then I was just gonna have to get so strong that anyone who tested me didn't live to regret it.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, my scaly friend grumbled in approval.

~~~

My magic thrummed powerfully through my body, bathing the world around me a deep violet as my flames crashed against the large stone in front of me, sending glowing embers and stray sparks flying in every direction. The flow was constant as I poured energy into the flames, focusing on the feeling in my chest, the burning heat that swirled through my lungs and throat as it traveled out of my mouth.

“That’s enough for now, Naomi.” Akeno spoke from behind just behind me, out of the line of fire, “If you keep it up, you might accidentally start a forest fire.”

Heeding her words, I cut off the flow of magic, clamping my jaws shut and snuffing the flames on my tongue. The world shifted from violet to something more natural as the light of the sun was finally able to peek through the trees once again. As exhaled the leftover embers in my throat, Akeno walked past me to admire the smoldering scorch mark that I left on the massive rock in front of us.

“Hmm…” She inspected it for a moment, before turning to me and poking me in the ribs. I burped, breathing out a small puff of smoke which made her giggle.

I cleared my throat, wetting my lips, “So what's the verdict?” I asked eagerly.

Akeno hummed, “Well, I have good news and bad news. Which one would you like to hear first.”

“Good news please.” I said immediately “I don't know why people always want to hear the bad news first.”

“Alright then. The good news is that you actually do have magic. A great deal of it in fact which, considering the Bishop piece that you said you absorbed, isn't all too surprising.”

I deflated almost instantly. That was it? “Well I knew that, but that doesn't really explain why I keep breathing fire every time I try to access it!”

“That leads me to the bad news.” Akeno seemed amused by my frustration, “Even though you have quite a large amount of demonic magic at your disposal, it's being suppressed by the even larger pool of draconic magic you possess. Since your body was changed to become part dragon your instincts lean more towards utilizing it in the way that comes most naturally to you, ie, breathing fire.”

I stared at her blankly, “So you're saying I'm being magic-cucked by my inner dragon or something?”

Akeno giggles, eyes dancing at my phrasing, “While that's an interesting way to phrase it, it's not inaccurate. The situation you're facing is somewhat akin to a newly reincarnated Devil attempting to learn to use their magic the way humans do. Since there's a much easier route available, your body is simply utilizing the shortcut instead of doing what you want.”

I digested what she said turning to eye the mark I made on the rock, “So if it's my subconscious that's handicapping me then I just have to learn how to suppress my instincts and make it do what I want instead, right?”

“That's exactly it.” Akeno smiled, “There's no other way past this other than simple self control.”

I grunted. That's what I was worried about. “Self control isn't really one of my best qualities, if I'm being honest.”

“Well that's not always a bad thing. In this case though, we're going to need to fix that.” Akeno glided past me, trailing a scent of vanilla tinted with sulfur as she moved to stand behind me.

She put one her hand on my shoulder while the other was gently placed on my cheek, making me pause. With a wink, she tilted my head forward, facing me towards the rock again, “Luckily for you, I have an idea how to get you started at least. Go ahead and breathe fire for me again, but this time I want you to focus inward and try to feel around for your magical well.”

Her fingers whispered along the side of my jaw as she backed away and I swallowed, before focusing on doing what she had asked. I reached inwards, digging into my magical reserves and bringing them to the surface. My flames poured out of my open maw and drove home against the rock again, dying the world and filling it with the sound of hissing steam and cracking fire.

I closed my eyes, following Akeno's directions and reaching inward with my mind. It took some effort. I wasn't used to concentrating on two things at once, but once I was in, it didn't take long to once again find the lake of magic that sat next to my Sacred Gear. It was bigger than I remembered and definitely much more active, writhing and boiling like a small star.

“Did you find it?” Akeno's voice broke through my concentration. I nodded, careful not to move my head too much so I didn't accidentally shoot fire everywhere, “Good. It's probably fluctuating right now because it's actively circulating through your body. I want you to try and control the flow without actually shutting it off. Remember, it's your magic. Mold it to your will but don't force it.”

I did as she asked, shutting the world away into the back of my mind as I imparted my very well on this intimate part of myself. My magic recoiled at my mental touch, rearing back and hissing as I tried to coax it into shape, but I didn't back down. I had a feeling that if I did, this problem would just get a million times worse.

Slowly, bit by bit, I managed to calm down the writhing star in my soul until it almost resembled what it looked like naturally. My flames slowly died off, going from a torrent to a river to a stream, until only the barest whisper of fire licked at the air in front of me. Magic still pulsed through my body and in my lungs, but it wasn't as rampant as before. It was calmer and carried a sense of… anticipation, almost as if it was waiting for me to tell me what to do

“Well done.” Akeno's voice dragged me out of my inner world. I blinked as I looked around, taking in the orange glow that had overtaken the world around me. The sun was setting even though it was above the treeline just a few seconds ago.

I rubbed my forehead, finding it and my neck slick with sweat, and blinked again. I turned to Akeno who had transitioned from standing behind me to sitting beneath a nearby tree, “How long did that take?”

Akeno hummed, “Around an hour I’d say. Maybe a little bit more.”

I gaped and she grinned, “Don't look so shocked. Your magic was quite wild so it's understandable that it took you so long to get it under control. I bet if feels better now though, doesn't it? Calmer?” I nodded, “Good. That will make it a lot easier to accomplish what you want in the future. It also has the added benefit of making you stand out a bit less. Before, your power was like an inferno, but now it's more like a bonfire. It's still easily detectable, but not quite as hostile, if that's the right word for it.”

I looked down at my hands, pondering them. I couldn't sense my own power, but I could somehow tell that she was right. The heat of my magic still blazed through me, but it didn't lash out at everything like before. Her comparison of an inferno to a bonfire was pretty accurate.

“Remember what you're feeling right now.” Akeno instructed, “The way your magic is circulating right now needs to become your natural state before you can manage to cast a spell. It'll have to be completely subconscious to you before we can continue.”

I nodded, memorizing the sensation of my magic moving through my body before slowly cutting the flow and letting it return back to where it belonged.

I glanced at Akeno, “You're a pretty good teacher, you know that?”

“Thank you. I've had some practice with Kiba and Konelo, but you aren't a bad student yourself, Naomi.” Akeno smiled graciously, before glancing up at the sky, “It's getting rather late though. We should probably call it a day here. We can continue tomorrow, if you're free.”

“Works for me. Calming down my magic took a lot out of me.” Almost immediately after I said that, my stomach rumbled loud enough that Akeno could hear it easily. She smiled and I blushed, feeling oddly embarrassed, “It probably doesn't help that I slipped lunch today.”

“Hmm… found something else to occupy your time, I assume?” Purple eyes twinkled knowingly, "I hear that Aika was rather satisfied with whatever you two got up to on the roof.”

I coughed, “Uh, please tell me nobody else knows about that.”

“Nobody who would care to do anything about it, I don't think. Though you may have started a few rumors that will definitely have people looking your way. I'm sure you'll find some way to enjoy it.”

She turned and waved a hand, creating a glowing crest on the ground that she stepped into. She glanced at me, “I assume your phobia of convenience remains the same?”

I waved her off, “Yeah, no teleporting for me, thanks. I'll see you at school, Akeno.”

“Have a nice night, Naomi.” She bid and I waved farewell as she disappeared in a flash of bright light that took her away, before turning to make my own way home. On foot.

The sun had well and truly set by the time I reached Kuoh proper and, considering how long training with Akeno lasted, I decided to stop into town to grab something to eat instead of making something at home or asking Miyo to. There were still a few places open and street food was ten times better on an empty stomach.

Sometime later, I strolled towards my home, much happier and more-importantly, fuller as I clutched my steaming skewer of yakitori, my fifth and last one. Kuoh didn't really have much of a night life so the town was mostly empty which suited me just fine. A little nighttime stroll with nothing but my thoughts was just the kind of thing I needed right about now.

My mind turned back to the conversation I had with Rias. Cult of Midgard… I had a name for my foes now. Something to call the people after my power and the soul that carried it.

I wondered how long it would take them to show their faces again. Who would they send next time? More importantly, would I even be able to beat them?

I frowned at the thought. As much as I hated to admit it, defeating Agnir was a fluke. The only reason I was able to send him packing was because he left himself open and let me absorb his sword. If he knew what I was able to do when we fought, I couldn't really see it going anywhere near as well for me. He would be stupid not to tell the next person they sent to keep any magical artifacts away from me, depriving me of my advantage in the next battle.

‘But if they think that's all I can do, they're in for a nasty surprise.’ I chomped off a chunk of my chicken skewer, thinking of all of my progress. I was stronger than when I fought Agnir, and definitely more skilled. Not to mention the newest and extremely fashionable addition to my arsenal.

It took a while and more than a few painful encounters with trees to get the hang of my new Sacred Gear, but I somehow managed to figure it out without breaking my nose or permanently disfiguring myself.

Basically, when activated the boots doubled my speed for exactly five minutes. It wasn't just my legs that were affected either. My entire body from my brain to the tips of my toes was affected; even my reflexes were enhanced.

When the timer was up, the Sacred Gear – which I still had to think of a name for – powered down for exactly two minutes on some sort of built in cooldown. I could deactivate them manually and that seemed to pause the timer, but I couldn't artificially induce the cooldown. It had to be started on its own.

It was pretty straightforward, but extremely effective. I had already seen how dangerous it could be when I fought that Devil, and in my hands, it would be even more deadly. Mostly because I wasn't insane.

I finished the last of my yakitori and tossed it into a trash can as I passed it by, when suddenly a strange scent wafted into my nostrils. It wasn't the delicious, saucy aroma of the food I had finished, but I couldn't quite place it either. It smelled almost like a Devil only less intense, lighter almost, carrying an aroma of dew and dust and… copper?

I looked around, trying to place the smell. My nose guided my head upwards and I squinted, struggling to see what it was pointing me at, until my eyes adjusted to the darkness up above.

Someone was flying above me, buxom form outlined by a curtain of black that rendered her and her dark, feathered wings almost completely invisible even to my incredible eyesight. Really the only reason I even knew where she was apart from my nose was because her pale skin was almost completely on display, covered only by skimpy bands of leather that barely preserved her modesty, complete with heeled boots and… were those shoulder pads?

‘Guess not everyone can have my incredible sense of fashion. Wonder where she's going. Actually, what's a Fallen Angel doing in Kuoh in the first place?’

The question burned my mind and, having nothing better to do, I decided to sate my curiosity. Unfurling my tattered wings, I spared into the sky and followed after her, making sure to keep a fair distance away from her. I flew above and beyond her, soaring just below a layer of thin clouds that I could dive into in case she turned around. It also gave me a pretty good view of her ass which absolutely did not weigh into my decision at all.

She somehow didn't sense me which was odd. Something was distracting her, or maybe she was just trash at detecting other supernatural creatures. Whatever the reason, I counted my blessings as I followed her all the way across town to the edge of Kuoh and the abandoned church that sat there.

That's where I stopped, floating high in the air as I watched her enter the church. It wasn't because she spotted me or anything, no. I stopped because even from up so high, I could tell that place absolutely reeked of Fallen Angel and holy magic. That chick wasn't the only one in there.

“Maybe they're having mass.” I said as I eyed the dark building, “Not sure the best place to find God is a church that hasn't seen a proper priest in nearly a decade, but he probably appreciates the attempt at least.”

Jokes aside, I should probably figure out what I was going to do about this discovery. There was no way these guys were here with Rias’s or Sona’s blessing, right? Who knew what they were doing holed up in an abandoned church just outside of town.

…Actually, did I really care?

A moment of introspection revealed that I really didn't. I didn't really know enough about the Fallen to assume their intentions were nefarious and even if they were, I doubt it was towards me or mine. They weren't really my problem.

I turned around and began to head home now that the mystery had been solved. I’d bring up the Fallen with Rias tomorrow but for now, I was just gonna leave it alone. No need to shove my hand in a wasp’s nest just because I jumped the gun.

Besides, even if they were up to no good, it wasn't like they'd try anything with the sisters of two Satans right next door