A New Motivation: Chapter 19
Given that Grayfia was Siezechs’s queen as well as his wife, it went without saying that she couldn't train with us forever. So when the peerage awoke one morning near the end of our trip to find that she had completely disappeared, it didn't come as much of a surprise.
What was surprising was the fact that we would be getting a replacement for her. The break was almost over and Souji was still here; I thought we'd just be left to our own devices until it was time to go back to school but apparently not.
Early the next morning, we all gathered at the front of the house to await the arrival of our new instructor. I turned to Rias, “So what do you think? Is it someone else from your brother's peerage?”
Rias seemed unsure, “Oddly enough, he didn't say who he was sending. Only that they'd be a good stand-in for Grayfia when it came to our magic training.”
So possibly one of his Bishops? Or maybe he'd found a third party that was interested in helping, like Tannin in the anime, though I doubted it was actually him.
“Well whoever they are, I hope they get here soon.” commented Kiba as he scanned the horizon, “We still have training to do and I'd rather not waste too much time just standing around.”
“Well, aren't you a dutiful student? What I wouldn't give for a couple people with that kind of attitude in my organization.”
The voice came from behind us and the entire peerage jumped in unison, backing away from the tall, lithe figure that had appeared within our midst. Dressed in a sharp, charcoal colored suit, the man’s amused eyes were framed by dark brows and fringe of golden hair that swept into black on the top of his head. His lips were tilted into a smirk at our reactions, shifting his goatee, and my jaw dropped as I recognized him.
“Azazel.” Rias spoke my thoughts, eying the man warily, “You’re our new instructor?”
“Brains and beauty, a deadly combination.” Azazel smirked as Rias’s eyes narrowed. His eyes roved over our peerage before stopping on me, making me straighten as I was brought under his intense scrutiny, “Ah, there she is. You must be Nero. The girl from beyond the void with interesting knowledge and even more interesting powers.”
Being singled out among the crowd made me nervous, especially so given who the person before us was. Azazel was an ally but he was still the leader of the Grigori, a powerful faction that rivaled the Devils. He was powerful, even if his appearance and laid-back demeanor may lead most people to take him lightly.
Rias spoke up, thankfully pulling his attention away from me, “My brother got you to agree to train us?”
“I volunteered, actually.” Azazel grinned, “Thanks to your friend and the knowledge she’s been feeding us, your peerage has become a lot more important in the grand scheme of things. Important enough that I’ve taken a keen interest in making sure you all survive for at least the next few years. What better way to do that than to get you up to speed myself?"
He clearly wasn’t telling us everything but I had a feeling that even if we asked, he wasn’t going to reveal his true intentions. Rias stepped forward, crossing her arms underneath her bust as she gave him a suspicious look, “How did you get Onii-sama to agree to this? Letting the leader of the Grigori into our family home doesn’t sound like something he’d do.”
“Worried I have ill intentions?” Azazel placed his hands in his pockets, giving the redhead an amused look, “You shouldn’t worry. Sirzechs’s Knight is a scary enough opponent to keep me from trying anything. That man’s swordsmanship surpasses even mine and I’m not looking to cross blades with him if I overstep my bounds.”
Which was to say that even though he could probably beat Souji, the fight would take far too long and draw far too much attention. Not that I didn’t trust Azazel, or at the very least the purity of his intentions. The man truly wanted peace between the Factions, mostly so he could pursue his hobby in peace. He wouldn’t hurt us. At least not more than Grayfia already had.
Not everyone was as trusting of the Fallen leader however, and as I glanced to the side, I swallowed at the look of sheer hatred that flashed across Akeno’s face for a single moment as her emotions escaped her tight-knit control. The Queen clearly wasn’t happy about his presence, not in the slightest. Which was made especially unfortunate given his next words.
“I heard that Grayfia has been dealing with you all two at a time, which seems reasonable so I’ll follow her lead. I need to get a feel for your strength so we’ll be holding little spars so you can show me what you’re capable of. Starting with…” He glanced around the group for a moment before pointing, “You two.”
I swallowed as the digit was pointed in my direction, but my anxiety wasn’t due to the admittedly intimidating prospect of fighting someone of Azazel’s caliber. No, it was because the other opponent he had chosen was Akeno.
It was clearly a calculated decision. He had already professed his interest in me and there was no chance in hell that he didn’t know who Baraqiel's daughter was. I glanced at Akeno and swallowed again at the cold look in her eye.
There was no way this was going to end well.
~~~
While the rest of the peerage went on their ways to continue their respective training, Azazel had Akeno and I gather in the field behind the house. He stood with his hands in his pockets, a relaxed air about him and a smirk on his face as we stood on either side of him, only a few yards apart. I glanced at Akeno, swallowing at the blank expression on her face, before he spoke.
“Now, I know your little peerage has gotten stronger from training with Sirzechs’ Strongest Queen, but don’t forget, I’m not a pushover.” He glanced between them, eyes dancing with amusement and anticipation, “You two better not hold anything back or you’re not going to get anywhere.”
While I nodded, Akeno chuckled darkly, “I don’t think we’ll have any issue with that.”
One dark brow rose in amusement, “Oh?” He said, watching as Akeno rose into the air, glowing like a star as her clothing shifted into her usual battle attire. Azazel whistled appreciatively, “A shrine maiden? A little plain but one needs to learn how to appreciate the classics. I didn’t realize Baraquiel's daughter had such refined tastes.”
I winced as Akeno’s magic spiked. The Queen was surrounded in a corona of lightning, sparking and lashing out at the air around it as she gestured towards the Fallen leader with an icy expression, “Allow me to show you just how much taste I have!”
Light flashed and Azazel disappeared under a pillar of demonic lightning. I reeled back as thunder crashed in my ear, ozone brushing over my skin in thick sheets and leaving my hair standing on end. There was an incredible amount of magic packed into that spell, much more than anything Akeno had thrown at Grayfia. Just as I thought, Akeno wasn’t holding anything back. If she used that on anyone from the peerage apart from maybe Koneko, they’d be really hurt.
Unfortunately, Azazel was in a league of his own compared to us.
“Wow, that was a shock. You packed a lot of power into that attack, didn’t you?” Akeno’s eyes widened as the Fallen appeared behind her, gently pressing one hand into her back, “Unfortunately it’s nothing too impressive. I thought I told you not to hold back.”
Magic pulsed and Akeno rocketed away from Azazel, slamming into the ground hard enough to cause tremors where I was standing, “Akeno!” I shouted as the Queen disappeared in a plume of dust and debris.
Azazel turned to me, suspended in the air by six pitch black wings. He crossed one arm over the other, gesturing to me lazily, “Come on, Nero, it’s your turn now. Come and show me what makes you so special.”
Swallowing, I glanced back at Akeno, finding the girl slowly struggling to her feet on shaking arms, when my view was suddenly obscured by a sharp suit and a sword made of light swinging towards my head. I reacted with my Devil Bringer, the instincts that I had honed these past weeks serving me well as spectral claws clashed with a blade made of holy energy. Azazel wasn’t prepared for the amount of power packed into the ghostly limb and was pushed away, floating backwards a small distance where he landed on the ground, grinning lazily.
“Do you really think you can afford to get distracted right now, kid?” He asked, watching as my Devil Bringer floated back towards me, “Keep your eyes on me. I’m your opponent.”
Deciding that he was right, and that Akeno would probably be fine anyway, I gave the man my full attention. Breathing deeply, I held out a hand and summoned Yamato, holding the blade in a firm but flexible grip. Azazel eyed the distinct blade, drinking in the power it offered to the world around it, and his grin widened.
“So it’s true.” He said, seeming a bit excited, “When Sirzechs told me that his dear little sister had a new piece with weapons straight out of a video game, I wasn’t sure I believed him. But there’s no mistaking that sword in your hands, or that ghostly arm floating over your shoulder.”
“You recognize them? I didn’t think the Governor General of the Fallen would be one to take time out of his busy schedule to play video games.”
Azazel twirled his sword, “When you’re put in a position like mine, you’ll learn that everyone needs a break. We live for thousands of years; there’s no need for all of it to be work.”
I tilted my head as we circled each other, “Is that what this is to you? A break?”
“Sure is, but it’s also a good way of satisfying a certain scientific curiosity I have.” He smirked, “I’d like to see just how far those powers of yours can take you against someone like me. So please don’t hold back; it’d ruin my research.”
Well since he asked…
Gathering my magic, I held up a hand and summoned a blazing fireball between my fingertips. It flickered merrily, casting shadows on my face as my Devil Bringer drew closer, “As if that was ever an option.”
The spell flashed as Synthesis did its work, combining it with the spectral arm and intrinsically fusing them together. My Devil Bringer grew even more monstrous as it was infused with the flames, gaining claws made of white-hot fire as tongues of heat licked over its surface. It blazed brightly and so intensely that it singed the grass several feet below it. I broke out in a sweat near instantly and the air around me wavered as if I was standing in an oven.
Azazel stared at my new weapon, eyes flickering with a curiosity born of decades of scientific research, “Interesting. Well let’s see what you can do, kid.”
I was the first to make a move. Training with Souji and Grayfia had long since taught me that the worst thing you could do against a stronger opponent is let them dictate the flow of the battle. I burst forward, closing the distance between us in an instant and aiming a swing towards his middle. As predicted, Azazel blocked with his sword, but I smirked as Yamato bit into the blade of hardened light… and then sliced straight through it.
Azazel’s eyes widened as his weapon shattered and I swung my sword again, aiming for his left shoulder. He ducked and danced backwards just out of reach, but I sent my Devil Bringer after him, flanking to the side as he was forced to deal with the intense heat.
Azazel formed a light spear and blocked the molten claws, holding them back with one arm while I came up on his other side, swinging at him again. Another spear met my change and this time,Yamato only managed to cut a little over halfway through it before stopping. He must have packed a lot more energy into this one.
“You're really taking this seriously, aren't you?” Azazel laughed. He wasn't struggling at all to hold me back, even with my Devil Bringer burning so brightly beside him. But then again, I wasn't sure what else I expected from someone like him.
“You said you wanted to see what we were capable of. I'm just showing off a bit.”
Azazel laughed, “Well if that's the case, then I hope you've got more in the tank because I'm afraid this isn't gonna cut it.”
I grinned, “Let me show you.”
I pressed harder against the light spear, and Yamato immediately sliced through the rest of it, careening towards the man's side. Smirking, Azazel stepped to the side as my sword sliced through the air beside him and somehow grabbed onto my burning Devil Bringer without burning himself.
He brought it around, trying to hit me with it, but I simply dismissed it before it got anywhere near me, reforming it over my shoulder as I went in for another attack.
A bolt of lightning suddenly ripped through the space between Azazel and I, stopping me in my tracks. We glanced over to find Akeno had risen to her feet, a livid expression on her face as sparks crackled across her body.
“You didn't think I was out of this fight just yet, did you?” She slung her hand forwards and lightning arced from her fingertips, racing towards Azazel as I jumped backwards. The Fallen’s face twisted in annoyance as the attack grew closer and he raised one hand flippantly, creating a spinning sigil in the air that sent the lightning scattering in every direction.
“That attack packed less of a punch than your last one. Don’t tell me this is all you’re capable of.” He gestured again and a stream of lightning even larger than Akeno’s screamed across the field. Akeno blanched, jumping up into the air and unfurling her wings to float higher as the ground below her was consumed by the magical storm.
Azazel disappeared from in front of me, causing me to stumble as I tried and failed to take advantage of his distraction. He reappeared above Akeno again, looking disappointed, but his expression shifted in surprise as she turned around to meet him, sending a crackling fireball careening at his face from far too close for him to dodge.
It exploded in a plume of smoke and hot ash and Akeno floated backwards, gathering her magic again as she eyed the growing cloud, waiting for the man to make his appearance again.
“That’s more like it. I thought you were just going to sling spells at me like some breathing artillery piece, but that was a nice little trap you forced me into just there.” Akeno’s jaw clenched as Azazel’s smooth voice came out of the smoke, followed by the Fallen himself. He was covered in a thin layer of soot but other than that, he seemed completely unharmed. His hair wasn’t even singed, “Still, a spell of that caliber is far too weak to do any real damage. I expect more from Baraquiel's daughter of all people."
“Stop saying his name!” Akeno waved a hand and six spinning magic sigils blazed to life in front of her. A torrent of magical energies burst from them, sending a barrage of fireballs careening towards Azazel as he floated there with his arms crossed.
Not a single one of them managed to hit them. Azazel danced through the barrage without a care in the world, looking almost bored with her attempts, “Why would I stop talking about my good friend? He was originally the one who asked to be here, you know? Maybe I should have let him come instead of me if all you’re going to do is waste my time.”
“I would rather die than see him again!” More magical sigils appeared in front of her, adding to the barrage. I bit my lip with worry, knowing that while impressive, keeping up a barrage like this was extremely draining, even to someone with her magical reserves. Akeno didn’t seem to realize or care, gritting her teeth in anger as she watched Azazel effortlessly weather her storm, “Stop dodging and fight me! You’re here to take our measure, right? Then take it!”
Akeno’s words cut off with a gasp as Azazel suddenly appeared in front of her, eyes narrowed as he slammed a fist into her stomach. She lurched, her magic sigils shattering as she clutched her stomach with wide eyes, struggling to even keep herself in the air after the incredibly powerful attack.
Azazel watched her waver with a disappointed expression, “I’ve taken in all I need to, I think. You’ll never make anything of yourself if this is how you chose to fight.”
Akeno glared at him murderously but the expression lasted only a moment as her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she passed out, falling back down towards the earth as she lost consciousness. Azazel moved to catch her but my Devil Bringer was already there, grabbing her gently out of the air and bringing her safely to the ground.
Azazel glanced upwards, forming a light spear in his grip and raising it above his head as I came careening down from above like a blazing meteor. Red Queen’s burning blade crashed into his weapon and pushed him back, sending him shooting towards the ground where he landed with a crash. Scowling, I followed after him, revving the weapon behind my back as I brandished Blue Rose and pulled the trigger, forcing him to create a barrier to block and keeping him pinned in place as I approached.
The revolver disappeared in a flash as I flipped, bringing my massive sword over my head and slamming it into the barrier with every ounce of strength in my body. The ground cratered and the plane of solid light cracked but didn’t break, standing up to my strike without failing.
Azazel was grinning from ear to ear as he held back my strike, “You however, continue to impress! Maybe you should be Rias’s Queen instead of her. At least then you’ll probably be able to keep her from dying one day because that one over there couldn't measure up.”
My scowl deepened at his words. I knew what he was doing, spouting all these taunting comments and hoping to get Akeno’s blood hot, but I didn’t like it at all. I opened my mouth to tell him to knock it off, but a surge of magic, more powerful than anything I had felt before, suddenly wafted through the area, making me freeze.
Akeno had gotten to her feet, staring at the ground with clenched fists as lightning flickered over her skin, crackling like her namesake. She raised her head and I nearly flinched at the anger in her gaze, blazing furiously behind teary purple eyes. She lifted her hands above her head and her magic burst outwards, sending lighting in every direction as she charged her most powerful, and likely final attack.
With this much magic… I swallowed as I realized what she was doing. She was putting literally every drop of magic she had into her spell. If she actually launched it, the effects would be devastating, and not only on whoever she hit.
I opened my mouth to stop her but Azazel beat me to the punch. The leader of the Fallen dismissed his barrier and appeared behind her again, seemingly unbothered by the storm around her. He placed one hand down on her shoulder and as she turned to glare at him, unleashed a small sliver of the immense power lurking just beneath his skin.
Akeno’s magic sputtered and died as the girl was forced to her knees by Azazel’s power. I wasn’t far behind her, able to say standing only thanks to Red Queen as I stabbed the blade into the ground and used it like a crutch. It was like an invisible elephant was standing on my back, and my skin prickled as a terrifying sense of cold danger pressed into me from all sides, threatening to drive me mad.
This was what the strongest Fallen Angel was capable of? It was horrifying, made even moreso by the terrible realization that Azazel wasn’t even in the top ten most powerful beings in this world.
Just as suddenly as it had shown up, the pressure suddenly disappeared. I exhaled, only just realizing that I had been holding my breath this entire time.
“That was an impressive amount of magic you were releasing there.” I raised my head, watching as Azazel took his hand off of Akeno’s shoulder, “But next time, maybe think about who else is standing inside of the blast radius before unleashing something like that. You could have seriously hurt your friend, you know?”
Akeno took a little longer to get a hold of herself than I had. She was breathing heavily and her face was soaked with sweat, either from the magic she was just channeling or the fear of Azazel unleashing his power, I wasn’t sure. She glanced at me, her face unreadable but holding a small semblance of regret, and I mustered a smile, showing her that no harm had been done.
That only seemed to make her feel worse. She looked away, turning her head down so I couldn’t see her expression. She stood up, hair shadowing her eyes, before walking away, leaving us behind as she headed back in the direction of the house without another word.
I wanted to call out to her, to tell her that it was fine, but my words died in my throat and all I could do was watch her grow further and further away, disappearing from sight. Azazel walked up next to me, shaking his head, “I knew she needed some work but I wasn’t expecting something like that. If she let that attach loose, you would’ve been in for more than a couple sick days.”
He patted me on the shoulder, “Anyway, good job, kid. You showed some real potential back there. Go wash up. I’m going to grab my next set of test subjects.”
I glanced at him, “You mean trainees?”
“Sure, if that's what you want to call them.”
I smirked slightly but my mirth died almost immediately, replaced with worry as Azazel and I parted ways and I followed Akeno's trail back to the house. She was nowhere to be found by the time I got there and I decided not to look for her, knowing that talking was probably the last thing on her mind at the moment.
In my bathroom, I languished under the spray of the shower, scrubbing dirt and sweat from my skin as I stared at the porcelain wall, lost in thought.
I knew exactly how things would play out the moment Azazel showed his face, but my imagination didn't live up to reality in the slightest. I’ve never seen Akeno lose her cool like that before. The girl I had come to know had completely disappeared, revealing years of anger and rage that she had been hiding under the surface.
It was more harrowing than I had ever imagined, and I had a sinking feeling that it was only going to get worse. I needed to talk to her. And soon.