I held Asia's lifeless body in my arms, her skin cold, her breath gone. Her once radiant light, now silent and still.
The others stood behind me. No one spoke. Not even Kiba. Not even Rias.
The wind moved gently through the shattered windowpanes above the altar. Light filtered through like the last fading rays of dusk, painting Asia's golden hair in soft hues.
Rias stepped forward quietly, her heels clicking softly on the broken stone floor. She knelt beside me and extended her hand.
In her palm was a crimson piece shaped like a pawn.
"This is an [Evil Piece]," she said, voice calm but heavy with power. "With this, I can bring her back. But she won't be human anymore."
I already knew that.
And now it was Asia's turn.
I didn't speak at first. My hand gripped her small frame, as if the act of holding her tighter would somehow keep the light from leaving altogether.
Part of me—the cold, calculating part—had already expected this. Had allowed this. This was the moment of divergence. Where the script of this world would bend to my will.
But the other part of me—the one that still remembered her smile, the way she laughed at my jokes, and how she tried to share her last sandwich with me on our 'date'—that part of me was relieved beyond words.
I looked up at Rias and nodded once. "Do it."
Rias placed the Evil Piece on Asia's chest. Her magic flared, the crimson glow engulfing Asia's still body in a swirling vortex of power.
The air thickened.
Magic surged, coalesced, and then shattered into a quiet hum. The light faded.
And Asia... breathed.
It was faint at first—a small inhale, as if she were waking from a long dream. Then another, deeper breath. Her fingers twitched. Her lips parted.
I stared, motionless, as her eyes fluttered open.
"...Issei-san...?"
Her voice was soft and confused. But alive.
My throat clenched. "Asia..."
Tears welled in her eyes as she reached up weakly, touching my cheek. "You're safe... I'm... alive?"
"You're back," I whispered, forcing a smile. "You're safe now."
She didn't understand it yet. She didn't know what had changed. That could wait.
Rias placed a gentle hand on Asia's shoulder. "Welcome back, Asia Argento. From this moment on, you are a devil. My servant. And a member of my peerage."
Asia looked at her, blinking slowly, still dazed. "A devil...?"
Rias smiled kindly. "You'll understand in time. Right now, just rest."
Rias stood up. I remained crouched beside Asia, still holding her hand.
She was warm now.
Alive.
I turned toward Rias. Everyone else looked relieved—Kiba, Koneko, even Akeno, who had returned from securing Raynare.
But Rias... her expression was composed, but I saw the subtle strain around her eyes.
She hadn't needed to do this. She could've let Asia die and spared herself the trouble of taking on another servant.
But she didn't.
I stood up slowly, stepping over to her.
"Rias," I said.
She turned to me, her tone neutral. "Yes?"
"Thank you," I said, bowing my head slightly.
She blinked. "You don't need to thank me. You would've done the same."
"No," I said. "I mean it."
She tilted her head.
There's a part of me that's colder than I'd like to admit. I was calm when she died. Too calm. I kept thinking about the plot, about diverging from the story. Like this was all just some... setup.
But then I saw her wake up, saw her breathe, speak. And that other part of me—the one that's still just a guy who cares about his friend—that part felt... relieved. Like I hadn't completely lost myself.
I looked Rias in the eye.
She didn't just save Asia. She reminded me I'm still human, somewhere deep in all this devil nonsense.
Rias smiled then, a gentle, understanding smile, as if she read my mind.
"You're not cold, Issei," she said. "You're carrying too much weight on shoulders that weren't built for it. But you're still warm where it matters."
"Sometimes I wonder," I muttered.
She stepped forward and touched my arm. "We all wear masks. But it's the actions behind them that count. You saved her. That's what matters." And she gives a beautiful smile.
Ah, she is sexy right now. She is not so bad after all. I thought to myself.
"Did you smell that?" Rias asked.
"What?" I asked.
"I just smell something sweet; it's my first time smelling this." Rias's nose twitched as she inhaled the smell greedily.
Is it a love pheromone? I thought.
Behind us, Asia was being helped to her feet by Akeno, who wrapped a coat around her. She smiled gently at Koneko and Kiba, bowing weakly in gratitude.
She was part of our world now.
And she was alive.
I let out a long breath and looked at my gauntlet. The Boosted Gear had gone silent again, but I could still feel Ddraig's presence within.
[A storm brews inside you, partner.] Ddraig's voice rumbled quietly. [You must resolve it soon. Power without clarity leads only to destruction."]
I didn't even know what he meant.
But for now... Asia was alive.
That was enough.
Rias gestured for us all to leave. "We've done what we came to do. Let's go home."
~~~
I have posted 30+ advance chapter on my Patreon. If you are interested, join my Patreon.
Support me:
patreon.com/BlackBolt517