The late afternoon sun filtered through the trees as I made my way back from the training grounds, sweat still cooling on my skin from another brutal session with Chysis. My muscles ached, but it was the good kind of pain—the kind that meant progress.
"Akira."
I turned to find Chysis approaching, her usual composed expression tinged with something I didn't often see from her: worry.
"Do you know about Rias's rating game?"
I paused, noting the tension in her shoulders. "Sona mentioned it. Why?"
"Her chances..." Chysis shook her head, violet eyes distant. "They're not good. Riser Phoenix has years of experience, a coordinated peerage, and his regeneration makes him nearly impossible to defeat through conventional means."
The way she said it made my stomach tighten. This wasn't just academic concern—this was personal.
"There's more to this than just a rating game, isn't there?"
Chysis's jaw clenched almost imperceptibly. "Rias doesn't want to marry him. She never did. But the politics of devil society..." She trailed off, then met my eyes directly. "If she loses this game, she'll be forced into a marriage she despises. Her entire future will be decided by others."
The unfairness of it hit me like a physical weight. Here was someone with incredible power, from a prestigious family, and she still couldn't control her own fate.
"If you joined her peerage," Chysis continued quietly, "there would be a real chance she could win. Your power alone could shift the entire balance."
I'd been expecting this conversation eventually. The logical part of me understood her reasoning—with my abilities, Rias would have a genuine shot at victory. But the answer hadn't changed since the day I'd first refused Rias's offer.
"I appreciate why you'd suggest it. And you're not wrong about the tactical advantage. But I'm staying human."
Chysis sighed, though she didn't look surprised. "I knew you'd say that. Still had to ask."
"However," I said, watching her attention sharpen, "I'm not going to let her lose this game. I've already made sure she'll win."
She blinked. "What do you mean?"
"You'll see."
"Akira." Her tone carried that familiar note of exasperation I'd grown fond of. "You know how much I hate it when you're cryptic."
I couldn't help but smile. "Trust me. Rias will be fine."
For a moment, Chysis studied my face with those perceptive eyes of hers. Whatever she saw there seemed to satisfy her, because her shoulders finally relaxed.
"Thank you," she said simply. "Whatever you're planning... she'll need all the help she can get."
---
The evening air was thick with magical energy as I approached the Gremory estate. I could hear the sharp crack of spells being cast somewhere behind the main building, punctuated by the occasional shout of instruction.
Rounding the corner, I found Rias and Akeno in the middle of what looked like an intense training session. Rias was weaving between pillars of lightning while launching PoD energy blasts, her movements fluid but showing signs of fatigue.
"Akeno, try varying the timing more!" she called out between dodges. "If Riser can predict the pattern—"
She cut herself off as she noticed me approaching, immediately straightening and forcing a confident smile onto her face.
"Akira! Perfect timing. We were just working on some new strategies for next week."
The forced cheerfulness in her voice was painful to hear. Akeno descended gracefully, but I caught the brief look of concern she shot her king when she thought no one was watching.
"How's the preparation going?"
"Excellent," Rias replied, perhaps a bit too quickly. "We've been analyzing Riser's previous matches, studying his peerage's formations. I'm confident we can find the weaknesses in their strategy."
She was trying so hard to project strength that it made my chest tight. This was someone who'd been forced into an impossible situation, but she was still fighting—still refusing to give up even when the odds were stacked against her.
"Actually," I said, reaching into my jacket, "I have something that might help."
Both girls watched as I withdrew Incursio, the blade catching the last rays of sunlight. Their eyes widened slightly at the sight.
"Is that...?" Akeno began.
"My Sacred Gear. Finally manifested properly a few days ago." I held it out toward her. "I want you to use it in the rating game."
The silence that followed was complete. Rias stared at me like I'd just suggested she fly to the moon.
"Akira, I can't possibly—"
"Yes, you can." I kept my voice gentle but firm. "Akeno, take it."
She accepted the blade with obvious reluctance, her usual grace momentarily forgotten in her confusion. "I don't understand. This is your Sacred Gear. It's part of your soul."
"It's called Incursio. When you channel your power into it, it manifests as armor around your body. The armor provides enhanced physical capabilities and can turn you invisible at will."
Akeno's eyes were wide as she examined the weapon. "But why would you—"
"Because you need it more than I do right now. And because..." I paused, choosing my words carefully. "If it weren't for Rias introducing me to Chysis, I'd never have gotten strong enough to manifest this in the first place. Consider it returning a favor."
"This is more than a favor," Rias said quietly. "This is..."
"This is what friends do for each other." I met her eyes steadily. "You helped me when I needed it. Now I'm helping you."
Akeno was still staring at the blade in her hands. "I've never heard of a Sacred Gear that could be shared like this."
"Most can't be. But Incursio is... different. It's more like a living entity than a typical weapon. As long as the wielder has sufficient power and willpower, it will respond." I looked between both girls. "And Akeno has plenty of both."
"Try it," Rias urged softly.
Akeno closed her eyes, her demonic energy beginning to flow into the blade. The sword began to glow, and suddenly sleek armor materialized around her form. Not bulky or ostentatious—elegant, form-fitting, with subtle wings that seemed to be made of condensed lightning.
Both girls gasped.
"This power..." Akeno whispered, flexing her hands and watching electricity dance between her armored fingers. "It's incredible."
"You have a few days to get used to it," I told her. "Practice with the invisibility especially—in the right hands, that could end the fight before it really begins."
Rias was looking between Akeno and me with an expression I couldn't quite read. "Why are you doing this? Really?"
The honest answer was complicated. Because I liked them. Because the system they were trapped in was fundamentally unfair. Because sometimes the right thing to do was also the simple thing to do.
"Because no one should be forced to marry someone they don't love."
The armor faded as Akeno deactivated it, but both girls were standing straighter now, some of the weight lifted from their shoulders.
"We'll take good care of it," Akeno said solemnly.
"I know you will." I turned to go, then paused. "Oh, and Rias? Stop trying so hard to look confident. You're allowed to be worried—it just means you care about the outcome."
As I walked away, I heard Rias let out a shaky laugh behind me.
"He sees right through everyone, doesn't he?" she murmured to Akeno.
---
That night, I lay in bed staring at the ceiling. Tomorrow, Rias would begin her final preparations with Incursio. In a few days, she'd face Riser in a battle that would determine the rest of her life.
I'd done what I could. Now it was up to her.
. . .
Read upto 20 chapters at patreon.com/opeler