Knock. Knock.
"Come in," a soft but composed voice answered from inside.
Eishi pushed open the door and stepped into the Student Council room. The familiar, orderly atmosphere greeted him, and at the desk sat Sona Sitri, glasses catching the faint light. Tsubaki stood silently nearby, as always.
"It's been a month, Lucivar," Sona said evenly, setting her pen down. "What brings you here today?"
Eishi opened his mouth to reply, but then her gaze sharpened. Her eyes lingered on him longer than usual—searching, calculating.
Her pen rolled off her fingers and dropped softly onto the desk.
"You want to talk about this?" she asked, gesturing subtly toward him.
Eishi blinked, startled. "...What do you mean?"
"Your magical power has increased significantly," Sona said plainly, her tone calm but heavy. "Last time, it was faint—barely detectable. Now, it's comparable to a low-class devil. A full-fledged aura, no longer something you can dismiss." Her glasses caught the light as her eyes narrowed slightly. "So… anything you'd like to say?"
Eishi's chest tightened. He had mulled over this countless times during the past month. Should he hide it? Should he lie?
But in the end… he had made his choice.
He sighed softly, his shoulders relaxing just enough to show surrender. If there's anyone I can put my trust with, it's her. Better her than priests or angels who might see me as an enemy.
"Yes," he said at last. His voice was steady, though his heart wasn't. "I have something to show you."
He spread his arms slightly.
Fwoop!
A pair of dark, bat-like wings unfurled behind him, stretching into the air.
The room fell silent.
"I'm a Devil"
Tsubaki's eyes widened for a fraction of a second before her composure returned.
Sona, however, didn't move—her expression unreadable, her gaze fixed on him like a chess master studying the next move.
Sona finally broke the silence with a quiet, measured hum."...Hooo. So our hypothesis was correct." Her gaze sharpened, as though pieces on her mental board were slotting into place.
"A half-devil. Likely from your father's side, since we've found no evidence of supernatural lineage on your mother's."
Eishi lowered his wings, but did not dismiss them. He could feel the way the air shifted, the unspoken implications circling the room like unseen predators.
His throat was dry, but he pressed on. "There's… one more thing."
Sona raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. Her silence gave him permission.
Eishi drew in a breath. "I believe I have another ability. It's… hard to explain. This power lets me obtain experiences—not from people directly, but from… so called 'classes,' you could say. Pianist, violinist, singer, martial artist…" He gestured faintly, searching for the words.
"Each path carries memories, instincts, techniques. I can draw from them, learn as though I'd lived them."
For the first time, Sona's eyes widened, the calm precision cracking with genuine surprise. "A half devil," she murmured, almost to herself. "And also a Sacred Gear wielder…"
Her head turned slightly toward her vice president.
"Tsubaki."
Without a word, Tsubaki moved to a nearby bookshelf, fingers brushing over spines until she selected a worn tome and set it gently upon the table.
Sona's attention returned to Eishi, her gaze heavy but not hostile. "That explains quite a lot of things, Lucivar."
"Is it even possible?" Eishi asked at last, voice low but firm. "Didn't you say Sacred Gears only manifest in humans?"
Sona adjusted her glasses, her gaze unwavering. "Yes. Sacred Gears are God's blessing to humanity. But that extends to half-humans as well. Hybrids. Still…" Her eyes lingered on him a moment longer, her tone sharpening.
"For one such as you to bear it—it is exceedingly rare. You could even call it a blessing among blessings."
She folded her hands, her voice cooling into calculation once more. "Tell me, Eishi. Do you know anything about your father? Anything that might tie him to the supernatural world?"
Eishi's mind turned inward. His memories flickered—his father hunched over a laptop, lines of code scrolling across the screen, then his health collapsing seemingly overnight.
"Nothing I can think of," he said slowly. "In my early childhood, he worked as a programmer. Then… suddenly, his health began to deteriorate and he spend most of his remaining years in hospital. That's all I really know."
His lips tightened. The dream lingered in the corner of his thoughts, heavy and unspoken. But he swallowed it back. Not yet.
"I see," Sona murmured, studying him as though weighing truths against omissions.
At that moment, Tsubaki returned, carrying a heavy tome bound in dark leather. Sona's eyes flicked toward her.
"Have you found anything?"
"Yes," Tsubaki said softly, laying the book on the table and opening it to a marked page. Her finger rested on the text. "There is one Sacred Gear that matches the description."
Her voice was calm, but the words carried weight.
"Mirror of Samsara."
The name seemed to reverberate in the stillness of the room.
Tsubaki read aloud.
"Known trait: when activated, the user's eyes glow.
Ability: it allows the wielder to obtain the memories and experiences of those who came before, but only from individuals with weaker magical power than their own."
The room grew colder.
Sona's eyes narrowed faintly, a gleam flashing behind her glasses. "...So that explains it."
"Mirror of Samsara…" Eishi mulled the name over in his mind. The system called it Samsara Finis. Is it related? But the ability written here feels… diminished compared to mine.
He fell into silence, his thoughts circling endlessly.
Sona noticed. Her voice, calm yet firm, cut through the quiet. "Don't worry, Eishi. There must have been many wielders before you—some strong, some weak. What you see recorded here may only reflect fragments of what your Sacred Gear has shown in the past. With time, and as your magical power grows, its true nature will surely reveal itself."
Her tone softened, but her words carried weight, steady as stone. "Even if what you gain seems unrelated to combat, experience is never wasted. Skills, instincts, knowledge… all of them have value. And you've already mentioned you have combat-oriented classes, haven't you? The sword is as much a devil's weapon as magic. After all, the Rook and Knight exist for a reason."
Eishi blinked, caught off guard. Then it clicked. She thinks I'm doubting myself… She's trying to encourage me.
Warmth stirred in his chest, easing the weight that had been pressing down on him since the wings first unfurled. His lips curved into a small, genuine smile.
"…It's okay, Kaichou. At least now, I know. It really is… a Sacred Gear."
Sona leaned back in her chair, studying him with sharp eyes.
"So what is your plan, Eishi? Now that you've revealed yourself as a devil, you must know the danger increases. There will be a higher chance you'll be targeted. For now, our bet still grants you protection—but only for a year. What will you do when that ends?"
Eishi lowered his gaze, fingers tightening slightly. I know it's shameless to ask for more, especially after everything she's already given me. But… I still need time. I'm not ready to choose.
"I… need more time to consider," he admitted quietly.
For the first time that evening, Sona's lips curved into a faint smile. "That's fine. I understand. Take your time. At least until this year ends, our protection still stands. But once it's over…" her eyes gleamed behind her glasses, "you'll have to decide for yourself."
Eishi nodded. "I understand. By the way… could you teach me more about devils?"
"Of course," Sona replied simply.
The lesson stretched on, the quiet of the student council room broken only by Sona's calm, deliberate voice.
She explained the framework of devil society—the noble houses, the importance of lineage, and how influence often outweighed sheer power. From there, she shifted into the peerage system, detailing how each devil king, queen, and noble could reincarnate others into their household through the Evil Pieces.
"The roles are straightforward," she said, her eyes gleaming faintly behind her glasses. "Rooks embody strength and endurance. Knights excel in speed and swordplay. Bishops wield magic with overwhelming force. Queens combine the strengths of all pieces, while Pawns… adapt. Their value may seem small at first, but in the right moment, they can overturn the board."
Eishi listened intently, storing every word away.
"Devils fight with more than just lineage and titles, though," Sona continued, her tone softening slightly. "Our magic is unique. Unlike the systemized sorcery of magicians, devil magic is fueled by imagination and willpower. The clearer the image in your mind, the more potent the spell you can weave. That is why creativity… is just as valuable as raw talent."
That part struck him deeply. Imagination… huh. Then maybe…
By the time the lesson ended, Eishi felt both enlightened and burdened, as though he had glimpsed the edges of a much larger world. Rising from his seat, he offered a respectful bow.
"Thank you, Kaichou. I'll keep this in mind."
"...One more thing, Kaichou."
Sona looked up from her papers. "Yes?"
"Do you know a place where I could get a sword?"
Her brows arched faintly. "A sword?"
"Yes." Eishi nodded, his tone steady. "One of my classes… its main weapon is a sword. Specifically, a katana."
She set her pen down and folded her hands. "Very well. We have our own blacksmith who handles requests of this nature. I'll arrange for one to be crafted for you."
Relief and gratitude softened his expression. "Thank you, Kaichou."
Sona gave a small nod, her expression unreadable as ever.
With that, Eishi turned and left the room, the faint echo of his footsteps fading down the hall.
Tsubaki's POV
Silence lingered until Tsubaki finally spoke, her voice low but edged with curiosity.
"Kaichou… why are you so kind to him? This isn't like you. You could have just threatened him—said his protection doesn't extend to his mother. That would've bound him easily."
Sona folded her hands neatly, her smile subtle, calculating. "Yes, I could have. But I don't believe that's the way to conquer him. Chains won't hold someone like Lucivar. I saw it in his eyes—he's not the type to be caged. From the moment he performed on stage, it was obvious. He's someone who longs to be free, unshackled."
Her smile widened faintly, a glimmer of something more mischievous flashing across her face."…Or maybe I just like the way he looks."
Tsubaki exhaled through her nose, almost a sigh. "Honestly…"
Before she could continue, a knock echoed at the door.
Sona's gaze slid toward it, anticipation dancing in her expression.
"It seems our new pawn has arrived. Come in!"