The only sound in the room was that of frantic feeding. Akeno watched from the doorway, her teasing smile slowly fading, replaced by a thin line of genuine concern.
She saw the color begin to drain from Rias's face, the force with which her King's fingers dug into the young vampire's shoulders. This was no longer a controlled test; it was a frenzy.
Akeno stepped forward, the silk of her uniform whispering in the tense silence. The concern in her voice was real, cutting through the heavy atmosphere.
"Rias, he won't stop!"
A tremor ran through Rias's body, a mix of pain and strange exaltation at feeling her power flow into her servant. She held her composure, her voice a little breathless but firm.
"It's all right... I can endure a little more."
But Akeno's call was like a stone cast into a calm lake. The vibration of those words pierced the red haze that had consumed Michael's mind, a strange sound in a world that had narrowed to pulse and taste.
Consciousness returned with the violence of an electric shock.
He pulled away abruptly, gasping, the metallic sweetness of blood filling his mouth. The horror of what he had just done hit him with full force, not because of the act itself, but because of the complete and terrifying loss of control.
His eyes widened, fixed on the bite mark on Rias's pale neck, where a thin stream of crimson blood slid slowly. He brought his hand to his mouth, feeling the sharp teeth and the wetness that wasn't his.
The mask of innocence slipped back into place, now fueled by genuine panic. He looked at Rias, his face contorted in pure terror, like a child who had just broken something precious and irreplaceable.
"Rias-senpai..."
The word escaped as a broken sob, the performance of a lifetime.
The fear was real, a cold dread settling in his chest. He had already died once. If Rias, his new master and jailer, began to suspect him, to think something was fundamentally wrong, it would be the end.
He did not fear the vampire's instinct, but the consequence of revealing it. The human mind inside that fragile body knew survival depended on maintaining the deception.
Rias touched her neck, her fingers brushing the wound that was slowly closing. She looked at her Bishop's terrified face and saw exactly what she expected: a fragile boy, overwhelmed by a power he didn't understand.
Akeno visibly relaxed, the enigmatic smile returning to her lips. The crisis had passed, leaving behind a new and fascinating layer of complexity in their young companion.
For Rias, hesitation had vanished. That power, even uncontrolled, was the key. She would help him, train him, and shape him. He would no longer be a burden to hide, but the weapon she would wield to forge her own destiny.
'Shit. I lost control. I completely lost control.'
'The original Gasper would never have done this. He would have died of fear before even getting close. I... I almost threw everything away.'
'One wrong move and they'd know. They'd know I'm not him. And then? Death would be the best outcome.'
'The fear is real, but not of the hunger. It's the fear of being discovered. My life depends on this farce.'
Rias's expression softened, turning into pure compassion. She pulled him closer into her arms, a protective gesture that contrasted with her earlier authority.
The embrace was warm, the scent of her perfume surrounding him. He remained still, allowing the comfort to envelop him, the mask of terror still firmly in place.
"Shhh, it's all right, Gasper."
"It's not your fault. You were hungry, and I am your master. I should have been more careful."
"I'll help you. We'll control this, together."
Her words were a balm, sweet and reassuring, weaving a safety net around him. He buried his face in her shoulder, hiding eyes that now carried only cold, calculating assessment.
Rias gently pulled him back, holding his shoulders. Her crimson eyes were serious, but her voice carried a soft, maternal tone, a perfectly honed tool of manipulation.
"Gasper, you need to be strong."
"This hunger will come back. To prevent you from losing control again, you'll need to drink blood regularly. I'll make sure of it myself."
He nodded, his face still a mask of fear and gratitude. But inside, Michael's mind pieced it together with brutal clarity. Kindness was a forge, sweet words the hammer.
'She's not comforting me. She's grooming me. She saw the power, the strength that broke the wall, and now she wants to use it for her own ends.'
'The engagement with Riser Phenex. She needs strong pieces for the Rating Game. She's not freeing me, she's sharpening me to be her sword.'
From the doorway, Akeno watched the scene unfold. The smile on her lips was soft, but her eyes carried deep understanding and a touch of melancholy.
'Ah, Rias... my dear friend. You've found your unexpected piece. All to escape that arrogant bird.'
'You're willing to tame a beast to preserve your freedom. Don't worry. As your Queen, I'll stand by your side.'
Gasper raised his head, pink eyes meeting Rias's. The trembling in his body ceased, replaced by resolute stillness. He bowed deeply, an unexpected and formal apology.
"I'm sorry, Rias-senpai."
"I lost control. I was weak."
"I'll be stronger. I... I'll become a real man."
The words echoed in the silence. Rias blinked, surprised by the declaration, but a genuine smile of satisfaction bloomed on her face.
Akeno, in turn, raised an eyebrow, intrigued. The little vampire was proving far more interesting than she had ever imagined.
Rias's smile widened, her crimson eyes gleaming with newfound ambition. This was the answer she had been searching for, the spark of will she could fan into a flame.
"That's the spirit."
Akeno stepped forward, her movement fluid and full of predatory grace. Her smile was a promise of mischief and pain, violet eyes fixed on the young vampire with renewed interest.
"Ara, ara. I'll love turning you into a real man, Gasper-kun."
Gasper shuddered under her gaze, a perfectly calibrated act of a timid boy being teased. He shrank further into Rias's arms, completing the image of vulnerability.
Satisfied, Rias gently set him down on his feet.
The wooden floor felt unsteady beneath him. Michael's mind, still reeling from the overwhelming loss of control, fought to reassert dominance over the body's instincts.
Rias watched him, no longer with compassion, but with the assessment of a general inspecting a new recruit. His promise to become stronger was the opening she needed.
She crossed her arms beneath her chest, her stance radiating unquestionable authority. The maternal tone was gone, replaced by sharp seriousness.
"Gasper, you said you want to become a real man. That you want to be stronger."
"That promise is important. To me, and to all the Gremory nobility. A man doesn't hide in the shadows, afraid of the world."
"Your strength cannot bloom in this room. Your courage cannot be forged in solitude. This place is no longer a refuge; it is a cage you locked yourself in."
"The first step to keeping your word, the first test of your resolve, begins now. You will leave this room. With us."
The order hung in the air, final and irrevocable. It was no request, but a statement of fact. The era of confinement had ended.
'Everything is going perfectly. The bait of hunger not only deceived them, but awakened her ambition. She no longer sees a burden, but a weapon.'
His gaze shot to the open door, the light of the hallway like an unknown abyss. A rehearsed fear, an echo of the old Gasper, made his body step back instinctively.
Then, he turned. His eyes met Rias's, the false timidity fading to reveal a spark of cold determination. The era of confinement had ended, and the game had only just begun.
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