10 years.
That was the time that had passed since I was born into this world, and honestly, it was the best thing I could have had. I was born from the union of Azazel with a human, a renowned mage, something that was quite surprising for the faction leader himself.
However, due to an attack by a certain organization of corrupt mages, my mother died when I was barely five years old. I cried for her death, as I had grown very fond of her very quickly.
She was fun and great, and had a great sense of humor. Something I inherited from her.
My father, upon learning of this, was furious. He completely eradicated that mage faction, including their entire family and descendants, in his blind rage. It took him months to largely recover and return to his usual state. My presence served as comfort for his mind, helping him overcome her death.
He decided to take me with him to the territory of the fallen angels in the underworld, introducing me as his son, which shocked everyone.
The first few months were chaos. Before returning to a certain normality, I began to be trained and instructed in all kinds of martial arts, with weapons, magic, and also in subjects like magical theory. I could use any type of magic thanks to my fallen nature, which allowed me to access all magical branches.
I focused mostly on human magic, as it is based on mathematical formulas, being the most stable of all.
Thus, 10 years passed until now.
"Are you ready, brat?" asked Azazel, who was in front of me with a smile on his face.
"Whenever you are, old man," I replied with my own smile.
Azazel was the first to move. He appeared in front of me throwing a kick, which I dodged by jumping upwards, deploying my three pairs of wings. I created a light spear which I threw at the Grigori leader.
Azazel conjured a barrier that protected him from the attack. The resulting explosion caused a small crater. From the dust emerged Azazel.
He created a multi-layered magic circle with different functions.
The magic circle released a strong gust of wind that made me cover myself with my arms. Then, the second part of the spell activated: a great fireball mixed with the wind, creating an inferno of flames.
Using magic, I created a barrier around myself. I could feel the intensity of the flames and how the barrier began to crack little by little.
Azazel completed the spell with a large amount of holy lightning that merged with the fire and wind, creating a devastating attack.
A great explosion resounded throughout the surrounding area.
Azazel looked with a serious face for several seconds. Not seeing his son, he worried that he had used too much power. However, he calmed down upon seeing a flash.
From the smoke appeared a yellowish barrier. Inside the barrier was the son of the Grigori leader.
"That's overdoing it, old man," I replied, dispelling my barrier. That last attack had been incredibly powerful.
"In a fight, your enemy won't hold back against you," said Azazel.
"But still, you almost killed me, old man."
"Stop complaining, brat. It's not like I haven't thrown worse things at you."
"I'll tell Penemue," I said, causing Azazel's face to turn pale and tense.
"You don't have the balls to do it."
"You wanna bet?" I challenged with a sly smile.
"Tell her, and I'll tell her that you're the one spreading the girls' bikini photos," said my father, making my smile vanish and a surprised look appear on my face.
"How do you...?"
"You forget who I am, son. Nothing happens without me knowing."
"Then I won't tell."
"Good choice. Let's pretend nothing happened here."
I nodded in agreement.
We both landed on the ground, on the field we used for my training.
"Oh, right, now that I remember, Baraqiel told me to tell you to go see Akeno," said Azazel.
"Why didn't you tell me before?" I asked, somewhat annoyed.
"I was busy," was his vague response.
"But so lazy. You just focused on your research," I said, making Azazel wince in pain.
"Don't call it research. It's more than that."
"Yeah, yeah," I said bored.
"Well, I'll go see Akeno. See you later, Dad." Saying that, I created a teleportation magic circle.
"Oh, right. Penemue was angry because you escaped the paperwork. Good luck." With that, I disappeared with the teleportation.
Azazel cursed.
"Alright, I still have time to hide. I just need to leave the work to Shemhazai discreetly and—"
Azazel felt a murderous aura. He slowly turned around, seeing his general secretary, who adjusted her glasses, giving off an intimidating air.
"P-Penemue," said Azazel.
"Sir, why are you wasting time and not doing your work?" asked the woman.
"Look, I was training Riguel. You know, spending quality father-son time."
"Really?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "And where is he now?"
"He's not here."
"Then you're lying." Azazel, without hesitation, created a magic circle to escape the infernal paperwork. However, his secretary used one of her latest inventions: chains with magic-nullifying properties that prevented him from using his magic.
Of course, he could break the chains easily, but if he did, he risked angering the woman, and that was something he preferred to avoid.
Azazel was dragged towards his office.
[...]
Once I appeared at the top of the shrine, I felt sorry for Azazel.
He really was a good father, but he was very lazy about his work.
'At least I won't have to deal with that soon,' I thought to myself.
I went through the torii gate, heading towards an oriental-style house. Once I got close enough, I saw the mother-daughter duo.
Shuri Himejima and her daughter Akeno Himejima. Akeno looked just like her mother, only much younger, and I was 100% sure she would be a beauty in a few years.
I approached the duo. Akeno, upon seeing me, smiled happily. She quickly came over to where I was.
"Soul!" said the girl, happy, hugging me. I returned the cheerful hug.
"Akeno!"
"Ara ara, it seems I'll be a grandmother soon," said Shuri with a closed-eye smile.
Akeno blushed.
"Mom," said Akeno.
I felt a bit embarrassed by my friend's mother's words.
I had met Akeno when I was 6 years old, when Baraqiel took me to introduce myself to his family. Surprisingly, the Himejimas liked me very much.
Akeno and I became friends quite quickly since then.
Upon separating, I looked at Akeno.
"Sorry for not coming sooner, but the old man didn't tell me anything until recently."
"I already assumed that," said Akeno, sweating a drop.
"Well, let's go play," said Akeno.
"Sure."
Shuri watched how both children began to play very animatedly.
She gave a smile, deciding she would prepare lunch.
...
After about three hours of playing with Akeno, we decided to show our progress in our abilities.
"Look at this, my dad taught me," said Akeno. She used her magic, creating a yellow lightning bolt which hit an empty can, disintegrating it.
"That's amazing."
"I know, I'm amazing," the girl boasted, lifting her chest with pride.
"Now my turn." I created a lightning bolt which hit a good-sized rock, reducing it to dust.
Akeno was impressed.
"That was amazing. Although it's not fair, since you're stronger than me."
"Akeno-chan, you will be very strong. You just need to keep training," I said, blowing on my index finger as if it were a gun.
"Although, speaking of training... can you show me your wings again?" Akeno requested.
"Why?"
"Do it," said Akeno.
"Fine." From my back emerged my three pairs of wings.
Akeno looked at the wings and touched them, feeling the texture of the feathers, being very soft.
"Even when I see them many times, I never get tired of looking at them," said Akeno, looking at the wings black as night itself.
"I don't know why you like my wings so much."
"They're pretty and warm." Akeno took a feather, pulling it out.
I made a small wince of pain.
"Why did you do that?"
"Souvenir."
"But you always do it. At this rate, I won't have any left by the end of the year."
"But they grow back."
"But still, it's wrong."
"Fine, I'll stop doing it."
"Thanks."
"When I get bored," she finished, making one of my eyebrows twitch.
Akeno just laughed amusedly.
"You."
"Children, it's time to eat," said Shuri.
"Come on, let's go." Akeno took my hand, leading me inside her home to eat.
After taking off our shoes and washing our hands, I sat at the table.
A few minutes passed until Baraqiel arrived, who greeted his wife with a kiss and his daughter.
"Hello, Baraqiel-sensei," I greeted.
"Soul," said Baraqiel. "Penemue told me that Azazel will be all day and night doing paperwork, so you'll stay."
"Ok," I said simply.
"It was about time the old man started working."
"That's true," admitted Baraqiel, being on my side.
"Well, let's eat before it gets cold," said Shuri.
We all began to eat the delicious food prepared by the elder Himejima. After the meal, I sat on the patio, feeling the gentle breeze.
It was surprising how these 10 years had flown by. However, I knew I would have to train more and more to be able to stop what was coming in about 90 years in the future.
Hearing the sound of footsteps, I looked at Akeno, who without saying anything sat down next to me.
A few minutes passed until I yawned. I felt sleep beginning to flood my system.
"You're sleepy, Soul."
"A little," I admitted. I hadn't slept enough the night before because I participated in a Mahjong competition that ended almost at 5 in the morning.
Akeno grabbed my head, placing it on her lap.
"Sleep," said the girl, making me nod.
I closed my eyes, falling asleep instantly.
Akeno gave a loving smile upon seeing the boy deeply asleep.
Shuri observed her daughter with a proud smile. She took out a camera and took several photos to embarrass them in a few years.