The training was over. With a wave of my hand, I dispersed the remaining shadows back into myself, as if they crumbled into dust and merged again with my essence. Silence fell everywhere. Silence of the body, mind... and space.
Issei sat on the ground, laughing. Heavy, tired, but laughing. "I never thought losing could make me this strong," he panted.
Rias came over to me, still slightly out of breath but calm in her eyes. "Thank you," she said quietly. "Not for the fight. But for letting us see ourselves."
"You're welcome. But this was just the beginning."
I turned to the group. "Tonight — we rest. You deserve it."
Later, at the Gremory mansion
"Rias... do we really have to?" Issei grumbled as he straightened the collar of his shirt, into which Akeno had practically shoved him. "I look like I'm going to a funeral."
"On the contrary," Rias corrected him with a smile. "It's an introduction. And this is important. You are my guests — and now part of my team. My family needs to know about you."
Asia stood quietly beside us, nervously wringing the hem of her dress. "I've never... been in a noble's house before," she whispered.
"Don't worry, they'll be thrilled by you," Rias said encouragingly, then turned to Mephisto. "And you — you'll probably be the biggest surprise."
Mephisto just nodded, his eyes calm.
We entered the reception hall.
Inside stood Lord Gremory — a tall, noble man with red hair that clearly showed whom Rias resembled. By his side stood Lady Venelana — elegant, calm, with eyes that held more wisdom than anyone expected.
"Welcome," Lord Gremory said with a slight smile. "Daughter, we are glad to see you. And your friends — even more so."
Rias gave a gentle bow and then stepped aside. "This is Hyoudou Issei, Asia Argento... and Mephistofeles Darkness."
Issei bowed deeply. "Good evening! I'm Hyoudou Issei, uh… pleased to meet you!"
Asia bowed softly. "I am honored to be here."
Mephisto only slightly bowed his head. "Good evening, Lord Gremory. Lady Venelana."
Lord Gremory narrowed his eyes as if trying to "tune in" to him. There was a moment of silence — thick, curious. Then he nodded. "An interesting shadow follows you, young man."
Venelana smiled. "But he has good taste in companions. That's noticeable."
A brief conversation followed. Questions, answers, tea was served. Rias occasionally joined in with memories from childhood, Lord Gremory added comments about past wars.
As the evening drew to a close, Lord Gremory stood up.
"You are welcome in our home. And Mephisto…" he looked at him, this time more seriously, "your presence here changes the balance. But... I'm not sure if for the worse. I accept you as a guest. And as a warning that our daughter has by her side someone feared even by shadows."
Night fell. The servants prepared a peaceful dinner. The atmosphere in the house suddenly changed — light, familial. Issei and Kiba argued over who deserved the hot bath more. Rias laughed with Souna, who arrived unannounced. Asia fell asleep over a book on the couch. Koneko quietly cut herself a piece of cake.
I was alone. In my room — spacious, decorated in deep shades of midnight blue and shadows. The fireplace crackled quietly, the light of flickering flames danced on the walls like memories unwilling to fade. The wood smelled warm, silence sang.
And then — a knock.
"Come in," I said without taking my eyes off the landscape outside the window.
The door opened with a soft creak. Akeno entered. Her hair loose, eyes dark like rain just before a storm, wearing a dark silk kimono that moved with her silhouette like water with the moon.
"I don't want to disturb…" she said softly, but didn't stop. The door quietly closed behind her.
"When you come with calm, you don't disturb. You bring balance," I answered. Only then did I turn.
For a moment, we just stood. The silence between us was strange — not empty, but charged. Full of unspoken words felt in every breath.
Akeno slowly walked over to me, stopped by the window where I stood.
"I saw what you're doing," she said quietly. "Not just for us. But for yourself. Your fight isn't about power… it's about protection. And I feel that."
"That surprises me," I admitted. "I thought the burden would crush me. But instead… it makes sense. Peace."
Akeno smiled, sadly and tenderly at the same time. "You're like the silence before dawn. No one appreciates it, but without it, the world would never shine."
Her hand rose between us and gently touched my collar — a gesture of tenderness, not certainty. "At first, I wanted to watch you from afar. I was prepared for manipulation, for a mask… But the longer I observe you, the more I understand why even shadows walk behind you."
I took her hand in mine. It was warm. Real. Like an anchor in the night sea.
"Akeno..."
She stepped closer. There was no space between us anymore. Only presence.
"Just for a moment… tonight… I want to be just a woman, not a devil," she whispered.
And in that moment, our lips met.
The kiss wasn't fierce. It was deep, quiet. Like a caress of souls who found each other in the noise of the world. In it was sadness, tenderness, hope — and an unspoken promise.
When she pulled away, we stood still for a while longer. Leaning on the presence.
Then she smiled softly, but this time her smile wasn't seductive, but human.
"Thank you… for being here."
"And I thank you for coming," I replied quietly.
She squeezed my hand once more, then turned and left the room. Her footsteps echoed long after the door closed — as if she carried a piece of the evening with her.
I stayed standing in the silence.
The fire was dying out. The window reflected only stars.
And so I quietly lay down — without thoughts of tomorrow.
Only with the awareness that even a shadow deserves a moment of light.