In the heart of the Vatican, beneath the painted ceilings and behind towering stained windows, the Church's Council Chamber was tense with irritation and disbelief.
A long table ran the length of the chamber, where the highest-ranking elders of the Church's internal council sat in traditional robes, faces etched with years of experience and an undeniable trace of prejudice.
"We've confirmed the letter of recommendation bearing Uther Pendragon's seal. It is legitimate. Verified by three different sources, and magically authenticated."
One of the elders said, adjusting his glasses with aged, spotted hands.
Another scoffed quietly.
"Even so, the recent incident at the heliport should not be ignored. What kind of boy arrives at our doorstep and nearly levels the grounds meant for diplomatic passage?"
"That display was not a demonstration of strength, it was arrogance. A reckless indulgence in violence."
A third elder growled, tapping his fingers against the table,
"And need I remind the people in this room that he is a Cambion? A half-devil, born of corrupted blood. That alone makes his presence here a mockery of all we represent."
Said another, older and sterner than the rest.
The murmuring began.
"Pendragon blood or not…"
"The son of a Devil consorting with our Seraph… such heresy…"
"What could he possibly offer the Church, other than a scandal?"
The head of the council tapped his cane once.
"Enough. He is here now. Let us hear what this boy has to say for himself."
All heads turned.
In the center of the chamber, Arthur Pendragon stood quietly... on his flip phone.
He was playing Tetris.
One elder blinked, leaning forward.
"…Are you-?"
Another slammed his hand on the table
"Boy! Show some respect to your elders!"
Arthur lazily looked up without pausing the game.
"Hai, Arthur desu."
A vein visibly popped on the forehead of one of the older cardinals.
"This is a serious discussion. The results of which will determine your-!"
Arthur cut him off, lowering his phone with a half-lidded stare.
"Determine my what? Whether or not you're going to crucify me on a bonfire because I bruised your egos and your star pupils? Even though you wrinkled fossils were the ones who practically begged me to join your holy fan club, after demanding I give up my birthright like it's a gift basket?"
The room tensed and silence fell like a blade through the chamber.
A few of the older bishops sat up straighter, expressions hardening.
"You would do well to choose your words carefully, boy. If you have any hope of becoming-"
Arthur scoffed, brushing the dirt out of his eyes.
"Becoming what? A trained, leashed dog who swings his sword on command? Please."
He took a step forward, tone mocking.
"This is all very funny to me, because the only reason I even considered becoming an exorcist was to see what the big deal was. But if this is what I'm getting into, a pack of uptight nutsacks crying over the smallest fuckups, then maybe I should ask other factions like the Grigori to see if they have room for one more Longinus user."
He grinned sharply.
"You know how their Governor General feels about the 13 Longinus."
A wave of outraged shouts burst from the council.
"How dare!"
"This is blasphemy!"
"He cannot be allowed to speak like this!"
Arthur ignored them.
"Oh, and before I forget, I have one simple demand if you closet pedos want me to stay."
He raised a hand as his smile didn't reach his eyes.
"I want all the original six Excalibur fragments and return them to me as their rightful owner."
The chamber erupted.
"What!?"
"You insolent bastard!"
"Has he lost his mind?!"
"You think you can demand our most sacred relics?!"
Arthur shrugged, loud and exaggerated.
"You all started this whole damending shit first, remember? And besides..."
And then it shifted.
Suddenly, the temperature of the chamber dropped.
The air thickened, and divine wards lining the chamber trembled.
The flames in the golden candelabras snuffed out.
Some of the elders gasped as they felt their bodies freeze, lungs struggling to draw breath.
The suffocating pressure of Arthur's presence crushed the room like a vice.
And when Arthur spoke again, his voice was cold.
"The only reason I've let you hold on to them before is because I haven't had a use for them yet. Now I wanted to try politely asking to hand them back to their rightful owners, the Pendragons. But from what I see, you lot don't respond to reason. You only listen when you have a knife pointed at your throat."
His eyes, once lazy and half-lidded, now glowed faintly.
"So either you treat me with respect... or I'll burn this entire palace to ash."
The chamber was silent save for the groaning of the magically reinforced walls.
An elder, voice trembling, forced out.
"Y-You wouldn't dare… every single powerhouse in the Church... w-would hunt you down till the end of your days."
Arthur tilted his head.
"You think I give a crap? Go ahead. Let them try. They'll burn too."
A few of the younger priests looked pale, sweating profusely.
Another whisper of fear rippled across the elders.
*Click.*
But then the chamber doors opened by one of the guards.
"Esteemed Councilmen, I present to you all one of the Four Great Seraphs, Lady Gabriel."
And everyone froze as Gabriel entered, and Arthur quickly became calm.
The elders immediately stood, bowing, kneeling, etc.
"Lady Gabriel!"
"Praise the Lord!"
"We are humbled by your presence!"
Gabriel smiled warmly, her radiance calming the room almost instantly.
But when her gaze met Arthur's, her expression turned mildly scolding.
Arthur just lazily raised a hand and waved.
"Hey, Gabby. Are those two lovebirds alright?"
Gabriel moved softly beside him and answered not with words, but a gentle flick to his forehead.
"Ow."
Gabriel pouted.
"You're lucky they only suffered multiple fractures, multiple cuts and concussions, and severe internal bleeding. Do you always threaten people just because they annoy you?"
Arthur rubbed his forehead.
"In my defense… they started it. I just wanted to say hello."
Gabriel shook her head with a sigh and turned to the elders.
"Good morning, Councilmen. I will not be here for long, so I shall make this brief. I hereby allow Arthur Pendragon to join the Catholic Church as an Exorcist."
As Gabriel finished her sentence, everyone gasped, and murmurs began to erupt.
One of the elders stood shakily.
"Lady Gabriel… forgive our boldness, but why? Why allow this… boy among our most ranks?"
Gabriel's face softened.
"It's because he is Artoria's son."
That silenced the room again.
"I trust Artoria, and I know she would raise her son to be a remarkable and kindhearted young man."
Her voice was calm but carried weight.
She looked at the table of old men and women with that same serene power that made even the proudest elders falter.
"I am deeply aware that most of you are uncomfortable or even distrustful of his presence. So I will tell you this... If you cannot trust him, then trust me, who trusts him."
Arthur, standing beside her, smiled at Gabriel's support.
Behind her back, where she couldn't see, he flipped off the council with a casual wave of his fingers.
"So what do you say, will you grant Arthur Pendragon, whom I vouch for, a chance to prove himself worthy of being an Exorcist?"
The council whispered among themselves in frantic discussion.
After a long, tense minute, they turned back to Gabriel.
"As long as it is your will, Lady Gabriel... then we will… agree."
Said the head of the council, forcing a gracious tone.
Gabriel beamed and immediately hugged Arthur around the shoulders, pulling him close.
"Did you hear that, Arthur? You're gonna be an Exorcist!"
Arthur's eyes widened slightly as his face was swallowed whole into her soft, overwhelming breasts.
Her angelic scent was almost narcotic, his body stiffened as unholy thoughts raced through his mind.
(Holy Mother of Christ... Am I in heaven?... Mom... thanks for giving birth to me... I don't mind dying like this...)
But as much as he doesn't want to, and he really doesn't want to, he managed to wiggle his head up just enough to breathe, and yelled.
"Before you guys forget, I still want my swords. So you lot better sent them in my sleeping chambers!"
The council went silent again as Gabriel gave Arthur a hand chop on the head.
"Ow."
"You're such a handful, Arthur."
DxD
Hello readers!
This one is pretty short, so please keep me motivated and spread the word of our Lord a- I meant give me Power Stones and add to your Library.
Thank you everyone and see you later!