The Death We Seek

The Night Does Not Belong to God [Chapter 11]

A week had passed and she was still comatose.

Medical professionals had complimented the quality of healing she had been given provided her injuries, but the cause was unknown and would remain so. They had suggested that a precise injection of magic could restart her consciousness, but it didn't work. Phoenix tears had no effect; Issei had asked for some from Sirzechs and Ajuka. Hope was running slim.

It felt like there was only one last option, but trying it on a devil could kill her outright. He was getting desperate. He had tried boosting to his maximum and transferring the power to her brain, but nothing came of it.

It was all his fault, and he would fix it irregardless of the cost.

Rias had started sleeping with him again. They were careful of Koneko, but she was constantly monitored. The medical professionals from her family, the Gremory Clan, had given her intravenous sustenance and had left them a supply to use. Sirzechs was currently in contact with various factions hosting gods capable of healing. He had even reached out to Heaven to see if anything could be done.

All to fix his mistake.

It was his fault, and everyone was doing their best to fix it. There was nothing he could do, he had tried everything. Elsha was working tirelessly on causes and reasons why Koneko wasn't recovered fully.

Rias was just as worried as Issei was. It was her servant that was injured while she just watched. She should have said something. If Issei hadn't been training his healing, would things have changed for the worse?

She spoke to her peerage member every night before sleeping. All she did each day was wake up, train, eat, train and sleep. The cycle was monotonous and was destructive to her mental health. If only a week felt this bad, how did Issei drive himself to do so every day?

All the while, Issei had a plan. There was one last thing he could try.

He had to take Koneko somewhere secluded and make a deal with a higher power, in exchange for something dear to him. He already knew what he would offer. That was a last resort.

Meanwhile, Rias was training. She was downstairs practicing her magical control when Issei had walked in on her winded form.

"Hey."

"Hey."

They looked away from each other. The recent state of affairs had their minds held elsewhere, so they just trained alongside each other. She was aiming to better her control, while he was keeping up with his close quarters combat.

"Rias."

She turned her head towards him, who now had his body facing her.

"Do you want to spar?"

"You'll kill me, absolutely not."

His hands came up next to his face, palms displayed in a gesture of peace.

"I'll completely seal my magic away, and won't use Ddraig. As a King, you should learn even the basics of hand-to-hand combat."

"I'm a magician, if I get caught alone without a line of defence then I've already lost."

"And what if you encountered an enemy you guys couldn't use magic against? Mistakes happen too, after all. I'll guide you, so just do your best."

Hesitation must have been clear on her face because he had added an extra touch.

"You can use magic, but you can't use it as a ranged attack. It has to be to reinforce an attack you were already using."