Unexpected Bloom [OCs X Highschool DXD]

Chapter 7

The air in the Occult Research Club was thick with the lingering tension of their recent ordeal. Issei and Aebelle, both still reeling from their brush with a fallen angel, stood before their peers, a mixture of relief and unease etched on their faces.

Rias Gremory, ever the composed devil, addressed Issei first, her voice calm yet laced with a hint of concern. "Yes, that is your Sacred Gear," she confirmed, gesturing towards the now-vanished mark on his arm. "Once unleashed, you can activate and deactivate it as you please."

Issei breathed a sigh of relief. "I was so worried it might just stay there!"

Akeno, with her usual gentle smile, added, "That's amazing, Issei-kun!"

Issei, still a bit flustered by the whole ordeal, simply replied, "I-Is it?"

Aebelle, meanwhile, was lost in her own thoughts. She stared at her hands, a flicker of hope and confusion in her eyes. Did she possess a Sacred Gear too? She was eager to help, to contribute, but nothing manifested. The sword, the one she used during her first encounter with the fallen angel – Yuuma, or whatever the entity called itself – was gone.

Rias's words brought her back to the present. "This has become quite a headache," the devil said, her expression darkening slightly. "The fallen angels now know you're both still alive, reborn as a devil and an angel."

Issei, ever the one to take the blame, immediately apologized. "I'm sorry."

But Aebelle, with her innocent directness, cut through the air. "Wait, why are you apologizing? We didn't run into a fallen angel by chance, she came to us. President, you were the one who sent the two of us and was the one who gave us carved seals on our hands. Not that it's your fault, but you're telling us if it's our fault."

Aebelle's unexpected outburst stunned Rias. She hadn't considered the angle of her actions, and her words faltered. "You're right," she conceded, a hint of surprise in her voice. "She did find you regardless, so it wouldn't matter."

Rias quickly recovered, returning to her role as club president. "Your encounter with the fallen angel was a fluke," she stated, her tone regaining its usual firmness. "But understand this: Don't get cocky and try to take them on by yourself."

Issei, always eager to please, responded, "Yes, I understand, President. I'm off, then." He bowed slightly before leaving the room.

Aebelle gave Rias a small, almost apologetic wave before following Issei.

With the two novices gone, Akeno turned to Rias, her expression softening with concern. "Perhaps you've been too harsh," she said gently. "The girl was right. They are still novices."

Rias, though usually unflappable, seemed to be considering Akeno's words. "That's why I'm being harsh, or I was being harsh," she admitted. "They needed to be alert. But how I said it wasn't right."

Akeno simply nodded and left, leaving Rias alone with her thoughts.

A silent determination settled over the young devil's face. "Yes," she murmured, a fierce glint in her eyes. "I won't let the fallen angels take away my adorable servant."

The echoes of her words hung in the air, a promise whispered amidst the lingering scent of magic and the unspoken dangers lurking in the shadows.

The night sky cast a cold glow through the window, illuminating the cozy living room of the Runemind residence. Aebelle, with her short, flowing white hair and bright, innocent blue eyes, kicked off her shoes and dropped her bag by the door, a faint smile gracing her lips.

"Hey, sweetie. How's the club?" Marissa, Aebelle's mother, greeted her with a gentle smile, her warm grey eyes filled with concern and a hint of bewilderment.