Chapter 7: The Good Nun

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I walked over to Asia, holding my hand out to her.
"You OK, buddy? That was some spill you had there."
"Oh, yes. I'm OK. Really."
I helped her to her feet and the wind blew off her hood. Issei saw this and snapped out of it, going after it before it blew away. He grabbed it before it got too high and brought it back to Asia as Ophis wandered over to my side. She smiled and took the hood, putting it back on.
"That was very sweet of the both of you."
I gave her a thumbs up as Issei scratched his cheek sheepishly.
"No problem, kid. Always happy to help out someone who fell."
I looked up at Issei, then to the school.
"Welp, if all you needed was a little pick me up, then we'll be on our way, then."
"W-Wait!"
I stopped in my tracks, looking back at her as she twiddled her thumbs.
"Err... I seem to have... I seem to have lost my way. Could you help me out, please?"
I turned back to her, smiling.
"Sure, buddy. School doesn't start for another 30 minutes. We can help ya out."
"Oh, thank you very much."
"Don't mention it. Where ya heading?"
"I'm trying to find the church in this town."
"Oh, that old place? It's just a little ways down to the road here. C'mon. I'll show ya."
"OK!"
Asia grabbed her suitcase and walked after me, catching up quickly. Issei followed suit along with Ophis. As we walked, Issei made small talk with Asia.
"Are you on vacation?"
"No, I'm not. I was transferred to this town's church."
"Oh, so you're a nun. That explains your clothes."
"Luckily, I met young, kind people such as you three. This must be God's will."
"Uh, yea...!"
Issei cringed when he saw the cross on her chest. He turned away, looking off into the distance. Asia saw this and tilted her head innocently.
"What's the matter?"
"Huh? Um... Nothing."
I saw that he had a look of concern on his face. No doubt, it was the feeling he got from the cross. We stopped when we heard a child crying. Asia ran over to him as his entire knee was bleeding profusely.
'That's a worser pain than the injury in my runs.'
Asia comforted the child before using her Twilight Healing to seal up the injury, healing him completely. Issei grunted and felt his left hand.
"What's up, bro?"
"My left hand just freaked out on me."
"It's more likely than not your Devil instinct telling you to be careful. Either that, or your Sacred Gear is reacting to hers."
Ophis nodded in agreement as Asia finished up and looked back at us.
"All done now. Sorry."
I waved her off.
"No rush. It's not like we're in a hurry."
She smiled brightly and got up, brushing herself off and grabbing her suitcase again. She followed us as we walked along.
"I must have surprised you."
"Nope. I'm not surprised one bit."
"Huh? How's come?"
I lifted up my hand, an Indigo Circle forming in it and floating in my palm.
"I know all kinds of magic in the sort. We both got something like what you have."
"Wow! That's incredible!"
"Thanks, buddy. I must say, that power of yours must be pretty nifty as well. Yuri also knows magic, but... It's a bit different than mine."
"Well, thank you for the compliment. They are fantastic powers, bestowed unto me by God."
She looked back ahead, her expression saddening somewhat.
"Yes... Fantastic..."
Issei was about to ask what's wrong, but Ophis pointed up to the church ahead.
"Church."
"Ah! That's the place!"
Issei nodded.
"Well, you said this town's church, and that's the only one we've got."
"Thank God! You three really are lifesavers!"
Issei tensed up again upon watching the church for a couple seconds. He gulped a second before clearing his throat.
"But, I've never seen anyone there."
Asia turned to us.
"I wish to thank you. Will you accompany me there?"
I looked at Ophis, then shrugged.
"Issei? School's about to start. Why don't you get a head start going back with Yuri?"
"Huh?"
I winked at him, then pointed to Asia.
"I'll make sure she gets to the church safely. Can't have her tripping up and falling on the concrete again."
"Oh! Thank you very much! That's so kind of you!"
Issei gave me an unsure look, mainly from his own warning alarms, but I waved him off.
"Go on. I'll catch up. Yuri? Go with him to school. I'll see you around, OK?"
"OK."
She turned and climbed up onto Issei's shoulders, planting herself and rubbing Issei's head.
"I will go, with Big Brother Issei."
She looked down at him before patting his head.
"Pat. Pat."
I snickered as Issei turned, looking back at me one more time before walking away with Ophis on his head. I turned back to Asia.
"Well, let's not beat around the bush getting there. I know a shorter way to get there."
"What way is that?"
I twiddled my fingers at her to add drama to my next sentence.
"Mmmmmmaaaaagic."
She giggled.
"Just stand next to me and I'll port us there."
She nodded and stood to my side. I put my hand out in front of me, summoning an Indigo Circle big enough for the both of us to fit in, then I threw it up, teleporting us right inside the church's entrance. Seeing the sudden abrupt entrance startled my familiar Fallen Angel adversaries along with a well known Priest of mine, Freed Sellzen. I clenched my fist, breaking the Circle and completing the teleportation process.
"Alright, all passengers leaving for the town's church disembark the Indigo Express."
Asia laughed as she walked over to Raynare, bowing and greeting her. I looked to her sister and grinned.
"Heya, Yu-Yu. What's going on?"
She perked up, then waved. Asia tilted her head.
"Do you know each other?"
"We dated a few weeks back. It didn't 'work out'."
"Aww, that's too bad. Oh well. As long as you two are happy, that's all that matters."
"Heh, yea. I guess you're right."
I glanced at Dohnaseek, Kalawarner, Mittelt, and Raynare.
"Well, hello again. Long time no see, eh?"
My expression grew a bit darker.
"Do anything around anyone in particular recently that I should know about?"
Raynare scoffed.
"We don't need to explain ourselves to you, but I demand an explanation from you! How are you still alive?! Your signature is still pure human!"
"S-Still alive?"
I glanced at Asia.
"Raynare and her sis tried to kill me and Issei. See, because of my magic as well as Issei also possessing a Sacred Gear, we were targeted out of fear of being a danger to Fallen Angels. I can forgive Dohnaseek, Mittelt and Kalawarner since they were only following orders, though. As for Yu-Yu, technically, she didn't do anything wrong, so I can't hold it against her."
I turned back to Raynare.
"But as for you... Issei is still rather pissed at you. And just so you know, he's been taken under the wing of a red haired friend of ours."
She rose an eyebrow, not getting the message. I sighed and waved her off.
"Oh well. You didn't answer my question, so I have no reason to talk to you. Hey, you three?"
Her companions looked to me.
"No hard feelings, right?"
No response, but their expressions said it all.
"Hahhh... Well, whatever. I gotta get back to Kuoh Academy. Yuri and Issei are waitin' for me. Stay safe, kid, and try not to faceplant into any more sidewalks, OK?'
Asia nodded.
"My name is Asia Argento, by the way, but you can call me Asia."
"Neito Hyoudou Shumitto, but just call me Neito."
"Neito. I'm really glad I met someone as nice and gentle as you, your brother, and your friend as soon as I got to Japan."
"Hey, it was really no big deal, buddy. Just bein' a good person, I guess."
"Well, if you ever have any time to spare or if you're just in the neighborhood, be sure to come back to visit me here at the church."
Raynare glared at her, but she didn't notice. I winked.
"I'll keep that in mind, pal. Alright, I'm out. See you all again."
I turned and walked out the entrance, Asia waving to me as I exited. I waved back as I stepped out into the street and teleported to the alleyway right next to the school. I heard the bell ring and checked the clock.
'Second period. I can still explain my lateness.'
I trudged through the gates towards the school, my hands stuffed in my pockets.
"There you are!"
I groaned lowly as I looked over my shoulder at Rias.
"What do you want now, red head?"
"Where were you? I only saw your brother and friend walk through the gates this morning."
"Yup. That's because we were helping someone find her way."
"Find her way? Who was it?"
"A little nun named Asia Argento. She fell on the curb and we helped her gather up her things before escorting her to the church ourselves."
"You what?!"
I twitched when she rose her voice.
"Neito! You-"
"Lower your voice, Rias. You're standing right in front of me."
She took a breath and recomposed herself, crossing her arms as she did.
"You must never go near the church again, Neito."
I rolled my eyes and turned, beginning to walk away.
"Neito! Listen to me! You can't-"
"And why can't I? I'm not a Devil, so there's no threat."
"There's still the Fallen Angels who want you- Hey! Stop! Don't walk away from me when I'm talking to you!"
"Screw you, Gremory. I'm not your servant or your child. Go torment someone else who gives a crap."
She growled, then flared her aura.
"I will NOT be disrespected like this! I am the Empress of Annihilation; the Princess of Ruin! You WILL listen to me!"
"You are correct. You retain those titles respectfully."
I stopped.
"But just know one thing. In your world, those titles mean something. Those titles represent your nobility, but in the human world, in MY world, you're nothing more than a selfish high schooler who tries whatever method to get what she wants. You know my words are true, Rias."
She choked on her words as I glared back at her.
"I will not repeat myself. I am not your servant, and I am not your child. And until you get your sh** together, I will NEVER BE your servant. Straighten up your act and quit being a selfish b****. If you keep going down the path you're going, then you deserve everything that's coming to you in the future. I wouldn't even give a crap if you were taken away from Kuoh forever. That's how much I distrust and dislike you."
She tensed up, staring at with her jaw slightly hanging. Right before I turned around, I heard her... crying.
'Must've struck a nerve... Good. Girl needs to learn that not everything is about her.'
I looked back at her one more time to see her walking away, going back to the ORC. I tracked back into the school, going to Issei's classroom.
-----
"..."
I sat silently on the ORC couches as Issei was packing in new flyers.
"Ahhh... Geez, I seem to only get scolded by the club president..."
Issei's face fell for a second, but I don't think it was for Rias.
'Might be thinking of how he can't visit Asia.'
I saw Akeno peering over the couch.
"She's not pissed off, y'know. She's just merely concerned for your safety."
My bro perked up and jumped away.
"Gak! Akeno!"
The doors opened and Rias walked through. She frowned at me before looking to Akeno.
"You're still here? I thought you had already gone home."
"We've just received word from the Archduke, Taiko."
"From Taiko?"
"Apparently, two Stray Devils were found in this town, both in different locations."
Rias narrowed her eyes.
"Round up the ORC and have them meet Issei and I at the first location. Neito?"
I glanced up at her.
"Would you-"
"I'm on it."
I stood up and walked towards the door.
"The Stray is down by the abandoned factory about a street down from my favorite diner, so I'll make a pit stop before I head for a bite."
"Thank you, Neito, and for safety's sake. Please take Akeno with you."
I turned my head back to Rias, feeling a minuscule hint of guilt inside the deepest part of my gut. Even if she was a selfish Devil, I still cared for her. How could I not? Even if her feelings were fake, she still took care of me, like she is for Issei. I looked down, letting my bangs cast a shadow over my eyes.
"Yea... Sure..."
I threw my hand up and teleported from the room when Akeno got close to me. We came out in front of the location where the Stray was. I began to walk in, but was stopped by Akeno.
"I heard what you said to Rias."
"..."
"Don't you think you're taking this hatred too-"
"I only said that because I cared."
She blinked.
"What?"
"Yea. You didn't expect me to say that?"
She shook her head.
"I thought you just hated her, period."
"Don't mistake my intentions, Akeno. I'm not saying these things to just be cruel. Think of it as tough love, if you will. I want to help her, and even join her, but she needs to get over herself first. This leadership like complex and the princess attitude needs to go away first. I can't partner with someone who thinks I'm going to grovel at their feet without a second thought. It might be how she thinks it is in Hell or the Underworld; Whatever you call her home, but that isn't how it works here. Humans like me, and what Issei used to be, we have free will. Even now, you still see it in Issei and in yourself as well as the others. You all still have your free will. You're all still here. You understand what I mean."
She looked off to the side, not making eye contact with me. I took this as an agreement. I turned back to the factory.
"I never didn't care. I don't have the strength to at times, yes, but even then, I always try. I just know one thing, and it's this that keeps me from trusting her. Deep down, I always feel that if I join her without precaution, something in the future..."
My eyes were shadowed again as I grinned, remembering the times Rias has killed me.
"Can go horribly... HORRIBLY... wrong..."
I turned back to Akeno, giving her a warm grin.
"Do me a favor and don't tell Rias this. She needs to learn this on her own... Come on. That thing in there ain't gonna wait forever."
Akeno perked up and nodded. She followed me in and I stopped right in the center of the room, looking into the darkness right where the monstrosity was lingering. It slowly emerged, smirking down at me. It's fang like teeth were slobbered when the creature's tongue licked over them. I took a breath, then reopened my eyes and summoned a shield Magic Circle, blocking it's needle like projectile. I turned the Circle offensive and blasted it back into the dark. It roared and slammed it's claw down at it, which was easily avoided. I jumped on the claw when its tail came down. It shot its needles at me again and I ported from the claw, making it strike itself. it grunted and whimpered as it blew off the needles. I snapped my fingers and created bright yellow Magic Circles that sparked with electric power. They charged up quickly and blew the creature into the factory machines, making them collapse on it. Akeno was standing back, watching with interest... and I think a little bit of pleasure. I took a breather as the creature got back up and recuperated. It narrowed its eyes at me, then sent a new kind of attack at me. Some kind of sap that glowed a sick hue of green. I blasted it off course with a Gremory Circle, then clenched my hand into a fist, turning the Gremory Circle into an Indigo Circle and throwing it at the creature. I used psychokinesis to throw it up to the ceiling, then down on a bed of ice created by a cyan Magic Circle. Time and time again, the creature kept getting back up from my attacks. It was persistent, but it's resistance was futile in the end, as I had cornered.
"Welp... Guess that's it for you then."
I snapped my fingers, making all the Circles around it blast it to pieces. I watched its remains rain down onto the ground, then evaporate.
"Hehehehehe!~"
I looked back at Akeno as she was walking to me with a blush on her face. She made the remaining pieces of the Stray disappear via Magic Circle then she turned to me with the same blush.
"My soon-to-be junior is very strong.~ It makes me so hot.~ I wonder how he takes pain.~"
I shook my head, pointing at Akeno as I walked passed.
"S&M freak. S&M freak. Courtesy of Akeno Himejima."
She laughed and followed me outside. I turned to her and pointed down the road at the lights.
"Alright, I'mma go get something to eat. If you want, I can port you back to the ORC."
She smiled.
"Why, thank you.~ I would love that.~"
I shook my head again as I realized she was still blushing.
"Remind me to stay away from you when you go into this weird heat phase."
"No promises.~"
I rolled my eyes and teleported her back to the ORC. I then made my way towards the diner, walking in and taking a seat at the bar. I noticed there were no customers here except for one man and one girl in a nun's outfit. I didn't jump to conclusions since it wasn't the same nun outfit Asia had, but I recognized the man immediately.
'Freed...'
I stared forward, waiting for service. None came. It was like the staff wasn't here. I looked behind the counter that they slide the food from, and saw hints of red back there. Freed whispered something to the girl and she stood up with him. Freed exited the When she turned around, I felt my eyes pulse for a second. I didn't know this, but they glowed blue for a second. I grunted, rubbing them, then took a side glance at her. She had an amulet tied around her neck in a silver chain necklace.
"..."
*FWSSHH*
I jumped up, dodging the wave of pink magic. I skidded back to the other side of the diner. I looked up at her, seeing her appearance now. She wasn't a nun, and if she was, she wasn't one that I've seen before. No, she was some sort of assassin or something. She had a very voluptuous figure with a rather impressive bust for someone who's about my age and had chocolate brown, beautiful long hair. Her eyes were an amber color and the amulet gem in the center of the amulet itself was glowing pink.
"I was wondering when I was going to meet another Nephilim who had one of the 5 Nephilim Gears."
I blinked at her, confused.
'Nephilim Gears? What?'
"I see you are confused. Understandable, seeing as you have not yet discovered your Nephilim Gear and surpassed your limits."
{Your eyes...}
I jumped when the amulet began to talk. A regal feminine voice came from it.
{I can see why Judgement chose you. While having a broken heart, your soul remains unbreakable. The way you perceive others is not misplaced.}
"What the...?"
"My name is Anba Ishiku. I am a Nephilim, a Purebred Angel-Devil hybrid."
{Peace: Unveil!}
Her wings flared from her back, showing a pair of dark yellow Devil wings and a pair of Angel wings of the same color sprouting behind the Devil wings rather than above or below them.
"I am also the possessor of the Nephilim Builder, Peace."
Her magic flared again and it was, without a doubt, on par with my own in my current state. Perhaps even surpassing it.
"While you are a Nephilim yourself, and a carrier of another Builder, I regrettably say that I will be your executioner this night."
I narrowed my eyes and unveiled my own signature, surprising her.
"Interesting. Your level of magic is as powerful as mine, and yet, you haven't awakened your Gear or the spirit inside."
"Heh... Let's just say I've had some 'time' to hone my potential strength."
"Perhaps you may die an honorable death this night. On guard!"
She swiped her hand around her horizontally, throwing a streak of magic at me. I jumped over it on reflex and threw my own hand forward, summoning an Indigo Circle and blasting it at her. I threw up my other hand, summoning two bronze Magic Circles that fired out bomb like rocks that were covered in magma. She used her magic to block most of them, but like always, a stray bullet got her, stunning her long enough to present an opportunity. She turned around upon hearing something charge up and was thrown across the diner from the sheer magical force of an offensive Indigo Circle's blast beam. The Indigo Circle split into four parts and fired again around her, causing the wall to collapse and crumple down on top of her. I used a Green Circle to shift her gravity and slammed her to the ceiling. I pulled her back down to the ground, smacking her across the tables and booths. She teleported before she hit the wall and appeared right behind me. She took a stab at me when a glowing pink fist.
{Time Break!}
But upon hearing my voice echo out those words in command, she missed as I appeared to have fazed to the right. Right when I landed and time went back to normal, I was tackled down by Anba, grunting as I crashed. She smirked as she looked down at me, a small trail of red going down her lip.
"Look at you. You actually managed to make me bleed. Very well done. Though, I now understand the reason for your pain. You bare a secondary Cursed Sacred Gear and no doubt have gone through a couple thousand laps of this life of yours. I pity you. Really, I do, but even so..."
She threw me up and blasted me with a Magenta Circle. I slammed against the wall, then onto a few pink ice spires.
"Don't think you're the ONLY Magician here, buddy."
"M-Magician?"
"Humans with powers over extraterrestrial power such as Magic Circles and any power of the supernatural sort. That's what we both would classify as."
She threw me up to the ceiling, then gripped me with a magical wire. She pulled me to her, tilting my chin up to her gaze as I was leaning down a bit.
"You are strong. Stupidly strong, but if you don't unveil what you truly are, you'll never surpass enemies and rivals like me. I would kill you here, but..."
*chu*
She kissed my forehead.
"I want to see how strong you become once you awaken your Nephilim Gear and discover your true calling. And fret not, I'm keeping an eye on our nun friend. I wasn't there to greet you properly, but if you are able to scare my 'boss', then you've come far already. Asia is in good hands right now, my cute rival.~ So don't you worry your silly little exhausted hea-"
*SHINE*
We both turned our attention to a Gremory Circle as it appeared from nowhere. The force of the summon pushed us both back. I landed back behind some destroyed booths as Anba softly touched down on a still stable table. Kiba shot out and dashed for Anba. She dodged him and landed on the bar table. Akeno and Koneko walked through next.
"Oh my, oh my. What a problem we have here."
"... Assassin."
I looked back at Anba, then to the crew. Kiba grinned at her.
"Sorry, but he's with us."
"Oh, I know that, silly knight of Rias Gremory."
She waved him off.
"I mean no killing intent now. What happened to that Priest? I'm assuming you've met him?"
"We've already saved Issei from him."
Rias walked through the Circle, flicking her wrist at it and making it disappear.
"My servant's brother. It looks like you've had your fun with him."
She rose her hand to fire off her magic.
"Rias! No!"
Too late. She fired off a beam of destruction energy.
{Time Break!}
I dashed passed Koneko and Akeno, bypassing Kiba as I got in front of Anba just in time for me to take the hit for her. I gagged from the force and flew back to the wall, sliding down and hitting the floor. I panted as blood seeped through the large open wound on my chest. Rias gasped as Anba stared back at me with confusion laced in her eyes. I grinned at her.
"You... say I'm another... one of you... Go... Get outta here..."
She looked back at the Gremory Devils, hesitating.
"What are you waiting for? Get out of here already, d*** it! I... don't want you hurting my friends. Please."
She frowned, then turned and jumped out of the window, teleporting as soon as she hit the sky. Akeno quickly walked over to me, inspecting the wounds with the most worried expression she had yet.
"Neito. Why? Why would you...?"
I glanced up at Rias as she was stuttering from her spot.
"You're welcome..."
Koneko blinked.
"... For what?"
"For saving you from getting demolished. If you set off that girl, she would have ripped you all apart in a second."
Kiba narrowed his eyes.
"I'm sure all of us would have bee-"
"NO... You wouldn't. She's stronger than I am, and considering I was using just about my limit of power, that's saying something. If I couldn't defeat her head on, you had no chance. She wouldn't even need to move."
I panted a bit as some blood squirted out of my chest.
"I... need to get to... Yuri..."
"I think it's best we heal you up first."
"And pass out on the couch, leaving me vulnerable and excusable for you to make me part of your peerage? No frigging thanks, red head. Akeno... Teleport me home, please... Yuri'll know what to do the moment she sees me."
Akeno looked up at Rias, then down to me. She sighed and brought up a Gremory Circle. She helped me through it and I collapsed on my knees when I reached the other side. Ophis was at my side in an instant.
"I was wondering, why your signature was failing."
She helped me up, then sat me down on the couch.
"Who, did this?"
"It was... It was Rias."
She narrowed her eyes dangerously as she poured her magic into my wound.
"She... wasn't trying to hurt me. I saved someone... by jumping in the way. Someone by the name of Anba."
"Anba. The Peace Builder wielder."
"You know about this?"
She nodded.
"Please. Tell me everything there is to know about this. Who are these Nephilim? What is a Nephilim Gear? And... What exactly am I?"
She sat down next to me, actually sighing and looking forward.


"Very well. I shall, tell you the tale of the Nephilim Builders and Destroyers, of the balance."

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