Echoes of the past pt2

Near Kuoh Academy, morning.Ravel Phenex, previously the only daughter of the Phenex clan leader—a survivor clan among the 72 Great Demon Houses—stretched languidly in bed, yawned sweetly, and opened her eyes. Confusion struck her as she didn't recognize her surroundings, but realization quickly dawned, allowing her to remember her new location.

"Damn, I was about to wake you," Alduin exhaled with a hint of disappointment as Ravel descended to the kitchen, freshly groomed and donned in her standard uniform. He placed a large metal mug of water on the table.

"You weren't really going to use it, were you?" Ravel inquired, eyeing the water mug warily.

"The thought crossed my mind," Alduin admitted. "But now that you're awake, please join me at the table. It's no noble's feast, but we make do with what we have..."

"My apologies for the trouble," Ravel said, taking a seat.

"Think nothing of it," Alduin dismissed, observing the young demoness across from him. From what he'd gleaned from Sona about new demons—devils, as they called themselves—and their society, Reivel, like Sona and Rias, belonged to the pureblooded devils, revered by others much like Legendary dragons among the Dova. Yet, while being a Legendary dragon signified strength, knowledge, and skill, pureblood status in devil society merely reflected societal standing, not inherent power.

"Now she hardly seems part of that arrogant elite demon youth," Alduin mused, focusing back on his breakfast.

'He's quite different from his Rating Game persona,' Ravel thought, stealing glances at Alduin.

As they finished their breakfast, they proceeded to walk to school, at which Alduin began to fulfill his role as a senior.

"Now, remember this route," Alduin instructed importantly as they walked toward the school. "Over there is a shadowy corner that's barely lit by day and a black hole by night. Further down, there's a cafe with decent food and a shop across from it where they sell all sorts of cheap, questionable literature and videos."

"Questionable?" Ravel echoed.

"My brother practically stocks up on his porn there. I also shop there occasionally..."

"Pervert," Ravel muttered under her breath, her cheeks tinged with red.

"...for various interesting horror movies, and there..." Alduin continued, unfazed by her comment, detailing all the notable spots on their way to school.

As he briefed Ravel on their surroundings, Alduin pondered how to covertly extract phoenix flame essence from her without causing harm. Unlike the destructive dragon flame, the flame used by Riser contained healing magic elements. This effect could be achieved by adding a fourth word to the Fire Breath shout or altering the last word, but here it is a ready-made flame, its only drawback being its weakness. But this could be easily remedied with a Welkynd Stone.

"Right," Alduin said, pulling himself from his thoughts as they reached the school, "since you're under my care, it's a perfect excuse to skip the student council. I'll show you the way there and to the Occult Club eventually, but not now. I gather your kind likes to stick together, so you'll have to join one or the other."

"I know where the Occult Club and the student council are," Ravel responded.

"Excellent," Alduin perked up. "Class 1-A awaits, your new realm. Besides me, Koneko Toujou is also here; you saw her at the game. I'll introduce you to all the essential spots during the long break."

"Thank you." She said while nodding.

"Wait for the teacher; they'll fill you in on everything about the class," he said, pausing at the door to Class 1-A. "And most importantly," he turned to her, "something I forgot to mention yesterday. Right now, church members and Fallen Angels are prowling the city, so be extra careful. They don't know about your arrival yet, but you have every chance of getting an Excalibur to the head, and I could become the victim of Sona's monologues. Let's save each other some nerves, okay?"

"Sona-sama warned me yesterday," Ravel smiled faintly.

"That witch," Alduin hissed as he entered the classroom.

Ravel Phenex's introduction to the class barely registered, as Alduin was consumed by the memory of the astonished faces of Muruyama and Katase when they saw their Dragon Priestesses masks. So what if they resembled Morokei's mask, which they called the The Face of God? All the masks looked alike, differing only in color and the material they were made from. It was only when a flash of gold caught Alduin's eye that his mind returned to the classroom. Reivel, or rather the back of her head, distracted him from pondering the differences between the masks of Otar and Nahkriin. They seated her to his left, next to Koneko, who seemed less than thrilled with her new neighbor. He figured it must be the old bird-and-cat rivalry. As soon as the bell rang signaling the start of the long break, Koneko dashed off to her club, and Alduin took Ravel under his wing.

"This is the sports equipment storage room…"

"This is the dark corner on the school roof…"

"This is the bushes behind the judo club, hardly anyone comes here…"

"These are the bushes that hide a peephole into the girl's kendo club locker room that my brother uses to peek at…"

"Why are you showing me all this? Why didn't you take me to the library, the cafeteria, the staff room, or just give me a simple tour around the school? Why such an odd choice of locations?! Why do I need to know where your brother peeks?!" Ravel finally burst out.

"Why? You're a demon! You need to know places where you can be alone with a seduced mortal that you'll be toying with. The Gremorys have the Occult Club, Sona has the student council, although I think she entertains herself at home." Alduin paused while scratching his chin. "She hasn't been caught in debauchery around me, no matter how much I've tempted her. You'll definitely need a lair."

"I'm not like that!" two voices chimed in unison, and Alduin had to dodge an awkward punch from Ravel and a precise flick on the back of his head from Sona.

"Sona! What can I do for you?" he said as he stepped a bit closer after dodging their attacks.

"How many times do I have to tell you! We are Devils, and we're not like that!"

"Really? From what I see of my brother's mistress, I beg to differ."

"Don't lump everyone together," Sona sighed, cleaning her glasses. "Haven't you seen Saji?"

"Didn't you look at the ground behind you?" He nodded at the floor behind her.

"What's that got to do with anything?" Sona squinted her eyes in response.

"Well, his reaction to our conversation led me to conclude he's ready to lick the ground you walk on."

"Not funny, Tatsumi," Sona frowned.

"Then I don't know. Maybe he's getting into the art of being a proper demon, taking lessons from my brother?"

"What could a recently turned Devil know about our ways?" Ravel snorted.

"Remember that hole in the kendo club's dojo wall?" Alduin asked with a smirk.

"Yes…"

"That's where Issei and his buddies peep at the changing girls. Truly, a deed worthy of a canonical demon. So, Sona, do you also peek at the boys' basketball team?"

"There's no such club at Kuoh."

"Well, at the neighboring schools then?"

"Don't change the subject," Sona said sternly.

"See, she doesn't even deny the act of peeking, and immediately starts threatening," he said, placing Ravel between himself and Sona. "I suspected she had her fun outside school, but with an entire basketball club…"

Dodging a jet of water from the angered heiress of the Sitri clan, Alduin circled her widely and then quickly darted behind her, scooping her up in his arms.

"Release me at once!" Sona demanded, struggling in vain to break free from Alduin's grip.

"Shh, shh. Using magic in broad daylight, shame on you," Alduin said, shaking his head. "Alright, back to serious topics. Since you brought up Saji, I haven't seen my little brother either. And those two idiot friends of his were recently chased across the schoolyard by the aikido club..."

"No, ugh, no surprise there..." Sona interjected, trying to break free.

"...without Issei," continued Alduin. "Odd, isn't it? And yesterday, church members came here..."

"I'll talk to Rias," Sona said, immediately growing serious. Looking up at Alduin, who was still holding her, she added, "Tatsumi, I can't go to Rias while you're holding me."

"True." He released the girl and kissed the top of her head, then playfully slapped her bottom. "Move then, a step with one foot, then the next."

If Sona had the power to kill with her gaze, the Firstborn of Akatosh would have long been dead. Probably on the very first day of his studies at Kuoh Academy.

Shooting him one last look, Sona walked towards the old school building.

"Well, with church members running amok in the city and Sona busy, I guess I'll have to keep an eye on you."

"I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself, so there's no need for you to watch over me," Ravel protested.

"You might as well say you're older than me," Alduin chuckled. "And I would be more cautious around the church members. See how they stress Sona out. She didn't even scold me for laying a mammoth's trunk on student council matters." He paused for a second. "Usually, she tries to lecture me."

"You're strange. A mere mortal, yet you treat the heiresses of the Great Houses as if they're ordinary people…"

"What's so strange about that?" Alduin asked, ignoring the comment about being a mere mortal. "Respect has to be earned, and so far, only Sitri is making timid steps in that direction. Gremory, on the other hand, is a spoiled girl used to getting everything on a silver platter, all chewed up and ready to swallow. I have similar impressions of your sibling."

"But Rias-sama is quite strong…"

"What good does that do?" he motioned for Ravel to follow him as he headed to the classroom. "If everything went according to her plan, she would be a Phenex, not a Gremory. And my little brother wouldn't have reached Balance Breaker, or whatever it's called."

"Even that wouldn't have saved her if you hadn't participated in the Game," Ravel agreed.

"And I wouldn't have thought of it if it hadn't been for certain circumstances. I don't like arrogant bastards," Alduin said as he entered the classroom. "No offense. Oh, where did our neko go?" he asked, noticing Koneko's absence. "Is she skipping?"

"Maybe she's looking out for your brother?" Ravel suggested.

"Possibly," Alduin mused, but then his gaze fell on a black cat sitting on the windowsill. "Wrong classroom, kitty. Your Sailor Moon is on the floor above."