Chapter [11]

"Beautiful."

That was all Rias said upon seeing Kaito's face, her eyes widening slightly in admiration.

Kaito blushed slightly, unaccustomed to receiving such direct compliments. He looked at Rias, still feeling a bit insecure, but comforted by the warm reception.

"Thank you," he murmured, still a bit surprised by her reaction. "I'm still trying to understand all this."

Rias turned as red as her hair upon realizing she had voiced her thoughts aloud. She quickly averted her gaze, trying to regain her composure. "I apologize, Kaito. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

Kaito gave a small smile, appreciating the sincerity and momentary vulnerability of Rias. "It's okay, Rias. I just... this is all very new to me."

Rias nodded, still a bit flushed but with a warm smile on her lips. "Who knew that behind all that hair you were hiding this face?"

Kaito was confused. He knew his face hadn't looked like this before. Initially, he thought the transformation had to do with accepting to be Rias's servant, but he soon realized it might be related to him being half-fairy.

"Rias, what do you know about me?" Kaito asked, the doubt evident in his voice.

"That you were a human with immense magical power that probably possessed a powerful Sacred Gear," Rias responded, watching him intently. "But there seems to be more to it, isn't there?"

Kaito sighed, feeling a bit more comfortable to share his story. "Yes, there's much more. To start, I'm adopted. I never knew my biological parents."

Rias looked at him in surprise, but before she could respond, Akeno entered the room, carrying a tray with a teapot and some cups. "I brought some tea for us," she said with a smile, beginning to serve the cups.

Kaito thanked her as he took a cup, feeling the comforting warmth of the tea in his hands. "My biological parents were of different species."

Akeno, who was serving the tea, paused for a moment, her curiosity clearly piqued. "Different species?" she commented, interested in Kaito's story.

"Yes. My mother was a fairy and my father was human. I never met them, but I recently found out that I inherited my mother's powers. She sacrificed her own life to protect me."

Akeno and Rias exchanged looks, both with expressions of tension. The silence in the room became palpable, the magnitude of Kaito's revelation echoing in the air.

Kaito noticed the change in Rias's expression, a mix of concern and something deeper that he couldn't fully decipher. "Is there a problem with being half-fairy and being reincarnated as a Devil?" he asked, feeling a knot forming in his stomach.

Rias hesitated for a moment, exchanging a significant look with Akeno before turning back to Kaito. "Kaito, there's something you need to know about fairies," she began, her voice serious and laden with sorrow. "The fairies were all executed by the gods of the Greek pantheon in a war that occurred almost sixteen years ago."

Kaito was shocked, his hands trembling slightly as he held the tea cup. "All the fairies... executed? But why?"

Rias sighed, the pain evident in her eyes. "We're not sure of all the details. What spread was that the fairies had disrespected Zeus, and because of this blasphemy, they were exterminated. It was an act of unparalleled cruelty."

Kaito listened attentively, his mind processing the information. He knew the official explanation was a farce. There was no disrespect or blasphemy by the fairies. The real reason was much more personal and dark. Zeus, in his arrogance, couldn't handle the rejection of his mother and decided to destroy everything she represented. Kaito held this information to himself, aware that revealing it now would bring no benefit.

The room fell silent again, the weight of the revelation hanging in the air. Rias and Akeno watched Kaito, concerned about his reaction and how he would process the information.

Kaito finally broke the silence, his voice firm despite the emotional storm he felt. "I understand. My mother sacrificed her life to protect me from that fury. And now, I've inherited her powers."

Rias looked at Kaito with determination, her voice firm but filled with empathy. "Kaito, you don't have to be afraid. You are part of my Peerage now, and I treat my Peerage like a family. I won't let anyone touch a hair on your head."

Kaito was surprised by Rias's declaration. As a half-fairy, he had innate abilities, one of which was to instantly know if someone was telling the truth. This was one of the fairies' secrets that Kaito would never reveal. He knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that Rias would keep her promise.

Feeling more secure, Kaito decided to change the subject, trying to lighten the tension still lingering in the air. "Rias, I heard you mention something about Sacred Gears earlier. What exactly is a Sacred Gear?"

Rias smiled, pleased to see Kaito taking an interest in the world to which he now belonged. "A Sacred Gear is an artifact created by God to grant special powers to humans. There are many different types of Sacred Gears, each with its own unique abilities."

Akeno added, as she served more tea to everyone, "Sacred Gears can vary greatly in terms of power and ability. Some can grant healing abilities, others can enhance physical strength or manipulate elements. They are a fundamental part of the balance of power among humans, angels, demons, and other supernatural races."

Kaito absorbed the information, his mind working to understand everything. "So, is it possible that I have a Sacred Gear?"

"If you were a pure-blooded fairy, it would be impossible for you to have a Sacred Gear. However, since you are half-human, there is a possibility. We need to test to confirm."

At that moment, Koneko appeared at the door, her expression calm and serene. "Rias, it's almost time for us to go to school."

Rias nodded, turning back to Kaito. "We'll continue this conversation later. We need to get ready for school."

Kaito frowned, confused. "Why would a Devil care about school?"

Rias gave a soft laugh. "Why not? Besides, it's a great way to observe humans and recruit new members for the Peerage."

Kaito glanced at his reflection in a nearby mirror and grimaced. "But what am I going to do about my appearance? I look very different."

Akeno smiled gently. "Don't worry, Kaito. To all humans, it will be as if you just cut your hair. They won't notice anything unusual."

Kaito was relieved, but still had one doubt. "And my parents? They won't notice either?"

Akeno shook her head. "Even your parents won't notice anything different about you. The magic we use ensures that."

Kaito sighed with relief. "I left my backpack in my room. I need to grab it before we go."

Akeno approached him, offering to help. "I can teach you to use teleportation magic to go to your house and get the backpack. Let's go together."

With that, Akeno and Kaito prepared for the teleport. Akeno began explaining the basic principles of teleportation magic, showing how to concentrate energy and visualize the destination. Kaito, although nervous, followed Akeno's instructions, and together, they successfully teleported to Kaito's room.

In Kaito's room, he quickly grabbed his backpack, feeling more confident with Akeno's guidance. "I did it," he said with a smile.

Akeno smiled back. "Great job, Kaito. Now, let's go back to the mansion and get ready for school."

They teleported back to the Gremory mansion, where Rias and the others were already ready to leave. Kaito was starting to feel more comfortable with his new reality, knowing he had the support of his new friends and Rias's protection.

Further questions about his reincarnation as a Devil still left doubts, doubts that would be quenched later.

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