Chapter 54

Kuoh Academy.

A sepulchral silence was the only sound in the room and the area in principle. Even the attacking forces that Katerea came with were silent. Everyone was shocked by her actions, and especially me.

The villain suddenly switched sides? That sounds very strange. Was it the result of my actions in Lucifer's castle? I doubt it, since I didn't exchange words with anyone besides Rize-chan. In fact, this situation smells suspicious.

As I looked around, I noticed that all eyes were on me and Katerea. This, for the first time in my entire life here, made me feel embarrassed. And that had never happened even with the Phenexes.

- Um... I'm flattered and all, but why such a change? Shouldn't you be tearing up and throwing down with your arrogance and power, Lady Leviathan?" I asked, looking at the kneeling Katerea.

- I've been contacted. Opened my eyes to what I needed. - Raising her head and looking me in the eyes, she answered.

Contacted? That sounds very familiar. Like...

- Nothing you want to tell me, uh, Leviathan? Phenex started a flash mob and you picked up on it?

- Unlike Phenex, I only have two descendants. Besides, I'm amused by the whole situation.

- Amusing, huh? - my eyebrow twitched in annoyance.

- Uh-huh. - He replied, almost indifferently.

Okay... If he wants to play, then...

I raised my hand and was about to forcibly materialize Goetia when suddenly an angry shout came from the sky.

- Traitor!

I turned my head towards the source, just like everyone else, and saw Shalba glaring angrily at Katerea. The eyes of those in the room became sharp, and they themselves began to prepare for battle.

- Shalba Beelzebub! - Rias exclaimed in surprise.

- Two descendants of the old Lords at once! - Sona added.

- Aren't our goals identical! How could you betray what our ancestors died for!!! - Disregarding the others, Shalba turned to Katerea.

- Our goals have never been the same. And I am not betraying, just the opposite, - she straightened up and looked at Shalba - Why are you here, Shalba?

- Lord Rizevim suspected that after the incident at the castle you would betray us. And I see that his suspicions were justified," he said and gathered energy in his fist, "Die, traitor.

A concentrated beam of energy flew out of his hand, which could definitely kill Katerea if it hit. All because he didn't bother to be ceremonious, and immediately used the snake Ophis in his body. I didn't even need to strain to realize it, as there was a haze in the outline of his aura that reeked of 'Nothingness'.

But back to the point. The speed of the beam was high. A protective magic circle began to quickly form in front of Katerea, but not enough. The others in the room tried to help her, but they were not in time.

And when the attack almost reached her, my magic circle lit up in front of her. Shalba's beam hit it, and a second later it crumbled into nothingness. Shalba became even angrier at that, then he gave a command and light spears, demonic balls, spells and the like flew at us.

However, all of this was blocked by the shield, which was supported by Michael, Sirzechs and Greyfia. Vali didn't rush into battle as he had in canon, but watched me closely. Azazel looked thoughtfully at Shalba, and Gabrielle supported Michael. The churchmen and demons simply remained in place and waited for their leaders' orders.

Katerea, on the other hand, slowly turned in my direction and made a small bow.

- Thank you.

- Don't mention it. Consider it an advance," I grinned, then looked at Morgan, "Your Majesty, can you bring the culprit of the temporary closed field here?

- We'll save Gasper! Who knows what she'll do to him! - Rias protested, to which her entourage nodded their heads.

- What's in it for me? - Morgan smiled cheekily, ignoring her.

- A date?

- Oh? Then it would have to be special to impress me. Well, I'm off. - she said and kissed me on the cheek goodbye, throwing a provocative glance at Akeno and disappearing into the dark blue butterflies. Akeno herself clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, and a few lightning bolts went through her body, showing that she was very unhappy.

Well, she'll get over it, and now we can go a little wild.

-0-

Fires of different colors and shades flashed here and there, and various magic circles never stopped firing at our position. Because of Gasper's Holy Mechanism, the faction leaders couldn't go on the attack, as it would then put us under attack.

Rias was biting her nails from worrying about the elephant and her own inaction. Koneko, Asia and Kiba realized there was nothing they could do and just stood still, while Issei stared at the chest of the descendant of the Old Lords.

But none of that bothered Akeno. Her mind was burning with giant flames of rage at Morgan's actions. That kiss on the cheek had hurt her badly, but she realized that Romani's companion was stronger. And that fact infuriated Queen Rias even more.

An unpleasant prickling feeling from the closeness between the Berserker and the Magician pierced Akeno's heart time after time as they interacted with each other.

Jealousy.

The resentment and frustration grew even more from the words of the Magician himself. He didn't perceive Akeno's feelings and chose to ignore them as well as the signs of attention. And that was... painful...

Her hands were clenched tightly into a fist, her lips pressed together in frustration, and a black line formed on her forehead.

Akeno just didn't want to accept this order of things, and so she decided...

"I'll make him accept me."

That was her desire. Strong, deep, and irresistible. Ever since that moment when he had reprimanded her at his home. There was no anger in his lecture - only frustration.

Unexploited potential.

When she'd thrown herself at him with a hug, she'd been scared. Akeno was afraid he would push her away, that she disgusted him like... trash... But that didn't happen. The Magician didn't hug her back and comfort her, something became clear to her from his words.

"I don't dislike you."

He accepts her for who she is. He won't judge her for her background or behavior. It was as if those words gave Akeno a second wind. Free and easy.

 "I am not comfortable with such intimacy. At least I think so."

He was... not sure. Doubt permeated his every word in those sentences, as if he himself didn't know if it was true. But Akeno noticed, or rather felt his pain. It was as if he had been burned once and didn't want to experience that feeling again.

And looking at his relationship with this woman from that angle, it's safe to say that he doesn't let her get closer than a certain level. Something between an acquaintance and a friend, but not a girlfriend or wife. At that moment, another desire was born in Akeno's heart. Equally passionate and fiery....

"I will help him."

And she would fulfill them, no matter the cost. Those were Akeno's thoughts before something started to happen.

Suddenly, the entire academy shook. Giant pillars of fire erupted from the ground, more like tornadoes. It seemed like one such pillar could destroy an entire city, and there were six of them. Their flames danced in the wind, turning to ash everyone they hit. Hundreds of mages, fallen and demons that the descendants of the Old Lords had come with were turned to ash in an instant.

- What power..." Sirzechs muttered, looking at the fire.

- Magnificent! - Vali exclaimed.

- It's... beautiful... - added Katerea, standing next to Romani, who only smiled, putting his hands behind his back.

It would seem that their heat should have scorched the entire academy and everyone inside it, but it didn't happen. Without realizing it, Akeno walked over to the window where one of those vortexes of death was dangerously close to.

- Akeno! What are you doing?! Get out of there! - The frightened and worried voices of Rias and her entourage sounded from outside, but Akeno ignored them.

Reaching the window, she slowly reached out her hand toward the vortex, and its tongues of flame touched her. But instead of getting burned or at least hurt in some way, Akeno felt caressing and calm. It reminded her of her long-dead mother, as if she had been comforting her daughter and protecting her from danger with a kind smile on her face and measured hand movements.

So warm...

- Akeno? - Rias asked cautiously, looking at her.

- It's all right, Rias. - Akeno said with a smile, not taking her eyes off the fire - Romani-sensei wouldn't hurt anyone who didn't deserve it.

- I have no idea why you have such faith in me, Akeno-chan. - Sensei said in a sneering tone.

From the heart, Sensei....

-0-

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