Chapter 5: A Silent Return

The sun was slowly dipping beneath the horizon, casting a soft orange glow over Kuoh Academy. The school grounds, normally filled with the lively chatter of students, were now quiet, a tranquil moment before nightfall. The mundane world had no idea of the supernatural forces at play beneath the surface. For most, Kuoh was just a normal high school. But for Alex, it was much more than that.

He hadn't set foot in Kuoh for years—not since his childhood. And not since the day he left behind the people he cared about the most. The most important of them being Rias Gremory.

Now, standing on top of one of the highest rooftops of the academy, Alex's sharp eyes scanned the grounds below. He had watched the events in Kuoh unfold from a distance, biding his time, waiting for the right moment to return. His power had grown to the point where he surpassed even his father, Shiva, but it wasn't strength that held him here. It was a promise—a vow he had made to Rias all those years ago.

But he hadn't revealed himself yet. He wasn't ready. Not until now.

It had been years since Alex last saw Rias. He still remembered their last conversation as if it had happened yesterday. She had been young, full of hope and ambition, but the shadow of her engagement to Riser Phenex loomed over her even then. Alex had promised her that day he would free her from that unwanted fate, that he would be there to break the chains binding her to that arranged marriage.

But soon after, tragedy struck. His mother was killed by Rizevim, and Alex left everything behind to pursue vengeance. He had been consumed by the need to surpass his father, to become strong enough to protect everyone he cared about. But that meant leaving Rias—and his promise to her—on hold.

Now, years later, he had returned. But the Kuoh Academy he returned to was different from the one he had left behind. Rias had grown stronger in his absence, and she had started building her peerage. He'd heard the rumors—about Issei Hyoudou, the perverted boy who had been reincarnated as a devil by Rias after being killed by a fallen angel. The pawn of her peerage.

But to Alex, that didn't matter. What mattered was the promise he had made to Rias, and the fact that he had yet to keep it.

As Alex stood silently on the rooftop, his gaze fell upon the courtyard below. There, he saw Rias walking with her peerage: Issei, Akeno, Kiba, and Koneko. He had watched her from afar since his return, gauging the situation, making sure she was safe. Rias had always been capable, but Alex knew the weight she carried—the engagement she still hadn't escaped.

Behind him, a familiar presence stirred.

"She looks different, doesn't she?" Grayfia, his ever-loyal companion, spoke quietly. Her silver hair shimmered in the dying light of the sun, and her eyes were as sharp and observant as ever.

"She's stronger now," Alex replied, his voice calm but distant. "But she shouldn't have to bear this alone."

Grayfia nodded. She had stood by Alex's side throughout his journey for vengeance and strength, always loyal, always there. But her duties with the Gremory family had kept her tied to them as well, and she knew it was only a matter of time before she'd have to return to her position as their maid.

"You've trained for years to keep that promise, haven't you?" Grayfia's voice was soft, but she already knew the answer.

Alex didn't need to respond. His silence was enough. He had left Rias for his own reasons, but the promise had never left his heart.

His emerald eyes narrowed slightly as he continued watching her. He didn't need to intervene just yet, but he couldn't delay much longer. Riser Phenex's presence loomed ever closer, and the engagement that threatened to steal Rias's future was still very much a reality.

"Are you going to reveal yourself to her?" Grayfia asked after a long pause.

A faint smirk touched Alex's lips. "Soon. It's time."

With Rias

Inside the Occult Research Club building, Rias sat at her desk, her blue eyes gazing out of the window at the stars above. The day had been long, filled with the usual duties of managing her peerage and attending to her responsibilities as the Gremory heiress. But tonight, something felt different. A lingering thought, a feeling she couldn't shake, tugged at the edge of her consciousness.

She hadn't thought about Alex in a long time—not since he disappeared all those years ago.

When she was younger, he had been a constant in her life, someone she looked up to. He had made her a promise back then, a promise she had long since given up hope on. But as she grew older, the memory of that promise seemed more like a distant dream. Alex had left without a word, pursuing something she didn't fully understand, and she hadn't seen or heard from him since.

Still, tonight, the feeling of his absence weighed heavily on her heart. She found herself wondering what had become of him. Had he forgotten about her? About the promise he made to free her from her engagement?

Rias shook her head, trying to push the thought away. She was stronger now. She could handle herself. But a part of her, deep down, still longed for the day Alex would return.

The next morning, Rias walked into her classroom at Kuoh Academy, the usual energy of the school day settling around her. But as she stepped inside, she noticed something immediately different.

There, standing near the teacher's desk, was a familiar figure—a figure she hadn't seen in years.

Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes widened in shock. Alex.

He stood there calmly, his dark hair slightly ruffled, his presence as commanding as ever. His green eyes met hers, and for a moment, it felt like the world stopped. He gave her a small, knowing smile, one that held all the promises and memories of their past.

"Everyone, this is our new transfer student," the teacher announced, but Rias barely heard it. Her mind was spinning, trying to process the fact that Alex was standing right in front of her. After all these years, he was back.

And he had returned with no warning.

"Alex…?" she whispered, still in disbelief.

He nodded slightly, his smile growing just a bit. "It's been a while, hasn't it, Rias?"

Her heart raced, emotions flooding her all at once. She had so many questions, so many things she wanted to say. But the only thing that came to mind was that old promise—the one she had never forgotten.

"I told you I'd come back," Alex said quietly, his voice carrying only to her. "And I haven't forgotten what I promised you."

Before she could respond, the teacher continued the introduction, and Alex moved to take his seat. But the weight of his presence lingered, and Rias knew, without a doubt, that her life was about to change once again.

Timeskip

Later that evening, back at the Gremory estate, Grayfia stood before Sirzechs and the rest of the family, her duties as their maid once again resumed. She had left Alex's side, knowing that his path was now set. He had returned to Rias, and there was no longer any need for her to stay in the shadows.

But as she stood before her master, Grayfia's thoughts remained with Alex. She had watched him grow, seen his power surpass even the strongest beings in existence. And now, he had returned to fulfill the promise he had made so long ago.

A faint smile touched her lips as she resumed her duties. The pieces were falling into place, and soon, the world would witness the full extent of Alex's power.