Tales of the dragon slayer

Chapter 28: Season 2, Chapter 6

Disclaimer.

I don't own High School DxD, or any of the other copy right stuff that may be included in this story.

I don't make any money off of it and only write this for my own enjoyment.

If criticism of religion bothers you, please don't read this story. Also, why are you reading DxD, a story which makes heroes out of devils, if criticism of religion bothers you?

Just outside the northern city limits of Kuoh, Xenovia and Irina silently crept through a dark and foreboding forest. The trees were old, covered with moss, and so thick it blotted out the moon. The ground was blanketed with a fog that hovered over the forest floor and hid the gnarly roots that threatened to trip them. The pair of exorcists continued onward, hardening their hearts against the eerie silence that permeated the area, leaving them only with the sound of their internal doubts.

"Xenovia..." Irina whispered, her soft voice breaking the absolute stillness as if she had shouted the word out loud. "I thought this was suppose to be a cemetery."

"You're the local." Xenovia breathed back, careful so as not to make too much noise. "Aren't you suppose to be the expert?"

"I was just a kid at the time..." Irina defended with a murmur. "I never went this far away from my old house, and certainly not to a creepy place like this. Do you think those devils were playing a trick on us?"

"I wouldn't put it past any devil to try and trick us." Xenovia distrustfully muttered, "But that magician. You saw what happened. He's a natural Holy Sword wielder like me, and even I never had a reaction as strong as that. I refuse to believe someone like that could lie to us."

"We'll have to tell the Church about him after we've finished our mission." Irina said, clasping her hands in prayer. "We have to save his soul from those devils."

"Shh..." Xenovia hushed her companion as the fog lifted and revealed a clearing within the brush.

There before them were a series of graves, hundreds of years old. The names on the moss covered stones had worn off over time, and the small dilapidated Shinto temple in the center was a testament that this area had not only been abandoned but forgotten as well.

"This must be the place." Xenovia reasoned as the pair stealthily made their way through, looking for anything that might reveal the location of the Excalibur Fragment.

"Do… do you think it's buried in one of these graves?" Irina worriedly asked. "I don't think I could desecrate a grave, let alone in a place like this. It might be haunted."

"I doubt it." Xenovia said, taking a look around. "The ground doesn't seem to be disturbed."

The wind picked and up blew all around them, rustling the branches and leaves. Suddenly a random headstone inexplicably toppled over; the sound bounced off the trees and echoed out all around them.

"We're not alone." Irina commented, taking out Excalibur Mimic and preparing herself. "I guess it makes only sense that they left someone here to guard it."

"Good." Xenovia replied with a grin. "We won't have to find it on our own. Let's go find our host and get him to tell us where the Fragment is."