True Magician

Chapter 115

The Underworld.

Akeno and I were in a small room in the same Gremory mansion. We were the only ones here, since Rias, after taking us here, left almost immediately, I understand, back to Sirzechs.

There was a cheerful silence between us. While Akeno looked like she was gathering her thoughts and building up her will, I just sat back and sipped my hot coffee. I was somewhat okay with the setting, I mean, the relative peace and quiet, but I'm sure that wasn't the case for Akeno.

Frankly, I don't understand her zeal for me. I mean, she has a crush on me, that much is obvious, but not love. Well, or so I think.

Love is too complex a feeling to come about because of just one incident and a few words. I mean, ALL I did to earn her 'love' was to open my eyes to her family situation and allow myself to be hugged, and that out of surprise, and not return the hug to her. Such single-mindedness simply did not fit with all the events surrounding her.

I took a deep breath and looked at Akeno, deciding to start the conversation myself, since her preparation had already taken too long. With something different, let's say.

- "Your actions are rather unusual, Akeno-san," I said, receiving a look of incomprehension at that, "I'm talking about the fact that you didn't tell Rias about that conversation in the garden. Your reaction to what I said in Sirzechs's office about her was limited to a shake of your head in humility, not regret or guilt. Why try to keep her naive when you can open her eyes with just one conversation?"

- "I'm... afraid she might... break." After a moment of silence, Akeno replied with a touch of sadness in her voice.

- "Hmm? What's more?"

- "After that prank of yours, Rias started to change. You can't see it, but she's become very strict now. Not to us, her own entourage, but to herself. Sometimes she doesn't sleep or eat for days to improve herself. Rias truly believes that this way she can take care of us and protect us. Instead of getting better all together by spreading the load evenly, she... sacrifices herself for us."

- "Excuse me?" I wasn't really surprised.

- "She hates the idea of forcing us to train the way she does. She doesn't want to see the black circles under our eyes, the bloody calluses on our hands, the gaunt bodies from skipping meals, and the loss of consciousness from the depletion of our magical powers. So, Rias puts herself through it, so that we can live... happily. Even her family, including Lord Lucifer, hasn't found out yet."

I stared into Akeno's face, trying to find traces of a lie, even though I realized it was impossible for me to lie. At least for someone like her.

Now that Akeno had told it, Rias did indeed have circles under her eyes that were hidden under her makeup, and she looked thinner than usual. I didn't pay much attention to it since I thought it was just lack of sleep or something. However, if it's exactly as Akeno said, then....

- "That's a pretty stupid decision." said the demon Bael in my head.

- "Indeed," agreed Gremory, "It would create an unreachable gap between her powers and those of her retinue..."

- "...and that means less teamwork, less trust and confidence in each other, as well as in themselves..." Agares added.

- "...and in the end, the descendant of Gremory and Bael will consider the members of his retinue too weak to give their best..." Phenex added.

- "...hence, to avoid endangering them with enemies and her own strength, she will fight alone..." Belial joined in

- "...and someday her body and mind will fail her owner at the most crucial moment," Goetia finished in a thoughtful tone, "What will you do, Romani? This isn't exactly what you wanted."