KNOCK, KNOCK.
The soft knocks on the wood broke the silence of the room. The moon still lit the space, slipping through the curtains and drawing silver lines across the dark floor.
The handle turned slowly, and the door opened without haste. Cold air entered along with Rias's figure, her vivid red hair standing out against the dimness.
Gasper was still lying down, his body sunk into the soft mattress, eyes half-closed as though he had no strength to move. The faint creak of the door pulled his attention back to the present.
Rias crossed the room silently until she reached the bed. Her crimson gaze swept across the chamber, finally fixing on the boy, who seemed small within the wide space.
"I see you like the bed."
Her voice was calm, almost maternal, filling the empty room.
Gasper blinked a few times before sitting up slowly. His face still carried traces of fatigue, but his eyes were fully attentive on Rias.
"Grayfia will begin your training tomorrow."
The words lingered in the air, heavy with meaning. The mention of Grayfia brought fragmented memories to Gasper's mind—images of firm posture, unshakable discipline, and a presence that always commanded respect.
'Grayfia will train me. I remember her. I just hope my change won't draw too much attention.'
Rias stepped closer, her shadow stretching across the sheets.
"You look good in your new clothes."
The remark made Gasper avert his gaze for a moment, feeling the timid weight of her approval.
"Take today and rest well."
Her tone left no room for questions. A soft order, but still an order.
"Thank you, Rias-senpai."
The words slipped out hesitant but sincere. Gasper kept his fingers laced on his lap, trying to hide his nerves.
"And whenever you need blood, you can come to me."
The offer broke the silence between them. There was care in her words, a quiet promise that he wouldn't have to face this new life alone.
"Thank you, Rias-senpai. When I need blood, I'll bother you."
The faint smile that curved Rias's lips wasn't arrogant or distant—it was genuine. The nearly invisible blush on Gasper's face betrayed how much her words weighed on him.
Rias then leaned gently forward, her hand brushing aside a strand of hair that had fallen across his forehead. The gesture was slow, giving him time to accept or retreat. Gasper remained still, eyes wide, unable to react.
Her lips touched his forehead briefly but firmly, leaving unexpected warmth on his cold skin. A simple act, but one carrying deep meaning.
Without another word, Rias straightened and walked toward the door. The soft sound of her heels echoed across the room, pacing each step.
CLACK.
The door closed behind her, restoring complete silence.
Gasper PoV
I kept staring at the ceiling, trying to sort my thoughts. Every time I hear her name, my chest tightens. Grayfia Lucifuge. Sister Grayfia. If she looks too deep, she might realize I'm not the real Gasper. That's my biggest fear.
Even so, training with her is a unique chance. No matter how fear gnaws at me, I can't waste it. The Grayfia I recall from Gasper's memories was firm, commanding, but also beautiful. Beautiful in a way that felt untouchable.
Now I'll face her directly. Not just a memory, not just inherited images. Tomorrow, I'll see her for real.
Just thinking about it sends a chill down my spine. My mind tries to prepare, but my heart races. How will I stay calm? How will I call her Sister Grayfia without sounding strange?
Even so, I have to be ready. She's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen in my life, and tomorrow I'll stand before her. That thought frightens and excites me all at once.
Gasper PoV – End
Sona's Mansion
As the night advanced, moonlight reflected on the windows of Sona Sitri's mansion. The residence exuded silence and discipline, far removed from the vibrant atmosphere of the Gremory estate.
Tsubaki stood near the window, gaze fixed on the darkness of the garden. Her straight posture showed she wasn't there to rest but to observe. Behind her, Sona read in silence, pages turning at a steady pace as though every detail was being absorbed with calculated calm.
CLACK.
The dry sound of the wall clock marked the passing hour, echoing through the quiet hall. The cold glow of the moon spilled across polished floors, drawing geometric shadows.
Tsubaki broke the silence without moving from her spot.
"President… why didn't you tell Rias about that boy?"
Sona kept her eyes on the book, turning another page without changing her tone.
"You mean Issei Hyoudou."
"Yes."
There was a pause. The slow rhythm of Sona's breathing filled the space while Tsubaki waited.
"He displayed magic instinctively. That was information Rias should have had. And yet, you chose silence."
Sona closed the book with calm finality. The faint impact against the table broke the wait.
THUMP.
"I knew you'd ask that, Tsubaki."
Tsubaki's gaze shifted from the garden to her president, now free from the weight of the pages.
"So what's the answer?"
Sona adjusted her glasses with a meticulous gesture, as though she needed to arrange her thoughts first.
"The truth is, I don't have a solid justification. It was a choice. A momentary decision. I preferred to think of myself before thinking of her."
Tsubaki narrowed her eyes.
"Think of yourself?"
"Yes."
Sona's tone didn't waver. Neither defensive nor apologetic—just fact.
"If that boy has potential, it will be with me. Not with Rias. I want to observe him. Perhaps even add him to my own peerage."
Tsubaki's hand loosened on the curtain, tugging it slightly before letting go.
"That could cause problems later."
"Perhaps. But I can't ignore an opportunity."
Silence settled again. Only the wind striking the windows made a sound.
WHOOSH.
Sona closed her eyes briefly, as if confirming her choice.
"Rias already has enough to worry about with Gasper. I won't share this burden with her. That's my calculation."
Tsubaki tilted her head slightly, accepting the answer, even if not approving.
"Understood."
The Sitri mansion returned to silence, heavy and absolute. The moon still shone through the glass, but inside, everything was discipline and calculation.
Sona kept her glasses aligned and her gaze firm, as though already seeing beyond the present night. The decision she had made wasn't just a fleeting choice—it was the first step of a plan diverging from the line everyone expected.
CLACK.
The clock ticked another minute, marking the instant when the story began to shift.
Rias, who should have been told about the boy named Issei, would remain in the dark. Information that could change her path was now locked in Sona's hands. Hyoudou's future would not be shaped by written destiny, but by the cold calculation of another queen.
Issei wouldn't know. Rias wouldn't suspect. But the pieces on the board had already moved.
Meanwhile, Gasper rested at the Gremory mansion, unaware that his very existence was already rewriting each line of the original tale. His presence, marked by the weight of another world's consciousness, was unraveling the balance between the clans. The thread binding past and future had begun to fray.
The wind slipped through the Sitri halls as though carrying the whisper of an omen.
Sona was fully aware of the risk. Every choice shaped not only the present but the weight of the Sitri legacy. And for an heiress, thinking of herself was not deviation—it was duty.
To discover Issei before anyone else was her right and responsibility. Keeping that knowledge meant holding control, testing possibilities, and ensuring that if the dragon boy had true worth, he would belong to her.
That choice—meticulous, silent—was not just cold calculation. It was the exact reflection of her position as successor. And it would be this act, the decision to keep Issei for herself, that triggered the rewriting of the entire story of DxD.
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