The night breathed cold and desolation. The three of us—Rias Gremory, heiress to a noble demonic line; Kiba Yuuto, her loyal Knight with his sword at the ready; and I, Izayoi Jin, the accidental tagalong—were climbing the broken stone stairs to the old church. The air here was thick, saturated with the smell of mold, damp earth, and that same faint, but pure, holy aura belonging to the exiled nun, Asia Argento. The fallen angels had cleared out, tails between their legs, but the danger hadn't vanished. It had simply gone dormant, waiting.
The church doors met us with a silent yawn. The darkness inside seemed thicker than the night outside. Rias stepped in first, her crimson hair a stark contrast to the gray stone and gloom. She held a small orb of magical light, which illuminated a depressing picture of ruin: overturned pews, shards of stained glass underfoot, cobwebs in the corners, a thick layer of dust on everything. A holy place, turned into a crypt of oblivion. The perfect refuge for a desperate soul.
"Asia! Asia Argento, are you here?" Rias's voice was soft but insistent, echoing off the high vaults. "Don't be afraid. We won't harm you. We've come to help."
The only answer was silence. Somewhere near the ceiling, a bat, disturbed by our intrusion, flapped its wings in panic.
Kiba scanned the surroundings tensely, his hand on the hilt of his sword. He could clearly sense the residual energy from the recent fight and was ready for anything. I, on the other hand, just stood there, surveying this kingdom of decay. I wasn't particularly moved by the girl's fate, but the situation was intriguing. Kokabiel, Twilight Healing, a war between factions… All of it had the potential to be decent entertainment, if the cards were played right. Or just a massive headache.
"Perhaps she's hiding," Kiba suggested in a whisper.
"Asia!" Rias called again, raising her voice. "I am Rias Gremory. The boy you healed... Issei... he is my servant. We know the fallen angels are hunting you. We can offer you protection!"
Silence again. But then... a quiet sob from behind the half-destroyed altar. We headed toward it. Rias's light orb illuminated a small figure, huddled in the darkest niche. Asia was sitting on the cold floor, hugging her knees, her face buried in them. Her shoulders trembled slightly. She was crying. Quietly, bitterly, like a child lost in a frightening forest.
Seeing us, she flinched again, her green eyes wide with terror. She looked at Rias—at her demonic aura, softened though it was by aristocratic manners, at Kiba with his sword, at me… In her eyes, I probably looked no better than the fallen who were ruining her life.
"D-don't come closer!" she stammered, trying to crawl deeper into the shadows. "Go away! Leave me alone!"
"Calm down, child," Rias took a step forward, her voice full of sympathy. She knelt on one knee, trying not to frighten her further. "We aren't your enemies. I know you're afraid of demons, but believe me, not all of us are the same. The ones who attacked you... the fallen angels... they are our common enemy."
"Common enemies?" Asia looked at her, disbelieving. "But… you're demons… And they are… angels, even if fallen…"
"The world is more complicated than they teach in church, Asia," Rias said softly. "There are different powers, different factions. And right now, one of those powers, led by a madman named Kokabiel, wants to start a war. They are hunting you for your Sacred Gear, Twilight Healing. They won't stop until they have it. Or until they kill you."
Asia listened, her lips trembling. She was clearly on the verge of hysterics.
"But… why me? What did I do to them? I just… wanted to help…"
"Your power, Asia," Kiba interjected, his voice calm and firm. "Your gift of healing is incredibly rare and valuable. It can save thousands of lives. But in the hands of those like Kokabiel, it can become a terrible weapon or a tool to achieve their filthy goals. That's why they're hunting you."
"And that is why we offer you protection," Rias finished. "Under my patronage, you will be safe. The Gremory clan has enough power to stand against Kokabiel and his minions. We will protect you."
Asia was silent, looking from Rias to Kiba. In her eyes, fear and desperation warred with… a faint spark of hope? She looked at me, standing a short distance away with an impassive face.
"And... and you?" she whispered, addressing me. "Are you... also a demon?"
"No," I answered curtly. "I am me. And I don't care about their squabbles. But I don't like it when scum like fallen angels make a mess where I live."
My answer, it seemed, confused her even more. Demons offering protection, and this strange, terrifyingly strong guy saying he wasn't a demon but was willing to break angels' wings… Her world was collapsing before her eyes.
"But… how can I… trust demons?" her voice trembled again. "The Church… I was exiled for healing a demon… They said I was defiled… That my power was from the devil…"
"The Church betrayed you, Asia," Rias said firmly. "They threw you to the very wolves who should have been your enemies. Was that fair? Is your gift of healing evil? No. Power is a tool. All that matters is how it's used. We offer you not just safety, but a chance to use your gift for good. To help those who truly need it, not just those hypocritical priests approve of."
Rias's words were convincing. She spoke with sincerity, and Asia sensed it. She was hesitating. The fear of demons, drilled into her since childhood, battled with her desperation and the knowledge that she couldn't survive alone. The fallen would return. And next time, I might not be around.
"I… I don't know…" she whispered, lowering her head again. Tears dripped onto the dusty floor. "I'm scared…"
"It's natural to be scared," Kiba nodded. "But sometimes you have to take a step into the unknown to save yourself. We won't harm you, Asia. Rias-buchou is known for her kindness to those under her protection."
I decided to add my two cents. Not out of sympathy, but pragmatism. This whole affair was starting to tire me out.
"Listen here, nun," I said, a bit more harshly than Rias or Kiba. Asia flinched and looked up at me, frightened. "You have two options. First: sit here, sob, and wait for a tougher crew than the three I scattered today to come for you. And believe me, they will come. Kokabiel isn't the type to give up easily. They'll rip your Sacred Gear out by force, and they'll probably just kill you, like useless trash. Or worse, torture you to break your will."
I paused, letting the words sink in. Asia turned even paler.
"Second option," I continued, "is to go with them. Yes, they're demons. But they're offering you a roof, food, and, most importantly, protection. Strong protection. Rias Gremory isn't a nobody in their world. Your chances of survival are much higher with her than in this hole. The choice is yours. But decide quickly, before your pursuers recover and send a new hunting party."
My words were rough, devoid of any sympathy. But they were true. And that truth, it seemed, affected Asia more than Rias's gentle persuasion. She raised her head, a flicker of resolve in her tear-filled eyes.
"Alright…" she whispered, barely audible. "I… I'll go with you. If… if you promise you won't hurt me…"
"I promise," Rias said firmly, holding out her hand. "You will be safe under my protection, Asia Argento."
Asia hesitated, looking at the demoness's outstretched hand. The hand of one she had been taught to hate and fear. But there was no malice in Rias's eyes, only calm confidence and… sympathy? Taking a deep breath, Asia placed her trembling palm in Rias's.
"I… I believe you…"
Rias gently helped her to her feet. Asia stood, still trembling, but not as frightened. She had made her choice. A step into the darkness, toward the unknown, but away from certain doom.
"Excellent," Rias nodded. "Now we need to get out of here as quickly as possible. Kiba, check the exit. Izayoi, will you cover our rear?"
"No problem," I replied.
Kiba slipped silently to the exit, checking the surroundings. Rias carefully led Asia along, trying to move slowly so as not to scare her further. I walked last, my gaze scanning the shadows of the ruined church. The danger had only passed for now. Kokabiel wouldn't back off so easily. And now, by taking Asia under her protection, Rias Gremory had effectively thrown down the gauntlet.
We exited the church into the cool night mist. The moon lit our path down the overgrown trail leading from the hill. Asia walked between Rias and Kiba, still glancing around timidly.
I walked behind them, lost in my own thoughts. The situation had taken an interesting turn. Now Rias had a valuable healer, and Kokabiel had one more reason for aggression. A conflict was brewing. And it looked like I, once again, would be somewhere nearby.