The afternoon sun filtered through the windows of the Gremory mansion, lighting the training field scarred by fissures, ashes, and wooden dummies reduced to charcoal. The air still carried the scent of smoke and burnt iron.
Rias walked beside Gasper, and before them stood Sajislightly uneasy but trying to maintain a firm posture.
"So this is the new member of your peerage, Rias-sama."
The redhead nodded, her crimson eyes turning toward the recently arrived boy.
"Yes. His name is Saji."
The boy gave a slight bow, trying to sound confident.
"I'm Saji Genshirou. It's an honor to be part of your group."
Silence lingered for a few seconds before Rias turned her gaze to the field. The marks of destruction dominated the area, the uneven ground reflecting the remnants of training.
"I hope all this destruction was worth it."
Gasper lifted his chin, his voice steady.
"It was. I've improved my technique a lot."
Saji watched the two, a mix of curiosity and caution in his eyes. The environment still intimidated him, but he didn't want to show weakness.
"President, I'm heading home now."
Rias kept a calm expression and nodded.
"All right."
The boy turned and walked briskly down the stone path leading to the gate.
Clack
The sound of his shoes echoed until it faded into the distance.
Gasper stayed silent, watching Saji's figure disappear. His gaze hardened for a moment, revealing more than he let show.
'Saji in Rias's peerage… at this point, nothing surprises me anymore.'
Gasper stood tall, his red eyes locked on Rias. The silence between them was heavy, solid as stone. The redhead leaned forward slightly, her gaze shimmering with expectation.
"Then show me, Gasper. I want to see how far you've come."
He drew a deep breath, his expression firm.
"Of course, Rias-senpai. I'll show you the Twilight Flame."
The air seemed to vibrate around them. Dark, incandescent energy formed slowly, coiling around the dhampir's arm. The flame pulsed dense, devouring the nearby space as if draining the very vitality from the air.
Fwoooosh
Heat spread in waves. The fire was not ordinary—dark, deep, as though it burned not only matter but essence itself.
Rias took a step back, her eyes widening. The power was unlike anything she had ever seen, and the primal force radiating from those flames sent chills up her spine.
'With this power, I can defeat Riser.'
Gasper clenched his fist, and the fire vanished as quickly as it had appeared, leaving only emptiness and the silence of the field.
Rias drew a long breath, still stunned. Her heart raced with a mix of fear and hope.
"Very well, Gasper. Now go rest—you've earned it."
He only nodded, stepping back with steady movements. His body still carried the weight of training, but his crimson eyes never lost their determination.
Clack
The sound of his footsteps faded down the corridor.
Rias remained still for a moment. Her face softened, and a faint smile formed.
The future no longer seemed so far away.
The afternoon sun gilded the gates of Kuoh Academy, marking the end of classes. The sound of students echoed through the corridors—laughter mixed with the scraping of chairs.
Gasper stayed seated at his desk, his gaze lost in the void as the room emptied little by little.
'Finally. I'd rather fight a thousand fallen angels than stay here any longer.'
His red eyes glanced subtly toward Koneko, who was quietly packing her things. The girl closed her bag and walked to the door without even looking at him.
'What a boring cat, not even waiting for her peerage partner.'
A faint smile curved his lips, and a low chuckle escaped.
"hahaha"
The soft echo vanished in the empty room. Gasper stood and walked out.
The fresh air of late afternoon greeted him in the schoolyard. Amid the dispersing groups, one figure caught his attention. A girl walked toward him, her loose black hair swaying in the light breeze. The smile on her face was far too sweet to be genuine.
'Raynare… seriously, does she not realize I'm a Devil, not a human?'
The girl stopped in front of him, her eyes shining with calculated gentleness.
"You're Gasper, right? I'm Yuuma Amano. I thought it would be nice to get to know you better."
The dhampir kept his composure. His eyes flicked away for a second, his body tense, but his reply came in a timid tone.
"Ah… yes. Sure."
Her smile widened, graceful and charming. She took a step forward, closing the distance.
"How about going to the plaza? The weather's perfect today."
He hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"All right."
The plaza was calm. Children played in the distance, and the sound of the central fountain filled the air with a steady murmur. The sun was setting, painting the sky in orange hues.
The two sat on a stone bench. Yuuma gently adjusted her black hair, her eyes fixed on him as if searching for silent answers.
Gasper took a deep breath, glancing away for a second before speaking.
"Even though I'm still young… do you really like me?"
The question lingered, carrying a tone of apparent innocence—but beneath it, there was cold calculation. He watched every detail, every reaction.
Her gentle smile remained, but the glint in her eyes betrayed something beyond the mask.
"Of course I do. You seem special. Different from everyone else."
"I'd say the same about you, but unfortunately, you just look like any other slut."
The words came cold, cutting. Yuuma's sweet smile froze for an instant, though she tried to recover her softness.
"I don't understand what you mean."
Her voice stayed sweet, but tension leaked through the edges of her words. Gasper crossed his arms, his crimson gaze glinting in the twilight.
"You understand perfectly. You're just pretending."
Yuuma turned her eyes away, forcing a nervous smile.
"This is the first time a boy's spoken to me like that. You're quite direct, Gasper."
The dhampir tilted his head slightly. His tone stayed low, yet steady.
"I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about the fact that you're a fallen angel."
Her body stiffened. The gentle mask shattered in seconds. The smile vanished, her gaze turning cold and predatory.
For a few moments, silence hung between them. The air grew heavier, and even the sound of the children playing faded away.
"So you know…"
Yuuma's voice was different now—low, sharp, stripped of pretense.
"Since you know my human name, there's no reason to keep pretending."
Gasper's eyes narrowed.
'Even now, she hasn't realized. She doesn't know what I am.'
Disappointment crossed his face, subtle but real.
"Raynare. That's your real name."
The name dropped like a blade. The fallen angel stepped back half a pace, startled. The air around them quivered. Gasper calmly raised his hand.
Fwoooosh
A circle of dark energy expanded from the ground, surrounding them both. The barrier solidified silently, isolating the space in a sphere of demonic power.
Raynare looked around, assessing the structure. A smile crept back—this time, genuine and dangerous.
"A Devil… so that's it. A little demon playing hide-and-seek among humans."
Gasper's expression stayed neutral, his tone almost indifferent.
"I'm not just a Devil. I'm the mistake you were never meant to find."
The barrier pulsed red for an instant, the air vibrating between them. Neither moved. They simply stared—predator and prey, still deciding which was which.
A light breeze swept by, dragging dry leaves across the pavement. In Raynare's eyes, the dark flame reflected—beautiful, dangerous, and promising.
There would be no fight yet. But the first move of the game had already been made.
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