Igor vanished as fast as he came. He left the man behind for Vasco to analyse. What he needed to do was get to the bottom of Jeanne's matter. In this girl, he sensed something else he found odd, and perhaps Parvati could find what his perception couldn't.
.
|DxD|
.
{Meanie! Meanie! Why didn't you wake me up you stupid—}
[That. That right there is exactly why I asked aunty not to heal me completely.]
Igor stood outside the spatial barrier leading to the true Mount Kailasa. Compared to the paradise inside, the outside was rather dreary. The part he stood at rarely had any travellers, mostly because it was blisteringly cold.
The sun was there, but its warmth was gone. Traces of snow could be found at this altitude from the near-freezing temperatures. Temperature wasn't something that could affect Igor. The time chamber had far worse weather conditions than this. A blanket of ki was more than enough to keep the little lass beside him warm.
A few minutes had passed since Igor arrived and during those moments, the side-effects from the meditation technique had completely faded, prompting a hibernating Triny in his head to wake up.
Who knew the first thing the old hag did was yell in indignation after seeing his memories? Actually, he guessed it would be the case. Three years and she was still a little kid.
{I'm not a little kid! I'm a—}
[Old hag. You're an old hag. You speak like someone who's forgotten to take their medicine.]
{Noooooo! You're the elderly idiot! Aren't you a hundred years old? You're a grandpa!}
[...]
Igor couldn't be bothered to retort. Arguing with this burden would only waste his precious time.
{I'm not a burden! You're a burden!}
Besides, he had to pay attention to the feelings of the lass holding onto him. He'd intended on leaving her while going in to fetch Parvati, but the grip she had on him made it difficult. When he did remove her hand from his coat, she quickly latched onto his hand, refusing to let go.
He didn't want to stand outside for who knows how long, but he couldn't bring himself to remove her hand again.
Sigh…
Maybe he was the one growing soft. Waiting wasn't much of a problem, but Parvati was taking too long to come.
"..."
He looked at her gaunt figure. There was no point in asking her if she was hungry. That man probably didn't feed her much and if he did, it'd probably be his—
{Don't think about it. You've done the best you could.}
Igor felt a gentle surge of Triny's energy soothe his mood. She was right. The man responsible was enduring the worst torture under his friend's capable hands.
[You're right. Thanks, old hag.]
He sported a kind smile, but the parasite wouldn't accept his kind intentions.
{Hmph! I'll let you have this one, meanie. But I'll get you back!}
Igor smiled lightly. He could always count on his baggage to cheer him up.
{I'm not baggage!}
"Hehehe…"
He chuckled lightly, rousing a curious gaze from Jeanne. It was interesting how despite everything that happened, only his satisfied chuckle drew a change in expression on her face. He wasn't sure what to make of it, but he did know she needed some food in her belly.
"Right. I almost forgot."
A white light covered his hand before a whole cow's leg was in his hand. It's been a long while since he entered the time chamber so there was a lot of food available. A quick flare of ki allowed Igor to instantly cook it. He tore off a small piece and held it to her.
"Hungry?"
"..."
She looked at the meat but made no moves to take it. It left Igor feeling uncharacteristically out of tune. It was only years of shamelessness that allowed him to keep a straight face.
"It's good, even has salt in it."
He took a huge bite out of his piece and began chewing. He didn't stop gesturing at her, egging her on to take a bite.
"Hm? Hm?"
"..."
Under his persistence, Jeanne cautiously opened her mouth and bit the piece he held out for her.
"Good girl. You'll need to put on some weight after this."
.
|DxD|
.
Elsewhere, Parvati was hiding in plain sight. She smiled sadly as she watched Igor's interaction with the girl. She was aware ever since she felt the spike of killing intent he released in New Zealand. It was heart-warming to realise he could still sympathise with the plight of others. Her greatest worry was resolved in that singular moment.
Now, she was content to simply watch him and this child. He was still clumsy, clearly not used to dealing with children besides his sisters, but it was a step in a good direction.
[Poor girl. If only we could take you in.]
She'd seen enough of Jeanne's memories to know she has imprinted on Igor. It was an instinctual reaction that many have towards their savior.
What those people did to her was horrible by attempting to extract her sacred gear from her. It was far worse that she'd been sold as a slave after the ritual failed, discarded like trash.
Sigh…
Parvati couldn't help but feel sad. The misfortunes in the world were numerous. People of all different races suffered and it saddened her that she couldn't interfere in the lives of mortals, not without severe repercussions.
"This world truly is pitiful."
Parvati no longer hid herself from their view. Her form shimmered into existence like a curtain peeling away. She walked towards the duo with carefully measured steps. She didn't want to frighten the little girl, but it seemed she thought too much.
Jeanne showed no feelings nor reaction to Parvati's sudden appearance. No curiosity, no fear, just…nothing.
"You've gone through so much."
She crouched down and gently held Jeanne's free hand. Seeing her memories was one thing. But now, truly feeling them…living through them made her hate how despite thousands of years, people would still inflict pain on one another for greed.
"Poor girl…"
A steady trickle of tears flowed down her cheeks. She could feel the trauma rooted deep within this girl's bones. It was a deep pit of nothingness that turned her into a husk of her innocent self. She was spared most of the physical pain, but the mental shock and torture broke her down completely, to the very point that her instinct to live was broken. All chances at a normal life were completely shattered and taken from her.
Parvati truly, truly wished she could take her in, but it was impossible. A god's domain was not something anyone could just enter. Disregarding her husband's permission, a mortal needed to have a certain level of strength to enter Mount Kailasa.
"Little Jeanne."
Parvati stood up and slowly wiped her tears away.
"I am truly sorry for what happened to you. If I could, I would've done something, but…but…"
"…"
Igor placed a comforting arm on her shoulder and she appreciated the gesture. The suffering people go through was something she was forced to see, but was always powerless act. No matter what she did, a century would pass and history would repeat itself.
Even if she knew this, even if she knew it was pointless, Parvati couldn't stop herself from feeling. She could never disconnect herself. She really was caring, too caring for her own good.
"What's happened has already happened, aunty. We can only move forward from here."
Igor kindly reassured the Mother Goddess. Her empathy and kindness were ingrained aspects. He'd scoff at it if it weren't that very kindness that saved him from the brink of darkness.
"Jeanne survived and that's all that matters. Where there's life, there's hope."
The past couldn't be changed, but the future could be.
"You're right."
Parvati wiped away her tears with the sleeves of her dress. What mattered was Jeanne's future would be different. She couldn't do anything for the other children, but she could do what she could for this child, and that thought brought a gentle smile to her face.
"Thank you, Igor."
On the side, Jeanne silently watched the exchange between the duo. She held both their hands in her grasp and for some reason, a part of her felt warm.
"By the way, aunty, can you tell me what you can sense from her. I felt something strange in her, but can't identify it."
"Well…"
Parvati looked at Jeanne forlornly before explaining the matter to Igor. Jeanne was the reincarnation of the Saint, Jeanne 'de Arc. This aspect allowed her to have a much stronger soul than a normal human.
It was also because of her strong soul power that she could not only withstand, but completely resist having her sacred gear extracted. However as a consequence, her soul entered a completely dormant state, stripping her of much of her personality and making her a 'doll'. Her sacred gear was completely undetectable through normal means as the last vestiges of her soul power shielded it like a blanket.
When Igor heard the last of Parvati's solemn recounting, he didn't feel angry…at least not anymore. All those gangs and organizations would be annihilated by Vasco so there was no point angering himself to the point of losing control.
"Bastards…"
He kicked an innocent rock down the hill. Jeanne's story touched him, and while he was confident the old man could cull them all, he was well aware it'd take him more than a few weeks to root them all out, even more if he had to follow bureaucracy. That certainly wouldn't be a problem for him.
"I'll go and finish them off, aunty. Please take care of Jeanne while I'm—?!"
Igor suddenly looked at the spot where a golden circle suddenly formed. Time seemed to stop in an instant. His heartbeat suddenly shot up like a rocket. He could sense the familiar aura coming from that circle…her circle.
[Aurelia…]
Vwong!
There she was…in all her beauty. A simple dress adorned her figure, yet it couldn't diminish her beauty. Long snow-white hair framed her face and for a moment, Igor couldn't think.
Three years—three years he'd gone without his Aurelia. He didn't expect he'd miss her this much. He didn't expect that just her appearing without saying anything would cause so much of a reaction in him. He wanted to scream and jump like a madman, yet her very presence rooted him to the spot like an idiot with his mouth open.
"Aurelia…"
Her very scent woke his frozen muscles from the coma they were in. His very energy surged and the desire, the need to hold her increased like a torrential wave.
He was just about to rush at her when he noticed something was wrong. Something was very wrong here. Her eyes…were those…were those tears?!
su su su su su Su Su Su Su Su Su Su SU SU SU SU SU SU SU
Crimson aura fiercely erupted around him like a fiery pillar of violent flames. The pressure was so strong that the very rubble around them began to steadily rise.
He didn't notice Parvati retrieve Jeanne from his side. He didn't hear her tiny frightened cry. He didn't hear her wail his name nor Parvati's presence suddenly vanishing along with her.
No. All that hovered through his mind right now, was someone made Aurelia cry, and that person would pay!
"Who."
His voice came out in a growl. The only reason he still kept some semblance of mind, the only thing tethering to the concept of sanity, was because he did not have a name. He did not have the name of the bastard that dared to harm his woman!
"…"
Aurelia didn't reply. She could barely look him in the eye and that concerned him greatly. His mind quickly thought of Sirzechs and his friends, but he was sure those four wouldn't dare harm Aurelia…or would they? Igor was ready to consider the worst scenario, but he was never prepared for Aurelia's next words.
Through trickles of tears, Aurelia spoke and her words caused his entire world to come to a standstill.
"I'm sorry, Igor. Asia…Asia's been kidnapped."
.
|DxD|
.
A few minutes earlier…
.
Aurelia swiftly teleported to the Underworld after Shuri informed her of Asia missing. There was no hesitation in leaving the paperwork she was sorting through with Cleria. Those barriers in Kuoh meant nothing if Asia was gone.
Her shock when she heard the news made her panic soar to margins not seen in years. When she teleported to the Rating Games Arena, she wasted no time and immediately erected a giant barrier covering hundreds of kilometres.
She ignored protocol, privacy, and rights in favour of efficiency. She didn't even greet Sirzechs before she spread her senses and tried to find Asia, only to not detect her. The discovery made her stomach feel like it weighed hundreds of tons. Only years of experience kept her from hyperventilating.
Asia was not only the youngest darling of their little family, but she was the one Igor loved and spoiled the most. For her to go missing…
[Breathe.]
Aurelia forced herself to calm down. Losing her mind wouldn't net any progress. She opened her eyes with a frown and looked at Sirzechs. One look and she could tell he was just as, if not more anxious than her. Asia's disappearance did not bode well for the Underworld not just because of Igor, but also because of the political ramifications.
The sibling of their ally being whisked from beneath their noses in their territory would diminish much of the trust other factions and pantheons might have in the Underworld. Any organization aligned with Igor's faction would discontinue any trade with the Underworld, which would swiftly include the Yokai and most recently, the Hindu Pantheon.
If Asia died, there was no need to mention the reactions of Igor and anyone else allied with him because Aurelia was afraid she might do something outrageous if the lovely little blonde wasn't found. Just as she had helped build the Underworld, she would swiftly destroy it if a corpse was brought back.
"Please tell me exactly what happened."
She kept her tone neutral and direct. Her eyes quickly took note of the key personnel present. Besides Sirzechs, Ajuka and Falbium were there along with the clan heads of the Gremory, Phenex, and other noble families.
She didn't feel any remnant spatial fluctuations or a trace of Asia's scent or aura around them. This temporarily absolved them as suspects, so she hoped Sirzechs would give her a good explanation as to HOW a dignitary ended up being kidnapped under their watch.
"Aurelia-san. When the rating game ended, Asia was not teleported back here. We suspect she's been kidnapped."
"""..."""
The faces of the other nobles turned dark. Some gasped while some widened their eyes in horror. Indeed, even Falbium sported a frown. The disappearance of Asia did not bode well for Devil society. Not only would they lose their alliance with the Aryans, but that…monster, would not be merciful. After three years, who knew how much he'd grown. No one wanted to face his wrath.
Some shifted nervously and some cast astonished gazes at the Satans, especially the Phenex. Luzan knew full well his clan would be the first suspect. There was no choice. He had to utilise all clan resources to aid with the search.
"Aurelia-san. If possible…"
Ajuka stepped forward and made a proposal. The man wasn't wearing his glasses and his normal neutral-friendly expression now sported a slight frown.
"...allow us to independently search for Lady Argento. I already have my best men attempting to track how she was teleported away."
"..."
The room grew tense with Aurelia's silence. A subtle surge of barely restrained power plunged the room into a noticeable cold. Aurelia fought hard not to clench her fists and lash out at their absurd request. Independently search? Were they afraid of Igor more than Asia's life!? Did they prioritize their reputations more?!?!
Her eyes turned more and more venomous with each dot she was connecting. Her mind was already cycling through different spells for each of the three Satans present. Their unsaid request to not inform Igor…
[Calm down.]
A spell forcefully pulled her mind back from the bridge of no return. Turning this place into a literal hell would not be conducive to finding Asia and that brought her to a cold realisation.
If Asia's disappearance had her this distraught, one need not imagine how Igor would react. Whatever the case may be, it was certain blood would flow.
"Five minutes. Do your best to find her in five minutes, Ajuka. I will help you."
Aurelia could only compromise with gritted teeth. Igor deserved to know, but his presence might be more detrimental than helpful. She could only hope whoever took Asia would not be stupid enough to remove a hair on her otherwise, forget Igor—she would make sure there would be hell to pay.
.
|DxD|
.
[Aurelia-san…]
Shuri silently stood in the background. The stakes in this conversation were too high for her to casually interfere. Her capabilities in detection were far too low to be of adequate use. Her qualifications lied more in frontline combat.
The Vermillion Bird inside her was secretly aiding her in sensing the intentions of the devils around them. It was the least she could do considering their current situation. Finding Asia was a top priority and something she wanted just as much as everyone else..
Still, she had mixed feelings about Aurelia's approach. Regardless of reasons, going to Mount Kailasa and informing Igor as soon as possible was what needed to be done. Out of everyone present, she was sure he had the best perceptive capabilities and could find Asia much faster than anyone else. But perhaps her sister in all but blood had her reasons.
Aurelia spoke with neutrally, but Shuri knew the woman long enough to know she was a powder-keg ready to explode. Asia's disappearance took everyone by storm and it was imperative she be found. But if Asia wasn't found soon, Shuri had no qualms bypassing Aurelia and going to Mount Kailasa.
[I hope you make the right choice, Aurelia.]
.
|DxD|
.
Akeno was blitzing through the halls trying to find some clues. Her speed was far above the capabilities of what the devils could perceive. Combined with her training in stealth, she was the most suitable person to secretly find what the devils might be hiding.
It was a mission Aurelia had given her. For someone to take Asia, they would need to interfere with the dimensional barriers surrounding the arena.
The guards would be interrogated, but the nobles wouldn't—a privilege that makes them all the more suspicious. If due process followed, who knows what will happen to Asia by then.
Akeno didn't need to interrogate them—not directly at least. What she did would be far more…invasive. Reading the minds of people was something her mother taught her not to do unless necessary. The amount of thoughts a human brain has, both conscious and unconscious don't truly reflect a person's personality.
She heeded her mother's teachings and never read someone's mind, even Issei's. Today however, she had no such qualms. Young or old, she'd sift through their memories to find any leads on Asia.
Just a simple touch and she'd be able to read their minds without them ever knowing. And with her speed, they'd be lucky to see even a blur of her.
Su!
Her first target was the Phenex boy. He was the most likely suspect. His arrogance was all but known in the Underworld. Akeno wouldn't put it past him to kidnap Asia out of seething anger and shattered pride.
Su!
She entered the recovery ward where he was at. His peerage was all in varying states of injury aside from Yubelluna, his queen who was personally nursing him back to health.
A white bandage with a small inscription was wrapped around his abdomen where Asia punched through. The inscription was drawing out Asia's mana which was preventing him from healing. Riser was pale, but his regeneration meant he would survive.
Akeno approached the other side of his bed and placed her hand on his forehead. She prowled through his memories with no one the wiser of her presence. As far as they were concerned, she was far too fast to be seen or perceived.
[Not him.]
Unfortunately, he didn't know anything. She almost clicked her tongue since she hoped he was responsible. Now, she was thrust into an ocean of vagueness. The Phenex clan head was a suspect, but he was with Aurelia currently.
[Continue!]
She shook her head and didn't dawdle any longer. Now wasn't the time for useless thoughts.
Su!
Touch their head, read their memories, and leave—a process that took less than a blink. She could use lightning to greatly enhance her cognition, allowing her to quickly sift through memories and move on. Anyone below Ultimate Class would be hard-pressed to sense her, never mind prevent her from reading their memories.
Aurelia's teachings were useful. Even adults couldn't sense Akeno perusing their heads. Young and old, she didn't distinguish. Her sister was taken, and she'd do whatever it takes to get clues, no matter the moral ethics she had to disregard.
Wherever nobles gathered was bound to be luxurious. Commoners rarely would get to see the interior of this luxurious hall. Tall pillars were adorned with intricate patterns and numerous tables were filled with delicacies.
Some nobles sat and ate, especially the children, while some gossiped in their individual groups. For Akeno, she had no time nor interest to mingle. Time flowed around her slowly as she approached one of the few remaining cliques she hadn't searched.
She placed her palm on a man's head, read his memories, and moved on to another seamlessly. Their nerves wouldn't have the chance to feel a hand touching their heads nor sense the mana stealthily scanning their brain.
She swiftly searched all five people and moved on. Their conversations went unhindered, unaware another party screened them so thoroughly they even knew the colour of their favourite underwear.
.
|DxD|
.
Time passed and no clues were found. Akeno returned to the recovery ward empty-handed and in low spirits. The halls were barren save for a few nurses and doctors moving about. Most of the staff were called in for questioning as well without room for refusal.
Rias and her peerage were in a room while Riser and his peerage were down the hallway. At the moment, Rias was trying to calm Gasper, her recently reincarnated Bishop.
He was a short effeminate boy with blonde hair and violet eyes. He belonged to a species called dhampir, a cross-breed between a human and a vampire…a mistake. Despite his unmatched…beauty(?), the boy had a crippling weakness—he was afraid of people.
"Wuwuwuwu…"
"Gasper-kun…"
Rias felt helpless. Her bishop hid under the bed, completely refusing to see anyone nor listen to reason. Only the fringes of his skirt and feet could be seen peeking underneath. Perhaps it was hasty of her to bring him out to fight, but against Riser, she truly didn't want to hold anything back.
But who could expect Asia would actually be that strong? If she knew, she would've let her little bishop remain in his room.
"Come on, Gasper-kun. It's just a celebration dinner. It'll be fiiiinnneeee."
"Noooo!"
"…"
Rias was lost for words.
"Kiba-chan~! Help meeeee."
"…"
The blonde swordsman just smiled lightly and waved his hands as a sign of not wanting to get involved. The twelve-year-old was perfectly fine standing in his corner. More than that, he needed to figure out how Asia got so stron—
*Dakaang~*
Everyone's actions were paused by Akeno's sudden entry. There was a solemn expression on her face and everyone was confused as to why. The budding beauty usually had a more gentle smile on her face.
Akeno didn't pay attention to anyone and sat on the bed. She didn't want to return to Aurelia as a failure, so she could only turn to Rias for some help, though she didn't have a lot of faith.
"Rias. You have any clues on who might've taken Asia?"
"H-Huh?"
Rias dropped Gasper's foot in pure surprise. Her widened eyes looked at Akeno for any signs of deceit, but the brunette looked so drenched in worry that it was unlikely to be a prank.
"Um…I don't know? But I'm sure Asia-chan will be found very soon, Akeno-chan~!"
Rias was still optimistic. Perhaps it was due to her age and sheltered growth, but her outlook on life was certainly brighter than her friend's. Wherever Asia was, she was sure she would be found.
Sigh…
Akeno released a deep breath she was holding. Her head was still spinning, trying to figure out what else she could do. She read the memories of hundreds of devils, both commoner and noble. Neither had an inkling of information.
The ones who managed the Rating Game and the teleportation mechanics were already being interrogated. All key personnel had long since been taken away. She even began to doubt if Aurelia sent her on this errand just so she'd appear 'useful'.
"There has to be someone who knows something. Not anyone can just interfere with the dimension."
Akeno mumbled to herself quietly. She had familiarised herself with the norms and procedures of devils. Because noble heirs fought Rating Games, it was very important trustworthy personnel would oversee the dimension. As such, reincarnated devils were almost never employed, both to ensure the safety of participants and minimize cheating.
The ones who managed the dimension were from various clans, but key members were from the Astaroth Clan—
"?!?!"
Akeno stood up with a start. A sudden realisation dawned on her.
"Diodora!"
She didn't search his memories because she hadn't seen him. It'd be one thing if he was absent, but she did see him prior to the Rating Game.
"I have to tell nee-sama!"
Su!
Akeno vanished in a flash, leaving a somewhat confused Rias and her peerage.
.
|DxD|
.
Akeno rushed towards Aurelia. In her mind, Diodora was definitely the biggest suspect. She hadn't spoken with the person, but she'd read information on him. This man had a depraved obsession with nuns. His peerage before it was disbanded consisted of nuns, and although Asia no longer worked for the church, she still qualified as a nun.
[Why didn't I single him out? I'm such an idiot!]
She wished she could go back to the past and slap herself straight. It was obvious Diodora would be the number one culprit…and she went for Riser instead of that pervert!
Su!
Akeno blitzed past a few guards. She could sense Aurelia was gathered with the Satans in what seemed like a meeting. On a normal day, she'd wait, but this information was too urgent to keep to herself.
Su!
Akeno blitzed into a fairly large gathering room. Dozens, possibly over a hundred warriors clad in golden armour stood armed and ready with their spears in hand. Ajuka and Falbium were giving orders, and everyone seemed to be tense with action.
"Nee-sama! Nee-sama!"
Akeno didn't pay much attention to them and rushed towards Aurelia. The silverette was discussing something with Sirzechs, but soon turned to face her.
"Akeno-chan."
"Nee-sama! Diodora! We need to find Diodor—"
"We know."
Sirzechs spoke solemnly. They had already discovered Diodora was responsible for everything.
"We've assembled forces and are focused on finding him. The Underworld is under lockdown and if Diodora tries to teleport, we'll be able to find him. In the meantime, please stay here while we look for him, Akeno-san."
Sirzechs could only placate Akeno gently. He didn't need her rushing off aimlessly and being kidnapped too. It would be hard enough bearing the consequences of losing Asia. He didn't want to suffer the shame of losing two dignitaries in one day.
"B-But—"
"You don't have to worry, Akeno-chan. We'll find Asia as soon as possible. In the meantime, please stay with your mother. We don't know if the enemy will try to take you as well."
Aurelia spoke calmly. Right now, their focus was on finding Asia. It'd be detrimental if Akeno made any reckless moves.
"..."
*Clenches Fists*
In the end, Akeno remained quiet. She may be young, but she knew her position. A high-risk target like her couldn't aimlessly roam around. She could only acquiesce to Aurelia's request, albeit reluctantly.
"Then…please find Asia."
The strength she was so proud of was useless in this situation. The reality drove her to the point of tears because if Asia…if Asia…
*Drip*…*Drip*…
"Please…"
.
AN
.
The Underworld is knee-deep in a pile of trouble. I'm not saying Igor will destroy it, but I'm also saying there's not much room for political ramifications to factor in if there's no civilization in the first place. If Asia is found alive? Perfect. If she dies…I don't think much needs to be said. Unlike the fight between Igor and Atid, there's no Nandi to create a barrier that will limit the damage.
With that said, I've combed through the chapters for typos, though I might've missed some. If you find any, please mention it in the comments (Review section for Fanfiction.net).
Thanks for reading and until the next chapter.