Main Hall – Gremory Mansion
Sona sat on one of the sofas in the main hall, her hands clasped over her lap and her gaze fixed on an empty spot on the floor. The surviving members of the Sitri peerage remained nearby, but no one dared to interrupt the heavy silence that had formed since the teleportation.
Rias stayed beside her, holding one of her hands. Tomoe's loss was still too recent to accept, and Sona struggled to maintain the posture of a King even as guilt consumed every thought.
"You are not to blame for what happened to Tomoe." Rias gently tightened her fingers around Sona's hand, trying to keep her friend from isolating herself within her own grief. "The attack happened too quickly. None of you could have predicted it."
"I am." Sona raised her head, and the firmness of her answer failed to conceal the exhaustion in her eyes. "I failed as a King. My servant died in front of me, and I couldn't do anything to stop it."
Rias opened her mouth to argue, but a crimson magic circle appeared in the center of the room. Demonic energy spread across the floor and drew everyone's attention before Gasper materialized among the glowing symbols.
SHUUUN!
The light disappeared around him, revealing that there were no visible injuries on his body. Even so, Rias released Sona's hand for a moment and quickly stood, examining him from head to toe.
"Gasper-kun, are you alright?" Rias approached and touched his arm, searching for any marks left by the divine power. "Is the battle over?"
"Yes, I'm fine." Gasper held her hand for a few seconds before looking at the rest of the room. "The battle is over. Kokabiel and Azraelion were captured by Grayfia."
The announcement made some members of the Sitri peerage release the breaths they had been holding. Issei, however, showed no relief. His expression remained trapped between anger and guilt, as if capturing those responsible changed nothing about what had happened.
Gasper turned his attention toward Sona.
"Grayfia will investigate the barrier, the remnants of the attack, and everything that happened inside the academy." His voice remained calm, but he made no attempt to soften the news. "Once the analysis is complete, she will send your servant's body to the Sitri territory in the Underworld."
Issei immediately stood.
"What do you mean?" The Boosted Gear was not active, but he clenched his fist as though he were still facing the enemies. "We have to receive her body now."
"Silence, Issei." Sona withdrew her hand from Rias's and stood, finally allowing anger to enter her voice. "You will not question Grayfia's decision while she is investigating Tomoe's death."
Issei lowered his head at once. The response he had intended to give disappeared when he noticed the gazes of the other members of the peerage, because the pain did not belong to him alone.
"I'm sorry, President."
Rias approached Sona again, but this time she did not try to touch her.
"Sona..."
"Thank you, Rias." Sona interrupted before her friend could insist. Her gaze passed over Gasper, Akeno, and the others present. "Thank you, all of you, but I will return to the Underworld with my peerage."
Tsubaki immediately moved to her King's side. She also carried the loss on her face, but maintained a firm posture because Sona needed someone capable of organizing the others.
"You heard our King." Tsubaki looked toward the members of the Sitri group. "Gather together. We're leaving."
Gasper watched the movement without interfering. The survivors approached Sona in silence, each of them trying to understand how they were supposed to return to the territory without Tomoe beside them.
'Losing someone like that was a heavy blow.'
Rias hesitated for several seconds before approaching once more.
"You can stay as long as you want." Her voice was lower, without the authority of a Gremory heiress. "You don't have to return now simply because you think you must face everything alone."
"I know." Sona adjusted her glasses and recovered some of her usual firmness. "But I need to take care of my peerage, inform my family, and organize everything until Tomoe's body is returned."
"Of course." Rias nodded, respecting the decision. "You can leave without worrying. I'll help with anything you need."
Sona did not respond immediately, but the look she gave her friend showed that she understood the promise. She walked toward an open space in the room, followed by Tsubaki, Issei, and the remaining members of the Sitri peerage.
A blue magic circle appeared beneath the group's feet. The teleportation lines expanded across the floor while Sona confirmed the presence of every survivor before activating the spell.
Issei raised his gaze toward Gasper one final time. The guilt was still there, but he made no attempt to remain or argue again.
SHUUUN!
Blue light covered the entire group. When the glow disappeared, Sona and her peerage had already left the mansion, and the empty space they left behind made the loss feel even more noticeable.
Asia was the first to approach Gasper.
"Do you need me to heal any injuries, Gasper-kun?" She carefully examined his hands, remembering the burns caused by the holy spears. "Even if you aren't feeling any pain, I can check."
"I'm not injured." Gasper answered with a brief but gentle nod. "Thank you, Asia."
Akeno watched the exchange before shifting her attention toward one corner of the room.
"And what are we going to do with her?"
Everyone followed the direction Akeno indicated.
Xenovia sat alone, with Excalibur resting beside the chair. Irina was no longer beside her, and the exorcist's absence felt even stranger after everything that had happened at the academy.
Kiba and Saji stared intensely at Xenovia. Kiba kept his expression controlled, while Saji made no effort to hide his distrust of having an armed exorcist inside the mansion.
Gasper took several steps closer.
"Where is your exorcist friend?"
"She returned to the Vatican." Xenovia answered without looking away. "Irina still needed to report to the Church about the mission, the Excaliburs, and what Kokabiel revealed."
Gasper observed the sword and then her expression.
"And you stayed." He stopped in front of the chair. "May I know why?"
Xenovia looked first toward Asia. The former nun's uniform, her presence among the devils, and the natural way she had approached Gasper all seemed to confirm a decision Xenovia had already begun forming at the academy.
"I want to become a devil like Asia." Xenovia turned her eyes back toward Gasper and straightened her posture. "I can be useful to you."
The declaration immediately changed the atmosphere in the room.
Saji's eyes widened, and Kiba's fingers tightened slightly as he remembered their last battle. Asia remained surprised, but showed no rejection toward the possibility.
Rias studied Xenovia for several seconds before looking at Gasper.
"She's right, Gasper-kun." Rias approached and stopped beside him. "You should reincarnate her. Xenovia is strong, has combat experience, and has already shown that she can face dangerous enemies."
Gasper did not answer immediately. His gaze moved over Xenovia completely, evaluating not only her physical strength and Excalibur, but also her emotional state after the revelation of God's death.
"You want to join my peerage?" Gasper asked directly. "I'm not asking whether you merely want to become a devil. I want to know whether you are willing to serve under my orders."
"Yes." Xenovia answered without hesitation. "I want to join your peerage."
Gasper turned and began walking toward the hallway.
"Come. We're going to Rias's office."
Xenovia stood and picked up the sword before following him. The two left the room without extending the conversation, because choosing the Evil Piece and establishing the conditions of the reincarnation required more attention than a decision made in front of everyone.
As soon as the door closed, Saji looked toward Kiba.
"Is this really happening?" Confusion completely dominated his expression. "She tried to cut you down not long ago, and now she's going to become our ally."
"From now on, she will be our ally." Kiba kept his gaze fixed on the door through which Xenovia had left. "If Gasper accepts her into his peerage, I will treat her as someone on our side."
Saji frowned.
"You don't hate her?"
"No." Kiba answered without needing to think. "I'm angry at the people who experimented on me and at those who destroyed the lives of others using the Holy Swords. Xenovia wasn't responsible for that."
Rias looked at Kiba with a proud expression.
"You've grown, Kiba."
"I have Gasper to thank for that." Kiba finally looked away from the door. "He made me realize that I was directing my anger at the wrong people."
Akeno allowed a smile to appear.
"He really is incredible."
"Yes." Rias answered immediately, making no effort to hide her pride. "The best."
"Gasper-kun really is incredible." Asia agreed with a gentle smile, happy to see that his influence had helped Kiba abandon some of his hatred.
Koneko remained silent at the back of the room. She agreed with the others as well, but admitting it aloud in front of Rias and Akeno would probably cause the two of them to begin another unnecessary argument.
'He really is.'
Rias observed every member of her own peerage. Kiba had overcome part of his desire for revenge, Saji controlled his impulses better, Asia was becoming more confident, and Koneko was slowly beginning to open up.
'My peerage grows every day. They aren't merely becoming stronger... they're evolving.'
The thought brought her satisfaction, but the image of Sona leaving the mansion prevented the feeling from lasting completely.
'I hope she can overcome this.'
Rias knew that losing a servant was not merely losing a piece. It meant losing someone who had entrusted their life to their King.
'Whatever happens, I'll help her with everything I can.'
Support here: patreon.com/22Mirko22
Thank you so much for reading - see you in the next chapter!