Chương 23: Chapter 19- Hope 2

Baraquiel advised gently. It was not healthy to restrain grief, especially for a child. Holding back corrodes you slowly like a poison. He did not wish to see that happen to Igor, not after he fought tooth and nail to survive.... … |DxD| - April 25, 1991, Kuoh Town, Japan. A few days had passed since Igor learned the truth of his origins. He was coping better than expected, or maybe he was hiding it. Shuri was not sure which it was. What she did know was he would soon return to that dreaded place.

The time chamber—this single artifact plunged the world into 50 years of conflict. The Ariyans were not killed because they were evil, but because they broke the balance of the supernatural world. All that propaganda was a lie.

Shuri felt her worldview break and rebuild several times over these days. What would Igor think when he learned her clan had been one of the forerunners of Ariyan extermination? She could not imagine it. Still, as horrible as it was, she hoped he would not seek the path of vengeance. The gods could be… terrifying. Crack!

"..." The handle of her knife fractured under the strength of her grip. She was so lost in thought she forgot to control her strength.

"Sigh…" She threw it away in the bin. The snap thankfully didn't wake up Akeno. Her baby was sleeping on her back, held up by a sling. She would wake up around late evening, filled with energy and ready to cling onto Igor the moment he came back. Her eyes glanced through the windows. Just outside far beyond the fence, Baraquiel was educating Igor. Her husband had become invested in the blonde, especially upon learning he had the time chamber.

Shuri did not know whether he had a different agenda, but she would not pry. Anything… anything was better than Igor's death. She thought she'd seen the worst of him when he displayed killing intent. She never imagined he would have the resolve to end his own… [Please live, Igor. That is all I ask of you.] It wasn't just her husband. She had become attached as well… extremely so. The little blonde had wormed his way into her heart. Perhaps he would do the same to Baraquiel too.

And from the looks of things, he was well on his way into possibly becoming more than an asset in her husband's eyes.... … |DxD| …... Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings. A cool breeze and plentiful shade—it was the perfect day and perfect time to lie on the ground and gaze at the clouds. There was a large field beyond Shuri's fence that used to be farmland many years ago.

Over the years, nature had reclaimed this land through plentiful grass, thorny bushes, and blooming shrubs. Trees had steadily grown around the perimeter, encroaching on the land from the edges in a bow formation. There was a large spruce tree at the farthest fringes of the field. Baraquiel was leaning against it with his arms crossed. Igor sat cross-legged before him and his worn spear lay to his side. Baraquiel silently planned to replace it with a proper one some day.

"There are a few things you will need to learn, Igor." Those were his first words to the boy three days ago. Igor had bounced back and right then and there, and stated he was ready to leave for the time chamber. He had stopped him because there was no telling what resources Igor would have in the time chamber. It would be a waste if he spent a year with minimal training.

"The most important thing you will need to learn is energy control. From what I've seen of you, your vitality is tied directly to your stamina. Learn to control your vitality and you will last longer. From now until sunset, I will be coming after you. Do your best to stay away from me through any means, even if it means attacking." The very first day, Baraquiel did nothing physical. He only taught Igor about the supernatural world at large.

He answered the boy's questions to the best of his ability, helping him understand why his people were jointly targeted. He did it away from Shuri's prying eyes for he knew how his wife could be. The second day, he got a feel for Igor's capabilities in combat. The boy was rudimentary with the spear at best. The lack of proper guidance showed in his form. As for his hand-to-hand? The least said about it, the better.

Martial arts techniques and fighting styles reigned supreme, but that was only in the world of the mundane. The supernatural world was far too wide and varied to lean towards a fighting style. Enemies could have multiple limbs and various attacks. But most importantly, flight changed everything. He relayed all of this to Igor in hopes the boy would not make that mistake of limiting himself to an art. Fundamentals, instinct, and adaptability were the most reliable disciplines.

As long as Igor could use his body and his weapon, he would be a step above many.... … |DxD| …... The sun settled behind the clouds. Evening approached and the land was submerged in a warm orange glow. Flocks of birds in the sky were like flapping shadows on the horizon. They flew their last rounds as they readied to descend for the night. Baraquiel exited the forest with Igor in his arms. The blonde seemed unconscious, but he was very much aware—just very… very, tired.

To his predictions, Igor had wasted quite a bit of energy during his flee. It would've been nothing short of outrageous if he expected the boy to have mastery when he awakened vitality only for… has it only been a week? [Ten days.] He chuckled to himself. So much has happened in such a short space of time. In his arms lay a political minefield and a god-killing machine. Baraquiel was not kind, not like his wife. He helped Igor not because he pitied the boy, but because he showed worth in being invested.

Beyond the time chamber and being an Ariyan, he chose to invest in Igor because of the immense willpower and determination he showed. An extreme few would choose suicide to safeguard their loved ones. That and that alone, was why he was willing to bet on Igor. [You still do not fail to surprise me, boy.] He moved unhurriedly through the soft grass. Each step was like walking across pillows. Honeybees made last minute rounds as they collected nectar from the various flowers dotting the field.

The boy ran himself ragged beyond his limits until his body gave out. He barely had the strength to straighten his spine and support his head. If Baraquiel couldn't hear his slow heartbeats, he would believe he was carrying a corpse.

"Still alive, boy?"

"..." Igor didn't reply, content to lie in rest like a sack of potatoes. Baraquiel had other plans though. Igor felt a splitting headache assault him when the older man began shaking him.

"Mmmm…" His groan was muffled and pitched like the buzz of a mosquito. Baraquiel felt amused and almost chuckled because Igor's weakness was very real.

"That should teach you to be careful in the future. Don't over-exert yourself again or I'll keep doing this until you learn." Vitality should've suppressed or removed some of Igor's natural inhibitors. The increase in strength came with a higher tolerance. He would not gradually feel tired as normal humans do, but all that piled up fatigue would hit him at once, especially if he depleted his energy like he did now. [I wonder what else vitality can do.] Baraquiel had given himself two weeks to impart as much fundamental knowledge as he could to Igor. The sooner the boy entered the time chamber, the sooner he could come out. He still had to plan for Igor's path. Perhaps with the time chamber, he could get him to High Class before the next century arrives, maybe even Ultimate Class by the time Akeno grows up.

By then, he could assuredly leave his family in Igor's protection while he tackled the biggest issue weighing in his mind—how to combat against the Shinto Gods..

9 END