Chương 36: Chapter 32- Where Do I Stand?

"Both of you are very precious to me and hope you'll both grow well. I may not be your mother, but I will take care of you as if you were my very own child." Shuri leaned closer… Chuu~ …and kissed him on the forehead.

"Sleep well, little Igor~." … |DxD| - Chapter 32- Where Do I Stand? …... *Tick*… *Tock*… *Tick*… *Tock*… The ticking clock filled the silence of the room. Enshrouded in darkness, Igor was pressed into a stunned silence. His eyes were wide open, every trace of fatigue wiped out by Shuri's action. Nerves on his forehead fired without end. It tingled as if a pebble was placed on it. He didn't expect this. He didn't even think this was possible. His heart beat with expectation and his mind raced in doubt.

He was already satisfied with the way things were and never dared wish for more. But Shuri's words and actions lit a flame of desire within him.

'I will take care of you as if you were my very own child.'

"..." His grip on the blanket tightened. Shuri barely knew him for more than a few weeks. He was gone for a year right after. That's more than enough time for their bond to fade. Perhaps she only said those words because she missed him. It would make more sense than the other… possibility. [Don't think too much. What you have is good enough, Igor. Don't ruin it.] But each time he told himself not to hope for more, Shuri kept giving him more reason to believe. He turned on his side and faced Akeno.

It was best not to think too far and just take things as they came. His finger traced her soft cheek. Seeing her always put a smile on his face. There was a strong desire to hold her and yell in happiness. Without a doubt, Igor knew he'd come to greatly cherish this little infant and no amount of years apart would wash that away. Tomorrow, he would speak with Baraquiel. To be the best big brother, he had to be the strongest.

"Goodnight, Akeno."... … |DxD| …...

"You're playing a dangerous game, Shuri. Igor might misinterpret your words." In the main bedroom, Baraquiel watched his wife pull back the blanket and slip in. There was a determination on her face he saw only when she was fiercely sure of something.

"I meant every single one of them, husband." Shuri placed her head against Baraquiel's neck and wrapped her hand around his waist. Not a single day passed where she hadn't thought of that tragic little boy. He always appeared strong, but she would never forget the words he said at his lowest. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

'I don't…want to be alone anymore…' No family. No home. Everything he knew was lost. For a child, it was devastating. For Igor, it was enough for him to lose his will to live.

"I know it might seem like impulse to you, but I've had more than enough time to think it over." Shuri met Baraquiel's eyes with determination. She knew the responsibilities and consequences that would come with her next statement, but she was fully willing to remain faithful to them.

"I want to be his mother, Baraquiel. He needs one and I am willing."

"..." Shuri was absolutely beautiful in this single moment. Her amber eyes rippled like a pool. Whenever she became like this, there would be no convincing her. Once again, he was reminded why he stupidly fell in love with this woman before him. His palm caressed her cheek as he pulled her into a gentle kiss. In this world of filth, she was a pure spring, one that refused to be tainted. He pulled back and his eyes held nothing but love and adoration.

"And you will be a good one, Shuri. That, I have no doubt." … |DxD| …... May 2, 1992, Kuoh Town, Japan. Beyond Shuri's home lay a stretch of land previously used for cultivation. The forest surrounded this land in a bow formation and encroached from the edges. The grass was tall enough to reach Igor's shoulder. His blonde hair blended with the grass, though that would be of little use today. It was bright and early in the morning. The sun just barely peeked beyond the horizon.

Igor stood tall with his old spear in his grasp. The wood was polished and the blade was sharpened. In his absence, it was greatly taken care of.

"Are you sure about this, Igor? You will get hurt."

"..." Igor fell silent and looked up to face Baraquiel. Vitality churned through his body. His blood boiled with anxious desire. His feet shifted and his spear pointed forward.

"I want to know where I stand." His voice was low, weighed down by the thoughts that made him sleepless. He could feel how absurdly powerful Baraquiel was. The wave of energy filled Igor with instinctual dread. To his developed senses, Shuri was a stream whereas Baraquiel was a tsunami. And this was with him restrained.

"I…want to know if I can reach your level. So please don't be easy on me." His grip on his spear tightened. A golden aura burned to life around him. Golden eyes locked on with nervous determination.

"Very well then, Igor." Baraquiel stood with his arms crossed. It was outside his expectations for Igor to make such a request, but the boy was serious. Since it had come to this, he would accommodate Igor's sincere request. The 'why' could be asked later.

"Then I will be clear right now. This will not be our normal spars. In a true battle, a missed advantage is disastrous. An opponent will not give you room to breathe. So prepare yourself, Igor." Baraquiel relaxed his arms to his sides.

"I will move with the intent to end your life." Igor wordlessly nodded. He focused intently on Baraquiel…and could not dodge when the man dashed forward and kneed him in the gut.

"!!" Igor keeled over. Baraquiel's thigh became his place of rest, but it was not for long. A massive hand covered his vision and Igor was grabbed by the edges of his face. Baraquiel lifted him up with one arm. Igor dangled uselessly, still paralysed by the knee to the liver.

"Always remain ready, Igor. You have died once." His grip tightened. Baraquiel turned around and swung Igor overhead in an arcing trail. Ruthlessly, he slammed him into the ground. Grass and wet dirt flew up the moment Igor smashed back-first like a sledgehammer against cement. His arms and legs went numb with a tingling electric feeling. His lower back ached as if a nail had been driven through his spine.

Igor had scarcely gritted his teeth through the pain when the thick steel toe of a combat boot struck him below the ribs. Igor's world turned dark. His entire right side exploded with acid-like pain. By the time he saw light, his body was spinning uncontrollably across the air. His arcing trail lowered and soon, blades of grass licked his body and stung his eyes. His elbow was the first to hit the soil. It cracked apart a pebble before the rest of his body shortly followed. He tumbled like crumpled paper.

Each rough bounce kicked up sand and plowed the dirt. He soon lost momentum and stopped. His skin was lined with streaks of mud and dirt. Pieces of grass stuck to his clothes and hair. Igor struggled to open his eyes. Everything happened too fast for him to process. Before him, he saw a pair of neatly fastened boots and the fringes of a long coat.

"Cough" His spit soaked the overturned dirt like a drop of rain. His body was almost impossible to move. His legs were even less responsive. Igor forced himself to look upward, and he met Baraquiel's impassive gaze.

"You asked to know where you stand. This is my evaluation. Your lack of experience and overconfidence are your biggest limiting factors. You had the ability to stop my approach. But because you failed to take this exchange a notch more seriously, you lost the most crucial advantage the moment I made my move." Baraquiel crouched down.

"I will be blunt with you, Igor. I did not plan to engage you in this manner until a few months from now, but seeing as you are strong enough to maintain consciousness, that can change right now." He raised a finger.

"The first option. I continue to push you to your limits and force you to grow through practical combat experiences. There will be moments where I simulate real combat and point out your flaws as we move along. This will introduce the same pain you are feeling now, but it is that very pain that will teach you far better than words could." He raised a second finger.

"The second option. I focus on expanding your theory and guide you through movements. This will include very light sparring. As you improve over the months, we gradually shift to the first option. Either choice you make will not impact my opinion of you. With your time chamber, we have more leeway for time. So, what is your choice?" Chapter 32 END