Dragon and Ice 1
Issei stood outside the convention center, standing on his tiptoes to see over the crowd as he waited in line. Having just passed the tests to enter the prestigious Kuoh Academy, he was treating himself by attending the local Anime Convention.
That is if he ever managed to get inside.
"Man, I can't believe this. I hope I get inside before all the good stuff is gone." The brunette young man peered out over the crowd, willing the line to move more quickly. A few steps ahead was a twin-tailed girl in a Milky Spiral outfit.
"I know!" She said, turning her head towards Issei. "I hear that there are limited editions of the new Milky Spiral Onslaught game! Spiiiral Crash!" She waved her wand dramatically, her bright voice drawing out the attack name. "Oh, you can call me Levi-tan!" As she introduced herself, she leapt into the air, her tight clothing giving Issei an ... interesting view as she bounced in place.
Which, of course, he took, the perverted teenager unable to look away. After a few moments, he managed to recover, offering the girl his own name, "I-I'm Hyoudou Issei. Nice to meet you, Levi-tan." Why can I not talk to a girl? I want to meet lots of girls, right? With these thoughts, he shook his head a moment, asking, "So you're here for the game?"
"Yes! And they said that Milky Spiral's voice actress might be showing up too!" Bouncing in place again, Levi-tan added, "I want to meet her so much! What about you?"
"I heard that there were going to be some limited edition Drag-So Ball manga. I'm missing one volume and I want to pick it up if I can." As he speaks, he follows the line as they continue to approach the doors. "I also wanted to pick up a few games like the new Devil Maid release."
"Oh, you're so naughty, Issei-chan! Devil Maid?" Levi-tan waved her wand towards Issei. For a brief moment, he thought she might have been peering at him. "I've heard of that game; you like eroge, do you?" In spite of her teasing, the girl didn't seem to actually be disturbed by his admission.
"Well, yeah..." Trailing off, Issei started to continue, but they had reached the doors. Levi-tan handed the man money, and then Issei did the same. "Hey, here we are!" He said, not sure what else to say to the girl now that they were inside the convention.
"Time for Milky Spiral!" As she said that, the girl grabbed Issei's hand. "Come on! You're going to buy a game too, right?" Issei squeaked slightly as Levi-tan took his hand and pulled him through the crowd.
"L-Levi-tan. What are you doing?" The question came as Issei was dragged through the crowd, the girl being stronger than she seemed.
"I thought we could go together, it's more fun with a friend right? Now come on!"
DRG~ICE~DRG~ICE~DRG~ICE
The next few hours were a blur for Issei. Going from booth to booth with Levi-tan, picking up games and manga, and even watching a special preview of the new Milky Spiral movie. He learned two things in this time: Levi-tan was a nice girl and an absolute expert at getting him to do as she wished.
He still didn't know how she got him to pose with her and have his picture taken. It wasn't the sort of thing that Issei ever considered before!
As the evening wound down, he found himself near the food court, sipping from his iced tea and standing near the girl. "I still don't believe that you bought the entire Milky Spiral Blu-Ray collection," he said to Levi-tan. "That had to cost a fortune!" He was a lot more comfortable with her now though she was still rather distracting in that outfit of hers.
"I realllly wanted it," Levi-tan said to him, "I'll pick the discs up before going; they said they'd hold them till the end of the convention. I thought you were going to cry when you found out the Devil Maid game was sold out." She teased. "You were lucky that they let you put your name on the list to order a copy later."
"I wasn't going to cry!" Issei denies, "I did really want the game, though," He admitted. Finishing his drink, he considered a moment, before asking, "Hey, Levi-tan?"
"Hmm?" The girl turned to glance at him.
"What's your real name? I-I mean, Levi-tan is cute and all, but..." Issei trailed off, looking embarrassed. Good going, Issei. You sound like an idiot.
For a brief moment, Issei thought she was staring at him again. Then she stood on her toes and whirled, giving him a bright smile, "But Issei-chan, Levi-tan is my real name!" Once again, the young man found himself staring at the beautiful girl as her antics made quite the show. "But, I need to go get my things. Thanks for joining me!" With this, the girl headed towards the main area of the convention, waving to him with another smile before disappearing into the remaining crowds.
Way to go. You creeped her out and she left. With these thoughts, Issei sighed and moved to put his can in the trash and then headed towards the exit.
DRG~ICE~DRG~ICE~DRG~ICE
He was a nice boy. A bit perverted as he didn't try to hide staring at me, but nice. Levi-tan, also known as Serafall Leviathan, picked up her package from the anime table, putting it into the cloth bag she carried over one arm. A brief "Thank you!" to the clerk, and she headed towards the exit. I'm glad I bumped into him. I wanted to bring Sona-chan, but she refused! It's always better to go to conventions with a friend! Too bad I'm not likely to meet him again.
If only she knew that fate had different ideas.
DRG~ICE~DRG~ICE~DRG~ICE
Issei was on the way home, his steps slow as he walked down the side of the road. His mind was going over his last conversation with Levi-tan. Is there something else I could have said? I just wanted her real name, maybe to get her phone number so we could talk later. Agh! How am I going to talk to girls at Kuoh, when I'm like this?
The sun had gone down and the street lights slowly began to come on. After a moment's thought, he turned into an alley, taking a shortcut so he could get home faster. At least he'd have the next Devil Maid in a few days. That was something, right?
Issei's thoughts were cut off as he felt an impact, and then immense agony. Something had slammed into him and driven him into the wall of the alley. Gasping in pain, Issei looked up and saw something out of nightmares: a creature at least eight feet tall, appearing to be half-human and half insect - a praying mantis, perhaps? It was leaning over him, a black-green glow gathering over the scythe-like blades at the tip of its arms. It hissed, eyes glowing, and said a single word, "Hungry!"
Issei did the only thing he could. He screamed in terror and scrambled to his feet, the action more of a tumble. Hissing, the boy realized that his arm was broken at the very least and worse, his entire side was a mass of torment. The creature was blocking the street, so he ran deeper into the alley, screaming.
Perhaps not the bravest of reactions, but understandable under the circumstances.
The creature hissed, the sound predatory and almost thrilled as it began to rush after him. Chase him. Hunt him. Luckily for Issei, it was hampered by the trash bins thanks to its large size and he managed to stay ahead of it. At least, till the black-green glow along its arms was released, streaking after him. Just missing, the beams struck the ground behind him and sent him tumbling forward, crying out as he rolled over the cement.
As he struggled to his feet again, ignoring his pain, Issei was grabbed around the waist, the creature slowly lifting him. It made a hissing, chittering sound of pleasure, and he knew that he was going to die.
"Stop right there!" It was a voice he knew. Turning his head, he saw Levi-tan standing behind it, waving her wand. "Put him down!"
"Levi-tan, run," Issei whispered, starting to lose consciousness as he was squeezed. Right before he passed out, he saw one more thing.
The strange insect creature was encased in a solid block of ice.
The first thing Issei noticed when he woke up was the lack of pain. "Was I dreaming? I had to be, right?" Muttering under his breath, the brunette-haired young man slowly sat up, leaning on his arm.
It was at this point that he realized that he was not at home. And in fact, had no idea where he was. He was in a huge bed in the middle of an elegantly appointed room, the furniture a mixture of hardwoods and soft fabrics. A sitting table was in the corner, and his dazed mind noted the bed itself had a canopy over it.
"Never thought you'd be in my bed so soon, did you, Issei-chan?" A teasing voice could be heard and he whirled to the side, making an unmanly squeak. Levi-tan was sitting beside him; some small part of his mind was disappointed that she was still dressed, though her Spiral Milky cosplay left little to the imagination.
"Uh...Levi-tan, what am I doing here? How did I get here?" Issei ran his fingers through his hair, the sleep-mussed locks growing messier with the motion. "The last thing that I remember...some strange monster or something..." He blinked as his memories came into focus, "Wait, you froze the monster somehow?"
"You know, I was tempted to just take you home and let you think it was a dream." For once, Levi-tan's voice was serious. "It might be better for you. But when I was healing you, I noticed something, and so here you are." She pointed at him with her wand, continuing. "You owe me, by the way." Phoenix tears were horribly expensive and some would say she should've just let him die. Nor was she going to heal him the other way. She just met him! "You were attacked by a stray devil." Which made it her responsibility.
"Devil? What are you talking about? Like in Devil Maid? They don't exist." Issei said this with assurance.
"Oh really," Levi-tan smirked. "Then why are you here, in my bedroom? Did you think I kidnapped you to have my way with you?" For some reason, she liked to tease him. "Are you that sure of yourself, Issei-chan?"
"W-what?!" Issei yelped, blushing, "No, I didn't mean that! I mean, there's no way a guy like me could be with a beautiful girl like you anyway but I'd never assume something like that. But, I mean, devils?"
For just a brief moment, Levi-tan blushed, before growing serious. She nodded her head, "Devils. They exist. As do angels, fallen angels, gods, spirits, and more." She lifted a leg, tucking it underneath her. "It's a lot to take in. That's why, as I said, it might've been better for me to let you think it was a dream."
"Why didn't you?" Issei asked. "If they're real and you know about them, you have to be someone important." The young man's gaze is focused, and for once he's not letting that gaze wander, no matter what she looks like in that costume.
"I told you," she said with a sigh. "I sensed something. I'm not sure what it is yet, but I have a few guesses. If I'm right, you'd learn about all this eventually anyway, so I might as well help you out and tell you before things get difficult for you."
It was odd. Levi-tan was being so serious. It didn't suit her. "So...these things exist. What now?" Issei's question is accompanied by him letting the blanket fall. And then his mind went blank. He was naked under the covers. He picked up the blanket again, covering himself and blushing furiously. "Why am I naked?"
There was a hint of redness on her cheeks. "Your clothing was torn to shreds and I didn't have any clothing that'd fit you. And I'd hardly put you to bed covered with blood."
"B-but, I mean," Issei was still blushing, "I mean, what do I do now?!" His voice was frantic. This was way out of his experience.
"Well, I could join you," Levi-tan began, watching with amusement as his head jerked up towards her. "I was kidding." Mostly. He is cute when he blushes. And it's nice to talk to someone who isn't out for power or afraid of me.
"Why do you keep saying stuff like that and teasing me?" Issei asked the girl, cheeks still red and holding the blanket up against him.
"Because it's fun?" She half-asked, before shrugging her shoulders. "Before...you asked for my real name. Levi-tan really is my name, you know. Well, partially. Formally, I am Serafall Leviathan, one of the Maou."
He just looked at her. Stared. "Maou. You're a maou. Seriously?" For some reason, this was getting to him. "So you're not just a mahou shoujo, you're a maou shoujo as well."
She couldn't help it. She giggled. "You could say that. You're handling this better than I expected, honestly."
"I don't know if I'm handling it or just waiting for a time to put my head down and start screaming," Issei told her, shaking his head. "I'd probably have thought it was a dream if I'd woken up at home, you know. But I saw that monster, I saw you somehow freeze it, and now I'm here. So..." He paused, and asked a single question.
"What now?"
"Now?" Levi-tan -- no, Serafall shook her head, "I suppose you ask me any questions you might have, and then I take you home."
"Uh." Issei's mind went blank for a few moments. Then, "Uh, first of all. You saved me. Does that mean you own my soul or something?"
"We don't do that anymore. We haven't for a long time," she said, wrinkling her nose. "No, I saved you because a stray devil attacked you, and that was my responsibility to deal with as I was in the area. Plus, you are kind of my friend. We did have fun at the Con, right?"
"I'm trying to wrap my mind around a maou who attends conventions dressed as a magical girl." He added, almost hesitantly, "I did have fun, though, yeah." Looking embarrassed, he ran his fingers through his hair. "So, there are devils and angels and all that. What made you take me here? You said you noticed something? I'm not like, a half-devil or something, am I? Should I be worried?"
Serafall snorted. "No. You're not. As for whether you should be worried, I think that depends on you. I am pretty sure you have a sacred gear, and if I sensed it, it's closed to activating."
"Okay, back up. What's a sacred gear?" Issei asked. He sits up in the bed, wrapping the covers around himself.
"A sacred gear is a magical item that is linked to a person's soul. Only humans - or those with human lineage, anyway - can have them. Pure-blooded devils cannot, nor full angels or fallen angels. Even the weaker gears can be very useful, and the strongest ones allow their wielder to use incredible powers, such as creating monsters or creating dimensions with ease." As she explained, Serafall stood up, turning quickly to walk towards the window. Issei's eyes were drawn to her as her skirt flared about her hips, and he started to blush again. Not that he looked away. "If I'm right, you have one, and a strong one. But again, I don't know which one."
"Uh. And you said that this would mean I'd discover this stuff eventually?" Issei looked at the girl as she looked out the window. "Why's that?" The way she was talking worried him. She wasn't teasing or acting cute.
Obviously, this was serious.
"Because, as I said, sacred gears are powerful. Once it comes closer to activation, others will be able to sense it. And they will either try to get you to join them or kill you. Either way ... you learn about the supernatural. Just, one option means it doesn't last long." She turned back, meeting his gaze, "I'd prefer the latter option not happen. We did just meet, but I had fun and like you, Issei."
"I-I..." Issei started to stutter. There was a difference between being a pervert and actually getting attention from girls. He had literally no experience with the latter. "So, um, I know these things exist. How do I activate my sacred gear? Will that help you figure out what it is?"
"Usually, a sacred gear awakens when the user is threatened, which is probably why I sensed it. I was right there, and your danger was pushing it to awaken." Serafall approached him. "Now, I might be able to do something to help out, but it might be a little - well, really - painful, so I really don't want to do it."
"If it'll help, then do it," Issei stated this firmly. "I'd much rather know than spend my time worrying. Besides, well..." He trailed off, then finished, "... I trust you, Levi-tan. You saved me."
For some reason, Serafall felt herself blushing. She was a maou and this high school student had her blushing. She sighed and settled down beside him. "Give me your hand." Clasping the boy's hands in hers, she took a deep breath. And released power into the extremity.
Issei hissed, as he felt waves of bitter chill running up his arm. His skin turned blue, and he began to shudder as if experiencing the first symptoms of hypothermia. Biting his lip, he tried to endure it, even as the cold and the pain got worse.
"Should I stop, Issei-chan?"
"No." He added, "I need to do this, I don't want to go into this blind, Levi-tan."
"You can call me Serafall if you want, you know," she said. She realized that she really did want him to, but she was also trying to distract him from the pain. Another shudder went through him, and she added, "I think I should stop, this isn't working."
"I...will do that, thank you, Serafall-chan." He hissed again, eyes going dark, "Wait a minute, I--" A flash of heat ran through his left arm, and a strange, red gauntlet covered his hand past his wrist.
Immediately, Serafall stopped what she was doing, and blinked, "It looks like a Twice Critical. But it can't be, or I wouldn't have sensed nearly as much magic." She leaned back, frowning. "That means..."
"Means what, Serafall-chan?" Issei looked at his arm in wonder, a frown on his features. He closed and opened his hand, "I don't feel any slower, which is strange as I'd think it'd be heavy."
"Do you trust me, Issei-chan?" Serafall asked this quietly. "You said you do. Do you?"
"Of course I do. Why?" Issei glanced at the girl, even as the gauntlet faded away when his attention left it. He suddenly felt exhausted.
"I need to look into one or two things. I'd like to do that before talking to you about this, all right? Can I just ... return you home, and I can come to visit in a few days?"
For a brief moment, Issei wanted to say no, but he could tell that the devil girl was worried about something. "Okay. So, where are my clothes?"
"Oh!" For a brief moment, Serafall actually blushed, before rising to her feet, "I'll get them." She disappeared from the room and came back a few minutes later. "I had them cleaned, though they're awfully torn up. But they should do." Tossing him the clothes, she turned and moved to the door. "Just come out when you're dressed."
Once the door shut, Issei got to his feet, leaning briefly against the bed. He was tired all of a sudden. That strange gauntlet appearing tired him out. He got dressed, wrinkling his nose at the large rips in his shirt. At least the pants were relatively okay if rather scraped in places. He approached the door and opened it.
Serafall was standing outside, and she perked up when she saw him. "I can't teleport you into your home as I have never been there before, but you said you are going to be going to Kuoh Academy, right? How about I teleport you to the gates and walk you home?"
"That's fine," Issei allowed. Before blinking. "Wait, then you've been to Kuoh before? Why would a maou visit a high school?"
Serafall smirked at him, and waggled her finger, "Now, now, Issei-chan. A girl needs some secrets."
He was just happy that she was smiling and teasing again. It felt more like her than the serious Serafall of earlier. "Yeah, yeah. Let's go then."
A strange, red circle appeared underneath them. "It takes a lot of energy to teleport a normal person. It's easier with fellow devils," She stated idly, as they appeared at the gates to Kuoh. He'd been there once before while taking the entrance examinations. "But it's easy enough for me. Lead on."
"You really don't have to walk me home, Serafall-chan. I've been enough of a bother as it is." As Issei said this, the brunette looked embarrassed.
"Not a bother! And as I said, it was my responsibility to help after you were attacked by a devil." She nudged him with her arm, "So come on."
All Issei could do is sigh, and lead her down the street towards his house. His house was only a short distance away, and fifteen minutes later they stood on the walk to his house. "Here we are," he said to Serafall. "I, uh..." He wasn't sure how to say this. "I had a great time at the convention, Serafall-chan. The other stuff was confusing, but I'm glad you helped me. So thank you."
His response was a bright smile, "It is the job of every Maou Shoujo to defend those in need." She was still wearing her outfit. "I will see you soon, Issei-chan." A red circle appeared underneath her and she was gone.
Issei stood there for a long moment. Then sighed. "I hope so, Serafall-chan." He turned and entered his house.