"My name is Elias,"
He answered politely, taking a small step back to give her some space.
"Elias Thorne."
Luvia's smile grew wider. She looked him up and down, clearly very impressed by his speed and his calm confidence.
"Well, Elias,"
Luvia said, her voice turning very persuasive and smooth.
"You already know that a magic war is brewing between the big families. The Himejima and Matou are dangerous. You clearly have a lot of talent. Why don't you join the Edelfelt family? We are incredibly wealthy, very powerful, and I can promise you a very comfortable life."
Elias shook his head gently.
"Thank you for the offer,"
Elias replied honestly.
"But I am not looking to join any magic families. I have my own family. We can be allies if our goals align, but nothing more than that."
Luvia pouted slightly, but the spark in her eyes only grew brighter.
She was a very proud, stubborn woman.
She loved a good challenge, and Elias refusing her only made her want him more.
"You are a very difficult man, Elias,"
Luvia laughed softly, placing a hand on her hip.
"But I do not give up easily. I am an Edelfelt. If I want something, I always get it. I will not back down."
Elias couldn't help but smile a little. Rin was right. Luvia really was her perfect rival.
They were both incredibly stubborn and proud.
"Good luck with that,"
Elias chuckled.
"I have to get home now. Be careful walking around in the dark."
He gave her a polite nod and walked out of the alleyway, leaving the blonde mage staring after him with a very determined smile.
When Elias finally arrived back at the massive new mansion, he walked through the grand front doors. The house was quiet for once.
He walked past the large living room and saw someone waiting for him.
It was Baraqiel.
The tall, serious Fallen Angel was sitting on a comfortable chair in the reception room.
He had a cup of untouched tea on the table in front of him. He looked like he was thinking very deeply.
"Baraqiel-tou san?"
Elias asked, walking into the room.
"Are you waiting for me?"
Baraqiel looked up and gave him a tired but warm smile.
"Yes, Elias. Please, sit down,"
Baraqiel gestured to the empty chair across from him.
"We need to talk about some very important political matters."
Elias took his backpack off and sat down, giving Baraqiel his full attention.
"Is there another problem?"
Elias asked.
"No, not a problem,"
Baraqiel sighed, rubbing his chin.
"It is about the peace treaty. The leaders of the three factions—Sirzechs, Azazel, and Michael—had a long meeting last night. They are finally going to hold the official peace summit here in Kuoh town."
"That is good news,"
Elias nodded.
"It is about time."
"It is,"
Baraqiel agreed.
"But there is one specific detail we need to discuss. The three leaders made a unanimous decision. When the summit takes place... they want you to attend."
Elias raised an eyebrow.
"Me? Why do they want me there? I am just a human now."
Baraqiel gave him a very serious look.
"Because you are not just a normal human to them,"
Baraqiel explained carefully.
"You stopped Kokabiel. You defeated Vali. You saved the sisters of two Devil Kings, and you spared the lives of Heaven's holy knights. You have proven that you are incredibly powerful, completely neutral, and very fair."
Baraqiel paused, letting the heavy words sink in.
"They don't just want you to attend, Elias,"
Baraqiel told him directly.
"They want you to sit in the Central seat. The absolute center of the meeting. They want you to act as the ultimate mediator between the Devils, the Angels, and the Fallen Angels."
Elias sat quietly for a moment, processing the information.
Sitting in the Central seat meant he would be technically sitting above the Devil Kings and the leader of Heaven.
It was a massive responsibility, and it meant everyone would be watching him.
But Elias also knew that if he was there, he could make sure the peace treaty actually happened.
He could protect Kuoh town and his family from any more stupid wars.
Elias looked at Baraqiel and gave a firm, confident nod.
"I don't have a problem with that,"
Elias said calmly.
"If they want me to meditate, I will do it."
While Elias and Baraqiel were talking inside the reception room, another conversation was happening just outside the tall metal gates of the mansion.
Kuroka stood hiding in the dark shadows of the trees.
She nervously wrapped her black cat tail around her leg and looked up at the massive, brightly lit windows of the house.
Her animal senses were on high alert.
"She is in there,"
Kuroka whispered, her golden eyes wide with deep worry.
"I can smell her perfectly. Shirone is inside that house."
Standing right next to her was Dee.
The pale girl was happily sucking on a cherry lollipop.
She had sent a message to Kuroka, telling the cat girl to come to the mansion tonight.
"Of course she is,"
Dee said simply, looking at the large building.
"She moved in this morning."
Kuroka took a nervous step back. Her hands were shaking.
"I can't go in there, nya,"
Kuroka said, her voice full of real panic.
"There are high-class Devils in there. The Crimson Satan's little sister is in there! If they see a wanted Stray Devil like me walking into their home, they will attack me instantly. And worse... What if Shirone hates me? What if seeing me just makes her cry?"
Dee took the lollipop out of her mouth.
She looked at the terrified cat girl with a very warm, gentle smile.
"It is okay, Kuroka,"
Dee said softly, her voice full of peace.
"You don't have to be afraid, and you don't have to hide in the dark anymore."
Dee reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out the small, black folder.
"I am going to bring you inside with me,"
Dee explained, her tone completely confident.
"And I am going to show everyone this folder. I am going to tell them all about the hard evidence I gathered from the dead Nekomata spirits. I have his old journals. I have the locations of his secret labs. We are going to prove to everyone that you only killed your evil master to save your little sister."
Kuroka stared at the folder. Her heart beat wildly in her chest. Hope was a very scary thing to feel after being alone for so long.
"Will they even listen to us?"
Kuroka asked softly, holding her hands close to her chest.
"Devils are very proud and stubborn. Why would they believe in a Stray?"
"They will listen,"
Dee smirked, a playful but dangerous spark in her dark, endless eyes.
"Because Elias is going to help you, too."
Kuroka remembered the fight at the school.
She remembered how easily Elias had crushed Kokabiel and the White Dragon Emperor.
Just hearing his name made her feel much safer.
"Elias is going to stand right beside you,"
Dee promised her.
"And let me tell you a little secret, kitty cat. Elias is about to become a very, very big shot in this world. When he tells them you are innocent, they will have no choice but to listen."
Dee held out her small, pale hand toward the nervous cat girl.
"So, take a deep breath,"
Dee smiled kindly, offering her hand.
"Trust me. It is finally time to go get your little sister back."
Baraqiel stood up from his comfortable chair.
He finished his tea and gave Elias a warm, thankful smile.
"Thank you for understanding, Elias,"
Baraqiel said gently.
"Now, if you will excuse me, I am going back to the shrine."
"Have a good night, Baraqiel-tou san,"
Elias smiled.
After Baraqiel left the mansion, Elias walked over to the large window in the hallway.
He looked out into the dark front yard.
Walking up the long driveway was Dee, and holding her hand was the nervous cat girl, Kuroka.
Elias smiled.
He knew right away what Dee was doing. It was time to clear Kuroka's name and fix a broken family.
Elias turned around and walked into the center of the house.
"Rias! Akeno! Asia! Koneko!"
Elias called out loudly.
"Can everyone please come to the living room right now? We have to talk about something important."
A minute later, all the girls gathered in the large living room.
Rias looked curious, and Akeno tilted her head in confusion.
Koneko walked in last.
Suddenly, her little nose twitched. As a Nekomata, her sense of smell was perfect.
She smelled something very familiar in the air. It smelled like her older sister.
But it was very faint, and it had been so many years.
She wasn't sure if her mind was just playing tricks on her.
*Click.*
The heavy front door opened. Dee walked into the living room, bringing Kuroka right behind her.
Rias gasped loudly. Akeno's eyes went wide.
"A Stray Devil!"
Rias shouted, instantly getting ready to use her magic.
"Stop,"
Elias commanded softly but firmly.
He stepped in front of Kuroka.
"No one is fighting tonight. Everyone, just sit down and listen."
Because Elias asked, Rias slowly lowered her hands.
Everyone sat down on the couches, the room filled with heavy, tense silence.
Koneko couldn't move. She just stared at Kuroka, her golden eyes wide with shock.
Kuroka looked back at her, tears already forming in her eyes.
Dee stepped up to the coffee table.
She placed the small black folder down so everyone could see it.
"This is Kuroka,"
Dee started, her voice very calm and simple.
"And she is not a bad person. She is not a cold-blooded killer. Everything you all know about her is a lie."
Dee pointed to the folder.
"These are the secret journals of her old Devil master,"
Dee explained to Rias and the others.
"Her master was evil. He was doing terrible, painful magic experiments. When he decided he was going to use little Koneko for his dark tests, Kuroka stepped in. She killed him to protect her little sister. She took all the blame and became a wanted criminal just so Koneko could be safe."
The living room was completely silent.
Rias covered her mouth with her hands in pure shock.
But Koneko was hit the hardest.
Koneko just stared blankly at the folder, then at her sister.
For years, she thought her big sister had gone crazy.
She thought her sister had abandoned her and stopped loving her.
All that deep anger and sadness... it was all based on a lie.
Her sister had actually sacrificed her entire life for her.
It was too much. Koneko's brain couldn't process it.
Her breathing became very fast. Her mind started shutting down from the massive shock.
She was trembling, looking like a scared, lost little kitten.
Elias saw exactly what was happening.
He walked over to Koneko. He sat down on the couch next to her, gently picked her up, and placed her sideways on his lap.
He wrapped one strong arm around her small shoulders, holding her safely.
With his other hand, he began to gently pat her soft, white hair.
"It's okay,"
Elias whispered to her. His voice was incredibly warm, deep, and grounding.
"You don't have to think right now. You don't have to be strong. Just breathe. You are safe here."
Feeling his warm hand and hearing his steady heartbeat, the chaotic storm in Koneko's mind finally stopped.
To Koneko, Elias was the ultimate protector.
He had saved her from the terrifying nightmare of Kokabiel, and now, he was saving her from her own broken heart.
He made her feel completely safe from the cruel world.
She closed her eyes and rested her small head against his chest.
"Thank you..."
Koneko whispered softly, her voice shaking with quiet tears.
"Elias-onii san."
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