"Nine thousand nine hundred ninety-seven… nine thousand nine hundred ninety-eight… nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine…"
Sweat dripped from Tenra's brow as he swung his sword in the courtyard of an abandoned shrine. Each slash was precise, deliberate—a ritual of discipline and longing. Nearby, Akeno Himejima was busy preparing their meal, her hands deft as a few playful spirits darted around, fetching ingredients and stirring pots.
High School DxD was a world of legends—a tapestry woven with angels, devils, fallen angels, and powers that could reshape reality. Devils bent magic to summon storms and lightning. Angels wielded light to purify all corruption. There were even mysterious forces, like the power of dragons, that only the original protagonist, Issei Hyoudou, could master. Here, the extraordinary was ordinary.
As a half-devil, half-human, Tenra could cultivate both demonic power and spiritual energy.
Demonic power was born of imagination and will—the stronger the spirit, the greater the magic. But Tenra's soul didn't truly belong to this world, and magic never came easily to him. His reserves were meager, so he'd given up on magic long ago in favor of spiritual energy.
Spiritual energy—sometimes called qi, chakra, or inner power—was ancient and primal, flowing through every living thing and the very earth itself. If magic was a product of the mind, then spiritual energy was the music of the body, a hidden force pulsing in animals, plants, and people.
Since his mother's death, Tenra had trained for nearly five years. Still, the energy he'd gathered was only modest.
Not that he lacked talent—quite the opposite. But spiritual energy was slow to build, unlike magic, which could be amassed quickly by sheer force of will. Qi had to be coaxed out, drawn from body and nature, bit by bit. Progress was slow at first, but as one grew stronger, the pace quickened. In time, a master of spiritual energy could rival any magician—and even unlock powers unique to those attuned to life itself.
"Tenra, dinner's ready!"
Akeno's voice broke his focus. He turned to see her standing beside him, a bright smile lighting her face.
Nearly six months had passed since they'd met. She'd grown—her body filling out, her gaze lively and warm. The lost, hollow look she once wore was gone, replaced by the gentle joy of youth.
"Alright, give me a second."
Tenra set his sword aside and wiped his forehead. With a thought, he summoned a wisp of spiritual energy, evaporating the sweat from his skin—no need to wash up.
"Let's eat!"
They clapped their hands together in thanks. The table was crowded with dishes, and the little spirits cheered as they dug in.
"Akeno, your cooking keeps getting better," Tenra said, savoring a bite.
"Of course! My mother taught me herself. And as a girl, I can't let you show me up in the kitchen."
Akeno's eyes sparkled with pride.
Tenra was no slouch at cooking, but since they'd started traveling together, Akeno had taken over. Watching him enjoy her food filled her with a quiet happiness.
She remembered the days before Tenra—wandering alone, hungry, hunted for her fallen angel blood. She could endure pain, even the fear of pursuit. But loneliness was different. It was an ache that made her feel abandoned by the entire world, waking her in the night with silent tears.
Then Tenra appeared. And in her darkness, a light flickered.
They traveled, explored, fought monsters and evil spirits. Life was still hard, but now it was full—warm, safe. The world itself seemed changed.
Tenra noticed the smile blooming on her face, unbidden and genuine.
"Akeno, you've changed."
She blinked, cheeks flushing, but her smile only grew more radiant—warming Tenra from the inside out.
"It's because I met you, Tenra…"
—
Night fell. In their makeshift shelter, Tenra and Akeno lay side by side, close enough to feel each other's heartbeat.
At first, they'd slept apart. But one night, Akeno had crawled into his arms, face burning with embarrassment. Since then, neither had questioned the arrangement.
"The scar's gone, you know. You don't have to worry about it anymore," Tenra murmured, as Akeno traced the spot on his neck where the blade had once pressed.
"In my heart, it's still there. It's proof that you saved me—proof that we met."
Her fingers were gentle, her voice dreamy.
Tenra smiled wryly. He'd saved her, yes—but not as some shining knight, sword flashing against evil. He'd threatened his own life, desperate and reckless, to buy her a chance.
"Tenra, why don't we settle down here?"
Akeno's voice was soft, hopeful. "Aunt Haruno said she'd take us in. If we don't want to live with her, she'll help us build a house."
Tenra hesitated, then shook his head.
"Sorry, Akeno. I'm still too weak. I can't stop moving forward."
"Why are you so obsessed with power? You're already amazing, already…"
Akeno's face paled, confusion and hurt twisting her features.
She didn't understand. What did strength matter? Didn't it only bring pain—to others, to yourself?
Tenra brushed her forehead, voice gentle.
"Without power, you can't protect anything. You can't keep what matters safe."
"I want to protect the people I care about. I want to protect you, Akeno. That's why I need to get stronger."
Akeno stared at him, stunned. Tears welled in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry, Tenra… I…"
Guilt and self-doubt wracked her. They were alike—both half-human, both orphaned by fate. But there was a difference. Tenra hadn't inherited his father's abilities, couldn't awaken his devil's power. But Akeno had inherited both her parents' gifts. If she wanted, she could master them, become strong.
But she hated her power—and so she refused to accept it.
"Akeno, chasing strength is my choice. But you're different."
"Don't blame yourself. Don't feel guilty. Just live by your own heart."
He nuzzled her forehead, comforting her with quiet warmth.
Slowly, she calmed. She wiped away her tears, lifting her head.
"Saying things like that… Tenra, you're too cunning."
Tenra scratched his head, sheepish. Maybe he was.
"We've stayed here long enough. Let's leave tomorrow."
"Mm. Wherever you go, I'll follow."
"But before we go, we should thank Aunt Haruno. She's helped us so much."
"Of course."
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
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