The Gremory mansion's training field was silent. Sunlight filtered through the clouds, glinting off the rune-etched stones that still pulsed with residual energy. The air carried the scent of sweat and dust stirred up by exercises.
Rias breathed heavily, her body slightly bent forward. Crimson hair clung to her forehead with dampness, and every muscle screamed from the strain.
A few steps away, Gasper stood tall. His chest rose and fell in rapid rhythm, but there was firmness in his eyes. The shadows around him, once unstable, now moved in smooth circles, obedient to the newly mastered flow of mana.
Grayfia watched them both in silence. Her upright posture did not waver, her silver gaze calculating every detail as if measuring the precise difference between them.
She walked toward Rias, the click of her heels echoing against the stone.
From her hand appeared a small flask, cold to the touch, wrapped in a softly glowing magic circle.
"Lady Rias, drink."
The heiress lifted her face slowly. Sweat trickled from her chin, her short breaths barely allowing words. Without protest, she took the flask and raised it to her lips.
Glup. Glup.
Cool water slid down her throat, quenching for a moment the dryness that burned her mouth. With each gulp, her body eased under the weight of exhaustion.
Rias sighed deeply when she finished, her crimson eyes meeting the maid's.
"Thank you, Grayfia."
The woman did not reply at once. She adjusted her stance and folded her arms, her expression still cold.
"Lady Rias, this is only the first session. Your body is not used to discipline. You must learn to mold your energy in continuous cycles, not just in bursts."
Rias's gaze flickered, but she stayed silent. The sting of critique was nothing new, but from Grayfia it always carried heavier weight.
Gasper, meanwhile, stood firm. Sweat still ran down his neck, but his red eyes shone with control.
"Sister Grayfia… it was just as you said. After the pain, I could feel the magic flowing. Before it was chaotic, but now I can guide it better."
Grayfia shifted her gaze to him. For an instant, her rigid face softened in the slightest approval.
"Exactly. That is the difference between instinct and discipline. Instinct drives you, but discipline shapes you. Remember this."
Silence reclaimed the field. Only the distant caw of crows broke the monotony.
Rias lifted her eyes toward Gasper, her breath still uneven. The contrast between the boy once seen as fragile and her own exhaustion weighed heavy on her pride.
Cold as ever, Grayfia shattered the quiet.
"Lady Rias, look at him. Gasper endured pain without faltering, and now his magic's flow is stable. If you wish to lead, you cannot allow your servants to surpass you in discipline. The King must always be the example."
Rias's eyes hardened. Pride wounded, her resolve burned stronger.
"I understand. I won't be left behind."
Grayfia gave the faintest nod.
"Gasper, now it is time to train your Sacred Gear. Lady Rias can help you with that."
The boy's eyes locked onto her, steady. His chest rose in steady rhythm, but his posture radiated determination.
"Sister Grayfia, I agree. I already feel stronger. If I can stop time, it will be very useful."
The maid stepped back, leaving the two face to face. The distance seemed to thicken the silence, as if the entire training field awaited the next move.
Rias drew a deep breath. The exhaustion gripping her moments ago faded under the weight of expectation. Her crimson eyes gleamed once more.
A light breeze swept across the field, stirring dust that drifted slowly in the air.
Gasper raised his hand, his eyes glowing deep red. The air around him trembled faintly, as though reality itself hesitated before the awakening power.
Forbidden Balor View.
Ssshhh…
Absolute silence fell over the field.
Rias's body froze in place, crimson hair suspended as if the wind itself had halted. The runes on the ground, once pulsing with energy, stood motionless, trapped in an invisible frame.
Gasper looked around. Every detail was still. Dust hung suspended, shadows unmoving, and not even the sound of wind reached his ears.
His breathing grew heavier. His heart raced—not with fear, but with exhilaration.
'If I had this power in my past life, I would have had a lot of fun.'
The glow in his eyes dimmed, and the flow of power ceased.
Ssshhhkk…
The wind stirred again, dust fell, and Rias's body moved once more. Time resumed its natural course.
She blinked several times, surprised at the lapse she had just felt. Her body reacted instantly, but her crimson gaze stayed fixed on Gasper.
Grayfia strode forward, her cold eyes locked on the boy.
"You succeeded. The power of the Forbidden Balor View is not easy to control, but it was enough to stop even Lady Rias."
Her voice rang firm through the field.
"Well done, Gasper."
She opened her hand. A small crystal vial appeared, sealed with silver runes that pulsed faintly. Inside, a dark liquid shimmered under the sunlight, releasing a sweet, metallic scent.
Gasper's eyes widened slightly as she extended it to him.
"Sister Grayfia… is this…?"
Her expression did not change.
"It is my blood."
Silence fell like a blade. Even the distant crows went quiet.
Gasper held the vial with both hands, unable to hide his shock.
'I never expected… from her. I never thought she would give me something so precious.'
The sweet scent rose, filling his senses. His throat dried instinctively, vampiric hunger pushing him to open it. But the cold rigidity in Grayfia's gaze restrained the impulse.
She folded her arms, her tone firm.
"Keep it. This vial is nearly indestructible. Use it only when you feel you cannot defeat the enemy on your own. The blood within it is more than survival—it is a final weapon."
Her words struck the field like a sentence.
Gasper pressed the vial to his chest and nodded slowly.
"Understood, Sister Grayfia."
Rias watched in silence. Her gaze wavered between surprise and reflection. She knew the value of such a gift. For the maid to offer her own blood was not just trust—it was a burden laid upon the young dhampir.
Gasper looked down at the vial again. The crystal pulsed in his grasp, the runes seeming to vibrate in tune with his mana.
'This power… it's both gift and test. If I use it too soon, I'll disappoint her. If I save it for the right moment, it could turn any battle.'
Silence covered the field once more. Wind brushed across the stones, scattering light dust.
Grayfia turned her gaze to Rias, her voice cutting.
"Lady Rias, now you see the difference between ruling by power and ruling by discipline. Gasper received a gift because he showed courage and control. You, as King, must learn to inspire that in every servant."
Rias met her eyes firmly, though her heart weighed heavy.
"I understand, Grayfia."
The maid did not reply. She turned back to Gasper, her tone still icy.
"You've taken your first step. But don't be deceived, Gasper. The Forbidden Balor View is only the surface. Within it lies something that could consume even you. If you don't learn to master it, it will devour you."
The boy gripped the vial tighter, his red eyes gleaming with silent resolve.
"I'll master it, Sister Grayfia. No matter how much it hurts."
The silence that followed was heavy.
Rias glanced at him again. The contrast between the fragile boy of before and the Gasper now speaking with such resolve struck her deeply.
'For Grayfia to give her own blood to Gasper… that means I don't have to worry. Surely I can trust him to break my marriage contract.'
Her crimson eyes glimmered briefly, filled with hope.
Gasper caught the gleam and held her gaze without wavering.
'Even though Grayfia gave me this, she keeps advising Rias. But it seems Rias still hasn't realized how much she needs to change. I'd better say something directly.'
He drew a deep breath and leaned slightly forward.
"Rias-senpai, with this I can be useful to you. Thank you for everything. I hope I can count on you in the next trainings."
The words were humble yet firm, filling the air with unexpected weight.
Rias froze for an instant. The memory of exhaustion, of sweat stinging her eyes, of every muscle begging for rest, was still fresh. The desire to quit burned inside her, but before Gasper's gaze, she couldn't refuse.
"Of course, Gasper. You can count on me."
The answer was brief, almost mechanical, but still sealed the choice.
Grayfia watched silently. Her silver eyes revealed no emotion, but inside, a small flame of approval burned. In a few words, the boy had forced Rias to stand firm.
The maid nodded slightly.
"You've done enough for today. Rest."
Her tone carried no softness, but it closed the session.
Gasper bowed his head, holding the vial carefully.
"Thank you, Sister Grayfia."
Rias also inclined her body lightly in respect.
The woman raised her chin, her silver eyes regaining their usual rigidity.
"Lady Rias."
The call was brief, yet laden with meaning.
"Until next time."
With firm steps, Grayfia crossed the field.
Clack. Clack.
Her heels echoed against the stones until fading into the distance.
The silence left behind was different. No longer heavy with pressure, but calm, settling strangely between the two.
Rias looked at Gasper again. The gleam in her eyes was no longer only that of the Gremory heiress, but also of a young woman who saw in him a new anchor.
Without a word, she stepped closer, her delicate fingers sliding until they found his hand.
Gasper's cold skin trembled at the touch.
She didn't let go. She pulled him gently, with unexpected firmness, and began walking toward the mansion.
The boy hesitated for a moment, but the strength of the crimson-haired girl was irresistible.
The two crossed the corridor lit by the afternoon sun, each step echoing louder in the empty silence of the house.
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