ocation: Gremory Estate, Inner Courtyard
The Gremory estate was quiet, but not peaceful.
The delicate chime of a windbell rang softly across the garden, the evening sky tinged with hues of lavender and pink, but the tension in the air was thick.
Rias stood near the balcony, staring out into the horizon, her crimson hair gently swaying in the cool breeze. She could feel it. The echo of his power had changed. And this time, it wasn't just a ripple—it was like a storm brewing in the distance, unseen but ever-present.
She wanted to talk to him, but something held her back.
Her gaze shifted slightly when she noticed Asia walking toward her from across the courtyard. The young nun's normally serene expression was clouded with uncertainty.
"Asia?" Rias called softly.
Asia stopped in her tracks, hesitating for a moment before she answered, her voice a little tight, "Rias, do you feel it too?"
Rias nodded slowly. "I do. Leon... he's different now. His power—it's darker."
Asia bit her lip, glancing toward the main hall where Leon had entered only moments ago, after his return from the temple. "It's like he's... pulling away. I can feel it in the air. Like he's trying to distance himself from everything. Even me."
Rias could hear the hurt in Asia's voice, though it wasn't as loud as the fear she was trying to bury.
"Do you think it's because of what he's done?" Asia asked, almost pleading.
Rias looked away, her expression softening with empathy. "I don't know… but I think Leon is struggling. With his powers. With what they're turning him into. I don't think he's sure of what he's becoming anymore."
She paused, taking a breath. "But it's more than that. There's something else there. Something he's not telling us."
Asia walked closer, folding her hands tightly in front of her chest. "Do you think he's trying to protect us by hiding it?"
"Maybe," Rias said, her tone distant, uncertain. "But the more he isolates himself, the more dangerous it becomes. We need him to trust us. But I don't think he does."
Inside the Estate – Leon's Room
Leon sat at the edge of his bed, his cloak discarded over the back of a chair. His fingers absently traced the hilt of Yamato as he stared at the wall ahead of him, his mind elsewhere.
The fire within him still burned—faint remnants of the Flame Aspect of Vritra pulsing beneath his skin, the power now a part of him. But there was something more.
His transformation into Devil Trigger had only shown him a glimpse of what he could become. What he was becoming. He could feel the power trying to tear him apart from the inside.
And with every fragment he collected, it only got harder to control.
Leon closed his eyes, trying to center himself, when a soft knock on his door interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in."
The door creaked open. Asia stepped inside, her presence quiet but undeniable. She seemed unsure, but her eyes held something soft. Something vulnerable.
"Leon," she said gently, "can we talk?"
He glanced up at her, expression unreadable, before nodding. "Of course."
Asia walked in and sat down beside him, her eyes flickering to the floor, then back up to him. "I—I feel like you've been avoiding me."
"I've been busy," Leon answered curtly, his gaze distant.
"I'm not asking about your missions or training, Leon," Asia pressed. "I mean you've been... different. You've been shutting me out, even when you're here. Like you don't want to let me in anymore."
Leon didn't respond right away, his fingers tapping lightly against Yamato's hilt. He knew what she meant. He could feel the distance between them too, though he hadn't been able to bring himself to face it.
Asia continued, her voice trembling. "I just want you to know that I'm here. Whatever happens, I'll stay with you."
Leon's silver eyes softened slightly as he turned his gaze toward her. He could see the concern in her face, the unwavering devotion in her eyes.
But there was something else there too. A flicker of hurt.
For a moment, Leon said nothing. His mind warred between keeping his distance for her safety, or letting her see the parts of him that were breaking under the weight of Vritra's fragments.
Then, slowly, he leaned back, allowing the soft weight of his breath to settle. "I'm not sure what I am anymore, Asia."
Asia's face faltered, but she didn't look away. "You're still you."
Leon shook his head. "I'm not. Not anymore. The more I control this power, the more I feel like I'm becoming someone… else. Someone I don't want to be."
Her heart ached hearing that.
"I don't want you to lose yourself," she whispered.
Leon's hand found hers. He didn't know why he did it. Maybe it was the exhaustion of trying to keep everyone at arm's length. Maybe it was the vulnerability in her gaze that reminded him of his own isolation.
"Promise me you won't give up on me?" he asked quietly, his voice rough.
Asia squeezed his hand, tears welling in her eyes. "I promise."
Meanwhile, Elsewhere...
The scene shifted. Far from the estate, the undercurrent of events was starting to ripple through more powerful hands. Sirzechs Lucifer sat in his office, eyes narrowing as he stared at the monitor displaying the anomaly.
"That's it," he murmured to himself. "The power... it's starting to destabilize. It's only a matter of time before it draws attention."
Azazel, leaning casually against the doorframe, crossed his arms. "You think it's Leon?"
Sirzechs didn't answer immediately, his eyes focused on the shifting readings. The supernatural forces surrounding the young man were growing uncontrollably—dangerously so.
"I don't know," Sirzechs said, voice low. "But something's happening. We need to be prepared."