"Let me ask you this. Will you really feel satisfied with your revenge after taking down Galilei? Will you feel less burdened by destroying Excalibur? Will you truly be at peace after taking down anyone with a holy sword?"
His expression gave me the answer I knew would be given.
...
"I will be frank. I have seen many go about trying to fulfill their revenge on others, and all met a very messy end. What you read in books about some living happily ever after is just that, a fairy tale. Those people became so obsessed with their thirst for revenge that many sacrificed their friends, families and loved ones so that they could kill that one person. Sometimes they became so twisted that they themselves became shadows of their past selves and even do the same heinous acts as their targets, or worse." My expression became grimmer and sadder as I talked. "Revenge would only make you into something worse than the one you seek to kill."
Don't I know it? I have been on the receiving end of such people obsessed with trying to kill me, the Einzberns and Archibalds being the top groups around. At one point I found myself almost enacting one such act when Rin got attacked at the Clock Tower and would have probably done a lot of things just to find the offender if Lord El Melloi did not step in at the last minute. I have seen many deaths and wasted lives from all walks of life, and the avengers never seemed to realize what they did until my sword meets their heart.
Heck, Julius Balsforth was the last person I met who did just that to the guy who killed his wife, and he became so broken that he himself could tell that he had fallen quite badly.
"I believe this is what Ise was after when he offered to help you out." I chuckled lightly as I thought back to what the boy said. "Honestly, the kid is weird. He does not understand some of the most basic things and lacks common sense in other areas, yet he can tell that something would happen if you carried on with your revenge. I don't know whether he is smart or just lucky."
"… Then what am I supposed to do?" Kiba dropped his arms and lowered his head. His voice seemed to quiver with both sadness and uncertainty "If I don't have revenge, then how…"
"That is something you would need to find out for yourself." I replied as I dismissed my weapons. "It will not be easy, but you need to find another purpose for your existence and those around you. It is fine if you wish to take down those who conducted inhuman experiments like that Holy Sword Project, but it must be for a proper reason and not just for revenge."
"Think about your comrades, both old and new."
With that, I grabbed my crutches and made my way back to the entrance, dispersing the barrier charms I had placed earlier as I went. I continued on for a short while before pausing at the corridor. "Okay, he is all yours."
"GUH!" Ise let out a weird sound as he came out of his cover, followed shortly by Asia, Koneko and finally Rias, all looking sheepish. "How…"
"Please~ in situations like this, there will always be someone listening in on the conversation." I rolled my eyes tiredly. "Just give him a little room to mull over." Ise and the other two juniors nodded before making their way to the knight, leaving me alone with the red-haired devil.
"Not running away this time?" Rias let out a teasing smile as she leaned forward to emphasize her assets. "I thought you were in danger of losing your soul to me or something?"
"Sona told you that huh?" I snorted as I laid my clutches on the wall and leaned on the window seal. "As much I would want to, my legs are not cooperating. So I am tolerating you for now."
"Hmph! One day you will tell me why you keep running from me." Rias pouted as she leaned on the opposite wall. Her expression then changed to a neutral one. "So how is he really?"
"Physically, he is almost healed. Emotionally and psychologically…" I glanced out of the window to see Ise being punched by Koneko, likely him acting or saying something perverted, while Asia acted flustered and Kiba was shaking his head in forced amusement. "Those would take a while."
"True, though I question your opinion about the physical aspect, considering what you did." Rias remarked while pressing her lips.
"Sorry about being a little rough on him then." I apologized while nodding my head to Rias.
"While a part of me wants to clobber you for what you did to him, I will not do so." Rias sighed heavily and for a brief moment, I caught a glimpse of how old she really was, like a tired person who had worked at a problem for a few dozen years and could not see any progress. "At least he seems to be understanding what would happen if he carried on with his actions. I have worried about that child and tried to dissuade his thoughts, but he kept hanging on like it was his only lifeline."
"As uncomfortable as it is, revenge can serve as a purpose for one's existence. People need something to live on." I looked at the knight who was framed in the last rays of light while Ise and the two girls talked to him. "But if left unattended, that would consume them greatly."
"Speaking from experience?" Rias raised a cursory eyebrow at me, likely trying to get some information from me so as to find some leverage in the process.
"You can put it in that manner." I took the crutches and checked them before making my way to the elevator. "At least Kiba should be a little more controllable now, so I suggest that you monitor him."
"I will." Rias Gremory stood up straight and bowed her head. "Thank you for your assistance in the battle and this conversation." I merely waved my hand as I continued on. I was really in need of some sleep. But all that talk about the experiments Kiba was in got me thinking.
Where was that Lyle fellow now?
...
"Is there anything else you would need, Your Holiness?" A man dressed in the traditional garb of the Vatican Guards asked the elderly man dressed in simple white clothes.
"No need, you have done more than enough for this old man." The pope smiled as he shook his head lightly. "Go and get some rest young man. I will be sleeping a little late tonight and you should not need to wait up for me."
"Understood, but call us if you are in need of anything." The guard saluted him before making his way down the corridor, pausing every so often to check the doors before continuing. The pope merely closed his door and made his way slowly to the balcony. It was one of the simpler rooms in the Vatican and one that he had taken for his quarters. It was a small room that had a few shelves for books, a small table and a couple of chairs next to it, and a fireplace that was now burning away and giving much needed warmth for the cold night. The elderly man stirred the embers himself to get a bit more heat, before opening the balcony door to let in some night air. He took a moment to admire the moon and the stars, then taking in a deep breath, he spoke softly.
"It is a cold night, I have some hot scones if you like, right next to a hot fire."
"Thank you for the offer, but I am not that hungry." A voice replied back as a figure appeared on the ledge next to him. "Although a cup of tea would be preferable." With a light leap, the figure stood next to him and saluted the pope.
"Welcome back, young Lyle. Come in, I have just obtained some nice Earl Grey leaves." The old man turned to the exorcist with a small smile. "And I even obtained some of that nutmeg you tend to put into your drinks."
"Thank you, Your Holiness." Lyle lowered his head lightly before coming after him, making sure to close the door behind him and drawing the curtains to avoid prying eyes. He turned to find the pope pouring out some tea and offering the cup to him alongside some biscuits, both of which he accepted with a bit of gratitude.
"I assumed you have heard the news?" Lyle took a sip of the tea as he asked, lightly sighing gratefully for the warmth.
"Something of the sort." The pope nodded as he tried to remember the details. "Granted, the council members were not being clear about it considering the amount of arguments they have regarding who should take the blame for the theft of the shards, but the general gist about it would be that the shards are now gone?"
"Indeed, though I am afraid the news is a lot complicated than that." Lyle replied as he took a bite of the biscuit. "Then again, considering the stakes at question, I feel those guys would probably overlook it for a while if they could find a scapegoat for the theft."
...
A/N : The Story Needs More Power Stones ;)
PS : if we can reach 400 Stones by the end of the week, I will throw you an extra chapter
...
if you want to read ahead of the public release you can go to my p atreon :
p atreon.com/Aerle