As soon as Gabriel entered the room where her Jack lay unconscious, Griselda rose and dropped into a formal bow. "He has yet to awaken, my Lady," Griselda offered, her tone composed and dignified.
Gabriel gestured for her to stand. "Rise, Griselda, and return outside. I shall take up your vigil."
As she stood, Griselda's tone shifted from her normal elegance to one of surprise. "So soon, my Lady? It's no trouble for me to watch him."
Gabriel shook her head. "There is no need. He is my Brave Saint and I shall wait with him until he regains consciousness. I only asked that you watch him in the event that he regained consciousness whilst I was in Sixth Heaven." Gabriel smiled. "Now, as I said before, leave him to me."
Griselda nodded, not entirely understanding her King's reasoning but accepting it nonetheless, and departed, leaving Gabriel alone with her new Jack.
Gabriel waited for about a minute before turning around and striding to the door and running her hand over it, performing a simple spell.
A moment later, the door was sealed to sound and soul.
After several seconds, Gabriel walked over to the bed upon which her unconscious new Saint lay, and took a seat next to him.
"I have a few questions for you."
The only response she received to this was silence, and Gabriel sighed.
"You know that I am addressing you, Red Dragon Emperor. Don't pretend you don't hear me."
Several more seconds of silence ensued, before the familiar, booming voice answered.
"Ask what you will, but I will not guarantee an answer."
Another sigh escaped Gabriel before she spoke again. "Is the boy aware of your existence?"
"No."
She was about to ask another question, but the dragon within her Saint spoke again before she could, his voice filled with disdain for the female Seraph.
"My turn now. What have you done to my host? You've done more than just heal him, that much I can tell."
"Indeed," Gabriel replied. "This boy is now a Brave Saint, an Angel in Heaven's service."
"How clever of you, Gabriel. I guess it's no surprise that you'd have a trick up your sleeve."
"It was no trick," Gabriel argued, not surprised in the slightest at the rather mocking tone the dragon took with those words. "You demanded that I save him. You did not specify how you wanted me to do that."
Ddraig offered no reply to that.
"Now then, my turn. How long have you been awake within this boy?"
"Since the instant he was attacked. Now, being that you answered him, you must have heard his prayer. He was quite the lustful teen, that much I know for sure. How do you intend to keep that from making him fall, hmm?"
Gabriel shrugged. "Consider this a test of the second of the Brave Saint's systems. In theory, his mind should be purged of sinful thoughts and desires when he awakens."
"What is that but a form of brainwashing?"
"It does not alter their memories, nor does it force them to be loyal to Heaven," Gabriel snapped. "If my Jack wishes to rediscover sin and dye his wings black, nothing is stopping him."
"Nothing except you."
"You speak as though I could stop him. I have neither the time nor the inclination to police his every thought and action, and neither do my other Saints."
"There are many Angels in Heaven. And holding him prisoner would be a simple task for you."
Despite her best efforts, Gabriel felt herself growing furious at the Welsh Dragon's barbed comments, though she hid it masterfully.
"You speak as though I don't care for my Sa-"
"Spare me the lecture, Gabriel. You only saved him because of me. That's a fact and we both know it. I do hope you will care for him as you claim to care for your other so-called "Saints". But then again, I can't force you to do anything. Good day."
Gabriel ground her teeth, forced to accept the incredibly rude dismissal of the dragon sealed within her Saint.
She took a few deep breaths as she stood. Once she did, she walked over to the bookshelf, pulled out a random volume, sat at the table, and flipped it open. After a moment, her eyes began to scan the pages absentmindedly.
Whoever he was, her Jack could rest for now. She would stand vigil as long as was needed.
Once Issei Hyoudou's eyesight had gone black, he had never expected to awaken at all, let alone to wake up in the most comfortable bed he'd ever slept in.
What was more, he felt as hale and hearty as he ever had been, save the exhaustion that was fast draining from his mind.
Oh, and the splitting headache. That too.
Just as Issei sat up and rubbed his eyes, a feminine voice reached his ears.
"Welcome back."
When Issei looked up, his eyes were met by the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes upon. Her frame was hidden beneath her robes, but her clothing did not hide her perfect face, or her lengthy blonde hair.
Yet, to his own shock, his next words were not comments about her figure or her looks. Instead, it was a simple, rather normal reaction.
"Wh-... where am I?" Issei asked, his voice hesitant and uncertain.
The woman smiled. "You're in Heaven, of course."
Issei's eyes went wide for a moment before he buried his face in his hands, his perverse thoughts being replaced by despair.
He'd bled out there. Yuuma really had killed him.
He didn't hear the footsteps until they were right next to the bed.
The woman sat down on the bed next to him and laid a hand on his shoulder, a mischievous half-grin on her face. "Now, now. No need to look so downcast, Brave Saint."
Issei turned bright red at having her this close to him, and his next words came out in a stammer. "Brave... Saint? Is that what we're called when we die?"
The woman's smile grew as her arm slid around Issei's back, while her other hand cupped his cheek.