"Good. I won't tell you much because you're young, but I will tell you enough that you no longer live in ignorance."
In this world of power, it was a given Issei's sacred gear would be revealed as he grew. At least when the time came, Issei needed the power to make a choice, not have one made for him. Not like…himself.
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|DxD|- Chapter 65- I Will Miss You, Akeno
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Where could he begin? How much was too much? All of this had to be weighed carefully. The gentle breeze blew the strands of his golden hair. Issei still stood before him, poised and ready to listen. There was a mix of steel determination and fresh enthusiasm that made his brown eyes seemingly glow.
"Alright. Listen carefully, Issei."
Igor glanced at the sky for just a moment. A sliver of him still questioned this course of action. But what's done was done.
"As I've said, you have a power inside you."
He crouched down, levelling himself with the boy.
"Think of this power as if it were your partner. Right now, your partner is in a deep sleep and if we let them sleep, they won't ever wake up."
"Then, how do I make them wake up?"
Issei asked tentatively.
"You train. Your partner is someone who's very strong, Issei. Stronger than me. Your partner can help you get very strong, but you have to show sincerity."
"Sin…cerity?"
"Proof, Issei. Resolve. You have to show you're willing to meet them halfway."
"..."
Igor saw Issei still wasn't understanding. In truth, he wasn't understanding his actions either.
"Let's do it like this."
He gently made Issei lie flat on his back. The boy didn't resist being lowered to the ground, but he had more questions.
"What are we doing now, big bro?"
"I'm showing you what I mean. Imagine I am your partner. I am standing tall like this, but my arm is reached out for you. Don't move yet."
Igor reached out with his arm, but made no show of bending over.
"I'm ready to help you up, but you must also stretch out your hand. This is what I mean by meeting your partner halfway. If you remain lying down like this, you will never reach my hand. But if you make the effort to sit up and stretch out your hand…"
Igor gestured and Issei sat up. He took the boy's outstretched hand and pulled him to his feet.
"...then I as your partner, can pull you up. Do you understand?"
"I get it, big bro!"
Issei exclaimed excitedly.
"If I want to make my partner notice me, then I have to show I'm willing to get suuuuper strong. And if I get strong, they'll help me up, and then I'll be stronger than you!"
Issei poked Igor in the stomach, now fired up from all the possibilities.
"Yes, Issei. Your partner will be a very strong person. They could be a strong superhero or a powerful beast like a lion or dragon."
"Dragons are stronger!"
"Maybe they'll be a dragon, then. Maybe even a dog. But remember, Issei. No matter what form they take or how scary they look, they are your partner. They will not hurt you. So you must not treat them badly."
Issei nodded.
"I promise, big bro. I'll treat my partner very well."
"I'm glad to hear that Issei."
There was so much more Igor could say, but this was enough. Issei could learn the specifics of a sacred gear as he got older, and the dangers as well.
"So, do you remember what you need to do?"
"I need to train!"
"And how will you do it?"
"Um…uh…"
His pumped fist lowered every few moments. Excitement turned to confusion, contemplation, then loss.
"Hehe. How do I train, big bro?"
"Play around in the park. Swing on the monkey bars. Run around. Keep playing every day. As long as you do that, you're fine. You're still very young, Issei. Your body is growing. I'll come back in a year to see how you're doing."
"A year?"
Issei grasped a crucial point. His frown was deep and his eyes shimmered with a sense of loss.
"You're leaving?"
Igor placed his palm on Issei's head.
"I have to, Issei. But I will be back on this very day next year."
"Oh…"
"Don't be so down. It's not forever, Issei. And while I'm gone, I'll be trusting you to look after Akeno and Irina. Can you do that for me?"
"Mn…"
Issei weakly nodded.
"Thank you, Issei. Once I come back, I'll teach you more, maybe even show you a few tricks. How does that sound?"
Issei didn't answer. He grabbed Igor's jacket and looked up to him with solemn eyes.
"Do you have to leave?"
Igor smiled. He picked Issei up and held him in his arms.
"I also have my own training, Issei. I can't let you get stronger than me now, can I?"
"Then let's train together, big bro."
"Some day we will, Issei."
The surroundings changed. The rooftop changed to the small alleyway beside the restaurant. It was well-maintained with a few puddles from melted snow.
"Now come on. Let's get some ice-cream."
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|DxD|
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A brother and sister walked through the forest. The little sister was perched on his shoulders, her hands snapping around a golden orb of energy. The sun was hidden behind clouds, allowing the shadows to encroach without fear. The forest was dim, yet that darkness was held at bay by the light.
Igor calmly walked the dirt road. Akeno constantly twisted on his shoulders as the golden orb shifted from side to side. It was only the size of a fruit, yet bright enough to light the way.
"Stop…moving…you…silly…thing!"
Akeno was extremely focused and Igor found it endearing. He held her school bag in his hand, each step bringing them closer to home, a home he would not sleep in tonight.
It would be a long, long time before he would get to hold his precious little sister. This last walk, backgrounded by her claps, was not the least bit annoying to him. The road was long, the walk even longer. But even all of that had to come to an end.
Between the trunks, he saw their home in the distance. The last twist in the road would take them straight to it.
"Akeno."
"Hm?"
"Big brother loves you."
"..."
Akeno paused, not sure where that came from. But then, she hugged his head with a sweet smile, her cheek pressing against his hair.
"I love big brother too~."
Chapter 65
END