Spear Devil - 030

[A/N: Next update for The Wanderer is tomorrow. Enjoy!]

Chapter 030 – Falling Out

[April – 2008]

It took Sona a few moments to return to her senses as she gritted her teeth lightly and addressed Akira again.

"You are right if you think that I may not be able to directly help you with that goal, in fact, nobody can. I know what those two existences represent and I am not sure that it is even possible for anyone to reach their levels of strength.", she said before continuing.

"But I can certainly help you in growing your power and improving your overall environment so that you can train more efficiently. I may even be able to ask my sister for a favor so that she will allow you to be trained by one of her peerage members."

"There are many ways in which I can help you if you join my peerage. Not to mention that you wouldn't have to worry about others trying to forcefully recruit you after joining me.", Sona ended calmly.

"Maybe you are right.", Akira voiced out with a sigh, "But in the end, you would still expect me to follow your orders without hesitation and prioritize your goals over my own. I would still be your servant, maybe a well-taken care of one but a servant nonetheless."

Looking directly into her eyes with his crystal gaze, he stated calmly: "Your offer. It's simply not good enough, Lady Sitri."

…

I saw the frustration and surprise in Sona's eyes at my words, as she bit her lower lip and narrowed her eyes minutely, seemingly thinking about something quite intensely.

"Then how about a bet.", she suddenly stated as she pulled out a hidden drawer from the side of the table, a chessboard inside it with the pieces already set up in position, "Let's play a game of chess and if I win you will join my peerage. And if you win I owe you a favor."

"A favor against my freedom?", I repeated with a displeased expression, my eyes narrowed in wrath as my draconic pride roared in defiance.

"If you want to provoke me, I suggest you be very careful. I may only be a half-dragon but I don't mind dying to teach you a lesson in humility.", I stated harshly while rising from my seat, my voice a draconic rumble as I felt my pupils elongate and turn into slits, my Dragon Fear pulsating around me threateningly.

I wasn't joking or faking my anger. My life wasn't worth to me as much as my pride and dignity, not after having died once already. Death wasn't something to be afraid of, but not being able to live my life in a way that allowed me to face myself in the mirror every day certainly was.

I knew that I would eventually join Rias' peerage, but I wouldn't just sign my freedom away in a gamble for some useless favor of a bratty Devil heiress. Not only would my human side not allow that, but my inner dragon practically demanded I go on a rampage at the mere insinuation of such.

Dragons were creatures of pride above all else, and even as a half-dragon it wasn't easy to control the violent urges that came with being a member of this race. And I knew that without my Soul Fortress skill, I might have already attacked Sona in anger.

Eyes widening in shock and fright, Sona stayed frozen in place as I grabbed my stuff and the wooden case with the spears I had been promised before leaving the office.

My meal was left unfinished as I closed the door behind myself, bending the metal handle out of shape as my anger made me momentarily lose control of my strength.

I knew that Sona had simply spoken without much thought and probably didn't mean to imply that my freedom was only worth as much as a favor from her, but that didn't make it easier to hear her speak those unbelievably condescending and degrading words.

Reining in my raging Dragon Fear as best as I could while taking a few calming breaths, I took a quick glance at the clock hanging in the corridor and realized that I still had around twenty-five minutes left until my break was over.

Seeing the staircases to my right, I hesitated only for a moment before I went up to the fourth floor again and entered one of the empty music rooms, ignoring the frightened looks and gossip from the other students.

Setting down the large wooden box and my school bag, I opened the violin case atop the piano and took out the stringed instrument.

I didn't want to inspect the spears here even though I was alone at the moment, as the risk of discovery was simply not worth it.

Placing the violin below my chin while I sat down on the small bench placed before the piano, I took up the bow as I closed my eyes and just played a slow melody to regain my calm and help me soothe my draconic anger.

And it worked. Only moments after I started playing, I could feel myself settle down again, my violent urges being curbed by the soft tunes ringing in my ears, my rapidly beating heart falling in line with the pace of the melody.

…

Her limbs still trembling, Sona needed a few moments to regain her calm after having to face the full brunt of Akira's Dragon Fear, the half-dragon's wrath having proved itself horrible to encounter.

Slumping back in her chair, a half-eaten lunch rapidly cooling on the dish before her, the Devil heiress couldn't help but lament at how bad this meeting had just gone.

She had been careless with her words for the second time when facing Akira, though this time she had clearly offended him greatly, the draconic growl in his voice and his fear-inducing aura being proof of that, not to mention his rather threatening words.

Frustrated and helpless, Sona thought of how a simple attempt at recruitment could have turned into such hostility with just a few words. She was also angry at herself, as she had always considered herself to be a diplomatic and intelligent young woman, though what had just happened clearly proved otherwise.

She now understood what she had been told since young, that it was a mistake to anger a Dragon no matter his power or age, as they only lived by their own rules. And that most of them would lay down their lives without hesitation to avenge a grudge when angered, their outrage feared by every intelligent race.

Sona had been overconfident and thoughtless when facing Akira, and she was slightly clueless about how to rectify the situation.

She realized that her words had been degrading and condescending on an unspeakable level, her offer to put forward a favor while Akira had to bet away his freedom making her feel almost physically ill now that she thought it over.

Leaning back in the chair with her eyes closed and her head tilted over the backrest, she sighed quietly as her chest felt somewhat stuffy, the knowledge that she may have hurt the half-dragon with her words making her feel uncomfortable in a way she had never experienced before.

Sona knew she had to do something to repair their relationship or recruiting Akira would be nothing but a pipe dream. Not to mention that she simply didn't want him to think of her in such an unkind way.

For a reason, she was not yet ready to examine further, Sona wanted Akire to like her, and for that to be the case she had to find a way to apologize that would show her sincerity. Though how to do so, she didn't really know at this point in time.