Chapter 20 - Waking Avalon

"You're the one that kidnapped my sister?" Sirzechs questions Cebrail looking at her with calm blue eyes. He wasn't surprised that it was a child since Serafall had warned him before of the kidnappers' identity.

Since he knew this was the child of Gabriel he also knew he had to thread carefully so as not to ruin the chances of the peace treaty in the works. In all honesty he had actually wanted to meet this child before as one could say it was thanks to her that the peace treaty with the angels managed to progress this far, it was after she was born that Gabriel seemed to start actually considering peace as an option.

"Indeed it was I." Cebrail said proudly with a clear look of pride on her flat face.

"Why?" Sirzechs asked somewhat amused by the child in front of him, from what he had heard she wasn't the type to do things for no reason.

"I need a favor from you."

"Usually you don't ask for a favor by kidnapping someone's family member."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, this is obviously extortion."

"Impossible. Extortion is a threat. I haven't made any threats."

Sirzechs looked at her with a raised eyebrow, he was confused because in the most technical of senses she was correct. She had never ACTUALLY threatened him but… "You kidnapped my little sister."

"Well, I never said that I was going to do anything to her. I would have just returned her if you never showed up."

"How long were you going to wait?"

"777 naps."

"..." Sirzechs stared at her for a few moments and couldn't help but chuckle a little.

(I was a bit skeptical when Serafall claimed that the child of Gabriel of all people lacked any prejudice but would you look at that.) Sirzechs thought, now he was certain that Rias was probably completely safe. Though perhaps he should have guessed as much since Serafall wasn't going after her precious own little sister, she had just laughed it off as kids playing.

Turning around Cebrail began walking through the destroyed doorway and instantly after following her, Sirzechs saw his little sister who was standing at the top of the steps.

The two locked eyes and a strange mixture of emotions were clearly visible deep in Rias' own. She was happy to be rescued however at the same time both embarrassed and annoyed that it was her older brother who had done it.

"B-Big brother…" Rias greeted her brother hesitantly and he smiled at her in return before moving his attention back to Cebrail.

"So what favor exactly are you in need of?" Sirzechs questioned following the girl to an area behind the staircase.

"The Church has been making moves in the shadows."

"Aren't they always?" Sirzechs said sarcastically.

"You know as well as I do that that isn't true. Sometimes they're quite loud. That's when they're easiest to deal with since they're fat with overconfidence."

"Hmm, I see what you mean, if they're being quiet then it can only mean even worse news than normal. However, how does this concern you? Angels generally don't interfere directly in the affairs of the Church."

"Yes, that was the case but now Angels can answer prayers freely so we need to reign in the Church a bit more to help with our reputation. It isn't good that one of the things we're known for is the fact that priests sometimes diddle little boys." Cebrail said seriously though it didn't seem all that serious when she said it with a cute little pout.

"Pfft, hahaha, I can't say that you're wrong, but still you're asking for a Devil to deal with the Church for you?" Sirzechs watched as Cebrail opened a door leading deep down into a rather well-lit basement.

"Have you heard of the Holy Sword Project?" Cebrail asks, ignoring his question.

Sirzechs' eyes changed from the relaxed carefree to a slightly more serious glint. "As a matter of fact, I have. My little sister just recently acquired a young boy that was a victim."

"Yes, what they've been doing is… troubling to say the least. It almost seems as though…"

"As though they're preparing for war." Sirzechs finished her words.

"Indeed… look." Cebrail as the two reached the basement pulled out the gun which the exorcist she fought previously along with a few bullets and handed them to the red headed Lucifer. "The bullets have both holy and demonic powers infused within them."

"...That's, a bit distressing." Sirzechs commented, turning one of the bullets in his hand slowly. "These things have been made with both Angels and Devils in mind. Those guys, they really are about to try and start a fight aren't they?"

"I think it's probably more complicated than that. With the three faction treaty and the way to being signed they probably feel threatened. The Church's number one duty has always been to protect mankind after all." Cebrail defended them playing a slight devils advocate for the Church.

"You wouldn't be able to tell that just by looking at their track record." Sirzechs joked and Cebrail couldn't help but nod in agreement. The Church has had a pretty bad track record when it came to human lives and whatnot.

"In any case, the favor I need from you is to free this child from her Sacred Gear prison." Cebrail explained as the two stopped in front of a girl surrounded by a holy barrier. "It absorbs holy powers when used on it, and uncle Michael has been conveniently busy ever since I got this child so he's not of much help either."

"So you need the Power of Destruction to get rid of the barrier."

"Indeed."

Touching the barrier instantly it dissolved Sirzechs without requiring much effort at all. "Couldn't you have asked my sister to do this?"

"Impossible." Cebrail answered instantly without a shred of hesitation nor second thought. "As a wise man once said, 'She's not up to snuff.' that is to say I don't want her accidentally killing this child."

"I see."

"I knew you'd be quite the rational and reasonable person."

"Hm?"

"It's because you're the leader of the Devils. I knew you'd understand the weight that comes with faith. You must be rational to handle such heaviness."

"The people's faith in me isn't a burden. It's my motivation." Sirzechs responded to her words with his own take on leadership.

"I don't understand. The motivation simply comes from the pressure. You shouldn't speak of it in such a positive light."

"I chose to be a leader, I knew what it would entail."

Cebrail visibly pauses as she stares at the child which had just been unsealed.

(Was that the difference between me and you Mary Sue?)

"I've never had the luxury of choosing. Those with power must use it, that is the Wargrave way." She mumbled to herself and though Sirzechs heard her he didn't comment on her words.

"You should save her quickly since she'll die soon." Sirzechs said turning around and leaving.

"Ah, he's right she's really dying." Cebrail said flatly seeing the girl's life quickly draining from her body. If one were looking at the scene without knowing Cebrail they may have come to the conclusion that she didn't care at all however without hesitation she pulled out her brave saint deck and pulled out the cards.

"I don't know anything about poker… this jack looks cool though." For such a simplistic reason she pulled out the jack of hearts and planted it within the girl reincarnating her as an Angel in a huge burst of light which brightened the entirety of the basement before dimming slowly.

"Ah what was that?" Sona said, now standing at the bottom of the staircase.

"I just reincarnated her as an Angel."

"So the rumors are true? The Angels made a system like the Evil Pieces?" Sona said curiously walking up to Cebrail and peering at the sleeping girl's face.

"Indeed, though only four of us have access to these prototypes." Cebrail explained. Since they had the prototypes they also had an extra card that the scientists didn't even know the full effects of. The joker card.

"Are you leaving now?" Sona looked a bit sad and played with her fingers childishly in a nervous manner.

"Huh? Didn't you read my letter? I still need to ask your sister for a favor, and I also owe you a play date."

Sona blushed slightly but was happy that her friend wouldn't be running off to cause trouble elsewhere just yet. If she was lucky then she could actually probably get Cebrail to stay for the entirety of summer break! Though that might be wishful thinking in truth.

"Then I'll call my sister!" Sona exclaimed, running back up the stairs in a hurry.

"Puuu~ I really can't escape such burdens? If I can't get a lazy life on my own then I'll just get people who can fight my battles for me. A super elite team of badasses who don't bother me while I'm sleeping." Cebrail seemed resolute in her goal following the flow of fate despite disliking it greatly.