Chapter 54 : Flash of flame
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I shook my head, saying, "Okay. It's clear I'm not getting through to you. I'm not accepting conditions here.
Either you accept my authority, regardless of whether or not we kill Kokabiel, or I walk.
I can promise you safety, a home, allies, and freedom to live your own life when I don't need you, but I offer nothing else. If that is not agreeable to you, then we're done here."
"You would deny me revenge?" she practically snarled, spit flying from her mouth.
"You need to move on." I said, stalling her rage. "Take it from someone else who recently lost everything he ever had.
I would be dead if I'd thrown myself about trying to get even. Instead, I'm in the best position I've ever been in.
Leave all that bullshit behind and live. You're a Fallen Angel, immortal. You have time to get over it and make your own life."
I held up a finger and conjured a flame atop it, causing her to dart backwards, but she wasn't my target.
The flame snaked off my finger through the bars of the cell. It flowed into the lock and molded into the shape of the tumblers.
I hardened it into a makeshift key and turned the lock. The door swung open moments later.
"I'm done with this conversation." I said, walking to the door. I turned to face her as I reached the threshold.
"This is your last chance. If you want to join my peerage, I'll welcome you with open arms, but you leave everything from before behind you and start a new life.
If you can't do that, I'll talk to Serafall and see if she can find a way for you to end up in a deathmatch with Kokabiel."
Kalawarner's rage slowly bled out of her, leaving her looking exhausted and lost as she stared at the floor.
"I don't know if I can leave it behind. It's all I've ever known – all I've ever been." she said, her words soft as a whisper.
I held my hand out to her, a pawn appeared atop it in a flash of flame. She wasn't strong enough for me to justify using anything else.
"This is your chance to find out. No one can make the decision for you."
Kalawarner's eyes slowly drifted up to the offering in my hand. She swallowed nervously, a storm of conflict in her eyes.
"Why?" she said so quietly I barely heard her. "I tried to kill you. You don't know me. I'm too weak to be useful. Why?"
"I could say I want someone in my peerage with the ability to use light magic. I could say reincarnating a Fallen is better than reincarnating a human.
I could say I find you super attractive and am thinking with my dick, but all of those are very minor reasons.
Truthfully? Because you're alone. Being alone sucks. You have literally nowhere to go, and that sucks. I'm typically a lot more methodical about the whole reincarnation process.
I literally have a journal where I debate the pros and cons of reincarnating various people, but you…I just want to help you.
I know that sounds stupid and unbelievable, but if you want honesty, there it is."
Kalawarner finally met my eyes, her expression full of disbelief. "That naivety will get you killed. I could stab you in the back the moment you get comfortable."
"You won't." I said, unblinking.
Her hands began to tremble. "How do you know?"
I shrugged. "I just do." I hefted the pawn in my hand. "What's your decision?"
Kalawarner swallowed nervously, her entire demeanor having shifted from hostile to vulnerable. Hesitantly, she met my eyes and said, "Reincarnate me. Please."
Wordlessly, I stepped forward and held my pawn up to Kalawarner's chest, she offered no resistance. Looking into her eyes, I said, "Are you sure?"
The Fallen nodded jerkily. "Yes."
Needing no more prompting, I pressed my pawn into her chest.
Her eyes flew wide as she gasped for air, a low hum permeating the air. Wings shot out of Kalawarner's back. One, I had seen before. It was covered in blackened feathers. The second was new, a bat-like devil wing.
Kalawarner fell to her knees, heaving air into her lungs.
I knelt down beside her and put a hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright?"
I don't know what it was, but something caused Kalawarner to snap at that moment.
Tears flowed from her eyes as she began to sob, throwing her arms around me, crushing herself against my chest.
Once more not knowing what else to do about a sobbing woman, I wrapped my arms around her and gently rocked her back and forth while she worked out whatever emotions she was feeling.
After she'd cried herself out, Kalawarner said, "Thank you." still holding tight to me.
"You don't need to thank me. You're family now. I take care of my family."
I heard a tinkling chuckle in my head as my sword spoke.
Once more, a devil shows mercy to those who should be his enemies.
Again. I thought back. Not. The. Time.
"Yay!" a new voice exclaimed from the hallway.
Kalawarner and I turned to look into the hall. Serafall was watching us with a wide, glowing smile on her face, her arms thrown over her head.
"I knew this was a good idea! Never doubt the magical girl Levi-tan!"
Sighing, I stood, offering Kalawarner a hand to help her to her feet. "Welcome to your new life. It gets really ridiculous at times, but it's alright."
For the first time since I'd met her, Kalawarner broke out into a genuine smile, her eyes still moist from her tears. "Thank you."
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