"Will you not go after him, Shuri?"
Diehauser enquired with a kind smile. It was a rhetorical question. With her speed, she could easily catch up to Igor.
"No, Lord Belial."
Shuri wiped away stray strands of hair glued to her face. Igor had shot past like a truck when he left.
"I believe it is time we clear the air between us."
Shuri radiated determination. She would not allow Diehauser to play around with Igor.
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|DxD|- Chapter 38- Probing
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Igor was a blur through the forest. He moved with absolute speed and agility, leaving behind only deep footprints on the forest floor. He applied his training, using 'explosive movement' to burst forward and 'finesse movement' for agile manoeuvring
His body was a puppet to vitality. With effective use, he could limit the strain to his spine and ankles. Ten kilometres was not too far. He had a rough scale to calculate how far he ran. He'd search from the perimeter and move inwards. This time, he wouldn't give up.
*Whoosh*
Igor came to a stop by a tree. His palm cracked the bark and left a deep indent on the trunk. The leaf litter scattered under the wake that trailed to a stop behind him. The wind raked the forest floor, revealing the sticky and muddy layer of critters and worms underneath.
Golden eyes scanned across. His senses were poised with one single goal—to find the tomb where he was born. Predictably, he found nothing. He didn't know if he could find anything, not after a year had passed. But he'd try.
*Crack!*
His fingers bit into the wood like iron claws. His hand was filled with a fistful of wood from stress and frantic desire.
"Calm down. Think."
Baraquiel discussed this with him earlier this morning. Ariyans do not rot like normal creatures. They slowly turn into sandy ash upon death. He had to track that scent.
A corpse-turned-ash would still hold a faint charcoal smell. It would be difficult to find it in the forest, but his sense of smell was very developed. As long as he got close enough, he'd find the tomb. And if possible, his mother's remains may still hold a faint trace of magic he could track.
Igor tilted his head upwards. Various scents streamed into his nostrils. The most immediate were rotting leaves and splintered wood. Then came the smell of old walnuts, chemicals, and musty scented aromas. Those were ants and other critters.
For the next few minutes, he moved and sifted through the scents of the forest. Other than rodents and birds, nothing else stood out. But he kept moving, narrowing the radius.
A setback was a setback, but it wouldn't wound him. As long as he searched this area, he would definitely find his mother. He just had to persevere.
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|DxD|
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Ariyans did not rot. God, or the All-Father as Igor called him, let it so Ariyans would erode into dust once their time passed. No maggots or termites would disturb their corpses. This was Igor's confidence and Baraquiel's assurance. Unfortunately, it was also the greatest threat to his secret.
Shuri remained behind with Diehauser and Cleria for this very reason. Igor perhaps did not understand how unique his people were. As vast as the supernatural world was, all mortal existences were equal in death. From the greatest of dragons to the humblest commoner, all would rot once their final breath left.
If these two before her tagged along to find Igor's mother, they would have a lead in finding out Igor's secret. Shuri was already reluctant to trust Cleria with such a secret. And she dared not trust Diehauser or devils as a whole. The fewer people knew of Igor's identity, the better.
"I believe it is time we clear the air between us."
Shuri replied to Diehauser's probing question with decisive cleanliness. She would not attempt to verbally manoeuvre the devils before her. She lacked the skill to manipulate her facial expressions. Being humble and truthful was what she'd do…to an extent.
"You are both curious about Igor, especially you, Lord Belial. I humbly request you do not overly investigate him. We all have secrets. He does too."
She bowed with sincerity.
"Igor's secrets concern his life. I can accept if you wish to study his energy, Lord Belial, but I please ask you do not probe into his identity. And if you do come close to a conclusion, I plead on Igor's behalf that you keep it to yourself and cease investigations. Igor's matter…involves the gods."
Gods, divine existences who sat atop the world since the epoch of time. Their means were countless, their knowledge endless. The Scramble became the stage where the world finally learned just how terrifyingly powerful gods were. A flick of their power could turn mountains and vast lands into desolate wastelands. Amongst the abilities shown, their ability to read the minds of mortals was perhaps amongst the most terrifying.
"Well this is a very interesting development, Shuri."
Diehauser maintained a cordial smile. A brow had risen in intrigue.
"I did not think you would reveal your cards so readily."
"It is the best way, Lord Belial. For all of us."
Shuri remained polite and Diehauser's eyes glinted ominously. He took in every inch of Shuri: her posture, her minute twitches, her expressions, and her energy. She is…what is the saying?
[A common man is innocent, but he who carries treasure is guilty.]
Shuri was innocent and truthful. He appreciated her upfrontness. But the way she said her last sentence…did he detect a subtle threat?
[She is hiding something. Something is giving her confidence to stand up to me like this. Or is it maybe…someone~?]
How exciting. Another mystery to solve. Diehauser restrained his grin. This little family of Shuri might be full of secrets to uncover.
"I hear you, Shuri. Indeed we do all have our little secrets."
Diehauser almost wanted to probe, but stopped himself. There would always be time later to savour this juicy mystery fruit. But one more poke shouldn't hurt, right?
"Though, am I correct in assuming today's excursion has to do with one of those…secrets?"
Diehauser watched closely. He caught a hint of panic from her. It was no different from a drop of blood in shark-infested waters. He almost leaned in, anticipating a deflective reply from her. A falsehood often times yielded more than the truth.
[Or maybe she'll surprise me again?]
Matching his thoughts, Shuri didn't deflect, but agreed.
"Indeed it is, Lord Belial. This concerns something important to him and to me. It is why I sincerely ask you please refrain from —"
Cleria's interruption came suddenly.
"Read the room, cousin. Shuri's my friend. If she needs privacy, give it to her. No need to force her into a corner like this."
"..."
Diehauser's smile strained for just a fraction of a moment. What kind of teammate is this? Was his cousin too stupid to notice? Shuri was pleading, but her pleading was a joke. Her tone and posture indicated she had a plan B in case they forced the issue. He had to weed out that plan. Would she go into hiding? Did she have a powerful protector? An artifact?
"Sigh…"
Diehauser didn't resist Cleria's hand intertwining with his. He didn't expect she'd take her friendship this seriously. It seems another lesson was in order—friends only existed to benefit one's self.
He took another silent look at Cleria as she cast the teleportation magic. She was protective of Shuri…too overprotective. How did he not notice such a profound weakness?
[This needs to be addressed.]
Cleria created a teleportation circle beneath herself and her cousin. She needed to give Diehauser a good talking to after this. Shuri was off limits.
"We'll leave first, okay Shuri? If you need me to teleport you back, just give me a call. Bye~."
Cleria didn't wait for Shuri to respond. She felt so embarrassed she retreated right away, carrying the regret of inviting her cousin. A gift of apology was needed for this interpersonal mess. She didn't want Shuri to start believing she was a stereotypical devil.
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|DxD|
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Shuri stood alone in the clearing. She released a breath she had been holding. Her relief was palpable. She did not know what to do if Diehauser insisted on staying. If she'd realised he'd be present, she never would've scheduled the meeting.
"Sigh…"
She felt an arm support her by the waist. Shuri would recognise the steely scent of Baraquiel anywhere. He didn't have Akeno with him. Presumably, she was in a safe place. She trusted him that much.
"Husband…"
Shuri leaned into him. He said nothing, but she knew him well by now. His silence always meant worry.
"It's not your fault. We didn't anticipate this."
Cleria's mansion was covered in wards. It would be difficult for him to sense what was inside, not without exposing himself.
"Please, Baraquiel. Do not blame yourself."
Shuri gently soothed and Baraquiel sighed to himself. He could stand here blaming himself, but it would not fix the problem. He knew devils. Shuri was not equipped to handle one of Diehauser's calibre.
"That Diehauser boy is suspicious of you. Be wary of familiars in the coming days."
"I will."
"Don't travel with Akeno to town."
"Alright."
"Igor must never venture alone from now on."
"I will tell him."
Shuri calmed his worries with yielding replies. Diehauser was an unknown and this was only the second time they met. There was no telling where his limits lay.
"Is he still here, husband?"
"No. I don't sense anyone here aside from us and Igor."
"That's good."
Shuri took a step forward, but Baraquiel held her back.
"Let him do this alone, Shuri. Some things are best experienced alone."
"..."
Shuri looked off into the distance. Igor's energy signature was popping and vanishing at different places.
"Is the tomb…really here?"
"It has to be."
Baraquiel replied decisively.
"An injured stray can't run far. The tomb will be here..."
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AN: Again, I'm still complaining about Baraquiel. Igor's what? Eleven? I was still eating sand at eleven. Now granted I fought detention instead of stray devils, but my point still stands. When he finds that tomb, he needs a guardian, not some solo warrior bravo from a walking fossil.
Chapter 38
END