Fate DxD AU

"You could say that. I always pictured myself as some kind of commander. I also pictured myself driving a giant robot but such are the things we dream of as children." Ritsuka admitted with a slight chuckle.

"A child at heart then? You seem far too mature to be that kind of person though." Rias gazed at her new project finding that it was becoming much harder to meet his gaze.

"You caught me. I've actually been younger than I look. Though I get the distinct impression that you wanted to speak about something important? You seemed to make it important based solely on how you're sitting." Ritsuka observed her… scrutinizing her carefully but for some reason she didn't find it distasteful since he wasn't ogling her shamelessly.

'It's a good thing I listened to Holmes and Moriarity about how to read body language. That has been the most useful skill I've used so far' Ritsuka felt like he mentally high fived himself.

Rias had been in a defensive position. She had curled up slightly keeping her arms crossed yet relaxed. It didn't help that he still felt the magical sources really close by. He had tried to not look but his eyes were drawn towards the wall.

"I suppose I do but will you even answer me?" Rias finally stated laying her cards on the table.

Ritsuka stood up and walked over to the mirror on the wall. The magical sources were on the other side and he knew they were there. Rias didn't stop him so that meant that she didn't know if she knew or she was keeping quiet.

"He knows." Sirzechs stated.

It wasn't a question of how. It wasn't a question of why. It was a statement of complete truth. Grayfia was a bit surprised. As the boy Rias had brought stared at them he did so by staring directly into Sirzechs' eyes.

It was at that moment they understood what Rias and Akeno had meant. What his eyes really held in their gaze.

Sadness. Pain. Justice. Determination. These were only a fraction of what they could see. There were no hows or whys about anything that he had seen before. They were human… completely and utterly but they seemed to blaze wisdom and understanding the likes that only the oldest of beings could ever possibly know.

Sirzechs made an executive decision at that point. He wouldn't meet this young man yet. It was too soon.

"You've been kind to me so I don't mind answering what I am able." Ritsuka answered though she felt he wasn't talking directly to her at this point.

"Then… what do you think about magic?" Rias started out clearly dancing around the topic in case it didn't go her way.

"It's a thing… after all I am a Mage." Ritsuka stated though it was more to the mirror. Once more Rias felt this was a dangerous way to greet her family but Sirzechs hadn't tried to come out yet.

"So then… you're the one that created that magical pulse? I knew it." Rias proudly stated clearly happy she was right.

"I had a feeling that there were people who could sense me here. That seemed to be a thing that happens wherever I go." Ritsuka sighed though the tired smile that came made it look more accepting. "Though I could always tell wherever someone with magic was… its heavy here. It feels like the Age of Gods is still going on."

"Ages of Gods?" Rias whispered under her breath. The Gods of each pantheon were still very much active. She quietly changed the subject. "What brings you to Kuoh then?"

"A few days ago something was found here. Do you know what the Holy Grail is?" Ritsuka started though he felt he might have to explain what it was though he didn't know why.

He had not felt the will of Gaia. Nor did he feel Alaya in the mana of this world. It was almost like they didn't exist in this world. It was something that had been building up for the past few hours. Without being able to feel those two things… the thought that he couldn't fully summon anyone to his side had wiggled into his brain and wouldn't let go.

"You mean the cup that gathered the blood of him is here in Kuoh!?" Rias immediately stood up clearly disturbed that something like that was in Kuoh.

"Not exactly. It's not the holy grail, it's a holy grail. A magical construct created to gather the souls of the fallen and act as a magical battery." Ritsuka quickly amended before Rias could take any steps forward. As she sat down he took it as his chance to further explain. "Basically some mages came together with the idea that maybe pouring enough magic into an item would allow them to create a wish granting machine of sorts. It doesn't work that way though since it isn't the Holy Grail. It can't actually grant wishes from what I've found out about it."

"There are such things in this world…? And why are you trying to find it?" Rias suspiciously stared at the young man before her. She had changed her opinion about Ritsuka over and over during their entire conversation. She didn't know why but she felt strangely fearful of the young man and it had been growing the entire time that they had been talking. The words he spoke were full of conviction and confidence that she had only seen in people like her brother and her father whenever they were actually serious.

"Mostly to stop it from being used. At this point it's only a small shard and highly corrupted. I'm basically looking for any sign of it before anyone else finds it and uses it. Destroying it would also suffice since I consider it that dangerous an artifact to let anyone use." Ritsuka finished which made Rias calm down and her body relaxed.

"So… you would say you are like a hero of justice?" Rias tried to giggle about such a concept but Ritsuka didn't chuckle with her. He returned to a contemplative silence closing his eyes in thought. Rias didn't know if she had offended him but his opened eyes and light smile alleviated her worries.