At the Vermillion Household, Erin was sitting on the couch with Fenrir below her. She was playing with the wolf while talking with Rias on her side
"I see. So you talked about things like that with Sona."
The Goddess narrated her earlier encounter with Saji and the talk she had with the council members
"Hmm. Doesn't President Sona also have someone that she is engaged with? I mean, does she have a fiancé?" Erin made a thinking expression as she patted Fenrir's head
"She's from the noble house and it wouldn't be unusual if she is set-up with someone."
"She did." replied Rias. "But she broke it off like I did."
"Really?" Fenrir ran off when he was called by Sebastian and Erin focused back on the conversation. "How did she do it?"
"It happened a bit before. She apparently challenged him to a game of chess and if she won, the engagement would be broken off. But if she were to lose then she had to quit school and get married immediately."
"Ah..." Erin made a thinking expression. "That chess condition pretty much suits her personality."
"Yes. And Sona declared beforehand that she won't marry someone who can't use her brain like her."
"So in the end, she won and the engagement was broken off, right?"
Rias nodded at the words
"Sona won the game with an overwhelming difference and broke the opponent's pride into pieces. It's that Sona who won against Seegvaira Agares in tactics. Normal people can't win against her."
"That made me wonder on what will happen if our group face her on the Rating Games." Erin looked at Rias. "I think we have the advantage when it comes to power."
"That's right. In a power battle, we won't lose against the Sitri group. But if the Rating Game is mainly about strategy then they have the advantage compared to us."
"I listened to President's Sona's strategies during their match with the Agares group." Erin spoke in amusement. "Honestly, it was really impressive. She's excellent in that field but we can catch up to her if we manage to train on the strategy aspect."
Erin unconsciously welcomed Rias on her arms when the girl leaned towards her
" I believe you will improve on that aspect. You can step up with President Sona especially when you are improving each day."
"Mmm. But as of the moment, if I have a game of chess with her right now, it would seem that I will lose more than I will win." said Rias with a small laugh
"Her condition regarding her engagement was really creative, though." Erin mused. "I wonder.. if I got engaged, what will I do to break it off in case I wanted to."
Hearing this, Rias lightly gasped and slapped Erin's arm.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"Erin.." Rias narrowed her eyes on the Goddess. "What are you saying?"
"That was a hypothethical question!"
"You're not referring to our engagement, are you?" Rias crossed her arms over her chest. Erin feigned a look that says 'Oh no, she read my mind' and Rias gasped in shock.
"ERIN!"
"What?" Erin backed away from Rias and raised her hands in defense. She had a silly smile as Rias continued her upset look
"I hope you aren't really thinking about that." said Rias with a glare. "Though we are technically engaged, we are yet to make that one come to reality."
Rias dropped her expression of upset and spoke in a sad tone
"If that indeed happens.. and you chose to break off our real engagement, I guess I woul be devastated and heartbroken."
"But if such things happen, I will just find my way back to you."
The red head blinked her eyes in thought. She couldn't help but feel that the words held a deeper meaning. Or maybe she was just over-reacting?"
"Why would you do that if you were the one who broke it off in the first place?" joked Rias and the Goddess just smiled wistfully at her
"Some things are out of our control. The only thing we can do is hope that everything comes back into order."
Rias shook her head and gazed curiously at the Goddess
"Why do I feel like you are indirectly telling me something? And it's not a good one too."
"Maybe you're just imagining it?" replied the Goddess in a light-hearted tone. Rias was still doubtful but the Goddess just held her hand
"Anyways, whatever happens, I will choose to go back to you. So don't give up when your scary thoughts haunt you. Okay?"
Rias rolled her eyes at Erin's silly grin but she smiled nonetheless
"Of course. And I will seriously get mad if you break your promise. You better not let me down!"
"Hai hai." Erin playfully saluted. "Gosh, what a demanding woman."
Issei and the others gathered on the living room one by one. It was time for their nightly study session where they review for the Promotion Test and the others for the Mid-semester test.
Ravel apppeared with a lot of books on her hand. She placed them on the table and the twins gawked at the amount of books
"Wow. That's a lot of books to study." Azusa remarked
"Damn. She managed to carry all of those?" was Tsubaki's concern
"Minna-san, I gathered many books and a reference book for the promotion test! I also gathered books for the Kuoh Academy exam as well!"
The group applauded Ravel and the girl held her chin up proudly.
"Ravel sure is passionate about her position being a manager." mused Erin.
"Aah! There are so many things I need to study! Asia, help me!" Issei whined to the blond girl who patted his back in assurance.
"Don't worry, Issei. Let's study together."
"Ara ara. Looks like it's time to study for the tests."
Akeno pulled the Goddess so they will be seated beside the floor
"Akeno?! What are you doing?"
"Fufu. Me and Erin are studying, Buchou."
Rias puffed her cheeks and didn't waste time on joining Erin. She sat on her right side while Akeno was on the left.
"Okay, Erin. I'll teach you about this." she opened a stationary book and Akeno giggled at this
"We will study on the Mid-semester test first. Isn't that right, E-rin? ~
Erin was soon on the middle of the girl's banter and she decided to just ignore them
"I will also study."
"I'm studying as well!"
Irina and Xenovia grabbed some books prepared by Ravel and reviewed some pointers for the Mid-semester test
"Koneko-chan doesn't feel good today as well?" asked Kiba when he noticed that the girl wasn't present. "I haven't seen Gasper too."
"She seems to have retired early on her room." replied Rias with a thoughtful expression." The same goes for Gasper."
Kiba nodded and the study session went on for the night
_______________________________________
"I haven't heard from you for a while... Voltaire."
The night breeze caressed Erin's hair as she stood on the veranda
"{I was doing a lot of thinking recently.}"
Erin hummed in response and observed the night sky in front of her
"We really are connected to each other. That's what I've been doing too." finished Erin with a chuckle
"{My child......}"
"I had this feeling.." Erin smiled bitterly. "I'm certain you've felt it too?"
Voltaire agreed on the implied question
"{Yes.. it seems that our compatibility managed to unlock one my hidden skills. That is, to know the future of my host at some point when it concerns her well-being.}"
"Dragon of Prophecy... so I guess you uncovered what our near prophecy will be.."
Silence loomed over them for the next minutes.
"How possible, Voltaire?"
"{More than 90%, my child... but we can also rely on the mere chance that we can change that.}"
"I did say that I won't care what the outcome will be as long as I choose the path I want." Erin spoke the next words in a whisper. "But the people I've been involved with recently, makes it harder for me to accept the truth, Voltaire."
The Goddess gripped the railings hard
"{We will find a way to change that.. or at least survive from that outcome.}"
"I hope so, Voltaire..." Erin said with a pained expression. " I don't wanna go.. not when I know that I'll be leaving a lot of people behind."
The glowing moon was the only witness of Erin's turmoil and it was only Voltaire who listened to the Goddess' silent cries that night
- End of Chapter -