"Kazuya," she said softly, almost hesitating. "I know you're not someone who easily listens to advice, but I need you to understand something." Her gaze hardened as she looked at me, the weight of her words sinking in. "Don't get involved with the Fallen Angels. Kokabeil is a powerful one. If you do, we won't be able to cover for you like we did when you killed Raynare and her group to save Asia. It's not something I want to see you deal with."

  I stared at her, taking in the sincerity of her words. I had no reason to argue, so I simply nodded. "I have no interest in getting involved with it, Rias."

  But as the words left my lips, something gnawed at me. Kokabeil might've been a powerful Fallen Angel, but if he came looking for trouble, I wasn't the type to just sit back. I didn't expect Rias to understand that, but it didn't change how I felt.

  Rias studied me for a moment longer before stepping closer, her voice quieter now, almost pleading. "Kazuya, I care about you. Please… don't get yourself into trouble this time."

  I could feel the weight of her words, and for a brief moment, something flickered inside me. Something I couldn't quite expin. But it didn't matter. I took a step back, raising my hand slightly to stop her from going any further.

  "Stop," I said firmly, my voice colder than I intended. "You don't need to care about me. We're not close, Rias. It was just business. I helped you because I had something to gain from it. That's all it is. I will find new people for my group so There's no reason for you to worry about me."

  The words felt like they hit harder than I expected. Rias seemed taken aback, but she didn't argue. She just stood there, her gaze lingering on me for a moment longer before she nodded slowly. The air between us thickened, but I wasn't sure what to say or do. I didn't have time for this.

  With one st gnce at her and the others, I turned and walked away, not bothering to look back. As I passed Kiba, I could feel his gaze on my back. I didn't know if he understood or not, but he didn't say anything. Good. I wasn't in the mood for talking anyway.

  I made my way back to the apartment, the weight of the conversation still hanging over me. But it wasn't long before I found myself sinking into the couch, trying to push it all to the back of my mind. Valerie and Asia were pying with Espeon on the floor, and for a moment, everything seemed normal again. Simple. Carefree.

  But that calmness didn't st. My thoughts shifted back to Valerie. The truth was, I didn't trust her completely. She was an enigma, and there were too many unanswered questions. I couldn't ignore the possibility that she was hiding something.

  "So, Valerie," I began casually, watching as Asia giggled while Espeon bounced around. "What's your brother like? How strong is he?"

  Valerie paused, her smile faltering for just a second before she turned to look at me. "Marius Tepes," she started, her voice soft but tinged with bitterness. "He's… powerful. The leader of the Tepes faction, and a man who will do anything to secure his control over the vampire world. He's ruthless. He used my Sacred Gear to further his own research. He put me through so much pain with it, forced me to endure unbearable tests."

  Asia frowned at the mention of the pain Valerie had suffered, her hands gently stroking Espeon's fur as if she could erase the memory of it.

  I could feel a tightness in my chest. Marius Tepes… the name carried weight. I'd heard of him in passing, but hearing Valerie speak of him like this—it made my blood run cold. And the way she spoke of the feud between the Tepes faction and the Carmil faction... it wasn't just politics. It was personal.

  "My brother," Valerie continued, a distant look in her eyes, "He even drove away our father and my older brother from the kingdom. They didn't agree with the way he was running things, so he cast them aside." She shook her head, a shudder running through her as her eyes welled with unshed tears. "And now… he won't even listen to me. I tried to make peace between the factions, but he wouldn't hear it. He doesn't care about peace."

  I could feel Asia's gaze on me, a look of concern in her eyes. I didn't bme her. The situation was more complicated than I had thought.

  "So," I said slowly, my mind racing, "Your brother's not just some power-hungry leader. He's using you. And you're stuck in the middle of it all."

  Valerie nodded, biting her lip. "I didn't want this life. But it's the one I have. And I don't know how to stop him."

  The silence stretched between us for a moment, and then I stood up. I needed to think. "I'll train you tomorrow," I said, my voice firm. "I'll help you get stronger. But this isn't just about you. I need to learn more about your Sacred Gear, and I need to know whether you're really an escapee or if you're just here to spy on us. I can't afford to trust you blindly."

  Valerie's eyes widened slightly. "Spy on you? I would never—"

  I held up my hand, cutting her off. "I know. But it's better to be cautious and honest with you upfront"

  Valerie fell silent, but her expression softened. "I understand. Thank you."

  As I turned to head for the door, Valerie suddenly asked, "What's your Sacred Gear, Kazuya?"

  I paused, thinking for a moment before answering. "It's complicated," I said with a shrug. "But if I had to sum it up, I can create ice and extract shadows from the dead."

  She blinked, clearly surprised. "That's… not bad. But it won't be enough to defeat my brother. He's much stronger than you think."

  I let out a breath, trying to suppress the fre of irritation in my chest. "I'll believe it when I see it," I replied, my voice steady. "But for now, we'll focus on getting you stronger. I'll be training you in the woods tomorrow. Asia will train with Lilith at home."

  Asia looked at me with a hint of concern, her eyes full of worry. Valerie noticed and raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"

  Asia hesitated before speaking. "Lilith is much kinder in training. Kazuya, on the other hand…" She trailed off, her voice filled with a mix of caution and concern.

  Valerie's face suddenly paled, and she turned to look at me with comedic fear. "Is that true? Are you really that strict?"

  I just grinned, the coldness in my smile sending a shiver down her spine. "You'll see soon enough."

  Valerie nervously ughed, but I could see the unease in her eyes as she gnced at me. "You're joking, right?"

  I didn't respond as I walked into the kitchen, ignoring her question completely. It was better that way. Let her stew on it for a while. Tomorrow, she'd experience firsthand what "training" with me meant.