Gasper remained beside the bed, watching Asia's slow breathing. The night had passed in constant silence, interrupted only by the soft shifts of the girl as she slept. He was certain that when she woke, the impact would be inevitable.
Rias sat in the nearby chair. She kept her gaze focused, as if monitoring every small movement of the new bishop.
"She's going to wake up any moment," Rias said.
Gasper nodded slowly. "She's going to feel it. The change came fast."
Rias tilted her head slightly. "I was careful. I didn't want it to be painful for her."
The silence that followed carried an unusual calm, as if both of them were waiting for a sound that hadn't come yet.
Then Asia took a deep breath.
Her body trembled lightly. Her hand closed involuntarily. Her face tightened as if an unseen light had pierced her mind. Her breathing quickened. Her fingers gripped the sheets.
Her eyes opened.
In the next instant, Asia sat up with a jolt. Her hand went to her lips. The other pressed against her forehead. Her voice came out trembling.
"Ah… ah… it hurts…"
She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to ignore the pain pulsing inside her head.
"Asia, calm down," Rias said, lifting her hands slightly.
The girl tried to breathe deeply, but panic rose in her throat. "I… I can't… I can't pray…"
She tried to bring her hands together. The gesture failed. Her breath grew shallow. Fear marked every line of her face.
"I can't speak to God…"
Gasper stepped forward. "Asia."
She looked at him. Her voice nearly broke into a sob. "Something is wrong with me."
"You changed," Gasper said calmly. "And now you'll feel everything more intensely."
Asia touched her own chest. Her heart was beating far too fast. She looked around as though searching for an exit. But there wasn't one.
"Did I… become…?"
"Yes," Rias said, keeping her tone gentle. "I reincarnated you as a bishop."
Asia's breath caught.
"I'm… a Devil?"
"It's true," Gasper said.
Fear overtook her eyes. She didn't scream, but the tremor running through her body was enough to show that the idea shattered everything she understood.
Asia tried to pray again. The pain in her head intensified. A soft whimper escaped her.
"Why… why does it hurt when I try to pray?"
"Because your body changed," Gasper answered, approaching without touching her. "You're no longer connected to the same power as before. Now there's another force inside you. And it will never hurt you."
Asia lowered her head, staring at her fingers. "I always… I always lived to help… to heal… and to serve God…"
Rias sat beside her. "And you can still help. None of that was lost."
Asia lifted her gaze, timid and frightened. "Even being… what I am now?"
"Yes," Rias replied. "What you are now doesn't erase who you've always been."
Asia took a shaky breath. "I… I didn't want to be abandoned again."
"You won't be." Gasper said it without hesitation.
Asia looked at him. Her fear softened just a little. "I don't understand anything about this world…"
"I do," Gasper answered. "And I can guide you. Slowly. At your pace."
Rias smiled subtly, pleased with his answer. "Asia, you have a purpose here. You weren't saved by chance. And I want you to stay with us."
The girl bit her lip, fighting back another tremor. Her voice came out soft, almost a sigh. "Thank you… for giving me a place."
Gasper stepped back to give her space. "You'll be safe here."
Asia breathed slowly, her chest calming. She lowered her head, shy. "I… I'm still scared."
"That's normal," Rias said. "You just woke up in a new world."
The girl touched her chest again, as if trying to feel the difference. "It's strange… but at the same time… it's not bad."
"That's already a start," Gasper said.
Rias stood, stretching an arm slightly. "I need to go to school. I have to handle the documents so Asia can study with us."
Gasper nodded. "I'll stay with her. I won't leave."
"Good." Rias adjusted a strand of hair. "Ah, before I forget."
She turned to Gasper.
"Grayfia is coming to see you today."
Gasper exhaled, accepting the inevitable. "Understood."
Rias smiled and left the room.
Silence returned. Asia watched Gasper timidly.
"You… really saved me?"
"Yes."
The girl lowered her eyes, emotional. "Thank you…"
He didn't reply. He simply inclined his head.
Then the air changed again. A white glow crossed the floor. The circle appeared.
Fwoooosh
Grayfia materialized with perfect posture.
"Gasper. I came to take you for training."
Asia recoiled slightly, startled by her sudden presence.
Gasper looked at Grayfia, then at Asia. "I'll be back soon."
Grayfia gave a slight nod. "Asia Argento. Welcome among us."
Asia bowed her head, timid but calmer.
The circle glowed again.
Fwoooosh
And they vanished.
Silence returned to the room, soft and comforting. Asia breathed slowly, trying to understand the strange sensation of being alone in a new place. Her chest still carried a faint weight—not of pain, but of someone awakening into a different world.
She slowly brought her hands together.
The gesture came naturally, almost automatically, like something carved into her heart since the first time she'd whispered amen. Her fingers touched gently. Her eyes closed.
"I… I wanted to give thanks…"
Her voice was a hopeful whisper.
"For still being alive… for finding good people…"
She tried to continue.
A sudden sting shot through her head.
"Ow…"
She pressed a hand to her forehead, pulling back as if she'd touched something hot.
"I… forgot."
The sentence came out half–laugh, half–sigh.
"I can't… pray anymore."
She looked at her hands as if they had misbehaved. Her face flushed red.
"I wanted to give thanks… but I guess I'll have to do it… in my own way."
Her stomach growled.
The sound echoed loudly through the room.
Asia's face burned instantly. "Ah… sorry…"
She covered her face with both hands. "I don't even know if… Devils eat like humans…"
Another growl answered her before she found the courage to test the theory.
The next silence was interrupted by a soft knock on the door.
"Excuse me. May I come in?"
The voice was feminine, calm, impeccably polite.
Asia swallowed. "Come in…"
The door opened gently. A maid entered carrying a tray. Her posture flawless, her gaze soft and free of judgment.
"Good morning, Miss Asia."
Asia froze.
"M–Miss…?"
The maid inclined her head. "Yes. Rias-sama ordered that we bring your breakfast as soon as you woke."
She set the tray on the small table beside the bed. Her movements were precise and silent. There was complete respect in every gesture.
Asia watched everything with a mix of awe and discomfort.
"I… you don't need to treat me like this… I'm not important."
The maid looked genuinely surprised.
"You are part of the Gremory family now."
Asia blinked quickly, as if the phrase was too big to fit inside her mind.
"Part… of the family?"
"Yes." The maid bowed lightly again. "And therefore worthy of full respect."
Asia's face grew even redder. "I don't… I don't know how to handle this…"
The maid smiled kindly. "You will learn with time."
She stepped back.
"Do you need anything else?"
Asia shook her head. "No… it's plenty. Thank you."
The maid left with the same elegance.
The door closed.
Silence returned—warm this time. Comfortable.
Asia breathed deeply, looking at the tray. The food had been arranged with care, as if someone had thought of her before preparing each dish. It felt strange, but good.
She took the first bite cautiously, and her stomach responded instantly.
"It's so good…"
Her face softened. It was a simple sensation, but familiar. Perhaps one of the few things that hadn't changed after her reincarnation.
After eating a little, Asia looked around again.
The room was large. Elegant. Beautiful in a way that didn't need words. She didn't know the names of the objects, but every detail seemed cared for with affection. It wasn't extravagance. It was refinement.
"It's all so beautiful…"
She lifted her hands and touched the sheets lightly. Her smile grew, shy but sincere.
"I never had… anything like this."
Her eyes sparkled— not with sadness, but with surprise.
"I… want to be part of this properly."
Her voice came out quiet, but firm.
She placed her hands on her knees and inhaled deeply.
"I want to help. I want to learn. I want… to be useful."
Silence answered softly.
She didn't try to pray this time.
Instead, she closed her eyes and smiled at the empty air.
"Thank you… for letting me live."
The gesture was noble.
And this time, it didn't hurt.
Only then her stomach growled again.
Asia pressed her lips into a shy smile.
"I… think I'm still hungry."
She giggled softly. The sound was light, innocent, almost childlike.
And in that quiet room, for the first time since everything began, Asia felt something close to peace.
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