DxD: Uchiha Sasuke

Kuoh Academy

After school, the corridors grew quiet and the last echoes of chattering students faded into the dimming light. Sasuke made his way to the council room. The door slid open with a familiar hiss, and there, bathed in a soft, ambient glow, stood Cleria and Aiko.

Cleria's eyes shone with an eager intensity as she stepped forward. "Uchiha-san, thank you for coming," she said, her tone a blend of determination and a touch of nervous hope. "Today, I'd like to show you something."

Before Sasuke could exchange a skeptical glance with Aiko, Cleria raised her hand. In an instant, the room's ambient lights wavered and shifted, swirling into a vortex of dark energy. A white magic circle appeared in the ground. In a blink, the council room vanished, replaced by a secluded, shadowy clearing bordered by ancient, gnarled trees.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed beneath his furrowed brow as he regarded the sudden teleportation with barely concealed surprise. "That's… impressive," he muttered, his voice low and even, though his tone betrayed nothing of admiration.

Some kind of space "magic" that allowed her to move wherever she wanted? His Rinnegan can do that too, but not as easily. He hasn't had time to train properly, it's a newly acquired power. She already gets a point for that.

Cleria's playful smile faltered just a fraction as she continued, "This place is rarely seen by outsiders. I thought it fitting for training."

Aiko, standing a few paces away, nodded quietly, her gaze attentive.

Without further ceremony, Sasuke adopted a stance that was more testing than teaching. "Let's see what you can do, then," he said, his tone clipped and challenging. "Show me your 'Worthless' magic in action."

She explained her magic before. Worthless it's a Demonic Power that allows the user to invalidate things, such as special abilities, properties or effects. For Sasuke, that seemed to be absurdly strong if mastered correctly. If he remembers rightly, her cousin is a strong figure in their realm. Even though he doesn't know too much about this world, he agrees that this kind of "Kekkei Genkai" is pretty strong.

Cleria inhaled sharply. "All right," she replied, summoning the demonic energy inherent in her bloodline. Her eyes flickered as she concentrated, and a pale, shimmering aura gathered around her hand. A white circle appeared in front of her hand. With a determined motion, she extended her palm toward an imaginary target. "Invalidate" she intoned, attempting to erase the kinetic force of a nearby rock. The effect was feeble; the rock trembled ever so slightly before settling back into place.

Sasuke's Sharingan flared, crimson and analytical, as he studied her performance. Was that really magic...? It's... ridiculously weak. His eyes could now see the flow of magic within her as well as its use. This girl has an amount of magic that seemed good to him, but the control is abysmal. How can a girl like her be a High Class Devil? Is she actually a spoiled noble?

"Is that all?" he drawled, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "Your power is supposed to nullify effects, yet that rock barely budged."

Cleria's cheeks flushed with a mixture of frustration and embarrassment, and she bit her lip. "I… I haven't mastered it yet. I...I need training to control it properly."

Sasuke's gaze remained cold as he stepped closer, circling her like a predator assessing its prey. "You need to learn discipline and control, not just flashy words," he remarked bluntly.

For several long minutes, he tested her, dodging her feeble attempts to channel her clan's magic with minimal effort, and offering curt, calculated critiques. His movements were measured and precise, each gesture underscored by the quiet hum of his chakra. Although he did not unleash the full power of his Dôjutsu, his Sharingan was enough to scrutinize every nuance of her technique.

Her hereditary power doesn't work against him, probably because she doesn't understand the principle of chakra and doesn't know its properties. He wasn't going to say that, of course. He's already tolerant enough to train a demon, but not stupid enough to create a weapon against him.

"Your overall magic is good but nothing more, you have a correct control over it. But when it's your ability "Worthless", nothing goes right." His tone was even irritated to see such an incapable, are her peers like her?

Cleria, undeterred despite his harsh words, pressed on with renewed fervor. "Teach me," she pleaded, her voice soft and almost desperate. "I have no one else to ask who understands this power, no one to help me besides you right now..." Her tone, laced with vulnerability, made her look small, an incongruous sight for a demon of the Belial clan, yet undeniably real.

Sasuke and Cleria squared off in silence. The air was cool and heavy with anticipation as Sasuke assumed a relaxed yet alert stance, his Sharingan flickering in the dim light.

Cleria looked at Sasuke's eyes curiously, she wanted to ask him but she didn't dare to. Are those eyes a part of his power? She's never seen that before but she can admit something. They are both frightening but also beautiful, blood soaked jewels, that's how she would describe it. One being red, and the other purple. Still, she shivered seeing the Uchiha's piercing gaze on her, making her blush indirectly. Does this man have no tact? Could he not stare at her like that.

Without a response, Sasuke directed his gaze towards the boulder. He has a general understanding of her strength, now he planned to give her some advices.

"Begin," Sasuke commanded flatly. Without a word, Cleria closed her eyes and raised her right hand, summoning her magic again. With a determined exhale, she directed the energy toward the boulder, attempting to nullify its inherent force.

The boulder shuddered slightly, but remained stubbornly unmoved. Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "Your control is off," he said coolly, his tone measured but laced with disapproval. "You must focus your energy better. That barely made a dent again."

Cleria's cheeks flushed as she adjusted her stance. "Like this?" she asked, voice tentative. She tried again, channeling a steadier stream of energy. This time, the aura shimmered more confidently, and the boulder vibrated under its influence. But still, it didn't vanish, only weakened imperceptibly.

Sasuke folded his arms, his gaze cold. "Not enough," he remarked drily. "Your magic, if you can even call it that, is raw and unrefined. You need to focus on that point."

A spark of frustration lit Cleria's eyes. "Show me," she challenged, voice rising with a mixture of defiance and vulnerability. "You can help me harness this power, so I can do more than just... fumble at rocks."

Sasuke scoffed, crossing his arm with a sigh. "We have a deal, I will help you to get stronger. Focus." With that, he moved gracefully to a marked target, a makeshift dummy that he found in this area, suspended by a sturdy branch. He demonstrated a series of swift, precise strikes, each movement economical and lethal.

"Watch closely," he instructed in a clipped tone. "Your movements must be as efficient as your magic should be. Now, try to mirror that."

Cleria nodded, determination etched on her face. She lunged forward, releasing a burst of her demonic energy in an attempt to strike the target. The effect was feeble, a flicker of energy that barely grazed the surface.

"Your magic is misaligned," Sasuke remarked coolly, his eyes fixed on the target as he observed Cleria's attempt. "You need to synchronize your focus with your movement. Channel your power like you're extending your own will, not as a random outburst."

During the next drill, as Cleria lunged at a makeshift target, Sasuke's voice cut through the tension. "Align your mind with your demonic magic. Your timing is off," he stated matter-of-factly as she overextended and faltered.

Cleria's soft mantra of "Balance… control… synchronize…" filled the clearing with its rhythmic repetition, but frustration soon crept into her tone. After a particularly clumsy attempt that left her stumbling, she pouted and folded her arms.

With a mix of exasperation and indignation, she snapped, "Uchiha-san, you have no tact! You criticize every move without a hint of courtesy. How do you expect me to refine my skills if you never teach me how to carry myself properly, as a woman should?"

Sasuke's eyes narrowed further, and for a moment, a vein pulsed at his temple as he fought to contain his irritation. "I'm not here to give etiquette lessons," he replied icily. "My focus is on ensuring you get stronger, not on coddling you."

Cleria's pout deepened before softening just a fraction as she retorted, "Maybe if you taught me with a little respect, some finesse even, you might see improvement. Not every lesson is meant to be as harsh as your cold critiques."

A charged and ankward silence settled between them, their words hanging in the air as the tension crackled with both annoyance and an unexpected spark of challenge. Sasuke grunted, refocusing on her technique, while Cleria, though still pouting, took a deep breath and prepared to try again.

At one point, during a particularly strenuous sequence, Cleria misstepped and stumbled, her footing unsteady on the uneven ground. Sasuke let out a sigh seeing her trying so hard, this girl was stubborn even though it was only the first day. With barely a word, he stepped forward and, in a rare display of reluctant kindness, extended his only hand to steady her.

Cleria hesitated before accepting, her slender fingers brushing against his calloused skin. "Thank you," she murmured, voice soft as if apologizing for her weakness.

Sasuke pulled his hand away with a dismissive grunt, his expression resuming its habitual stoicism. "Don't get used to it," he muttered. "We're done for today."

As they packed up their sparse training tools, the clearing slowly faded back into the familiar air of Kuoh Academy through Cleria's teleportation magic. Back in the muted council room, the tension of the day gave way to a fragile quiet.

Sasuke's expression remained as impassive as ever, though behind his cold gaze flickered a reluctant acknowledgment of her determination. "Your magic is interesting," he said curtly. "It's a bit rushed and untamed right now, but it has potential. Learn to focus it properly, and it might just be worth something."

She nodded hesitantly, her fingers brushing against her hair. "Thank you," she murmured, almost inaudible. No one knew what she was thinking behind those eyes.

Before parting ways, Cleria lingered near the doorway, her eyes glistening with a quiet sadness that belied her fierce determination. For a brief moment, she hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper. "I… I wish things were different, Uchiha-san. Sometimes, I feel so alone in this struggle." Her words carried a hidden sorrow, something that weighed heavily on her heart.

Sasuke regarded her impassively, his face a mask of cool detachment. "We all have our battles," he said simply, his tone betraying nothing of the empathy that stirred deep inside him. "Also, don't call me Uchiha-san, its annoying to hear constantly that name, just Sasuke is fine." He whispered before turning to leave, his footsteps echoing in the empty corridor.

Cleria's eyes lingered on him long after he'd disappeared, a faint, wistful smile on her lips as she pressed a hand to her chest. The coffee, the training, even if theses were small moments that they spent together, she couldn't help but be tainted with curiosity towards this human. He seemed distant and cold on the outside, but deep down he was kind. They had only known each other for a few days, but she already trusted him. Naive? Maybe, but she chose this path. At least, it's helping her to forget her problems.

Yeah, especially this man.

Ruval Pheonex, the man none other than her fiancé decided by the two clans 1 year ago.

Should she tell it to him? She smiled at the thought already anticipating the stone man's response as something indifferent, disinterested as usual.

"What would you have done, Sasuke?"