Titles

"That...was harrowing." said Haruto as the four walked down the road. This time, there had been no limo waiting to take them anywhere, out front.

"I told you not to take the Seraphs so easily, Lucifer." said Sakura, running her gentle fingers over his cheek as she healed his gash with a spell. "But you never listen."

"I wonder who would've won if you two had clashed again..." muttered Yasu, mysteriously eating a doughnut that looked very much like it came from Kaminari's cafeteria.

"They would've both been hurt." said Sakura. "That's what would've happened. Seraphs aren't just some random Divines of SK. They are the best of the best out of MILLIONS who try to get in this school. Truly gifted in Divinity."

"You seem almost jealous." observed Lucifer slyly. Sakura haughtily puffed, but said nothing. "Although," said Lucifer. "now I wonder what the 1st Seraph is like."

"The Dragon of SK." said Haruto quietly awed. "He's a third-year. A real legend of SK." He turned to Lucifer. "He is the first student in Shukuto-Kodo's history to become a Seraph in his first-year. And not only any Seraph, but the FIRST Seraph." Lucifer raised his eyebrows. "And ever since then, for the past three years, he's continuously defended his crown from the entire academy without a SINGLE loss...EVER." Haruto frowned. "In a lot of ways, he reminds me of you. Just a lot less angry, more calculated, and...calm. He's amazingly calm."

"You worship him." observed Lucifer lazily.

Haruto laughed. "I saw him passing by ONCE...that guy is not someone you forget. The very air around him as he walked by...just...calm...ICE cold. Even his own entourage seemed enamored by him. THAT is someone who really is at the very, very top of this school, unchallenged by all. A true Dragon."

"Should I challenge him to a duel then?" teased Lucifer with a lazy grin.

Sakura and Yasu gasped with shock. "If you dare to do that-" started Sakura.

"But I'll just have to make sure you don't rat me out to a teacher." interrupted Lucifer his eyes flashing. Sakura stopped dead. Lucifer smirked. "You really think I didn't figure out it was you who called Professor Dieter to the cafe?" he asked. "You did it before we even got there, didn't you? Or maybe on the way."

Sakura turned red. With anger or embarrassment, she couldn't tell. "It was for the best. Two heirs from rival clans fighting each other would start a war. What? You wanted me to sit back and watch North Japan burn?"

"I wanted you to trust me." said Lucifer simply. Sakura froze. "But anyway," he said, turning away and starting to walk again with Haruto and Yasu. "do all Seraphs have ridiculous nicknames like 'Dragon'?"

Haruto turned to him like he was crazy. "Yes. Yes!" he said. 'This is the guy who's beaten 6th and 5th Seats?' "Seraph's end up getting their titles from other students sooner or later." Haruto started counting off on his fingers. "You've already met the 6th Seraph, The Warrior of SK: Hikari. Emma, the 5th Seraph, is the Owl of SK. Then there's the 4th Seraph, Storm of SK." Haruto smiled. "Then the Top Three of Shukuto-Kodo. Normal students rarely even get to see them; they're involved with the very running of the school. We have the 3rd Seraph, The Priest. Then the 2nd Seraph is nicknamed The Spider of SK but I have no idea why." Haruto grinned. "And of course, the legend, Tsukasa, the DRAGON of Shukuto-Kodo."

"Well, if they're anything like Kaminari, I don't think I'd have TOO much trouble with them." yawned Lucifer. "Maybe I should just deal with them all in one fell swoop and not be bothered by the entire school ever again."

Haruto turned to him in pure shock for a second, then put a hand around Lucifer' shoulder almost patronizingly. "The different ranks of Seraphs aren't just marginally better than each other, Lucifer." he said seriously. "Each rank is exponentially stronger than the last. You were barely able to hold your own with the 4th." He locked Lucifer's bored eyes with his sharp gaze. "If you fight the 1st Seat of SK right now, as you are at your current power level...you're DEFINITELY going to lose, Lucifer."

Lucifer grinned as he stared at Haruto's serious face and saw that the truly meant his words. 'Maybe the Old Man was right after all.'