Riser Phenex? DXD SI. Multicross?-Chapter 95: Da Vinci-chan || Lev Lainur Flauros

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(Pov: Riser Phenex.) (Pov Romani)

As I walked through the metallic hallways of Chaldea, I couldn't help but smile upon hearing Da Vinci's lively voice echoing through the lab. It had been a few days since her summoning, and she had brought an entirely new energy to our facilities.

"Romani! You can't keep avoiding my lab forever!" her melodious voice reached me before I could even turn around. "Come see my latest discoveries about the Leyline patterns!"

I sighed, resigned. Leonardo da Vinci, or as she preferred to be called, Vinci-chan, had a unique way of making it impossible to maintain any sort of professional distance. Since her arrival, she had transformed one of the auxiliary labs into her own workspace, filling it with a fascinating mix of Renaissance art and cutting-edge technology.

"Da Vinci, I was just—" I began, but she was already pulling me into the lab.

"Just procrastinating, as always," she finished with a sly smile. "You know, for someone who should be eager to work with the greatest genius in history, you've done an excellent job of avoiding me." ["For some reason, she seems exceptionally keen on pursuing me. It makes me think that she used to be a guy and is now a woman."]

The lab was a perfect reflection of her brilliant mind: holographic boards displayed complex analyses alongside hand-drawn sketches of impossible machines. A small model of the Mona Lisa smiled enigmatically from one of the walls, observing our work with that gaze that spanned centuries.

"I'm not avoiding you," I protested, as she guided me to a chair. "It's just that... well, you're Leonardo da Vinci. The real one. It's a bit intimidating."

She laughed, a crystalline sound that filled the lab. "Oh, Romani! For someone who carries his own secrets, you should know better than to be intimidated by appearances." Her eyes sparkled with knowledge, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. "Besides, I'd prefer if you saw me as I am now: your colleague, and hopefully, eventual friend." ["I notice that not once did she refer to herself as a man. I can sense her desires. After all, I am also the Angel of desires. If there's a will, there's a way."]

I relaxed a bit, watching her manipulate holograms with the same grace she probably once used with brushes and chisels. "It's hard not to be impressed when you revolutionize our monitoring systems in less than a week."

"Oh, but this is just the beginning!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with a youthful enthusiasm that contrasted with the ancient wisdom in her gaze. "I have so many projects in mind to improve Chaldea. And you, my dear Romani, are going to help me with all of them."

"Me?" I asked, surprised by her confidence.

"Of course! Who else could better understand the intersection between ancient magic and modern technology?" She came closer, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Besides, I've noticed that you need someone to pull you out of your cocoon now and then."

I couldn't help but smile. There was something comforting about her presence, an understanding that went beyond words. Perhaps it was because, as she subtly hinted, we both carried our own masks.

"Alright," I finally agreed, surrendering to the inevitable. "Where do we start?"

"First," she said, pulling a chair to sit beside me, "you're going to tell me about that little modification you made to Mash's life support system. Then, we can discuss how to integrate my knowledge of Renaissance anatomy with modern monitoring technology."

I spent the next few hours immersed in one of the most stimulating conversations I've ever had. Da Vinci had a unique way of weaving scientific theories with personal observations, making connections that would never have occurred to me. Her presence was like a catalyst, turning concerns into possibilities, doubts into discoveries.

And so, that afternoon in the lab, I realized that maybe I, too, needed to learn to accept unexpected changes. After all, if Leonardo da Vinci could reinvent herself through the centuries, who was I to resist new connections?

DXD *

Some time passes, and then I encounter Lev Lainur Flauros, standing in the hallway leading to the command center. His green eyes analyze me from behind round glasses, and for a moment, I sense his magical aura oscillating irregularly – something I had never noticed before.

"Professor Riser," he greets me with that polite smile of his, but there's something different about his posture. A subtle tension, almost imperceptible. "I was just looking for you. We have some anomalies in the magical circuit readings in Sector B that I'd like to discuss."

"Of course, Lev," I reply casually, though I notice how he takes an involuntary step back when I approach. "We can check it out right now."

As we walk side by side through the white, sterile hallways, I notice his furtive glances in my direction. It's as if something about me disturbs him deeply, something he can't identify. The silence between us is thick, laden with a strange energy.

"You know," he begins, adjusting his glasses in a nervous gesture, "I've noticed some... interesting fluctuations in the magical energy meters when you're around. Especially during your practical lessons."

"Oh?" I raise an eyebrow, keeping my expression neutral. "What kind of fluctuations?"

"Patterns I've never seen before," he replies, and there's a note of unease in his voice. "It's as if there's a resonance with ancient frequencies. Very ancient."

"Fascinating," I murmur, allowing a slight smile to curve my lips. "Perhaps it's just interference from the new systems Da Vinci installed."

Lev abruptly stops, his eyes fixed on me with a disturbing intensity. "No," he says quietly, almost to himself. "It's something more... primordial. Like an echo of..." he hesitates, and I see sweat forming on his forehead. "Like an echo of the first magics."

For a moment, I feel my demonic power resonate with something within him – an ancient and dark connection that even he doesn't fully understand. The demonic pillar within him instinctively reacts to my presence, even if his conscious mind doesn't grasp why.

"We all have our mysteries, don't we, Lev?" I say softly, allowing a microscopic fraction of my true nature to seep into my tone. "Sometimes, it's best not to try and decipher them all at once."

He visibly pales, his hands trembling slightly as he grips his clipboard. "Yes... yes, of course," he murmurs, his voice shaky. "Perhaps we should leave the anomaly analysis for another time. I... need to check a few calculations first."

"As you wish," I respond cordially, watching him hurriedly retreat down the corridor, nearly stumbling over his own feet.

As I watch him leave, I can't help but feel a twinge of irony. Here he is, carrying a fragment of Goetia's power without even knowing it, instinctively reacting to the presence of another being from the same ancient origins. If he knew he was standing before Lucifer himself in human form, how would he react?

But now is not the time for such revelations. For now, I must maintain my role as the dedicated Dr. Romani Archaman, even if that means enduring Lev's evident discomfort in my presence. After all, we all have our roles to play in this grand theater that is Chaldea, even if some of us are more aware of the script than others.

I turn and continue on my way, leaving behind a disturbed and confused Lev, unaware of the true reason for his discomfort. The echo of our footsteps in the empty corridors is like a silent reminder of the secrets we all carry – some deeper and older than others.

(A/N: Next Chapter will mark the beginning of the Incursions, meaning there will be several time skips. We don't want to stay in the Fate universe too long. Until we bring Mother Artoria, along with a fusion of Gray and Morgan (Lostbelt).)