DxD: Anomaly

Leonardo leaned back, considering her words carefully. Grauzauberer, huh? He knew the name—it was one of the most prominent magic organizations in the world, full of elite magicians, powerful artifacts, and vast mystical knowledge.

But his knowledge of Grauzauberer was limited. He had stopped watching DxD when the studio changed the animation style—back when Issei and his group of walking power banks went to Kyoto. That was what, six or seven years ago? Now, most of what he knew about the franchise came from overly enthusiastic, often horny fanfics and deep dives into the internet (for research purposes, of course).

He glanced at Lavinia, who was watching him expectantly, completely oblivious to his internal dilemma.

"Why would I go with you?" he asked.

Lavinia puffed her cheeks. "Well, for starters, you don't have anywhere else to go."

"True."

"And Grauzauberer is a powerful magic organization! You'll be protected, trained, and have access to all sorts of magical knowledge."

"Also true."

"And most importantly," she leaned in closer, her eyes sparkling, "you can make as many battle penguins as you want."

Leonardo blinked.

He groaned, rubbing his temples. "You're really pushing this battle penguin thing, huh?"

Lavinia beamed. "I believe in the cause."

He sighed. From what he remembered, Grauzauberer wasn't some shady, backstabbing organization like the Mage's Association or, say, any given organization run by an old dude with an eye fetish (fuck you, Danzo). It was relatively neutral, and Lavinia—one of the protagonists of Slash Dog—was a member. That meant it should be safe enough.

Joining them would also give him access to crucial information, not just about DxD's supernatural world but also about the things canon never covered. More importantly, it would help him better understand Annihilation Maker. He doubted the Sacred Gear would let him create god-level beings just because he imagined them. There had to be rules and limitations. And right now, Annihilation Maker was just a tool he had inherited—it wasn't truly his own. Not yet.

Besides, learning magic wouldn't hurt. If the worst happened—if he met the same fate as the original Leonardo—then having a few tricks up his sleeve might make all the difference. Magic could also help refine his creature creations. I hope so, anyway.

But still… Was it really a good idea to join them?

Leonardo wasn't a fan of taking orders, and the idea of someone breathing down his neck about "responsibility" made him want to gag. He also had no idea what kind of people Grauzauberer had. The last thing he wanted was to get stuck with some twinkly-eyed old man who preached about the light side of the world.

Then again, staying alone wasn't exactly smart either. In the supernatural world, you either got scouted or eliminated the moment someone figured out what you had. Strength was everything here, and he wasn't strong enough yet. Not truly.

Fine. Fine. He could put up with some authority if it meant getting the resources he needed. And besides—

He glanced at Lavinia, who was still smiling at him.

—At least she wasn't a bad first ally.

Leonardo sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Fine. Lead the way then, Miss Magician."

Lavinia puffed out her chest proudly. "Just trust me, Leo!"

"Trusting you is exactly how I'll end up lost in another country with no money one day."

She pouted. "That only happened one time!"

He raised an eyebrow. "Wait—did that actually happen?"

Lavinia coughed into her hand, avoiding eye contact. "A-Anyway! We need to hurry if we want to make the next train!"

Leonardo shook his head with a chuckle but followed after her.

Navigating the city's backstreets was an experience.

Since neither of them wanted to deal with the hassle of explaining a bloody, half-destroyed alley to the authorities, they took a more discreet route. Lavinia led him through narrow paths, dodging crowds and slipping past street vendors with surprising agility. She might be clumsy in conversation, but when it came to avoiding unwanted attention, she was surprisingly skilled.

After about twenty minutes of weaving through alleyways and sidestreets, they arrived at a small train station. It was nothing fancy—just an old platform with a few vending machines, a ticket booth, and some worn-down benches. A handful of tired commuters sat waiting, their faces illuminated by the dim station lights.

Leonardo slumped onto a bench, stretching out his legs. "So, we're just taking a regular train? No magic portal or teleportation circle?"

Lavinia plopped down beside him, swinging her legs. "I could teleport us, but that would drain a lot of my magic. Plus, trains are fun!"

He gave her a look. "They're trains, Lavinia. What's so fun about them?"

She gasped dramatically. "Are you saying you don't like trains?"

"I'm saying I don't get excited over a glorified metal tube that moves."

Lavinia shook her head in disappointment. "Tragic."

Leonardo ignored her and glanced around. "So, do I need a ticket or…?"

She waved her hand. "No need! I already got us some."

He blinked. "When?"

Lavinia winked. "Magician's secret."

Leonardo sighed. He was probably going to regret this.

The speakers overhead crackled to life, announcing their train's arrival. As the doors slid open, Lavinia hopped up, grabbing his wrist. "Come on!"

"Yeah, yeah," he muttered, letting her pull him along.

As the train doors shut behind them, Leonardo leaned against the window, watching the city blur past as they departed. This was it. He was really going with her.

For better or worse, his new life was officially beginning.

The rhythmic clatter of the train on the tracks filled the compartment, a steady, almost hypnotic noise that blended with the occasional muffled announcements over the speakers. The train wasn't particularly crowded, but there were enough passengers to give it a lived-in feel—businessmen in suits tapping away at their phones, tired workers leaning against the windows, and a few scattered students chatting among themselves.

Leonardo rested his chin on his palm as he gazed out at the passing scenery. The city was gradually giving way to more open landscapes—less neon, more trees, roads stretching further apart, and buildings that weren't stacked on top of each other like sardines.

He exhaled through his nose. "How far is this place?"

Lavinia, who had been happily munching on a bag of snacks she definitely hadn't bought but probably swiped from a vending machine, perked up. "Hmm? Oh! Well, we have to take a few more trains, then a bus, then walk for a bit. So, maybe… half a day?"

Leonardo turned to her, deadpan. "You're telling me we're about to be stuck in public transport hell for half a day?"

She nodded. "Yup!"

He groaned, leaning back in his seat. "Should've just let me die in that alley…"

Lavinia giggled. "Don't be so dramatic, Leo! Traveling is part of the adventure!"

"It's also a pain in the ass."

Lavinia hummed, swinging her legs. "Maybe for you. I like trains."

He side-eyed her. "You really have a thing for trains, don't you?"

"They're cozy! And relaxing!"

Not where he was from. If people wanted to see some exotic or crazy shit, they went to the train station, not the zoo. At least he didn't have to fight for a seat.

"They're metal tubes on wheels."

Lavinia gasped in mock horror. "This is why you have no taste."

Leonardo rolled his eyes but let it go. No use arguing with a train enthusiast. Instead, he shifted to something more important.

"So," Leonardo stretched his arms over his head, "what's the deal with Grauzauberer? I get that they're a magic organization, but what do they actually do? Are they just a bunch of nerds hoarding spell books, or are they out there doing secret wizard missions?"

Lavinia tapped her chin thoughtfully before brightening. "Well! Grauzauberer mostly researches magic, creates artifacts, and makes sure magical knowledge doesn't fall into the wrong hands. We also help deal with supernatural threats that normal humans can't handle!"

"So, like supernatural cops?"

"More like supernatural problem-solvers! Some members specialize in combat, others in research, and some do both! It's a very versatile organization!"

Leonardo raised a brow. "And you? What's your role?"

Lavinia tilted her head. "Hmm… nothing!"

He blinked. "What do you mean, nothing? Like, they don't give you a mission, or you just don't do them?"

"Neither. I haven't joined yet!"

Leonardo sat up straighter. "Wait. You're not even a member?"

Lavinia shook her head, still happily munching on her stolen snacks. "Nope!"

He rubbed his temples. "So let me get this straight. You're dragging me halfway across the country to join a magic organization… that you haven't even joined yet?"

Lavinia nodded cheerfully. "Yup!"

He stared at her. "Why?"

"Because I am going to join! And now you do too!"

"That's not how this works, Lavinia!"

She pouted. "Why not?"

He opened his mouth, paused, then shut it. Okay, fair point. He wasn't being forced, and it wasn't like he had a better plan. Still, this changed things.

"So… you don't actually know what it's like?"

"Well, I know about it!" She tilted her head. "Glenda told me a lot. Plus, I've met some of the members!"

Leonardo exhaled through his nose. Great. Not only was he heading toward an unknown magic organization, but Lavinia was just as new to it as he was.

"So what, are we just gonna waltz in and hope they don't kick us out?"

Lavinia giggled. "They won't! Glenda mentioned in her letter that she already talked with them, so they're expecting me. And since you're with me, you'll be fine too!"

"That's some really shaky logic, but sure, let's roll with it." He leaned back, staring at the ceiling. "This just keeps getting better and better."

At least Grauzauberer wasn't just a bunch of scholars sitting in a dark library playing with glowing rocks.

That made things both better and worse.

Better, because he'd have access to real training instead of just theory. Worse, because it meant he'd probably be thrown into dangerous situations sooner or later.

Well, whatever. He wasn't planning to sit around twiddling his thumbs anyway.

Still, one thing nagged at him.

"You said they handle magical threats, right?"

Lavinia nodded.

"Then how do they compare to the big players?" He tapped his fingers against his knee. "Like the Church, the Devils, the Fallen, the Youkai—how strong are they?"

Lavinia blinked, then smiled sheepishly. "Uhh… I'd say we're strong! But not, like… faction-level strong."

Leonardo narrowed his eyes. "Meaning?"

"Meaning we have powerful individuals, but we're not a military force. We're not trying to take over anything, just maintain balance. If we had to fight a major faction, we'd lose in a full-scale war."

That made sense. Grauzauberer was more of a specialist group than a global powerhouse.

But that raised another question.

"If they're not a major power, how do they stop the big guys from steamrolling them?"

Lavinia grinned. "Because we're useful! Lots of factions need our knowledge or services, so we work with them! Some of our members even act as mediators for supernatural disputes."

That was… actually smart. Instead of trying to compete with the giants, they made themselves too valuable to be wiped out.

Leonardo smirked. "So you're like the shady information brokers of the magic world."

Lavinia giggled. "More like trusted consultants!"

"Same thing, really."

She pouted. "You're making it sound sketchy."

Leonardo chuckled but didn't argue. At least now he had a clearer picture of what he was getting into.

Grauzauberer was a group of magic nerds, problem-solvers, and consultants who worked with the supernatural world while avoiding direct conflict.

That worked for him.

For now.

Later…

By the time they reached their next transfer station, the sun was beginning to set. The sky was painted in hues of orange and pink, casting long shadows over the quiet countryside. This station was much smaller than the last, with only a few people waiting for the next train.

Leonardo yawned, stretching as he stepped onto the platform. "Alright, what's next? Another train?"

Lavinia hummed. "Nope! We take a bus now."

Leonardo groaned. "Of course we do."

Lavinia giggled, tugging at his sleeve. "Come on! We don't want to miss it!"

They made their way to a nearby bus stop, where an old, creaky bus was already waiting. The driver, an older man with graying hair, barely spared them a glance as they stepped inside.

The bus ride was long. Really long.

The further they traveled, the more civilization faded away. The city lights disappeared, replaced by long stretches of road cutting through dense forests. Occasionally, they passed by small villages, but for the most part, it felt like they were venturing into the middle of nowhere.

Leonardo stared out the window, watching the trees blur past. "Are we going to some hidden wizard village or something?"

Lavinia giggled. "Kind of! Grauzauberer's base isn't exactly easy to find. It's deep in a magical territory, so normal people can't just stumble into it."

He raised a brow. "And what happens if someone does?"

"They don't." She smiled innocently.

Leonardo stared at her. "...That's ominous."

Lavinia just giggled again.

After what felt like an eternity, the bus finally came to a stop at what looked like the entrance to a deep forest. There were no buildings, no roads—just a path leading into the trees.

Leonardo stepped off the bus and immediately frowned. "Uh. Lavinia? Where's the base?"

She clasped her hands behind her back. "Deeper inside! We walk from here!"

Leonardo sighed. "Of course we do."

As they ventured into the forest, the air grew thick with an unfamiliar energy. The deeper they went, the more the environment changed—the trees seemed older, the air heavier, the very space around them subtly warping.

Leonardo narrowed his eyes.

This place was soaked in magic.

And somewhere ahead, beyond the thick foliage and unseen barriers, lay Grauzauberer's hidden sanctuary.