Chapter 8: Awestruck
Freshly attired in one of the six uniforms he had been given, consisting of a black blazer with white accents over a long-sleeved, button-down shirt with vertical lining, a black ribbon on the collar, matching black pants, and dark-brown dress shoes, Vahn enjoyed the remainder of the campus tour, wrapping up at what looked like an old, three-story, ivy-covered mansion with a clock tower, a sloped, black-tiled roof, a steepled entryway, and a white facade. There, he was kept occupied by Sona's retinue before being guided to a spacious room lined with wood paneling and decorated with expensive-looking furniture, multiple bookshelves, and a multitude of fine art pieces, ranging from vases to impressionist paintings.
Though his eyes curiously scanned the room as he entered, it wasn't long before Vahn's gaze focused on its occupants, causing him to blink, stop in place, and part his lips in surprise. Seated across from Sona atop a stylish green sofa, backed by a curvy, gold-leaf wood frame and situated atop a massive maroon carpet, was the most gorgeous person Vahn had ever set eyes on. A second exceptionally beautiful girl stood behind her and off to the side, sporting long black hair fixed into a ponytail, violet eyes, and one of the most incredible figures Vahn had ever seen, but both she and Sona paled in comparison to the crimson-haired girl sitting down, staring at him with the sharp, confidence-filled blue eyes. Her full figure was on par with the black-haired girl standing a short distance behind her, but she exuded what Vahn could only describe as majesty...
"You must be Vahn Mason," said the girl, freeing Vahn from his stupor as she adopted a faint smile and revealed, "As you have likely surmised, I am Rias Gremory, Heiress to the Duke Gremory Household and Governor pro-Tempore of Kuoh Academy and the associated town. My good friend Sona here has informed me that you possess quite a unique ability."
"It's nothing that impressive..." responded Vahn, surprised as he suddenly found himself unable to meet Rias's gaze. His face also felt warm, causing him to reach up and massage his cheeks, discovering they were hot to the touch.
"I see now what you meant," remarked Rias, turning her attention to Sona and gingerly covering her mouth to conceal a smile and suppress a laugh as she added, "It's been a long time since I've seen such an innocent boy who wasn't a child."
"And it would appear he has taken a liking to you..." noted Sona, feeling somewhat vexed as, while Vahn hadn't hidden his appreciation for her and the members of her Peerage, he regarded them as someone might a well-carved statue. His reaction to Rias was completely different, reinforcing a truth Sona had long known, specifically that her crimson-haired childhood friend was far more beautiful than she.
"I'm flattered," said Rias, patting the space to her left as she added, "Why don't you come and sit down, Vahn-kun? It's a little awkward to converse with someone who's standing while sitting down."
"Oh...okay then..." responded Vahn, making his way over and sitting where Rias had indicated. He believed he was being considerate by keeping a bit of distance between them, but Rias didn't seem concerned with doing the same as she promptly moved closer to him, her surprisingly large and soft thigh nestling against his as she stared closely at his face and declared, "I would really like to see your ability for myself."
Though he couldn't see it, Vahn's face was bright red as he instinctively leaned away from Rias, taken aback by her disregard for boundaries and personal space. He didn't particularly mind that she was close to him; he just didn't expect it.