Author's note: Some thing to consider since I was rereading and it wasnt clear enough. No, Elias it not nerfed, he just needs to grow into his perks. Also, I know that before he destroyed the remains of Seekvaira demostrations. Not the whole mountain. So yeah, he is stronger than in that chapter, but he still has room to grow more. He needs worthy opponents for that, which will come with Seekvaira for magic and Alivian for fist fights. At least for now.
So... yeah, in chapter 31 I think he just destroyed the what Seekvaira left around, not the whole thing.
Celestial Ascendancy
Chapter 36: A Display of Might.
Grimmauld Place.
Elias Blake.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes at my pouting uncle, who was sulking in the corner of the Lord's solar. He was simultaneously making a sad face and glaring at the portrait of Arcturus on the wall.
The older man did nothing to help matters. Even after his death, he refused to cave to his descendants' desires and stop being a cunt.
In the end, we had a glaring match between a man-child and the portrait of a long-dead man.
"Will you quit it?" Iris huffed, glaring at them both.
"It's just not fair," Sirius whined. "I've known Remus since we were thirteen. I know he can be trusted!"
"It's a Black family matter," Arcturus grumbled heavily. "I'm already making an exception by allowing the girls here."
"As if you could make us leave." Iris shot the portrait a glare filled with so much venom that I was half-surprised it didn't melt on the spot.
"Enough," I sighed, glancing at Hermione and catching the look of pity on her face. She understood my feelings on this better than anyone else.
When the other three turned their attention to me, I cleared my throat and spoke. "Remus is someone who could help us a lot, and he already knows something is wrong. When we entered the house, we had a small situation, and his werewolf side could feel the difference."
"What are you talking about, boy?" Arcturus asked sharply.
I sighed, running a hand down my face.
"Things aren't as simple as they seem," I said after a moment of silence. "It would be better to show you, but you must keep quiet. Not a word to anyone, at least for now."
"Just give me a second," I added, placating the two older men.
Pulling out my devil phone, I unlocked it with my fingerprint, relishing the ability to finally use technology again. I hadn't realized how much I missed it, but it was hard to ignore now that I had it.
I sent a quick message to Seekvaira to see if she was free in a few minutes, then stood up, grabbed my trunk, and opened it as usual.
The girls immediately understood what I planned to show with that simple gesture, both smirking mischievously. Sirius and Arcturus, on the other hand, were visibly confused but followed us without a word.
"Blimey," Sirius gasped as he took in the inside of my trunk, and I couldn't help but puff out my chest in pride.
The trunk was awesome, after all, and it felt good to show it off.
"This is no ordinary trunk," Arcturus frowned, eyes narrowing. "I doubt things have advanced this much since my death. Something like this shouldn't be possible, boy."
"I know," I admitted. "And I won't explain where I got it from. I hope you understand why." I met his gaze seriously.
"Bah!" he scoffed. "I'm dead, boy. Just show us what you brought us here for."
I nodded at him with a small smile of thanks. It was good that he understood how things would work between us. I refused to be under anyone, and he was no exception.
Well… I wouldn't mind being under my girls if they asked me to.
Stomping down on that particular train of thought before it could derail me completely, I shook my head firmly. I wanted a repeat of that night, I couldn't wait for it, but now wasn't the time.
"We need to walk a bit more," I said, leading them forward. As we moved, I commanded my trunk to rebuild the scorched and destroyed wasteland I had created after a training session. I knew I would be tearing it apart again shortly, but I needed the setting for a proper demonstration.
After a few minutes, I felt Ash through our bond as she flew toward us. She let out a happy squeak as she landed on Hermione's shoulder and began pecking at her bushy hair.
"Nice of you to join us," I said, smiling at my familiar.
"Well, we're here." I took a slow breath, already preparing to show the truth to my only living family—probably. At least of the good ones.
I took a deep breath, the crisp air of the wasteland filling my nostrils. It was strange of me to show off, but I needed both of their support, and as strong as I was now… I was still weak compared to the little I knew from my past life. Draconis Deus was a genuinely terrifying place when you saw past its silliness and hentai logic.
Sirius and the girls stood beside me, with Hermione transfiguring a chair to let Arcturus's portrait face the direction of the mountain. The Black's skepticism was palpable. Hermione and Iris, on the other hand, were practically grinning, already anticipating the spectacle.
They had seen what Seekvaira was capable of, and while I didn't know if I was as strong as her, I would give it my all to at least come close to what she showed.
"Alright," I exhaled, rolling my shoulders. "I can't embarrass myself in front of the girls."
I strode forward, planting my feet firmly against the cracked earth. Then, without warning, I clenched my fists and flexed.
A faint shockwave rippled outward as raw power surged through me. The very ground beneath my feet trembled, tiny cracks forming in the dirt under the visible weight of my magic. The air became heavier, and I saw the girl's knees buckling under the strain. Sirius fared slightly better, but he, too, was stiff as a board.
It wasn't some overwhelming explosion of force. Still, it was enough to make Sirius and Arcturus take a step back on instinct. I almost snorted seeing Arcturus do that inside his portrait. It was a human reaction, so even if he was dead, his very imprint could see something out of the norm was happening.
Before they could react, I bent my knees slightly and then launched myself forward.
I blurred across the wasteland, kicking up a violent gust of wind in my wake. The world streaked past me in a rush of motion. It is not instant teleportation, just pure speed.
I wondered who that man in the World Cup was. Now that I looked back at the scene, I was sure that he was someone of the supernatural side. Now that I could move this fast, I understood that he wasn't simply teleporting to save his sister. No. He was just fast.
The mountain in the distance loomed closer, and with a surge of strength, I punched the rock.
BOOM.
The impact sent cracks running up the side of the mountain, dislodging massive chunks of stone. A portion where my fist connected simply collapsed, tumbling down in an avalanche of dust and debris. I had left a crater where my fist had landed, deep but not enough to bring the whole mountain down.
I tscked my tongue at the sight. I could feel it inside my bones. I could be stronger than I am now, but I lacked something. Something I didn't know yet. Maybe I needed more training or simply a better opponent to push my limits.
When the dust settled, I pulled my hand back, flexing my fingers. No damage. My strength was definitely above the average. I just knew it. But it wasn't enough. I could probably fight even with a regular high-class devil now, but I needed Seekvaira to find out for sure.
That was what irked me the most. I knew the levels and somewhat understood them. Still, I didn't know where to put myself without a visible example.
I turned back toward my audience. Sirius had gone completely still, his mouth hanging open slightly. Arcturus had narrowed his eyes, his gaze flickering between me and the damaged mountain.
"That felt so nice," I smirked.
Before they could respond, I raised my right hand.
A chill spread through the air, frost creeping up my arm as the temperature around us plummeted. A thin layer of ice crackled across the ground, spreading outward in an intricate web of jagged crystals.
I clenched my fist.
A towering ice spike erupted from the earth, a jagged, crystalline structure stretching over twenty meters high. The wasteland around us was transformed into a winter's grasp, frozen solid beneath my power.
I let the frost linger momentarily before exhaling, releasing my hold on the magic. The ice formation cracked, then shattered into a million shards, dissipating into a fine mist. I could feel my reserves almost halving with the effort, but I clenched my teeth and prepared for my next spell.
Then, I lifted my left hand and focused.
Golden light flared at my fingertips, weaving together in a brilliant, swirling mass of energy. The icy chill from moments ago was instantly overpowered by a surge of heat, my body basking in the familiar warmth of the Aetherium.
I wasn't familiar with the lore of elder scrolls, but I knew I wasn't even touching the tail of the behemoth this perk provided.
A small orb of pure sunlight hovered over my palm. It was no bigger than a Quaffle, but the sheer intensity of its glow made the wasteland around us flicker with shadows. The air shimmered from the heat, making a mirage thanks to the water vapor in my surroundings.
I frowned slightly, feeling the strain in my core. Creating miniature suns was possible, but maintaining them still took effort. I could do much more with this energy but was too weak to utilize it properly.
I hurled the sun forward.
It streaked through the air, leaving a trail of golden radiance, before slamming into the remains of the mountain's damaged rock face. Instead of a catastrophic explosion, the stone melted, molten rock bubbling and hissing as the orb burned through it. The heatwave rolled outward, forcing Sirius to shield his eyes while Arcturus observed silently.
Not quite enough to vaporize everything, but still sufficient to reshape the battlefield.
I let out a breath, shaking out my hands. The power was there, but I still needed better control of my magic. My core kept growing like crazy, but I needed more, so much more if I wanted to use the Aetherium for long periods of time.
Silence.
Sirius was still staring at the molten rock in disbelief. Arcturus, ever composed, finally broke the silence.
"Your strength is unnatural, boy," he muttered, his sharp eyes studying me carefully. "You are not a normal wizard. Just who did that boy fuck to get a descendant like that." He finished with a murmur soft enough to strain my ears.
Arcturus' gaze lingered on the molten rock, then flicked back to me. His eyes were sharp, and he looked at me critically, looking into me as if trying to find out the truth of my existence. Of my origin.
I wished him luck in that endeavor. I wasn't going to mention the Grimoire for now, if at all.
"The only people I ever saw wielding magic like that," he muttered, almost to himself, "were Grindelwald and Dumbledore."
That made Sirius flinch, but I stayed silent, waiting for him to continue.
"They were monsters in their own right," Arcturus said slowly and thoughtfully. "I never fought Grindelwald when he was like that; he just toyed with us, but I saw the aftermath of their battle. Their magic could twist reality by itself. But…" he glanced down, eyes narrowing, "they weren't like this."
He gestured toward the ground.
I followed his gaze and realized what he meant. The area around me was still cracking under the weight of my magic, tiny fractures forming in the stone as my power idly seeped into the terrain. Even though I wasn't doing anything consciously, my presence alone was leaving its mark.
I already knew it before, but I had never considered it seriously. My magic had changed with the perks. It no longer was the fluid "air" I used to compare wizards magic to, now it had some weight to it. That didn't mean I could not use Wizard magic, but my being was simply more.
I inhaled sharply and focused, pulling my power back. The cracks slowed, then stopped.
Arcturus studied me with a curiosity that unnerved me. "Grindelwald could do something similar," he admitted. "When he got serious, the ground around him would splinter, and the air would tremble like you just did. But even then, he couldn't destroy like you just did." His eyes flicked to the melted remains of the mountain. "Neither could Dumbledore. They didn't use their magic like that most of the time."
Sirius finally found his voice. "Wait, wait, wait. Are you saying Elias is stronger than Dumbledore?"
"Physically? Undoubtedly." Arcturus nodded without hesitation. "Dumbledore and Grindelwald weren't warriors in how the boy seems to be. Their strength was in their intellect, mastery of magic, and ability to warp the battlefield with spellwork beyond most men's comprehension." His gaze darkened. "But they were not creatures of brute force. They didn't hurl mountains aside or crack the earth beneath their feet."
I folded my arms, letting that sink in. I was curious about where he would end his commentary. Seeing how much he could infer about what I showed was interesting.
It helped me reaffirm my thoughts about him. He was intelligent, cunning, and, most importantly, wise.
Dumbledore and Grindelwald were wizards—pure spellcasters, geniuses who wielded magic in ways no one else could. But they were still human, physically speaking. I wasn't on the same level, Magically speaking, and I would never be without the Grimoire. They were geniuses, heaven-defying talents, born once every couple of generations. (save me jade-chan)
They weren't the same as me.
Sirius ran a hand through his hair. "So, let me get this straight. Elias is obviously physically stronger than Dumbledore or Grindelwald ever were. His magic is different, and somehow, he's doing things even they couldn't do. Am I missing anything?"
Arcturus hummed. "Just one thing."
"And what's that?" Sirius asked, mouth agape.
Arcturus met my gaze, his expression unreadable. "The boy is still growing."
A beat of silence passed.
"Just how is he that strong?" Sirius asked again, pinching his nose and shaking his head. "It doesn't make any sense. We must be missing something."
"That's their secret to tell, boy," Arcturus snorted. "The lad barely knows us. Maybe in the future, we'll find out."
Before I could reply, my phone rang.
Grabbing it from my pocket, I smiled, already knowing who was calling. No one but Seekvaira had this number—or at least, I didn't think so.
"Good morning to you, Miss Devil," I greeted with a smirk. She obviously couldn't see it, but I was sure she could hear it in my voice. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Mister Black," Seekvaira's voice greeted me back, as calm and composed as ever—when she wasn't talking about mechas. "I was just letting you know I am quite free now if you wish to use the summoning circle."
"That's great," I said, my smile widening. "I was meeting with the rest of my family, and we have the merchandise for you to check."
"Good to know," Seekvaira replied softly. "In that case, I will bring my Queen to help catalog the products."
"Awesome," I grinned. I didn't know who her Queen was, but knowing her character, said person should be pretty strong. Maybe I'd get a spar out of this. "I'll summon you in a bit. I just need to prepare my family."
"Understood, Mister Black," Seekvaira replied before hanging up.
"What is that?" Arcturus frowned, his portrait's gaze locked on my phone.
"It's a cellphone," I shrugged.
"How is it working?" Sirius asked, tilting his head like a confused dog. "I've never seen one function properly around our kind."
"It was given to me by Seekvaira, the devil we summoned, so we could stay in contact," I explained. Since it was sensitive information, I hadn't included it in a letter. It was too risky.
"You've already used the summoning?" Arcturus asked, eyes narrowing.
"Yeah," I nodded, "you'll meet her shortly. It's one of the things I wanted to talk about."
"Go on, then." Arcturus waved his hand while Sirius listened intently, his expression twisting into a disapproving frown.
"Seekvaira is the heir of the Agares Clan. They hold the rank of Archduke in the Underworld, the second-highest position there, I think," I started, observing their reactions. "The Black family has a summoning circle connected to them because a Lord Black helped Seekvaira's father around four hundred years ago."
I took a breath, organizing my thoughts before continuing. "That Lord's wife was one of the best healers of her time. A Parselmouth, if Seekvaira's information is accurate, and I have no reason to doubt her on this."
Arcturus nodded, a frown settling on his face, but his eyes inside the portrait gleamed with interest.
"She also explained that there's some kind of pact between various factions in the world to leave wizards alone," I continued, only for Sirius to lift his hand.
"What do you mean by factions?"
"Ah," I nodded, bracing for their reactions. "It turns out the world is terrifying." I sighed. "Every single mythology you've ever heard of? Real. Gods, monsters, demons, angels. Everything exists."
"What. The. Fuck." Sirius gaped. "Odin? Zeus? They're real? Then what about the Witch Hunts?"
"Oh yeah," Iris piped in with a smirk. "She even mentioned that Odin is one of the strongest beings in the world. Didn't mention Zeus, though. And we should ask her about Salem."
"We'll come back to that later," Arcturus grumbled, a perturbed look crossing his face. "Continue, boy."
I chuckled at Sirius' reaction before nodding at the portrait. "So, yeah. They owe us a favor for that, but we never knew about it because of the pact. Seekvaira explained that no one sane would break it since many scary beings were at the meeting where it was made. But she doesn't know why they want wizards separated from the rest of the supernatural world." I shrugged. "Long story short, because we're the ones who summoned her, she won't get in trouble for interacting with us. As the heir of her clan, she sees an opportunity in our friendship, and I'm interested in keeping it that way."
"Why?" Arcturus asked, his tone sharp. "Explain your thoughts. I want to see your mind, to judge if you're worthy of becoming Sirius's heir."
I took a deep breath.
"Well, for starters, she has something we don't: information. Being the heir of an Archduke House means she has access to connections we could never get on our own. That alone is invaluable."
"But beyond that, she can help in a lot of areas. Strength-wise, she can provide grimoires, artifacts, and even rituals from all over the supernatural world. But more than that, she can help us economically. We can create a monopoly on things no normal wizard could obtain. If we play our cards right, we could gain access to resources that put us leagues above anyone else in the wizarding world."
I leaned back, meeting Arcturus' gaze head-on. "And I'd be a dumb fuck if I didn't take that chance."
Arcturus nodded approvingly before glancing at Sirius. "See? That's how an heir should act, boy. He'll do."
"I never said I'd object," Sirius said wryly. "Are you sure it's a good idea, though? She is a devil."
Hermione piped in with a frown. "We thought about it after the meeting. She seems like a genuinely good person, or devil, in her case. But even if she wasn't, she's definitely intelligent. This friendship benefits both of our sides, not just ours."
"So you think she isn't foolish enough to jeopardize this?" Arcturus asked, his frown deepening.
"Umu." Hermione nodded. "She has a good head on her shoulders, and she's strong. More importantly, she has no competition for her heirship, so no relatives will try and sabotage her... or us. She's in a stable position, which makes her a safe ally. We could sell Underworld products in the future, giving her a cut of the profit while she does the same for us."
Arcturus studied Hermione with a strange glint in his eyes before glancing at me. "You have good eyes, boy. I approve."
Hermione squeaked and blushed up a storm while Iris grinned with genuine happiness for our bushy-haired girlfriend.
I knew that, deep down, Hermione was afraid of experiencing the same racism she had at Hogwarts. So earning Arcturus' approval meant something to her.
"She's the best," I grinned, stealing a quick peck. "But while I see all the benefits, I'm not a politician or an economic genius. I could learn, but right now, I have bigger concerns."
"What concerns?" Sirius asked sharply.
"Voldemort." I frowned deeply. "We know he's alive and planning something. He put me in the tournament for a reason, but nothing happened during the tasks. And while I'm sure I'm far stronger than he expected, the tournament itself hasn't been deadly enough to guarantee anything. That only leaves one option."
"The third task," Arcturus muttered, scowling. "If you're right and he planned all of this, that's when he'll make his move. If Crouch Jr. wasn't completely mad, you must be ready."
"Eli will mop the floor with him," Iris said confidently. "Didn't you see what he can do?"
"Girl, there's your Gryffindor side showing," Arcturus huffed.
Sirius facepalmed. "Voldemort is strong. Maybe not quite Dumbledore's level, but not far off. And he's been in hiding for over a decade. He could've been honing his skills even further."
He met my eyes, deadly serious.
"I've seen that monster with my own eyes. Yes, Elias can do more damage than him, but Voldemort is crafty. He knows magic that would make my dear mum shudder. Do. Not. Underestimate. Him."
"I hear you, Sirius," I said seriously. "But I'm not going to just sit around waiting for Voldemort to make his move. If he's planning something for the third task, I need to be stronger."
I pulled out my phone and activated the summoning circle. "And speaking of getting stronger… it's time to bring Seekvaira here."
"Before she arrives, please remember to be respectful. She is the heir of an important house and expects professionalism and respect from a peer. Don't act a fool; she might be stronger than me." I cautioned earnestly, looking at the Black's in their eyes.
Sirius was a bit immature, but the one that worried me the most was Arcturus. He was used to be the top dog of the room, and I didn't know him enough to know how he would react against someone like her.
A few feet away from us, a blinding light erupted from the ground, forming a large, beautiful green magic circle. As the glow dimmed, two figures emerged from within.
Seekvaira stood at the front, wearing the same tiny, composed smile as when we first met. The young man beside her exuded a calm, refined presence, walking with the smooth confidence of someone used to meetings like these. I had no idea who he was, but he was clearly remarkable in some way to be Seekvaira's Queen.
She opened her mouth to greet me—but then she froze.
"Mister Black?" she asked, staring open-mouthed. As I noticed during our last meeting, she was really expressive when she lost her composure. "What in Lucifer's name happened to you?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Please, call me Elias, Seekvaira." I gave her an easy smile before frowning in thought. "And what do you mean by that?"
She nodded slowly before stepping closer, her Queen falling into step behind her.
"How did you get so strong in such a short time?" she asked, her tone perplexed.
"A lot of things happened," I shrugged noncommittally. "But I think it would be better to keep that to myself for now."
"Understandable," she nodded, regaining her composure. "And my apologies for my faux pas, it was rude of me to ask something so personal."
"Don't worry," I assured her, appreciating that she accepted my non-answer without issue. "Now, introductions." I gestured to the others. "That man there is my uncle, Sirius Black, and the current Lord Black. He can be a bit too much, so I apologize in advance for any problems."
Sirius grumbled. I smirked at him. He did the mature thing and just blew me a raspberry.
"And the portrait next to him is my great-grandfather, Arcturus Black, the previous Lord Black."
Seekvaira's expression shifted to polite interest as she bowed her head slightly. "It's a pleasure to meet you both." She then gestured to her companion. "My name is Seekvaira Agares, and this is my Queen, Alivian."
"It's our pleasure," Arcturus nodded, though I could see his sharp, calculating gaze assessing them both. "If I may ask—what is a Queen?"
"Ah," Seekvaira nodded in understanding, her eyes lingering on the portrait for a moment, something about it clearly intriguing her. "I didn't explain this during our last meeting, did I? A Queen is the second-in-command of a peerage. A peerage is exclusive to High-Ranking Devils. Ajuka Beelzebub created the Evil Pieces, which can reincarnate a person as a Devil under the King of that peerage."
Arcturus' expression sharpened immediately. "Can it be done against one's will?"
Seekvaira met his gaze without hesitation. "Yes," she admitted candidly. "But it's not recommended. While they are bound to their King, that doesn't mean they must obey their orders. Several instances have occurred of a peerage member killing their King for different reasons."
Sirius and Arcturus exchanged glances.
"While I won't claim that some Devils don't abuse the system," Seekvaira continued, "my family is not one of them."
"It's okay," I sighed, cutting through the tension. "I know how to judge someone, and I trust her."
Arcturus grumbled, eyes narrowing as he scrutinized Seekvaira, but after a few seconds, he nodded. "Fine."
I clapped my hands lightly. "Now with that out of the way, how exactly do the Evil Pieces work?"
Seekvaira shook her head. "No one knows exactly how they work. Only their creator does. And no one is stupid enough to ask Ajuka Beelzebub himself."
I nodded at her in thanks and turned to her companion. "Alivian, right?"
The handsome young man straightened slightly as I addressed him. He had soft features, was somewhat tall, and, if I were to be honest, a little feminine.
"It's nice to meet you," I offered my hand. "My name is Elias. And these two here are Iris Potter and Hermione Granger, my girlfriends."
Alivian's grip was firm, stronger than I expected. Interesting. He was powerful, and I couldn't help but get excited about a spar. I hoped he liked fighting.
"It's my pleasure, Elias-sama, Iris-sama, Hermione-sama," he greeted with a calm, respectful smile. "I am the Queen of Seekvaira-sama's peerage and personal butler."
"Hello," Iris chirped, eyes shining with curiosity. "Nice to meet you."
Hermione nodded at him with a smile.
Seekvaira, however, hadn't stopped looking at the portrait of Arcturus, her expression filled with fascination.
"This…" she murmured, stepping closer. "This is remarkable."
Arcturus raised an eyebrow. "The painting?"
Seekvaira turned to me, her sharp mind already piecing things together. "Is this a method of long-distance communication?"
I blinked before realizing what she meant.
She thinks the portrait is some kind of magical intercom.
Sirius laughed, shaking his head. "Not quite."
"This is not a live transmission?" Seekvaira frowned. "But he is responding to us…"
I scratched the back of my head. "Yeah, about that… Arcturus is dead."
"Huh? We do not have this kind of magic in the Underworld," Seekvaira admitted, eyes practically shining with curiosity. "How does it work? Is it a form of Soul Magic?"
Arcturus frowned at the term, but I answered first.
"I don't think so," I said slowly, considering how to explain it. "It's not actually Arcturus' soul, at least not in the way you might think. Wizarding portraits are made by taking a magical imprint of a person's personality, memories, and speech patterns. The painting is enchanted with those traits, so it mimics their behavior, but it's not a literal soul."
I didn't know exactly how they worked. But I was sure as hell they weren't things like the Horcruxes.
Seekvaira's expression shifted from fascination to shock. "That… is incredible."
"Wait," Alivian interjected, eyes narrowing slightly. "So it is not Soul Magic?"
"No, it shouldn't be," I shook my head. "At most, it's a copy of someone's personality. It doesn't have true consciousness or the ability to learn new things. It's just… a really advanced magical AI or something similar."
Seekvaira hummed in thought before her eyes widened slightly in realization. "Dealing with souls in any capacity is banned in the Underworld."
Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Banned?"
"The use, manipulation, or trading of souls is strictly forbidden under the current Maou's laws," she confirmed. "Even the mere discussion of soul magic can be seen as highly suspicious. If this was truly a fragment of someone's soul, it would be considered illegal by our standards."
Arcturus chuckled. "Well, good thing I'm not breaking any Devil laws, then."
Seekvaira shook her head, still in awe. "The idea of storing a person's essence in an enchanted object… No wonder the wizarding world is separate from the rest of us. You have magic we do not."
She turned to me, eyes gleaming. "Since it isn't soul magic, would you allow Agares scholars to study this?"
I blinked.
Before I could answer, Sirius burst out laughing. "Oh, Elias, mate. You've got a Devil noble asking for wizarding knowledge, never thought I'd see the day."
To be honest, he wasn't the only one who found it surprising. But it was true, while our magic was weaker than theirs, ours was versatile like nobodies business.
I smirked, glancing at Arcturus, who simply huffed in amusement.
"I think we can make a deal," I smirked at Seekvaira, "But we should complete the previous one before starting another, no?"
"You're right," she nodded firmly. "Let it not be said that this devil doesn't complete her deals."
I smiled at her before glancing at Hermione, who nodded, running ahead to prepare the products.
"Then follow us," I continued. "We should get comfortable with this since it might take a while."
Slowly, we walked toward my house in the middle of the dimension. It had grown a lot since I obtained the perk, almost ten miles in circumference. Luckily, we weren't that far.
"I didn't ask before," Seekvaira started, "But where are we? I don't recognize this place."
"Ah," I chuckled, "This is a wizarding trunk."
"A trunk?" Alivian asked in confusion, "Is that like a suitcase, Elias-sama?"
I smiled at him, "Indeed, they are bigger on the inside. Mine is special, but you can have a whole apartment in your pocket. They cost a lot of Galleons, but I think it's worth it. Also, drop the honorifics. I hope we can be friends in the future, so there is no need for something like that."
Alivian looked at Seekvaira in askance, but when she nodded, he nodded at me, "Understood, Elias."
Seekvaira smiled. "Wizards keep surprising me, and I can't help but get excited about what you got for me."
"We are a surprising bunch," I agreed, "Our magic makes a lot of things possible, so I hope we can reach an agreement."
Ash chirped behind us; she was still on Iris's shoulders.
Alivian flinched hard, and I noticed his nails sharpening and his fangs growing larger before he calmed himself.
"Oh?" I looked in amazement, "If I may ask, was Alivian human before becoming your Queen?"
Seekvaira didn't react much to Ash's presence, which made me happy. But she looked at Alivian with a bit of worry.
I knew she was a good person.
"No," She replied with a smile. "Alivian is a dragon, a Slavic dragon, to be exact."
The reaction was instant. Iris stiffened and hid Ash behind her, who squeaked in outrage.
Sirius and Arcturus? Even worse.
Sirius took a step back and prepared his magic just in case. I could see his wand hand clenching nothing but air.
Arcturus looked at Alivian in wonder, a cold, calculating glint in his eyes.
"My apologies," Alivian whispered with closed eyes, "The phoenix scared me for a second."
"It's okay," I reassured him, and I felt pity for him to look so downcast, as if his failure to control himself had offended him on a deeper level.
"I read that phoenixes are lethal to devils, but Ash won't attack without a reason; you have my word." I continued slowly.
Alivian took a deep breath before nodding, "You have my thanks, Elias."
"We're here," I sighed in relief; maybe seeing the products would help the tension.
Hermione opened the door before glancing curiously at me and seeing some of our group tense. I reassured her with my eyes and acted like I didn't care, like Seekvaira.
"I asked Dobby for some pastries," Hermione nodded at the table prepared for us.
"Thanks, love," I kissed her quickly, "You're the best."
"I know," she chirped, "Everything is ready."
Well… it was time for negotiations.
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