Celestial Ascendancy
Chapter 50: The Dinner.
Hogwarts.
Elias Black.
We had barely managed to finish everything on time… but it was worth it.
I smiled as I watched my girls chatting and laughing after such a chaotic night. Just seeing them like this made every single injury more than worth it. Their smiles warmed my heart in a way nothing else ever could.
Strolling over to their little group, I grinned and slid my arms around Fleur's and Hermione's waists, hoisting them up playfully, only to smirk when Iris jumped on me like a damn koala.
"You all look perfect tonight," I told them honestly because they really did. They'd spent a couple of hours getting ready for this dinner, and it showed.
Iris wore an emerald off-shoulder dress, her wild hair left loose for once. Golden embroidery shaped like lightning bolts danced across the fabric, catching the light just right. It was Fleur's idea… and damn, the French knew fashion. Iris looked even more gorgeous than usual tonight, which was saying something.
On the other hand, Hermione wore a burgundy dress with a modest neckline. Nothing flashy, but perfectly in line with the subtle confidence we had ingrained in her. Unlike Iris, who loved showing off (especially for me), Hermione had a quiet kind of attraction. Her hair had been styled by Fleur, too, and somehow, she'd managed to tame what years of effort hadn't. I think Hermione had a new favorite person in our strange relationship.
And then there was Fleur.
What could I even say? She was a masterpiece. Her beauty didn't just match the supernatural… she surpassed it. Not that looks were all that mattered to me, not even close. But Fleur had that kind of beauty that made people pause and wonder how it was even possible.
She wore a silken silver gown that didn't scream 'sexy' but somehow made her even more so. Her hair was styled half-up, half-down with a subtle magic that gave it a cascading, ethereal effect. I didn't know enough about that kind of enchantment to explain it, but I knew it was beautiful.
And me? Well, I had to endure an hour of playing dress-up while the girls coordinated my outfit… only for them to get annoyed that it took them so long and me barely any time at all.
Still, I looked… different now. Something had changed in the final moments of my fight with Walburga. Whatever it was, it didn't just supercharge my strength; it changed my body, too.
My hair had grown longer… enough that Iris had very firmly threatened to withhold fun times if I so much as thought about cutting it. My physique had refined even further, my muscles tighter, my skin completely unblemished. The girls loved it. But I… I had mixed feelings. There was something uncanny about the way I looked now.
But I wore what they picked: a simple midnight black button-up and fitted trousers. There were no frills, no over-the-top glamor, just enough to highlight everything they wanted to ogle.
And ogle they did.
"If we're talking about perfection, you should go find a mirror, Eli," Fleur pouted but hugged me anyway. "It's unfair… I'm a Veela, and I'm feeling inferior."
"Like you're one to talk," Hermione muttered, rolling her eyes in that cute, helpless way of hers, "I swear, I'm stuck between three models."
"Bah," I chuckled and turned toward her with a grin, letting my gaze linger long enough to make her squirm, "That dress makes you look delicious, babe."
"Shush, you," she replied with her cheeks flushed, "We all look good, okay?"
"That's the spirit, love," Iris grinned brightly, her face so close I could feel her breath mix with mine. A minty smell that I loved, "I'm so excited about the dinner."
"They'll love it," I said confidently, "Dobby's a damn artist in the kitchen."
"Are you sure it's fine for me to be here, though?" Fleur asked softly, a conflicted look in her eyes, "I mean… the people coming tonight are… well, you know."
"It's fine, Fleur," Iris said, sliding down from my arms as I let the others go, "They'll love you. It's not like they're pompous arseholes like some of the purebloods."
"Yeah," Hermione added with a soft smile, "I used to think they'd have sticks up their arses, but they're surprisingly down to earth. They don't care about blood status or even if you're another species. Honestly, they might be curious about your Veela heritage."
"Do you really think so?" Fleur asked, clearly uncertain… an unusual sight for someone like her, to be honest, but I loved it all the same.
"Uh-huh," Hermione nodded thoughtfully, "Now that I think about it… where do Veela even come from?"
Fleur smiled at her in thanks, and then her expression turned playful, "You know what? Think about it. I'm sure the topic will come up during dinner, and I'll tell you how close you were."
"Oh? You're on," Hermione grinned, "Challenge accepted."
I smiled, watching them banter like that. They were growing closer, and that was all that mattered. We'd gone on a couple more dates since everything happened, and each one ended amicably… more than amicably, honestly. Enough that a few reporters had started speculating in the papers.
Nothing negative, thankfully. They were too busy covering the absolute chaos that had been the Third Task.
And wasn't that still a mess?
They hadn't revealed Voldemort's return, not officially. That was still being treated as a theory. Something plausible, terrifying, but unconfirmed. What the press had acknowledged was that a coordinated terrorist attack had taken place at Hogwarts and that another major incident had occurred in Little Hangleton.
The Ministry wasn't denying something big had happened… they just weren't naming names yet.
Dumbledore and the rest were preparing, that much I knew. They were just trying to keep the masses from spiraling into panic. According to the official statements, unknown enemies were moving against Britain. But the figurehead leading them? Still conveniently unspoken.
We hadn't heard a single public move from the Minister, which made everyone nervous. Croaker told me that Fudge had locked himself in his office the past few days scheming.
I knew he'd have to go eventually.
But I didn't have that kind of political power for that.
It was a mess of biblical proportions… everyone waiting for the other side to make the first move. But we had an advantage.
Rita Skeeter was damn good with her words, and now she worked for us. I'd already admitted as much to Dumbledore. He clearly wanted to ask more, but to his credit, he just nodded and began planning.
The Headmaster… was scary when he wanted to be. He was Wise beyond his years, which said a lot considering how long he'd lived. I was genuinely glad he wasn't an enemy, and I doubted he ever would be unless I started showing some dark tendencies, which I had no interest in exploring.
"What are you thinking, Eli?" Iris asked softly, running her fingers through my hair. She loved my hair, and I didn't understand why for the life of me. It was just… hair.
"The mess outside," I grunted, shaking my head, "I swear, I can't even guess what the hell they're trying to pull anymore."
The girls looked at me like I had just spoken in secret Russian code from CoD. Fleur pinched my right side, Hermione jabbed my left, and Iris tugged at my cheeks, all three of them frowning in perfect synch.
"Enough of that, Eli. Today is for celebration," Iris said firmly, hands on her hips, "Forget all that."
Whatever I was about to say got cut off by the chiming of the enchanted clock on the wall, 7:00 PM sharp. The room lit up with a brilliant green magical circle as the Agares crest glowed into existence.
Seekvaira and Alivian stepped through, looking composed as always. Seekvaira had her usual calm expression, while her Queen was smiling more openly.
"Hey, Seek!" Iris beamed, waving happily, "How've you been?"
Seekvaira took a long, hard look at me, her brow furrowed just slightly. But then she sighed, shaking her head as if she was done with this shit kind of way, and turned to Iris with a brighter smile, "Hello, Iris. I've been well. Thank you for asking."
Hermione stepped forward, shaking her hand before gently nudging Fleur forward, "Seekvaira, we wanted you to meet Fleur Delacour. Hopefully, you two will get along."
Fleur looked visibly nervous, which was a little surprising. She was rarely this shaken. I knew she felt a bit out of place with the devils, but we'd talked about it, and she'd still chosen to come.
"It's a pleasure, Heir Agares," Fleur said formally, though warmly, "As Hermione said, my name is Fleur Delacour, and I'm part of the Silken Circle Coven in France."
"Ohh, a Veela," Alivian nodded thoughtfully, "I've always wondered about your kind."
"Please don't spoil the mystery," Hermione chimed in quickly, "Fleur challenged me earlier to guess the origin of Veela, and she said it'd probably come up during dinner."
Alivian chuckled and nodded, "Of course, Miss Granger."
"I swear, Alivian," Iris sighed, giving the dragon a mock glare, "Call us by our names already. We're friends."
Seekvaira turned back to Fleur and gave her a respectful nod before addressing us again with an appreciative look, "My father wanted to thank you for the chess piece, by the way. He wasted no time in gloating to a few Lords who had shown interest."
"Do you think we can monetize it?" Iris asked eagerly, her eyes sparkling like a loot goblin of a few bad animes in my past life.
"Do you have more gems like the ones used?" Seekvaira raised an eyebrow, "If so, this business could turn highly profitable in a short time. Some of those Lords won't stand being one-upped."
Iris gave me the most pleading look in existence, and I sighed. When I signed up for this relationship, I never expected her to be this greedy… in a strangely adorable way.
"We'll figure something out," I nodded, and Iris's expression turned positively victorious. Cute.
"By the way, Seekvaira," I said, guiding her toward one of the long dinner tables. I pulled out her chair like the gentleman I sometimes pretended to be, "Can I ask about something you said on our call? You mentioned a 'last option.'"
Her eyes flickered to Iris and the others, who exchanged guilty looks. That was never a good sign.
"It was me," Iris admitted quietly, stepping closer and grabbing my hand, "I asked Seekvaira if she could reincarnate you… if you died fighting Walburga. I'm sorry."
She looked worried like I'd actually be upset. But honestly? It was fair, hell... I would do the same. They were just thinking ahead.
I hugged her tightly, "I'm not mad, love. Hell, not even a little. You were looking out for me. I'll always love you for that."
She sniffed against my shoulder, and I kissed her hair softly, "Thanks for even considering it, Seekvaira. Even if you'd have to suffer from my company for the next millennia or however longer I would live."
Seekvaira gave me a solemn nod. "I don't think I could have, Elias. Not because I wouldn't try… but because you feel different now. Stronger than me by a large margin. I hope you'll explain what happened during that fight."
"I'll try," I said honestly, "I noticed the changes, too, but I don't understand them. Maybe the four of you can help piece something together."
"Four?" she tilted her head, "I thought it was just Rias and Sairaorg arriving."
Hermione's eyes lit up, "Rias called Elias earlier. She asked if Sona could come along. We hadn't invited her initially because of time and combat priorities during the Third Task."
"But?" Seekvaira prodded.
"Our bookworm here made a friend," Iris chuckled, "Sona and Hermione have been bonding over magical theory through Elias's phone."
Seekvaira shook her head fondly, "That sounds about right. Magical theory… let me guess, you two talk for hours?"
Hermione's red cheeks answered for her, and Seek uncharacteristically giggled, "That's adorable. Thank you for being her friend, Hermione. Between us, Sona needs one."
Before we could continue, I perked up. A swarm of magical signatures appeared. Dobby was leading them in, wearing his little butler outfit with his ears flopping from side to side. He looked ready for war… or dinner. Whatever, he was prepared for whatever.
"Sai, my friend!" I grinned as soon as he stepped inside. He wasn't alone. His entire Peerage followed, which clearly meant a lot to him. Usually, it was just Sai, Regulus, and his Queen, so seeing the rest was new.
"My friend!" Sai echoed happily, pumping my hand, "Let me introduce everyone!"
He presented his Peerage individually, and all the girls were blond. Sai clearly had a type.
Coriana Andrealphus, his Bishop, was first and I could see she was completely smitten with him. Sai had apparently saved her from a harsh life, and I could see why she was that loyal. Her extinct House made her story even more interesting.
Then came Misteeta, a tiny, feminine boy vibrating excitedly. The rest followed, Liban Crocell, Beluga Furcas, Gandoma Balan, and Ladora Bune. All loyal, all solid fighters from what I could sense.
They were significantly more trained for combat than any other peerage I had seen… but Sai was the King, so it was understandable.
"It's a pleasure to meet all of you," I smiled genuinely, "I hope you eat well tonight. And thanks for taking care of this lug," I added, grinning and shoving Sai's shoulder. "I've grown fond of him."
"It's easy," Coriana defended him immediately.
I stared at her flatly. She was not fooling anyone.
Kuisha sighed heavily behind Sai, and I laughed, fist-bumping him as he grinned like an idiot.
The door opened again, with fewer people coming in, but no less important.
Rias stepped through first, her expression calm, but something about her aura felt... off. She smiled and nodded in greeting, but it didn't reach her eyes. Behind her came Akeno, looking sinfully hot, and Kiba, the latter nodding politely while Akeno offered a playful wink. Finally, Koneko walked inside after them, looking adorable in that deadpanning way she had.
Akeno was the one I was the closest to from Rias's Peerage after all the training, and I liked to think that she liked having me as a friend. She was… special in some ways, and scary as fuck in others, but a good friend nonetheless.
Lastly, Sona Sitri stepped in quietly, looking calm as I expected, but the interested glint in her eyes was easy to notice with my senses. Her eyes brightened slightly when she saw Hermione.
"Sona!" Hermione beamed, rushing over. "You came!"
"I said I would," Sona replied with a small, genuine smile. She greeted the rest of us politely but firmly and turned back to Hermione.
They began talking immediately, diving straight into a magical theory mumbles while the rest of the group moved toward the long table.
The wonders of magic… The table easily fit all of us.
My eyes lingered on Rias for a second longer. Something was bothering her. I could feel it… but I didn't press. If she wanted to talk, I was more than happy to help.
"Come on, everyone," I said, gesturing to the massive table, "Dinner's ready."
Everyone took their seats quickly. Dobby appeared with a pop at the head of the table, a proud smile on his face, "Dinner is served, sirs and madams!"
The conversation began quickly once the food arrived, and damn, Dobby was the best house-elf ever. The dishes were extravagant, and the quality clearly impressed our guests. Akeno practically moaned at the first bite, and Regulus looked like he had found nirvana.
Damn gluttonous cat.
Sona and Hermione continued in their little world. Still, I smiled happily, seeing Mione so excited about something with someone outside our little group. I think that she was the one who had the most trouble making friends out of all of us.
Twenty minutes passed while we ate, but eventually, Sai leaned in, "You've changed, Elias," he noted, "We can feel it. And I know our friends here can be more patient than me, but I wonder what happened."
The table quieted at once, every devil glancing in my direction.
"Your aura's different," Seekvaira nodded thoughtfully, "More potent, and dare I say… Divine in origin."
"I noticed it too," Sona murmured with narrowed eyes, "I didn't know how it was before since this is our first meeting… but there is something in there that puts me on edge."
"We weren't close exactly, but something did happen," Hermione added thoughtfully, "Eli's aura began increasing moments before Walburga's balance breaker impacted against him. So much that we could feel it easily, and we are in no way trained for that."
"I don't know what happened," I admitted slowly, "I felt like I was about to die… I was doing my best to protect the town behind me, but I was prepared for it," I chuckled wryly, "It's something different to see death to the face, but I didn't care at that moment. I had my eyes closed so I couldn't see anything, but my body began filling with energy. My injuries began to heal even faster than before."
"The damn attack hurt like hell, one of the worst I have received, but I survived and was stronger than before by a large margin," I shook my head in confusion, "Any idea what could have happened?"
"That doesn't sound like anything I've heard," Seekvaira frowned thoughtfully. "Let us know if anything else changes. I don't think this is something you should ignore."
Akeno nudged me lightly, "But you're good now, right?" Then she grinned, "I would hate to lose my sparring partner."
"Everything is good," I chuckled at her. "Your punching bag is in perfect health."
We shared a few laughs and kept things light for a while longer.
Eventually, I turned to Sai, who was already eyeing me with a grin.
"You know… ever since my fight with Walburga, I've been itching for something." I grinned at him. "Help me test that out?"
"I couldn't concentrate on the food when I started thinking of a spar to burn it off," he said eagerly.
He stood, already rolling his shoulders. His Peerage cheered him on while my girls exchanged knowing looks.
Iris was grinning from ear to ear, cheering me on with Fleur. On the other hand, Hermione rolled her eyes and whispered something to Sona, making her chuckle quietly.
As we stepped away from the table toward the wasteland, I glanced back once.
Rias was smiling, but her eyes were away. Something had clearly happened, and I planned to ask afterward. She was a good friend, and it honestly hurt seeing her so… defeated.
Now, it was time to fight. Maybe a show would cheer her up.
The wasteland shimmered with protective magic, courtesy of the devils in here. I didn't know if it was going to be good against us, but I planned to avoid using AoE attacks like the sun from the graveyard.
Sai was already shirtless, stretching casually and cracking his neck.
He was smirking like a kid in a candy store… and I was the same. His Peerage had backed off to the sidelines, whispering to each other with excitement as they watched their King warm up.
None of them doubted their King, which was fair, but I knew that I was projecting much more magic than they were used to. It only showed how loyal they were. I was a damn anti-devil weapon given form, and his Peerage was happy to cheer Sai without a single ounce of doubt.
On the opposite side, I inhaled slowly, channeling the energy that simmered just under my skin. It burned… but it didn't hurt. Not anymore, thanks to Walburga. That woman had changed me, and I planned to show her how much the next time we battled. I intended to return my pain a hundredfold.
"Ready to go?" I asked, rotating my shoulders.
Sai grinned and cracked his knuckles. "I had a feeling we would be doing this tonight… and I can't wait, Elias!"
The second the match began, I stepped forward and ignited the blue fire in my hands.
Power Through Pain. That was the name the Grimoire gave it, but what I wielded now wasn't just that. The fire had evolved to a level I didn't believe possible. After the Incinerate Anthem nearly burned me alive, my power increased in potency. The blue flame didn't just hurt anymore, it roared with life. A living flame comes to life.
I launched forward, swinging a blazing fist.
Sai blocked it with his arm, only to hiss as the blue fire scorched through his Touki barrier. "What the hell-?!"
"That's new," I said casually, already spinning to deliver a rising knee. He blocked that too, but just barely. My movements were sharper and more precise than they'd been weeks ago.
I never felt as good as I do right now.
Sai's aura flared gold as he activated his Touki fully, his muscles bulging with strength.
"Oh, you want to throw hands?" he grinned wildly, "You are a spellcaster, Elias!"
His punch crashed against my cheek like a meteor, sending me sliding back across the floor. Blood dripped from my mouth as I laughed, the wound already closing with a faint golden shimmer. My healing energy flared beneath my skin, erasing the damage in less than a second.
Sai blinked. "...That's just bullshit."
"I've been through worse," I said with a grin, flexing my fingers, "C'mon, don't hold back now."
He charged like a bull against me.
We met halfway, fists and kicks sounding like thunder inside the Hollow. My blue fire and frozen spells clashed with his glowing Touki in a storm of pure violence. I slammed a frost-coated, sharp, pointed elbow into his ribs, and he retaliated with a spinning kick to my thigh that cracked the ground beneath me.
The duel grew fast, too fast for most people to follow. Every blow echoed like an explosion, every clash sending shockwaves through the Hollow.
I allowed myself to peek at our friends watching and chuckled. Most of them looked like chickens with how fast they moved their heads.
Eventually, I caught him with an uppercut that sent him skidding back.
I didn't press the advantage. Instead, I lowered my hands slightly and said, "You're going to lose if you keep holding back."
Kuisha groaned from the sidelines and facepalmed, "Every damn time. I knew it would come to this someday."
Sai scratched his head, clearly conflicted, and then his grin returned with full force.
"REGULUS!" he shouted.
Regulus pouted from his seat at the edge of the wasteland, licking his hand clean with a mouthful of roast chicken still hanging from his jaws. "I was eating…"
Dobby glared from the house entrance, brandishing a spoon like a wand.
Regulus sighed dramatically, muttered something about cruelty, and sauntered over to Sai.
Light enveloped them as their energies merged, the Balance Breaker transformation igniting the Hollow.
Sai's armor formed piece by piece over his body, a lion's roar echoing as Regulus melded with him. Power surged across the battlefield like a living storm.
I grinned wide, "Finally," I was acting confident, but damn Sai was an absolute monster. How the Baels chose to ignore someone like him was beyond me, especially since I knew they had to know about Sai's capabilities. It was impossible for them to miss that, and even then, they chose to ignore it.
This was what I wanted. A relatively safe fight to see how strong I really was.
I called upon my Aetherium Solar Magic, the golden-white light bursting from my body as tendrils of divine flame arced upward, cracking the earth beneath me.
The battle continued, and I couldn't help but smile.
Sai lunged, and our powers collided. His armored fists slammed into my raised arms, sparks flying as my fire lashed out with every block. I retaliated with a wave of solar magic, forcing him back, but he came again. He was absolutely relentless in a fight, not giving a single second to think.
I could feel the difference. He was stronger than before, faster too.
He dodged one of my frost-laced kicks, slipped inside my guard, and delivered a straight punch to my gut that cracked my ribs even through my healing. I flew back and rolled across the ground, coughing blood but laughing anyway.
"You're amazing," Sai said with an exhilarated grin as he lunged toward me again.
"You too," I coughed, wiping blood from my mouth, "but you've gotten cocky."
He blinked through the punch, "Huh?"
I opened my palm and smirked, "Rho Aias."
The shield bloomed from light, seven petals of divine protection forming instantly in front of me just as Sai's punch connected.
The petals absorbed the strike with a deafening hum, dispersing the force harmlessly.
Sai's eyes widened. "What the…?"
I didn't wait.
With my other hand, I summoned Durindana.
The spear gleamed in my grip. Forged for a demigod and used by something similar, it glows with golden light as I coat it with my Aetherium.
I spun and lunged, bypassing his defenses. The spear's tip scraped across the armored chest plate, carving a shallow groove and drawing blood despite the defense.
Sai stumbled back, stunned.
The crowd gasped.
"I can cut through anything," I said simply, gripping the spear tighter.
Sai chuckled darkly, wiping his lip. "Well… shit."
We charged again.
The duel turned savage, pure instinct from Sai and technique from me clashing at full force.
Our powers exploded against each other in rapid succession. Durindana slashed at impossible angles thanks to the variable length I could change with a thought, while Sai's armored fists hammered down like meteors.
I was having the time of my life.
But even I knew I couldn't keep this up forever. My stamina was insane but not infinite, and Sai wasn't slacking. He was learning with every move and adapting fast.
I knew that this incredulous feeling was the same whenever I learned from someone.
He baited a swing from Durindana, ducked under my guard, and unleashed a roaring uppercut that landed square against my ribs.
CRACK.
I flew upward like a rocket before gravity reminded me who the boss was.
I landed in a crater, half-buried, blood pouring from my mouth and arms spread wide. Everything hurt… but gods, it was fun.
Across the field, Sai groaned, staggering slightly as Durindana's tip protruded safely from the side of his abdomen. Nonlethal, but painful as fuck from his groans.
He sat down with a wince, hand pressed to the wound.
We both looked at each other… and burst into laughter.
"I win," he grunted.
"I win harder," I wheezed.
Then we laughed harder, grinning like maniacs.
I pushed myself up slowly, limping toward him as I summoned my healing magic. Golden light wrapped around us both, closing wounds and knitting muscle and bone back together.
"You really don't hold back, do you?" he said with a smile.
"You either," I replied, grinning through the pain.
We bumped fists, both of us sweaty, battered, and grinning like idiots.
The crowd clapped. Some were in awe, others too stunned to say anything. Rias's eyes were bright, and I winked at her.
"That," I exhaled, "was a damn good fight."
Sai nodded excitedly, "Yeah. Let's do it again sometime."
........
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