Author's note: I don't think I like political chapters. I think that's the reason I got burnt out from A Stark Shard. Thankfully this fic doesn't focus on that often. Even then, this shit fought me hard and grew to almost 8k words. That's two chaps in one lol.
Either way, hope you enjoy it, and next chapter is the start of the peace meeting. A bit bigger than the Canon one, obviously. I think that's all I wanted to say. Ah, no, just remembered. Tried to make Amaterasu's decisions as logical as I could, hope to deliver in said front. Either way, enjoy!!
Also, I started another fic to write when this one makes it too hard! Check it out, I promise that it will be interesting! It's a Cyberpunk/worm fic with Kid win and Vista making a mess in Night City! It starts before edgerunners and will go past 2077 plot. Be sure to give it a chance!
Celestial Ascendancy
Chapter 82: The Sun's Judgment.
Elias Black
Kuoh, Japan.
Four days later.
It took four days. Almost a week for everything to return to normal.
As surprising as that was for us wizards, it took the devils so little time to fix everything, including the town itself and messing with the whole population's memories.
Unsurprisingly, Ajuka took the lead in fixing the majority of the mess, which only highlighted how serious the whole thing had been in the first place.
Obviously, Rias and Sona's identities must have affected said decision, not counting Sai and Seek, who were important in their own right.
I tried to hold down a sigh.
It had been too close… for all of us.
Even ignoring Akeno's current state, each one of us suffered more than what should have realistically happened. And I had been in the dark.
If not for the weird feeling I got when Rias mentioned the Church forces visiting, I wouldn't have come. I would've stayed in Britain with Iris, Fleur, Mione, and Rosse, growing increasingly uncomfortable with the rising belief in me there, but cozy and safe with some of my loved ones.
All while two of my loved ones were being butchered without my knowledge.
Crack.
Frowning in irritation, I waved my hand, drying my pants where the coffee had spilled. Another flick of my wrist, and the shards of the broken mug vanished into… wherever broken things go.
I should ask Mione about that. Because I genuinely doubted we wizards actually unmade things from existence. She'd find it much more interesting than I did, at least. And it would get her out of her musings.
While nothing significant had happened to her, or to any of my girls, besides Akeno, it was as if a fire had been lit beneath them.
They kept pushing each other to the point of collapse. It got so out of hand that Serafall had to step in herself, speaking with Kuisha so she could convince Sai to return to the Underworld.
Seek was wise enough to understand what the adorable yet terrifying Satan wanted with a single glance. And as she admitted to me during our farewells, she missed home. She also mentioned focusing on filling up her peerage. I just wished her luck.
It was a short goodbye for everyone. Understandable, honestly. But… yeah, I was missing my friends already.
At least we learned a lot from this.
Sai admitted he needed more training and that he had to focus even more on the strength of his peerage. Fair enough.
Not that the idiot realized how absurd it was for someone his age to stand against Kokabiel and Satanael in the first place.
Hell, both he and Iris were cut from a different cloth. Fighting together against a Satan-class being and not losing instantly. They would have lost if it hadn't been for Serafall's presence, but they held their ground for a while.
It was commendable, and we made sure to let them know.
Not that they cared. Lovable idiots. But still.
I wasn't counting myself with them for obvious reasons, but… There was something weird going on.
People like Dumbledore liked to say that the young would always surpass the previous generation, and to an extent, I believed he was right. But… Why were so many of us appearing in this era?
Not counting me, which brought some strange connotations, because I still didn't know where the Celestial Grimoire came from.
But all of my girls. Sai, Seek, Vali, Lavinia, a dude that also worked with the Grigory and had a Longinus. Like, genuinely, most, if not all of us, were below thirty, facing beings we shouldn't even be meeting.
Something weird was going on, and I suspected that it had to do with what Heaven's system showed me during our "meeting"
Some sound broke me from my musings, and I smiled seeing Serafall walk in with a fed-up expression.
I think Rias and Iris were training, while Fleur watched over Akeno. Asia was visiting the church along with Xenovia, who decided to stay here.
I still believe Metatron told her to, which is fair, but the girl had something weird on her head.
Mione was with Rosse doing something, no idea what.
The only reason I wasn't with any of them was that I spent the whole night looking over Akeno, whose mental health had taken a big hit. Unsurprising, to be honest.
Being that close to death changed people.
"Hello, Miss 'I'm not a terrifying Devil when I'm acting all cute,'" I grinned at the petite twin-tailed woman in front of me. "Why the long face?"
"Everything," she huffed, plopping into the chair opposite me like a sulking child. Her frills bounced as she crossed her arms and puffed her cheeks, "And you're the origin of most of my current problems, Mister."
I rolled my eyes, "You know you're glad I was here, Serafall. I don't doubt your prowess or anything like that, but things without all of us would have been way worse."
Her pout lingered for a second before she sighed and slumped forward, resting her chin on her palm. "...Fine. True. But what happened should never have happened in the first place."
Slumping the same way as hers, I tilted my head, "How often do things like this happen with the supernatural, anyway? Dragons, Satans, Twelve-winged fallen?"
"Not this," she shook her head quickly, her voice sharper than usual, "Not like this. Petty conflicts, rogue members causing problems, sure, but this?" She gestured vaguely at the normal-looking town, with passerby's living their life not knowing what happened and how close they came to dying, "I doubt something like this would happen even if we were at open war with each other."
I leaned back, looking at her curiously, studying her. "Then explain to me, please. How could something like this happen? How did those bastards manage to plan something of this magnitude without anyone the wiser? Serafall, Rias, and Sona would have died if not for coincidences."
I ignored the frost covering the table and threatened to cover my fingers, flexing my magic for a second and counteracting her demonic power going haywire.
"We don't know," She whispered, looking upset and worried in equal measures, "We honestly have no idea… However, Azazel claims to have some information about it. We should know more when the peace talks begin on Saturday."
"Saturday, huh?" I mused and tapped my finger on the table, "I used Ash to communicate with Amelia. I have her full support to speak for the Wizards of Britain… but are you sure that adding my faction is okay? Shouldn't it be better to focus on the Abrahamic factions first?"
"I don't think you have much of an option, to be honest," she shrugged unapologetically, "From what you told us, the same people that were behind Satanael also provided support for the Hexennatch during your brief war. And you aren't stupid enough to ignore that, Elias."
"True," I sighed, "I still can't see how these two attacks are possibly connected, but… That spear. Walburga wanted to break the seal in the veil, and she almost succeeded."
"And what you and Odin did is only a band aid on an open wound," Serafall nodded thoughtfully, "Look, Elias. I understand your reservations, really. But you need us, as much as we honestly need you."
I huffed out a bitter laugh, earning a small smile from the twin-tailed devil, "You are being surprisingly candid about this, Serafall."
Serafall rolled her eyes with a slight flush, "Ajuka suggested being entirely honest with you."
"Oh?" I raised my eyebrow at her, seeing through her and her original plan of not being entirely truthful. Not that I faulted her, because it was her duty as one of the Satans. As it was my duty, even if self-imposed, to look out for the wizards of Britain.
She sighed, "Elias, no matter how and why it happened, you are a Messiah. You were chosen and even blessed by Heaven's system. That is something we can't ignore, and even if we would like to say you are blowing hot air, I saw how Metatron reacted to you. I don't doubt for a second that Metatron has been in meetings about you with the rest of the great Seraphs for the past few days."
"Apart from that," She hesitated for a second, "You are too dangerous to be left alone, Elias. Your relationship with Rias notwithstanding, you are an eighteen-year-old capable of killing Satanael by yourself. You were toying with him, even when you were weaker. We want… no, we need a good relationship with someone like you."
"I can understand your point of view," I sighed, "And it's smart, no matter what assurance I can give, you as a leader of your race can't and won't accept it at face value."
Then my expression gained an amused hue, "That's not even talking about the advantages of having me there, coaxing the angels into peace. I doubt that they'll take my words as gospel…"
"Heh, nice," Serafall snorted and gave me a fistbump.
"But yeah, me being in favor will sway some of them even without knowing me," I continued after rolling my eyes.
"Yeah," she nodded happily, "We were afraid that the Angels would back down from the peace talks after what happened. Even if it wasn't our fault, what Satanael planned to do scared them a lot. Understandably so. It would have brought Heaven down."
"I know," I nodded thoughtfully, "Did you see what a single cut from that spear did to someone like Metatron? It's no wonder I couldn't defend myself as I was back then. Even now, I felt how corrosive it was against my light, which is much more potent than before."
"I was lucky," I admitted without shame, snapping my fingers and smiling when some dishes appeared. An American breakfast done by Dobby. I was famished, having not eaten since yesterday, while watching over Akeno.
Serafall squealed as some dishes appeared in front of her; she was almost salivating over them.
"If Satanael wasn't confused out of his mind thanks to my nature and some new tricks, I wouldn't have won as easily," I continued after savoring a pancake with some maple syrup, "I'm confident that I would win since I was chipping his strength a fair bit thanks to my nature, but it would have taken longer."
Serafall moaned as she ate, her eyes gaining a mad tint as she looked around for Dobby.
I snorted, happy that the elf learned his lesson and hid from the devils trying to tempt him away from us.
Then, the devil's eyes gained a curious tint, "How does that work? It felt as if I needed to kneel and prostrate in front of you, Elias. That's not normal."
"I believe it's part of my nature," I lied as easily as breathing, "Like I told you guys that day, I'm divine, in some way. Not a god, or at least, I don't think so, but divine all the same. With just a mental switch, I can bring that nature out in the open, and your minds see me grander than life, feeling as if you're being watched by something beyond you."
Serafall nodded interestedly, "That's plausible," she admitted, "No offense, but I'm still stronger than you."
I barked a laugh at that, shaking my head amusedly. She was nice. I liked her a lot, surprisingly enough, "You don't have to gloat," I rolled my eyes at her, "Sona's not here."
"Humph," she pouted cutely, "I need to be careful with you around, Eli," she said amusedly, "I don't want my precious So-tan falling into your vile claws."
"I think you meant holy," I deadpanned at her before going serious, "Then… will you explain why you're really here?"
"Someone sent a letter, someone important. The two of us have been requested to be present for a meeting," she said, just as serious.
As soon as she said that, a godly presence descended into the room, and I couldn't help but feel my shoulders tensing.
It dwarfed even Serafall's aura by a large margin. And if I were to compare it, I would say it was just a tiny bit below Odin. To make matters worse… she wasn't hiding it in the slightest.
A beautiful woman appeared in the room, with black hair flowing like silk all the way to her hips. Pale of color, even more than I, dressed in a skintight traditional Japanese dress that increased her beauty and poise.
But that wasn't what took my immediate attention, no. As beautiful and, dare I say, perfect as she looked, the only thing I could focus on was the warmth that spread over the room. It felt as if the sun had descended in here.
"Lady Amaterasu," Serafall said formally, her dress having changed when I wasn't looking into something more formal. A button-up with a pencil skirt that looked hilariously out of place with her body type.
"Satan Leviathan," Amaterasu-Ōmikami said, her voice as warm as the sun that seemed to follow behind her with every movement.
She fell silent for a second before her Divinity flowed out of her body as her eyes locked with mine, "And the Outsider."
Serafall Leviathan.
The Satan Leviathan never liked dealing with powerful beings outside the scope of normal devils. People wanted to talk and boast around that flimsy little list going around the net about the strongest beings in the world, not knowing how faulty it was.
Anyone who knew their fair bit of mythology could see the glaring holes in that list, not that she could fault them, since most of those primordial beings had taken a step back from the world.
But even then, the Gods that led a pantheon were cut from a different cloth, by a large margin.
Could Sirzechs defeat the Sun Goddess in front of Serafall? Maybe, since he was on a different level when you spoke about firepower, but the Sun Goddess was not a foe you could ignore. Nor were her Authorities.
Even now, Serafall could feel her skin prickling from the sheer holiness of Amaterasu's Divine energy.
She watched with bated breath as Elias's magic began bubbling from the inside as his third, very terrifying eye opened. His whole nature changed in that moment, and Serafall almost sighed in relief, feeling his light covering her body and blocking the uncomfortable feeling the Goddess created.
She would never get used to feeling such warmth from a holy being like him, but deep inside, Serafall could admit that… she liked the feeling.
Somehow, it felt even better than some of her younger memories of when her parents hugged her. She didn't know if she should be glad for that or simply sad that an unknown could bring those feelings into the open.
"Lady Amaterasu," Elias responded icily, a complete contrast with his usual self.
Serafall had to bite the need to laugh. It was hilarious how big his balls were. Here he was, barely an adult by himself, glaring daggers at the chief God of the Shinto. A being on par with the strongest devils her race had to offer, someone that when they spoke, humanity listened.
Amaterasu's eyes widened just a fraction before she let out a breath and calmed her divine power into something more manageable. Not that Serafall felt it, being shielded by Elias's light, as absurd as it was to think about.
It felt as if Amaterasu's sunlight was being blocked from passing Elias's light, which should not be possible.
"I cannot say I'm surprised with your presence, considering you saw the majority of my fight," Elias continued, almost aloof.
Serafall couldn't help but feel as if he was acting like a completely different person, and she didn't think she liked it.
"Did you expect any difference, child?" Amaterasu smiled sardonically, "Am I not within my rights to investigate such an event inside my territory? The death of the children born under my sun?"
"An event allowed by the Devils we graciously allowed territory inside our lands?" She continued drily, sending a glance at Serafall, making her tense and opening her mouth to protest.
"Do not lay the blame on them, Lady Amaterasu," Elias said seriously, his anger bleeding out as he sneered at the mighty Goddess.
"You dare?!" Amaterasu hissed as her hand made a clawing gesture and her divine power returned with vengeance, the walls of the house rattling and webbing under her pressure, "Maybe the problem wasn't their fault, perhaps the fault lies in a foreign power meddling in my lands."
"You saw what happened," Elias hissed back at her, his voice a deadly whisper filled with meaning, "You knew. You saw Seiryuu die. You ignored his prayers, even as his whole clan was decimated by a foreign power. And you did nothing!"
"I felt… no, I lived through his despair in his last moments, and you ignored it. I might be new at this, Lady Amaterasu. But I know you felt it, just like I can see through Asia," The messiah given form almost shouted as he walked straight to the sun Goddess, their noses nearly touching as Elias looked down to the increasingly shocked being.
Elias' eyes began leaking golden blood, his wings that appeared at a moment's notice gained a red tint on their tips as the roof caved in. Serafall felt the need to act as his power began to go all in control.
What in hell was going on. Why was Elias acting so confrontational!???
She opened her mouth to calm things down, as she should have done from the start, but she found herself unable to say a single thing as the pressure coming from Elias tripled in an instant.
It was as if she were standing in front of Sirzech's, not in power, obviously, but in weight. A crown began growing from his forehead, just as when he battled Satanael, but this time, the thorns didn't stop growing, puncturing his head and making his godly blood flow.
Amaterasu took a step back as her divine power bubbled forth, the sun mark in her forehead brightening up as the sunlight came from the ruined roof and heated up the surroundings, breaking the wards in an instant.
Elias' eyes lost their humanity. Instead of his normal enchanting grey eyes, now pure light bled true, as he opened his mouth in a silent scream, as everything fell quiet.
Memories, not from him, began entering Serafall's mind. Memories of a grey-haired young man shouting and begging even through his pain as Satanael skinned him alive, before plunging that cursed spear directly in his chest.
Carving out his heart and saying a spell in some old language. A language she didn't understand.
She watched along with the sun deity as Satanael shouted the words with significant strain, since the Fallen Angel began bloodying his shirt as he did so. His eyes shone with malevolence as he rasped the final words.
A gigantic construct of a Dragon formed, the Seiryuu in all his sacred glory. The memory finished, and another one began. Kokabiel, with his twelve wings out, jumped against the Dragon as the Seiryuu started wailing at the loss of his host, and Serafall felt pity for the divine beast.
It was clear how much the grey-haired young man meant to him, not even defending himself as Kokabiel managed to drag him to an altar, grabbing the spear from the desecrated body of his previous host and impaling him with it.
And then the corruption began. Malevolent laughter came out of the spear as serpents made of pure corruption lashed and wormed inside the Dragon's previously pristine azure scales.
And then the memories ended. Elias fell back with a confused expression on his face as he panted.
"Do not presume to understand the will of the gods, boy!" Amaterasu's voice cracked like sunlight through glass.
Elias blinked at her, confused, his fury draining as suddenly as it had risen. His wings dimmed, his bleeding eye closed, and his magic retreated in ragged pulses until the room felt breathable again.
Serafall acted fast, slipping between them before Amaterasu could smite him where he stood. "Lady Amaterasu, please," she said, her usual cheer completely gone, her tone filled with urgency. "What you saw wasn't normal. Elias isn't trying to mock you or your intentions, he's clearly confused."
Elias's head dipped, his expression worried with guilt breaking through the raw light in his gaze.
He looked at Amaterasu directly, but softer this time, words filled with honesty, "You're right. I… don't know why I acted like that. It wasn't me trying to challenge you. I think..." he hesitated for a second, "I think I felt more than I should have. Living through what the Seiryuu suffered… it affected me. I'm sorry if I disrespected you."
He bowed his head formally, but even now, he did so enough to show respect, not deference.
Serafall seized on it instantly, smoothing the tension. "You see, Lady Amaterasu? The situation wasn't simple. Satanael didn't just attack a clan. His plans would have plunged the Abrahamic factions into the abyss. We're all stumbling in the dark here, and Elias… Elias is carrying more than most."
Amaterasu studied them in silence. Her golden eyes softened just a fraction, the edges of her divine light retreating.
When she finally spoke, it was with surprising composure. "Perhaps I came too confrontational," she admitted a bit calmer, "I expected arrogance from a new divine being. Instead, I found… grief."
Her gaze moved back to Elias, weighing him, "Yes, a god can feel the prayers of their faithful. But those memories I just witnessed? I had no knowledge of them. They were hidden from me."
Elias clicked his tongue, cursing under his breath, "Just like in Britain. Those bastards managed to hide what happened from Odin, too."
Amaterasu's eyes narrowed as Serafall could see a curious and dare she say, alarmed glint passed through them, "What do you mean, child?"
Elias exhaled and straightened, still pale from the strain, "The wizards of my land… Someone invited forces from the outside. Walburga, the previous wielder of the Incinerate Anthem Sacred Gear used the occasion to try to break the Veil itself, the only remaining seal from the Fae Lands. If she had succeeded, everything, everyone would have been affected."
"And they were being backed by the same forces as Satanael," Serafall explained quickly.
At that, Amaterasu's face cooled into measured anger, her pride damaged. "So, the same faction dared meddle in my lands as well?"
She turned, this time to Serafall, "What do you know of this?"
Serafall hesitated, then answered honestly, "Nothing. Not yet. But someone might. We're looking, Lady Amaterasu, I promise you that. None of us wants another disaster like Kuoh."
A brief lull settled over the room, the air thick but no longer suffocating.
Amaterasu finally broke it, her gaze fixing on Elias again, her tone direct, almost warm, "Understand this, boy. I was alerted to what happened not by Seiryuu's prayers, but when the people of Kuoh began dying en masse. That was why I turned my eyes upon your battle against the corrupted dragon."
Elias perked up at that, his posture straightening, but he inclined his head respectfully, letting her continue without interruption.
"Susanoo was preparing to descend," she went on, "to cleanse the blight in under his storm. To kill Seiryuu would have been a mercy, for the bond between us had been severed. His corruption was absolute. The only option left was to end him. Permanently. To erase him from existence."
Elias's face fell at the words, his jaw clenching as grief flickered in his eyes.
Amaterasu tittered softly behind her hand, not mocking but amused by his visible anguish, "But then a miracle occurred. One I did not understand until now. Somehow… you cleansed him. Purified his soul so thoroughly that he was not destroyed, but reborn. He returned to Takamagahara whole and stronger than before."
Her eyes gleamed, sunlight flaring briefly in the ruined room as she looked at Elias in curiousity, "He bears my light still, but also another. Foreign, yet familiar. Yours."
Elias's breath hitched, a shocked look painted across his face. "He's… alive? Seiryuu is fine?"
Amaterasu's smile softened. She inclined her head once.
Elias laughed brightly, loud and free.
Serafall had no words.
She'd seen Elias battle Satanael. She'd seen him shield Kuoh from the Seiryuu's corruption.
She'd even felt his warmth brush against her when he slipped into that terrifying messianic state. But this? Forcing the Sun Goddess herself to acknowledge a miracle? Making her smile?
Her lips twitched, half wanting to grin and half wanting to demand what the hell just happened. Because she had no idea.
She cleared her throat instead. "Lady Amaterasu, if I may," Serafall said carefully, catching the Goddess's gaze.
"This isn't just about Kuoh. The Abrahamic factions are preparing peace talks. Azazel himself promised to reveal what he knows about these attacks. If you joined us as a neutral party, you would see the truth for yourself. And… you'd be a witness none could dispute."
Amaterasu studied her in silence with an unreadable expression, "And why would the Sun of Japan waste her time with devils, angels, and fallen bickering like children?"
Serafall didn't flinch. "Because the ones behind Satanael aren't done. They struck at your Seiryuu. They struck at Heaven. They struck at Britain. If you want answers, Lady Amaterasu, you won't get them from watching us squabble. You'll get them there."
The Goddess's eyes narrowed, but she gave a slight nod. "Very well. I will attend. I will stand as the sun above them, and no lie will hide in my light."
Her gaze shifted, falling to Elias. "And you. Why were you in Japan at all?"
Elias straightened as he stood up, "Because of Rias. She's my partner. My lover."
Amaterasu's lips curved, the smallest quirk of a smile. And once again, Serafall had to avoid pinching herself to see if she was dreaming.
"Devils and their honey traps…" she muttered.
Serafall sputtered and puffed her cheeks, "H-Hey!"
But the Goddess only waved a hand dismissively. "A jest. Of sorts. Maybe."
Before Serafall could protest further, Elias's expression sobered. "There's another matter. The wizards here in Japan. They've been attacked by the principal clans. I promised them help. I want to bring them into an alliance with Britain. But I think the clans are raging because of the Kushihashi disappearance. They're lashing out at everyone."
Amaterasu fell quiet, considering his words. Her eyes flicked to Serafall, who nodded once, firmly.
The Goddess exhaled slowly, then lifted her hand.
Sunlight poured through the ruined ceiling, shaping itself into a medallion that gleamed like molten gold, radiating divine warmth. She let it drift into Elias's hands.
"You have my permission," Amaterasu said, her tone imperious yet measured. "Deal with the wizards. Deal with the clans. But hear me, boy... no more bloodshed. Not in my lands."
Elias bowed his head in thanks, "Understood, Lady Amaterasu."
With that, Amaterasu turned, her form dissolving back into radiant sunlight. Within moments, she was gone.
The silence that followed was crushing.
Serafall's legs gave out first. She collapsed onto the floor with a sigh. Elias dropped beside her with a grunt, their backs pressing together.
"That was terrifying," Elias muttered hoarsely.
Serafall pouted, puffing her cheeks before smacking his shoulder. "Idiot. Antagonizing the Sun Goddess? Do you want us fried to ash?"
Elias chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I… don't know what came over me."
Serafall huffed, still glaring at him, but her lips twitched despite herself.
Elias Black.
It was the exact next day that we left Kuoh towards the "inner sanctuary", led by Akeno herself.
Tsubaki offered to lead us here, but Akeno needed it the most and accepted my decision without complaint. Things had been tense back in the town, and all of us agreed that going away for a bit could only help my half-fallen lover.
Some archaic lanterns lit up the place, showing the sheer ancestry of the order. I wouldn't be surprised if someone told me that this place was older than even Hogwarts.
Iris paced half a step ahead with Takeshi Moriyama at her side. The Department Head of Prophecy for Japan, which meant two things.
One, he spoke weirdly most of the time, and secondly, he looked as if he would drop dead at any moment. He was their representative in the ICW meeting a couple of weeks back, and the ministry decided for him to be our companion for the day.
I didn't meet the Minister personally, and I believed it was because he was afraid of us.
Perhaps Iris and I went too far during said meeting, but I don't regret it. They wouldn't respect us for our ages, so… strength was the only option.
"Mr. Moriyama," Iris murmured softly, but with a steely tone, "you will sit when we're inside. If they posture, you will let me handle it. If they attack, you will let Elias handle it. If they insult the wizards, you will let me and Elias handle it. Are we clear?"
"Perfectly," he said drily as the corner of his mouth twitched in amusement and a bit of worry, "Is this what we need to expect when dealing with your country?"
"Only when you're dealing with people way above your league," she grinned.
Akeno clung to my side, her fingers tangled in the fabric of my toga like I was the only thing preventing her from falling. Her perverse and adorable laugh had always been something I loved about her, but now it was just a memory of better times. Every few steps, she squeezed my arm, as if to check I was really there.
"Are you sure you don't wish to wait outside, love?" I asked her softly, squeezing her hand back, "I mean it. Ash can take you to my Hollow while we deal with them."
"No," Her voice cracked on the word.
She cleared her throat before trying again, "No, Eli. I want to stay. They won't dare to do more than hurl insults at me, and I want to be close to you."
I turned slightly so she could hide her face in my shoulder for a moment.
"I'm not going anywhere, babe," I smiled softly, showing her how much I cared, "If you want out, you say the word. And I will be here through everything. As I should have done before."
That earned the smallest ghost of a smile, "You were there when it mattered, Eli. I can't blame you for my weakness."
"Hey! None of that, my love. You had no way to defend against Satanael. I should have been there."
"You're insufferable," she whispered, but the way her fingers latched even tighter told the truth of the matter… almost dying left scars on your very soul. I knew that all too well. You don't stop feeling them after four days. And perhaps you never would.
As we reached the threshold, some ancient and very nice doors opened, and a line of attendants bowed us into a long room where a bunch of people waited for us.
Hostile faces arranged themselves around the low table, all of them known to me thanks to Tsubaki's brief lessons. The only thing of note was the empty chair next to the main seat, which brought a pang in my chest.
The head of the Nakiri clan in the center, looking dignified and spry even at his advanced age.
At his right, Ouryuu Nakiri, the current host of the Yellow Dragon, was younger than I expected and watching me as if I might do something interesting any second.
To their left was Suou Himejima, the clan head and Akeno's great-uncle. And an Ass.
Next to him, Suzaku Himejima, Akeno's cousin, she was a beauty of her own right. It was clear that being such a bombshell was a family trait. Genuinely, I didn't know what they fed these two.
She was the current host of the Vermillion Bird, and she felt strong enough to trade some blows with me for a bit.
Beyond them, the Doumon head looked like a mountain in human form with all those muscles.
At his side, a little girl sat straight with a small black tortoise perched on her shoulder like a smug pet. The Genbu's host and her grandfather, if I remember correctly.
Finally, farther down, Byakko Shinra lounged lazily, but his eyes showed a glint I was growing increasingly familiar with.
Oh god. Another battle-hungry idiot. I didn't need to talk with him to know it. I could feel it in my bones.
Some of them gave us curious glances, while others didn't bother to hide their disdain and hostility.
"Moriyama," the Nakiri head said.
His tone was firm and worryingly detached, "You asked for this meeting. Explain why I should not consider it an insult to my clan's time. After what your people did, you should be glad I didn't cut your head off outside of our Sanctuary."
Takeshi inhaled through his nose. Iris laid a hand on his shoulder, gentle pressure that said sit.
He obeyed with a roll of his eyes as he exhaled through his nostrils in amusement.
I could imagine what he was feeling, being ordered around by two barely legal wizards. Dude was ancient, and I was sure he felt weird.
"Because," I said, before anyone else could say anything, "he is under my protection, and that's enough."
A few faces tightened in anger. Akeno's fingers dug deeply into my sleeve in worry. Good, that's why I was so confrontational, little by little, I would bring my Akeno back.
Suou Himejima's eyes slid to her like she was something vile.
"Why," he said venomously, "is that abomination in this room? Are the Gremory breaking their part of the deal between our families?"
Akeno flinched. Iris didn't even move.
Takeshi groaned into his hands, knowing what was coming, and prepared himself, putting his head into the table to brace for impact. Not that he needed to. Flaring one's power was just… crass and unneeded.
Suzaku, Akeno's cousin, just lowered her head. The little girl with the tortoise peered between us with that owlish, cute curiosity children usually have.
I didn't bother to answer Suou. I just looked at him.
A sharp smile and a switch flipped, a single degree more of no.
Kingly pressure settled like a judgment over him and him alone. The room flexed, wood creaking as something more fell into the surroundings.
Suou's smirk held for a second before it slipped into horror. His breath hitched as he began sweating buckets.
A thread of froth appeared in the corner of his lip as his eyes rolled white for a second, then slammed back into focus. His body tried to stand and tried to kneel at the same time; both attempts failed, folding into himself. He shook, then his head fell into the ancient wooden table with a satisfying crack.
"Careful," I said softly, "Her life matters more to me than all your clans combined. Do. Not. Test. Me."
Auras erupted all around us, including some from the roof I had noticed before entering the room. Ouryuu's fingers had barely tapped the table when the Nakiri head lifted one palm without looking away from me.
The bald dude from the Shinra clan had a bloodthirsty grin on his face that made me sigh in exasperation. I knew it.
"Enough." His voice didn't rise. It didn't need to; all of them obeyed as if it were natural.
I let Suou breathe again. He sucked in air like a man who'd forgotten how it felt to be alive.
The Nakiri head studied me, his wariness clear to all, "You are far from home, wizard. European?"
"Elias Black," I said in a carefree tone, "Wizard from Britain, to be exact. More importantly? Annoyed."
"Your arrogance is not appreciated, boy," Suou rasped, but there was less venom now. Maybe he could learn. At least he stopped glaring at my Akeno, who hugged my side.
I didn't look his way. I reached into the inner pocket of my coat, and heat rolled out into the room as the very sun was glowing from the inside. A medallion of molten gold rested in my palm. Amaterasu's mark is easy for everyone to feel.
Ouryuu sat straighter, looking at the medallion in shock. Byakko stopped mid-lunge, the sick smile frozen in time. The little tortoise tilted its head, then tucked in, uncaring.
That was adorable. Not that I would say it out loud.
"I met Amaterasu-Ōmikami yesterday," I murmured, tapping the medallion and sending a pulse of the Aetherius inside. I felt eyes watching me from above, and the charm shone brighter when a wisp of Amaterasu's divine light met mine head-on.
"We had an enlightening conversation. She had every right to be upset with our meddling, but we managed to come to an accord. She left this in my hand and told me that I was allowed to deal with this despite my nature."
"Watch your tongue," Suou snapped automatically, but it sounded like he just spoke because he could. I stand corrected, he wasn't the most intelligent person around.
I set the medallion on the table for them to inspect. Not that they touched it.
"My name is Elias Black. I am a wizard of Britain," I went on, "We were on Kuoh when Satanael and Kokabiel attacked the town under Rias Gremory and Sona Sitri. Aided by the Kushihashi clan, including the Seiryuu itself."
The four remaining principal clans shouted in anger, ignoring Amaterasu's medallion in the center as they lunged at me. With a thought, the Aetherius fractured into the world, creating a curtain of solid light between our two groups.
Akeno pinched my side with a glare, and I rubbed my neck uncomfortably.
"It was a wrong choice of words; you have my apologies," I quickly explained. God, I hated formal meetings. It felt at home and all that, but I still made mistakes. I needed more practice, even if I didn't enjoy it.
Perhaps Serafall could teach me. I doubted there were many better than her.
They continued glaring at me, so I explained quickly, "Allow me to explain properly," I sighed apologetically.
"We found that Satanael had attacked and butchered the Kushihashi clan, every single one of them. He also killed the previous host before tearing out the Seiryuu out of him into a mortal form, before corrupting him with a spear drenched in Samael's blood," I said, looking at the sheer rage and sadness in their expressions as their aura lowered in potency.
The only ones that increased were the other spirit inheritors, Ouryuu, Shinra, Himejima, and Genbu. The four of them stood up with fierce scowls on their faces.
"We were tracking down that bastard with the help of a friend of the Grauzauberer for the past months. He escaped and hid, and we returned home," Suzaku gritted out through clenched teeth.
"Oh? Was it friend Lavinia by any chance?" I asked curiously.
Her eyes locked into mine, too angry to say anything. She just nodded.
"Small world, we could be considered friends," I nodded at her, "But unimportant for now. Like I said, he attacked and corrupted the sacred beast to the point that your Deity said that killing him would be a blessing. And he paid the price for it."
With a snap of my fingers and a mental probe, Ash appeared in a flash of golden fire and dropped a box into my hands, thrilling in eagerness as she threw herself at Iris, who began cooing over the fuzzy bird.
I had missed my girl, but she was busy helping around Britain. Both she and Fawkes were teleporting people, things, and everything they could inside the wards of the castle at a faster rate than normal apparition would.
I placed the sealed reliquary on the table. Through the crystal, Satanael's head glared in perfect, preserved malice, the last horrified expression on his face moments before I cut his body apart.
Everyone went still, and I smiled sadly.
"Satanael orchestrated the corruption of the Kushihashi," I said as steadily as I could, even through the sheer wrath coursing through my veins, "He butchered their members, tortured their host until madness, and tried to turn Seiryuu into a weapon aimed at the three factions. He failed."
"The price was everything you think it was and more. I am… sorry for the death of your clan." I meant it. The words felt small, but they're supposed to. "He has been judged, and I promise that I made him suffer everything he did. This one lost more than his head. Kokabiel is in chains. Killing him won't bring back your fallen brethren, but I hope you can aim your hate at those who deserve it."
Ouryuu's fingers cracked the wood in front of him from how hard he clenched.
"What happened to the Seiryuu?" he asked, the single word dragged like it made him ill.
"Alive," I said, the relief still a little raw in my chest, "I purified it myself, and he returned to Takamagahara. Amaterasu confirmed it herself."
The little Genbu host exhaled softly. The tortoise made a pleased, impossibly dignified noise. God, I want to pet him.
As if knowing my thoughts, which she probably did, Ash glared at the tortoise and flew toward the little girl, perching on her shoulder and thrilling at the sacred beast who huffed in amusement before retreating.
"That explains your presence here, backed by Lady Amaterasu herself," the Himejima head said at last, his gaze cutting sideways toward Takeshi. "Your people hide behind the veil of normalcy; we won't apologize for being wary about your kind, nor our actions. The sheer arrogance of your people made us doubt that you were the ones responsible."
Takeshi's jaw clenched hard enough for me to hear its crack. Iris's hand found his shoulder again; he breathed out and stayed silent.
"I will ignore the sheer hypocrisy of your words," I shook my head in shocked amusement. "Wizarding Britain will hopefully enter an alliance with our Japanese counterparts, which means that today, I'm a messenger. I can be a hammer too, if needed. But we're logical people, and I'm sure we will leave this situation behind."
The Nakiri's head narrowed his eyes, "Wizards meddle since ancient times. They take matters into their own hands when they have no right."
"That's true," I shrugged, "But they are also children born under Amaterasu's sun, Lord Nakiri. I'm not here to demand your affection. I'm here because I have this…" I tapped the medallion as the light shone brightly, "and because the goddess approved of my desire."
"And what do you desire?" Byakko Shinra spoke for the first time.
"No more conflict between your clans and the wizards," I said firmly, "No more raids, no more 'messages'. The ones behind Satanael aren't done. If you're busy stomping on the people who could help you, you will miss the true danger hidden in the shadows."
The Doumon head folded his hands in his lap, "And who, precisely, do you speak for when you say this? For our Goddess? For the Wizards? For yourself?"
"Not for Lady Amaterasu," I said quickly, feeling a source of amusement mixing with offense from inside the medallion, "She can speak by herself."
"It's what makes more sense," I continued after taking a deep breath and hiding my reaction, "Our people share their borders with your kind. Wizards are present worldwide, and we're not going anywhere. We might not believe in the same Gods, nor share the same vision, but that doesn't mean you can't cooperate."
"Cease this stupid conflict. You don't have to like each other; hell, I don't care if you ignore each other. But believe me, the world is changing, and before long, beliefs and faith will be the last thing we'll care about."
Byakko Shinra scowled, but I felt no heat coming out of him, "I don't like those vermin; they meddle too much. But my clan and I will comply. If that's what Amaterasu desires."
The medallion heated up from the center of the table, making the white tiger's inheritor nod proudly.
"It shall be done."
"The Nakiri also comply," Ouryuu said before the head of the family could say anything, sharing a glance with the old man, "I see no reason to continue harassing them when they were never at fault. I don't care about their existence, as long as they respect our authority over matters."
Suou grimaced, but Suzaku beat him to it. "So will the Himejima clan. It's wasteful to use manpower to keep an eye on them."
The Doumon head stroked his beard slowly before inclining his head. The little girl with the two fantastic beasts on her shoulder nodded once in quiet agreement, her dark eyes never leaving Ash, who pecked at her fingers, making her giggle quietly.
And that was all. They all had agreed; now we just needed to deal with the Japanese Ministry of Magic, and my mission would be over. I just hoped that they were as honorable as Takeshi, who was glancing at me with respect in his eyes.
I let the silence hang for a moment longer before I reached across the table and picked the medallion up. Its warmth seeped into my palm like a welcoming hug. Her warmth felt nice.
"Then it's settled," I said simply. "Let's not waste any more time focusing on our pride."
"Also, if any of you four want or need to get in touch, ask Lavinia. She has my number."
No one answered, but that was enough.
I turned, catching Akeno's small smile out of the corner of my eye, and the four of us walked outside the compound with smiles on our faces.
For the first time since Kuoh, I felt as if I had done something monumental for my people.
"You have my thanks from the bottom of my heart, Lord Elias," Takeshi said as soon as we were outside, "Things had not escalated to bloodshed, but it was close. I promise you in my name that I'll do my best to convince the Minister of this alliance."
"What are you talking about, my old friend?" I grinned as I threw my arm around his shoulder, making him slump.
"We'll have that meeting together!" I smiled evilly at him, "It would be a shame not to meet him personally, don't you think?"
The sheer desperation on his face made me cackle madly, earning a pinch from Akeno, but even she could not hide her amusement.
Sending a wink at her, I pulled Iris to my side, and with a whistle, Ash teleported us away.
If you enjoyed this chapter and want to support my work and get early access to new content, you can find me on Patr* on at pat*e* n.c om (slash) Infinityreads99.
Every bit of support helps me write more!