Author's note: Currently feeling like dying. A damn throat and ear infection got me good since monday and the fever is killing me and blah blah. Life's misserable, but felt bad not giving you all anything this week, so I tried to get a chap out. Anyways, the medicine is working, so I've been getting better, but it's still hell. Hope you all enjoy the chapter and see you all soon.
Celestial Ascendancy
Chapter 90: A New Dawn.
Elias Black.
Kuoh, Japan.
Waking up, I let out a ragged breath as I opened my eyes groggily. I had no idea how drained I really was after what happened, not until now.
My vision even had white spots for a minute, something that had never happened before, even when I was growing stronger. It was something I didn't even remember feeling, as absurd as it was to think about, since realistically, it had not been that long ago.
The death of the many, many Japanese wizards still stung a great deal. I couldn't help more. I was not even mad about being unable to prevent it; I knew I wasn't at that level, and I consciously knew that blaming myself was stupid and self-sabotaging, but… I couldn't help it.
It hurt more than I wanted to admit. Not everything happened because of me, obviously. I didn't ask the Himejima bastard to be such a stupid cunt, nor did I invite the Old Satan Faction to show me why devils were generally hated across the world. I hated this.
So… so much.
But I wasn't omnipotent, or any of the other two big O's. Nor was I absurdly strong to make a difference. Yet.
But I will get there. I know I will, and when I do, I'll make sure I and mine are safe from any idiot who prefers to live in chaos.
Feeling the strangeness and silence in the room, I moved my head instead of glaring at the ceiling. Much to my surprise, I was alone.
Something that had not happened in… many, many months. Tilting my head to the side, my eyes opened wide, seeing it was thirty minutes past noon. Just how tired was I that I slept over half a day?
The girls must have noticed since they left me to sleep. Groaning a bit, I faceplanted on the bed. Was it too wrong that I wanted to close my eyes a bit more? Avoid overthinking things? There was much to do, I knew that, but I was feeling lazy in a way I hadn't in a long time, ever since the Triwizard Cup. I was on high alert even back then, and then the war happened. Something that I expected, I knew there was not much I could do to delay it or end it faster without becoming a monster.
Well, a monster to my people. I still remember the Dark Wizards calling me that whenever I destroyed their forces.
It had surprisingly hurt a bit to hear them calling me that while I was doing what I needed to do. Even with that knowledge, I still felt a sting in my heart about whether I was doing the right thing.
Whatever, not like their opinions mattered anymore. They were just sounds of complaints from people who are no longer in this world.
But still… I wanted to sleep in. As much as there was to do, taking care of Nymp and Daphne while they relaxed from their near slavery, watching over my cousin's changes, alerting Sirius and Minister Bones about the Japanese relocation… trying out my latest rolls, training, preparing mentally to meet Rias's parents, dealing with Serafall, keeping an eye on Metatron's studies.
God… there was no end to this.
My breath evened out as I closed my eyes. Ajuka said that he needed a week to prepare everything. I supposed that Falbium would need around the same time to prepare what devils would pay for their rogue's actions, and my girls would wake me up if I was required…
Taking a deep breath, I let myself relax for a bit. The world isn't ending yet, so I should relax when I can.
Scene Break.
In a way, I had hoped to either sleep until my body couldn't go on or be woken up gently by one of my girls. Hell, some part of my dreams were of me sleeping and feeling soft caresses and kisses all around my body, opening my eyes and seeing any of my girls in front of me, smiling softly, kissing me, even doing something more.
Reality was not fair to the dreamers.
Feeling a weight on my body that didn't fit with any of my girls, I frowned deeply. Then a sharp squawk showed who it really was.
Ash, in her big form, was plopped against my stomach. I didn't connect the dots before because I didn't feel any talons prickling my skin. Turns out, she was sprawled on top of me.
Opening my eyes, I was greeted by a fistful of feathers and her beak as she chirped like a cat, rubbing her head on mine.
"Baby, what are you doing?" I groaned out, moving gently my horse-size phoenix.
I could feel her amusement through our bond as she sent me images of my girls waiting for me somewhere.
"Fine, fine, you big cutiepie," I kissed her beak with a soft smile, stretching my body a bit before sending a bit of healing magic across my body. I wasn't injured in any form, but it still felt nice, like I just received a deep massage.
Looking around, the room was the same as before I slept again. Seeing the time, I laughed; it was around two thirty, so I slept for at least two more hours. Feeling rejuvenated, I picked my clothes for the day and threw them over the bed before heading into the bathroom.
Taking a quick shower, I dressed up and looked at myself in the mirror.
I had changed… a lot, almost completely unrecognizable from the smaller, less muscled person I used to be. Even if I used to exercise a lot before in hopes of keeping my mind and body in their peak states, I used to be, after all, a standard wizard.
Now? Thankfully, I wasn't built like a bodybuilder. No shame to Sai, or any of them, but I preferred to look lean, at least.
I wasn't sure if Sai could even wash his back by himself with the size of his muscles.
Well, at least Kuisha wouldn't complain, nor any of the other girls in his peerage, I snorted in amusement. Sai, even without trying, managed to win the hearts of all his peerage, being the incredible, honest dude he was.
Finishing brushing my teeth and combing my long hair, I whistled and heard Ash squawk from the room, before she appeared in her diminutive size, and we flashed away.
Opening my eyes, I smiled, seeing that I was in the back of the park where I met Asia the first time. Letting my magic flow freely, it expanded in all directions like a sonar. Smiling when I saw the normal humans look around in confusion at what they were feeling, before returning to what they were doing.
The small smiles on their faces as their worries faded were a nice bonus. Then I felt a ping in one direction, Rias's and Iris's magic mingling with mine. Walking in that direction, I smiled as the kids who were playing around stopped and looked at me in wonder.
I didn't walk around the town that much anymore, but I knew that my features were striking enough to attract attention.
It didn't take even five minutes for me to reach where my girls were, smiling when I noticed it was the Mexican restaurant they had mentioned a long time ago. Since Dobby's cooking was fantastic, we didn't usually go for takeout, something I was sure Venelana would thank me for.
I loved Rias, but she should be kept away from the kitchen at all costs.
Japan wasn't open to this kind of cuisine, at least from my understanding. From what I heard Rias say, this place was opened by a family who traveled all the way from the Americas some months ago, with their kid joining Sona's school next year as a first-year student.
No idea if they received that many clients, but with my girls and I… Well, they were in for a lot of work.
There was a difference between eating regular food and using magical or supernatural ingredients. The stronger you are, the more you consume, but magical ingredients fill you up more when compared to regular food.
It was interesting, and I believed that Fleur was the one who told us about it. This was a problem, and one of the reasons why Iris was a bit underweight many years ago, since her 'family' didn't feed her enough, and their ingredients were subpar.
Something we fixed by her bonding with Dobby in our second year, without meaning to, since we had no idea.
Opening the door, my gaze zeroed in on the farthest table inside the restaurant. It was warded by the weakest spell possible, something that made sure no one would remember what they were talking about, and to make sure they paid us the minimum amount of attention if we didn't call for them.
"Bienvenido, chico," a woman smiled. She was dressed in an apron and had a welcoming air about her. "Can't say I've seen you around here before."
"Gracias," I smiled at her, going into my first life mother tongue as if I never stopped, "I don't go out that much."
She nodded, her motherly smile widening a fair bit as she looked up and down, "So many foreigners lately, are you with them by any chance?"
"Indeed, I am, Ma'am," I smiled, grabbing a menu she offered and walking toward the group when she ushered me, "It's been a long time since I had real Mexican food, hope you can surprise me."
She nodded, and I entered the ward area, then her eyes glazed over as she began working on her own things.
"Heya, Eli," Fleur smiled beautifully as she pulled the seat next to her, between Mione and my flower.
"Hey there," I kissed her lips, "How are you all? And why didn't you wake me up?"
"You looked so cute sleeping, we couldn't help it," Mione grinned, before her eyes softened, "You've been under a lot of stress lately, love."
"That's right," Akeno nodded, "Even if we had to bind Iris before she could jump you."
Iris rolled her eyes with a sheepish look, "I wasn't thinking. You know how I am when I'm half asleep."
We all nodded in unison, the same smirk on our faces as Iris pouted.
"What about you, Asia, Xenovia, how are you?" I looked at the pair of nuns, who at least were dressed normally. Nothing against their choice of attire, but I couldn't imagine their usual garments being comfortable.
Asia blushed a bit before she averted her eyes, "I slept well, Lord Elias."
She was lying, I could see it with our connection.
Something must have shown in my face when she smiled guiltily, "I had nightmares, from yesterday… But it's nothing a prayer did not help, I promise!"
Sighing, I patted her head, "If you need to talk, tell us. Tell me. I know we might all need a visit to a therapist lately. At least it wouldn't hurt anymore."
She nodded, a bright blush on her face.
Then, I looked at Xenovia, "What about you?"
"I am fine, Lord Elias," She replied curtly, "I already knew the depths some devils are willing to go through… I've seen it most of my life. While I was pleasantly surprised that not all of them were like that, their darkness does not surprise me. It's in their nature."
I did not know how to answer that. I knew that devils had a bad rep for reasons. I heard from multiple people how they were perceived, including Dumbledore, the royal magicians, and the two other factions in Britain. They all warned me about my closeness with the devils.
And they weren't wrong at least, not to a point that I could fault them. I knew that I was blessed, heh, that all the devils I knew had been on the good side of the equation, and I respected them for even trying. I knew how deeply sins were intertwined with Rias and her peerage —Sona, Sai, Seek, or the Satans —but they tried —and, more importantly, succeeded — in controlling them instead of being controlled by them.
It made me like them more for it. I knew that sometimes I saw the world through rose-tinted glasses, but… while part of it was influenced by my nature as a messiah, I embraced it without complaint. What was the point of living if you always saw the worst in people?
I saw Rias and her peerage eyes dropping to the table, so I patted her and Akeno's hand since they were the closest, nodding at Kiba and sending a bit of my magic at the rest to show them that I, and more importantly, my holy magic, accepted them as they were.
They smiled, showing grateful eyes.
"I can understand your point, Xenovia," I spoke to the blue-haired girl, "I can see it all too well. I won't ask you to change; I just hope you at least give a chance to the ones who try. Because they do try, they go against their own nature, as you call it. Just to be better."
Xenovia's eyes lit up in what I could only call worship as she nodded profusely, "I'll do as you say, my messiah."
"Now that the greetings are over, should we order something?" I patted my six-pack, sounding more like steel than human flesh, which made me smirk. "I have to say that I'm famished."
Everyone grinned, and Hermione, much to my surprise, was the one who lowered even further the strength of the ward. I didn't know she had come far enough to somewhat mix theory from her devil side as well as wizarding arts.
Well, it made sense. She was the one primarily interested in that. Fleur just used the 'imagination' aspect to fill a lot of their shortcomings, deciding to focus a bit more on the incinerate anthem, while Pranitha just burrowed her nose in medicine from the supernatural and their applications, which I was sure Mione would dig in once it hit her fancy.
As soon as the ward finished changing, a girl around our age walked forth with some pen and paper.
"Kiryuu-san? What are you doing here? I didn't see you when we entered," Rias asked in a shocked voice as she watched the brunette with glasses. The girl's eyes opened wide as she looked at the table, having been focused on her sheet of paper.
"Gremory-san, Akeno-san?" She asked under her breath, thinking no one would notice as her eyes lit up in mischievousness, which was hilarious, because everyone heard her.
"Ahem!" she cleared her throat, "I'm working part-time here to save for the Kyoto trip. I want to buy some things for my family while I'm there," she smiled cutely, before her eyes zeroed in on me.
"Who's this, Gremory-san? Someone you knew from abroad?" Her smile widened, and I felt something weird coming from her eyes.
My eyes sharpened as I watched, feeling a weird tingle in the back of my head as she watched me from top to bottom. It wasn't magic, it was something else, but it was there. That, I was sure.
"A friend, Rias?" I asked my girlfriend.
"She studies in Kuoh academy too, Eli," Rias nodded, "I've seen her around a couple of times, and I make sure I know most of the student population."
"She's quite well known in the right circles," Akeno tittered behind her hand, her eyes bright with amusement.
"Pervert," Koneko said, looking at the girl who was flushing in front of me.
"Nice package," the brunette murmured again under her breath, even going as far as blocking her mouth with her hand in the hopes no one would notice.
I kept my expression blank as I took a peek at Rias, who looked mortified. Mione had a scandalous look, while the rest of the table looked in shock, amusement, or cringe.
Trying to ignore what she said and hoping to get some answers later, we ordered a bunch of food, hoping she would leave soon.
She didn't even notice the reactions, just focusing on me and nodding as I ordered.
Watching her leave, still in a weird silence, Mione increased the strength of her ward, and then everyone burst out laughing.
"Rias, explanation? Please?" I looked at the redhead, feeling my lips twitch beside my confusion.
Rias sputtered something out, her eyes crossed as she facepalmed. Akeno took it up herself, "Kiryuu-san is famous in the school for being a pervert. She's known for it and is friends with some boys that they used to call the perverted trio."
Ah… Issei and his two friends. I suppose Aika didn't appear in the first season I watched in my previous life, or if she did, I had no memory of her.
"And about my package?" I asked, earning a snort from Iris.
"Well, she's not wrong," Fleur sent me a heated glare as the girls nodded, some in jest, others with hunger.
"She can supposedly see the size of your penis even through your clothes. According to what people say, she's quite proficient in it, having just a small margin of error." Akeno laughed loudly as the two nuns blushed up a storm.
Koneko clicked her tongue, looking away with red cheeks, while Kiba just nodded, looking unconcerned.
"She's also a fan of Yaoi," Kiba deadpanned, "She likes to talk about it with some girls around my year. I think they have a secret club to speak about them."
"Isn't yaoi just gay porn?" Hermione looked cross as she huffed.
"Not exactly," Rias replied with a faint blush, "I mean, it is, if you look for that, but generally, it's mostly focused on the emotions between two men."
The way she said it made some people laugh, while I looked at my girlfriend in shock. It sounded almost as if she had… experience with that.
"Rias, love… as much as I love you, you can forget about that. I like girls, and only girls," I deadpanned, earning a grin from Iris.
The door of the restaurant opened before we could continue, and I grinned, feeling a familiar magical signature coming inside, followed by another devil.
Sera and a blonde-haired girl walked in. The younger devil looked around with curiosity, but her eyes were sharp.
Sera's eyes instantly zeroed in on my group and pulled the girl inside, looking as peppy as ever.
"Heya!" She grinned as she plopped into a free seat next to Tonks and Daphne, pulling the last empty chair out so that the girl could sit.
"Sera," Iris nodded at the devil king, "Can't say I expected to see you today."
"Ajuka wanted to start the studies early. I think he called his sister as soon as we arrived in the underworld," she replied, with a blank face. "So… Meet Latia Astaroth, Ajuka's niece and a friend of our little sisters. She will be here to start the deal between Ajuka and Eli, studying Nymphadora's abilities and changes. At least until you visit the underworld with Rias and Sona's groups."
"Latia!" Rias smiled widely as she hugged the aloof-looking girl. She reminded me a lot of Seek when we first met. For our part, we nodded and greeted her ourselves.
After the greetings, I noticed that Rias's schoolmate was looking through the ward as if it wasn't there.
"Mione," I asked her in surprise, "Isn't the ward supposed to make normal humans ignore us?"
"Yes?" she asked, confused. "Why do you ask, Eli?"
"Because Kiryuu is looking at me directly as if it wasn't there," I deadpanned, smiling at the girls who just returned it with a perverted smile.
Shuddering, I turned around and ignored it.
Almost everyone at the table turned to look at the girl in surprise, with Koneko, weirdly enough, showing the most emotion, facepalming.
"Great, the pervert has an affinity for magic," she sighed as she slumped into her seat, with Kiba smiling and patting her back.
Rias had a greedy look in her eyes before she shook her head with a bit of shame creeping into her expression, "Surprising, but unimportant."
Nodding at her, we waited for a bit for the food while we got to know Latia, who turned out to be a relative of Seekvaira, too. She was surprisingly well-connected despite being someone of a 'branch' family, as Sera explained.
She was a bit cold, but she got along with everyone as Rias slowly brought her out of her shell. I just wasn't sure if Tonks liked her that much, considering the analytical look the blond had every time she looked at my cousin.
I didn't care about it, since I was already used to Ajuka's look. And considering he was infinitely stronger than Latia, her glances didn't disturb me.
For Tonks, it must have been different, considering her previous meeting with a devil, and Latia wasn't weak by any means. Around the level Rias and Akeno were when we first met.
But compared to someone who used to deal only with Wizards and witches? Well, I couldn't blame the two for looking a bit disturbed.
At least she and Daphne were hitting it off. Funnily enough, they were surprisingly similar in their temperaments.
Before long, Kiryuu returned with the food, setting the absurd amount of plates on the table with some help from the owner. Before she retreated, she dropped a piece of paper near my lap, looking as if she didn't notice.
Not that no one missed the interaction as she winked at me, then left with the owner after telling us to enjoy our food.
Almost hesitant, I grabbed the piece of paper before opening it, sighing when I saw a phone number scribbled on it.
Feeling her eyes in the back of my head, and not wanting to be rude, I just pocketed it with a blank face, earning laughs from Iris.
Focusing on the food, I sighed in relief. This was good, and just what I needed.
Later.
The Hollow felt alive again. The dunes I'd shaped a few moments ago shone faintly under my 'sun', their golden hue catching the breath of the others as they watched. I was never going to grow tired of the Aetherius feeling around me.
Wind brushed against my coat and tugged at Tonks's hair as she stood in the middle of the training field, her eyes closed, breathing steady. Looking a bit nervous despite herself, much different than her usual 'I can do anything' vibe.
Hermione and Latia were to the side, Mione with a dicta-quill from Britain, earning an envious look from Ajuka's niece. Serafall had set up a wide field ward, lounging lazily in the air with her legs crossed, pretending she wasn't curious about my cousin.
"Alright," I said softly. "Let's start simple. Try and see if you can cast wizarding magic."
Tonks nodded and drew her wand from her holster. Her movements were calm, as if she had done this a million times before, which she probably had. She raised it, murmured a simple cutting charm… and then?
The air cracked.
A line of heat split the wand's wood before anyone could blink. Sparks spilled from it, and then the wand burst in her hand. Smoke curled up from the fragments, glowing faintly red before fading to Ash.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Tonks stared down at the burned remains, her hand trembling. "I…" she began, her voice rough and looking as if she was about to cry. "My wand! My wand…"
Hermione's eyes darted between the wand fragments and the readings from the devices Latia set. "Her magical density has quintupled, and is even denser than we devils," she murmured in awe. "That wand couldn't possibly bear that level of output. It's like trying to pour a lake through a paper straw."
Fleur leaned forward, her face filled with concern, "So she can't use any focus at all?"
"Your kind? No, I doubt so, unless you can make her a staff," Latia answered, adjusting a camera with a strange mix of curiosity and discomfort. "Her aura is fluctuating between divine and demonic wavelengths. Anything made for one or the other would reject her."
The tension in the air spiked. Tonks's hand clenched around the wand's remains until they crumbled to dust. Her breathing quickened, and the ground under her feet trembled faintly.
"Hey, Tonks," I said quietly, taking a small step forward, "don't…"
Her aura detonated.
Black veins spread beneath her skin like living ink. Her hair darkened, eyes bleeding into a deep, abyssal shade that swallowed their usual color. The air warped around her as her muscles tightened, her frame growing heavier. Horns coiled from her temples, looking jaded, and a tail lashed once behind her, trailing faint embers of fire.
It was surprising enough that I stopped cold in my tracks.
A guttural scream tore from her throat. Magic flooded outward, demonic in origin, forming a sphere of compressed darkness before exploding toward the dunes.
The blast flattened half the field. Something she should not be capable of doing if she were the Tonks from before. That output belonged to someone of the high class at the very least.
Sand vaporized into glass in a heartbeat. Latia, Xenovia, and Asia stumbled back a bit, with Asia's eyes filled with discomfort as she looked at my cousin before her expression grew determined and her features softened, sending a prayer to me.
The weakest of our lot shivered, but I just felt a faint push against my mind. But Xenovia was visibly gritting her teeth in almost terror, looking as if she was about to brandish Durandal.
Even Serafall frowned, her eyes narrowing. There was something inherently wrong with the effect she was having on almost everyone but me.
"This is insane," Latia whispered, stepping back a bit before her eyes glinted just like her uncle's. "That… those looks… they have not been seen since…"
"The original Satans," Serafall finished grimly, "Those marks died with them. Not a single one of Lucifer's creations has them… not even his son."
Tonks's breathing was ragged, looking almost feral. Her eyes darted wildly as if she didn't recognize anyone. When I stepped closer, she turned on me with a snarl, flinging raw energy like wildfire.
Each strike hit me like a truck, and did nothing. She was stronger, don't get me wrong, but 90% of the people here could handle her if needed.
The air rippled as her fire washed against my barrier of light, looking worryingly similar to fiendfyre. I kept walking. Another blast hit. She shouted, her voice cracking between rage and pain. Every step I took toward her dimmed the darkness until her knees buckled and she swung her arm in desperation.
I caught her wrist and pulled her into a hug.
She struggled, thrashing with more strength than before, claws digging into my shoulder, tail whipping at my back. I ignored it all. My aura expanded around her, as welcoming as ever, seeping into every corner of her raging self.
My light filled her up, and she drank it as if she was lost in a desert for who knows how long.
"Shh," I whispered against her ear, my hand at the back of her neck. "Breathe, Nym. I've got you. You're safe."
Her body shook once. Then she started openly sobbing. The demonic features began to melt away, her skin softening, veins losing their black hue. The horns dissolved into her head. The tail vanished. What remained was Tonks, trembling, face pressed against my chest.
The others slowly approached. Serafall landed, still watching in disbelief.
And then it happened again, but in the opposite direction.
My light, still pouring through her as if she had no depth, flared. It wasn't the golden hue of the Aetherius, but something a bit lesser. Her veins glowed gold, brighter and brighter, until her entire body shone. A soft hum filled the Hollow, like distant bells.
Feathers sprouted from her back, white at first, then turning gold. Three pairs of them.
"For fuck's sake, Eli, " Serafall whispered. "She looks as if she could pass as Michael's kid."
A halo shimmered faintly above Tonks's head. Her eyes, once dark, were now luminous, filled with sunlight. Her hair shifted to a radiant blonde, and her expression softened into awe.
Her aura washed over us, not heavy like before, just… peaceful. It felt like standing under my light after a stormy night. Even the dunes, scorched moments ago, began to mend. The glass melted back into sand. Grass sprouted where her tears fell. I could feel the Hollow breathe again.
Fleur pressed a hand to her chest. "Do you feel that?" she whispered. "It's… like our magic is singing."
"I feel it too," Hermione said with a look of wonder in her eyes. "She's not just channeling magic. She's realigning the balance around us."
Tonks blinked slowly, her gaze unfocused as she raised her hands. The shattered wand fragments on the ground stirred, floated toward her, and reassembled mid-air. When the pieces fused, the wand glowed faintly white-gold before settling back into its old shape. She caught it carefully, staring down in disbelief.
"I… fixed it," she said softly.
"I have to say I'm speechless, Nym," I murmured. "And Ajuka was right, we should know for sure what you can do before you go back to Britain."
She laughed weakly, shaking her head. "I just… wanted my wand back."
Serafall floated closer, still looking shocked, "We need to study this carefully," she said quietly.
"Let's not test her limits today," I added gently, "She's done enough."
Everyone nodded. Tonks smiled, still a bit dazed, and sat down, wings folding behind her. Ash landed beside her shoulder, chirping approvingly.
I wondered if Ash could offer one of her new feathers to make new magical foci for my girls. She loved them as much as I did, and feeling her approval through our bond made me grin. I wondered if Ollivander would be up for a new job.
I exhaled, letting my own light fade. "Good work, everyone. I think we…"
"Hold on," Serafall interrupted with narrowed eyes as she looked at me, "You feel a bit different from last night. Are you hiding something, Eli?"
"Maybe," I grinned impishly, "I found I could do something new."
With a thought, the ground behind me cracked. The temperature dropped as a circle of gold and black fire flared into existence, drawing up a titanic, rune-etched door. It was filled with glyphs I could understand, somehow.
"That," Serafall said, pointing, "is not a mere trick."
"Technically, it's an old one," I said lightly, "The Door of the Underworld. Haven't used it yet, for obvious reasons, but I feel like I can do a couple of nice tricks with it."
Rias groaned softly, her eyes lit up in understanding that it came from the Grimoire, "You're going to make Ajuka lose sleep again. I doubt even he can explain this."
"He won't be able to," I admitted, then smiled at Serafall. "That's why I need someone to push me. Someone strong, fast, and maybe a little insane."
Her lips curled upward, looking competitive, "You're asking for a spar?"
"I'm just offering, Sera-chan," I corrected with a mocking smirk. "Think you can handle that?"
"Handle it?" She laughed, rising off the ground, frost coiling around her feet as she grinned, "You've got no idea how long I've been waiting for that. I still need to pay you back for teasing me, the great magical girl, Sera-tan."
The golden flames around the door flickered brighter in response, reflecting in both our eyes.
Well… I brought this upon myself. Not that I was going to complain, feeling as if I could put this brat in her place, something I had wished to do lately for whatever reason.
"Try not to bite more than what you can chew, Sera-tan," I flashed to the center of the dunes.