After Zeoticus walked back inside, Elias stayed on the balcony for a moment.
He looked up at the purple sky, taking a deep breath of the cool air.
A moment later, the glass door slid open again.
Rias stepped out onto the balcony.
She didn't hesitate. She walked right up to Elias and wrapped both of her arms around his right arm, hugging it tightly against her chest.
She looked up at him, her face slightly flushed and her eyes full of pure admiration.
After watching him completely crush Riser without even trying, she felt completely attached to him.
He was so cool, strong, and brave.
"Are you hiding out here?"
Rias asked playfully, resting her head against his shoulder.
"Just getting some fresh air,"
Elias smiled, gently patting her hand.
Rias looked out at the glowing city.
Her smile grew wider, and her eyes started to sparkle with excitement.
"Elias,"
Rias said softly.
"I have been thinking a lot about that comic book. The one about you and Dee."
"Oh boy,"
Elias chuckled, feeling a little embarrassed again.
"If that comic is true,"
Rias continued, her voice filled with pure wonder.
"That means you are going to become a massive cosmic entity. You and Dee are going to travel the multiverse forever."
She looked up at him, her inner Otaku completely taking over.
"Does that mean... in the future... we could actually go to other worlds? Could we visit the worlds from my favorite anime and manga?"
Elias laughed. He couldn't help it.
She had just escaped a terrible arranged marriage, and her first thought was about going on anime vacations across the multiverse.
"I guess so,"
Elias smiled.
"If those worlds are out there, we can probably go to them."
"That sounds perfect,"
A cheerful voice said from the doorway.
Dee stepped out onto the balcony.
She was holding a plate piled high with sweet Devil pastries.
She walked over and stood on Elias's other side, happily eating a small cake.
Rias looked at Dee.
She still felt a little nervous around the literal Goddess of Death, especially since she was hugging her boyfriend's arm.
"Dee,"
Rias asked carefully.
"Are you really... okay with this? Are you really okay with Elias having other wives and consorts?"
Dee swallowed her bite of cake and smiled. It was a very old, very wise smile that didn't match her teenage face.
"Of course I am,"
Dee said softly.
She looked up at the endless purple sky above them.
"You see, Rias... eternity is a very, very long time. When you live forever, the universe can start to feel very quiet and empty. It is easy to feel lonely, even for a god."
Dee reached out and gently held Elias's free hand.
"I don't want Eli to ever feel that kind of loneliness,"
Dee explained, her dark eyes filled with deep, endless love.
"Having a big, happy family spread all across the multiverse... It cures loneliness. It makes forever fun. There is always someone to love, always a new world to see, and always a new adventure waiting for us."
Rias listened to Dee's words. She felt a deep warmth spread through her chest.
The fear of the future completely vanished.
She hugged Elias's arm even tighter and rested her head on his shoulder again.
"A big family across the multiverse,"
Rias whispered happily.
"I think I would really like that."
Elias stood between the two girls, looking out at the city below. He had the power of a Dragon, a Devil, and an Angel.
He had an alliance in an upcoming Holy Grail War. And he had a growing, cosmic family that loved him.
His life was definitely a comic book, but Elias decided he wouldn't want it any other way.
Time passed quickly after the big fight in the Underworld.
The crazy events faded, and life went back to a peaceful routine.
Elias went to his classes at the university every day.
He did his homework, ate dinner with his growing family at the shrine, and spent a lot of time with his new ally, Tohsaka Rin.
At school, Rin was extremely popular.
Everyone thought she was the perfect, beautiful, and smart honor student.
But Elias noticed something sad about her. She didn't actually have any real friends.
She treated everyone politely, but she always kept them at arm's length.
She built a high invisible wall around her heart, never letting anyone see her true self or her heavy burdens.
Because they shared a magical secret, Elias was allowed to step behind that wall.
Without even trying, he became her first real friend.
They spent hours together in the quiet corners of the library or in the large living room of her fancy house.
Rin became his strict, serious magic teacher. She taught him the history of the Holy Grail War.
She explained the complex rules of magecraft, how to draw a proper summoning circle, and the specific chants needed to call a Heroic Spirit.
Elias was the perfect student. He absorbed her knowledge like a dry sponge in water.
One afternoon, they were practicing in the quiet woods behind the shrine.
"Okay,"
Rin said, holding a small, glowing red jewel between her fingers.
"To cast this tracking spell, you need to channel your magic through a medium. Like this."
She muttered a quick chant in German, and the jewel glowed brightly, sending a pulse of magic into the air.
"Now you try,"
Rin instructed, crossing her arms like a proud teacher.
Elias didn't pick up a jewel. He didn't even open his mouth to say a chant.
He just closed his eyes and pointed his finger.
His Adaptivity instantly remembered the feeling of her magic and copied it perfectly.
Whoosh!
A massive pulse of tracking magic, twice as strong and clear as Rin's, shot out of his bare hand.
Rin stared at the air. Then, she looked at Elias's empty, relaxed hands.
Her cheeks puffed out, and her face turned bright red with frustration.
"You are so annoying,"
Rin grumbled, stomping her foot lightly.
"What did I do?"
Elias asked, giving her an innocent, confused smile.
"You make it look too easy!"
Rin complained, glaring at him with pure, honest jealousy.
"I had to study every single day for years to cast without chanting! I have to spend all my money on expensive jewels to hold my magic! And you just point your finger and do it perfectly without a catalyst! Your Thorne bloodline is completely unfair!"
Elias just chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck.
He couldn't tell her it was actually his meta power from another universe, so he just let her blame his fake family bloodline.
"Sorry,"
Elias laughed.
"I guess I am just a fast learner."
Rin sighed, letting her anger float away. Her proud, bossy mask melted, leaving a very soft, genuine smile on her face.
She looked at Elias. Yes, she was a little bit jealous of his raw talent.
But deep down, she felt an overwhelming sense of relief.
The Holy Grail War was going to be a brutal, bloody fight in the dark.
The other Masters would be older, ruthless killers.
But looking at the boy standing in front of her, she didn't feel scared at all.
"Don't apologize,"
Rin said softly. Her voice was quiet, showing a deep level of trust she rarely gave to anyone.
She stepped closer and lightly punched him on the arm.
"Your crazy power might be unfair, Elias. But... I am really glad you are my friend. With you as my ally, we are definitely going to win this war."
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