Thanks everyone for your comments and for still reading and following me despite having taken a long time to update!
XIII. Imbalance
Dumbledore had been rather surprised to hear about their rather eventful morning, but rather approving of the way they'd chosen to protect the students. While he never approved needlessly putting children in danger, he understood well enough the reasons of the four in front of him, and had witnessed enough of Adra's powers over the weekends spent creating the Samhain ritual that he knew she'd be able to protect them… And well, everyone knew about all demi-gods' tendency to look for adventure!
In the following days, Hogwarts had kept on buzzing with excitement – quite a few children were now exchanging letters with potential heads of houses, or new family members… Among them Leanne, who'd been quite stunned but happy to receive her first letter from her brother, that had been retrieved by Pyxis and Remus and was now living in the clan and enthusiastically preparing his sister's room while wrecking havoc around the houses with Alys, which was the same age as him and with whom he got along like a house on fire.
Adra had tried to keep her senses open – after all, if someone was possessing anyone, she should be able to feel it when near them, but she had only felt a fleeting feeling, that never lasted long enough for her to hone on the one that felt so strange.
Then finally after nearly three weeks of waiting – Adra and Luna woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of a bell.
The Voldemort copycat was trying to enter the chamber of secrets again.
A patronus was sent toward Dumbledore's room – and the two girls were stepping into the shadows, coming out in front of the second floor girl lavatory, where a familiar feeling of malevolent magic greeted them.
"It's Voldemort." Adra informed Luna before they opened the door "And Lockhart." she added, stunned herself at the realization and mentally kicking herself
She had been so sure it would be a student, since adults knew better than to trust an unknown magical item…
Of course, that was forgetting that the king of Stupid was in attendance!
FuurinKiba in one hand, wand in the other she stepped forward, and was met with the strange vision of Lockhart, looking uncharacteristically unkempt and face distorted in an expression of pain and hate, as a magic that wasn't his own swirled wildly around him, quickly corroding the runic ward that was keeping him immobilized.
Adra felt the backlash that was about to happen, and hastily cast a Protego Maxima, just as Voldemort's magic finally did it's work, and the runic scheme failed in a wave of magical explosion.
The next moment, a possessed Lockhart was standing up, and aiming a flurry of magic at them. Adra dodged left -Luna right, and all three were now in the corridor, only lightened by the moonlight.
Spells were quickly flung around, the man talented enough that Adra was finding it difficult to find an opening to get closer -then hurried footsteps echoed, as Dumbledore burst into the scene on one end of the corridor, while Lucian and Astrid arrived from the other end.
The unexpected arrival surprised the possessed Lockhart but for an instant, but it was enough – Adra had already burst forward, Fuurin sinking through his hand – and directly into the familiar diary he was holding on.
Lockhart screamed – and his body fell to the ground like a cordless puppet, while the diary let out a powerful wave of magic, throwing everyone to the ground.
[Life Quest updated! The Girl Who Lived…
Goal Complete: destroy Voldemort's diary
Reward: +10 XP, Three's The Charm perk unlocked
Bonus Goal Update: trap the perpetrator of the attack on Miss Norris
Bonus Reward: +20 XP, +1 PP]
[New Perk unlocked
Three's The Charm (10 PP): +30% LUCK
Available: 15PP]
Adra took back her blade, stopping the blood and summarily healing the wounded hand with a blood rune – the healing was crude, thought effective, and it would leave a big scar, something she wasn't going to feel sorry about given how much of an annoying incompetence obssessed with his looks the man was…
"Well, case closed." Astrid commented lightly as all were starting to get back up "The idiot touched a dark item because well… he's idiot… and now he's been stopped."
"Still. It doesn't tell us what this diary is." Lucian contradicted "A possessing book? The guide to how to became a dark lord in two easy steps?"
All four laughed at his comment – but were eyeing the destroyed diary thoughtfully.
"I don't quite know what it is." Dumbledore admitted as he felt the students curious gazes turning toward him "I do have a few guesses, but I'll have to take a closer look to be sure."
Adra gave him the diary without hesitation – something she probably wouldn't have done but a year before. Still- working closely with the wizard had let her work a bit on his bad habit of holding information too close to his chest… And she pretty much knew all she wanted about the item – she still warned "Remus may want to check it out."
Dumbledore hummed thoughtfully – and proved to her that working with him hadn't been useless as he agreed "As second point of view could be useful, Mister Lupin has done quite a bit of research on Tom Riddle after all."
With that, a still unconscious Lockhart was taken to the infirmary, house points awarded to the four student for a how of "House Unity and Bravery" and the they all went back to bed.
¤.¤.¤
The news that Lockhart has suffered a severe magical accident and entered a deep state of magical exhaustion that may well partially damage his magic had been met with mixed reaction.
Truth be told, most student were overjoyed to be rid of the ponce – but no one had really wished him something as bad as what had happened.
Still, the man had been careless, handling an unknown enchanted artifact without doing even the barest check to see if it was dangerous… And had quite logically suffered the consequences. Without much surprise, he was taking the large scar on his hand far harder than his incapacity of doing magic for at least the six months to come – before he realized his accident had put in question quite a bit of his supposed achievements, and his reputation was quickly crumbling.
Reputation or not – a teacher incapable of doing magic couldn't very well teach what was supposed to be one of the most magic intensive course, and as such Lockhart had been carted to Saint Mangoes, and the tutor the clan had hired for the school year had agreed, for a fee, to take over for the rest of the school year.
"Well, at least he lasted longer than Quirrell." was the general consensus as Lockhart left Hogwarts
By the time Yule came around, the founders and their heirs had met quite a few times in the headmaster's office – mainly to talk and learn about their family, given that the ritual they were going to perform at Yule would be barely an inconvenience now that all the ground work had been done at Samhain.
Since all four students were heading back home, they'd agreed to floo over during that afternoon on Yule's day to complete the ritual, and finally rid the school of Voldemort's curse.
On the first day of the Yule vacation, Leifr, Adra, Sirius, Luna and Leanne were greeted by Pyxis, Remus, Leto, Xeno and Pandora before being swiftly whisked away to the clan's abode, where Tristan and Pipper were already waiting for them.
Leifr would be popping over by Boston and Huston the next day to pick up not only Samirah and her mother but also Hardwin Potter and Natalie and Magnus and of course Esperanza and Leo.
Annabeth, Franck and Percy weren't able to come for the holidays due to their parent's work, but would be fetching them and their family for Yule's day.
Sirius had pointed out with some amusement that this was turning out to be quite the holidays for Leifr – the god of mischief had retorted by turning his hair neon blue, but hadn't contradicted him.
Leanne had been a bit disoriented by all the agitation around her – but seeing her little brother, far healthier and happier than she'd ever seen him, had been more than enough for the teenage girl.
While she was still a bit shy during the first days – her natural sociability and friendliness soon took over, and the Hufflepuff was soon getting to know her new, very much larger than expected family.
Another surprise for the girl had been the presence of Arachne – but while she hadn't managed a human form yet, the spider spirit looked far less ghastly now that she was back to full health, Pandora's meals doing wonder for her silhouette – and the popular reception her tapestry and other weaving works once they'd been presented in Jade's Diagon Alley shop, had had doing quite her bit for her mood.
To no one's surprise, Hardwin and Natalie had announced their relationship, and intent to do a hand-fasting ceremony – a bit more surprising had been Ayesha's inclusion in the announcement.
Samirah's mother, coming from a rather conservative muslim family, had faced quite a bit of backlash with her solo-pregnancy – but despite their disapproval, her aging parents had supported her. Explaining to them that her daughter and her were moving in with a man and a woman had been a bit more complicated…
But Ayesha was a strong woman, there was a reason Loki had fallen for her – and while had taken quite a while to persuade her parents that this was what would make her happy, the old couple had eventually relented, once more ready to face the backlash among their community for the happiness of their daughter and grand-daughter.
Samirah's relationship with Magnus had helped her grand-parent quite a bit in accepting the strange family – because while they didn't share a drop of blood, it was impossible to mistake the two of them for anything but a brother and sister… Squabbling and bickering quite a bit, yet working together and protecting each other as soon as needed.
Leifr had been quite moved – and a bit amused – when the trio of lovers had asked him to be the one to celebrate the ritual; and had immediately started to plot for the ceremony that would be celebrated during the next Beltane holiday.
Remus had sighed – and somehow managed to produce the correct paperwork to take the Hogwarts' students out of school for a couple of days, dumbfounding even Pyxis...
"What?" the werewolf had protested at all the stunned looks he was receiving "After all these years of chaos, you didn't think I haven't learned to be prepared for any and all eventuallity, no matter how improbable they seem?"
Bianca by his side was nodding along, having gotten a taste of the many difficulties of being the stewart of the Black and Potter since she was working with him so much.
¤.¤.¤
Finally, Yule dawned on the Lovegood/Black/Potter clan and their guests, and while most people were helping around the houses, cleaning and preparing food for the evening, Luna and Adra were stepping through the fireplace and going back to Hogwarts.
Lucian and Astrid were but a few steps behind them, and all were welcomed warmly by the headmaster, who was soon herding them toward the dungeons – and the depths of the castle.
"While there is a secondary access to the wards in my office, I thought you deserved to get a look at the heart of Hogwarts." the old wizard explained, eyes twinkling happily "After all, you are doing her a great service today, and well… She's nearly a family member to all four of you."
The four students smiled fondly at that comment – Dumbledore understood well the unique relationship the founders' heirs shared with the castle's spirit since as the main holder of the wards, he did have a unique relationship with the castle too… And just like Luna and Adra had told Lucian and Astrid, it hadn't taken them long to get used to the warm presence, both mischievous and helpful, that was Hogwarts.
Soon, they had reached a level deeper than the Slytherin dormitories and potion laboratories, going past cellars and food storage, then rows of cells that reminded them that the castle hadn't always been only a school.
And finally, they reach a large door, richly ornamented with the school's coat of arm done in vibrant colors…
"This is a reinforced door like when Slytherin's Chamber was in lock-down." Lucian recognized, the other three students nodding along, having recognized it too
"It is indeed." Dumbledore agreed "Thought it's not subject to the same kind of password. Only the current headmaster or two heirs together are authorized to enter."
"I bet Riddle didn't like this." Adra commented vindictively "Still… does it mean he managed to attach the curse within your office?"
Dumbledore hung his head in shame – all the confirmation they needed. Yet none of the four wanted to condemn the older wizard like it seemed he did himself – Riddle had been powerful, charismatic, and had nearly managed to overthrow the whole British wixen government. It really wasn't any wonder that he'd managed to pull one over even Dumbledore himself.
The ornamented door hummed with magic as it tested their right to be here – and one by one the four creatures broke appart from each other, the coat of arm splitting in four parts, and leaving behind a large opening.
The newly opened corridor was filled with the familiar magic of Hogwarts', thought far more powerful than anywhere else in the castle, and all could feel the spirit's happiness at their presence.
Hogwarts' heart was a gigantic block of what had once upon a time been granite stone, probably weighting several tons and intricately engraved with a multitude of runes, oghams and other esoteric symbols.
With time, and magic, the stone had changed – and where along time ago the four founders had laid the large menhir deep into the ground, the stone had changed – and now, it was a crystalline structure, floating in a maelstrom of power in the middle of a room not much larger than the door and the stone themselves.
While the room itself was beautiful, with walls richly painted in fresco that depicted the construction of the castle and the ritual that awakened it, and tied the four founders to the place, it was difficult to really appreciate it, so impressive was Hogwarts' heart.
The stone door closed behind them, without alerting any of the wixen, as they were all focusing on the heart that had started to pulse as they approached.
Lucian and Astrid's eyes widened. As the two who'd never worked with wards, even moreso old wards like those of Hogwarts, it had been rather difficult for them to understand Luna and Adra's reassurances that 'all would be clear once in front of the stone'. But now – now they understood because as soon as the four of them had stepped inside the room, the maelstrom of power had latched into them – and while something like this would usually be terrifying, right now they could feel Hogwarts' intent, and knew she was simply granting them a larger access to her wards – something only given to the headmaster himself usually.
Dumbledore didn't appear too surprised, nor put upon – Adra could only guess that the founders had to have talked to him about what was happening during their weekend gathering, before giving her attention back to the pulsing crystal.
She hadn't expected her Revolutionary Art to react to what was happening – but Hogwarts was a god, as minor as she was among the multitude of deities populating this planet, and her heart was part of her very being...
She barely realized her eyes had once more taken the green and gold sharingan shape she'd made a prat of herself during her previous life as she focused on deciphering the storm of power.
Around her, all four wixen shared stunned glanced as the untameable maelstrom started to change, strands of runic, oghamic and other symbolic sequences appearing in the air.
Dumbledore, who was the most familiar with Hogwarts given how long he'd been headmaster, was the first to recognize what the symbols appearing in the air were – each strand the arithmantic work behind each of the numerous functionalities built in the castle' wars. And among all of those – not only was Riddle's meddling sticking out like a sore thumb, but he could also numerous wards that had been turned off and all but forgotten during the years and on the contrary other wards that had been added by the past headmaster, integrated with more or less success into the base ward-scheme.
While they hadn't the headmaster's more profound understanding of the wards – the students were guided by Hogwarts herself – so they stepped forward, Adra joining them, and wand in hands all four of them started their battle against Riddle's magic.
Like Dumbledore and the founders had predicted – the curse couldn't fight back against the four heirs together, and with an unearthly scream far too familiar to Adra, it finally disappeared in a cloud of sickly dark magic.
Of course, all could feel that Hogwarts wasn't done with them, urging them to go on – Dumbledore took out his wand too and joined them. Little by little, the uncontrolled storm started to change around them; deactivated protective wards put back in working order, newer wards getting better integrated in the general ward-scheme or discarded based on their usefulness…
The result, when they finally lowered their wand was very different – still quite chaotic, yet feeling far more efficient, and Hogwarts', all around them, was broadcasting a rather powerful feeling of contentedness.
¤.¤.¤
All five fell to the ground rather gracelessly, having spent quite a bit of magical energy on the endeavor.
[Secondary Quest Updated! The Best Wixen School...
Goal Complete:get rid of Voldemort's curse on the Defense against the Dark Arts post
Reward: +5 XP, +1PP
Bonus Goal Complete: re-harmonize Hogwarts wards
Bonus Reward: +10 XP, A Heart of Stone perk unlocked
Hidden Goal Complete: get access to Hogwarts' wards
Hidden Reward: +20XP, +5PP, A Spirit's Guidance perk unlocked]
[New Perk unlocked
A Heart of Stone (2 PP): +10 to Wards
A Spirit's Guidance(5 PP): +10 to True Form
Available: 21PP]
"Well," Dumbledore mused "I think we've improved this lady's heart quite a bit."
Around them, they could feel the contentedness be tainted by a hint of amusement – and the doors of the room opened back behind their back.
On the other side, Leifr was waiting for them, leaning against a wall a twirling a colorful lollipop in his fingers. As soon as the door opened, he was swiping in, swiftly catching Adra in a princess carry. The girl rolled her eyes in amusement "Weren't you busy hitting on Esperanza?"
"He was," Sirius confirmed, making them realize the Ravenclaw was there too "but then there was this irresistible feeling of Chaos at work…" he teased "And suddenly, he was dropping his family and rushing here."
"You're talking as if you didn't do the same." Leifr pouted, before offering his sweet to Adra "Here, it's Asgard made, it should help."
The young goddess accepted, knowing that no matter how mischievous he was, Loki wouldn't play with her health. Her eyes lit up as the taste of warm honeyed mead and apple hit her buds – now that Asgard was livening up again, a small market had reopened, and just like the Greek with ambrosia and nectar, they had their own unique foods and drinks, all but untouchable for regular mortals, yet inevitably far tastier for anyone with a drop of ichor, divine blood, in their veins.
Meanwhile, Sirius was helping Lucian, Astrid, Luna and Dumbledore getting up – Leifr throwing a small sweet toward Odin's daughter while the Black heir was handing out more regular pepper up potions to the others.
"This should help you go through the day," he explained "it an extra-strong variant made by Pandora, but you're all going to be crashing hard once you go to sleep." he warned
"Given how much magic we've exerted," Dumbledore had to agree "this was all but inevitable. Thank you." her turned toward the four founders' heirs "And sorry, I didn't expect this outing to be quite this eventful."
"Things always happens around Adra." Astrid shrug with an amused smile "Dad warned me but I hadn't realized how much he was right."
"That's bound to happen with people so closely related to Chaos." Luna shrugged, having found her own, non-dangerous for mortals, sweet in her Inventory "Besides Hogwarts' happy."
They headed back toward the headmaster office, noticing with some wonder that Hogwarts really was quite different – before she had been able to nudge them toward faster paths, now they felt as if she was rearranging the castle around them to help them reach their destination faster. All students found themselves looking forward to the end of the holidays, to witness fully all the changes healing the wards had brought to the castle.
A few flares of fire latter, and Dumbledore was alone in his office, thinking back to the afternoon they'd had.
¤.¤.¤
He'd always known that Adra Potter was someone extraordinary – first, it had merely been because of the prophecy.
Then, the rumors that she was a half-blood had spread, and in a way, it had seemed only logical – she was the one fated to battle against Voldemort after all.
But then, as the years went by and he heard news about the ever growing clan that had gathered around her, he'd started to understand that what truly made her unique wasn't simply her power, but her ability to help the people around her thrive.
And finally, the girl-who-lived had come to Hogwarts.
First he'd watched from afar. His plan to guide her in her fight against Voldemort had long since been destroyed as Remus and Pyxis had earnestly started to dig into the man's past, giving her all the information he could have shared with her years before she even entered Hogwarts… But this girl, he soon realized, had escaped all the pitfalls he'd feared she'd encounter, being raised with fame and by a scion of a dark family.
But Pyxis may take pride in his family, he wasn't the same kind of narrow-minded extremist as his cousin Bellatrix, and Adra hadn't grown arrogant from her fame, nor did she discriminate against muggle-born nor pure-bloods.
Adra's first year had gone with barely a hitch – and it hadn't taken a genius to guess that she'd been the one to help Quirrell once the man had regained consciousness in Saint Mangoes and urgently explained to Dumbledore how he'd gotten possessed during his trip in Albania.
Of course, it was only this year that he'd started to realize how much more than he expected there was to the Potter Heiress…
As they spent hours and days working to get rid of Riddle's curse, he'd witnessed the very real familial love between Pyxis and Adra – he'd realized how unjust he'd been toward the man, always keeping him at a distance because he was worried of his background.
And it was as he became more friendly, and gained more respect for Pyxis – that little by little, he'd unexpectedly gained Adra's respect.
As Samhain had come and gone, then Yule, he'd seen her becoming less and less wary – and while she'd hadn't suddenly decide to share all her innermost thoughts with him, she'd started to stop hiding away her power, stop controlling herself as much as she usually did in front of people she didn't see as family.
And it was clear that her family was taking their cues from her – because Sirius and Leifr dropping unannounced in the school was something he'd never witnessed them do… And something that spoke of powers beyond even powerful half-blood.
Yes, Dumbledore had always know Adra Potter was extraordinary – he just hadn't truly realized by how much until now.
Because no mortal should be able to dip into the powerful core of Hogwarts like she'd done and get out of it in one piece…
It made him both hopeful, and terrified.
Because if a goddess had been sent to them – it was the proof that the gods did care about mortals, wasn't it? But at the same time – if the gods had sent one of them among the mortals… Then wasn't it the proof that there was something deeply wrong with their world?
"You're worrying too much."
He startled at the voice that was intruding on the turmoil that was his thoughts, and took a second to realize it was the sorting hat that had spoken.
"Things have already started to change around the world. Pantheons that had grown apathetic are remembering the mortal world, half-blood numbers have risen… The wixen world too is changing."
"She's started to change the world nearly from her birth." the old wizard realized, awe seeping in his voice
"She has. And she's not alone." it was rather strange to hear a smile in the voice of a hat "So while our world did direly need the help… She's here now. So don't worry needlessly. Help her instead."
Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully.
Hogwarts' voice was right – he smiled – and he knew just where to begging.
"Merry Yule, Hogwarts."
"Merry Yule, Albus."
It was with a spring in his steps that he headed toward the great hall, where the Yule celebrations were about to begin for the few teachers and students that had elected to stay in the castle for the holidays.
"Merry Yule, Severus."
The dour man raised an eyebrow, clearly wondering where this unexpected cheerfulness was coming from yet affected enough, like everyone present, by the castle's changes, that he answered in kind – thought far less happily.
"I think I'm going to help decorate the log." the headmaster mused, seeing a few students that were doing their best with a rather large tree chunk, Hagrid helping them along
"I thought you weren't big on the celebrations?" Minerva couldn't help but ask, clearly intrigued
"Well, it's not because we're looking toward the future that we must forget our traditions."
"I quite agree, but still.. you've got to agree this is a surprising position coming from you." Filius Flitwick was the one to point out
"I've come to a realization." the old wizard admitted "That thought the gods let us live our life, it doesn't mean they don't care…" a shrug "And if they can respect our free-will yet still give us help when needed… It would be rather ungrateful from me not to thank them for it, no?"
Pomana Sprout was smiling happily "That's what I've always tried to tell you!" the Hufflepuff head of house pointed out
"I'm sorry my dear, I guess I've always been a bit hard-headed." the headmaster admitted with good grace "But well, it is Yule tonight, what better time to turn a new leaf?"
Despite gathering so few people around the table – this Yule at Hogwarts was the best holiday celebration Dumbledore had had in decades
The old wizard didn't quite know toward known he was praying that evening – but it was a prayer of thanks, and of hope.
A feeling of warmth spread all around him, and he knew that his prayer had been heard. It was with a smile on his lips that the wizard went to sleep...
¤.¤.¤
Miles away, Adra was rather surprised to receive a new notification.
[Secondary Quest Updated! A Great Man's Mistakes...
Goal Complete: you've managed to give faith back to Albus Dumbledore
Reward: +5XP, Holy System unlocked]
She quickly opened the familiar system, where she could communicate with her Holy Servants and check on them – and where she received the prayers of those that were faithful to her.
Among the numerous messages coming from her home-world, and Gaia – the last prayer she had received stood out – because it came from this planet.
She smiled as she read Albus' message - happy to have helped the old wizard, if only by giving him a bit more faith in the future.
Dropping by Camp-Half Blood a few days after Yule, Adra had learned with some surprise that even Denys had felt her show of power – the only reason he hadn't been waiting with Sirius and Leifr outside of Hogwarts' heart being that he was still forbidden from leaving the camp by his father.
"What you have to realize is that in most pantheons, powers tied to chaos have been more or less suppressed." Dionysus, under his Denys guise, was the one to explain "Instead of finding a balance and understanding the need for chaos to bring change and excitement in life, quite a few gods were simply imprisoned or forbidden from using their powers." he shrugged "Of course there was backlash, those gods falling more into madness as a result and using their powers without restrains…" he sent her a smile that was both unsettling and charming "I mean even I am quite mad. But isn't it just another part of existence?"
Adra had laughed at the quip – but was rather thoughtful.
The ofther god wasn't wrong after all – bringing Loki back from the raging lunatic he'd become hadn't been done in one day, and similarly, Anubis had been taught to fear his powers and his own father Seth… Who clearly couldn't be all bad-guy given his role as Ra's protector…
Maybe, she mused, it was time to sow a bit more chaos in this world.
Denys bright laugh made her realized she'd said her last thoughts aloud "What do you think you've been doing ever since you've been born in this world?" the god wondered, tears building up in his eyes with how much he was laughing "You've shaken awake the Norse, made the Celt take interest in the rest of the world again, made friend with the Chinese, and turned upside down us Greek and Romans! You are quite clearly the most chaotic being in this world right now!"
"I was only trying to save this world." Adra pouted, twelve tails flaying in agitation in her back "Watch me really trying to sow chaos!"
"You are a treasure," the god of wine proclaimed with a happy smile, kissing her square on her lips "come find me if you ever get bored of your little mate!"
Adra rolled her eyes "Tell this to your wife."
"She'd make room in the bed for you!" Denys easily contradicted her – making Adra wonder, once more, how everything always ended up being about sex with Greek gods
She wasn't given the time to retort anything, as with a flash of silvery magic, a new goddess had appeared in the goods "If you could get your paws off the Potter Heiress, I would talk with her." Artemis snapped at Denys
The other god rolled his eyes, put picked the blade he'd discarded on the ground again and shrugged "Oh well, there's still this cerastes I wanted to hunt." he mused "Don't steal my hunting partner for too long!" he warned his fellow Olympians before heading out in the woods
"What you were doing wasn't hunting!"
"Well… It was a kind of hunting." the other corrected before dodging a silver arrow sent his way "Still so prude…"
Adra was laughing at Dionysus antics, knowing him well enough to know he was playing it up - which Artemis knew too, though she had trouble not to rise to the provocation.
"So," she wondered as the two of them were finally alone in the clearing "Since you're not tied to my domains, I doubt you're here to talk to me about my Yule's exploits, so…"
Artemis raised a curious eyebrow at the comment, before answered "I'm not indeed, I'm here concerning your… role here."
"You mean preventing the planet from being Lost?"
The young looking goddess nodded "I understand that the Fates have worked hard, and not only in our pantheon but…" the tired look she sported for an instant was quite strange on her young face "What's the use in saving the planet from the dangers to come if we can't prevent the mortals from killing it themselves?"
"You've already made great stride on the topic." Adra couldn't help but point out
"I have, and you were right, I didn't expect so many humans to only need a push in the right direction to do the right thing." a sigh "But it's still too little, too late. Humans can't revive the Wild."
"The Wild?"
Artemis nodded, pointing around them "The Wild. Space where man hasn't remade the planet to their liking are shrinking by the days, and while some do try to bring nature back, they don't have the right touch to make it thrive properly." the goddess explained "They've become so civilized, so orderly that they don't remember that they are a part of nature anymore… And thus, nature can't hear their call and answer their prayers anymore."
Adra shivered, as with Artemis' word she was feeling the forest around them in a way she never had.
Since when had Nature and Chaos worked in such harmony, she wondered – once more, they were back to the same problem…
"I shouldn't be the only here for this." she said to her fellow goddess, calling the shadows to her
On the other side, Carter was already waiting, having received her message via Chaos Game.
"Can you feel this?"
The young boy let go of the hold he usually kept on his powers, making Artemis' eyes widen in wonder.
"Nature and Chaos are so intricately tied together, I never witnessed something like this." Carter agreed
"And the reason why the Wild is dying…"
"Isn't only because of humans, thought of course they've played their part." Life's brother agreed "It's imbalance."
"Too much Order has made this world stagnant, and the Wild has paid the price."
"Chaos?" Artemis mused, now deep in thoughts "I've not powers over Chaos, I can't…" her eyes widened "This is why my blessing isn't enough, they would need a blessing from both Nature and Chaos to revive the Wild!" a sigh "But Pan has long since faded, and no other god since him has held dominion over the Wild."
"Then don't work alone." Carter pointed out easily "You've got a powerful affinity with Nature. Find someone with the same kind of affinity for Chaos and work together."
The silver-eyed goddess nodding, blushing slightly – Adra had to held in her laughter, but wasn't too surprised by the reaction. After all, if all gods tied to Death and Chaos naturally recognized her, of course the goddess of the hunt would react to Life's own brother.
"Thank you." the goddess bowed her head toward them both "If you'll excuse me, I've got an alcoholic brother to hunt."
Adra and Carter shared an amused look at that – and soon, the Greek goddess had faded into the woods.
¤.¤.¤
"No wonder so many things were going awry in this world with such a heavy imbalance." Carter mused
"Still, I don't understand how I didn't realize it sooner." Adra frowned "Talk about a goddess of Chaos."
"That's because there is still Chaos in this world, it's just that it's been concentrated around evil beings rather than being evenly propagated all around. It's only when I felt this Wild that I even realized Nature and Chaos were tied in this world, and I'm a god of Life." Carter pointed out
"Still…" Adra mused "Dionysus and Artemis working together? Sparks are going to fly."
"That they are." the magician agreed "Anyway, want to drop by my since it looks like your hunting trip is over?"
Adra quickly agreed, and soon, both of them were mobbed by Zya and Saddie.
"The girls were wondering where you went." Ruby told her son, looking highly amused "Apparently they decided it's not appropriate for you to be alone with Adra since she's you fiancée."
"Then it's good that it we weren't alone." Carter answered with an amused smile, more than used to the antic of his sisters "I mean, what better chaperon could we have had than a virgin goddess?"
"A goddess?" Saddie repeated with wide eyes "Like Bast?"
"Like that, but not quite, she was Greek." her brother corrected patiently
"Something big going on?" Julius inquired
"Artemis was worried about the Wild." Adra explained, quickly going over what they'd realized
"It's still so difficult to think of Chaos as something positive." Ruby sighed "We may know better now, but our schooling has emphasized the dangers of the like of Seth and Apophis so much I can't quite change my understanding of it."
"Chaos is dangerous." Adra agreed "Like all things are, when in excess." she pointed out "Chaos in reasonable dose is Loki helping Arachne getting over her resentment against the gods with strange pranks and over-the-top antics… In excess, well… There is a reason why he was the one supposed to bring Ragnarok in the previous tapestry."
"You are right, of course." the red head magician admitted easily – these were all thinks she knew intellectually, it was just the rest of her psyche that had some trouble catching up with the facts "Anyway, how are going your holidays, end of the world non-withstanding?"
Laughing at the sentence, Adra went over the clan's latest events, Leanne and her brother's easy adaptation to their life, Leifr rather amusing courting of Esperanza, and so on - it was clear to everyone bu him that the woman had no real intention of refusing him but was just enjoying pranking him far too much. Like always, she concluded with a "But you'd already know all this if you just accepted to move in with us!"
"Ah, then maybe we really should?" Ruby mused, eyes sparkling with mischief at how dumbfounded the young teenager was at her answers
Adra wasn't the only one that had been trying to persuade the Kane family to move in with the clan over the years – but until now, their refusal had always been rather firm.
"What's changed?"
"We're nearly done with crafting our ritual." Ruby answered "Thanks to Pyxis, we hope to delay the shesh long enough to do the ritual and run away, but I doubt that we wouldn't fall under close scrutiny after doing something like this…" a sigh "And I've seen and felt the influence of the gods enough among the wixen to know quite well that the more of our gods we free, the more evident it will be to the Per Ankh."
"So we decided it was time to move away." Julius concluded "We both love London, but there's no denying we'll be far safer with all of you…" a wink "Beside, it's as if we'd be stuck in the country-side, Bianca is a good teacher and while our magic doesn't work like yours.."
Adra's eyes widened, as the man teleported from one side to the room to the other "We still managed some improvement to our own methods."
"Impressive." Adra whistled – the lack of instantaneous mean of teleportation was something all Kane had quite often lamented about
Clearly – they'd found a way around the problem.
¤.¤.¤
They had spent an afternoon talking about Egyptian magic – Julius and Ruby enthusiastically explaining how they'd managed to keep their original traveling method, yet refine it to accept more parameters.
"Teleportation with the Per Ankh method needs both an Egyptian landmark and a special timing." Ruby explained
"But we've managed to replace the timing requirement by a 'same time' timing, in other words we want to appear in the new place at the same time we left the old one…" Julius took over
"It forbids time travel, and settles the timing problem." Carter mused, having heard and seen his parents work around the problem, yet not having known they'd finally nailed it "Rather a win-win solution, accidental time-travel is dangerous."
"As for the landmark…" Julius pointed to the wall near which he'd appear
All four children leaned toward it.
"I don't see anything." Zya quickly remarked with scrunched nose
"But there is something…" Saddie couldn't help but insist, proving once more how keen her magical senses were
"There is." Ruby agreed, before calling "Maa." the air shimmered on the area they'd been looking at – and two hieroglyph appeared on the wall
"Nai. To travel." Carter was the one to recognize first, making Saddie pout "Are you using this as a landmark?"
"We are," Julius agreed with a proud smile – both at having cracked the problem, and at the children's intelligence "we've been placing those in quite a few strategical places that lacked the correct landmark, and experimenting over the past few weeks."
"The magician from the Per Ankh aren't able to feel those, I placed on on Amos just to be sure."
"Julius!" Ruby protested, still clearly amused about what her husband had done despite trying to appear like she didn't approve "Your poor brother nearly had a heart-attack when you appeared in his room in the First Nome without any warning!"
"Still, it was a good way to test it." Julius persisted "And now, we have a landing mark within the Nome if needed."
At that, Ruby couldn't protest anymore, and was soon explaining their method to the children – promising all of them terrible punishment if they misused it.
It was later that evening, back at home, that she had the occasion to talk with Bianca.
¤.¤.¤
Since she'd started to host Ereshkigal, Bianca had started to develop new powers – a kind of magic that wasn't that of the wixen, nor of the shesh, but older and nearly forgotten. She had had to learn by trial and error what this magic could, or couldn't do, and had soon realized that it was more similar to the Egyptian magicians' magic, and as such had been spending quite a bit of time with the Kane when she wasn't working with Remus.
"I can use akkadian and sumerian rather similarly to what the Kane do with Divine Words." Bianca was explaining her as they talked about the latest innovation the shesh family had developed "Of course, given that most gods from Mesopotamia have long since faded, it's rather complicated to have powerful effects but…"
"But?" Adra encouraged her, seeing that the demigoddess was hesitating
"I can feel them sometimes, I think." she finally admitted "I mean, I know it should be impossible, they're gone, but… I'm sure it's them!"
"Ah but you forget that gods can't die." Adra reminded her, rather thoughtful "This is why fading is so horrible, they don't pass on to the afterlife, they stay stuck in a sort of limbo, forgotten and powerless, yet still alive. After a while some of them lose all notion of themselves, and become nothing more than forgotten spirits but some… Some do manage to hold on their sense of self."
"Can't we do anything for them?"
Adra eyed the nearly twenty-one year old girl, who was looking at her with such faith and hope, and couldn't find the heart to deny her.
"I don't know." she admitted reluctantly "But it doesn't mean we can't find out."
Bianca had smiled happily – then Alys, Magnus and Samirah had burst in the room, loudly screaming and happily playing, followed by a tired Hardwin reminding them that no, bone metal sword weren't the kind of toy they were authorized to play with indoors, and the usual chaos that followed the arrival of several children in the room was soon sweeping away the rather serious topic.
Before the end of the holidays, Adra had made Magnus a Chaos Game Main Player, making Samirah and Alys quite jealous – but the boys had been but a few days away from his seventh' birthday, while Samirah still had nearly nine months to wait, and Alys a whole sixteen months.
The clan had started preparing for the Kane's move, introducing them to a team of goblin builders, and buying more of the land around the Rookery, Lupin's log-house and Black Moon residency, and the work had already began in earnest.
Arachne had been rather intrigued by the Egyptian magicians, the idea that they had dared rebel so much against their own gods they went as far as sealing them rather intriguing – and it had had the unexpected benefit of contributing to her mental healing to realize how even with those gods they believed to be the source of their problems, the shesh still had managed to decline, going from a force that had once upon a time led a powerful empire to barely a few hundreds of practitioners with weakened powers around the world.
Then, a few days before the end of the holidays, they had received an unexpected visitor – Dumbledore had come calling.
¤.¤.¤
A few hours later, Remus was stuck somewhere between dancing a victory gig and crying at all the work the old wizard had just added on his plate. He settled for sending a time-delayed color-changing charm at him, that should take effect the next time he entered Hogwarts' great hall, and extending him an invitation to stay for the dinner – which he knew Pyxis wouldn't think to do otherwise - the man had made great strides in behaving like a regular human being, but he still had his flaws when it came to social interactions.
Dumbledore had started to refuse – then the fearsome power of puppy eyes had come at play as Alys had asked, with bright shinning eyes, if it was because she'd- as she was a girl today - accidentally set his outer-robes on fire.
Once more, Remus was very thankful Loki had never been so young in their vicinity, or he'd have been able to take over the whole British wixen world by sheer cuteness, if his children were a good example. Then he glanced at Adra – and realized she was as good as doing the same, so his thankfulness may well be useless…
"So," Pyxis had to ask, blank tone hiding quite well his own mischievous streak "why suddenly approve the new Holy Culture course you've been so adamantly against up till now?"
"I guess the Sorting Hat managed to get past my stubbornness." Dumbledore mused, the twinkling in his eyes proving he knew very well what the other was doing "Then again, I'm afraid being stubborn is such a quality to survive the hordes of students that I had all but forgotten that sometimes it's better to bent than to break." an amused smiled "That and realizing the number of gods among said students."
With a groan, Sirius, Thalia and Pyxis were handing money to Luke – making Adra eye her brother dubiously… She'd warned him, that Dumbledore was stubborn but knew to admit his mistakes! And he should have known better with his Soul Art! At her raised eyebrow, he sheepishly pointed out "For my defense, my powers are sealed much tighter than your own, so it's rather tiresome to take too close of a look to anyone's soul." a frown "Especially one's that's already so annoying on a daily basis, what with this pesky curse."
"It really does annoy you." Dumbledore couldn't help but muse with surprise in his voice
"Well of course, it's a death curse. One skilled enough that it means that someone tied to Death dared mess with the lifetime you were granted upon birth. It has a feeling of wrongness and makes me want to wring the neck of the entitled bastard that did it."
"Gellert is a son of Pluto." finally admitted Dumbledore
"Romans always knew how to held grudges." Leifr commented "Still, if you know the curse is there, why don't you get rid of it?"
"He's punishing himself." Adra answered for the wizard, green and golden eyes watching something only she could - his pained look was all that was needed to confirm her affirmation "Which is stupid." she added with a sigh, as her eyes slowly faded back to their daily green tint "You weren't the one to break you promise first."
"He never acted directly against me." Dumbledore contradicte
"And you'll have me believed he didn't sent any assassins your way in the meantime? Direct or indirect, and attack is an attack, and you are paying far too much faith in the parole of a man that ravaged Europa."
"He was a man of honor."
"If he really was, he wouldn't have inflicted something so unnatural to you." Pyxis contradicted "FIghts and wars are one things... But such a malevolent curse isn't something a child of death should dab in!"
"I've always thought of this curse as my retribution for breaking my word." the old wizard admitted with a sigh "But in the end, I think I was just holding on my memories of Gellert.. Of the wix he was before his ambition took over and he became the dark lord History remembers him as…"
"Fatal flaws are dangerous for half-bloods." Luke was the one to point out "Even when we know about them, and try to be better… It's far too easy to slip, and become blinded by them." his eyes were haunted as he admitted "I didn't voices, to have to struggle against my anger, and it would be so easy to just give in and hate the whole world without a good reason…"
"We each found our way to cope," Thalia agreed "even if honestly I had it easy… There's not many reason to have a superiority complex when you live with gods."
"I had an inferiority complex." Bianca added easily, before filching a piece of meat in Remus' plate, making the others laugh at the rather usual interaction
¤.¤.¤
"You have trouble remembering that you're not all knowing." Leifr added "Demi-gods aren't the only ones with flaws after all, this is something mortals and immortals share after all.
"Wow, that's not something you'll hear everyday," Nico quipped "a god admitting to have flaws!" he easily avoided the fiery sparks aimed his way dropping in the shadow of his chair, before sitting back again properly
"What they are saying is that it's time to get rid of this curse." Pandora concluded with a motherly smile
"If you really want to make penance for any imagined sin, think of all the decades of work ahead of you to change the wixen world in a better place…" Adra laughed "And what a beautiful revenge once we'll be done! A better world, just like Grindewald preached… without the violence and war he brought on." her nose wrinkled "Just don't use the sentence 'for the greater good', and we'll be good."
Albus had to laugh at that, and promised with a smile "This, I can manage."
"Finally!" Pyxis loudly proclaimed, a green aura thrumming around him as he did something he rarely indulged in, relaxing his control over his aura
A wave of green swirled around him, bathing briefly the old headmaster before receding.
The result – was instantaneous, the years shedding quite visibly from the man, who looked nearly thirty years younger.
[Secondary Quest Updated! A Great Man's Mistakes...
Goal Complete: you've removed Albus' curse
Reward: +5XP, +1PP
Bonus Goal Complete: you've managed to convince Albus to work with you
Bonus Reward: +10XP, Leader of Men perk unlocked]
[Level up! You are now level 50!
+1 SP, +2 MC, AWAKENING PATH unlocked]
[New Perk unlocked
AWAKENING PATH (free): +10% to HP or MP/RP or KP regen, +5 to BODY or MIND or Heart or LUCK MC, +10 to Combat Skill
Leader of Men (4 PP): +10 to Charisma and Persuasion
Available: 17 PP]
"No fair." whined Adra, who'd been poised to do just the same
"I had to endure seven year with this curse around!" Pyxis answered back "I had dibs!"
The following months, while Adra and the rest of the Hogwarts contingent of clan children settled back in the school dynamics, the wixen world was in turmoil – between Dumbledore finally being rid of the curse that had eaten at his life-force, and the fact that he was suddenly aligning more and more with the neutral faction, things were changing, and quite fast.
By the end of the school year, several new courses, beyond the Holy Culture one, had been approved, the standard for teaching up-heaved – but they'd also finally managed to approve for an elementary school that would be opened to all, that would over the year take over the three Culture Courses (muggle, wixen and holy) but also teach the children how to use the old fashioned quills and parchment still required for the official essays and exams, the basis of Astronomy and Runes and a few regular school topics such as mathematics, English, Latin and a secondary language.
Hogwarts, now rejuvenated thanks to the founders' heirs work with her wards, would accommodate the younger children and their teachers in an empty aisle of the castle, and a large floo point was organized since no one was really keen to send children as young as five years old to a boarding-school. The muggle-born children would be taken home by their teacher if they didn't have a chimney connected to the network.
Alys had been overjoyed at the idea of going to Hogwarts so young, and from the gossip going around in Diagon Alley, she clearly wasn't the only one.
The other notable event, for the clan, had of course been Hardwin, Natalie and Ayesha's hand-fasting at the end of March, in a large ceremony where all their other friends and parents of half-bloods had been invited. Loki had been overjoyed to preside the ceremony – and to announce, along with Esperanza, that they were expecting.
Of course, an offer was immediately made to the woman to come and stay at clan – but Esperanza was strong-headed, and independent, and declined, stating her intention to continue working for as long as possible.
She still promised to come stay with them once she couldn't work anymore, as Pandora was relentless. During the rest of the school year – Leifr had rarely been seen during the weekend, taking Alys with him and going visiting the expecting mother and little Leo, who was taking quite seriously his role as a future big brother.
And finally, the summer holiday were there.
¤.¤.¤
The whole clan was going to New-York, where they'd spend a few days together before dropping Luke, Thalia and Nico to Camp Half Blood – but also Percy and Annabeth, who were bursting with excitement at the idea of spending their first summer there.
As for Jason and Franck – thanks to the latest changes in Camp Jupiter, that was now accepting half-blood from outside of Rome on school rhythm basis; they would be heading toward New Rome by the end of August to enter the Legion.
Since the reunification of the Greek and Romans gods, the two camps had changed quite a lot – the Greek one building on the changes Dionysus and Chiron had already started to implement, while the Roman one had paradoxically become a bit less high-strung and more laid-back since their godly ancestors had started to pay them more attention again.
The exchange between the two Camps were going well, and there had even been talks of opening the Roman universities to the Greek half-bloods in exchange of a few years of service in the Legion.
Then came the summer solstice.
During the day, a group of half-bloods, both Greek and Roman, having earned good enough results had been invited to Olympus, where they toured the place and for those that were claimed, spent the day with their godly parent – except of course the children of the Olympians, since their parents were holding council.
Once the twelve Olympians finished with their hours of talking and bickering, a feast was held at night, with all gods, major and minors, invited – and even the half-bloods authorized to stay for a couple of hours.
For the first time in centuries, the Dream Realm of the Greek and Romans had even been opened to other pantheons, with Odin, Lug and Shàng Dì, Emperor of the Chinese Celestial Bureaucratie, in attendance.
Jade had been more than happy to brag for weeks before the event about the fact he'd been chosen for the catering, having recently opened his latest shop in New York's wixen district and having quickly caught the attention of the local pantheon.
Pyxis, Adra, and even Carter had been invited too, proving that the gods were paying enough attention that they'd realized his presence too. The three had accepted, Adra and Carter spending the day with the half-bloods, Annabeth, Percy, Luke, Thalia and Nico among them, touring the market, talking about the changes in Olympus with the lesser gods, and other spirits milling along, before going back toward the Great Temple for the evening's feast.
Or at least that was the plan…
¤.¤.¤
"Distracted, bambina?" Carter teased, as Adra had her head tilted in a rather familiar canine fashion
"There's someone's who's soul is out of tune." the goddess answered distractedly, golden tomoe swirling in her eyes as she eyed the half-bloods around them
Luke was not too far away, hands in hands with Thalia – a rather new development that had made Luna squeal so loudly she'd nearly burst everyone's ears.
The dissonant sound was rather similar to the one she'd identified once it was confirmed that Kronos was trying to meddle with his mind -something insidious enough that it had nearly managed to escape her senses rather keenly attuned to souls. But if Luke's soul had subtly attuned itself back over his months of meditation, and thanks to the help of the family, this soul was sounding far worse, the dissonance loud enough that It had caught her attention when the teen had passed her by.
Her eyes went over the teenagers of all ages curiously looking at the stalls.
"He's not here anymore."
"Half-bloods aren't supposed to leave the market." Carter mused
"Clearly, there's something going on." Adra agreed, finishing the honey-glazed brochette she had been munching on with a decisive bite before jumping up "Let's go."
The three familiars, that had been frolicking not too far reacted at her sudden change in demeanor, immediately following her footsteps as she started to follow her Soul Art's call.
"We're heading right toward the Great Temple." Carter mused with some worry
Adra nodded her head, still partially distracted by the call only she could hear right now.
There were no guards at the Temple entrance – who would be dumb enough to intrude of the Olympian in the very seat of their power after all?
With their aura unleashed as they were here in the Dream World, all twelve felt their arrival. And it was Zeus who asked "What gives us the pleasure of your presence, Heiress Potter?"
Adra smiled mentally – among the numerous changes that had occurred among the gods after the reunification of the two pantheons, Zeus had been the more impressive after Athena, which was saying something. He'd also become more accepting of the changes that were occurring left and right now that he'd seen they were having a positive effect among the gods he ruled upon.
"There is an intruder." Adra explained, Padfoot, Blanche and Kagetsu having clearly been only waiting for her say so before jumping toward the silhouette, invisible and probably charmed to be unheard and unscented – but their soul impossible to hide for Death's sister.
Padfoot howled in victory at having caught their prey first, and with a shout of surprise and pain, a silhouette appeared on the floor, just beside Zeus' throne.
"A thief." Hermes mused "How daring!"
"And unwise." Athena added more sternly
"Let me go!" the demigod was screaming, tangled in shadowy vines courtesy of Padfoot, both Blanche and Kagetsu having added their own weight to his entrapment
"Speak, thief, what are you doing here."
The teenager, who appeared to be a bit older than Luke, had mousy brown hair, and tired green eyes – and Adra could feel the familiar aura of magic, thought more powerful than that of a wix, around him.
Instead of obeying the order, he took on a stubborn look and refused to talk.
"Not talking eh?" the king of the gods mused "No matter, I can guess at your motivations. Voices, in your head, talking ill about the gods…"
"There was no need to convince me!" the boy all but spat "The other may believe in your sudden turn around, play house with them and all this, but I know better! You'll just throw us away once you're bored, like always!"
Adra only had the time to call her familiars to her as she felt the power building up – and in place of the demigod, only an open crater was left, uncovering the peak of Manhattan's tallest building under them…
"This was no simple magic." she mused
"Did the boy kill himself?" Hephaistos mused
"He's not dead," Hades contradicted, just as unhappy about what had just transpired as the other "this must have been his hidden ace…"
"At least he didn't manage to do whatever he came for." Aphrodite pointed out reasonably
That was when the thunderstorm started.
¤.¤.¤
The gods shared worried glances as Zeus temper was seemingly rising to heights they hadn't witnessed in decades – or maybe even centuries.
That was when the Great Temple doors burst open once more, nearly two dozen of Greek and Romans half-blood barging in…
"Apologizes for our interruption," the one who appeared to be leading the Romans said, bowing stiffly "The Greek… we all noticed that one among our number was missing, and with the explosion that just happened, we thought it better to present ourselves to you."
It was well played, Adra mused – the Greek had probably simply wanted to barge in to ask what was going on – but the red-head centurion that was among the Roman had managed to phrase the situation in a bit more diplomatic way.
"Who is missing among you?" Zeus thundered
"It's Alba… Alabaster Torrington, a son of Hecate." Thalia was the one to answer
"He's a thief, that's what he is, working for that damn whisperer." he father corrected, temper clearly on a hair trigger
There was some unsettled whispers among both gods and half-bloods as they realized – that for the king of gods to be so angry, there could be only one thing missing
"I'll go."
The whispers grew louder, as Nico boldly stepped forward, making his father oscillate between pride and worry.
"If the one that made Alba commit such a crime is the same one that tried to whisper dark promises to Luke, then I'll be needed." the sixteen year old teenager reiterated
With a sigh, Hades rolled his eyes and muttered "So much for keeping it hidden."
No one among the Greek half-bloods was really surprised as the boy was claimed, though they all dutifully fell to their knees "All hail Nico Di Angelo, son of Hades, King of the Underworld, God of the Dead and Riches." Luke announced, seeing that he was the one in charge of the Greeks
"If Nico is going, then I'm going too." Percy added boldly, making his father wince – nine year old was way too young for a quest, even for a son of the Big Three
"Then I guess we're going to need someone serious to do this."
Adra held in her laughter as the Roman centurion's true personality finally shone through.
"Why not," Zeus mused thoughfully "last time Greeks and Romans worked together in a quest they managed to by a statue that had been lost for two thousand years." he turned toward his son Apollo, if you would?"
The god of prophecies nodded and closed his eyes, holy powers swirling around him.
"Children of two worlds shall go west and face the one who turned,
To find what was stolen, and what was lost returned
In the depths of no-life to survive, an ally to be returned
Enemy and allies hand in hand to survive in the end"
Mortals and immortals shared uneasy glances at the unsteady rhymes, and it was with a worried frown on his brow that the king of god proclaimed "Then so be it. Nico Di Angelo, son of Hades, you shall lead Perseus Jackson, son of Poseidon and Gwendolyn O'Sullivan, legacy of Fortuna; head into the West, and retrieve my stolen possession from Alabaster Torrington before he reaches the Pit. Proceed swiftly, heroes, for dark tidings are upon us."
The three of them bowed, and Adra stepped forward "I'll take you downstairs."
All watched the trio of quester leave the room with unusual gravity – and as soon as they were out of sight, Zeus ordered Dionysus to take them back to Camp. The lack of unwilling quip was all that was needed for all of the teenager to realize once more just how dire the situation had suddenly grown.
ADRASTEIA LV 51 (12 YO)
BODY
Agility 16(37)
Strenght 11(23)
Endurance 12(15)
SPIRIT
Intelligence 11(48)
Wisdom 17(36)
Fortitude 11(32)
HEART
Empathy 14(24)
Perception 11(33)
Sociability 15(25)
LUCK 14(33)
PERK ACQUIRED (76PP spend, 17PP available)
Black First Rite (1PP): grants Easy Black Magic Potency (+10 to Easy Spells of Battle Magic, War Magic and Curse)
Moon First Rite (1 PP): unlocks Light Battle Aura (+10 to all damages)
Potter First Rite (1 PP): unlocks Sensing Skill up to 25 SP
Ravenclaw First Rite (1 PP): unlocks +10 to easy memory tests and +5 to Mentamancy Skill
Moon Aura (2PP): unlocks a battle aura that grants +10% to all damages when active, and drains 25 MP per minute active
Khonsou'Small Favor (2PP): grants Easy Shielding Magic Potency (+10 damages parried by Easy shield spells)
Thot's Small Favor (2PP): grants Easy Healing Magic Potency (+10 healing done by Easy spells of all Healing Schools)
Black Curse Magic Understanding (3PP): grants +10 to curse
Lovegood Divination Magic Understanding (3PP): grants +10 to divination
Moon Strategy Understanding (3PP): grants +10 to strategy
Peverell Healing Understanding (3PP): grants +10 to healing
Potter Transfiguration Understanding (3PP): grants +10 to transfiguration
Ravenclaw Rune Understanding (3PP): grants +10 to rune
Black Magical Potency (4PP): Grants +10% to MP
Lovegood Light Magic Seeing Ability (4PP): unlocks magic seeing skill up to 25
Moon Blood-stealing Aura (4PP): the Moon aura now allows the user to get back your Blood Skill % of HP per attack
Peverell Reiki Potency (4PP): grants +10% to RP
Potter Reiki Potency (4PP): grants +10% to RP
Black Heir (free): grants +5% MP, one free bloodline talent to be chosen (All Regen rate +5%)
Moon Heir (free): grants +10% KP, one free bloodline talent to be chosen (Atavism)
Peverell Heir (free): grants +5% RP, one free bloodline talent to be chosen (HP +10%)
Potter Heir (free): grants +5% MP, one free bloodline talent to be chosen (RP +10%)
-Slytherin Heir (free): grants +10% MP, one free bloodline talent to be chosen
Jack of All Trade (5 PP): +1 SP per level
Natural Genius (2 PP): double book learning rate (locks Hard Work Genius Perk)
A Father's Strength (5 PP):+5 to all Communication
Blood of the Pharao (5PP): unlocks all Egyptian Magics
Cyclop's Skin (2PP): +5 to Physical and Elemental Resistance
Slytherin Member (free): +2 WIS, access to the Slytherin Students Rooms
Gryffindor Honorary Member (free): +2 SOC, access to the Gryffindor Students Rooms
Ravenclaw Honorary Member (free): +2 INT, access to the Ravenclaw Students Rooms
Hufflepuff Honorary Member (free): +2 EMP, access to the Hufflepuff Students Rooms
Slytherin Knowledge (2PP): +10 to parselmagic
Ravenclaw Knowledge (2PP): +10 to seeing magic
A Spirit's Guidance (5PP): +10 to True Form
FIRST PATH - (+10% MP and RP, +5 to SPIRIT MC, +10 to Magic Skills)
AWAKENING PATH - (+10% to RP regen, +5 to HEART MC, +10 to Weapon Skill)