AN: I know, I know, I've been gone a lot longer than I said, I'm sorry. In my defense, not only have I been working a lot but I have several ongoing family emergencies which have been taking up a lot of time. So, I'm sorry again but I can't promise that I will be uploading as regularly as I have done in the past.
Now, people have been commenting about my other stories, particularly the child of war. I have started the next chapter but honestly, I'm struggling on where I'm taking it short term. I have plans for it long term (Like after the Hogwarts arc is over) but the current school years are a bit of a challenge. Rest assured, I am still working on it, it has not been abandoned.
The Daughter of Neptune, I have tentative plans for a sequel but that won't be for a while. I'm focusing on the two stories that are currently in the works i.e. this one and child of war. Please bare with me.
Now, I hope you enjoy this chapter and Sorry it's shorter than normal, I just wanted to get something out for you guys who have been waiting a long time for it. :D
S.
Chapter Two: Aftermath
The following days since the war ended were long and hard for every survivor. Those who were well enough got to work either repairing the castle or preparing bodies for burial. Even the bodies of the Death Eaters were prepared, much to Kali's disgust. Still, they had family that deserved to see them put to rest, at least that was the argument that was used in order to allow them to be buried. If it had been up to Kali, she would have just vanished the bodies and be done with it. Unfortunately, even she couldn't make such a decision without consequence.
The funerals were brutal for everyone, yet Kali made it a point to go to each and every one. Her soldiers, her friends, deserved that much from her. The hardest funeral to attend had been Hermione's. Her sister in all but blood had been one of the last to be buried.
Flashback
Kali stood stoically as she watched her sister being levitated into the ground. Unlike with muggle funerals, the dead were not placed in wooden boxes for they were seen as prisons in the afterlife. No, instead, magicals prescribed to the ancient burials of old where the dead were shrouded in white cloth with two gold galleons entwined within their hands to pay Charon to carry them to the underworld. The magical world had long known, or at least believed, that the gods of old were real. None were so foolish to pray for blessings in times of war for everyone knew that they were impartial, but they adhered to the old ways for burials and births so that the magical world as a whole could continue through the generations.
"Though you walk through the valley of death, you shall fear no evil for your life was good and just." She murmured along with the rest of the mourners. It was a twist on the old religious Bible verse. However, it had been spoken at funerals for as long as wizard kind could remember; a final farewell and comfort for the departed soul. Kali watched as the hole was repacked with dirt before the tombstone was placed over it. Stepping forwards, she took out her wand and began to etch in the final markings of her sister's life.
Hermione Jane Granger
1980-1999
Sister
Hero
Bravest of souls and kindest of hearts
You will never be forgotten
Stepping back, Kali gazed at the stone. Her sister will never be forgotten by future generations. She would make certain of it.
"Farewell, Sister. I hope you found peace." She murmured, before, with a final bow, she silently apparated away.
Flashback end
That had been two weeks ago.
Kali had gone to the Goblins shortly after the funeral and had arranged for two of her vaults to be transferred to a muggle bank before leaving explicit instructions that none were allowed access to her remaining vaults or any possessions save herself. Kali had given the Goblins permission to exact the harshest punishments available should anyone dare attempt it as well as allowing them to make as many investments as they wished provided that they did not lose her any money. The Goblins had been more than happy to agree; given that she had allowed them the legal option to do both of their favourite things: Make money and punish enemies. With that done, Kali had then disappeared into the muggle world; the only place where she could finally be left alone with no expectations from lazy adults.
Her first stop had been back to Privet Drive wherein she completely ignored her relatives and instead visited her old dojo. Hearing the sounds of a lesson taking place within, Kali silently slipped into the building before she leaned against the open doorway. The familiar sight of her former sensei instructing a group of teens in the stances of traditional karate brought her back in time. A happier time, a calmer time. She waited in silence for several minutes before a break was called.
"Long time no see, Seto-San." She spoke up stoically as most of the teens headed towards the changing rooms for a drink of water.
Seto spun around so quickly, several remaining students were worried about whiplash. Taking in the tall, dark-haired woman in front of him, his eyes widened in shock.
"Kali?" He whispered, unable to quite believe that his best student had returned. He remembered her disappearing one-night several years ago and never been heard from again. He had assumed that she had taken her place in the magical war but had not confirmed it. He had sworn a vow long ago to never interact with the wizarding world again. That included contacting any magic-user within the wizarding world. It was the reason why he only contacted his old student when she came home as they were situated within the muggle world.
"Indeed." Kali returned with a curt nod before stepping inside, only pausing briefly to remove her shoes. Seto straightened up, putting his shock aside,
"I assume that your presence here means that your duty is done?" He phrased it as vaguely as he could, aware that several of his current students could understand Japanese.
"You assume correctly." Kali agreed calmly, "It is over." Somehow, Seto didn't believe it was quite true for the woman in front of him. To go from fighting in a warzone for years and then back to civilian life was not an easy thing to manage. Especially considering her time in Narnia just before the war was anything but peaceful.
"Care for a friendly spar?" He invited, not continuing the subject of conversation. Kali merely raised an eyebrow, knowing what he was trying to do. "For old times sake?" Seto added, seeing that she wasn't convinced. Kali looked at him briefly before nodding,
"For old times sake." She agreed, switching back to English. Stepping onto the mats, she made her way to the middle where she stopped once she was facing Seto. Around the room, whispers picked up as the current students formed up around the edges of the mats, watching.
Both combatants bowed low to one another before straightening up. Kali nodded to her former sensei before launching a roundhouse kick to his head, a move that Seto ducked under only to find himself barely jumping over the leg sweep his former student delivered. Her speed had definitely increased over the last few years, that was for certain. Or maybe he was just out of practice sparring against her. Switching to offense, he threw several quick punches towards his former student, all of which were blocked or dodged. Ducking under the last punch thrown, Kali slammed her fist into Seto's stomach, making him go reeling back. Continuing her onslaught, she followed him, throwing quick punches and the occasional kick as he struggled to defend himself.
It was over in a matter of minutes. Seto found himself on his back with Kali's foot on his neck.
"I yield, Kali-San." He told her calmly, a proud gleam in his eyes. Kali instantly took her foot off him and stepped back before offering a hand. Once they were both on their feet, they straightened up and bowed low, signifying the official end of their spar. Quiet applause suddenly started up from the students around the mat. Kali glanced at them all indifferently before turning her attention back onto Seto,
"You've gotten slow, Sensi." She murmured quietly, a slight twitch in her lips. Seto raised an eyebrow,
"No, you've simply gotten faster, Kali-San." He replied archly. Kali's lips twitched upwards into a small, proper, smile.
"Perhaps. We shall have to agree to disagree." Seto chuckled lightly,
"Very well." He switched back to English. Gazing around at his interested-looking students, he straightened up, "Students." He called, gaining all their attention, "This is Kali-San, a former student of mine and the best I ever had the pleasure of teaching." Kali bowed curtly to the students at her introduction as Seto continued, "She gained her black belt in six different martial arts, with an emphasis on Karate wherein she is a fourth dan black belt during her time with me." Murmurs rose at that, to be that proficient so young (at least in their opinion) was incredible. Seto waited for them to quieten down before continuing, "Consider it an honour to have been able to watch her spar." Seto gazed at Kali who stood silently and stoically. Like a soldier. "Thank you, for entertaining an old man."
Kali merely nodded,
"It was an honour, Seto-San." She replied with a slight bow. Seto sighed inwardly, knowing that he wasn't going to get much more if anything, from her.
"Will I see you again?" He asked quietly. Kali tilted her head to the side slightly,
"Perhaps." Seto took that to mean no.
"Very well. It was an honour to teach you, Kali-San." He bid goodbye as he bowed low.
"And it was an honour to learn from you, Seto-San." She replied with an equally low bow before she straightened up and strode towards the door, picking up her shoes en route.
Once her business at the dojo had concluded, Kali ventured towards the Bank of England wherein she arranged for an account to be opened and for her 'inheritance' to be deposited. Bluffing and very authentic-looking documents from the Goblins ensured that she had no problems. In fact, the Goblins had been so thorough that they had managed to not only create a paper trail to fake accounts in her parents' names, but they had also brought her shares in multiple companies thus giving her a legal financial footprint in the muggle world. With that taken care of, she finally headed towards a decent hotel for the night.
The hotel was nice, not too obnoxious yet not the slums either. Dropping down on the bed as soon as the bellhop left, she sighed tiredly. Hermione's funeral felt as though it had been years ago, not just that morning. She had known it was coming; had known since the curse had struck her sister, but that hadn't made it any easier to deal with. But now. Now she was alone. Again. Old feelings of rage and bitterness welled up. It was the same as when her fellow rulers had abandoned her in Narnia; left her to rule alone. Oreius had done his best to counsel her through the drastic shift in power, but he had never been able to get her to release her anger, not completely at least. Even now, Kali didn't know whether the other rulers had intentionally left her or not but hadn't changed how she felt.
Closing her eyes, she wished she'd died in the war. At least then she could have had peace. But no, that would be too kind. Honestly, the eighteen-year-old didn't have a clue what to do with herself now. There were no more wars, at least none that she was inclined to get involved with, and there was no one to govern, at least none that she was inclined to interact with.
"Why did you have to make me return?" She whispered wretchedly, clenching the soft blankets underneath her in tight fists. She had been more than ready to die in Narnia; ready to sacrifice her life for the people she actually cared for. She felt hollow as though all goodness had been ripped from her soul. All that remained was a burning fury that threatened to consume her completely.
Standing up, she went over to her balcony and stood out in the bitter cold, staring at the loud streets below her. "You either die a hero or live long enough to become the villain." She murmured quietly; it was a quote she identified with. How cruel had she become? How ruthless?
Countless bodies had hit the ground in the war because of her. She had killed and tortured remorselessly. How exactly was she any different from the enemy? They praised her, told her that her actions were justified. Kali scoffed at the thought. There was nothing justified in war. That was simply an excuse that people made to stop feeling guilty about their actions. Despite knowing what she had done was disgusting, Kali couldn't say she felt any guilt over her actions. And yet, she knew she wasn't justified either. Clenching her jaws, she fought the scream that threatened to come out.
Why did she have to survive?
She didn't want to be alive.
She wanted to be with her family. To be at peace.
Hadn't she earned that?
It was all she could do to not burn the world around her to ashes.
She didn't care anymore. About anything.
