Game On! 5 0 Chapter 3: II First Rite, a Harry Potter + Percy Jackson and the Olympians Crossover fanfic

Chapter II – First Rite

"Hello little witch, welcome to our world."
James Potter – had talked to he as if he knew she understood from the very beginning.
She was barely born that, as tradition dictated, he let his magic swirl around her "Adrasteia Lyra Potter, be welcomed as a daughter of the Potter and the Peverell."
Then, he turned toward the man with familiar light blond hair and sky blue eyes "Be welcomed as a daughter of the Ravenclaw and Lovegood."
And – her eyes widened as she immediately recognize the third man, mortal form or not "Be welcomed as a daughter of the Black."
She was given back to her mother, and the three concluded together "So shall it be."

Adrasteia felt the family magic swirl and settle around her, in a very different way from what she distantly remembered from her first life.
In the days and months that followed, she came to realize that no matter the fact that she'd been once more born a Potter to defeat Voldemort – it was indeed a very different world.
From the magic itself – to her parents.

Lily Potter of the Lovegood wasn't the Lily Potter whose soul was currently in Purgatory as a price for saving her daughter's life – but she still loved the woman just as strongly, because for all their differences, they remained at the core two powerful, head-strong witches ready to do anything for their family.
James Potter – was the same. She'd been stunned to recognize the familiar soul of her first father, but it's only as death took him once more that he remembered – his soul lingering an instant to tell her how he'd bargained with Dream.
The goddess wanted to try something new, inspired by Chaos Game, though different – and so James Potter was born with dreams of his previous incarnation.

As they were dreams, they didn't have the emotional impact memories would have had – but they were telling enough that just as Dream had speculated, James' attitude was considerably different from what it had been – and what it probably would have once more been without his memories.
As for the price – well it had been largely paid by the knowledge the boy had had of deaths he couldn't prevent, his parents and his own among them.
It had been rather cruel – but for the chance of taking care of his daughter once more, even if it lasted less than two years, he'd agreed.

"I hadn't thought I'd fall in love all over again with a Lily Evans." the soul admitted before leaving with his wife "But that was well worth it."
Lily – had simply smiled and told her goddess of a daughter she knew she'd managed what none of her sons had managed before.
How she knew about those previous timelines attempted by Time – well she was a seer, enough said.
The couple had left for Death's Islands with a smile.

¤.¤.¤

Then Death had come from Adrasteia.
Or rather – her godfather, Pyxis Black.
"Well little sister." he mused "It's you and me."
She eyed him curiously, a bit annoyed about how useless her body still was, and as if guessing at her questions – which knowing the man, wasn't impossible, Death – Pyxis explained "Since your dogfather is your Grimm, he couldn't be incarnated as this world Sirius Black." a shrug "And since I hadn't had the chance to test Chaos' Game yet…"
The days and months that followed were chaotic for the wixen world.

The death of James and Lily, and more importantly, the survival of Adrasteia was on everyone's lips.
Despite Pyxis warning them not to get out of hiding too quickly, as there were still quite a few Death Eaters going around, the Longbottom had been attacked – but they must have been more leery than in Adrasteia first life, as this time, they managed to fight of their assailants.

The Lestrange brothers and Bellatrix were swiftly send to Azkaban – but Franck Longbottom's auror career was over, as he still suffered from heavy shaking due to his exposure to the Cruciatus and had a permanent limp. Alice, who'd gone into healing with Lily, would never be able to brew delicate potions again, suffering from the same tremors as her husband – and having gone blind in an eye.
But they were alive – and for this, Adrasteia was thankful, happy that a version of the shy boy who'd been her friend once upon a lifetime wouldn't have to grow up alone under the crushing expectation of his still grieving grand-mother.

Some people had tried to cause problem by protesting the Heir of a dark family taking care of the last heir of a light family like the Potter.
Pyxis had easily teared into them, little Adrasteia eagerly egging him on with happy coos as he held her in his left arm.
The Potter, for once, weren't a light family – they were a grey one, famous for championing justice and balance. One top of that, Adrasteia was Pyxis' own heir, not to mention he was her godfather.
There was no one in a better position to take care of her.

Dumbledore, proving once more his prejudice, had tried to point out that the little girl should grow up with family.
The Lovegood had stepped up, pointing out that they were the only family Adrasteia, and that not only they did approve of Pyxis as her guardian – but they had also all intention of taking part in the little witch's life.

Dumbledore had tried to evoke the muggle family of Lily - Leto Lovegood had very calmly and systematically explained how stupid the idea was, starting from the fact that Adrasteia was a witch, and thus would be better served to learn about the wixen world as early as possible, passing by the fact Petunia hated her own sister and hadn't talked to her in years, concluding by the fact that what with being the only survivors of the encounter against the dark lord, she was going to be in danger from the man's followers.
Then, Pyxis had all but disappeared from public life. Because the man took his job of keeping his sister – his god-daughter -safe, and there was no safest place than hell.
Of course.

¤.¤.¤

Adrasteia eyed the area they arrived in with undisguised interest.
They weren't in the Immortal Realms, but they weren't quite in the Mortal Realms anymore.
"This is one of the multiple Dream Worlds where the lower gods of this world live." Death explained
"Isn't it a bit rude to intrude like this?" the little girl mused – because right now, they were in a place where there was enough magic and holy powers for her to use a touch of her shape-shifting abilities and grow just a bit older – just enough to be able to walk and talk by herself
Even if simply doing this had rather exhausted her.

"I've been visiting Arawn and Morrígan for years." he reassured her
"Pyxis! It's been a while, old friend."
Adrasteia turned her head to observe the new-comer.
She could feel the familiar and welcoming – for her – aura of a death.
He looked like a tall man, with breeches of linen in a dark burgundy, kept around his waist by woven belt of wool, no shirt, a heavy bronze torc around his neck and a cloak thrown in his back of heavy fabric and striped pattern rather reminiscent of Scottish tartan. He had dark blond hair up to his shoulders, lightly wavy, clearly well-groomed, and blue-green eyes that immediately found the young goddess.

"And what have we here? Don't tell me you've procreated and never bothered to tell me?"
"This is Adrasteia, my god-daughter, Arawn." Pyxis answered in a faintly annoyed tone Adrasteia didn't think she'd ever heard him use "Which you'd have realized yourself if you'd stopped to think for a few seconds."
"Pyxis is right, dear husband." a cultured, faintly amused voice chimed in
Morrígan was just as tall, though leaner than her husband, and she had long dark red hair that Adrasteia noted were about the same color as her mother's had been, and bright emerald eyes similar to her own. She wore a long dark green linen dress, tightened around her waist by a woven woolen belt, a cloak tied on her shoulder with an ornate pin in a similar pattern to her husband's, and a torc, lighter and more finely crafted than the one her husband wore, around her neck.

"Well met, little goddess," the goddess greeted her "and be welcomed to Annwn, the Land of the Dead."
Finally a bit calmer, Arawn nodded his agreement, telling to Pyxis "Come and share our feast, friend, and lay your sorrow to rest among us."
Pyxis nodded, and finally – finally – allowed himself to cry.

"I hadn't expected…" he whispered once the tears were sparse enough that he could talk "How much it hurts for mortals."
Adrasteia snuggled against the man that was both her immortal brother, and in this life, her godfather.
She'd still been very much mortal in her mind-frame when she'd become a goddess – but Death, Death was older than all Higher Deities save Time himself. Of course he couldn't have remembered how potent humans emotions were.
And so, in the celtic land of the death, they ate, and drank, and remembered the people they'd just lost.

They'd been welcomed with open arms, Morrígan quickly making a room for Adrasteia just by her brother's one – the two gods suitably disconnected from mortals too, never realizing that normally at this age she shouldn't be able to take care of herself.
Arawn had been the one to tell them how he'd met Pyxis – stumbling upon the then barely four year old Black Heir in his living room. Pyxis had blushed, explaining how he had been still rather young and unaccustomed to his mortal body, and had somehow managed to miss his destination when shadow traveling.

"At first I thought he was a half-blood!" Arawn boomed
"That's how the gods called the children they have with mortals." Pyxis explained at the clueless young goddess that really didn't see what magical blood-status had to do with the story
"Hu. This is going to be confusing." she mused "Why not demi-gods?"
"Because most gods have disproportionate egos and dislike reminding their offspring that they are anything more than powerful mortals." Morrígan was the one to answer with a frown of distaste

"So I guess there are a lot of these halfblood around?"
"Plenty." Arawn laughed "With so few people remembering to worship us, quite a few of us have gotten in the habit of mingling among mortals when bored." a shrug "And nine months later, ta-da mortal mum or dad suddenly finds themselves raising a child alone.
"Alone?"
"Well yes because that's when they suddenly remember gods aren't supposed to mingle with mortals." once more, the beautiful red-head rolled her eyes – and somehow she managed to make the gesture look sophisticate "Mind you, I say gods, but goddesses aren't any better."
In a gesture looking rather out of place on her young body, Adrasteia raised her hand to her brow "Somehow I understand better why I was told the pantheons were direly in need of some spring-cleaning."

¤.¤.¤

It was nearly a month before they left Annwn, and by then Pyxis was a bit more together.
In the Black's flat, not too far from Diagon Alley, a huge pile of mail was waiting for them.
"So… this might be the right moment to mention Owl Wards?" the young witch, who was once more dubbed The Girl Who Lived by the media, mused
Pyxis raised eyebrow conveyed without words his "You think?"
A few spells letter, they'd sorted the mail in different piles.

A few more and more panicked letters from Remus led Pyxis to sent a Patronus to the man, who Apparated in the lobby within moments. The werewolf looked tired, and still grieving, and like he hadn't had a good night of sleep in weeks – in other words, he'd aged years in a mere month.
"Thanks Artemis you're back!" the werewolf praised "Dumbledore was driving me crazy, trying to tell me Adra wouldn't be safe with a Black…" his eyes were nearly glowing golden "I tried to tell him she wouldn't be safer with anyone, but I understand now why you said he was prejudiced! He told me I wouldn't be safe either because of Moony!"
Pyxis and Adrasteia shared a furious look.

It had taken years of combined work from all his friend to finally make Remus at peace with his inner beast, and the meddling old man dared to tell him this!
But like she'd been able to the few times she'd glimpsed him since her birth it was clear to the young goddess that the man that had been – and once more was – an honorary uncle to her was far more comfortable with himself than in the life she'd know him, and it had done wonders for his self-esteem and assertiveness.
"So," Remus asked "what's the plan?"
Pyxis eyed his friend, non-plussed by the question.

"I assume there's a plan right?" the other needled "James and Lily always knew things, and most of the time, you were right by their side in knowing. I don't think you're anymore of a seer than James was, but I don't believe you don't have anything planned."
The Black Heir turned his head toward Adrasteia, an eyebrow raised as if to tell her "your choice"
And so, choose she did, when she chose to open her mouth, and talk in a voice far too clear for a baby that wasn't two year old yet.
"There's no immediate plan, we're more going for the long term."

Remus' eyes widened, as he looked from Pyxis to Adrasteia and back again a few times.
"What the…" a sigh "Well I guess James and Lily's daughter was never going to be normal."
"Normal is overrated anyway." Adrasteia nodded sagely
It made the werewolf laugh – and for a few seconds, he looked years younger.

"Well," Pyxis mused "like Adra said there's no immediate plan… So how about visiting Leto and Xeno?"
Adra agreed enthusiastically to the plan – she hadn't seen her uncle and grand-father since her birth after all, and she was pretty sure that Luna should already be born. She really wondered how this Luna would be.
The Lovegood were very happy to meet Adra – and not surprised at all to see that she was already able to talk.
Having a seer ability going around the family did that.
Luna – was already born, like Adra had expected.
She also was her Luna – the one from her first life, and most of the following ones.

How she'd done this when last she'd heard she was in Gaia with the rest of her Elements, the goddess really didn't know. But Luna always had this effect on everyone.
Pyxis, Adra and Remus found themselves bunking in Lily's childhood room as the Lovegood insisted they would be staying for Yule, that was but a couple of weeks away.
"We should also make an apparition in one of the pre-Yule balls." Leto had been the one to advise
Adra found that she liked the Lovegood patriarch very much – her grand-father by magic may have the keen instincts given by the ability to see more than most a lot of Lovegood shared, he was also down-to-earth enough to make good use of them. He would have made a good Slytherin.
"So who are the family hosting this year?" Pyxis wondered

Traditionally, there were six balls held the six days before Yule, each held by a different old blood family.
And of course, which one you attended or didn't attended was very significant in the wixen political scene.
"The Rosier, the Abbot, the Greengrass, the Selwyn, the Longbottom and the Rowle."
"Well, the Rosier and the Rowle are out." Pyxis discarded immediately with distaste "I'm thinking one of the light ball and one of the grey one."
"So either Greengrass or Selwyn and Longbottom or Abbot." Remus mused "Well, going to the Longbottom ball won't surprise anyone since Lily was rather close friend with Alice." he pointed out "As for the grey one…" he mused "There was at least one Selwyn among the arrested Death Eaters, so maybe wait to see them outside of their own territory before risking it."
"Longbottom and Greengrass it is then."

"Ugh. Politicking." Adra groaned with a frown that really didn't go on her baby face "Have fun."
"Oh just wait a few years and you won't have the excuse of being too young to miss those." her brother reminded her
Pyxis, Xeno and his wife Pandora had suffered through the two balls they'd decided to attend, then finally Yule had come.
A wreath of holly had been hanged on the door and all the family had gone to select the largest log they could find in the wood cellar, and together they'd decorated, carving runes and other symbols of revival and light.

The fireplace had been cleaned, and as night fell, all that lit up the living room where all were assembled was twenty one little candles around the room.
Finally, Leto had selected a bottle of mead from the year, and drenched the log, before putting it on fire.
Will the log burnt, they'd eaten the feast all had helped prepare – and once the log had finished burning, the ashes had been carefully picked up and kept in a jar, to be used for the rituals of the year to come.
All had taken a moment to pray toward their favorite deity of light, rebirth or renewal, and – it was time for the presents.
Nothing extravagant had been given – not that they couldn't afford it, but it wasn't really in the spirit of Yule.
All around Great Britain – numerous families were celebrating Yule too, and finally settling down in the fact that the dark lord was gone.

Except, of course – he wasn't.
"This Voldemort isn't the same as mine." Adra had mused when talking with her brother
"Well of course," Death easily agreed "after all your Tom Riddle broke his soul apart. With most of the work already done, destroying his soul didn't take more that a few seconds."
She sent an amused smile at the smug comment, before elaborating "Anyway this Tom Riddle… Assuming he's still a Tom Riddle?"
"There's no reason he isn't." Pyxis answered "But we should probably check it out."
"Right. Well, he didn't cut his soul in pieces."

"Well, I guess he had to be less stupid that your first dark lord." Pyxis admitted "After all, otherwise he wouldn't be so dangerous for this world."
"But what I felt when he came to kill me…" Adra closed her eyes, seeing for a moment the body of her parents laid before her once more
There hadn't been a way to save her parents, she knew, not with how little magic she had acces to for now – and they had agreed to pay the price, only to give her a chance to save this world. Pushing the sadness away, she felt her resolve grow stronger – one more reason not to fail.
"He was empty."
"A phylactery." Pyxis guessed
"Probably."
"So this is how he survived this time around."

¤.¤.¤

They hadn't been particularly hiding their chat, so Remus, who was coming out of the kitchen with a batch of hot chocolate for everyone asked "Who's alive?" he eyed the tow of them "Don't tell me…"
"Voldemort?" Adra asked innocently "I'm afraid so."
"You seem rather calm about it so I doubt he'll be knocking on our door just yet." he mused
"Nah, phylactery or not, he's still lost his body." Pyxis reassured him "He'll need years to grow strong enough to weave his magic, not to mention even more time before he manages to get a body back."

"Shouldn't we be searching for this phylactery then?"
"Well of course." Pyxis nodded as if it was evident – it rather was after all "But you'll soon see that Voldemort isn't the only problem of the vixen world."
"I already know that." Remus pointed out dryly "I mean, while he's a blood bigot he's got the right of it regarding traditions, we should be free to celebrate our own holidays without the government looking at us askew, and Lily was one the three new blood that ever bothered to learn about the wixen world."
"And that's why brother is going to go to a lot a boring balls." a sigh "And me too, I guess, in a few years." she groaned mumbling something about 'wanting to be rid of politicking in her next life'

Leto, who looked lie he knew precisely what they were talking about despite having just come home added "And of course I'll help. As for you, little goddess." Remus didn't bat an eyelid at the appellation, used by now to the strange ways the Lovegood had to call his niece "I'd suggest you start with the Norse." a wink "If you play your hand well, you may even cancel Ragnarök."
Remus had tilted his head "You're also tackling on the problems of the gods? You're going to have your hands full."
"That's why we've got you to help." Adra answered enthusiastically
"Of course." Remus nodded, amused "Not that I really see what I can do to help, but sure."

"We'll start by naming you the official representative of the Potter." Pyxis mused "After all I can't do it myself, I'm going to be away often."
"A werewolf? Official proxy of an old house?" Remus snorted "Well, when you said you were trying to change our world, I didn't take it that you meant to do it by giving a heart-attack to the old biddies, but why not."
Just like Remus had said – his nomination had caused some backlash when Dumbledore had let it slip – accidentally of course – that he was a werewolf, but the wixen world was old-fashioned enough that no law could forbid a Head of House to choose their representative as they wished.
Add to that the fact that Leto was clearly aligning himself with the wolf – and well, no one had been able to say anything.

Pyxis was particularly happy to be able to drop half of his political work on his last remaining best friend.
Then, he'd taken his sister, and they went back to Annwn.
"You want to check out the Norse?" Arawn shuddered "Oh, they've got it bad."
"What's their deal?"
"Well it's to do with where we come from." the blond explained "Not all pantheons got an end of time as detailed as they have, it's driven them a bit bonkers." he concluded, a finger twirling new his temple in a clear gesture

"What my husband means," Morrígan clarified "Is that they are so sure that nothing can change their end that they've all but given up any attempt at living, or doing their duties." a sigh "They are merely going through the motions, while waiting for Ragnarok."
"A few of them haven't completely given up, but honestly they tend to take it to the opposite… You know, preparing enthusiastically for their doom."

"It's… It doesn't make sense." Adra finally managed to say, clearly bemused about what they were telling her "I mean, Ragnarok is something that could happen, though of course they'd only fade but well… everyone has free will, even the mortal! They don't have to let Ragnarök happen! I mean seriously, Loki could just decide to learn scuba-diving and open an underwater restaurant rather than start Ragnarok if he wanted!" she ranted, throwing her tiny hands in the air "Fate isn't a bitch that forces people to do her will!"
Morrígan was nearly rolling to the floor as she laughed at the heated comment, mumbling about 'underwater restaurant' and "Loki in a green speedo' between two laughing fits.

Finally, she manage to recover, and pointed out "You can say that again. Honestly, I think there are self-fulfilling their own prophecy with the torment they're inflicting the man."
"What do you mean?"
Arawn was the one to describe the punishment – the way the god had been tied to a slab of rock with the very entrails of his own children, poison dripping on his face for centuries – and until Ragnarok.
Yes she mused – if he hadn't been mad before, the Norse god probably hadn't done any service to his mental state with this, this was the problem with pantheon born from Humanity's Imagination.
Mortals were far too inventive for their own good sometimes.

And so, she had started to look for Loki.
Which wasn't supposed to be too hard – the man was affiliated to Chaos after all.
But that was forgetting to take into account one thing – no matter how she looked right now, Adrasteia wasn't even two year old yet. Her mind may be working well enough, right now her body was still too weak to even tolerate wix magic, let alone her godly powers.
So wait she did – spending her time researching, reading, planning with Pyxis, Leto and Remus
The year dragged by slowly but helped tremendously as slowly the broken group of people that were Pyxis, Remus, the Lovegood and Adra herself healed and became a real family.

And with each holiday she could feel herself growing and gradually become stronger – strong enough that she took her search back for Loki a few months before her first rite, having finally enough of a grasp of her own senses that with numerous hours of meditation, she was able to find the god affiliated to her powers, and from there see the place he was stuck in – a Pensieve memory later, and she was working on convincing Pyxis to take her, since she still wasn't able to shadow travel herself.

¤.¤.¤

Loki's eyes, closed under the strain of the nearly constant pain he lived with, snapped open.
He shared a worried glance, so fast most wouldn't see it, with his wife who was leaning above him, a cup in hands to catch the venom before it could land on his face.
Seidr, magic was in the air, but not only.
In the middle of the cave, shadows swirled, and a portal opened.

A young man, looking in his twenties, stepped out.
He had straight black hair falling halfway to his back, tied with a deceptively simple looking silk tie and piercing grey eyes. Wearing an outer robe on a pair of slacks and a dress shirt, he was looking every inch the pureblood wizard the heir ring on his finger confirmed him to be.
In one arm he held a little girl – barely more than a baby really, who jumped to the ground as soon as she could.

"Well met, Loki Laufeyson, Sigyn Nerthusdóttir." he greeted with a pitch perfect bow
"Well met, heir Black." Loki was the one to answer – his wife hadn't talked in front of anyone for centuries "I would bow back but I'm afraid I'm a little tied down." he answered automatically, motioning with his head toward the tight rope
"No worries, I'm not here for long anyway." the other waved away his concern as if they were exchanging pleasantries in a tea party, and turned his attention toward the tiny girly with black hair and emerald green eyes that was looking looking intently around her "I'll be going now. It's just a regular Wizengamot session that grand-father insist I attend, so it should last three or four hours max."
"Have fun." the child teased

With a fond smile, the man rolled his eyes – and disappeared in another swirl of shadows.
Leaving behind a tiny girl, who just like him didn't felt quite human.
Loki tilted his head, waiting – for the girl to acknowledge them in any way, but for now she seemed quite content to entertained herself with a book she'd gotten out of nowhere. The god of mischief felt his annoyance grow, but was determine not to be the one to talk first – he wouldn't be less patient than a child!
Eventually, said child closed her book, and eyed Sigyn and him.

Loki noted that while she didn't like the state they were in, she didn't look afraid or disgusted, proving this wasn't just any child.
After all – Loki himself was a vision of horror, half his face eaten away by the poison Sigyn couldn't always catch before it fell on him, body parched and emaciated after the centuries spent tied to this place without any food or water. Sigyn, while she wasn't tortured like him, hadn't left his side since the first day, and was just as frighteningly thin as him, and her tears were now blood and had left heavy scars on her own face.

"Honestly," the little girl mused "I'm surprised you haven't managed to improve your situation yet."
"What is there to improve?" Loki couldn't help but point out bitterly "I'm stuck on this rock, and when I get free, I'll start Ragnarök."
The girl let a disappointed sigh – and in a move too fast too see, she was suddenly right in his face, an ethereal red shield blocking the venom from the two of them – blood, the god of mischief realized distantly, as his eyes were drawn to the twin pool of emerald green, each with three golden tear-drops spinning wildly.

"Not a halfblood." he finally realized, the girl all but throwing her hands in the air
"And finally he starts to use his senses."
Her eyes faded back into green, and she stepped back.
"You're not as mad and evil as you try to portray yourself, Loki Laufeyson." she stated "Though you aren't quite ready to step out of this cave."

Like he'd said, the wizard that wasn't merely a wizard was back four hours later, and the two of them left, the child enthusiastically waving at them.
She'd come back the next day, only staying a couple of hours this time, looking at yet another tome larger than herself.
By the end of the week, Loki was growing mad with curiosity.
"Why are you always reading?"

"I'm researching." the little girl – and wasn't she growing way too fast? - explained, putting her book up for the cover to be visible
It was a book on Norse mythology.
"Like in some of the stories, you're Odin's blood-brother, and in others you're his adopted son." she mused
"I'm his brother." Loki protested "Who'd want to be the brother of the annoying red-head?" not really admitting, even to himself, that he did like said annoying red-head
Or rather that he had, once upon a time.
"Thor's a red-head?" she mused "Funny, in half of those stories he's blond."
"Odin was blond when he was young." Loki corrected "The red hair come from Frigg."

The god of mischief didn't really know why he was entertaining the girl, but somehow he found himself answering her questions. He tried to tell himself that it was to ensnare her to use her later – but truth was, he knew himself well enough to realize that it was merely by curiosity.
He found himself strangely enjoying talking about the old stories – stories he hadn't though about without bitterness filling him in centuries, but the little girl rarely left him enough time to stir up his bitterness, instead flickering from one topic to another so fast he wasn't given the time to think about the bad feelings.
He found himself thinking fondly about memories he hadn't revisited in centuries.
In a way, it made his current predicament even worse.

It had been easy to think about Ragnarök when he was still drowning in hatred.
Remembering that he actually used to like those idiots he was fated to destroy… He really hadn't wanted that.
Yet somehow, he could feel that Sigyn actually approved, not that he understood why.
It had been nearly three weeks since the first time the two wixen had appeared in their cave when the girl stepped out of the shadow once more, all but skipping.
She had a circular slab of stone in her hands, intricately engraved with…
Those weren't runes, Loki realized.

¤.¤.¤

"Ogham." he couldn't help but blurt
The little girl nodded "I was thinking that since you didn't look to be able to use your magic here, runes probably wouldn't work." she explained
"What for?"
"A holding plate, silly." she said as if it was the most evident answer – maybe it was at that, he didn't know much about Oghams, only that they were the written form of the Thuatha de Danaan's language
Magic swirled around the little girl, apparently straining her a bit – which was rather strange given the power he felt in her – and the stone started to glow, then to float. With a pointed finger, she sent the item toward them – toward Sigyn's hands holding the cup filled with poison
Then from the bag that hang on her back, and clearly and an expanding charm on, she took a large stone jar, that she painstakingly pushed near the goddess
"You'll still have to empty the cup in the jar." she explained "But you can at least rest you arms and taken care a bit of yourself." she pointed the jar "And you can empty the jar in the pool when the cup is filling. Like that, your husband won't have to be hit by the poison anymore."

And suddenly Loki understood.
Ogham – non-Norse magic to skirt around Odin's edict.
How come he'd never thought about it?
Finally, a multitude of questions swarming in his mind, he could only ask "Why do you struggle so much with your seidr?"
"I haven't had my First Rite."

He needed a moment to job his memory, not having had a child in the wixen world since few decades, before his eyes widened "You're not Awakened yet? This could damage your seidr!" he couldn't help but warn
There was a reason after all, why children were only acknowledged by the Spirit Guardians at three year old – before that, their body wasn't strong enough yet to channel magic, and trying to do so anyway, like sometimes happened when a wix child was in danger, could end up damaging their magic.

"It won't happen." she contradicted "Not as long as I keep to the dream worlds to practice."
Suddenly, he remembered – not quite understanding how he could have forgotten – that she wasn't merely a witch.
Nor even a halfblood.

"How can a goddess be born in a mortal body?"
"By carefully locking most of my powers, of course."
She waved at them, shadows nearly ready to take her away.
"Wait!"

She paused, head tilted in a rather canine fashion that painfully reminded him of Fenris.
"Who are you?"
"That, Laufeyson, you should find for yourself."
"Your name then?"
"My current name is Adrasteia Lyra Potter." she introduced herself, curtsy proving that she did know about the wixen words traditions "Well met."
"Well met." he agreed as the little girl leaved
"Well met indeed." Sigyn mused, voice raw with disuse as even when they were alone she seldomly spoke anymore

"What do you recon the little goddess is scheming?" he wondered
His wife shrugged helplessly, looking rather unused not to have to keep the poison out of his face anymore.
"Still, she was right in one thing." he concluded "I'm the one chained here, you shouldn't suffer with me when you don't have to."
"We're not having this conversation again," Sigyn cut him up "I'm thankful to be able to rest my arms, but I'm not leaving you, husband."
Loki made to protest, then though better about it.
No matter how silver-tongued he could be, he never had managed to win an argument against Sigyn – this was, maybe, why he'd eventually wedded her.

Adrasteia kept on visiting, the couple somehow becoming used to her company.
From questioning Loki on the Aesir and the Vanir, she'd moved on talking about multiple topics – the other pantheons and how strange they all were, how idiotic and backward she felt the wixen world could sometime be.
How she missed her parents, even, thought she never spent too much time about the topic, how difficult it still was for her brother to understand regular human interactions, how cute her little cousin was…
Little by little, they were learning more about the little witch that was a goddess.

"It's annoying," she complained one day "I really can't wait for my birthday to have more of my talents available!" a sigh "But I know better than to experiment to much," an amused smile "I mean brother ended up lost in Annwn when he started to experiment with his shadow travel too young, and he's clearly better than me with the shadows despite my name." seeing Loki's raise eyebrow – her name didn't have anything to do with the shadows after all "My other name I mean."
A few weeks later, she arrived with her brother in tow, the man clearly used as a pack mule as he had his arms full of things.

A lopsided cross made from twigs and straw, a woven basket full of baked goods, a leather gourd full of – if his nose didn't mislead him – fermented goat milk mead…
His eyes widened, remembering old days.
Not the feasts of Asgard, but the times he'd slipped away to mingle with the other pantheons, despite most of their leaders looking down on such a thing – of spending days with Ogma and Dagda.
The celebration of the Thuatha de Danaan were very different from the Aesir loud festivities, he remembered, having more to do with gratefulness for the things you had than boasting about your own abilities.
The wixen world, for all that they worshiped deities from all the pantheons, still kept to the Wheel of the Year's celebration.

"Merry Imbolc, Loki Laufeyson, Sigyn Nerthusdóttir." Adra and her brother greeted together
Adra started to take things out of her brothers arms.
"Here! Start with the milk!" she gave the gourd to Sigyn, explaining "The libations were already consecrated!"
Once more, she'd been able to get around Odin's restriction, Loki realized, more amused than stunned this time. Oh how he wished one of his latest halfblood had been half as innovative and fun as the little girl!

Sigyn cautiously wet her lips in the beverage, eyes lightening up with more life than he'd seen in centuries. After a few sips, she smiled and stretched the gourd toward him, guiding it to let a few drops, then a bit more liquid fell on his lips, and in his mouth.
After centuries starved and parched – Loki felt like he'd hadn't ever had anything better than the rather crude goat alcohol.
Then, Sigyn reached toward Adra and her brother, who took a few sips of the beverage too, as tradition dictated, before giving it back.
"There should be a few liters in the gourd." the Black heir was the one to say "Leto made quite a large batch this year."

Loki didn't know who this Leto was – but right now he was his favorite person in the world, right by the siblings that had brought the gourd.
Then, Adra shared the fresh, soft bread filled with dry fruits and nuts, and he decided that his favorite person was maybe the one who'd made the bread.
He hadn't had such a long list of people he actually like in centuries.
"Pandora baked the bread." Adra said, given a name to the new person on his list "Luna and I helped but," she pointed helplessly at herself "I think I'm not quite tall enough to be all that useful in the kitchen, and Luna's even younger."
The feeling was really nostalgic, Loki mused.

Finally, the twisted cross of twigs and straw were brought forward. A Brigit cross, the god remembered, the Thuatha de Dannan goddess giving protection and purification on this days to the faithfuls. He remembered her as a young goddess, the daughter of his friend Dagda, always enthusiastic about the holiday as she like the idea that things could get better, if only you tried.
Sigyn took the cross from Adra's hand, and the little girl carefully placed the second on Loki's chest.

Then magic and godly flared and Loki's eyes widened at the storm of power far too large for such a small, such a young body.
He couldn't see his own body, basked in light, but when he turned his head toward his wife, she was looking – not healed of course – but in far better state than she'd been in centuries.
Adra stumbled, her brother catching her before she fell.

"This is why I told you to let me do it." he remonstrated
"You are even less suitable than me to channel healing powers." she contradicted him, words slurred as she was nearly asleep "Happy Imbolc, I'm going to sleep now."
The Black heir watched them a second, glare cold – then he sighed "She's probably going to be sleeping this off for a few days. She channeled Brigit powers, but she really isn't better suited to them than myself." an annoyed mumble 'where's her annoying husband when he's needed'
"Thank you."
Loki realized, stunned – that it wasn't him who'd talked but Sigyn – her voice heard by another than him for the first time in centuries.
The Black heir inclined his head, accepting the praise as refusing it would have decreased his sister's kind act.
"I'd have rather she waited a few more years before doing something rash." he still admitted

Loki couldn't help but nodded his agreement – this had been such a tremendous kindness the young goddess had done them he couldn't remember the last time someone had done something like this for him – but the man was right, he could feel it had taken a toll for her.
"But well, none of us like seeing one of their own in such a state."
"I'm not a good guy."
"That you certainly aren't." the dark haired man agreed "It doesn't mean you have to be a bad guy either."

"Ragnarök…"
"To hell with Ragnarök." the other interrupted him, all but spitting the word like it was a swear "Even mortals have free will, and you think gods have to sing to the tune of bored Nornes!"
Loki found himself unable to refute what the man was saying – not that would have had the time for it, as he'd already gone away.
For the first time, he felt a spark of hope burn in his heart.

¤.¤.¤

Once Morrígan and Arawn had told Pyxis and Adra about the Norse – and especially, about Loki, the young goddess had been set on finding the Norse god.
It hadn't been that difficult, despite the fact that Odin had apparently hidden the cave where he was held away – because as a god of mischief, of course Loki was one of Chaos' lower divinities.
And nothing could hide one of his own from a Higher God.
Adra may not be Chaos himself – but just like she felt a clear link with Death's own holy servants and affiliated divinities, so she did too with Chaos' own minions now that she'd become his sister.
The only remaining problem – was that she couldn't get there herself.

Because just like her familiars were for now still hidden away in her soul, unable to materialize in this world, most of her powers were still locked away, even Chaos Game not having showed a glimpse of it's Interface yet.
Pyxis had been the one to explain, as she'd bemoaned the situation – because this was an old world, able to accommodate people with strong powers, the mortal body had to be protected while growing in order to endure powerful magic and other abilities once older.

Which meant that until she was three year old and went through he First Rite, she'd be nearly powerless – with the only exception being when in the dream realms inhabited by the different deities of this world, that were close enough to the Immortal Realms that the In Between seeped in and unlocked a bit of her powers.
So rather than wait, Adrasteia had used the fearsome power of puppy eyes on her brother, and convinced him to play chauffeur for her until she could shadow travel herself.
Pyxis had tried to tell her to wait until her First Rite – but once she'd pointed out the tortured god was of Chaos, and thus hers, he had relented, understanding all too well that it wouldn't sit well with her.

Odin had done his job far too well – while traveling to and from the cave where Loki was prisoner wasn't hard for them, helping him was quite different.
For one, of course, Adrasteia couldn't just free him as long as he was still intent on Ragnarök – but even if she had wished to free him immediately it would have been quite impossible with the few gifts she had access to right now.
So she decided to wait, and take the long slow way, tickling the god's curiosity, reminding him of his past, and the people he knew, while looking for a way to improve the conditions Sigyn and him lived in.

It was Xenophilius that gave her the idea of using another writing system than runes – because written magic was one of the first young wix could practice, as it took more from the world's magic than their personal pool.
She had been rather proud of the levitating plate she'd done in but a few weeks – and while his face was carefully blank, her Soul Art let her feel the gratefulness, when he realized how much it would help his wife.
But the real change had come at Imbolc.

She had asked Morrígan's help weeks ahead, and the goddess had invited her to her next tea party with Dana, Ceridwen, Epona, Brigit and a dozen of different water goddess – the celtic pantheon had a lot of those.
Of course she hadn't gone out and immediately told them all who she was, but simply talking and getting to know the goddesses had been interesting – and by the end of the afternoon she'd managed to discretely ask Brigit for a private meeting.
She'd been invited to the Sidh, the world where most of the Thuatha de Danaan lived. Brigit had been rather surprised when she'd admitted that she wanted to help Loki, and convince him not to start Ragnarök – but the goddess remembered the Norse god from her early years, and she always had had trouble picturing the mischievous, but not unkind man who spent hours trading barbs over kegs of beer and mead with her father as the evil entity that would end the life of the Norse gods.

So convincing her hadn't been that hard – there was maybe the last dredges of a childhood crush helping too.
Was left the not so tiny problem that channel healing powers really wasn't something she should do as a goddess of Death – but gritting her teeth through the pain, and focusing on her ties to Chaos rather than Death, she did manage to help the Norse couple a bit.
Of course, Light would have done far better – but while she knew the man was alive, he felt rather far away, and she hadn't wanted to make Loki and Sigyn wait more than necessary.

¤.¤.¤

After her feat, Adrasteia had slept for days – but while it had been painful to channel powers that drastically opposed to hers, it hadn't been dangerous thanks to the fact it had been Imbolc, the celebration of renewal and as such a particularly auspicious time for healing.
A week had gone by before Pyxis finally allowed her back to the cave – and she found both Loki and Sigyn much changed.
Physically of course, both not looking anymore quite as dreadful as they had. While they were still way too emaciated for their own good, their didn't look like zombies – or inferi, or draugr – anymore.
Sigyn wasn't crying anymore, and while the scars still marred he face, they didn't look as raw as they had. Loki's face, while still half burned away by the venom, was looking to be finally healing.
It would take a long time before the traces of their ordeal disappeared – but disappear they would, eventually, as both were gods.

But what was even more startling than the physical transformation – was the mental one.
For someone like her who could feel souls, it was just as evident, if not even more than the more visible changes.
"Well met, Adrasteia." Loki greeted her, eyes shinning with wonder "Old One."
"Hey!" she protested "I'm not old!" an amused smile, because she did know what he had meant "We usually call ourselves the High Gods, or the First Circle Gods." she pointed out "But I guess Old One is the local word?"
Loki nodded, and added "But why would you come…"

He didn't finish his sentence, but didn't need to. She could feel easily away what he meant – here, to help him, and here, on this world.
"Well," she mused "I came to this world to stop it from becoming Lost."
Sigyn was the one who understood first "A doomed world…" she whispered, voice still raw from disuse, though far better than it had been – not that Adra realized
"Indeed." the green eyed girl agreed "As for you…" she eyed Loki "I didn't really need to help you." she agreed "I'm pretty sure waking up the Norse could be done without saving you." she agreed with what he hadn't said, before shrugging 'But why not? You're not pure evil, or as mad as your try to appear." a sigh "Why couldn't I save a god using my brother's powers, when so few truly understand those powers?"

It was true – in most of the pantheons, Chaos was seen as a nefarious entity, which quite frankly was ridiculous. Was it any wonder that they'd reacted by lashing out?
"Not quite Chaos." Loki finally understood – remembering she'd told him he'd realize himself who she was
"Not quite she agreed "I'm Death, whom you've already met, and Chaos' sister."
The affirmation took the couple by surprise – then they realized that of course, the wizard they'd seen a few times, who had felt quite similar to her, was also an Old One.
Adra had kept on visiting them after that, but the initial mistrust of the couple was definitively gone – replaced by respect, and soon enough, friendship.
She hadn't needed to explain why she couldn't free Loki right now – the god understanding well enough that just as much as it was what allowed her to be out in the Mortal Realm, she was still constrained by her mortal body.

It took a few more weeks before Loki eventually admitted to Adra something they all already knew.
He had no interest left in Ragnarök.
"I'm still angry," he told the green-eyed girl "furious even. Odin was my brother, Thor a very good friend… And when Balder died, they immediately turned on me without bothering to even ask why I had given this damn arrow to Hod!"
His eyes filled with grief as he finally broke down – and for the first time allowed himself to cry.

"Odin may be lauded as the wisest, but he was always too quick to judge." he spit "Calling me his brother and condemning one of my son to be chained for eternity, using another as his steed as if he was a mere beast… Killing my two youngest children to chain me!"
It was even worst – that he had believed in the Aesir's friendship, had given the man a second chance time and again, yet despite all he was always the one held in contempt, reviled without any of the gods supposed to be his friends and family ever trying to take his side.
Loki was bitter – because he had really wanted to believe in the Aesir, had really seen Odin as a brother.
Anger was far easier to handle than the deep sorrow the Norse god, Odin first among them, had caused him.

But now – now he didn't want the anger anymore.
He just didn't want to have anything to do with the Norse pantheon anymore.

¤.¤.¤

"Naglfar can finds itself another captain." he sighed "All I want now is to get out of here, and free my children."
Adra had let the god of mischief talk, finally getting off his chest centuries of resentment. He talked about his children too – Hel, confined to Helheim, though she had rather well turned the situation around as Odin had never thought she'd be able to run the world of the dead so well; Jörmungandr, that rather than be taught how to manage his powers had been discarded away in Midgar; Fenris bound in chains in order to prevent his eventual role in Ragnarök; Sleipnir, used as a simple horse by Odin, Nari and Vali, killed before they even reached adulthood.

Eventually, she had asked him about the event that had led to his imprisonment – the death of Balder.
"Just because the idiot had a bad dream, Frigg went all around the nine worlds to make everything promise never to harm her beloved son." he rolled his eyes "So what if he had died? He's a god, he would have just reformed in a few decades, we're immortals!" a frown "But this isn't why I gave Hod the mistletoe arrow, no. This was to remind Frigg that we aren't all powerful." he tried to shrug, but was blocked by the ropes binding him "I'm the one called the god of Lies and Mischief, but she's just as crafty as me, and with her ability to See, she'd become arrogant."
Balder's death had become rather more permanent than expected when Hel, already bitter toward the Aesir and the Vanir, and furious with the way her father had been imprisoned and punished without anyone questioning him, had refused to let the god leave the world of the dead.

Odin, when trapping Hel to Helheim – had outplayed himself. Because the world of the dead was now the goddess' domain, the place where she was the strongest – and the Norse god, when they took a deadly hit, were sent there until they could gather back their powers.
Balder had probably come back to life a long time ago – but as long as Hel forbid him to leave Helheim, he was still as good as dead for the rest of the Norse gods.
Brigit, which Adra had met a few times since Imbolc, had asked after Loki and Sigyn a few times – the goddess, when channeling her powers through the little girl had of course realized what she was, and been rather impressed with the way she'd endured the pain to help the couple.

The Celt goddess had also been horrified by the state the two gods she'd started to heal were in, that she had been able to evaluate when channeling her powers throught Adra, and now felt involved in their plight too, wanting nothing more than to be able to finish to heal them – something she couldn't do as long as they were hidden away by Odin's powers.
Adra had told her that she was working on a way to free Loki and Sigyn – and Brigit, after talking to her father, then the rest of her pantheon, had officially invited the Norse couple to the Sidh, granting them official asylum from the Norse.

This – was something unheard of among the pantheons – but the Thuatha de Danaan were rather different from the other pantheon in that they'd kept more down-to-earth than most of them, mainly because of how invested they were in the wixen world, which in turn had prevented them to look down on the mortals, never forgetting how adaptable they could be.
"We have been remiss in our duties too," Lug had reluctantly admitted "if not in the same way as the other pantheons." the leader of the Thuatha de Danaan sighed "We saw that they were getting more arrogant and disconnected from the mortals, but instead of trying to stop them from setting in their ways, we closed ourselves off."

"You're the only pantheon that managed to evolve with time and isn't disconnected from the modern world." Adra contradicted him "Your duty always was to keep balance, just like the other pantheons. The fact that they failed to remember that isn't your fault, and even if you had try to stop them from forgetting their duties, they wouldn't have listened to your advice like the mortals do."
Lug – knew she was right, but still felt a niggling sense of guilt. Even if they'd have failed, he'd rather they had at least try to prevent the other pantheons to grow arrogant.
Of course, Lug wasn't stupid – while they would give asylum to Loki and Sigyn, the best protection for the Norse couple would be for their escape, and subsequent relocation, to remain unnoticed for as long as possible.

¤.¤.¤

Ostara, Beltane and Litha came and went, celebrated by Adra and her family – and each time, she finished the holiday by going with Pyxis celebrate with Loki and Sigyn too.
With each celebration, Eostre, goddess of Nature; Belenos, god of Light and Lug, leader of the Thuatha de Danaan and god of Wisdom himself had sent their blessing toward Loki and Sigyn.
While it wasn't something that was usually done – it wasn't impossible to send blessing to a fellow god rather than a mortal, even if they weren't from the same pantheon.
And finally, two nights before Lughnasadh, came the night of Adrasteia's First Rite.

The young goddess found herself in the middle of a lush pine forest, brimming with magic and holy power. Smiling, she found herself drawn, easily finding her way to a large clearing hosting a large stone circle where numerous silvery creatures were waiting for her.
These, she knew, were the Guardian Spirit, each one affiliated to generations of wixen – each one affiliated to an old wix House.
Whispers of 'Old One' and 'Bringer of Balance' echoed as she approached them.

"Well met, young goddess, come and step into the circle."
"Well met, Spirit Guardians."
Around her, she could feel the unique touch of each Spirit Guardian unique magic, some of them surging toward her amicably, other shying away from her own unique aura that here was reminiscent of her powers in the Immortal Realm.
Before any of the ethereal creature had the time to say anything more, magic stirred and two very familiar silhouette appeared, stepping in the circle and bowing politely.

"Well met, Revered Guardians."
Leto and Pyxis then turned toward Adrasteia, smiling "Merry First Rite, little sister." Death incarnate wished
"Merry First Rite, little goddess." Leto echoed just as affectionately
"May all the Worlds know, little goddess, that you are Adrasteia Lyra Potter, Heiress of the Potter and Peverell, daughter of the Black, daughter of the Lovegood and the Ravenclaw."
"No fair," a voice protested among the Guardian Spirits "why is it the Black again!"

Among the silvery creatures, a raven, a wolpertinger, a grimm, a griffyn and a valravn stepped forward, bowing in front of the young goddess, their magic mingling amicably with hers "Be welcomed, young goddess. So shall it be."
With that, she felt magic stir around her, as if something that had been asleep since her birth finally came awake.

[Welcome to Chaos' Game 5.0]

[New log entrance: Fate update

welcome to the Pantheons-verse
Summary: Don't mistake this world for your own, little Shadow, despite some similarities it is very different, like you've no doubt already realized.
Good luck saving this world, and enjoy your time with your brother!]

[Main Characteristic

You gain 1 point in each Stat every year until you reach rank 10 in this stat, then 1 point each two years until rank 20, and so on... and 2 points to spent however you like every five level

BODY STAT
Agility: 1
Strength: 1
Endurance: 1

SPIRIT STAT
Intelligence: 1
Wisdom: 1
Fortitude: 1

HEART STAT
Empathy: 1
Perception: 1
Sociability: 1

LUCK: 1

Available: 5]

[Computing Soul Imprint

-Faded Lightning Bolt: +2 INT, +1 WIS, the last remnant of a cursed scar
-Alpha Mark: +2 ST, +1 AG, the mark of a leader among the canine
- Hand-Fasting Mark: +2 LUCK, +1 SOC, the proof of a life defying love story
- Automail Scars: +2 END, +1 ST, the grievous remains of a failed ritual
- Elder Long Treasure: +2 LUCK, +1 PERC, the proof of a dragon's interest
- Green Moon: +2 WIS, +1 PERC, sign of a head of House and goddess of Death
- Golden Wheel: +2 PERC, +1 EMP, sign of a goddess of Chaos]
[Computing Titles
- Kitsune Friend: you are considered as a kitsune by them, +2 LUCK, +1 AG, +1 SOC
-Two as One: unlocks the Shield Skill
- Scarlet Philosopher: HP regeneration enhanced by Blood Skill %
- Alpha: all canine naturally respect you, +2 SOC, +1 ST, +1 AG
- Moon Hime: you are the leader of the House of Moon,unlocks the House of Moon on this world,2 SOC, +1 INT, +1 AG
- Elder Long Treasure: you are favored by the leader of the Dragons,+2 WIS, +1SOC, +1 LUCK]

[Main Characteristic updated!]

[Main Characteristic

You gain 1 point in each Stat every 10 years and 2 points to spent however you like every five level

BODY STAT
Agility: 1(4): 5
Strength: 1(4): 5
Endurance: 3(2): 5

SPIRIT STAT
Intelligence: 1(3): 4
Wisdom: 1(5): 6
Fortitude: 1(0): 1

HEART STAT
Empathy: 4(1): 5
Perception: 1(4): 5
Sociability: 1(3): 4

LUCK: 1(7): 8

Available: 0

Secondary Characteristic

They are calculated based on the Main Characteristics

Health Points (HP): 50
HP regeneration: 6,5/hour
Mana Points (MP): 56
MP regeneration: 6,8/hour
Ki Points (KP): 50
KP regeneration: 6,5/hour
Critical Chance: 8,4%
Critical Power: 6,8%]

[Skills

Note that skills have been reevaluated for the current world, and fighting skills have been reset
You gain 1 Skill Point per level and 10 on each birthday

GENERAL SKILLS

Language
- beast tongue: 100
- English: 100
- Latin: 100
- French: 89
- Japanese: 100
- Italian: 100
- Chinese: 100
- Korean:89
- Amestrian: 92
- Xingese: 90
- Xerxesian: 72
- Ishvalian: 65
- Ancient Celt: 48
- Old Norse: 5
- Ancient Greek: 5

Communication
- Charisma: 56
- Seduction: 37
- Bluff: 62
- Persuasion: 59
- Intimidation: 58
- Trading: 54

Survival
- Orientation: 57
- Wild Life: 58
- City Life: 56
- Stealing: 59
- Discretion: 64
- Parkour: 65

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS

Scientific
- Math: 52
- Physic: 40
- Chemistry: 38
- Biology: 41
-Mechanics: 53

Art
- History: 39
- Geography: 35
- Writing: 46
- Drawing: 41
- Singing: 37

FIGHTING

Weapon

- Unarmed: 1
- Blunt: 1
- Blade: 1
- Throwing: 1
- Shooting: 1

Range
- Close: 1
- Mid: 1
- Long: 1

Field
- Dodging: 1
- Strategy: 1
- Battle Sense: 1
- Killing Intent: 1

Resistance
- Physical: 43
- Elemental: 48
- Magical: 54

ELEMENT

Primary
- Water: 34
- Air: 47
- Earth: 54
- Fire: 61

Unique
- Light: 31
- Shadow: 63
- Blood: 49
-Poison: 38

Secondary
- Ice: 12
- Storm: 15
- Lightning: 14
- Stone: 12
- Wood: 11
- Dust: 12
- YinYang: 19

MAGIC

Basic
- Charms: 1
- Transfiguration: 1
- Botany: 1
- Runes: 1

Regular
- Battle Magic: 1
- Potions: 1
- Taming: 1
- Arithmancy: 1
- Divination: 1
- Illusion: to be unlocked
- Invocation: to be unlocked
War Magic: to be unlocked
- Curse: 1
Healing: 1

Advanced
- to be unlocked

PAST LIFE

- Metamorphosis: 66
- Shadow Walking: 64
- Blood Singing: 58

HOLY AFFINITY

Death
- Soul Art: 100
- Blood Art: 100
- Shadow Art: 60

Chaos
- Revolutionary Art: 75
Abyss Art: 50

Magic
- Spirit Art: 25

Life
Elemental Art: 25

UNIQUE

- Shield: 1

Available: 30]

The rush of magic and holy powers nearly made Adrasteia's head turn but it only lasted a few seconds – then magic and godly powers settled down, humming just under the surface of her skin, as she finally unlocked the familiar system she'd become so used to live with it had seemed strange not to have it for the past three years.

[First Rite unlocked

- Black House: +2 PERC,Black Magic (Battle, War & Curse Magic) Potency Perk unlocked
- Lovegood House: +2 PERC, Beastspeak (Mamals) Perk unlocked
- Moon House: +2 AG, Battle Sense Potence Perk unlocked
- Peverell House: +2 FORT, Death Sense Perk unlocked
- Potter House: +2 FORT, Light Sensing (feel) Magic Perk unlocked
- Ravenclaw House: +2 INT, Organized Mind Perk unlocked]

[Perks

Available: …]

[Computing Perk Points
- 1 PP at birth
- 1 PP per year (3 years)
- 1 PP per God's Approval (Arawn, Morrígan, Brigit, Loki, Sigyn, Dagda, Lug)
- 1 PP per House Heir title (Potter, Peverell)
- 1 PP per House Child title (Black, Lovegood, Peverell, Potter, Ravenclaw)]

[Perks updated!

- City Rat (1 PP): +5 to City-Life and Stealing Skill (locks Wild Cat Perk)
- Wild Cat (1 PP): +5 to Wild-Life and Orientation (locks City Rat Perk)
- Natural Genius (2 PP): double book learning rate (locks Hard Work Genius Perk)
- Hard Word Genius (2PP): double training learning rate (locks Natural Genius Perk)
- Jack of All Trade (5 PP): +1 SP per level
- Black First Rite (1PP): grants Easy Black Magic Potency (+10 to Easy Spells of Battle Magic, War Magic and Curse)
- Lovegood First Rite (1 PP): unlocks Beastspeak(Mamals) Language Skill
- Moon First Rite (1 PP): unlocks Light Battle Aura (+10 to all damages)
- Peverell First Rite (1 PP): grants Death Touch (ability to feel if someone is about to die)
- 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
- Loki's Blessing (5 PP): +2 PERC, +10 to Bluff Skill
- Sigyn's Blessing (5 PP): +2 SOC, +10 to Potion Skill
- Brigit's Blessing (5 PP): +2 EMP, +10 to Healing Skill
- Arawn's Blessing (5 PP): +2 WIS, +10 to Killing Intent Skill
- Morrígan's Blessing (5 PP): +2 AG, +10 to Battle Sense Skill
- Lug's Blessing (5 PP): +2 INT, +10 to Strategy Skill
- Light Metamorphmagus (1 PP): unlocks Metamorphmagus Skill up to 25 (thanks to Black House Daughter status)

Available:18PP]

[Past Life Perks

already unlocked
- Metamorphosis: ability to shape-shift to any humanoïd form
-Shadow Walking: ability to manipulate shadows and open portals through them
- Blood Singing: ability to manipulate blood
to be unlocked
- Uzumaki Inheritance: unlocks Adamantine Chains Skill (ability to summon chains that can be used for battle or as supplementary arms)
- Uchiha Inheritance: unlocks Sharingan Skill (your eyes can process information faster and grants perfect recall)
- Nara Inheritance: unlocks Shadow Bending Skill (ability to use Shadow Element)
- Kurama Inheritance: unlocks True Illusion Skill (ability to weave powerful illusions)

Available: 1 to be chosen]

[Alternate Life Perks

already unlocked

- Ravenclaw Inheritance (already unlocked in this life)
- Curtis Inheritance: +2 AG, +1 INT every decade
- House of Long Inheritance: +2 LUCK, +1 SOC every decade

Available: 0]

The rush of information was rather dizzying – but right now, Adrasteia couldn't care less.
She had missed Chaos Game, sure enough. But what she had felt even more keenly had been the absence of the trio of souls kept asleep inside her own soul as long as she wasn't strong enough to let them materialize.

[Familiar System unlocked!

Padfoot (Grimm, level 1) added to system
Blanche (Inugami, level 1) added to system
Kagetsu (Kitsune, level 1) added to system]

[Call Ability unlocked (call your familiar to you)
Dismiss Ability unlocked ((send your familiar back)]

The next volley of notifications, the young goddess all but ignored as she was instead focusing on the newly unlocked ability.
Three small silhouette appeared, nearly making her squeal with glee, as the black dog, white wolf and red fox were all back to their young form, looking barely 3 month old. Not minding their small size, they rushed happily in her arms, under the fond gaze of Pyxis, Leto – but also the Spirit Guardians that hadn't left yet, keeping the Dream World up for a bit longer.
Finally reunited with her familiars, she deigned acknowledge the last of the notifications.

[Soul-Bonded Items added to Inventory

- Soul Link (accessory, already Equipped): +1 to all MC, unlocks Pensive System
(Tengu Enhancement: +10 to Charms)
(Kitsune Claw and Pearl Enhancement: unlocks Glamour Ability)
- Shape-shifting Kitsune Clothe (clothe/accessory, LV1): +10 Dodging, +1 AG
- Alpha Mask (accessory): +10 to Discretion when Equipped
- Renato's First Bullet (pendant): +10 to Shooting
- Chaos Insignia (pendant): +5 LUCK
- Vongola X Night Ring (ring): +10 to Charisma
- Moon Regalia (ear piercing): unlocks Moon Hime Perk
- Houshi no Tama (accessory, 9): each one can be assigned to a Skill to double their rate of learning
- FuurinKiba (tanto, LV1): +10 Damage, +1 AG
(FuurinSaya Enhancement: +100 MP, +10 MP Regen)
- KageShin (katana, LV 1): +10 Damage, +1 AG
- ShiroInu Tessen (battle fan, LV 1): +10 Damage, +1 AG

[New Perk unlocked

- Moon Hime Perk: Light Skill % adds a bonus to Defense, Shadow Skill % adds a bonus to Offense

Available: 15]

The next day had been perfect – Adrasteia had celebrated her birthday, and First Rite with her family, and enjoyed being finally reunited with her three familiars.
And by the end of the day, when she stepped in the cave where she'd spent so much time these past few months – it was with an enchanted black and silver ribbon in her hair and with the shadows finally answering to her call.
"Well met, Adra." Sigyn greeted her with a soft smile – of the kind that always seemed to erase for a moment the weariness on her face "And happy First Rite."
"Well met, Sigyn, Loki." a mischievous smile "Are you ready to get out of here?"

¤.¤.¤

The couple shared a stunned glance.
Of course they knew it was her objective, and one they fully hoped she would eventually managed. But they had thought it would take at least several years! After all, while she had acces to more of her powers than before, the goddess still had to deal with a young body, whose magical stamina would grow with time.
But once more, Adrasteia was surprising them!
Smiling mischievously, the young goddess of Death and Chaos winked, and took out some ink and paper out of nowhere.
With a few experimented movements, she gave the shape of a human silhouette to the paper, then started to draw some symbols on it.
A ripple of power, and the paper silhouette sprang to life.

"This is a shikigami," Adra explained "they are usually used by miko as servants." a wink "And it just so happens that I did study as a miko a couple of millennia ago."
The paper servant was now climbing up Loki as if he was a particularly tall mountain, even waving away Adra when she tried to help him climb faster. Soon, the shikigami had ascended on the god's shoulder and the little girl, who now had a blade in hand, was unhesitatingly slashing through his hand.
The god didn't even wince, the pain not even worth mentioning compared that of the snake venom he'd endured for centuries.
As for the shikigami, he had all but jumped in the blood flow, that was getting directly absorbed by the paper in a way that clearly wasn't natural.

While power was swirling around the paper figure, Adra had sheathed the beautiful short blade and taken out another weapon, this one far larger.
"Don't move." she warned the god that was eyeing the blade too tall for her "I'm not quite the right size to use KageShin easily."
"Okay, so why don't you use, I don't know, the smaller blade you used a moment before?" he couldn't help but snark – truth was, he understood easily enough
After all, as a god, it was impossible not to feel the faint thrum of power emanating from the dusky blade.

As for Adra – she was more than happy to finally be able to use her coming of age blade – because from the first time Pyxis and her had stepped in the cave, both had easily felt how Odin had managed to bind his blood-brother so securely.
And both had been appalled.
It was rather ingenious, in a way – to use something nearly no one could cut and weave it in a rope. But really – neither god of Death could stand the idea that the leader of the Norse Pantheon had used the soul of not one but two you godlings who'd hadn't even been able to grow into their powers.
Pyxis couldn't free them – because Nari and Vali, no matter how young and powerless they were, had been gods. And so it wasn't the power of Death, but of Chaos that could help them.

Loki was so weak that he all but fell to the ground, Sigyn rushing by his side. Both weren't caring in anyway of the fact that they were on the hard ground – too busy looking at the ethereal silhouette that had materialized when the rope had been cut.
The two young children waved happily at their parents, before bowing respectfully toward Adrasteia and disappearing.

"They'll be reborn in Helheim." Loki realized, not even minding the tears on his cheek
"That they will." their savior nodded with an encouraging smile, tilting her head to check that her shikigami was doing it's job
Loki's eyes widened as he realized what had been the servant's use – as the paper silhouette was now clearly emitting a very familiar aura: his own.
"With this, Odin won't realize you've left." the green-eyed goddess explained with a wink, before making the shadows open once more "And now, let's get away from here!"

[Life Quest Complete! Fate be Changed…
Goal Complete: Loki isn't set on starting Ragnarök anymore
Reward: +10 XP
Goal Complete: Free Loki
Reward: +10 XP
Bonus Goal Complete: you've hidden Loki's escape
Bonus Reward: +20 XP
Bonus Goal Complete: Free Sigyn
Bonus Reward: +20 XP
Bonus Goal Complete: you've found a new place for Loki and Sigyn
Bonus Reward: +2*20 XP]

[Life Quest Complete! Changing Fate…
Goal Complete: the Celt Pantheon is remembering it's duty
Reward: +5XP, +5PP, Reformed Celt Pantheon Achievement
[the Celt gods are interacting with the Mortal Realms anew]

[New Perk unlocked
Norse Allegiance (free): +25% to all Celt Magic, +10% to Agility

Available: 16 PP]

[Secondary Quest in Progress! Saving the Children…
Goal Complete: Nari and Vali freed
Reward: +2*5 XP, +2*1 PP, Nari's Approval and Vali's Approval]

[New Perk unlocked
Nari's Favor (5 PP): +2 LUCK, +10 Physical Resistance
Vali's Favor (5 PP): +2 LUCK, +10 Magical Resistance

Available: 11 PP]

[Level up! You are now level 12!
+10 SP, +4 MC, +1 PP]

ADRASTEIA LV 12 (3 YO)

BODY
Agility 4(13)
Strenght 3(7)
Endurance 5(7)

SPIRIT
Intelligence 4(9)
Wisdom 4(9)
Fortitude 3(9)

HEART
Empathy 6(8)
Perception 4(12)
Sociability 3(10)

LUCK 3(15)

PERK ACQUIRED (9PP spend, 16 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

Jack of All Trade (5 PP): +1 SP per level