XXIX. Exile
Things seemed to settle down for a while after Apophis' powers were sealed.
The Per Ankh were slowly adapting to having another House of Magicians in existence, some of them having integrated enough to even transfer to the Per Sesen – by entire Nomes, in certain cases. Though the older shesh, a bit too set in their ways, were content to simply live and let live.
The last weeks of school were busy, with regular end of the year exams for most – and of course, the OWLs and NEWTs for fifth and seventh year students, Adra among them – especially given that, now that it was rather evident to all that she was at school more to mingle with people than to study, Dumbledore had once more urged her to just write and be done with her NEWTs, pointing out that there were enough teachers with a mastery at Hogwarts that she could still attend and learn independently with them, while having more spare time for her other endeavors – like saving the world – as she wouldn't be bogged down by a regular schedule.
Adra had relented – and thus spent two weeks of intensive examination, both written and practical.
But as weeks turned to months, and Adra's fifth year at Hogwarts came to an end – one thing became rather clear.
Voldemort's attacks came more and more often, as if he suddenly had access to more monsters. The incarnate goddess, given what she'd feared about Apophis' source of power, wondered if the old god hadn't managed to take advantage of the war, one way or another.
Bianca was taking the situation quite personally, having doubled her efforts to find the man and his hiding-hole, adopting along the way a squad of young hellhounds she trained specially to track him, his monsters, and his Death Eaters – and enrolling some souls for the job too, most of them wixen or half-bloods dead because of him.
Just as worrying as Voldemort's increased attacks, the fact that, when she dropped by Camp Half Blood for a weekend hunt with Denys, she quickly heard rumors around the dinning table.
Dreams of rumbling earth, of faces appearing in corn fields or in the dirt – dreams of something old slowly coming out of slumber.
The half-bloods were unsettled.
The gods, even moreso.
"Dear old grandpa was bad," Denys explained "But it was more because he was good at war." a shrug "Oh he was powerful, sure enough, but in the end he was someone we'd have been able to deal with eventually."
"It was the father of monsters the problem." Adra recalled – she hadn't been there for this fight, Pyxis and Carter having been the one to pitch in
Her brother, with the ability to read souls they shared, had told her the entity wasn't one she needed to hunt down and seal – he was Wild, he'd explained, and once balance was restored, would remain dangerous, but wouldn't directly go against balance.
Kronos – just like Erys, and Apophis were different – like chaos gods so easily did, they'd fallen so deeply into madness that there was no coming back for them. At least, not while keeping their powers…
"It was." Denys agreed "And that was but the moma's boy." he pointed out "Her last child, and the only one even approaching her strength."
"Oh," Adra realized "she's going to be as bad as Apophis, isn't she?"
"That's what we all fear." Denys agreed "After all, we never even came close to defeat her last time she tried to get rid of us… We just got lucky, that she fell back asleep."
The goddess winced.
Clearly, the big battles weren't over. No wonder this world had been all but Lost when she'd been sent there!
"Ah well," Denys said in a lighter tone "she won't wake up just yet. Mother Earth has always been a heavy sleeper, and she takes a long while to get up and going." he pointed out "We'll be ready."
"We will." Adra agreed
She glanced at the camp sprawling around them – she just wondered how many more names would end up on memorials before the end.
¤.¤.¤
Adra's birthday came and went without a hitch, then, at the beginning of August, Voldemort's attacks started to rise in intensity once more, going from every few weeks, to weekly.
While Bianca hadn't found the dark lord's main lair, she'd found a few places where his followers were gathered, which had then been raided by the ministry and a number of hitwixen. Fudge, proving himself a reluctant, yet surprisingly competent wartime minister, had helped speed along a law authorizing the use of Veritaserum on anyone suspected of associating with a terrorist — he'd also encouraged the press to use the word 'terrorist', rather than dark lord, pointing out that the man was just a dangerous element who had no claim to any title, and calling him something so grandiloquent would only mislead the people.
It was a psychological war – and one that was quite efficient, given that the newspaper headquarters were immediately attacked in retaliation. Thankfully, the owner of the Daily Prophet wasn't stupid, and had splurged on Gringotts' new wixen-shesh wards just after the attack on the quidditch world cup.
Paradoxically – Voldemort's attack on the newspaper made their words only have more weight in the eyes of the people.
Then followed a complete article, co-written by Bianca and Remus, about Voldemort's past – his less than glorious origins, for someone who claimed to be about pure-bloods' rights, and a reminder about where the fear of saying his name came from.
The fact that the man had made himself a new name, then went on forbidding people from using it by placing a Taboo on it was rather ridiculous. And the fact was – the Taboo had been broken when Adra had vanquished him as a baby, and the only way to activate a Taboo was in the ministry of magic's depths, with an old ritual circle specially made to activate, and cancel, that only spell.
After all, the ministry couldn't allow people to just forbid others from saying whatever they wanted that easily – as such, there were many precautions taken around the spell, it's knowledge strictly limited, and the mere fact that Voldemort had managed to activate it back during his first rise in power was a proof of the incompetency of the previous government…
The summer had ended on a happy note, Luke and Thalia announcing their incoming wedding – and asking Adra to officiate it. The goddess, while flattered - had pointed out that she wasn't legally allowed to do. She'd officiated Inu Yasha and Kagome's wedding back in the sengoku jidai, but she had been officially recognized as a priestess back then!
"You're recognized as a priestess here too." Remus was the one to remind her "We've had to register you for the awakening ceremonies."
"So… I'm allowed to wed people?"
"You are." the werewolf agreed "Though you'll have to declare under which god's authority you're doing it." a shrug "That's more for filling reasons than anything else, so they haven't made a fuss about the lack of pantheon and god on your file, but if you start officiating more ceremonies, the ministry will want to know."
Once more, the wizard had managed to grab the needed paperwork out of nowhere – by now, Adra was sure he'd somehow managed to unlock some sort of special perk for it, she could see no other explanation for his level of efficiency.
That or he was some sort of bureaucracy minor god like there were in the Chinese pantheon…
Still – by the end of August, Adra was officially registered as a priestess of the Moon Pantheon at the ministry, granting her authority for related ceremonies, weddings among them – she also had achieved a new record with her OWLs and NEWTs results, being the youngest witch on record to ever achieve so many NEWTs.
As such, she was officially hired as a floating assistant, who'd teach a few lessons here and there for the OWL-level students, mark essays, and have her own lessons with the teachers when available.
Dumbledore was delighted to see her finally on the teachers' table, which, he'd affirmed was her real place ever since she was in second year.
¤.¤.¤
The Examination Board had advised her to start working immediately on masteries, even in the topic she wasn't that comfortable with – she had all the knowledge necessary, they'd insisted. What was left, was finding a good topic for a dissertation about whatever new magic she could create for each topic.
[Life Quest Updated! The Girl Who Lived!
Goal Complete: complete your OWLs
Reward: +100 XP, Regular Witch perk unlocked
Goal Complete: complete your NEWTs,
Reward: +100 XP, Confirmed Witch perk unlocked
Hidden Goal Complete: complete your NEWTs before your seventh year
Hidden Reward: +400 XP, Child Prodigy perk unlocked
Bonus Goal Complete: become a teacher at Hogwarts
Bonus Reward: +200 XP, Teach the Children perk unlocked]
[New Perk unlocked
— Regular Witch (5 PP): +10% bonding speed with your wand
— Confirmed Witch (7 PP): +15% bonding speed with your wand
— Child Prodigy (9PP): +3 to all Spirit Main Characteristics
— Teach the Children (12PP): +12 to Sociability, when teaching children, they learn 25% faster
Available: 104 PP]
All perks had immediately been unlocked, Adra finally managing thanks to that to change her wand to its staff form and start training with it.
Fighting with a staff was very different than with a wand – and she also realized that she could now channel even holy powers with both wand and staff now; thought not godly powers, as she knew they would fry the soul-bound channeling item; something that may yet change with time, as she got more attuned to it.
She had also done what the Examination Board had advised – she had been a scholar as Ariana Elric, after all, she knew how to write a paper on a new discovery. Thinking about her life as a state alchemist, it made her think about something that had been both a curse and a blessing: her automail – and naturally, missing body parts, made her think about Mad-Eye Moody, the old aurors having about as much of those missing as in her first life.
And while his eye was rather impressive – she also knew it was made by the man himself, and his peg leg was just as bad as it had been in her life as Harriet Potter.
Just like that – she had her first topic of mastery. She may not be the mechanical genius that Winry had been – she'd still helped often enough that she knew quite a bit about how to make a good automail.
First charms and invocation, to create a spell able to call a false limb that could be used temporarily.
Then transfiguration and illusions, to make that limb, or even another artificial limb, more versatile.
And finally, enchanting and runes, to create a permanent limb that could be as useful as her own automail had been once upon a time – and that without risking cascade-failure like all the attempts to copy Mad-Eye's eye had ended with.
Of course, arithmancy would factor in all of the topics.
Some teachers had been rather surprised to see her focus on something that wasn't defense – truth be told, all that pertained to fighting came easily enough to her that it would be harder to put into words, making the dissertation part of a mastery attempt rather difficult. She had no doubt she'd stumble into something sooner or latter – but for now, remaking automail with magic it was.
[Secondary Quest Updated! A Scholar Life!
Goal Updated: find a study topic to get your masteries (5/?)
Reward: 7*50 XP]
As September ended, and October started, things took a turn for the worse, the attacks coming more and more often, wearing on the auror forces and even the hitwixen, and making the mood more and more tense in the British wixen world.
¤.¤.¤
Voldemort chose to hit during Samhain.
It was predictable, in hindsight – it was well known by now, that Adra presided the awakening ritual during that evening, and there were many parents present at school…
By the time news reached the school about the attacks, it was too late – a ritual started had to be finished, as magical backlash could be very dangerous – and holy magic backlash could be even worse…
Adra felt anger boil, as what should have been a happy event was tainted by worry for those that weren't in the school with them.
Of course, there were incoming patroni and other messages keeping everyone up to date with the situation – but it was still maddening. By the end of the ritual, all the adults, and any student of age, were rushing out toward the ministry of magic and Diagon Alley.
It was a disaster on a scale that hadn't happened since Voldemort's first rise.
Monsters had rushed against Diagon Alley, most aurors and hitwixen getting call to help – then, the Death Eaters and Voldemort himself had attacked the ministry building.
Bianca had shown up, battling against Voldemort long enough to allow the minister, and some staff members who had been around, to flee – Fudge proving once more impressively well-suited to his post as he managed to start the lockdown sequence on the building that could only be undone by the minister and head of the law enforcement department or the chief warlock of the Wizengamot.
The battle between the new goddess and the dark lord was one for the tales of old, according to those that had witnessed it – it had also been the first time Nergal himself was seen…
(begin flashback)
Bianca had been having some kind of niggling feeling in the back of her all day long – when news of the attack on Diagon Alley had come, she'd immediately gone to help, like most in the clan did.
But as waves upon waves of gallû, ekimmu and other ugallu and rabasa hit against the Alley's defenders, the feeling that something was wrong grew stronger and strong.
And suddenly – she realized why.
"This is a fucking distraction!"
She exchanged a glance with Remus, their eyes widening in shared realization.
They were kept busy in the Alley, Adra and the Hogwarts body were busy in the castle…
And the ministry of magic, that nowadays was buzzing with activity even late at night was now all but empty.
"Go." the werewolf encouraged her "We'll hold the line here."
[Life Quest Updated! The Girl Who Lived!
Bonus Goal Complete: learn about the hidden attack
Bonus Reward: +200 XP, It's a Trap perk unlocked]
[New Perk unlocked
- It's a Trap (5 PP): unlocks trap fighting skill (allows to make and use traps)
Available: 72 PP (Bianca: 68 PP)]
The new goddess nodded, slipping through the shadows and stepping out in the ministry's atrium.
The area was empty – but already, Bianca could feel the familiar soul of Nergal, hidden in Voldemort's body, and this time, she was quite determined that the slippery bastard who'd destroyed their pantheon once upon a time wouldn't be getting away that easily.
She stalked through the corridors like a predator hunting, finally bumping into some Death Eaters along the way.
They were new, she noted – and green, barely able to do anything against an enemy that wasn't sending spells at them. She dispatched them with her rapier, not even touched by one of their attacks, helping some poor workers who'd been caught in the attack along the way.
Soon, she arrived at the auror office, that was in shamble – and the battle, still ongoing.
¤.¤.¤
Amelia Bones, Nymphadora Tonks and Alastor Moody were the only ones still standing from those that had stayed in the office – just in case.
Between the three of them, they were keeping nearly a dozen of Death Eaters at bay. Moody, his peg-leg having been destroyed some-when along the way, was leaning behind a desk and maintaining a rather impressive shield that protected both himself, and the wounded aurors on the ground behind him.
Amelia Bones was dipping in and out of cover, sending spells with lethal precision.
Nymphadora Tonks was proving just how much she'd learned with the Per Sesen over the past few years, having all but discarded her wand for a pair of twin daggers rather similar to Bast's own – there was also a holographic, ethereal silhouette over her own – a battle avatar, thought not one as tall as a building. And the fact that it covered he whole body was a testament to the woman's mastery of Egyptian battle magic.
Bianca's arrival surprised enough the dark mages, in whose back she was, that the three aurors were able to take the advantage "We'll be alright!" Amelia shouted "Get to the minister!"
The goddess nodded in agreement, rushing toward the next level – if the auror department was that badly off, who knew how things were in the ministry's office?
The answer was – worse – quite worse.
The area was in shambles, walls barely standing upside, the level not collapsing only thanks to the large quantities of magic imbued in the building's wards. There were bodies in the secretary's room – the secretary herself, and a couple of death Eaters. One auror was clearly bleeding out, the goddess of death feeling that his soul was already escaping his body. She could also feel his despair – fear for his family, but also regret, for failing his duty…
There was also a chilling scream of pain coming from the next room.
"Go now." Bianca said softly to the lingering soul "I'll take care of the rest."
A smile – and with a startle, she realized there was now a soul in her own afterlife realm.
Pushing her surprise to the side, she barged in the minister's office.
The dark lord himself was putting the minister under the cruciatus, clearly furious – but his anger ran cold rather than hot "Really, really, minister, putting the building under lockdown? You should have known better." more screams "What? What are you saying? I'm sorry, I fear I can't quite hear you over the sound of the screaming…"
That was when he saw Bianca.
"Oh…" a thin smile curled on his lips "Seems like we have a guest, doesn't it?"
The screams finally stopped, as Voldemort turned toward her.
There was some curiosity as his head tilted slightly to the side "And what an intriguing guest it is…"
"Don't recognize me, dear?" it was more Ereshkigal than Bianca that was speaking the teasing, bitter words
There was a hint of confusion on his face – and in his aura.
The incarnate goddess slowly walked toward Fudge, checking on him. He wasn't – that badly off, surprisingly.
"Still needs me alive to undo the lockdown." the minister explained haltingly
Clearly – he wasn't need in one piece, as the torture curse hadn't been the only sent his way, given the cuts and bruises…
And the missing left arm, badly cauterized.
There were bodies in this room too, Bianca finally realized – two aurors, and four Death Eaters. One last auror was still alive – but clearly he'd been on the receiving end of a cruciatus bout too, and hadn't been needed sane, contrarily to Fudge.
Bianca – could feel people converging on their position.
Amelia and Tonks, Moody limping not too far behind.
A few more ministry workers maintaining shield against Death Eaters, while returning fire too. All of them, who'd soon barge on the very room they were in. Bianca eyed Voldemort. She needed to stall…
No.
She needed to make him lose control in public, to finally expose the bastard for whom he really was.
It was a good thing she'd always been oh so very good at making her husband furious. After all – theirs had never been a marriage of love. She channeled the part of her that was more Ereshkigal than Bianca Di Angelo to the front.
"Really, arammu, I'm hurt. We haven't seen each other for so long, and this is all the welcome I get?" a smile "Then again, I guess, you did think you'd all but killed me the last time we saw each other."
Mentally, she reached for the minister's mind "There are others on their way, try to get to the door."
She moved a few steps away from the man, hips swaying ever so slightly, before taking out an old, beloved brush from her Inventory.
Namtar's last gift, she'd come to realized – worked just as well to channel her magic than a staff or a wand did for shesh and wixen.
She could see the man's eyes widen, and all his attention focus on her.
¤.¤.¤
A whisper "Impossible."
A few steps away, Bianca could also see the minister grab something that had rolled under a chair before trying to drag the last auror alive away from the scene. It was – not very discreet, but quite courageous – and she could feel his determination to help at least on of the men who'd died for him.
Thankfully – Voldemort was far too focused on her to react to his actions – and the cavalry was just around the corner.
It all came to a head at the same time.
Fudge had nearly reached the door, dragging his bodyguard with one hand – the ministry workers stumbled on the room, Amelia and Tonks at the front, Moody, and a couple of auror who'd joined them in the rear.
Voldemort.
No.
Nergal finally recognized her – and his anger went from cold to burning in the space of a second.
"Impossible!" he repeated – but this time, he was shouting, and while most would only see fury, she could also detect incomprehension, and hints of fear
A powerful wave of magic sped toward her – not even a spell, simply a brute wave of magical power aiming to kill. Her brush was faster even, cuneiform characters flowing easily from her hands – a powerful shield rising to protect her against the onslaught of power.
"I killed you!" he affirmed – and this time, it wasn't Voldemort speaking – all could hear it
"You did, arammu." she agreed, seeing him seethe like he always did when she called him that – they'd never loved each other after all
She dodged a green spell heading her way – immortal goddess or not, she had no intention of seeing what the killing spell would do to her – then sent her own attack, shadows swirling around her to lash out as so many whips lashes.
"You took all my power, tore them from me and my soul with them, until I was all but faded, and then you left me for dead and stole my realm." Ereshkigal rehashed
Again, her brush danced in the air – and a gigantic lion made from fire pounced on Nergal, that for the first time had to dodge, answering by sending his own familiar at her, the gigantic snake leaping toward her throat.
Then freezing, on her sibilant order "§Stop!§"
"Snake were mine long before you stole them from me." she reminded him, relishing in his anger, barely aware of the people around them now, as she focused on the incarnate god just as keenly as he did on her
After all – this wasn't an opponent she could afford to underestimate. The last time she'd done so, she'd nearly faded. And no matter how she loathe the god, she knew, better than anyone, how cunning, crafty and patient he could be.
They circled each other slowly, some part of Bianca's mind noting that Fudge and his auror guard were getting some on-site healing – and that all the fighting had gone down, only she and Voldemort still facing each other.
She didn't blame the others – clearly, they were smart enough to realize that right now, they would only be in her way.
A wave of cold made her fiery lion burst in a thousand of icy shards, and this was when Voldemort took over once more. There was – clear conflict between the two personalities, Nergal clearly wanting to keep fighting Bianca and finish what he'd started over four thousand years ago, Voldemort realizing that he would be better served to secure the ministry.
Nergal wasn't stupid – he relented.
Bianca had but an instant to see what was coming – the next moment, an uncontrollable wave of power, stronger than anything the incarnate god should be able to produce in a mortal body, washed all around them. Had the goddess been a second late – all the mortals around her would have died. She swore mentally, knowing the other had known she wouldn't sacrifice them for their fight.
"Next time, arramu." she promised with a wrathful expression on her face – before dragging the mortals protected by her shield in the shadows
¤.¤.¤
They dropped out of them in Hogwarts – the goddess having somehow felt Adra call her toward there through the darkness.
The Great Hall was full of people, quite a large area having been organized as an emergency infirmary – she spotted Remus, not too far away, sporting a long, ragged, cut on his face that had already been cleaned and was currently being bandaged.
At the groups' arrival, healers sprinted toward them, and Bianca realized suddenly just how tired she felt. Battling Nergal all the while holding enough of her godly powers back as to not damage the surrounding area, nor hurt the mortals, had taken far more out of her than she'd expected.
Daemon was suddenly by her side, helping her to a nearby bench, while a couple of healers in the St Mungo's uniform rushed toward the rest of the group.
(flashback end)
And now, here they were.
The ministry – had fallen, though thankfully, Voldemort had managed his hands to far less than he expected. Still – while he couldn't access the more sensitive files from the ministry office, nor the Department of Mysteries, he still had control of the floo network, the Diagon Alley wards; but also the underage magic tracking system and most of the daily life offices.
Diagon Alley had been evacuated over the next few hours – and with the help of Bill and Fleur Delacour's negotiation skills, the goblins had recognized that Fudge was still minister, as he still had his seal of office – this was what he'd picked up during Bianca's fight.
As such, the man had worked with the two curse-breakers, granting them authority as wartime liaison with the goblin, and signing the very basic first draft of a new treaty – which basically said: do whatever you want in the Alley to hamper Voldemort's forces, and you'll have the right to open a second branch of the bank in Hogsmeade.
The ministry – had suddenly felt keenly just how much good the Potter-Black-Lovegood political alliance had done while crusading for the rights of other magical species. Because a decade ago – the goblins wouldn't have moved a finger for a war led by a wix.
As it was, things – could have been much worse.
[Life Quest Updated! The Girl Who Lived!
Goal Complete: defend Diagon Alley
Reward: +100 XP, +5 PP obtained
Bonus Goal Complete: make an alliance with the goblins
Bonus Reward: +200 XP, Gold and Blood perk unlocked
Goal failed: protect the Ministry
Hidden Goal Complete: Ministry in partial lock-down
Hidden Reward: +400 XP, Information is Power perk unlocked]
[New Perk unlocked
— Gold and Blood (5 PP): +10 to trading and blade
— Information is Power (5 PP): unlocks spying skill
Available: 72 PP (Bianca: 68 PP)]
Saint Mungo's was still up and going – but the healers weren't stupid – they knew that their position was a precarious one, especially now that Voldemort had taken over the ministry. AS such, they were preparing to evacuate if needed – thought they hoped to avoid it, as they wouldn't be half as efficient should they have to abandon their local – and its specialized ritual circles, potions stocks, and other healing apparatus…
In the following days, Hogwarts became a bee-hive of activity.
The surviving ministry staffs had taken over some room to keep working – they may have lost the ministry building, Fudge had pointed out, there were still people to take care of, not to mention plans to be made to win said building back.
Seeing the man not giving up had done wonders for the morale of the hundred of wixen that had to abandon their home, and livelihood, and were now hosted in old, empty parts of the castle, or in magical tents on the ground.
¤.¤.¤
Of course – the ministry wasn't that well.
He was just an excellent actor.
It was three days after Samhain that Adra had stumbled on the man, empty in a room – it was quite late, but he was still working, a few candles floating over a desk covered in parchment-work.
His hand shook as he went to put the nib of his quill on the parchment, staining it with a big bloat of ink. His stump moved – Adra guessed it was probably an instinctive reaction, probably to try to grab his wand and erase the ink-stain.
And just like that, he was breaking down, pushing himself violently away from the desk, throwing the quill against the wall. And breaking down.
This reaction – had been a long time coming.
Losing a limb was already traumatizing enough by itself.
Add to it the remaining sequels from the cruciatus, even if thankfully for him, they would fade in time – not to mention the trauma of his confrontation with Voldemort…
Thinking back to her first life, wondered if that Fudge had just been a lesser man, or if it was just the different circumstances that made this one such a braver man.
She knew he wouldn't want to be seen – there was a reason, after all, why he'd waited until he was alone before breaking sown. But she also knew better than anyone that he shouldn't be alone right now.
She'd been in his place after all, once upon a time.
Waking up with a limb less, her life in shambles, and a bunch of traumatizing memories – yet not able to afford to stop and mope because there was work to be done.
So, she sat by his side on the ground, finding some hot chocolate in her Inventory – she'd have to thank Luna for that later – and let him cry. Then, as the crying started to settle, she talked.
She told him about a young goddess, reincarnating in worlds to help their heroes – and of being reborn in a world without magic. Of children orphaned too young, trying to bring back their mother – and of the disaster it ended being. She told him of automail – of the grueling pain of having her nerves connected to the artificial limb the first time, of the lengthy rehabilitation; and of the wonder of once more being able to walk, write, fight…
Then she told her of her current projects for mastery – and by then, hours had gone by, and the minister was… Well, a surprisingly good hand at charm, able to discuss her theories and ideas, even if he wasn't quite that well-versed in arithmancy.
As the sun rose, he'd somehow managed to convince her to try the charm they'd spent hours discussing – warning her that he'd try himself if she didn't, and probably wouldn't be quite as successful as her.
[Secondary Quest Updated! A Scholar Life!
Goal Updated: Charm&Illusions Mastery earned
Reward: 50 XP, 'Charm Mistress" title unlocked]
[New Title unlocked
"Charm Mistress" (+3 WIS, all charm and illusions used are +25% more efficient)]
This – wasn't quite how she expected to gain her charm mastery, Adra would later reflect – but earn it she did, when a few hours later, the healers were oohing and ahing over the minister's left arm, where in direct continuation of his stump, an ethereal limb, made from dark violet, glowing, translucent energy – that no matter how see-through it looked, was quite solid, and responded to the man's every prompt.
He didn't have regular sensations in that limb – but he did feel enough that he could go about his normal life.
The spell was also a constant drain on the wix it was cast on magical reserves, so the minister was advised not to use it for too long – three hours for that first day, but he could up his time to six hours once he was better healing from his ordeal at the ministry.
Adfaectus artus wasn't a perfect spell -but it was good enough for a mastery, and now that it proved to work, it could be studied and tweaked, to become more efficient.
Cornelius had plainly told her not to bother – her wanted to be the first to get a magical automail, after all! The politician was a smooth-talker enough that Adra had relented, promising him she'd do any testing she had with him.
Carter – had sent her a knowing look, when he saw her new spell at work for the first time – see-through and violet the temporary limb may be, there was no mistaking its shape for anything but automail for someone who'd known Hagaren.
¤.¤.¤
By the end of November, the school had all but grown used to the crowd – and a measure of regular life had been gained.
Outside the school and nearby village, Voldemort was acting as if his takeover had been a resounding success. Most people knew better – after all, Diagon Alley had become a no man's land where no smart wix would voluntarily step foot, the goblins reminding to everyone that – as good as they were with finances, they were even better at war.
As such, there was no way to access most usual shops – only Knockturn Alley remaining open for the dark mages, with Hogsmeade village hidden behind Hogwarts' wards. Which meant potion stocks, but also a slew of other everyday items, weren't readily available.
They had managed to find an old printer and cobbled down a new newspaper full of propaganda. The government in exile were being decried as 'dangerous elements', and the 'good witches and wizards' were exhorted to come home, where they could be protected from 'dangerous half-breeds' there was a reason, after all, they reminded, why the Egyptians had sealed their gods!
Few wixen were dumb enough to fall for those lies, thought some were still afraid enough to bow down to the new government.
Adra and Luna shared wistful glances, each time they realized just how many people preferred to stay at Hogwarts and help, even in small ways, rather than stick their head in the sand or bow down to the dark lord whims.
This was a far different world – and it was rather telling, that a world that had been nearly Lost was faring so much better in the war than their own had been…
Finally, December came, and Yule – and with so many people unable to leave Hogwarts because they'd lost their home, both Thalia and Luke decided to stay there for their wedding, and simply help offer a better feast for the end of the year celebrations – while there was no danger of starving, as Hogwarts had always been mostly self-sufficient, a lot of luxuries had been lost with Diagon Alley after all.
Neither had expected their parents' – godly or otherwise – plotting.
On the morning of the twenty-first, the soon-to-be-married couple woke up in a castle abundantly decorated – something which greatly cheered all its inhabitants.
Snow was falling lightly in the Great Hall, disappearing before touching the ground, giving it a frozen wonderland mood.
There were even more people than usual at the tables – as on top of the clan, there were also all of their friends from both Camp Half Blood and Camp Jupiter, both rather enthusiastic at finally seeing the castle they'd heard much about, given that both the couple and Nico had spent much of their time there to help those past few months.
This – had been Hermes' gift, the god of travelers somehow making the 'Olympus Express' appear for the day, the train, powered by a storm in its engine room, was blue and gold, and running between the two camps and the school for the day – the how not really relevant given that it was made by a god…
As for Zeus, he'd arranged for the other important part of the celebration – according to a Greek – the feast, which would be luxurious and over the top, filled with any kind of food and drinks people could think about, and quite welcome in those dire times.
And of course, Remus was the one who'd taken care of all the rest with the clan – and when the time came, early in the afternoon, he was also the one to walk her in the stone circle where the vows would be exchanged.
The ceremony was short but sweet, Thalia having never been the kind of girl to wish for a big, lavish wedding, and Luke, while rather extrovert for most things, was also all for privacy when it came to feelings.
The following celebration – loud and bright, with both godly parents dropping by to congratulate them.
Adra had been perfect in her role of priestess to bless their wedding – and as the ceremony ended with the holy magic condensing in two identical symbols on each of the newly wedded wrist', she shared a fond smile with Carter; both of them thinking about their own first wedding, on the very same day several lifetimes ago – with Luna's officiating just like Adra was today.
The wedding symbol of the two half-bloods, which was something unique to each couple -was a lightning bolt entwined around a caduceus, inscribed within a green full moon. Remus may have had some tears in his eyes when he realized that the full moon was a very concrete representation of how important he was in the life of his daughter, but nobody teased him too much about it – except Pyxis, in his own brand of dry-wits, but that's what best friends were for.
¤.¤.¤
January downed, cold and dreary.
And Magnus and Samirah – stumbled into a quest. They'd been getting along rather well, recently, with a new arrival in the neighborhood. Blitzen was a couple of years older than them, with copper skin, dark hair and eyes, and a rather impeccable sense of style.
He was also rather unused to the area, that was rather evident, and didn't take long before letting slip he was a dwarf. Which had been a bit surprised, but then again neither had stepped foot out of Midgard yet -though Samirah had been asking her father about it more and more.
Finally, over the past couple of months, they'd managed to learn much about their new friend.
The teenager was a half-blood, just like them – and a son of Freya. Which made him family, all had immediately decided, especially once they learned that he'd been recently orphaned.
His father Bilì had been taken by some frost Jötnar, to try to destroy gleipnir, the rope bounding Fenris. When they'd arrived at the island where the wolf was supposedly held, they'd only found broken ropes, and no wolf – in their anger, they'd killed the svartalf.
Blitzen had been stricken with grief – and decided he wanted some revenge.
He'd been mocked by all, as he wasn't considered as very skilled, his creations too strange for the other dwarves – and really, being good with your hands was the basis of everything in Nidavellir.
So, he'd run away, and stumbled upon Mimir.
He hadn't realized just whom he'd helped, when he helped the old man up – Mimir was famous for being a head without a body after all, and the fact that he'd been healed by Carter during the Wild Hunt wasn't well-known. As for Mimir, he'd used the kid as help while he was in Nidavellir, then realizing just how unhappy, and self-destructive he was – but also how skilled he truly was, after the teen half-blood crafted him a walking stick both stylish, a great help for the god who wasn't used yet to have a body; but also able to collapse in the form of a bracelet, and was solid enough that it would take a godly weapon to damage it…
So, Mimir had offered to let the half-blood drink from his spring, and hired him as one of his agents, promising him that this way, he'll participate in bringing down his father's murderers, or even better, the one who'd sent the Jötnar after him.
But truth be told, the god had arranged to keep the teen in missions that weren't too dangerous, as it wasn't in fighting that his abilities shone best. This was how he'd ended up in Midgard. An amulet was made by Máni to protect him from the sun, he'd been given a house fully furnished – and more importantly, with a large workshop in the basement.
His official job was to look after the Chase, after Randolph's murder by the same forces that had cost him his father – though he soon realized, his assignment was a bit superfluous, between the wixen wards protecting the family, and the two Egyptians goddesses leaving with them; not to mention the rather regular visits from Loki himself…
He was rather put out at first – but then, as he befriended both Magnus and Samirah, and was all but adopted by their family – he realized that the assignment had been a kindness from the god of wisdom, and a lesson too. Because it was clear that even two years younger than him, both Magnus and Samirah were far better trained than him, even though the son of Frey didn't like to fight any more than him! But being with them and their family – finally made the svartalf gain confidence in his ability, making him realized that the dwarves who'd put his ability down were just afraid of change, and jealous of his ability to think outside the box.
Still – it didn't mean that the teen was suddenly over his father's death, even if he was healing, and he was still intent on bringing down the ones who were at fault. Which is why, when he suddenly disappeared after having mumbled about a new lead for a few days, both Magnus and Samirah worried.
Which is why they'd finally taken the spare key for Blitz' house, and gone through his things to find where he'd gone.
There was a flyer for a country-club, the picture on it looking rather similar to any other country-club – sparkly clean, white walls, people with too bright smiles wearing golfing outfits…
It was the address that made them pause.
Because while 'Greenhill Country Club' sounded normal enough '2 Blooming Lilacs Road, Sunbeam Hamlet' was a bit much. And – taking a closer look, the ears of that golf player were ever so slightly pointed.
¤.¤.¤
"Álfheimr." Magnus realized first "That's dad realms!" he frowned at the flyer "I didn't imagine something so…" he didn't finish his sentence, not really knowing how – proper felt a bit light for how fake the thing felt
"It looks a bit too orderly," Samirah agreed "But it's a lead."
[Secondary Quest Updated! Friends from another Life!
Goal Complete: find a lead on Blitzen's location
Reward: +50 XP, +2 PP]
Magnus nodded.
"Yeah. Let's go and check it out… Wait… how do we even…"
"I can find the way!" Samirah affirmed enthusiastically "I've been having lessons with dad, about the old paths." a shrug "I haven't gone out of Midgard yet, technically, but I'm pretty sure I should be able too."
The son a Frey – wasn't really reassured by that, but worried enough about their friend that after a moment of hesitation, he shrugged, and agreed "Let's go."
A few moments later, he was regretting agreeing with anything his sister was saying, when, flying above the rather posh west suburbs of Boston, she told him "Tuck your wings back."
"What?"
"Get rid of your winds." Samirah repeated, doing so herself and starting to fall toward the ground "That's the only way to get to Álfheimr!"
"Falling?" he protested
"Falling!" she agreed, letting out a whooping shout
With a last hesitation, he did as she'd told him, even though letting himself free fall like this was going against all of his instincts.
They fell and fell – and suddenly, he felt himself passing through a cloud – which was strange he reflected, he hadn't thought they were that high – and everything changed.
Their fall slowed down, the bleak light of January was replaced by a bright blue sky and blinding sun.
They touched ground – and on the ground, everything was just as strange.
Apparently, Álfheimr's gravity was significantly lighter than Midgard's own – it made Magnus wonder if Nidavellir's own was higher – so it took some time before they were able to walk without skipping like those astronauts in the moon-walking videos.
They had arrived on a road, with houses on each side, all of them rather posh looking, with big, perfectly landscaped gardens.
What was stranger in this -was how – normal – the area looked. Sure it looked like a wealthy neighborhood, but it also looked like any wealthy neighborhood looked.
"It's not very… elfish." Samirah mused
"It isn't." Magnus agreed "Now I know why he looked so… Dissatisfied with the place, each I tried to talk to him about it." he mused "I mean seriously, Frey is the god of nature, he loves wilderness… This place is so orderly, I'm pretty sure just thinking about it makes him break in hives."
"And can you imagine Adra's reaction?" Samirah laughed
There was a laugh, like shimming bells, and the two of them realized, rather startled, that they weren't alone.
There was a little boy not too far – no, they realized, two boys, looking startlingly similar – they could be identical, if one was smiling frankly, with eyes shinning, and looking quite happy, was the other seemed more drawn back, uncertainty coming out from his every pore, and a touch of incomprehension in his eyes.
[Secondary Quest Updated! Friends from another Life!
Goal Complete: meet Hearthstone
Reward: +50 XP, +2 PP
Bonus Goal Complete: meet Andiron
Bonus Reward: +100 XP, A Tale of Two Brothers perks unlocked]
[New Perk unlocked
- A Tale of Two Brothers (8 PP): +10 to Alf sign language and alf seidr
Available: 79 PP (Magnus: 49 PP / Samirah: 53 PP)]
"Hi! I'm Andiron! This is my brother, Heart." he waved, the other boy doing so a moment later "You're not from around here are you?"
"We aren't." Magnus agreed "We're looking for a friend, and we think he may be in the area."
"Do want some help?"
"Well," Magnus took the country club flyer out of his Inventory "If you could help us find this place…"
¤.¤.¤
"I know this place, mother goes there every week!" the boy shimmed
By his side, his brother was pulling on his sleeve to catch his attention, then his hands flew in a rapid-flow of signs, eyes now shinning with curiosity – making Samirah and Magnus realize why he was so silent; the child was deaf.
Andiron nodded, and translated "My brother wants to know if it's magic you've done?" he lowered his voice, as if sharing a shameful secret "He's really interested in seidr, you know."
"That wasn't alf seidr," Magnus contradicted "but I can do some of that."
"I can't do alf seidr," Samirah added "but I'm not bad with runes."
Andiron – was looking both interested and worried "You shouldn't talk about that here." he whispered "Grown-ups don't like magic. Too unreliable, they say."
"But… But alf seidr literally comes from the patron god of this place!" Samirah protested first
"Right?" agreed Andiron "When I ask why something our patron god made is bad, they say I'm too young to understand."
"Bah. That's something adults say when they know we're right. Or when they don't have an answer." Magnus pointed out with distaste – while their family wasn't like that, he'd met his fair share of stupid teachers over the years
"We can show you the way to the country club, if you'd like." Andiron offered "And you could tell us more about magic?"
"Deal!" immediately agreed Magnus
Andiron had guided them toward his house – that was even bigger than the Potter Manor in Boston, and looked more akin to a small castle than a large house.
He avoided the main building, instead heading directly toward the outbuilding, which apparently housed some empty stables, a shed full of gardening stuff, a garage with several luxurious cars – and above all that, the lodging for the house servants.
"Revna! Can you take us for a walk by the lake?"
"Revna – was a woman with raven black hair, which looked startling compared to the platinum blonde, nearly white, hair of the two children. She also had raven wings neatly folded on her back. She looked at the two boys with mock seriousness "The lake? You didn't want to go earlier!"
"Bah! Going with mum is boring! We want an adventure!" Andiron protested
"You shouldn't say that, young master.' the raven immediately admonish, though not unkindly
"We want, though… But we'll settle for a walk." Andiron promised "With our friends."
"Friends?"
"Friends." Andiron agreed, waving Magnus and Samirah forward "Look. They fell from the sky!"
Revna sent them a sharp glance at that, then mused "Well, your friends have come from very far then, I guess a walk by the lake would be a good idea."
She took a heavy key-ring – but Hearthstone snatched it quickly, with a few hand gestures
"Revna is a hulder, a domesticated nature spirit." Andiron explained "Iron hurts them."
"And all your keys are iron?" Samirah protested indignantly
At the same time, Magnus echoed "Domesticated!" as if the word was some kind of racial slur – which it really felt like for him
Spirits weren't meant to be domesticated!
"One more things we'll understand when we're older." Andiron answered somberly
Soon, Revna was taking a car out, and the four of them were on the road toward the country club – and the more they talked, the less and less Magnus liked his father's realm.
"This place is rotten!" he ranted "There was a Wild Hunt not too long ago, why is this place still so… horrible?"
"Oh, we all felt the effects of the Hunt," Revna confirmed with a wild smile that looked far better on her face than the neutral expression she seemed to be used to maintain "believe it or not, things were worse not too long ago."
"Some people died. And some began to act differently." Andiron agreed "Mother and father don't like people who act differently, but I think they look interesting."
Somehow over the drive, they'd ended up telling the two boys and their nanny whom they were looking for.
"A dwarf in Alfheim?" Revna frowned "The 'good people' wouldn't want to talk about it." a smirk "Let me drop by the kitchens, and I'll know."
It was as they were at the farthest end of the lake from the country club that they stumbled on Blitzen himself, hidden in a grove.
[Secondary Quest Updated! Friends from another Life!
Goal Complete: you've found Blitzen
Reward: +50 XP, +2 PP]
"Guys! Why are you here?"
"That's what we were going to ask you, Blitz! You disappeared without a word!"
¤.¤.¤
"Wow!" Andiron said with awe in his voice, Hearth by his side looking just as starry-eyed "You're the first dwarf I've ever seen!"
"New friends?" presentation were made – then once more, as Revna was back from the kitchen, explaining that she hadn't heard anything about a dwarf, but there were some strange rumors about some ice giants
Magnus and Samirah glanced at Blitzen at that.
"Yeah, that's why I came, sorry I didn't leave a note." a shrug I managed to spy on a call between some Alderman guy and a fire Jötunn I'm pretty sure is working for Surtr, and he said he was going to arrange a meeting for him with Vidar and Oddmund, so I had to rush to arrive to the meeting place before them…"
"And so?"
"So they're really the ones who killed dad." Blitzen confirmed somberly "But it's not like I could do anything about it here, alone without weapons…" a sigh "But I couldn't just leave either, you know. Because that blond bastard! He's hired them to get rid of a kid!" a snarl "His own child!"
Andiron and Revna shared a panicked glance, both sliding closer to Hearthstone.
And suddenly, it clicked.
"Don't tell me…" the dwarf whispered, having caught the protective movement just as well as Samirah and Magnus
"Father don't like imperfect things." Andiron whispered "And Hearth is deaf. And when the Hunt happened, and things started to change, well…" he waved his hands, and shiny bubbles like soap-bubbles appeared in the air around them "Suddenly, I could do things, and he grew mad, and said it was all Hearth's fault, that he's infected me with his strangeness…"
"And now, he wants to get rid of the young master." Revna concluded with a cold, hard tone "Like everything that isn't just like he wishes for."
Andiron's face grew harder "Hearth's my brother! I'm not letting anyone take him away!" he vowed, in a serious voice rather unexpected for one so young
But there was steel in this voice too.
"I'll help." Revna agreed
"We'll all help." Magnus concurred, both Samirah and Blitz nodding along
[Secondary Quest Updated! Friends from another Life!
Bonus Goal Complete: you've discovered Alderman's plot
Bonus Reward: +100 XP, Water of the Womb perk unlocked]
[New Perk unlocked
— Water of the Womb (4 PP):+10 to spying and discretion
Available: 83 PP (Magnus: 49 PP / Samirah: 53 PP)]
"But what can we do?" the rather pragmatic daughter of Loki wondered "I mean all of us except Revna are children, and I don't know anything about the local law enforcement…"
"It wouldn't do anything." Revna explained "The master is well respected."
"Kidnapping?" Magnus suggested, clearly only half-jokingly "I mean, no matter how respected he is in the area, I doubt his reach is long enough to reach home in Midgard." a smirk "Besides, we'll have the whole clan behind us as soon as they heard what he wanted to do."
Meanwhile, Andiron was signing fast, explaining the situation to his brother, who's eyes widened as he realized what had nearly happened.
There was what appeared to be an argument between the two of them – one Hearth apparently lost, as he threw his hands in the air, before nodding grudgingly.
"I told him there was no way I was letting leave without me." Andiron told with a resolute smile
Hearth was signing again.
"Oh." it was Revna who was speaking, apparently having followed what the young boy was saying
Andiron was nodding along.
"If we free all the hulder and flee, it'll take some time before our disappearance is noticed."
There was something feral in Revna's smile "They call us tamed, but all of them are afraid of freeing us." the nature spirit agreed
With that, they were heading back to the Alderman family domain, Andiron and Hearthstone going to main building to gather a few belongings, while Revna was calling all hulder 'employed' by the family.
¤.¤.¤
"You're alright?" Magnus asked Blitzen
After all – if they were doing this kidnapping thing, it meant letting his chance at vengeance away.
"I'll be fine. Eventually." the dwarf reassured him "My father is already dead, you know, while those kids needs us." then he looked at the other two, realizing they'd missed something rather important in their planning "How are we even getting away again?"
Magnus tilted his head – listening to his sword, Samirah and Blitzen knew "There's a place nearby where the fabric of space is very thin." he said "That well we passed by earlier." he explained slowly as he listened to what his sword was saying "Jack says he can cut a path open."
"And he knows where it leads?" Samirah asked suspiciously – there were some pretty dangerous place across the nine realms after all
Magnus winced "He doesn't, but he's pretty sure it's in Midgard."
It was going to have to be enough – as there was shouting coming from outside.
Sharing worried glances, the three half-bloods rushed out, followed by two dozen hulders. Andiron was on the ground, bleeding from a head wound – while Hearthstone was standing his ground in front of him, a rune in his hands, and a powerful magical shield protecting both boys.
Two ice giants standing menacingly in front of them.
Jack all but jumped into Magnus' hands, the son of Frey jumping into the fray without a second though, Samirah a step ahead of him, two-handed-axe in hands – even Blitzen had jumped toward the fight, even if it was only to help Andiron up, so the two boys could get away from the two Jötnar.
Magnus let himself into the near meditative-state he'd found worked well with Jack, which meant he kept the sword in hand, but let it direct his moves when needed, trusting in the sword's superior experience on the battlefield.
The air around the two giants was cold, something that wasn't really usual in Álfheimr; but thankfully it still wasn't cold enough, as the two weren't moving quite as fast as the half-bloods knew they could. Still, both were strong, stronger than the fire giant Magnus had encountered a bit less than a year ago, and the fight wasn't easy.
Samirah deflected one of the giant's icy sword with her axe, letting out a mighty shout – and Magnus' eyes widened as he realized her weapon was now covered in orange-reddish flames – but while the attack had pushed back the giant, and left a rather impressive wound behind, it had also taken a lot of the girl, who probably wouldn't be able to fight much more longer.
"Master!" Revna called as she saw Andiron got up, having seen the two fighting half-blood starting to falter
Apparently, the boy guessed what her shout meant – as he answered "I release you all of your bonds to the family!"
The result was evident, particularly to someone attuned to alf seidr – which apparently was what kept the nature spirits in bondage to their family, something rather hypocritical given that said magic was apparently not seen favorably by the elves, yet didn't see any problem in using it to enslave spirits!
The spirits rushed toward the two Jötnar, who were quickly pushed back under the unexpected assault.
There was a gleeful shout as finally, Vidar and Oddmund fell.
[Secondary Quest Updated! Friends from another Life!
Bonus Goal Complete: Blitzen is avenged
Bonus Reward: +100 XP,Better Served Coldperk unlocked
HiddenGoal Complete: free the hulder
Hidden Reward: +200 XP,Children of Nature perk unlocked]
[New Perk unlocked
- Better Served Cold (5 PP):+10 to ice
- Children of Nature (4 PP): +10 to wild-life and orientation
Available: 83 PP (Magnus: 49 PP / Samirah: 53 PP)]
"If any of you ever want a free outfit, drop by Boston, and I'll make you something for free!" the dwarf promised exuberantly, making the hulder laugh freely – and cheer, before they started to disappear, while in some stunned shouting started coming from the main house
"Well," a tired Samirah panted "We'd better not waste anymore time." with a nod, they all ran toward the well Jack had mentioned earlier
A slash of the sharp blade – and they stumbled between realms, landing in a pile in the underground parking of a mall.
"We're back in Midgard." Blitz was the first to confirm "Well done, Jack!"
"All in a day's work, señor!"
¤.¤.¤
With that, the sword went back to its dormant state, making Magnus stumble under the sudden added weariness. That was when he realized that there were people around than expected.
[Secondary Quest Updated! Friends from another Life!
Goal Complete: rescue Hearthstone
Reward: +50 XP, +2PP
Bonus Goal Complete: rescue Andiron
Bonus Reward: +100 XP, Blood of the Coven perk unlocked]
[New Perk unlocked
— Blood of the Coven(6 PP):+10 to runes and drawing
— Children of Nature (PP): +10 to wild-life and orientation
Available: 85 PP (Magnus: 49 PP / Samirah: 53 PP)]
Seeing his surprised look, Revna smiled serenely "It would be irresponsible of me not to ensure the young masters were well cared for." her eyes glanced toward the little girl with light-brown hair and warm brown eyes "And little Inge is my charge, so where I go, she'll follow."
"Well," Magnus shrugged "The more, the merrier." he looked around "Let's see how we're going home then."
They had landed in Boston's city center, so heading back home wasn't too hard, both Magnus and Samirah curling the Glamour around them to help avoid the mundane looking at the raven-head, winged woman and the little girl with a cow-tail and ears.
They arrived home half an hour later, their parents not having even realized that they were missing.
Andiron and Hearthstone, and Revna and Inge had been welcomed home – and Magnus and Samirah grounded for leaving home without telling the family…
In the following days, Hardwin Potter had arranged for formal identification for the four newcomers. When they'd realized just how much sunlight the elves needed, Blitzen had immediately built some overpowered UV-lamps that worked well from them – which had rather impressed the children, who were soon becoming close friends with the dwarf, against all odds.
Mimir had been rather impressed by the half-bloods adventure – and thankful to Magnus and Samirah for rescuing one of his agents. As a token of thanks, he'd granted them a minor blessing which gave them a boost in retaining knowledge, something neither had expected, but were quite thankful for.
ADRASTEIA LV 95 (15 YO)
BODY
Agility 37(79)
Strength 30(60)
Endurance 30(53)
SPIRIT
Intelligence 21(75)
Wisdom 21(84)
Fortitude 19(76)
HEART
Empathy 32(71)
Perception 32(71)
Sociability 26(65)
LUCK 28(80)
MC UNUSED: 0
PERK ACQUIRED (415 PP spent, 85 PP 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
Slytherin Head (free): grants +15% MP, two free bloodline talent to be chosen
Moon Head (free): grants +15% KP, two free bloodline talent to be chosen
Peverell Head (free): grants +15% RP, two free bloodline talent to be chosen
Potter Head (free): grants +15% MP, two 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 Pharaoh (5PP): unlocks all Egyptian Magics
Cyclops' 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
Cyclops' Lungs (10 PP): grants the ability to breathe underwater
Gryphon's Wings (10PP): grant the ability to summon and dismiss wings
Whisper of the Wild (1 PP): unlocks Sensing the Wild skill
Ekimmu's Body (10PP): you can become intangible (upkeep: 10MP/second)
Rabasa's Fangs (10PP): you can steal the life of an enemy (upkeep: +1HP/10 damage)
Basilisk Fangs (10PP): grant the ability to secrete a powerful poison, that can be injected by fangs
The Path of Heroes (2PP): +10 to Battle Sense
A Race Against Time (5PP): +10 to Battle Sense
Battle Ready (5PP): +10 to all FIELD skills
Scythian Dracanae's Scales (2PP): +5 to Physical and Elemental Resistance
Galla's Sword (2PP): +5 to Blade and Close-Range Fighting
Gryphon's Claws (1PP): +5 to blade damage
Scythian Dracanae's Fangs (1PP): +5 to Poison
Empousai's Fangs (1PP): +5 to Blood
Galla's Claws (1PP): +5 to Blood
Rabasa's Shadow (1PP): +5 to Shadow
Gallû's Blood (1PP): +5 to Blood
Three's The Charm (10 PP): +30% LUCK
Spring Cleaning (10PP): +10 to all Holy Magic
Basilisk Fangs (10PP): grant the ability to secrete a powerful poison, unlocks Poison unique element
Child of the Underworld (10 PP) : grant +25% to all regeneration rate when in a holy site tied to death or in immediate proximity of a death god
Child of the Sea (10 PP): grant the ability to turn in a merfolk when in the water
Child of Rome (10 PP) : grant +10% damages for every two members of the same cohort you're fighting along side with; grants 5% if they're from a different cohort
Call of The Wild (12PP): +25 to Wild Affinity, Wild Sensing and Wild Magic
Spartoi's Fate (1PP): +5 to Shadow
Pit Scorpion's Tail (1PP): +5 to Poison
Keres' Claws (1PP): +5 to Poison
Vatnavaettir's Hooves (2PP): +5 to orientation and discretion
Spartoi's Training (2PP): +5 to intimidation and strategy
Pit Scorpion's Bite (2PP): +5 to parkour and wild-life
Stymphalian Bird's Beak (2PP): +5 to shooting and blade
Lycanthrope's Senses (2PP): +5 to killing intent and battle sense
Girtablullû's Legs (2PP): +5 to Dodging and Parkour
Bašmu's Fangs (2PP): +5 to Close Range and Killing Intent
Inari's Favor (5PP): +2AG, +10 to True Form
Heart of Fire (6PP): +10 to Fire and Fire Manipulation
Lovegood Basic Shaman Aura (unlocks Lovegood Regular Shaman Aura) (5PP): +5 PERC, +10 Wild-Life
Ravenclaw Basic Air Mage Aura (unlocks Ravenclaw Regular Air Mage Aura) (5PP): +5 AG, +10 Meditation
Laistrygonian Giant's Tattoo (10PP): grants force enhancing tattoo that gives +25% ST
Veteran of the Titanomachy: +25% damages against Greeks and Romans enemies
Infinite Knowledge (15 PP): +5 to INT and WIS, +10 to all knowledge skills
Protect the Children (10 PP): +10 to True Form, Shielding and Synergy skills
Darker Than the Abyss (12 PP): +10 to Shadow element and Shadow Walking Skill
An Ever-Changing Face (5 PP): +10 to shape-shifting skill
Magic is Might (20 PP): +10 to all magic skills
Unshakable Faith (12 PP): +10 to FORT, +10 to synergy
Old but not Forgotten (8PP): +5 SOC, +10 to all communication skills
Waters of Life (6 PP): +10 Swimming and Echo-location
The Last Protector (8 PP): +10 to shield and all resistances skills
Tjesu heru's Claws (2PP): +5 to Blade and killing intent
Serpopard's Paws (2PP): +5 to dodging and battle sense
Tjesu heru's Head (1PP): +5 to synergy
Serpopard's Fangs (1PP): +5 to Poison
Cutting Wind (8 PP): +10 to Wild affinity, Wild sensing and Wild magic
Veteran of the Apophis War: +25% against Egyptian enemies
Whisper of the Wild: unlocks Wild sensing skill
Agent of Chaos (12 PP): +12 to LUCK, unlocks intuition skill
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)
DREAMING PATH - (+1AG/10LV, +5 to HEART MC, +10 to Magic Skill)