Disclaimer: I don't own these and gain no profit by writing them.
Chap 2
The cycle began a new, Issei found himself in the school listening to the boring class. He left the room, never bothered to tell the teacher where he went. He walked straight to the Occult Research Club, somewhere deep inside his heart fear surged, dragged his feet down and whispered the darkest image his eyes would bear. He denied the fear.
Without hesitation he opened the door and he saw that piece of disgusting thing again, making out with his love like an asshole paying for a harlot. He heard something about rude, something about wards but he couldn't care, he went straight for the head, his life was thrown away for the sake of killing. Dead again, fast and painless but when he looked down at the floor he couldn't help but grin.
For it was full of glittering silver sand.
Issei opened his eyes to see himself in the same room the cult built for him. He laughed like a mad man when he found out whenever he slept his dream would take him back to the never ending cycle. Even if he could do nothing in those dreams little by little he learned more about his nemesis and he knew it would be useful when the wrath of Malfeas fell upon it.
Malfoy wasn't doing well in learning how to devote his whole to worship Cecelyne. The brat wanted revenge, not to become a cultist. If his father was still alive Issei could probably cure him then everything would be easier to deal with. As of now he had to do something to make Draco Malfoy shut his whining mouth. He rang the bell to call Gilberto in.
"You call me my lord."
"How is our young noble after a week?"
"If I must say, Draco Malfoy should be punished by daring to be lazy in the matter of learning how to pray to Holy Cecelyne properly. Such blasphemy when he refused to kneel down and pray in the chamber's full of white sand! Unbelievable, I'm so regret to think that we can have a Pureblood noble to join our cult. If you want my lord, one word from you and I shall remove this pathetic scum out of our holy temple."
[If I am not mistaken my Green Sun Prince, then this brat hasn't fully adapted to the lifestyle of a commoner.]
Then I shall grant his wish.
"There is no need to rush such thing Gilberto, I can be sure that even myself, if I have not witnessed and harbored the power of the Endless Desert then no matter how convincing you are I would not take your words. Tell me how big is your faith in Holy Cecelyne when she has not blessed you to be a wizard?"
Gilberto was taken back for a second when he heard that.
"I… understand my lord. I'm sorry for being too harsh to our new member."
"On the other hand Draco Malfoy was a noble, his life was full of luxury treatment before that… thing took everything from his family. Through the power of Holy Cecelyne I shall bless him with wealth and when he realizes the magnanimity that is the Endless Desert he will devote himself to our cult."
"A great idea my lord, I shall go and call Malfoy."
Over the time when he became the head of the cult Issei had blessed his cultists on weekly basic, the most hardworking to prosper the temple members would be picked out by Gilberto to be blessed by Issei, so far beside the Death Eater Issei had blessed around 5 people. All of them are even more grateful to Issei and the cult, the offering is becoming bigger and better as more people join the rank through rumor and when they witness the miracles their trust can sway little in the matter of giving their whole. Among them Gilberto was the one received the power the most, Issei needed someone to be his right hand in time of need.
Minutes later Malfoy arrived at his room, looking tired and bored.
"Come and sit Draco."
Gilberto brought them some tea and cookies, after that Issei went straight to the point.
"I understand that you might feel uncomfortable during your stay here, while out cult is still growing at decent pace a castle can't be built after one night. But tell me Draco, what would you do if you become rich again?"
"As in all of my family's vaults will be given to me?"
"Think it that you sudden gain a lot of money."
"Then I will live in a big manor! I will spend Galleon on anything I want!"
"Is that what you truly wish?"
"Of course it is! What is better than living like a proper noble?"
[He takes the bait my lord.]
"Good, but remember to support the very people that accept you when you're at your lowest."
"No problem, when I'm rich again I will send you heavy bags of Galleons."
Issei couldn't help but chuckled at that statement, he gestured for Draco to leave his room.
With the increased numbers of cultists and offering weekly Issei finally gained enough to construct a dungeon for the purpose of training. The job was done by the goblins, they would stay silent as long as Galleons filled their pockets. For the first time in this world Issei got the chance to test out his capability.
Green flame burst out on his palm, it is nothing like the ones he knows, including Tannin's or Riser's. The flame burns, yet it's not hot, it doesn't give out heat like what one would expect from a flame. Something tells Issei that this flame is very similar to what he would find after a winter nuclear, cold and cruel. Regardless the fire can burn stuffs like any of its siblings.
The next thing Issei took notice was that he had not once needed to go to the toilet, and he never sweated no matter what he did. The sand felt homey to him as he walked on them.
The wish granting power is great, very great indeed. Issei can give them what they want for a cost, if they refuse to do what he asks they would pay a huge price, that gotta scares them to do their jobs properly. Not only Issei can make them stronger giving them the ability to use magic is also within his capability, commanding the world to pour fortunate upon them is available too, but not as fast as the other ones.
But the one thing that gives him the biggest shock is how fast he can learn. Issei picked up a handgun and shot, the first few times he barely hit the target, but the next day he hit all of them with ease. He tried it with a sword and began practise, he recalled his experience with Kiba and the feeling when Ascalon was in his hands, it didn't take long for him to be able to cut the dummy like a trained swordsman after a couple of days. All of these is a testament to how great the power the Yozi granted him.
Satisfied with the result of the test Issei returned to his room for more learning of his nemesis.
[My prince, there's this idea that concerns me lately.]
Tell me about it.
[You see sir, we were warned of the Chosens of the Death: those who defy the nature order and keep living even when they should perish. The Death Knight. I'm afraid that you will be facing one without… extended training, they are no match for the power of the Yozi of course but still I think you should focus more on increasing your combat potential, just in case my prince.]
You think that thing I'm planning to murder is such a being?
[Extra preparation is not overkill sir.]
Death Knight huh… Issei had no clue how to gauge their strength, but if they have the same baseline power of what the Yozi gives him then he needs more preparation.
[I have no doubt that there are good sifu and mentors here in this world but my prince, you would be better off with ones dedicating their lives into mastering the act of combat back in the Demon City. They will be honored in teaching you sir.]
That sounds nice but I won't leave until I see it's dead with my own eyes. There are ways to fight an opponent's superior to you.
For his order Gilberto had instructed the cultists to gather information about Harry Potter as much as they could. Some of the books about it are ridiculous, yet Issei considered taking them into caution, the rest of them doesn't say much of what it's capable of.
Hogwarts… He needed to figure out a way to infiltrate the school to gather first hand information, he expected heavy security on top of its own defense tactics. Not to mention he didn't have much details on what the 3 Deathly hallows could do besides what their names suggested. The Elder Wand must be a powerful wand, more than the common ones, but it's still a wand and if Issei can pluck it out of his nemesis' hands then its offense would go down. The Resurrection Stone is tricky, is it something similar to the Evil Piece? As long as Issei hasn't taken it his nemesis would be revived and the surprise factor will no longer be with him. The Invisible Cloak, even though he can't see everything around the possessor will tell him where it is, if they fight on a desert Issei's confident that he can see the footstep and trace of sand around it.
But so far those are only theories, they haven't been proved to be right and completed. The demon in his head was right on becoming stronger. It is preferable to prepare counter against the Unforgivable Curses, Issei has no doubt he would face them in combat.
Issei looked at the list of the current members of the cult, besides Draco so far there were commoners and some wizards. He thought after the first Death Eater was removed of his Dark Mark more people would come to ask for the same favor but it wasn't the case here. If he wants to go big a powerful backing is totally necessary, which he didn't have at the moment. Issei drummed his fingers on the desk, trying to think up a solution to gather even more cultists and bigshot. He remembered the days when he was a devil, running around to answer the contracts, in those days the works were fairly simple, nothing too hard or too demanding to do.
The power to grant wishes is fantastic, but he can't go around shouting that. He wants to do it subtly, something that people will thank him for and have no thought of ratting him to the Ministry.
Issei grinned as the answer came up in his head. He called Gilberto for preparation.
The next week Gilberto Preston-under the alias Josh Burton, came to St. Mungo for his charity work, he expressed that he might not be a rich man but still he wanted support the patients who couldn't afford their bills.
The first family the healers told him to meet was the Weasley, famous with their trademark ginger hair and many children. The father worked for the Ministry but with everything they got it was not possible for them to have their youngest son to be a permanent patient in Janus Thickey Ward.
"A million thanks to you Mr Burton." Mrs Weasley said. "I don't know what to do anymore when they told me they can't cure poor Ron."
Turned out Ronald Weasley-the sixth son of the family, was cursed by unknown spell in his second year at Hogwarts. He couldn't remember anything more than his name or how to eat, they had to put a magic diaper on him so he could release his body waste whenever he needed to. The Weasley believed the culprit was the monster of the Secret Chamber inside Hogwarts but as of current there was no proof to support that.
"Ron doesn't have many friends, he once told me Potter is too scary and he doesn't want to stay nearby the Boy-Who-Lived."
Mr and Mrs Weasley could only pray to heaven that one day the curse would be lift and their son would be normal again, but a prayer is just a prayer, and so Mr Burton aka Gilberto, talked to himself in a voice small enough so nobody but the Weasley could listen to it.
"If only he knows about this… He will definitely help the boy..."
Mr Weasley was the one to bite the bait. "Who is this person you are talking about?"
"What? Oh no don't mind me, I just… Forget it." Gilberto made it looks like he was hiding something important.
"Please Mr Burton if you know something that can help my son, please tell us about it!"
And then acting like he couldn't bear to see Ron suffered for one more day Gilberto whispered to them.
"Let me tell you a secret, before I was a Squib for years. I lived in desperation and shameful for I couldn't cast magic like what my family wanted me to do. But one day I met this mysterious hermit when I travelled through the desert, seeking for something I don't remember. And he touched my forehead like a father blessing his child, afterward a Squib I no longer was. I wanted to thank him for what he did but he simply said I must help those who's in need, now that my one and only wish was granted.
"That's the true reason why today I have come here, to use the little money I gain over my life to help the unfortunate. If I could be cured then surely he can remove the curse on this poor boy."
The Weasley stuck in a dilemma, on one hand this stranger spoke of something they never heard of, on the other hand he spoke of something they wanted to hear. With no other choice they decided to meet this 'hermit' Mr Burton said.
The room they were led to was full of white sand, and sitting in lotus position was a black robed figure.
"The one lives within the desert, these people need your help." Mr Burton said.
A nervebreaking feeling roused within the Weasley, what if the hermit couldn't cure their son? Would they have to watch Ron lived like a disability for the rest of their lives? But soon the hermit nodded his head, and for a little hope blossomed they brought Ron in. The hermit took a look at the youngest boy of the Weasley, and he touched his head, light covered the dark room. For a moment Ron seemed to wake up from a long dream, and when he turned his head around to meet his parents he couldn't help but crying out loud.
"Mom! Dad!"
"Ron! Ron! You are fine again!"
He hugged them like a son lost in a dark wood finally returned home, but not for long as he turned back to thank the hermit. The Weasley too bowed down their heads to express gratitude to the one who cured their son.
"I don't know how to thank you enough, if only we were richer we could at least do something for you..."
Gilberto smiled to the Weasley, oh if only they could understand the meaning of his smile.
"I think we should leave the hermit alone. Let us talk outside."
"Yes yes of course."
And when they could no longer see the small cave the hermit lived within the desert Gilberto spoke to the Weasley.
"Congratulation on your son's recovering."
"But is there anything we can do for you Mr Burton? You are so nice to help us like this, and the hermit, oh what can we do for him, maybe we can build him a house."
"I doubt the hermit would want something so… mundane like that. We better leave him alone and as I said before I believe he wants you to help others. Also if you can please don't tell anyone about the hermit, me telling your family is already a big risk. I have no idea if the hermit disturbed by normal folks like us in his monk-like life."
The Weasley could only agree to that. Little did they know what had they brought on themselves.
A week later the Weasley held a big party for Ron's discharge, at the same time Mr Arthur gained a fortunate for selling his enhanced Muggle stuffs to a noble who's interested in collecting random things for his personal weird gallery. The Weasley's life was slightly better than before as they could afford more for their daily life. During the party when Arthur saw Remus Lupin he couldn't help but remember his meeting with the hermit.
"I know someone who might be able to help you Remus." Arthur said.
And then they went deep into the desert guided by Gilberto. Along with Remus was Ron since the Weasley wanted their son to become a wizard again, only after Ron was cured they found out the curse somehow turned him into a Squib, the Weasley sincerely hoped the hermit would be generous and helped their son again. And so Remus could sleep easily when the full moon came while Ron had a second chance at Hogwarts. Soon the news of Remus was no longer a werewolf caused an uproar within the community. People went to the heart of Africa looking for the Desert Healer to be normal again but to no avail as they couldn't find anyone like that. Gilberto had to explain to them that the hermit wanted to be alone so they could only return home in disappointment, still some stayed back to try their luck. They prayed to the hermit when they wandered around hoping miracles would fall upon them.
The Weasley and the staffs of Hogwarts threw a party to congratulate Remus and Ron. Madam Pomfrey wished she could meet the Desert Healer once to learn his art of healing. Mr Burton was their most honored guest. When the party came to an end he spoke to them.
"Before his disappearance the hermit had called me in secret, he has but one desire he wishes to be fulfilled, yet he doesn't have the ability to do so."
"Tell us what it is and we will do our best to help him." McGonagall replied. "It is the only thing we can do to thank him for curing Remus here out of his terrible fate, and Ron too."
"The truth is" Mr Burton stressed. "The hermit has a son back when he was still a skirt-chaser, he deeply regretted that he couldn't raise his son properly and only now that he caught the news of his son living alone after his mother passed away."
Everyone gasped at the revelation.
"He wants his son to study and graduate from a good school and has a happy life. Seeing that the staffs of Hogwarts are here I'd like to ask if the boy can join your school? The hermit promises he will pay the tuition for the next 7 years."
"There is no need to." Dumbledore said. "The hermit has helped our friends here for no condition and so we will help him without asking anything in return."
"That would be great." Mr Burton sobbed. "I think the hermit can rest easy when his son attends Hogwarts."
The next week on the front page of the Daily Prophet there was news of Draco Malfoy-the last member of the Malfoy, discovered a huge gem deposit and within one night he became as rich as before. Now Draco Malfoy lived a luxury life again, all thanks to the power of Cecelyne. One word from Issei and his cult secured 40% of the profit from the mining, to shut down his whining mouth Issei allowed Draco to live at his new manor and the privilege to not pray to him or Holy Cecelyne, but if he dared to cut off the deal the consequence would be frightful.
Issei was satisfied with his machinations. The ticket to Hogwarts was inside his palm, now what he needed to do is disguise himself, he would attend the third year like Ron and he understood, to come close to his nemesis in order to gather intel a false identity is required. Galveon had told him of what other Green Sun Princes can do, the Ebon Dragon has the right tools to advance his ultimate goal.
In the next month Issei meditated non-stop and study the philosophy of the Ebon Dragon. He came to understand the liar, the darkness that is born from light. He opened his eyes, his shadow became his skin as his appearance changed into a normal British 13 years old boy, albeit slightly similar to Robin in DC comics. The more Issei taps into the essence of the Yozi the more marvelous his growth, truly when he masters their power nothing can stop him on his path of revenge.
His journey to Diagon Alley to buy school supplies was under the guidance of Remus, the former werewolf took great care to him as he explained the magical world. His wand is made by Hawthorn wood and Dragon Heartstring. 'A powerful wand, it feels so strange to give such rare tool to a youngster like you. I hope it will lead you to the right path.' He recalled the words Ollivanders left him.
"I'm glad that you have taken the basic subjects so it won't take long to catch up with students. Remember you will get on the train to Hogwarts on 1st September, don't miss the date."
"Yes Mr Lupin."
Remus grabbed the boy's shoulders with care.
"Your father is a great man, don't hate him for not being there with you."
"I understand."
"Good, now I believe chocolate ice cream is our next stop."
In the last day at his cult Issei ordered an expansion to make the temple bigger, he picked out some of the most loyal members who were blessed before and ordered them to start training the cultists in basic combat. When he attended Hogwarts Gilberto would lead the cult in his absence. 'I need to go for a great mission.' Issei told his cult to train hard for the sake of the cult.
Checking everything for the last time he left his cult to board the train to Hogwarts. He met Draco along with two big fat students on the train and the brat seemed to act like his usual arrogant self, even though he seemed to scare of Harry Potter whenever someone mentioned that name. He sat on the same compartment with Ron who refused to say anything about Harry Potter when he tried to open the conversation.
"Can we talk about something else? Like Quidditch, which one is your favorite team?" Ron said as he bit a big chunk of cake, which he bought 2 for himself.
The most popular sport of the wizadry community, seem like Ron is a big fan of it. Issei could sense the opportunity to further turn Ron into his agent.
"Wow I have no idea that you are such a hardcore fan. Do you want to be a Quidditch star Ron?"
His ears were slightly red when he replied.
"Yes! No! I mean, I'm not as good as my brother Charles, or my other brothers Fred and George."
"So it is a yes? You wish to be a good Quidditch player?"
"Yeah, you could say so. If only I had another chance at that place." Ron mumbled.
But the deal was already done, faint silver light covered Ron for a second then everything returned to normal. He might not know his wish was granted but Issei had made sure that Ron would become a good Quidditch player, slowly and slowly the debt Ron had to pay would be enormous.
"I think we can play some games at the school, I haven't been there but I bet they got enough space for students to fly around."
"You bet! Most of the time the Quidditch stadium is booked by the House's team, maybe we can sneak at night for some practise."
"Of course of course."
There was an incident on the train as it stopped for the Dementors-some sort of ghost-like beings who suck happiness memories from people, to check out for the most wanted prisoner of Azkaban Sirius Black. But they didn't stop for long and none of them visited Issei and Ron.
Issei was impressed by the sight of the school when he saw it for real in the first time. Soon after the 1st year sorting his name was called by Gryffindor Headmistress McGonagall.
"Gremory, Malfean!"
Some of the students were surprised to see a 13 years old to be sorted, nonetheless Issei came forward to put the Sorting Hat on his head.
"Your mind is full of madness, yet you are alive and appear sane to everyone else. Interesting interesting."
"Tell everyone I belong to Gryffindor, there is no need to make the sorting longer."
"But such hatred, it's like your blood is made of vitriol. But is it worth to be in Gryffindor? You might accomplish your goal sooner in Slytherin."
"I only have two options here: Either I go to Gryffindor or I make you to."
"Well enough GRYFFINDOR!"
Ron was the one who clapped the loudest, back in the teachers' table McGonagall had a small approval smile, but none of those caught Issei's attention, for his eyes were flashing green when he finally encountered the one who was sitting along with several females.
One step closer.
I admit that I'm fairy new to Exalted so the character sheet might be screwed up. I guess some of you can already guess what kind of charms Issei got. Malfean here means "People of Malfeas." Malfeas is the hell of Exalted but it looks more like an alien prison made of brass than your standard fantasy hell, still a horrible place to live though. Cecelyne is the desert which encompasses Malfeas.
Malfeas gives Issei tanky power and nuclear fire. Cecelyne gives him premium monkey paw wish power.
Character sheet (Started)
Issei Hyoudou.
Alias: Lord Gremory. Desert Healer. Malfean Gremory.
Caste: Malefactor. Caste mark: an Hourglass.
Motivation: To inflict destruction upon those who take everything from him.
Urge: To unite the Britain witches and wizards under his banner.
Favored Yozi: Cecelyne, Malfeas.
Essence: 3
Will Power: 8
Virtue
Compassion: 2
Conviction: 3
Temperance: 2
Valor: 2
Attribute
Strength: 3
Dexterity: 3
Stamina: 5
Charisma: 3
Manipulation: 3
Appearance: 3
Perception: 2
Intelligence: 3
Wits: 2
Abilities
Archery/Firearm:
-Martial Arts: 3
=Fighting Unarmed: +1
Melee:
Thrown:
-War: 1
-Integrity: 5
-Performance: 2
-Presence: 2
-Resistance: 5
=Pain Endurance: +1
-Survival:
Craft:
Investigation:
Lore: 1
Medicine:
-Occult: 1
-Athletics: 2
-Awareness: 3
Dodge: 1
Larceny:
Stealth:
Bureaucracy:
Linguistics: 1
Ride/Drive:
Sail:
Socialize: 1