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20th of August 1953 – Illos, High Council

The Council meeting went on as usual, discussing pertinent topics as always. With the establishment of the Council of Representatives, some of the responsibilities were shifted away as intended so it reduced the lengths of the meetings significantly.

The Council of Representatives so far had introduced inheritance laws and laws pertaining land rights on the back of his agreement to sell Illosian lands, something that had taken off relatively well.

Lands and homes were sold not only for galleons but also based on familial commitments. A household of five with a maximum of two adults significantly had to pay less to own their home than a household of three.

With the lengthy lifespans of mages, relatively to normal humans anyway, they could have children until they were eighty to ninety years old, older for men who could have children well into their hundreds.

Even if fertility rates were significantly lower than normal humans, with time and innovation, such things will fall away and more will be born on Illos.

Other than those laws, Rowe had admirably slotted into his leadership position and had not veered away from what he had committed to…much to Representative Filch's displeasure.

So far, parties had formed, as he always knew it would, though for now it was only Filch's Economists Party and Rowe's Collectives Party. Filch's party was mostly irrelevant for now, especially since trade with the outside world was constricted to one person and since most of the basic needs of the people were covered but he could see it grow in strength in time…and in differing beliefs.

For now, their beliefs were less than an amoeba but in time it would evolve as things always did. He was not against it, opposition was important, but he would make sure it didn't evolve into something grotesque as he had seen in his old life…or in this one.

The Oaths of Representation should keep the level of questionable morals and actions below the point of triggering – there were a number of warnings that would let people know – but he also knew that it was feasible it was to skirt the penalties.

The next talking points of the meeting covered things such as the next projects would be started next, such as time scale and degree of introduction of magical animals to the environment, magical engineering projects such as The Ever-Changing Arena – massive large scale openarena that applied Rowena's Room of Requirement enchantments to create dynamic environments for the Illosian Games or research projects such as large scale fabrications using magic and feed material to create complex materials or products.

Like with Woodman, it was important to give people the opportunity to work on things such as these, great works that had practical uses and would be long lasting.

It was easier to do things on his own but it would be for the benefit of Illos to do it like this. It would only help in forging the identity of his people, an identity that would take pride of things such as this and eventually make it a norm and expectation of Illosians to create great works.

"Now onto the Gate Network." Sandra said as she peered over the documents.

"How far have we gotten with the Sublevel network?" Emily asked who sat beside him. With things finally settling in Britain, she had more opportunities to be in Illos and in council meetings.

It helped of course that she'd gotten her hands on the unpublished work of Edywn Stark from the DOM, the creator of the Time Turner.

With a bit of work, they'd gotten to make a Time Turner that could turn back time twenty-eight hours instead of the seven hours which meant she could be in Britain and Illos at the same time, a fact that both were pleased with.

The past few years they had been more apart than together and it was something neither of them were pleased with. The fact that they could feel each other's absence didn't help either so this was a welcome addition in their lives.

Emily was aging twice as fast now, of course, but with their ritually enhanced lifespan of thousands of years, it mattered little.

"We'll be able to open by February next year." Walter Bishop confirmed. "Woodman says that there's a few issues with separating the Sub-Gates from the Gates at Belva Hallos but he says he'll have it fixed by February."

They used Shunspace – the dimension used to travel from the semi-permanent hole ruptured through normal space between Gates – but they did not know all that there was of the dimension. It was similar to the pocket dimension created by Rowena Ravenclaw's Time Room in the sense that physics and time did not exist there naturally.

It was why they were able to contract space between distances into nothing.

Which also meant that to create different networks separate from each other had to be done entirely within the Gates themselves. And so they made a new set of gates, entirely limited in capability and range which was limited to about thirty mile radius from the Illos' city centre.

The parts of the security mechanisms within both types of Gates would also prevent locking into each network.

"That's good." Sassa said. "With the number of skymobiles in the air increasing as the population increases, offering this as a quick way to get across Illos would at least make sure the air isn't congested with this as an alternative"

"Of course, that is if we're not planning on allowing apparation." Sassa directed towards him.

"Eventually it will be allowed again." Atticus confirmed "But not before Apparation points have been integrated in the Guardian Array." He said.

The Guardian Array was his answer to the Magical Nets and Thief's Downfall.

It covered all of Illos and it was a ward system that had hundreds of wards interwoven together, many of them being fairly new wards he had made with Emily and the Flamels whilst also containing very old wards that were tweaked.

Most of it was highly defensive and counteractive, such as the wards that dispelled Mind Magic in the public space and in governmental buildings whilst others were environmental controls and intricate weather systems that patterned seasons and wind.

It also provided real time location of individuals within Illos, something that unfortunately was necessary. The system did not track anyone specifically not when people were little more than little dots on a map but the potential was there.

Part of the Guardian Array was also anti-apparation and portkeys that not even he could overpower.

"Timescale?" Chief Representative Rowe asked.

"Not until late next year." Atticus said to Rowe. At that stage, he would be ready to interlace Mithril into Illos which would elevate the strength of the Guardian Array to levels he still wasn't certain of.

He's made about twenty four tonnes of the liquid Magic known as Mithril as of now. Not as much as he hoped though now he's gotten an idea of the conversion rate of energy to magic and magic to Mithril.

It meant that the Vacuum Energy Reactor had to be operating at 100% with nearly 80% heading towards the conversion. By the time of next Summer, he would have about forty tonnes of Mithril.

About thirty eight tonnes of that will be used to interlace beneath the ground of Illos. Thousands of miles of Mithril would sit in between the Adamantite structures and the kilometre plus soil and waters. Runes would be etched into the cables and lines that would generate the new generation of Guardian Array.

It would make the Guardian Array nearly indestructible, capable of travelling through space without the outer shells covering it and able to shrug off even the annihilating particle and beam weapons that Ancient Humanity and the Forerunners used.

There was also the added benefit of how magical it would Illos.

The Diamond Obelisks that once kept Illos afloat were perhaps some of the most magical objects in magical history and they created a magical environment that rivalled Hogwarts in 'magicalness', magic that you feel on your skin even if you were weak magically.

Yet they paled in comparison to Mithril and when the Mithril was lain beneath the surface of Illos, it would make the worldship more magical than anything, even exceeding that of Atlantis which had been convergent to three five intersecting leylines before it was broken by the calamity, re-forming over time in smaller leylines.

The surface of Illos would become the closest thing to magical heaven on Earth, where magic would become as dense and as thick as heavy fog. It would change the very landscape of Illos in ways that were still rife with possibilities.

Trees and plant life would be so imbued with ambient magic that they would practically become nearly magical themselves, magic that once would ebb and flow through them would instead be ever present, like the air itself and they would breathe in magic just as easily. In time, he would not be surprised if spontaneously, plant life evolved to be more magical.

Just as in time, he expected the population of Illos to also be affected even if they could not channel ambient magic. With time, he expected more powerful magicals to be born on Illos too.

And with himself tied to the Mithril through magic and blood, Illos would become every bit part of him as he had always wished it.

Kings of the past had been tied to the lands that was within their domain. Acknowledged by mages, acknowledged by magic.

Yet for him…

He would be tied to Illos with greater intimacy and power imaginable

And he was looking forward to it.

He returned to the point at hand and said "The Office of Transport has until summer next year to suggest locations and future locations. It should be fine to adjust the Array but if it proves to be too cumbersome…"

Rowe bowed his head respectfully and acknowledged the request.

Sandra spoke up next moving things along "The Belva Hallos Gate connected to the Kyoto Gate has seen more traffic in the past month, in both people and goods."

"A welcome sign" Director Carson of the Treasury said "Trade with Japan has steadily been rising but only in the past month have seen more goods and products beyond ingredients flow in both directions."

Since they established the alliance with Japan, a fact that none of than those of the High Council knew for now, the trading between the two countries hadn't been as high as they initially expected. It seemed like Ieyasu was a little more cautious about raising unnecessary questions internally, at least until he got his house in order.

And now it was getting to a close with more people cleared and sworn to secrecy about Illos. It wasn't a strange sight anymore to see Japanese people in Illos.

Sandra nodded "I agree however in light of the increase in traffic, I think we may need to review the logistics and security of the port more."

"Factoring in the future connections to other parts of the world?" Emily asked.

Sandra nodded "At present, we are well capable of managing current capacity with the staff we have but in future" she looked to him and Emily "If we're going to open our borders to more than just a few countries, we're going to need to do a lot more to manage both trade and people."

"Put something together." Emily said before she continued "There is improvement at Belva Hallos how we manage things, I agree, however without a proposal or an outline of the specific problems, there is little we can do for now."

Sandra inclined her head and sat back whilst she wrote in her Holo.

"Last on the agenda is the Magical Restoration project." Once this was mentioned, everyone's eyes fell on him.

"Participants in the Magical Restoration trials for Dormants part of Sphinx Group or Illos was higher than expected as you all know." Atticus said as he sat back "thirteen hundred and fifty eight individuals signed up. Thirteen and fifty eight have been successfully treated." Atticus paused for a few seconds to let it sink in.

"One hundred percent retention of magic after the forty-five day mark. They are completely magical now" and all were vassals to House Sayre.

They were weak magically but future generations wouldn't be.

They had also trialled the treatment with four under seventeens and all of them were all below average magically speaking but still significantly stronger than the adult Dormants.

It seemed like the few magical maturities one had, the stronger their magic would be. He would not permit children below the age of sixteen to undergo the treatment.

He may be cruel but he would not impede on free will of his subjects and children, no matter how mature or intelligent would need to reach the appropriate age to be able to make a choice that they could understand.

He may trounce on the free will of many peoples around the world but he would draw the line there.

"No side-effects or lapses?" Sandra asked.

"None." Atticus confirmed "It seems like Dormants only need minor adjustments to be able to use magic."

"It will change everything." Walter Bishop enthused.

Sassa Habe uncharacteristically snorted "An understatement. The treatment would be welcomed by everyone. No more 'tragedies' within the family."

"And will remove the last of the resentment amongst the Dormant population" Carson noted. "especially amongst the younger population."

"There will be a necessity to write out the laws around the treatment." Rowe pointed out before he paused "Will we publish this treatment through SIMS?" he asked.

"No." Atticus said before he expanded "We will not publish this treatment any time soon."

"Even in Illos?" Walter Bishop questioned "It could revolutionise our understanding of genetics and DNA. William Bell would be able to expand and incorporate your findings in his research."

Atticus turned to Bishop "I am not opposed to sharing this with Bell. I have concerns that will need to be addressed before I do however. I will speak to him about it."

William Bell was a great mind, not unlike Walter Bishop but where Bishop's mind lay in esoteric theory, arithmancy and runes, Bell was a genius in biology, both magical and mundane. Thankfully, he was also trustworthy…at least able to be trusted to act in a certain way.

Bell was focused on understanding the structures of DNA, how and why magicals aged differently to muggles. Atticus Saw that Bell would get to a theory of aging, the factors that caused it and how magicals were different to muggles on a genetic level and in the end, begin the groundworks of research into slowing aging down through magi-tech and magi-biology, a field of science and magic that he would end up leading.

With minds like that, with people like that, absolute control was not possible…nor should be wanted about what they could research or learn. They can only be directed.

They would get more people like this in time, people who possessed minds – and perhaps magic of Archmage potential, that were great. It was natural, it was inevitable yet by fostering an environment where one could excel without the kinds of triggers that turn them against Illos would no renegades be born…or made.

Of course, with the Oaths in place that bound family lines to the ideals of Illos, to loyalty to Illos, there was little movement in being able to foster rebellion against him and Emily for they are Illos…not that such possibilities would even get to that stage with his Sight and his eventual group of Seers who can navigate Living Time.

Bishop nodded his understanding.

"For now, we will only offer this treatment to Illosians." Emily said "Of course, once we are unveiled, we can begin to offer this treatment."

"It'll be a useful political tool" Bishop said musingly.

"I can also easily see idiots overreacting that we're 'giving' magic instead of fixing a genetic error" Sandra said with a distasteful look. "That Illos 'steals' magic and grants it to the unworthy"

"Whilst at the same time secretly requesting the treatment for their own child" Emily said before shaking her head "Hypocrisy aside, the ICW may use this line of thinking to isolate us diplomatically internationally. As much as we can use it as a tool, it can easily be turned a weapon against us. Revolutionary discoveries tend to that impact."

"Which is why we will need to play this carefully and make sure it can only be used a tool for us and not as a weapon against us. It is distasteful to hold this as a tool given that it solves a significant problem in our world, yes but ultimately Illos' wellbeing comes first and if we must be distasteful and underhanded then so be it." Atticus declared.

Not long afterwards the meeting ended and he was walking out the Main Tower with Emily's arm coiled around his.

They walked past the Pandrosion, the incomparable school carved out of a single block of crystalline like stone which gleamed under the light of the three orbs and as they walked past the school, they were respectfully greeted and some had bowed to them as they walked past the people of Illos though all of them had looks of admiration and warmth.

Atticus called forward a skymobile and they entered it.

"How's the preparation for the new school year shaping up?" Atticus asked as the skymobile rose in the air.

"More or less finished" Emily said "The changes to the curriculum, particularly for the older students will be welcomed" she turned to him, a small smile on her face.

"With more teachers available thanks to the Ouroboros' releasing funding to the school, there is little resistance to the idea of introducing advance classes."

"It helps that it comes after fostering the kind of environment you have in Hogwarts." Atticus commented. Emily's time as professor and then deputy headmistress has allowed her to slowly change the culture at Hogwarts from toxic rivalry to healthy competition, especially amongst the Slytherins who'd taken to her notions of 'leaders of the magical world' very well even if it was changing one form of elitism to another.

With the obviousness of that truth considering that Ouroboros was largely Slytherin alumni and the steadily increasing of authority Emily had in Magical Britain, it would only pave the way for the behaviour to take root in Slytherin and should prevent the development of extremism as it once was.

Emily's time as deputy headmistress had her include duelling tournaments, charms competitions and Ancient Runes end of year projects, all of which had increased the interaction between the Houses beyond classes along with increasing interest in excelling magic beyond the curriculum.

In time, Hogwarts should elevate into becoming the premier school of the world…barring of course the Pandrosion Institute.

Rowena would be proud at the leaps that's been made, that will be made.

She would be less happy about the fact that it was not altruistic of course.

Power lies in knowledge and never more so in magic. The old families had significant advantages over the rest of the magicals and it was something that would continue unless it was broken at the very beginning…at school.

Exposing the youth to magicks they might not otherwise have known about and inciting a trait within them to search for more, to create more, would only bring about greater equalisation in knowledge and in the end, magic itself.

Ancient magicks held in grimoires might not ever become available to others – both he and Emily were loathed to allow such a thing anyway – but it did not mean others could not create their own.

Competition breeds out complacency and entitlement and if the Magical World was anything, it was complacent and entitled. That would long be ripped away before they moved worlds.

Emily smiled at him "It is a nice accomplishment." Her smile dropped off and she grew more serious "I will only teach NEWTS DADA this year."

"You think you need more time?" Atticus questioned.

"I do." Emily confirmed and she rolled her eyes at his raised eyebrow which referenced towards the time-turner she was using.

"Magical Britain is heading nicely towards where we want them but I need to be more…public before I leave for Illos permanently." Emily said with a ponderous tone. She glanced at him from the corner of her eyes "My efforts are going well to make the idea of us ruling them more palatable but I need to be seen more, especially given that the previous years I was largely only seen doing charitable things."

"To see you leading…ruling without actually being in a position to rule." Atticus finished for her and she nodded even as she brushed locks of her hair behind her ear.

It was going to be pivotal for the people to choose them as their rulers. At least the core citizens and cultures that would make up the base of Illos.

Magicals were long lived, often reaching ages of two hundred plus years – something that was likely to increase without the use of life-endangering rituals that needed far more than the average person would ever be able to obtain and have the mind to craft or adjust – and as such, had long memories.

Even if the choice was based on manipulation and more or less made for them.

"My grip on Ouroboros is strong as ever and they won't interfere with this, if anything, many of them will invite it." She said with a knowing smirk.

"It would do well if you capitalised on the goodwill you've created, even if it is sooner." Atticus said after a few seconds.

He peered at her "Are you certain you do not want to take up a leadership position now within the Ministry?"

It would be easy for her to take control now.

By now Ouroboros dominated the new government and held nearly every elected seat in the Wizengamot. The economy was recovering fast and people were finally optimistic for the future.

The British Ministry had not released the news of the near total collapse of the Statute and what the muggles had nearly done, which of course was smart but also a missed opportunity in a way.

Still, Ouroboros was cutting the thread that connected the magical and muggle worlds more and more as time went by. Magicals who had run off to the muggle world were being made to choose to give up the rights to magic or to return to the magical world along with their mundane spouse if they had any.

So far the most complicated thread to cut had not been made yet, the thread that connected the muggle world and the magical world through the birth of magical children. As of right now, Emily told him that Ouroboros would be seeking to offer options to the parents to move since they were squibs and if they refused, they would have a geas placed on them to be unable to speak about magic except in the comforts of their home and in the presence of their child.

Barriers to magi-tech were being removed and innovation was being encouraged.

The Council of Lords had fallen in line and Emily placated many of them by having the government purchase many of the businesses they bought at the same price they had bought it in the first place in exchange for cooperation and ensuring they would not stand in the way of the reforms Ouroboros would be putting through which many of the Lords would have been against.

It wasn't going all swimmingly of course, there were still pockets of both former Progressives and Traditionalists that were unhappy with the drastic changes that were being made but in the wake of immense public support, such discontent was manageable.

"Would change things for the better?" Emily asked him plainly.

He looked away from her gaze and took a few moments before he answered "It would create more problems to solve down the line. Already there are questions amongst those who do not want to have questions about your continued involvement with Ouroboros and the Council of Lords. If we push…"

Emily remained silent for a few moments until she spoke up again "In that case, then no, I won't which is fine since I hardly want to get involved on that level, not when less does more in the long run."

She looked at him curiously "Your 'friend' Charlus I suspect?" Emily said with a look on her face.

"Yes." He answered. Charlus was a splinter that proved rather difficult to dislodge. He had many questions that was closer than he wanted towards the right direction.

Most of their detractors were gone. Black, McKinnon and so on. Even the less visible enemies were 'tragically' killed by the terrorists or neutered politically to the point they were unable to remain relevant or close to power.

Mercy was not something they could afford with those who would only use it to strike at a later date.

Charlus…

Charlus was perilously veering to that territory.

It was getting to the point it might actually become necessary to do…away with him.

His betrayal was not something he did not foresee as it worked for their plans, made to work for their plans. Atticus knew he had pushed Charlus to the limit but he had still been disappointed to have seen him do it, especially when what he had been advocating and inciting had been for the benefit for the people.

Charlus' experiences of the war had made him wary of war – as it should to any – but he had taken it to the extreme to the point of bending over backwards to accommodate a peace that was never going to last for long.

All that they did now was the least of the worst options.

Sometimes, war was necessary to change things.

"He's deputy head of the DMLE now." Emily said with a displeased frown, a frown that spoke of that she would happily dispose of him now. She wouldn't, not when they long ago reached an agreement that they would deal with people that were theirs.

He would not interfere how she dealt with her people without her agreement and neither would she interfere with his people.

"I know. It will be hard to make sure he doesn't rise to the position above him." Atticus said to her with a commiserating smile "It's not a big issue though, he and others like him will not be a major problem when we begin the next phase."

That is if Charlus doesn't go towards routes that Atticus could not ignore or forgive.

He would afford that to his old comrade even if their friendship was at an end.

Emily looked at him with a long look before she relented and asked "How are the ICW handling the Russians?" she asked.

"Poorly" Atticus said with a smile "The war with Grindelwald made a great many veterans that are hardened and made cunning as a consequence of surviving some of the worst of the fighting in the war. Even with the recruits of veterans of both sides of the war in the ICW forces, it'll be hard to catch the Russians off guard."

The ICW knew that the Russians were heavily involved with the Soviet Union.

A breach of the Statute that wasn't as severe as the one in Britain, not that the ICW knew, but it was serious. After the Chinese breach was sealed, the ICW pivoted and refocused on the Russians.

Investigation so far had proven difficult to the ICW to prove a breach of the Statute and the Russians weren't playing game. Eventually they'll get some evidence, he had Seen and it would be a relatively quick resolution once the ICW played politics, but it would only increase their zeal in ensuring further breaches did not happen.

"So we'll still leak to the ICW about the close call of Exposure in Britain." Emily mused.

"Yes." He said simply.

The leak would inevitably draw ICW investigations towards Magical Britain as part of the Statute Agreements. Magical Britain rarely had cowed to the ICW but in recent years, their fingers in the upper echelons of the Ministry had been noticeable.

Ouroboros would refuse and Emily after her absence from the Isles would step forward when the ICW overreacted and it solidify her image as a defender of Magical Britain even after she left.

Already her status as someone who would 'sacrifice' her nobility for the sake of Magical Britain had won over the public wholeheartedly, something that she had already been well on the way of doing with her cultural and magical education endeavours.

Now she had the public's support which would only increase over time after being seen defending Magical Britain against the ICW.

Which would also be around the time Illos would be unveiled.

They arrived at Sayre Manor and they stepped out. Emily sighed as they walked towards their home. She leaned into his side.

"I asked Tweenie to make us that Risotto you like" he said with a humorous lilt to her voice.

She looked up at him from the corner of her eyes "Are you trying to make me fat? You know I can eat three plates of it."

Atticus tsked "You've caught on my long term plan."

"It'll work if you stick with the Milanese Risotto." Emily said as they arrived at the dining room and she peeled herself off of him.

They ate the risotto, discussing a few things here and there before they moved towards the second living room and went over a few things independently, both of them working on separate desks.

She went over some measures that the Ouroboros would be introducing whilst he looked over the figures of the new arrivals and their progress in settling in. Recently more people from the mundane side of the world had come to live permanently, people who worked in one way or another for the Sphinx Group, most of them squibs or squibborns.

With their return also came new introductions to Illos, new kinds of music, ideas that translated to new products and even new foods as many of them worked for the Endrian Shipping Company and were used to travelling around the world and visiting new cultures.

One of them had opened up an Oriental restaurant and they made the most marvellous dumplings.

For the next few hours, they wrote and they read, made plans and approved them. Life at the moment was a little monotonous, both of them busy in their own ways. For all of their plans and plots, much of the day to day work was startling dull and it was in that train of thought that he glanced up from his work and looked at her.

She sat with her legs crossed, peeking out away from under the desk as she sat back in her chair, a noticeable frown on her face as she read a document or some such.

A small smile grew on his face as an idea sprouted in his mind.

His hand went towards his wrist and the Holo UI popped up and he selected the perfect song. He stood up from his chair.

Her head rose from the document as trumpets and drums and violins began to play. Atticus moved his desk away to allow for greater space in the middle.

"What are you doing?" she asked with a raised eyebrow as 'It's Been A Long, Long Time' played, a version that was five times the normal length with a long instrumental beginning and a long instrumental ending.

With an elaborate flick of his hand he moved her desk to the side as he walked over with suaveness towards Emily who was still seated in her chair. Her other eyebrow rose as well as she looked on with a hint of bemusement.

He bowed with deliberate motion as he extended a hand "May I have this dance, lady-wife?" Atticus asked with a small smile adorned on his face.

The swaying music from the gentle music continued without either of them moving for a few seconds as husband and wife stared at each other until, eventually, Emily relented and took his hand. He pulled her up and his hand slid across towards her lower back over her dress as their right hands entwined.

They swayed softly as they danced.

They stepped a little closer to each other, closer to each other's bodies as they swayed in perfect harmony, in perfect rhythm like two gears whose teeth perfectly slot together. His head lowered and his cheek touched the side of her head gently and he heard her sight contently.

Kiss me once

Then, kiss me twice

Then, kiss me once again

It's been a long, long time

Haven't felt like this, my dear

Since can't remember when

It's been a long, long time

They drew closer, closer until their bodies touched, dancing to the slow song, the string of the band lulling them in a slow motion. Emily raised her head slightly and their cheeks touched before her lips turned and kissed his cheek with a deftness and gentleness that was only reserved for him. Their finger locked each other's hand whilst her arm snaked around him drawing him even closer.

You'll never know

How many dreams I dream about you

Or just how empty they all seem without you

So, kiss me once

Then, kiss me twice

Kiss me once again

It's been a long, long time

He drew his head a little back and she stared up at him.

His eyes locked onto her lips and he brought his head down, leaning in slowly before he pressed his lips against hers, their eyes closing as they lost themselves to the moment, this precious moment with the most perfect song. Their magic slowly released, dancing and humming to the tune of their rhythm, perfect in sync with their emotions and swaying.

Had anyone able to observe, they'd see wisps, tendrils of magic, coloured blues and purples and greens, circling around them in perfect step as they swayed together to the music.

Their magic ebbed and flowed to each other, from each other, like flickering candle fires dancing to the rhythm of a mild gush of wind breaching through a half closed window as all their surroundings faded away whilst they were in each other's arms.

Their kiss ended and their eyelids crept open, never leaving the gaze of the other. It was a little slice of wonder, of beauty and a strange thought popped in his head as they looked each other with meaningful tenderness.

She smiled softly at him, a crack in her perfect face and a smile that could breathe life into a thousand dying stars. "What brought this on?" she asked him softly.

"Does a man ever need a reason to dance with his beautiful wife?" Atticus asked with an equally soft smile. Her smile was still present even as she rolled her eyes.

"I just thought with how we've been so busy with…everything, we could use a bit of something like this for ourselves, where there's nothing but us and a bit of music." He said to her with fondness towards her.

She hummed with notes of contentment before she spoke "It has been busy" she agreed as her dainty hand went up to his face and her thumb rubbed something off of his cheek "Left a mark" she said and he smiled down at her, hints of wry amusement in his expression.

"And my lips?"

"I'll rub it out later. Thoroughly." She said dismissively as she smiled with a slow coy glint in her eyes. Atticus' smile widened as he shook his head.

"Who knew ruling and plotting would involve so much paperwork and dullness?" Emily said after a few seconds as the extended song nearing towards the end.

"Historians always did say conquering is easy but ruling is hard." Atticus said before he paused "Conquering the world on horseback is easy, it is dismounting and governing that is hard"

"Hmm" Emily voiced out as she looked at him with a bemused expression "Quoting Genghis Khan to me? How romantic" she drawled teasingly.

"I know how to speak to your heart, my dear wife." Atticus said. Emily laughed.

"He says as he plays a muggle romantic song to a dark witch" she said with a raised eyebrow.

Atticus laughed a little "You don't fool me, Emily Sayre" Atticus said fondly though with hints of mischief in his eyes "You love a bit romance here and there. Honolulu certainly taught me that."

They'd rented a place – later purchased funnily enough – by the white beaches on one of the more silent regions of the islands and spent a week there, isolated and just the two of them with nothing but a record player to keep them company.

This song had been one of many that accompanied them on those easy days.

The music rolled onto 'The Very Thought of You', another of the songs that was often played.

Emily's look descended into exasperated fondness "You're full of cheese tonight" she said with a hint of a smile. She'd caught on to some of his old life's expression when he'd spoken them when he'd forgotten himself.

"You're mistaken, my dear wife, I'm full of suave for I'm a suave, suave man, Emily." Atticus said with a straight face as he twirled her around. "It's quite alright if you can't quite tell. Sometimes I can be too smooth to comprehend."

"Arrogant too" Emily said as she returned to face him "It's almost sickening, the way your arrogance smells" she said with a teasing lilt to her voice, humour shining in her eyes.

Atticus laughed as he drew her closer and they swayed slower, smiles on their faces.

The very thought of you and I forget to do

The little ordinary things that everyone ought to do

I'm living in a kind of daydream

I'm happy as a king

And foolish though it may seem

To me that's everything

The mere idea of you, the longing here for you

You'll never know how slow the moments go till I'm near to you

I see your face in every flower

Your eyes in stars above

It's just the thought of you

The very thought of you, my love

Emily's head leaned in and rested onto his chest. His arms wrapped around her as their swaying reduced to a mere little motions. Atticus placed his chin on her head as he closed his eyes.

The mere idea of you, the longing here for you

You'll never know how slow the moments go till I'm near to you

I see your face in every flower

Your eyes in stars above

It's just the thought of you

The very thought of you, my love

They danced long after the song ended, long after silence had filled the voice even as they swayed, as they moved in perfect sync, two people who were part of the same whole.

He often wondered at times if ruling the world completely had lost some of its appeal for both of them because they had each other, because of their love for another.

Neither of them spoke of it but both of them had mellowed over the years, both had known it too as they had taken their foot off of the gas to rule the world.

It was hard to remain at the mind-set to dominate everything and everyone when contentment and peace could be found in the arms of the other.

They changed their plans so easily at times, seeking the path of least resistance when the other paths were quicker even if they were bloodier.

Still, in the end, they get would there, even if they took the long path. Even if it lost some of its appeal, especially as challenges fell and rotted away like tree leaves during winter, they would eventually get to there.

After all, in the end, they were destined for greatness. Greatness and destiny cared not for contentment and in the end, they would bring greatness to their people…

As two parts of a contented whole.

-Break-

Azkaban

Christopher Cameron POV

His body rattled.

Despite being here…

He lost count.

Was it still weeks?

…Was it now months?

His body rattled as he clung onto himself with normalised desperation, his body flush against the corner of the walls, the place that was the least affected by it all.

The cold walls were nothing to him, even if it was part of him now, no…it was not the cold that rattled him, that shook him like a wet dog desperate to get dry…

It was the dread…the gusts of dread that rose up from the chasms of joylessness, gusts that stuck to him like sticky tar and he was helpless against it.

Even when they were not here, even when they were afar, hovering and floating, roaming the halls of the black stoned prison, it was a dread that pulled him closer to the ridge of the chasm, closer to being subsumed into the darkness of insanity.

He was in Hell.

He felt nothing of his memories of his mother's smile anymore or his father's boisterous laugh, he only felt the sadness and upset of her disappointed looks and his father's anger. It was insidious, truly, the depths in which all good things in his life were being eaten away.

"God…" Christopher rasped out as his arms clung around his knees. He prayed so often, so much, but nothing had worked.

Christopher laughed and it was one with frayed sanity.

Would he even get to keep his Soul or would he forever be trapped in the bowels of a demon, a demon that these people used to guard their prisons?

He truly was in Hell for his captors were Devils and the demons their guards.

He didn't understand…he didn't know how they managed it, how they got the drop on them. All of it, all of their efforts…pointless, wasted…

He stopped caring what was happening outside of these four black walls…

Why bother when he thought that the worst had happened, that they had won

Was it days…

Was it weeks…

Was it years…

Christopher lived to eat the slop thrown into his cell…

He lived to be eaten away in body and soul…

He touched the little crack in the wall, the crack that his finger bled on as he traced it along its now dulled edges. His crack, his corner.

Christopher ate and they ate Christopher.

Christopher ate the unedible and they ate his joy.

He lived to be eaten away…

Another day, another time of the feeling of dread rising and he felt the meagre sense of self begin to wither.

"N-no…n-n-noo, p-p-please…" Christopher croaked out in a pitiful whimper in a hopeless pointless gesture of pleading for mercy, his voice trembling as he spoke, as the bolted window creaked apart and finger bones entered.

Haunting breathing, an echo-y noise that rippled despair through him as his body shook his body in fear and the faceless abyss from under the hood pushed through the gap in the middle door.

The air reduced to frozen fog as all heat and warmth and feeling was drawn out of his cell. "A-a-aaahhhh" he cried out as meagre joy that remained turned into less as his worst nightmares, his worst experiences were played out, flashes of a dark haired woman with the blackest of eyes and a man of glowing purple eyes were rushed to the front of his mind as all of the sanity breaking agony rattled through his body.

Again and again, memories of joyful times lost its strength and the flashes of harrowing pain rippled through him.

The demon ended its assault and Christopher collapsed onto his ratty cloak that served as his bed, his blanket, his clothes…

He laughed…he wept…

Days passed…weeks passed…

…years passed…?

The sounds of clunking and knocking against the desolate black floor outside his cell. The metal door creaked up and he felt himself missing the hard coldness of his corner as he felt his feet touch the black stone. He saw faces, faces! Faces that were not not-faces, faces that weren't hidden behind nothing, that were nothing.

"W-who" he croaked out. The man who was by his side looked at him with disgust? – or was it happiness? He couldn't tell… – and he says something but Christopher wasn't sure what was said…

Was he deaf now?

Did the demons take his hearing…?

He hated the rocking, he wanted his corner. He wanted touch the little crack in the stone on the left side of his wall, his crack that listened to him, that was there for him. He wanted his cloak, he missed the cloak as he walked through clean halls and smooth stones, even if he was warmer and drier than he could remember.

He wanted his cloak.

He was put into a seat, a nice seat and he was made to seat nicely strapped in.

"Christopher Cameron…alleged…" he heard as he stared at his hands. These were his hands? He hadn't been able to see them in the near darkness…his hands looked so…not Christopher. His fingertips looked like there was only a little bit of skin covering them.

"Breach…"

"Statute…."

He slumped forward as his chains were yanked and Christopher gazed up for the first time.

"…Do you understand, Mr Cameron? You have been found guilty." the man who looked like a priest…or was it a judge? – he wasn't sure – said.

"Answer the Judge, Mr Cameron!" the man in red robes said harshly as he yanked on his chain that tied his hands up.

"Y-y-yes" Christopher said. He wanted to return to his corner. They would let him go home right? …right?

But he was so warm!

They weren't going to let him go back…there…was he? They would bring his corner to him if he asked…right?

"…Very well" the Judge intoned as he slammed his hammer "…been sentenced to Death through the Veil. May Magic have mercy on your soul"

"D-d-death?" Christopher murmured confused as he looked at the man in red robes with a confused expression?

"Too merciful" the man in red robes seemed to say angrily as the chains on the seat came loose and he yanked Christopher up. Christopher fell the ground, pained and his arms and shoulders and arm sockets aching.

"Get up!" the man in red robes demanded.

He didn't really know where he was…it looked familiar…but he stared at the rippling curtain made out of fog that made sounds like…them.

"P-p-please…" Christopher spoke up for the first time after a while, his head turning towards the crowd of people for the first time "I-I…I d-don't want to go where they come f-f-from"

Christopher felt his feet away from the stone ground and he began to panic, his eyes wide with fear "P-please! Please!" he cried out as he was drawn closer to the curtains.

He didn't want to go there, to be with them

"I-I'll g-go b-back! B-back to m-m-my corner! Please! Anywhere but there!" Christopher wailed as the curtains wailed, their wails sounding hungrier and more desperate for him than his demons had ever been.

"No, no, no, no!" Christopher cried out as he clawed at the air to no avail as the curtains approached so so closely

"He's gone insane" Christopher heard but his eyes were fixed on the curtains, curtains that showed not-faces, faces that he could see but he knew they were the same faces as those under the hood and he whimpered and closed his eyes, his body trembling as he was submerged into the curtains, his last thoughts begging God that his soul would be destroyed for what he believed lay behind the curtains was eternal torment worse than even being amidst the presence of demons.

-Break-

30th of October 1953 – Hogwarts

Emily POV

LAST MEMBER OF TERRORIST ORGANISATION SENT THROUGH THE VEIL!

With a flick of the finger, she closed the Daily Prophet as the students began arriving into the Great Hall for breakfast. The magicals that worked with the muggles were judged in a secret tribunal, a tribunal that was witnessed by a few observers from the press but sworn to secrecy in the name of national security.

To the public, they were simply stragglers of the terrorist organisations.

Something that eventually be peeled away as a stretching of the truth when the time came. In any case, with the death of Cameron, the last vestiges were gone and things were now settling into a slow movement towards their future.

She looked across the Great Hall as students continued to arrive.

Many of them would not amount to much, she knew this even without having to depend on Atticus' sight to learn whom to focus on, yet there were still a few amongst them that would become more useful than not.

Amongst the new arrivals and also amongst the few of decent potential was Cygnus Greengrass, heir to the Greengrass family. Whilst he was still to take his OWLS, he was shaping up to be a consummate New Slytherin, one who had taken to the new philosophies she'd instilled in her old House.

There were a few others, across the Houses, that she would keep an eye, to see if they would live to the potential they showed even if they were not of high magical potential as only three were at or above mid-sorcerer potential whilst none reached Archmage potential.

She would not see all of these promising individuals graduate, her eventual departure of the Isles was only a few years away now before she returned years later, but her time here at Hogwarts beyond the purpose of guiding these youths in ways that would prove useful not only to her but also for themselves and her own desires to be involved in her ancestor's school, had also proved to be useful if only for the observations it granted her.

Her observations of how magical strength unveiled themselves in family lines…and in those without clear heritage.

Those with family traits did do better in certain fields their family magic was strongest in but generally speaking…potential was there in more than just those of established powerful family lines.

The Sayres, the Blacks, the Potters, the Longbottoms and the other Most Ancient families were different from this, of course. Just as the lines of the Founders were different.

Some families simply had a higher ceiling that may actually have some roots in heritage but generally speaking, there was little difference between a scion of three hundred year old pureblood family line and a squibborn.

She'd looked into the heritages of confirmed Archmages and mages that were known to be powerful. It seemed like most of these Archmages had at least some kind of relation to Most Ancient families. Of course that was always the likelihood given how small the magical population had always been but still, it seemed like none of them were further away from these Most Ancient families than five generations.

Squibborns that were noted to be of unusual power were harder to trace back and families back then were not likely to advertise the number of children they may have had for fear of attack and exploitation of weakness especially if one of the children was a squib but she expected that they were likely in some way related as well to these families.

It had peaked her curiosity…and she was keen to know what exactly led to the Most Ancient family lines to exceed the average magical potential of the British population.

She knew enough of the Sayre family's history to know that the rituals they did to themselves – and to their descendants – were the solid rod of Adamantite that was behind Atticus' power and it was not hard to believe that those families, the Founders' included, had done something in a similar vein.

Something that extended beyond simply imbibing a family trait in their family lines.

Especially considering that the Sayre's family traits were too unique to believe that even prodigious mages were able to exactly know what they were doing.

Rituals were not that easy or worked exactly as intended. Even Atticus' form of long life had to be done with hundreds if not thousands of years of ritual expertise at his beck and call along with a portrait of an expert in ritual magicks.

Her own ritual sets were done using Atticus' own modifications as a base which she only altered, not entirely created on her own and with plenty of help from the portrait.

For mages long after the golden age of Atlantis and a thousand years before the golden age for magical knowledge and exploration during the antiquities to be able to create such a family trait with deliberate intention was not something she could accept readily.

To her, as much as she was loathed to consider it, it seemed like it was more accidental yet also purposeful by a quirk of fate or favour of magic, rituals that did not work as intended but worked to the advantage of the Sayres…just like it had worked in the favour of these Most Ancient families of whatever rituals these families might have done at some stage.

The only issue she had with developing this theory into something more concrete however was that family chronicles rarely told the truth, even if they did not dilute what may have happened in the form of flowery poetry or sagas that exemplified whatever they wished to promote.

She'd read enough of her own ancestors that came after Salazar to know that.

It was unfortunate that the Sayres had lost much of their chronicles during their time in Egypt even if the truth was likely to be sparse.

Nevertheless, if she could discover what exactly was behind this greater magical potential, if it was magic or if it was blood and magic, she could see many, many advantages for the magical world…and for herself.

Dippet stood up from his seat and an excited hush passed through the Great Hall.

"Students, as I'm you're well aware, it is Samhain tomorrow eve. You will have the option to return home and partake in the celebrations and honouring the departed with family or you may remain here and partake in the celebrations in Hogsmeade." Dippet paused for a moment as murmurs rang around in the Great Hall.

One of the changes she worked to reinstate, something until recently had been stymied by the old Ministry – under the direction of her now dead enemies – was the Hogsmeade Samhain celebration, an event that had been cancelled nearly two centuries ago.

During the time of the Founders, it was an event that brought villages and clans together, a practice that had survived well until the late sixteenth century but had been dropping away more and more when it had been a visible marker to being a magical.

Dippet continued "You have until tomorrow to inform your Head of House of your choice." Dippet clapped his hands and the food popped onto the tables. "You may eat." Dippet said and it was the beginning of excited conversation erupting amongst the students.

"Ho-ho!" Slughorn who sat next to her sounded out excitedly as he turned towards Medelin. "I hope Wister has made more of that wonderful mead."

"Ugh, for all that it tastes great, it gives the worst hangover." Professor Medelin who taught Astronomy complained from on the other side of Slughorn where she sat.

"It's your own fault for refusing to take a simple potion that cures that particular ailment." Professor Goshawk of Ancient Runes murmured in her cup.

Dippet turned her "Good sign that things are finally settling down." He said to her, his old eyes darting towards the paper before they returned to hers. "I didn't think it would happen so quickly."

"I expect there likely will be some Aurors patrolling." She said as she took her cup. Before she drank it she paused and looked at him "I imagine that the staff will all be present?" she asked him.

"Yes." Dippet with a throaty hum in his voice and he took his cup but before drinking he paused and glanced at her meaningfully "The staff will have to be apart from the celebrations to make sure we keep an eye on the students. We'll have a meeting shortly to discuss such particularities."

"Prudent" Emily said with a nod and Dippet turned back to his cup and his drink.

Emily returned her gaze towards the Great Hall and her gaze trailed over the student body as nearly everyone had arrived as far as she could tell. The number of students was slightly less than in her day mostly because of the many families that left the Isles during the…troubles but she expected the numbers to skyrocket in the next couple of decades.

Her eyes wandered towards the Slytherin table. There wasn't just a sea of Slytherin green ties but there were also a few yellows, blues and even reds as students mingled.

After Atticus' defeat of Grindelwald and Dumbledore's betrayal, one of the places that showed the consequences of such sudden shocks had been Hogwarts.

Hogwarts since nearly its beginning had been a place that divided its students along impassable lines…deeply entrenched like World War One trenches with cross House participation akin to No Man's Land.

It had been something she had worked to erode and had done so with some measurable success during her last year in Hogwarts. Of course, it helped that the children from primary magical schools were entering Hogwarts – something that only raised the overall desire of the school body to improve as the younger generation were regularly approaching the skills of students years their senior – retained their childhood friendships.

Of course, it also helped that Dumbledore's actions had broken the illusion of chivalry and honour as something belonging to House Gryffindor.

Her own 'magnanimity' and that of House Slytherin had however worked to improve House Slytherin's reputation in Hogwarts and where before it was known as the House of Dark wizards and pureblood supremacy, it had been slowly shifting as the House of leaders, something that appealed to the egos of many of her housemates.

And when she returned to teach DADA, she had seen that it had stuck somewhat though she had to reinforce it. And now, years later and as Deputy Headmistress of the school her ancestor had built, she could say that she was rather proud at her accomplishment.

Just as she was proud that slowly but surely muggle notions and traditions were falling away without falling back into complacency.

Soon enough the Samhain arrived. Students joined the villages in the revelry and in the bonfires. It was mild, this Samhain celebration but that was fine…the more intense celebrations and messages to the dead could come later.

She walked away from the busy centres of Hogsmeade and towards the edges when she saw Malfoy looking her way.

"My Lady." Malfoy said with a bowed head as he joined her in her walk around the perimeter of the Samhain Hogsmeade celebrations.

"Abraxas." She said with the barest of acknowledgements.

"It's good to see the Samhain celebrations conducted again in Hogsmeade." Abraxas said after a while, a pleased expression on his face. "Soon enough such celebrations of important wizarding holidays and remembrances will become standard as they always should have."

"Abraxas." Emily said, her gaze finally setting on him and he stood a little straighter, his head bowing lowly. He understood her perfectly well and he answered.

"Some of our proposals are gaining greater opposition than expected." Abraxas said swiftly. "To be exact…the proposal to requisition land from the muggles for the Ministry."

The land taken from the muggles would aid in providing alternative income for the Ministry. Agriculture was an opportunity, especially after the still terrible ability of the British muggles to feed themselves from the produce of the Isles.

With their ability to create far greater yield in the same plot of lands, they would be able to create massive quantities of food for less than a tenth of its space.

The hedge witches and wizards that once produced food for Magical Britain had been limited in both ability and innovation, something that they did not lack and the old Ministry had been too incompetent to be able to think of something this simple.

Without the muggles being aware of the magical world, they could far more easily navigate through the muggle world and take what they wanted and in this instance, they would steal as much land as they could get away with.

They might be advocating for them to cut off contact with the muggles but it didn't mean they would leave it untouched. The hypocrisy was conveniently ignored when by all when it was this approach that made everyone who'd been part of Ouroboros since the beginning, those who had sworn personal allegiance to her, had become wealthier than at any point in their families' history, all because of her and Atticus.

Taking from muggles was acceptable to all…as long as it was their wealth they were taking.

With the help of the Sphinx Group, they would appear legitimate food producers and expand throughout the still recovering muggle Europe whilst also meeting all of the needs of the magicals for less than knuts whilst also taxing less as a result of the income from this source. No matter if you were magical or muggle, full bellies staved away angry mobs.

"Who?" she asked calmly.

"The stronger progressive families…like the Bones and the Abbotts. They won't be able to rally the third of the Council they need to stop the law from passing but they are making…noise in the public sphere." Abraxas said displeased.

Annoying.

Still…

"Let them." Emily said finally

"My Lady?" Abraxas questioned confused.

She turned her gaze towards him "Abraxas…we cannot stifle opposing voices…in any way, not at this stage." She said as she placed her arms behind her back as they walked back towards the crowd as the Samhain celebrations were about to begin.

"We, the Ministry and the Council, need to be seen as a place that allows for debate, for discourse and for idiotic notions of freedom of speech to be seen to take place" She said as she glanced at him from the corner of the eye "We are winning Abraxas but we have not won, not completely. That can only come with time…time we will build even if the voices of the weak buzz in our ears."

She came to a stop and she turned her heavy gaze completely to him.

"…I understand" Abraxas said with a bowed head.

Emily nodded slightly to him and began to walk again and Abraxas locked step with her. Abraxas would be key in ensuring that when the time came, Britain's union with Illos was as smooth as possible. He did not know the details, none of them did but he knew enough. He'd been to Illos a number of times throughout the years to have at least some idea of where things were going.

She'd watched him carefully throughout the years and it was clear that to her that Abraxas had welded himself to her…to them. For that, she would see him rewarded in some way or another. More than he already has.

"How is Lucinda? The pregnancy going well?" Emily asked lightly.

Lucinda was a daughter of a Norwegian noble family that bred Pegasus horses. Somehow, it was fitting for a Malfoy Lord to marry a daughter from such a family.

Abraxas allowed a glimmer of a smile to come across his face "The pregnancy is going well. I am to have a son." He said with a hint of pride in his voice.

"Good to hear Abraxas." She said with an incline of his head "May magic look kindly upon him."

Atticus mentioned this son of Abraxas. She was curious to meet Abraxas' heir that Atticus grudgingly acknowledged would be a smart but untrustworthy and slippery man.

"Hear, hear." Abraxas said proudly as they re-joined the Samhain celebrations.

-Break-

17th of December 1953 – Indonesia, Ambon Academy of Excellence

Tirtayasa POV

His pen was moving across the page with a careful diligence as he wrote the teacher's words down on the notebook.

Before he knew it, the bell was ringing.

As he closed the notebook, the teacher finished with "On Monday, we will cover Gravitational Potential Energy and its common uses. I expect you to read the pages 274 to 296 over the weekend."

Tirtayasa suppressed the urge to grimace, something he could see others weren't able to. They could expect a test now on Monday. Mr Idris was punishing like that.

As he walked out of the classroom, he felt an arm wrap around his neck "Are you coming to play ball?" Asraf asked. Tirtayasa peeled his friend's arm off of his shoulder.

"Not today." He said to Asraf "I've got a meeting with the principal"

"Ah that's right!" Asraf exclaimed before he frowned "Do you know what it is about?"

He shook his head "I don't." He looked to his friend "Do you?"

Asraf looked annoyed "No, I don't. The others aren't saying anything but I know it's good because they look excited." Asraf paused for a moment "But I think they're leaving. Very soon too."

"Why do you think that?" Tirtayasa asked concerned.

"Well, I heard Saydah gave Roosnami a tearful goodbye the other day."

"Oh." He could only say. The two girls were very close, pretty much sisters despite their different backgrounds.

"And she didn't tell Roosnami where she might be going?" He asked

Asraf shook his head.

"Strange" he wondered aloud.

Asraf looked at him "You might leave too."

"We don't know for sure." He said a little distracted as he thought on the possibility that Asraf was right.

"Well you can tell me after your meeting then" Asraf said with a smile before he started walking away "Speak to you later!" he said as he took the exit through the left hall whilst Tirtayasa continued onto the princal's office.

"Take a seat, Mr Sibilillah. When it is time, you will be called into the principal's office." The secretary said and he thanked her before he made his way to a seat in the waiting area.

He stopped briefly when he saw her but quickly found his seat. He fiddled with his hands for a little, stealing glancing at her before he decided he could read whilst he waited.

After a little while, he couldn't help it and he glanced up from the book and looked at her. She sat there with her legs crossed and a large sketchbook on her lap. Her long silken black hair fell either side of her shoulders and her head was bowed but he could see her face clearly.

Her brows were furrowed, almost welded onto each other with how furrowed her brows were in concentration, and her hand, pencil in hand, danced across the white sketchbook in large sweeping motions before her wrist pulled back in circular motions.

It was mesmerising, he thought her to be mesmerising and he wondered what perfection she was pencilling into that book. He knew her…well he knew of her. Fatimah

She was in the year group ahead of him and she was considered to be the best artist in the whole school. He'd seen some of her work and he thought it was incredible.

He thought she was incredible.

He wasn't sure when the crush on her started, maybe when he'd bumped in her a couple of years ago and helped her gather her things that he so clumsily dropped, but it was as strong as its ever been.

Something he knew he'd be teased about endlessly for having a crush on someone who he'd never really spoken to.

'You could speak to her now' his voice rang in his head and he stifled it mercilessly.

What would they talk about? He thought to himself morosely.

Fatimah was in her last year in the academy and then she'd go to New York or Paris or somewhere else amazing!

He would probably just end up going to school in Australia or America on the Academy scholarship and never see her again except maybe in newspapers whenever she would dazzle the world with her art.

He ducked under the cover of his book as someone walked into the waiting area outside of the principal office. He glanced at the person who entered and he was surprised.

She was white and had long brown hair and she was dressed in strange clothes. It was like a very loose shirt but without buttons and had a round collar.

She turned and he ducked again under his book and pretended to be deep in his book. The school was funded by Sphinx Group, a huge company that did almost everything even shipping. He'd seen a few of those huge ships a few times by the coast, ships that had Endrian on its sides but also had a Sphinx symbol.

He didn't know why they cared about building a school in Indonesia but he was happy for it. He didn't think the Indonesian government would have cared about the kind of students that were in the academy or give expensive scholarships to other countries.

The academy offered scholarships to all students that kept up a B average. Scholarships to America or Australia for all kinds of topics and after the studies were finished, they would have a place in the huge company.

From what he heard, it could be anywhere in the world, the choice was theirs. It was amazing really. Still, he never seen any Europeans in the school however. Until now.

It was making him a little nervous. Why would they come now?

No one had really paid the academy much attention, even the people in the city. The academy was quite far from the main parts of the city, more up the hills that overlooked the city and the ocean and it made visiting the town during school off-days quite difficult.

The people there were…odd. It was almost as if they didn't care the academy existed! At least until they spoke to the other kids from the other schools who really didn't like them and thought them spoilt and rich.

Which definitely wasn't the case. Almost all of them had come orphanages all across Indonesia and he himself had come from a small village in Taliabu, a place that no one would even be able to point on a map – if it even existing on a map!

Suffice it to say, none of them really liked going to town, especially after what happened a few years ago. The scary days of when the Indonesian army invaded the city and most else of the island after the people here had declared for independence.

It had been scary then but the principal and the teachers told them not to worry, that nothing was going to happen to them and thankfully nothing did, not even a visit from the army. Some of his classmates thought that the army was too worried about upsetting the Sphinx Group but he didn't really believe that.

He looked back up from the book after he heard the door close. He turned to Fatimah and he was startled when he saw her stare at him.

He said nothing as he froze, as if he was an orangutan caught stealing a rice cake.

It felt like an age until she spoke "Not so nice isn't it?" she said with a calm voice as she tilted her head.

"W-what?" he managed to say.

"Staring." She said simply.

"Oh." He sounded out and he felt suddenly a lot more nervous. "You knew I was looking?"

"Hard not to" she said dryly "You were staring nearly the whole time."

"Oh" he once more sounded, sounding stupid. He hadn't noticed he'd been staring for so long.

"Sorry." He said a little weakly.

"It's fine." She said before she returned to her sketchbook, her hand dancing once more on the sketchbook.

He wasn't sure what pushed him but he knew he had to keep speaking "So what are you drawing?" he asked.

"Why?" She asked.

"Why what?"

"Why are you asking?" she expanded even as she continued to draw, not even once looking up.

"I don't know." He admitted to her "Maybe because I know you make very beautiful art and maybe because" he hesitated for a second before continuing "Maybe because the way your hand moves and sketches is mesmerising and I think that such a thing could only mean it's another masterpiece and I'm curious to see it."

He thought he saw her smile even as she remained silent until she spoke up.

"A place." She said as she glanced at him from the corner of her eyes before refocusing on the sketchbook "When I lived in Jakarta, there was this old man who practiced Kejawen. Do you know of it?"

"No." he said to her. "Is it a religion?"

"Not quite." She said as she continued to draw "More a tradition than a religion. Anyway, this old man used to regale a few of us with stories and legends during the occupation" She began to finely move her pencil across the sketchbook and he remained silence as she said nothing.

Tirtayasa knew that some places during the occupation had been very bad and the revolution after it been worse. Many of the students at the academy came from places were the fighting or starvation had been bad.

He'd been lucky. His village had been untouched but his parents had died during the revolution when they'd been away from home. He'd been cared for by friends of family before he was enrolled here at eleven.

For him, the Academy was an opportunity that he'd never get anywhere else but he would have been fine, he thought, if he stayed at the village.

For others, the academy literally saved their lives.

"The legend I liked the most was Tantu Pagelaran." She said after a little while before she continued, her hand moving slowly as she spoke "Java, not long after the creation of the world, floated freely on the ocean" she smiled and he thought it was one of the prettiest thing he'd ever seen.

"Always tumbling and shaking, moving and travelling." She said with a hum.

"Batara Guru, the supreme god, wished to change this and the supreme god ordered the gods Brahma and Vishnu to fill the island with people but before that, they decided that it was too chaotic, too dangerous for the little people to live on a shaking land and so the gods concocted a plan to move a part of Mahameru and attach it upon Java so it would stop moving and shaking."

"The sacred five-peaked mountain." Tirtayasa commented and she turned to him with a smile and she nodded. They learnt a lot about spiritual beliefs at the academy and the mountain was sacred to both Hinduism and Buddhism.

"The god Vishnu transformed into a giant turtle and carried a part of Mount Meru upon his back whilst the god Brahma transformed in a giant serpent and wrapped his body around the mountain and giant turtle's back, so the Meru mountain can be transported safely to Java."

Tirtayasa said nothing as he waited for her to continue which she did.

"The gods struggled with the holy mountain and when they placed it on one side of Java, the whole island tilted to one side. Then they moved it eastward which ended up scattering the mountain fragments and creating the volcanoes and mountainous regions of Java.

When they placed Mount Meru on the eastern part of Java, the island was still tilted and this time it was the western part of Java that rose up. The gods then cut a piece of the holy mountain and placed it on the northwest part of East Java."

"Mount Pawitra." Tirtayasa said and she turned to him with another smile that quickened his heart.

"Yes." She said as she returned to her drawing. "The main part of Meru Mountain became Semeru volcano and became the holy abode of Lord Shiva."

She was quiet for a little while until she broke the silence as she moved her hand in small motions "I always liked that story." She said in a musing tone.

"It reminds me that even powerful gods like Brahma and Vishnu never get it right the right time, that there is always something to be done to improve and to change to achieve balance and perfection." She said as she finished sketching.

"It is a comforting story." Tirtayasa agreed quietly and she looked at him with a small smile.

"It is, isn't it?" she said beautifully "It's wonderful in its own way." She finished as she placed the sketch beside her.

Before he could get a closer look, the door to the principal's office opened and both sets of eyes looked towards it. The principal stepped forward and looked at him and then her before he spoke.

"Fatimah Shivuin and Tirtayasa Fisibilillah" the principal said. "Please come into my office." The principal said as he walked back into his office.

Fatimah rose and walked forward. Tirtayasa stood up and made his way towards the office before he stopped and turned back around.

His eyes fell on the sketch and smiled when he saw what she had drawn. It was beautiful, the sketch of a serpent with its tail wrapped around a turtle that carried mountain on its back as it swam through the air. The land below was rife with animals like tigers, orang-utans and other famous beasts of Java. Even in black and white, it was great. She really was immensely talented.

He realised he was lingering too much and he quickly walked into the office and his eyes widened when he saw the blonde woman sat in the principal's seat.

He quickly recovered and took the seat next to Fatimah and he settled himself into the seat.

"Hello Mr Fisbilillah and Ms Shiviun" the blonde woman said in English. "I am Amber Merek, an executive director of Sphinx Group, the financier of this academy." She paused as the woman's brown eyes flickered between him and Fatimah "I believe you may have heard of us?"

"Yes" "Yes Ms Merek" they said.

The blonde woman smiled kindly at them "Good." She looked down and flicked through a few pages in the document.

"Ms Shiviun, a B+ grade average student though the teachers note that you can improve if you set your mind to it." Ms Merek said as she read of the page. "Though it seems like you've already chosen your path as an artist." She said as she turned to the next page and read it silently. She closed the document and took the next one.

"Er Ms Merek?" Tirtayasa started carefully. She looked at him with a kind smile.

"You must be wondering why you're here?" she asked, her eyes flickering between the pair of them. Both of them nodded. "It will be explained shortly." She looked down at a document.

"Mr Fisbilillah, an A+ grade average student with particular strengths in physics and mathematics" she flicked through the next page "with a keen tendency to approach problems with methodological steps" she looked up and met his gaze.

"You have also shown to be non-dismissive of spiritual despite your strong scientific leanings." She said to him. It confused him a little. He didn't really understand why that would matter. He knew he was a little different to most other students when it came to spirituality.

The academy was secular and strongly disabused religion but there was still a lot of classes that focused on spirituality, concepts and ideas of the nature of the universe.

He liked the idea of there being more to the universe than logical structures without the whole superstitious element about gods and so on.

Most of the students in the academy were from all kinds of religious and ethnic backgrounds, Indonesia was like that but they all came to the academy at a young age without really going home for over seven years, some even longer if they were brought during the war.

Most lost interest in religion and spirituality even if they were taught it, especially when they knew that the education here was really good and that doing well in the sciences and other subjects would get them far, farther than they would have reached had the academy not come and took them in.

"Now," Ms Merek said as she placed her hands on the table in a tight ball. "As to why the two of you are here…well, it's quite simple really. The pair of you are among the best students in the sixth and seventh year groups and I am here to offer you a choice." She said with a smile.

"A choice?" Fatimah asked.

Ms Merek smiled at Fatimah.

"What would you say if I told you magic exists?" Ms Merek said to them and it stunned him. Magic…

What?

"I would ask what you mean by magic." Fatimah said, taking him out of his startled thoughts and he turned to her. He was surprised to see her taking this far more serious than he thought possible.

This had to be a joke. Surely?

Ms Merek smiled at Fatimah "A form of energy that has existed since the dawn of time and that certain kinds of life can tap into and use. An energy that can alter reality, in a small scale, to various degrees and possibilities, only really limited by ones' imagination, drive and strength."

"You're really saying magic exists" Tirtayasa couldn't help but state in shock.

Ms Merek took out a stick, a pale stick that looked seemed to fit her hand very well and she flicked her wrist. Tirtayasa tensed as the room became noticeably colder and his mouth fell agape as ice crystals formed in the air and soon enough it began to snow in the principal's office.

The blonde woman twisted her wrist and the snow begun to gather, coagulating into a ball before it turned into a icey bird, a parrot, and it flew above their heads.

"Magic is real, Mr Fisbilillah, Ms Shiviun." He turned to her and saw her smile widen "And for the two of you, it can also be real. If you chose it."

"Why haven't I seen magic before?" Tirtayasa asked as he turned to Ms Merek with wide eyes.

"Magic is a closely held secret." She turned to the principal before she met Tirtayasa's gaze "People fear what they do not understand. And what they don't understand, people tend to hate and wars have been fought over less. It is better that it and those who can do magic remain secret."

"Wouldn't people stop fearing magic if they had it?" Tirtayasa asked.

Ms Merek smiled at him sadly "Not everyone is able to do magic or have it. Only a very few number of people can."

"Wouldn't I know if I had magic?" Tirtayasa asked.

Ms Merek nodded "Yes, by now you would have if you were born with magic. This is why I am here to offer you a choice."

"Are phoenixes real?" Fatimah asked suddenly and Tirtayasa turned to Fatimah. He saw wonder in her eyes as she looked at the flying ice parrot.

"They are." Ms Merek said with a smile and she finally drew Fatimah's eyes to her. "Just as dragons, unicorns and more are real. The indigenous magical creature to Indonesia, Ahool also is real." She added.

Fatimah turned back to the still flying ice parrot.

"Why us?" Fatimah asked in a whisper even as she stared at the icy parrot with a ponderous expression on her face.

Ms Merek swept her wand again and the snow and the melted snow all disappeared as if they were never there.

"Because you are special." Ms Merek simply said before she continued.

"There are people who are naturally born with magic, such as myself, and those who come from a magical line but have lost their magic."

"And we are in the second group?" Tirtayasa asked her and Ms Merek smiled.

"You are. For the longest time, it was only through chance that people were born with magic from inactive magical lines but now we are able to reactivate it in you."

She turned to Fatimah "The both of you. That is the choice that I am offering you."

"Yes." Fatimah said quickly, almost breathlessly "Yes, I want magic." She said, her voice unable to contain her excitement as she recomposed herself.

"Excellent." Ms Merek said with a gentle smile and she turned to Tirtayasa.

He had his doubts despite wanting to say yes desperately, many questions as to how involved the Sphinx Group was with magic, why they took mostly orphans or those who were unwanted in but then he glanced at Fatimah. He knew he couldn't leave her to this alone and in all honesty, he was always going to say yes despite his reservations.

"Yes. I would like to have magic too." Tirtayasa said and he knew that life was going to be very different than he thought it was going to be.

-Break-

21st of December 1953 – Boston, America

With two near soundless pops, they arrived at the front of the gates to the large estate.

He looked to Emily and saw her nose scrunched a little "The tingling?" he asked her, a half smile on his face as he raised his arm. She shot him an annoyed look but grabbed his arm anyway.

"Yes." She said primly.

His smile grew a little.

Apparation from Antarctica to Boston America was not an easy feat to accomplish, even for them. He also had a tingling sensation in his toes which was an odd phenomenon he wasn't entirely sure how it comes to be.

"Let me know if they still tingle later." He said teasingly as he walked through passed the gates and towards the estate. "I can use my hands to wring it out." He said suggestively, a playful smile on his face.

Her expression peeked up "Don't say anything you're not willing to carry out" she said with slight narrowed eyes.

Atticus laughed. She loved his little foot rubs, especially after a gruelling duel.

He looked at her and his smile widened. She looked absolutely ravishing, the way the black dress hugged her form tastefully, her hair that was up which exposed her long thin neck that made her contrasting blood red lips draw him in even already having ravished them before they left Illos.

It seems like she picked up on his thoughts and she rolled her eyes though he didn't fail to spot the pleased little smile that was half hidden.

He turned away from her as the door open.

"Atticus, Emily" Louie Kōnstantînos said respectfully as he stood by the door.

Remnants of Mediterranean heritage was still apparent in his looks despite having long moved from the city of Athens.

"Louie" Atticus greeted with a short nod to his brother-in-law whilst he led Emily's hand towards Louie who took it and kissed it as custom required.

Louie guided him into the home "Marie has been unrestful all day" Louie said with an exasperated smile "A one-time gift seems to have won her heart of who is her favourite."

"Abraxan foals tend to have that impact" Atticus said with a pleased tone in his voice.

"UNCLE ATTY!" a little missile happily hollered out, hair swaying from side to side as she ran out at full pace at him, as fast as her little legs could go.

With a mischievous flick of the finger, Marie flew through the air, giggling and laughing as she soared, and into his waiting arms. "Ooof" Atticus said with exaggeration "You're getting heavy"

"Noooo I'm not" Marie said as she wriggled in his arms.

"So you're still little then?"

"No, I'm big!" Marie said and Atticus laughed before he placed her on his shoulders.

"Daddy, look, look! I'm taller than you!" Marie said excitedly.

Louie shook his head with a smile on his face "Yes you are Marie." Louie said before he locked his gaze with Emily and then him "Sophia is in the living room" he said as he gestured forward and they began to walk, following him towards there.

"Giddy-up, Giddy-up!" Marie said as she bounced on his shoulders, her hands slapping the top of his head which caused Emily to look at the pair of uncle and niece with an amused look.

"She's turned more wilful" Emily mused to Louie who only sighed a little exasperated.

"She has. She's also managed to somehow get away with it more often than not."

"Not surprising" they heard and they turned towards the familiar voice. "She is adorable even if she's a troublemaker."

"Not troublemaker! I'm always good! Daddy always says so!" Marie said and Sophia turned to Louie with a raised eyebrow.

"Even when mama says you've been bad?" Sophia asked her daughter and Louie looked a little nervous.

"Yes!" Marie said happily and Sophie turned to Louie with narrowed eyes.

"You're trying to be her favourite aren't you?" Emily asked wildly amused even if it didn't appear so.

Louie grimaced before he smiled and shrugged "It can't be helped."

"Hmm." Sophia intoned, unimpressed "we'll see about that." She said to her husband who once against grimaced.

"You got your papa in trouble, Marie"

"Nuh uh Papa got papa in trouble!" Marie said with protest and Atticus' lips twitched and the rest of the adults looked at the perceptive little hooligan with amused exasperation.

After they had dinner and caught up, Atticus and Sophia left through the backdoors of the Estate and towards the gardens. He walked with his sister through the light snow in her gardens, her arm wrapped around his. "How are things really?" he asked his sister.

Sophia sighed "Things are fine…nowhere near to what it was before." She said with a glance to him. Atticus nodded lightly, an apologetic expression on his face.

Both his and Emily's plans had impacts on his family. Significant impacts. He wasn't sure if he would have been able to protect them without his Sight.

Things had mellowed out and warnings sent out both in reality and in threats were enough for interested parties to stay away and it helped that politically his family were extremely well protected in the States…both his sister and their extended family.

Louie Kōnstantînos, a third son of the Founding House of Kōnstantînos only solidified that though he would have preferred Charles to have survived. His sister deserved love and while he knew she had grown to care and may be even love Louie, it was not the kind of love she once felt for Xavier Charlestone's great-nephew.

"Should I expect things to get worse any time soon?" Sophia asked him directly.

"No." He told his sister and it was the truth "Things have settled and Illos is still three years away from coming forth."

"And Britain?" she asked knowingly "Are things done there?"

"They are." Atticus confirmed to his sister. "Magical Britain is becoming a better place for everyone."

"Especially for you and Emily." Sophia said as she turned her gaze away from him "Ouroboros looks like a powerful group. Be careful you don't lose control over it" she said.

"We won't." Atticus said as they walked.

Ouroboros was a mixture of both merchant and also noble families, noble families that once sat on the Wizengamot but it was the merchant families, families that were hundreds of years old but never became nobility, that was the core of the group.

Merchants that turned wealthy only because of him and Emily and that were oath sworn to her. To lose control over them was not something that could happen even if people 'joined' the Ouroboros party.

it was several minutes later that either of them spoke and it was Atticus who broke the silence "I would like to approach our Aunt." Atticus said to his sister.

"Our aunt or my President?" Sophia asked as she glanced at him from the corner of her eyes before she fixed them back towards the snowy path before them.

"Your president?" Atticus questioned.

"I am a MACUSA citizen, dear brother."

"You're an Illosian citizen." Atticus reminded her and Sophia rolled her eyes.

"Illos exists nowhere except in Illos. After Britain exiled us" Sophia said as she turned to him with a glaring stare before she continued "I needed to take up citizenship since we're officially non-British. MACUSA graciously offered."

"And" Sophia cut him off "And I won't give it up even when Illos becomes known. Not until it's later."

"You won't come to live in Illos?" Atticus questioned her despite knowing her answer and from the look he got from her, she knew he knew that she wouldn't.

They said nothing for a little while "Your president." Atticus said finally.

Sophia remained silent for a few seconds "She's probably expecting you anyway. I'll see what I can do." She peered at him "I take Japan's stops of trying to re-establish trade with former trading partners is your doing?" she asked accusingly.

She was probably annoyed that he was throwing a wrench in whatever business scheme she had been thinking of, likely one that involved in MACUSA establishing closer ties with Japan in exchange of their markets opening to her businesses.

"Why does everyone always think I have something to do with it?"

She looked at him with a deadpan expression "Because usually you do, little brother. You're annoying, even now, like that."

He grunted displeased and after a few seconds "Yes." He said finally "Yes, we're indirectly responsible." He said.

"So they'll be the first?" Sophia asked after a few moments.

"Yes." He told her. She knew that he was planning on tying magical countries closer to him through different ways, many of those ways diplomatically.

Sophia nodded "MACUSA second." She peered at him "Or third" she said knowingly, referring to Magical Britain.

He only smiled at her and she rolled her eyes. Absent-mindedly he wondered why the women in his life liked to roll their eyes at him.

"It'll have to be spectacular to pull MACUSA to your corner even if they like you as much as they do." Sophia said and she continued "And before you ask, I won't help you in changing their minds. I'm staying out of it." She said firmly.

"I understand. Just arrange the meeting and I'll take it from there." He reassured her and she nodded firmly before she visibly changed her expression.

"How is mother?" Sophia asked him as she turned to face him fully, her expression showing the deep concern she felt for their mother.

"She's still coming back fine." Atticus said in a reassuring tone.

"It's not concrete yet, when exactly she'll be back but she will be back within the next year that is certain." After which she would stay and live with Sophia for a good few years at least.

They had only spoken to her a few times in the last four years and that was through recordings. The Ancient humans had developed communications arrays that were interlinked and allowed for instant communication but all of that was obviously gone. Now, communication – still faster than the speed of light but still far from instantaneous – took several months depending how many thousands of light years they were away and she was multiple tens of thousands of years away quite often.

Sophia's expression changed to happy relief before it morphed to contemplation. "I can't wait to hear her stories…the last time she was back she had much to tell."

Yes, it had been fascinating to hear though also extremely worrying. He could only really see events of Earth or events that were directly in his personal future. He wasn't sure why, perhaps it was scale, perhaps it was simply he hadn't learnt how to extend it further into the universe, but nevertheless the only things he knew of the galaxy at large is what his mother and Moira told him directly in his future.

And from the sounds of it, they had more problems than cataclysmic enemies…problems that could turn into cataclysmic enemies.

They were significantly more advanced than what he might have thought would be out there, especially given that it was only two hundred thousand years since the 'reset' of the galaxy as Moira would tell him in less than a year, but that was the current situation in the galaxy.

It seemed like things would become even more urgent for them to move out of Earth especially if they were so close to the world.

"Are you envious?" he asked, referring to when Sophia had the choice to go as well.

Sophia took a moment to answer before she smiled beautifully "No. Not when I know that I would not have had Marie."

Atticus smiled at her "I am glad."

She nodded as she grabbed his arm more firmly "And you?" she asked him curiously "You know that your choice of doing all that you're doing has taken away from the possibilities to be out there" she said as she turned skyward "to be an explorer, to see the stars and the planets and the nebulas of the galaxy."

She turned to him "Do you regret it? The choices you've made?" She asked, inferring to more than just exploring the galaxy.

"Not when I know it's for the better for our people." Atticus said to her.

"Not a clear answer, little brother." Sophia commented astutely "Still, I understand." She said and soon enough they turned back towards the warm house.

The rest of the evening went smoothly and it was time well spent with family.

-Break-

The Void

Anne Sayre POV

She watched the changing patterns that were more like flowing curtains of purples and greens, endlessly shifting hues and in swirls that somehow managed to always generate a new colour of greens and violets in its small difference.

There was a sense of poetry to it, she mused to herself as she sat there by the window of the control hub of the ship.

Slipspace was nonvisible to the human eye but the ancient humans were able to pick up in slipspace the massive rippling magnetic fields that was within the galaxy. Something about boundaries existing around clusters of star systems and these flowing curtains were merely projections used to determine the health of slipspace.

She knew little of the complex mathematics that lay behind those flowing curtains, that allowed for such travel in seas of mesmerising splendour but none of that took away that sense of poetry, of the idea that there was a sense of simplicity in such impossibilities.

She often sat by this window when they travelled, which was nearly all the time, and simply watched the beauty of these curtains. It helped that it was reminiscent of her son's eyes and it chipped away at the deep longing she felt for her children and the grandchild she had never met in some small way.

She's been in space for the past four or so years now, in her estimation.

Four long years of nonstop exploration and before that she'd only come back a few times in the years before then.

She often regretted choosing to leave for so long

To leave behind all that she knew and all that she cared about.

Yet it had also been time for her to seek out new things and Moira had given her the newness she needed. Markus' death, the attack on her mother and the rest of her family, Grindelwald and Atticus' defeat of the man, Atticus' and Emily's plans for the magical world and Sophia's own journey to find her place in the world…

Much had happened in those years. Much had been revealed as well.

Where she had seen Sophia break and reform into a stronger person, where she had seen Atticus grow and become a man that he was always meant to be, she had instead felt…lost.

Her children had no need of her and she had felt unanchored.

Britain had not felt like home when she had returned and those parties and events felt hollow, the people feeling just as hollow, people who pretended at being people as they showered her with praise and congratulations for 'bearing' such a strong Lord…

She knew then that after what she had experienced in the past few years that she could never go back to being 'Lady Sayre', the socialite that acted as they did, that talked like they did.

Not after the loss of Markus, the loss of her father, her cousin and only a few short years afterwards her mother who had lingered on longer than they all thought.

She had felt unanchored and despite her children's attempts in including her in their lives, she knew that it was time for them to find their own paths in life.

Moira had offered an opportunity that she took it despite the heartache. Looking back, she realised that Atticus had known before she did that she going to leave.

A soft smile came across her face. He put in extra effort in spending time with her that year. He was a wonderful son.

At times, she thought amusedly and a little exasperated.

He'd inherited much from Markus but one thing that was entirely his own was his bullheadedness. Her smile fell off. Perhaps that was why he was the Sayre that would take their people to the stars.

Leaving with Moira hadn't only been opportunistic…she was doing it to safeguard her children. To safeguard Atticus. It sounded odd, it truly did, given what he was capable of, how able he was at defending himself but there were things that Atticus did not know, could not see.

One of them was about what was out here.

Atticus was dead set in moving worlds.

But without knowing where to go, it was folly. Without knowing who was out here was folly and joining Moira to see whether her ancient enemies were still around was a way she could protect her family.

Atticus would protect the rest of their family back home.

Soft footsteps on the metallic floors distracted her from her musings and she glanced over her shoulder.

Moira was dressed in blue-white clothing with almost impenetrable skin tight suit underneath the loose clothing. It was one of her people's customary way of dress.

"We are almost there then?" Anne asked as she stood up.

Moira inclined her head in her usual way. "We will arrive in less than ten minutes."

"Good. I would like to stand on earth again. It's been too long." Anne said.

Moira smiled "Phelixes should still be habitable and oxygen rich. It was only a research facility during the later eras in my people's time. Its distance from our empire's domain and close proximity to their space made it unsuitable for long term colonisation."

Anne raised her hand and the holo of the planetary system popped up. Its sun was similar that of their own but that was where most of the similarities ended.

Where there were seven planets in the Sol system, there were eight here with four rocky worlds packed in the 'habitable' region though the planet nearest two to the sun in the habitable region were borderline whilst the other two were too close to the star and were little more than barren rocks.

But what made it special was there were moons in this system that had atmospheres, moons that were larger than average and that could be changed

They however, along with some of the planets, would need a lot of work to make them comfortable.

She zoomed out of the solar system until the view changed to that of the galaxy.

In the years of travelling, they visited hundreds if not thousands of worlds that once had been in the Human Empire and known Forerunner worlds, worlds that were now bereft of life with only traces of their legacy remaining.

They had travelled first to the galactic margin which had been the first worlds that fell to the Flood and had found little life there and most of the worlds had their atmosphere and life destroyed.

From there, over the years, they'd circled inward, finding many worlds destroyed or barren though there were some that recovered, until they reached Charum Hakkor, the ancient human homeworld and capital.

She remembered Moira's look when she'd gazed upon Charum Hakkor, the world where she had been born and raised on, one that spoke of unimaginable pain of having lost everything.

Moira had said that it still looked the same even after thousands of years since she left been here, when she had first awoken from her sleep that Yprin Yprikushma had forced her daughter in.

The world's biosphere still had not recovered and the planet was devastated, craters that could fill oceans as large as the Mediterranean and massive cracks on its surface that ran for thousands of miles amidst grey and barren sea of rocks made it clear that the planet was dead and would take momentous efforts to resurrect it.

Little evidence existed of the ancient humans. The Forerunners had been thorough in wiping out the Ancients existence from the system…from the galaxy.

It was frightening to know how thoroughly the Forerunners had been capable of wiping out hundreds of thousands of years of history and development on thousands of worlds. It spoke of a deep seated hatred that was obsessive, that they wanted to destroy humanity so completely…

The Phelixes system beeped in the view, breaking her out of her thoughts and with a few motions of her fingers, Sol System beeped as well.

"So far…" she whispered as she stared at the Holo.

Sol was within the Orion Arm, within the constellation Orion. The nearest brightest star within the northern hemisphere was Sirius, Procyon, Altair and Vega which were all within a twenty five light year radius and all were systems they've visited.

Only Sirius and Procyon had planets that could be colonised which once upon a time had been ancient human worlds and fairly intact. The star called Epsilon Eridani was another one such system though this one was rather special with how many habitable planets it bore and were intact.

Moira said to her that it wouldn't take long to make the rest habitable either despite the erosion of the biosphere as a consequence of the Ancient Human – Forerunner war.

Yet all of them were unsuitable for how close they were to Earth…and more. With slipspace it hardly took any time to get to these worlds and it was something that they rejected completely.

Even rudimentary Slipspace systems would be able to make that jump in one journey. That was something none of them wanted even if it would take a thousand years for the muggles to develop slipspace of their own.

Atticus believed that the muggles would figure out a way to travel at percentages of the speed of light and create 'generational' ships which would circumvent needing slipspace technology to travel faster than light.

Cryo-sleep was a relatively easy technology to develop, he had said, and that it was too risky to build a home so close to the muggles.

Moira had echoed such considerations and it was better to put at least a little bit of distance between them which was why they scouted for worlds in the Rho Ophiuchi region, a star forming region where there was a particular world of interest.

A world that was stated to be similar to the Earth and would not need a lot of work.

Unfortunately, it was also occupied…something that they had found evidence of all across within a thousand light years of Earth and even much further.

That was the other reason why it was important to find a world far from the Orion arm. There was an alien civilisation around Earth's corner.

The Covenant.

What they had learnt of them was disturbing and it was only thanks to the advanced technology of the scout ship and its cloaking systems that they had not been discovered when they gathered the information.

An alien civilisation, a hegemony, that spanned across thousands of star systems and had tens of thousands of star ships, many of them a third the size of Illos itself!

There were at least five species within this hegemony but it was clear that there was one that dominated, the same species that colonised the world in Rho Ophuichi.

A serpent like creature which stood upright and that had mandibles for a mouth. It was tall, taller than any human, even taller than Moira who was six nine, and had four fingers on each hand. Moira said that she did not recognise the species, that the species could have been one of the species that once were in Forerunner space but if the appearance of the creature was disturbing, it had nothing why their civilisation consisted of multiple species that were not related to each other.

They managed to disable one of the ships belonging to a bird like species – she now knew as Kig-Yar – and interrogated them and what they learnt was disturbing.

They worshipped the Forerunners as gods.

All of them.

It was what bound their society together and moved towards a goal called 'The Great Journey', the same journey that they believed the Forerunners took and transcended from the physical world.

She'd never seen Moira so angry then and it took time for Moira to tell Anne what she believed what this 'great journey' truly was.

She believed that whatever the Forerunners had done, it had wiped out massive amounts of life from the galaxy in their desperation against the flood.

There was no sign of the Forerunners after years of searching and given that these Covenant species were actively searching for 'Forerunner relics' for several thousands of years already without finding a sign of the Forerunners, she believed that the Forerunners either died out or retreated from the Galaxy when they wiped out all life.

The absence of their arrogance on their once known throne worlds as Moira said, worlds that were symbols of Forerunner mastery of technology and of physics, now were barren rocks absent of life and atmosphere. This was proof, Moira had said of their shame and guilt over their actions since nothing truly remained of Forerunner mastery.

Anne had often wondered, if Moira's thoughts on what may have happened to the Forerunners were true, whether or not the Forerunners had hated themselves just fervently and loathingly as they once hated humanity with the way the Forerunners had wiped out almost all evidence of their existence and dominance over the galaxy.

That these creatures wanted to do the same terrified Anne and they had searched for years what this weapon might be but they had found nothing.

No signs of what this weapon might be.

In the end, they decided to abandon the search for this weapon for now and focus on finding a world along an uninhabited region of the galaxy, far from the star maps they managed to seize from the captured ship.

The Phelixes system was within the Perseus Arm, on its other fringes and bordered the Saggittarius Arm close to the galactic core. It was almost fifty thousand light years away from Earth.

"It may be far but it will be safe." Moira said as she stood next to Anne. "There has been little sign of civilisation around this cluster of stars and neighbourhood."

"Don't tempt fate." Anne said with a side glance. "She's not that kind to begin with."

Moira smiled lightly at her comment and soon enough they exited slipspace.

They exited by the outer gas giant in the system, a gas giant that was two thirds the size of Jupiter and was of a similar hue of colours as that of Saturn though the blues overpowered the yellows.

One of the moons was the size of Mars and it had an atmosphere though this far out from the star made it a frigid world. There was signs of geothermal activity, Moira said, that the planet's tight gravitational orbit around the gas giant pulled and pushed at the moon and that it was likely that given time the moon could be made habitable as it had a strong magnetic field for its size.

They quickly passed the other gas giant which had several moons with one in particular that looked like it would be one of the easier ones to terraform and soon enough they were into the inner parts of the solar system.

The reports on the solar system, surveys that had been long ago, reported that the formation of the star system had been more violent than typical, that more rocky elements had been born during the star's birth which explained why there was so many moons of larger sizes and rocky planets that were fifty to a hundred fifty percent larger than Earth.

They arrived at the outer planet within the habitable region and she could see that it was a highly mountainous planet with snow and ice covering most of the rocks though at the equator there was water and many many volcanoes that were active. Its moon, larger than Earth's moon, was covered with a dense yellow and grey atmosphere.

The third world was on the other side of the solar system so when they passed through the system, they encountered the two worlds in the habitable region that were closest to the sun.

The second closest world almost like one sea of savannah, brown and green, with only two large bodies of water, one at the equator and the other in the north. It was also over twice as large as Earth and held several moons that were about the size of Luna.

The first closest world was a desert which was largely devoid of water with the exception of a single sea that looked smaller than the Caspian sea and was three quarters the size of Earth.

They passed the sun and they finally arrived at their destination.

Anne looked out at the world with her own eyes as they moved to breaching the atmosphere. It was green, startling green with high mountainous peaks that paved the paths for rivers to stretch out for thousands of miles, rivers that were wide and stretched into seas on either side of the landmass.

Valleys of startling green covered what land existed, there was little ice except for the furthest points north and south, mountain ranges that stretched for miles eerily reminiscent of the Himalayas were plentiful on this world yet it was it was the flatness and the rivers that really stood out.

Moira stood by her and Anne looked at her with a smile before refocusing on the world beneath them.

"It's a wonderful world." Anne said aloud with a smile on her face.

"It's an ideal world." Moira agreed "The planet does have an elliptical orbit but it is not extreme nor does it extend far enough for the temperature to drop below 10 degrees in the upper most northern and southern regions during winter. It would likely have been turned into a resort world had been closer to our empire."

Anne snorted. The ancient ancestors had some queer way of thinking she thought herself…to turn an entire world into a resort world. She shook her head as they sailed the air towards one of the valleys.

Anne exited the ship and she stepped foot on the alien grass in a special suit that protected her from the environment around. It was not needed, apparently this world was 'human' compatible and the air was about 21.9% oxygen and 77% nitrogen with only a few trace gases that were different to Earth and slightly different percentages of the other gases.

According to the data they had, it had never been terraformed which made it unusual for how similar it was. They'd presumed that it might have been a precursor world who were known to favour Earth like worlds and carbon based life.

Yes…

Her life was certainly different now she thought to herself as the skin tight suit around her fingers and hands retracted away and she touched the tall vibrant green that were a shade brighter. She closed her eyes and she extended herself like how Atticus taught her to do, when he guided her to feel more of the ambient magic of the world.

She'd done this on countless worlds…both alive and dead. She could not feel as much as she knew Atticus could, perhaps less than a fraction given how he often spoke to her about what he could sense and feel and see, but she could feel it strong enough to tell the differences between Earth and the other worlds.

Some felt like there was no magic at all, especially on barren worlds but also worlds that could be settled but had…something missing whilst others were stronger but not to the strength of that of Earth's magic.

This one…

This one felt stronger. Much stronger.

"Moira…" Anne began as she opened her eyes and swivelled around. Moira turned and looked at her, a curious expression on her face. "This world's stronger in magic."

Moira's eyes widened. Moira knew – there was little she would not know after spending so much time together – about her ability to sense magic. It turned into a criteria of what worlds were suitable for settlement.

Anne's hand went to the side of her neck and the bubble-head like helmet fell away and she breathed in her breath of the world and she smiled widely.

"This is the world, Moira." Anne said as she looked out happily. The tall vibrant green grass, the high peaks of the mountains in the distance, the sounds of the swaying grass in the mild wind. "This is going to be our home, I know it." She said as she turned to face Moira.

Moira looked at her for a while before she nodded "I believe you would be right." She looked at Anne curiously "No doubt Atticus will want to feel this world's magic."

Anne laughed "He might never leave." She said to Moira and she meant it to as she got used the world's magic. It was…more…it was hard to describe when you got used to the ambient magic.

Magic in places, in regions all had different strengths. Hogwarts was a powerful place for magic and the artificial region created in Antarctica was another.

Yet here…

It was just as strong as those places that were steeped in magic, artificially strengthened or no and she was sure that they had not stepped on the intersection of leylines by chance for the likelihood of that was very low.

"We can gather more up to date data of this system before scoping the stars in the neighbourhood." Moira said before pausing momentarily before smiling slightly at Anne "After that, if all things go well, we can return."

Anne smiled widened as she walked over to Moira. "It'll be good to be finally home." Home to her children. Home to her granddaughter.

Moira's gaze looked away from Anne's gaze and towards the valley "Home is wherever you make it…and this…this is an excellent choice of a home."

Anne stood by Moira and looked at where she was looking…yes…it was an excellent place to make a home and before long, she hoped, it would be theirs.