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Chapter 54: Life Abroad.
🕑 Added 2025-05-24 06:07:55 +0000 UTCAuthor’s Note:
The thing I mentioned in chat was about the armor sets. I’ve already reached out to some of you to bounce around ideas, but obviously, I didn’t have the final effects ready for tonight. The rolls will take precedence in about two chapters, I should have everything decided by then.
So… training is about to start. We don’t know exactly what Grayfia thinks of Elias yet, but she definitely felt something. I’ll probably write a POV from her perspective later on.
Next chapter, Elias is going to get into a bit of trouble, and a beloved character will finally enter the story.
Let me cook.
As I mentioned in the messages, this arc will focus heavily on DxD, but each chapter will end with a glimpse of what's happening in Britain. Just enough to stay clear, while still leaving you guessing. I’m genuinely excited about the war, even if it won’t last too long.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter! and I’ll see you all on Sunday, if the muse allows it.
Celestial Ascendancy
Chapter 54: Life Abroad.
Kuoh, Japan.
Elias Black.
“What do you think of the school?” I asked with a smile, pulling a squealing Iris back onto the bed before she could waste more time.
Hermione was already dozing off, but it was understandable. She could finally relax now that her family’s safety was secured.
We’d been in Kuoh for a few hours. We hadn’t done much; we just settled in and looked around the building.
Since we’d arrived just before classes started, Rias and her peerage had left us waiting in the Occult Research Club Room while Akeno handled the last steps of relocating the Grangers. She didn’t take long… probably an hour, but the building was big enough that we didn't feel the time passing.
When Akeno arrived, she greeted us excitedly and explained the situation about Hermione’s parents.
It turned out that Rias had asked Sona for help, and the Sitri family, who turned out to be deeply involved in the medical field, managed to secure positions for two very skilled dentists at a hospital in New Zealand.
It was a completely mundane hospital, and the country had a minimal supernatural or wizarding presence. Apparently, the Sitris didn’t care much about that because the place was protected by at least three high-class magicians bound to her family through pacts.
Mione nearly collapsed from relief when she heard they’d be fine. She had been quite frazzled for a while, even if she tried to hide it.
Afterward, Akeno and I retrieved the Dursleys from my Hollow, where they’d been waiting more or less patiently.
I do need to restock the pantry… turns out Petunia and Dudley stress-eat like champions.
I suspected Vernon would have been even worse, but he was still knocked out cold.
Dobby had to start swiping food from Hogwarts just to keep up.
We didn’t talk much. There was no need.
I asked Akeno to alter Vernon’s memories, just in case, so he wouldn’t screw things up. But we left Dudley’s and Petunia’s untouched. I seriously doubted Iris would ever want to reconnect with them, but… you never know. I wouldn’t be the one to take away that option.
Once everything was settled, Akeno took them away. I didn’t ask where… we trusted her, and I honestly didn’t care about them.
While we waited, Dobby whipped up a feast for lunch. Akeno rejoined us after finishing her errand, and the rest of the day flew by.
She even gave us a short tour of Kuoh Academy, though the girls weren’t really paying attention. They were exhausted, and unlike me, they didn’t have the same advantages to keep going. Changing time zones was a bitch.
“It’s a beautiful school,” Iris grinned, but I noticed her mind was elsewhere, “I think I’ll ask Rias for three copies of their uniform, though.”
Hermione rolled her eyes in amusement and swatted Iris’s left arsecheek, “Not today, love. I want to sleep.”
Iris blew a raspberry before cuddling up to her and getting comfortable. “There’s always later,” she laughed. Don’t tell me you weren’t tempted, Mione. I saw you looking at it.”
“Excuse me?” Hermione huffed. “I just thought they were way too short to be appropriate.”
They… they were something else, at least after spending years in Hogwarts, where most students used robes most of the time.
“Thought Eli would go stray?” Iris teased, tickling Mione with a smirk, "There were some beautiful girls there."
“Bah,” Hermione scoffed, and I couldn’t help but grin. “He has you, Fleur, and me. And how things are going, Akeno and maybe even Rias will probably jump him before we leave Japan. If someone manages to take him from us, I’d just admit defeat.”
Shaking my head, I jumped onto the bed between my two girlfriends and hugged them tight.
“I will never leave you, Mione. No matter who tries to take me,” I said firmly. “You two are mine.”
My grin widened when I felt them both shiver at the possessiveness in my voice, “You’re the best things in my life. Honestly… we’re in this for the long run, babe.”
“I love to hear that,” Hermione whispered, hiding her face in the crook of my neck.
I shivered slightly at the feel of her soft breath.
“What’s the plan, Eli?” she asked after a quiet moment, lifting her head and looking straight into my eyes.
I let out a slow breath. “A place to unwind for a while and help Rias, obviously.”
Iris tilted her head at me, prompting me to continue.
“Rias needs our help. It is a no-brainer. Besides… staying in Britain would just complicate things,” I added softly. “With all of us away, the war might stall for a bit. It gives Dumbledore and the rest more time to prepare.”
I hesitated for a second before continuing.
“We don’t know how much Voldemort changed during his rebirth. For obvious reasons, I wasn’t really paying attention to him in the graveyard, but… he wasn’t acting how I expected.”
“You’re right,” Iris nodded thoughtfully, “When he was stuck in Quirrell, he acted more erratic. Even before his return, he was unstable. But after he came out of that cauldron… it was like he was a completely different person.”
She took a deep breath.
“He’s still cruel and sadistic, but there’s clarity in him now. Now, there is thought behind his actions. That’s… not good for us.”
“No, it’s not,” Hermione agreed, sighing. “I’ve read a lot about the last war, and Voldemort was… well, predictable in a way. His goals were narrow. But if he starts thinking long-term or hides and builds his following… who knows how much damage he’ll do before Eli or anyone else can stop him.”
“He knows that,” I said after a beat of silence. “I saw his expression when I focused on him in the graveyard. He was furious… but he didn’t fight. He ran. That’s not what I expected from him.”
I clenched my jaw tightly, “Even after seeing what I did to Walburga, he should’ve still been overconfident. Arrogant. That was always his flaw. But now? Now he’s hiding. That man was never sane, to begin with… but something changed.”
“Well, it’s good that we don’t have to deal with Wizards in the short term,” Iris rolled her eyes, “For Merlin’s sake… you saw the fucking Dementors near the Dursleys? Just what they were thinking.”
“I know, love… They are insane or way too used to be in power, and my presence is bothering them,” I shook my head half-amusedly.
The girls closed their eyes, and I decided to do some rolls now that I had the time.
I took the grimoire out and smiled, feeling its comfortable weight. I knew that I had not used it much in the past couple of days, but between preparing for our leave and everything else going on… I was too tired to roll.
Also, it was better to save some points instead of getting a bunch of low-tiered rewards.
600 Points available.
Your Closest Ally- 100 CP (The Destiny Universe)
Just as with the endless menagerie of personal protection available to those many species who live in this world, so too is there an equally massive armory of - well, armor. From the deeply personal suits worn by the Guardians to the standard protective plate worn by the Cabal, each and every single species possesses and requires some form of personal protection if they want to survive a battle, and with this item, now you have armor as well. For 50 CP, you can acquire any individual set of armor you desire, but for 100, you can instead obtain a piece of mythical Exotic armor, each of which has its own unique powers and abilities that add to and augment your own.
3 sets bought, 300 CP remaining.
Grinning in excitement, I immediately bought three of them.
One male and two female; this way, I could even loan them to Rias’s peerage for their rating game… just in case. I was confident in making Rias capable of dealing with Riser’s peerage if we had at least one month to prepare, but extras would always be helpful.
Leaving them alone for a moment, I rolled again.
Excalibur Transparency- 100 CP (Highschool DxD)
You can’t hit what you can’t see, right? This Excalibur has the special ability to turn itself or the user invisible. Hm? And what? That’s it. Not all of these are that impressive, you know.
Bought, 200 CP remaining.
I glanced almost reverently at the piece of the Original Excalibur before feeling how weak it really was. Oh, sure. It did have a tint of Holy energy, but it wasn't that potent to begin with. I could make throwing spears more powerful than this when half asleep.
Rolling again, my eyes widened before letting out a sigh. Of course, this one would fail…
Hōgyoku- 800 CP (Bleach)
The Crumbling Orb at the centre of so much conflict. The magnum opus of both Sosuke Aizen and Kisuke Urahara. Each man wished to find a way to break the boundaries of the spiritual world in some way and, somehow, each found their way to the same creation. A device capable of realising the deepest desires and dreams of those around it. Yet, this tool has a will of it’s own, an intelligent to read the desires of others and serve the one considered it’s master.
Whatever the truth of it’s intelligence, the completed Hōgyoku rests in your palm now, a fusion of two component orbs and incredible power to bind them. It’s power is to manifest dreams as reality, not in a temporary sense or only maintained by focus but as truth. It could break down the barriers between two races to create a new species, awaken powers in those that desperately desire or evolve a man to ever greater levels of power. Indeed, these dreams manifest through evolution, change and growth in those affected.
The orb requires a large amount of Reiryoku to activate, either injected in to activate in regards to a single desire or constantly infused by being near a powerful source, allowing the orb to manifest wishes as it sees fit. However, the orb manifests desires that people are capable of achieving. If one does not have the raw potential or power to achieve something, the Hōgyoku will instead attempt to lead it’s user towards being able to do so. They might be forcibly evolved in stages first to prepare them for the true goal or be guided without realisation towards what is needed to gain the potential for what they desire. The more powerful the user, in raw power and capability overall, the more the Hōgyoku can achieve on it’s own.
Failed to roll.
I exhaled and wiped imaginary sweat from my brow.
This thing… was insane. Bleach had been a favorite anime of mine, and while a little regretful, I felt oddly relieved. Carrying that would’ve made me a target for every entity out there.
“What are those, Eli?” Mione murmured, eyes fluttering as she looked through blurred eyes.
“Don’t worry about it, love,” I kissed her forehead. “We’ll talk about them later, yeah?”
I sealed the rewards in a coffer beside the bed, then slid back between the girls, letting their quiet breathing lull me toward sleep.
Next day.
I smirked amusedly, watching Rias stumble out of her room, looking completely frazzled.
Yesterday had been her last day at school for a while. She cleared her schedule to focus on training, but must have forgotten we were here. Because she’d stepped out into the hallway in nothing but her birthday suit.
Iris looked like she was engraving the moment into her memory. Mione… well, she was peeking through her fingers even as she pretended to block the view.
Not that I could blame them; Rias was genuinely breathtaking. Like... Holy damn. There was something sinful about her.
“Morning, Rias,” I chuckled, sending a small gust of freezing air her way. If we were going to be blue balled, she deserved a little vengeance.
She squealed, arms shooting up to cover herself. Or at least I thought so, but she giggled and unashamedly lowered her arms.
Goddamn.
“Oh, Lucifer,” she groaned, facepalming. “I totally forgot you were here.”
“Pervert,” Koneko deadpanned from the doorway, stepping past like this was just another Tuesday. She sat down without a care in the world.
Rias quickly retreated into her room, and I amusedly shook my head.
I even had to reach over and gently close Iris’s mouth.
“Love, you’re making me jealous,” I grinned.
Akeno breezed in just then, her expression amused. “Good morning, everyone. I hope you enjoyed the morning show.”
Now that Rias was safely out of sight, Hermione covered her entire face, her ears bright red. She took a deep breath and tried to resume breakfast like nothing had happened.
I smiled with Akeno and gestured to the empty seat across from me. In his new apron, Dobby popped in and promptly served breakfast to Koneko and our raven-haired friend.
“How’d you sleep, Akeno?” Iris asked after a moment.
“Quite well, thank you, Iris. And you?” Akeno replied smoothly, grabbing a piece of toast. Then she glanced over and added with a knowing smile, “Are you sure you don’t want to use the accommodations we prepared?”
“We’re just used to our own bed,” Iris said softly, shaking her head. “Sorry about that.”
Akeno waved it off with a carefree smile, eyes fluttering closed as she savored Dobby's breakfast, “I completely understand, Iris. It’s no problem at all.”
Rias returned a moment later, now dressed in a thin nightgown that at least covered the essentials.
She smiled brightly as she sat down, “Sorry about earlier. I’m not really used to having anyone here besides Koneko or Akeno.”
“That’s actually something I wanted to ask,” I said, lifting my head as I sipped my coffee. “Why does Kiba live somewhere else?”
Rias’s smile softened. “He likes his privacy, and I’d never force him to stay if he’s uncomfortable. Everyone deserves their space.”
“You’re a good King, Rias,” Hermione said warmly, but her tone turned serious as she continued, “That said, I wanted to make sure… Do we have a deadline?”
The atmosphere shifted instantly. Even Koneko, who kept a neutral expression, had noticeably tense shoulders.
Rias let out a slow sigh, chewing on a piece of toast before answering.
“An exact deadline? No. But I doubt I have more than a month. At most. Do you think we can make it work?”
“Easily,” Iris nodded confidently, “If you commit to the training, you’ll wipe the floor with him, Rias. You will be free.”
Rias’s shoulders slumped slightly, though she offered a bright smile.
“I spoke with Grayfia. She prepared a cabin up in the mountains, one my family owns. We’ll have complete privacy to train. And… while the secret will get out, I know she will give us some time.”
“I wanted to ask about that, Rias,” Hermione said gently, reaching out to hold her hand, “I know it’s not easy to talk about… but I think we need to understand. What role does each of your family members play in this engagement? Who supports it, who doesn’t? Who are your allies... and who might work against us?”
Rias closed her eyes, pain flickering across her features. She took a slow, steadying breath.
“If you’d asked me this a while ago… I would’ve said everyone was against me. But I was more immature then.” She chuckled self-deprecatingly.
She tightened her grip on Hermione’s hand, “My father wants the engagement. He’s been friends with Lord Phenex since before the Civil War and sees uniting our families as the natural next step. My mother doesn’t care much about the marriage itself, but she hates how long I’ve spent… doing nothing about it. She is disappointed in me.”
She sighed. “My brother supports me... unconditionally. But his hands are tied. As a Satan, he’s not allowed to interfere in family politics. That’s why he gave up his surname when he took the title of Lucifer.”
“And Grayfia? That's your Sister-in-law, right?” I asked as Iris and Akeno flanked Rias in a comforting hug.
“She is," Rias nodded.
"She is like my mother, I think,” Rias continued ashamedly, “But she’ll always listen to my brother first. They'll tell my parents what’s going on, yes… but we’ll have at least a few weeks before they act.”
She smiled wryly, “I’m trusting you with this, Eli. This... this is my only chance.”
I gave her a thumbs-up and stood from my chair, “When do we head out? We're missing someone.”
“Grayfia’s waiting for my signal,” Rias replied, tilting her head. “What do you need to do?”
“Just bringing one more person along,” I grinned and called out, “Ash!”
My adorable and not-so-little phoenix appeared in a burst of flame… right in the middle of the table. She immediately beelined for the grapes.
I sighed and plucked her up, ignoring her squawks of protest.
Dobby had already fed her earlier. I’d felt her satisfaction through our bond, yet here she was, acting like she hadn’t eaten in days.
Sometimes, I thought she was part cat.
“Ash, if you keep this up, you’re going to get so fat you won’t be able to fly,” I muttered, petting her soft feathers while pretending not to notice the death glares around the room.
Everyone—literally everyone—including Koneko, who usually acted aloof, glared at me like I’d just kicked a puppy and spat on its corpse.
But someone had to care about her health. And clearly, as long as the girls kept looking into those big, innocent golden eyes, they’d never say no to her.
“Baby,” I said warmly, “can you get Pranitha? She should still be in Hogwarts.”
Ash squawked, and I sighed, plucking some grapes and offering them to the greedy phoenix, “Here. And I’ll ask Dobby to make you something nice for dinner, yeah?”
I felt her amusement through the bond and rolled my eyes. Manipulative little shit... She was lucky I loved her so much.
She nipped my finger in mock offense, then vanished in a storm of flame.
“Do you have to be so strict, Eli?” Iris pouted, glaring at me. “She’s just a baby.”
“Iris, she eats plenty,” I defended, throwing my hands up. “Believe me, I know. She’s clearly playing you all... yet I’m the bad guy.”
Iris’s pout deepened, but I saw the twitch at the corner of her lips just before she burst out laughing, dragging everyone else with her.
Iris and Hermione pulled me into a hug while the devils tossed me teasing grins.
“We’re just messing with you, Eli,” Iris giggled.
Hermione nodded with a mischievous smirk. “Iris and I both know Ash is well-fed. Honestly, she always asks us for food, too.”
I stared at her, open-mouthed, then shook my head with a low chuckle, “Brats. You’ll see how I get even,” I muttered, narrowing my eyes at my two girlfriends.
Then I turned to the devils, voice dropping just a bit more threatening, “As for you three… you know I was holding back when we trained for the Third Task. But now?”
I grinned, all teeth, “I’ll make you suffer like I did these past few weeks. Enjoy the jokes while they last.”
Akeno shivered in place, her legs pressing together as her cheeks reddened. Rias, of course, met my gaze with a glint of challenge and a sultry smirk.
Koneko, though… she actually paled a little, and I smirked right at her, “You’ll be rewarded plenty if you manage to impress me,” I said, softening my tone for her, “But you’d better be ready to give it your all, little kitty.”
I patted her head, and she began to purr under my hand, “We’ll make you absolutely stomp Riser and free Rias from her engagement, yeah?”
Koneko nodded almost excitedly, her eyes almost in flames.
Rias smiled gratefully, her eyes soft as she watched Koneko all but melt under my hand. She opened her mouth to speak, but another flash of fire lit the room, drawing everyone’s attention.
I approached the familiar, slightly disoriented figure standing in the middle of the room.
“Madam Pranitha,” I greeted with a shallow bow, “welcome.”
She blinked once, then smiled warmly as her sharp eyes took in the room. I gestured toward the others.
“You already know my girlfriends,” I said lightly, “so allow me to introduce Rias Gremory, a devil, and Akeno Himejima and Koneko Toujou, both reincarnated devils.”
The girls nodded politely. Koneko was still curled into my side but gave a little wave with closed eyes.
“This is Madam Pranitha Iier,” I said, directing my explanation toward the peerage, “She’s a witch from India. Fought in the war against Grindelwald, though her specialty has always been in the healing arts. She’s also one of the few known Parselmouths alive and our good friend.”
Pranitha smiled at that, bowing her head gracefully.
“She’s been eager to learn more about the supernatural world. And frankly? Her experience is going to be invaluable here,” I continued. “I can teach you how to fight one-on-one, but we’ve all seen enough to know Rating Games aren’t just duels. Madam Pranitha’s knowledge of tactics and team coordination will be a major asset during training.”
Pranitha’s eyes gleamed with excitement as she stepped toward Rias, offering a formal Indian-style greeting, palms together and head bowed slightly, “It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Gremory. Young Elias spoke highly of you,” she said with a warm smile. “I must admit, I’m thrilled to see the supernatural world in the flesh. I look forward to working with you all.”
“The honor’s ours,” Rias replied, a bit caught off guard by the witch’s presence but recovering quickly, “I’ll be counting on your support.”
She turned then, tapping a message on her phone.
A few seconds passed before the air rippled, and a flash of silvery-blue light filled the room.
Grayfia Lucifuge stepped into existence, looking cold and aloof. She was dressed in a maid's dress. Her presence was heavy—easily worse than Walburga. I had to admit that I wasn't her match in the traditional sense.
Her silver eyes locked onto me sharply. An unreadable expression flickered across her face as if she were seeing something hard to believe.
I gave her a polite nod but said nothing. Neither did she. But she never stopped trying to see through me.
I had a feeling that she would visit the cabin pretty often. If not her, her husband.
“Grayfia,” Rias said firmly, “Elias will be acting as our trainer until my father decides that enough is enough.”
Grayfia’s gaze lingered on me for a heartbeat longer, and then she simply nodded, “Understood, Miss Rias.”
Without another word, she raised her hand, magic crackling between her fingers as a teleportation circle bloomed around us.
In a swirl of power and silver light, we vanished.
Amelia Bones, Bones Manor.
“This is going to get complicated fast,” I groaned, sipping from my whiskey as I studied the two men seated across from me.
Dumbledore, infuriatingly as ever, smiled as if nothing were wrong. I knew he was doing it on purpose. He always enjoyed getting a rise out of everyone.
“War is complicated, my dear,” he sighed, “and I fear this one will be worse than anything we've seen before.”
“You know nothing, you old fart,” Saul Croaker muttered, downing his glass in one gulp, “I can’t ask too many questions without blowing my cover, but I’ve seen some of my group looking far too amused for comfort. They’ve done something, and that’s bad for us.”
“You have no idea what that something might be, my friend?” Albus asked softly as if the insult had gone way above his head.
“No,” Croaker growled, slamming his fist on the table hard enough to make my eyebrows twitch.
“All sides are preparing,” I said under my breath, “Elias's little escapade bought us some time, but it won’t last.”
“There’s an unplanned Wizengamot meeting in two days,” Albus frowned. "Have either of you heard anything about that? I'm afraid I have been busy warding Sirius's house and sending alerts to the Order so that I can focus on politics.”
“I know enough,” I sighed, finishing my drink and resisting the smirk tugging at my lips, “The meeting was called by Lord Macmillan. There was an attack on his estate last night... four masked figures attacked brutally.”
Albus’s eyes widened in alarm, “What happened, Amelia?”
“Nothing too grave. A Merlin-be-damned miracle, if I’m honest.” I shook my head. “Ernie, your student, took a dark stunner and nothing more. His mother was bound, and Lord Macmillan... he took the Cruciatus.”
“He alive?” Croaker asked, completely unmoved.
“Yes,” I nodded, “Do you remember Lord Macmillan’s brother? The one who fled Britain during the last war?”
“Of course,” Croaker snorted, “It was a scandal. The coward.”
I rolled my eyes. The word coward hit harder than it should have. I’d thought of running myself more than once... especially after my brother and sister-in-law were killed playing vigilantes. But I had a duty. Someone had to stay.
“He died about ten years ago,” I continued, “But his son returned. And he saved the family. Quite the strapping young man. Charming, too.”
I refilled my glass, unable to hide the smile tugging at my lips.
Alaric Macmillan had made one hell of a first impression, “Fast with a wand, too, according to the witnesses. Someone even claimed he might give you a run for your money, Albus,” I chuckled.
Dumbledore’s expression didn’t change, but Croaker shifted slightly in his seat.
“Were the attackers Death Eaters?” Albus asked after a long pause.
“We don’t know,” I admitted. “No Dark Marks were seen, and they fled before the Aurors arrived.”
The room grew quiet again.
“We’ll need to learn more,” Croaker said at last, his voice almost a hiss, “Anyone powerful enough to repel a strike like that isn’t someone we leave unobserved.”
“Give him a chance, Saul,” I said, rolling my eyes, “I’m good at reading people... and I’ve got a good feeling about Alaric.”
I snorted and leaned back in my chair, “Wait until you meet him. You’ll see what I'm talking about. There’s something good about him.”
Merlin knew we needed more good people these days.
Comments
Gr1ffin
I read a crossover that had squibs learning the magical circles of the larger magical/supernatural community to use magic. The magical circles were able to be set to pull from the ambient magic to help empower the magic. Slower method (not useful in a fight per say), but allowed squibs to use magic and design more long lasting magical effects/enchantments/artifacts because of it.
Sage Berthelsen
Ooooh. If Britain has been the site of a major magical fight in DXD, I’d expect some players going backstage and investigating. I wonder if squibs have something the rest of the world would fight over. It’d be poetic if the magical world’s discarded population was valued. Great chapter again, it has me thinking and wondering.
dimblydoorNier
A voldemort plot for him to gain letimacy in the political arena maybe ?
