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Serena Prince: Love of Magic - chapter 125
🕑 Added 2025-06-21 02:00:56 +0000 UTCAuthor's Notes: Chapter edited and corrected by Scott Fellman.
The pensieve lit up with a faint silver light, and I looked at the Phenex.
"So? Are you coming? " I asked with a slight smile. Riser was the first to step forward, followed by Ravel. "Just... place a finger in the water and let yourself submerge, the pensieve will do all the work." I said. Riser wrinkled his nose, but barely hesitated as he put his entire hand into the water. The Pensieve immediately absorbed him, his vision blurring as his mind sank into the Pensieve. Ravel immediately followed.
It was actually curious how it worked. I'd always thought you physically 'entered' the Pensieve, but it was actually a mental, out-of-body experience. Which, honestly, made a lot more sense. And you didn't have to submerge your entire head like Harry did. He'd just… done that the first time he entered a memory and just kept at it.
The classic, if it works, don't fix it. I had memories of Dumbledore laughing at Harry every time he put his head in it, while he simply touched the water with his wand and submerged gracefully, while they combed through Voldemort's memories. To be fair, Harry wasn't the only one who used the Pensieve in this way.
The vast majority of wizards and witches did. Only because they associated the "seeing" part of memories with looking with their eyes, and they tried to stare at the water as closely as possible. When you didn't even use your physical eyes to see the memories; as I said, it was all mental. Placing a part of yourself inside the Pensieve was enough for the artifact to tap into your mind.
The pensieve was large enough for all the Phenex to enter the memory. They didn't even hesitate as they crowded around the Pensieve and placed their hands in it. Yubelluna joined them without hesitation. There were six of us standing around, and I was the only one still outside, so I gently touched the water and let my mind travel to the Pensieve.
The memories started almost immediately, and I could sense all the Phenex around me. None of the Phenex were true mind specialists, much less memory specialists. It was their first experience with a Pensieve, so they definitely would overlook the altered memories.
Memories about the "canon" events, "real" ones. The first memory was about Riser and Rias' Rating Game. Most of the fight was the same, and Ravel was removed from the memory. And then there was the ending, where Rias surrendered and begged for her servants. The memory faded and changed.
This was the memory of Issei's awakening and his encounter with Grayfia, and how she helped him intervene in the engagement party at Sirzechs' request. The memory changed once more. Finally, we arrive at the memory of Riser and Rias's engagement party. At the moment when Issei interferes and crashes the party, Sirzechs interferes so that a duel can take place.
And the entire duel that followed. As Issei used Balance Breaker to fight Riser. Riser's victory until Issei used a cross and holy water to finally knock Riser out. The memory disappeared once more before the final memory appeared. Rias and Issei on top of a Griffin while they kissed.
Finally, the memories ended, and we were all pushed out of the Pensieve. All the Phenex took a step back in shock as they reoriented themselves. I simply hummed softly as I oriented myself more quickly and began pulling the memories out of the Pensieve before placing them back into my mind.
"Was that... was that real?" Riser asked, covering one eye with his hand. I hummed softly as I simply created a portal and sent the Pensieve through it.
"I guess… it was. Obviously, that's not going to happen anymore." I said.
"That... was incredible." Lord Phenex murmured, and I raised an eyebrow in his direction. "Seeing... the future... is it something you can do again? Is that all you saw? " Lord Phenex asked. I grimaced.
"It's not something I can easily repeat." I lied lightly. "The special metal I use for it is very difficult to create; it takes months to make a few grams. I also need to heal from the last use. The way my abilities work, seeing the future puts pressure on my soul, my spirit, and not my magic. If I keep putting pressure on it, it's possible that it might… fragment, break. And it's not something I really want to find out what happens if I do."
"And if that's the only thing I saw… a little bit? About Riser and you guys? Yeah. I was experimenting with metal and ended up seeing that. Futures are… interconnected, I got lost in them for a while. I wasn't looking for anything specific, and a lot of them were short-term ones that had already happened, and when I saw Riser, I couldn't help but latch onto his presence and watch everything that was happening."
I lied without hesitation.
"So… you believe me?" Ravel asked hopefully in Riser's direction. Riser grimaced.
"I... yes... I do... I know you, Ravel, I know you wouldn't do anything maliciously. Still... what you did hurt." Riser said solemnly. Ravel bit her lip and nodded.
"I... I'm sorry, not for what I did, but I'm sorry that I hurt you. But I thought it was the best thing I could do." Ravel said simply. Riser sighed and nodded. He stepped forward and hugged Ravel. Ravel shuddered slightly and immediately hugged Riser tightly.
"I know, don't worry, I just... need time. I don't hate you in any way," Riser said softly. Ravel whimpered lightly into her brother's chest. Lady Phenex looked like she was about to cry as well. After a few long minutes, they finally broke apart.
"I... I owe you an apology, too, Riser." Lord Phenex said, clearing his throat.
"Father?!" Riser exclaimed in confusion. Lord Phenex sighed.
"I thought… I thought I was doing what was best for us. For the family… for you… But now… Ravel was right. If all this were to continue, if… Rias was to continue her behavior… then, you would be unhappy… and it would be my fault, and that is not something I intended. I'm sorry, my son." Lord Phenex said with a genuinely apologetic voice.
"Y-you have nothing to apologize for, Father!" Riser tried to say in a panic. Lord Phenex shook his head.
"Yes, I do. I'll stop interfering in these things. You're more than capable of making your own decisions, Riser. I'm proud of you," Lord Phenex said with a small, soft smile.
"Father." Riser said breathlessly. Lord Phenex nodded and looked at Ravel.
"I'm also proud of you, Ravel. Even if I'm not happy about how you went under our radar and against us, I'm proud that you were able to do so to ensure your brother's happiness. Well done," Lord Phenex said in recognition.
"Father." Ravel said, her eyes slightly watering. She quickly blinked away the tears and smiled arrogantly, though her smile was somewhat shaky. "I didn't do it just for Riser. I could have let it run its course. But this way, Rias and the Gremorys owe me a huge debt. And I intend to collect its full value." Ravel said haughtily. Everyone snorted in amusement.
"That's my girl," Lord Phenex said amusedly, his eyes twinkling.
"Oh my children!" Lady Phenex exclaimed as she hugged Ravel and Riser tightly. After a few seconds, they finally broke apart, and everyone smiled warmly at each other. I smiled slightly at everything that had happened.
"Even so... one last thing." Riser said, pulling away before looking at me. I raised an eyebrow at him, looking at him in confusion. Riser walked up to me, and without hesitation, He punched me in the jaw. I took a step back from the blow, but managed to stay on my feet.
"Riser!!!" several people exclaimed. I just stared in disbelief as Riser smiled.
"What the hell was that for?!" I asked incredulously. Riser strutted slightly.
"I'm still mad at Ravel. I had to get even," Riser said simply.
"And why did you hit me?!" I asked again. Riser looked at me in disappointment.
"I'm not going to hit my sister, Witch. You're her fiancée, it's your duty to protect her and take all the damage for her. So I hit you," Riser said with a mocking smile.
"That's the worst excuse in the world. You just wanted to hit me." I growled in annoyance. Riser shrugged.
"Well, you have a punchable face." Riser said with a smirk.
"Oh yeah? Your sister disagrees. She likes to do a lot of things to my face, and none of them involve hitting me," I said mockingly.
"Sera!!" Riser and I ignored Ravel's embarrassed squeal. Riser bristled completely.
"What did you say, witch?! I knew I had to hit you again!! " Riser exclaimed angrily. "I still owe you for giving that pesky sword to Rias's knight!"
"You can try, but I'm sure Ravel will be upset with you if you deface her favorite seat." I replied while crossing my arms.
"Sera!!" Ignoring Ravel's horrified, completely red-faced look, Riser took a step back as if he'd been physically struck.
"How dare you!" Riser growled before launching himself at me. I easily dodged him to the side.
"Now, Riser, there's no need to get angry. You said it yourself, we're family. And after what I did to Ravel, it's doubly true." I provoked him again.
"Sera!!!" Ravel exclaimed again, embarrassed, but this time, I felt a stinging curse hit me in the back. I staggered slightly forward and looked at Ravel, who was completely red, with her hand in my direction. I couldn't say anything because Riser charged at me at that moment.
Riser launched himself at my waist, threw me to the ground, and climbed on top of me.
"Aha! I finally got you witch!" Riser said happily, only to be silenced by my fist in his jaw.
"Get out of the way! Damn you! The only Phenex who can ride me like this is Ravel! " I growled once more.
"That's it! Come here!" Riser growled, and I took Riser's incoming blow, beginning to struggle with him.
We continued "fighting" for several minutes. There was no malice, and neither of us was using any real force behind our attacks, by our standards; we were just "playing."
"Are you giving up, you oversized bird?!" I growled as I had Riser in a headlock, I was on my back, Riser on top of me, and my arm was choking Riser and one of his arms, while my legs had him immobilized.
"Not even in your dreams!" Riser growled as he struggled.
"Let's see how this goes!" I said simply and threw a Rictusempra at him. Riser started laughing out loud.
"Hahaha! Stop it, witch!! Hahahaha!" Riser said between tears and laughter.
"Give up first!" I said with a mocking smile as I maintained the spell.
"Hahaha! Never! " Riser tried to shout, but only laughter came out.
"Let it go, Sera." Ravel said with a warm smile. I rolled my eyes in amusement, but canceled the spell, causing Riser to collapse in relief. I pushed him off me and stood up.
I looked around and saw amused smiles on everyone present. Ravel came over and started dusting me off while looking at me with a smile.
"Thank you," Ravel said mentally with a great deal of affection. I looked away from her.
"I don't know what you're talking about." I mentally replied. Ravel laughed lightly and kissed my lips lightly. I could hear Riser click his tongue.
"Well, since you're finally done. I have an offer to make to you." I said simply, hugging Ravel and resting my head on hers lightly. Riser snorted at the sight, but didn't say anything, just looking at me mockingly.
"An offer from you? No thanks," he said. I rolled my eyes.
"It's also part of Ajuka." I added, which caught the attention of everyone in the room.
"An offer… from Lord Beelzebub?" Riser asked cautiously. I hummed as I nodded.
"Indeed, but… before we talk any further, you have to sign this," I said as I pulled out a piece of cursed document. Riser snatched the paper from me and started looking at it.
"This... is some kind of NDA, but... it says here it's cursed?" Riser said, confused. His father reached out and took the scroll. He scanned it and frowned.
"We can't say anything about the 'Lilith Plan' outside of the people involved? And the repercussions are, reversed joints, loss of mouth, and memory wipes?" Lord Phenex asked incredulously. I shrugged before pointing at Riser and throwing a small curse in his direction.
Riser's mouth suddenly disappeared. Riser looked down cross-eyed and brought his hand to his mouth. He started babbling in panic. I snapped my fingers, and his mouth reappeared.
"Oh Satan! That was horrible! Damn witch!" Riser exclaimed as he massaged his cheeks. I raised an eyebrow in Lord Phenex's direction.
"If you try to write down what happened, the joints in your fingers and arms will reverse to prevent it. If you try to speak, your mouth will seal. If you somehow continue to insist on this, all knowledge of this will be erased from your mind. Nothing more." I said plainly as I handed him a pen.
"So much… secrecy, so many repercussions… for what?" Lord Phenex asked. I shrugged.
"Either you sign, or you can't hear it. Simple as that," I said dismissively. Everyone gave me a sour look. "I assure you. It's good news. Maybe," I said. Lord Phenex's flat stare didn't help much. He grimaced.
"Will Riser be able to refuse even if I sign this?" Lord Phenex asked, and I smiled slightly.
"Of course, this is simply to keep sensitive information from getting out. Anything discussed afterward is entirely Riser's decision," I said honestly. Lord Phenex nodded, took the quill, and quickly signed. He grimaced slightly as he felt the curse take hold of him.
The other members of the Phenex clan quickly began signing the paper after seeing Lord Phenex sign. Even Riser's Peerage. I took the paper, looked at the signatures, and nodded before putting the parchment back into my inventory.
"All right, now! The 'Lilith Plan'! Or rather! The Pillar Devil Revitalization Plan!" I clapped my hands excitedly. Everyone looked confused. "Lord Ajuka and I, we've been working on… a huge project. We discovered… some things that would change the entire game in the Underworld." I began slowly.
"The succubi, as you know, were created by Lilith, and if the writings are true, without the permission of the original Lucifer. We were Lilith's favorites, even when Lucifer punished her for that fact, Lilith constantly pampered the succubi. Many believed simply because they were her creations, her daughters, and as a mother, she loved all her children. Even if we were as weak as we succubi are. So useless."
"But… Ajuka and I discovered something special about succubi. Succubi, when they reproduce, as you well know, their genes are always dominant, so another succubus is born. But here's the trick, inside that newborn succubus, she maintains the pillar devil's genes as a recessive gene."
"And they don't just carry a single recessive gene. Any pillar devil that reproduces with that succubus will cause the next generation of the succubus to also have the recessive gene of that pillar devil, and all the previous ones. Accumulating recessive genes within each succubus."
"Like a kind of genetic bank. There are generations and generations of succubi. All are filled with recessive genes from pillar devils. And according to our theories, if a succubus with a recessive gene mates with a pillar devil with the same gene, then their children will inherit the pillar trait without any problem."
"And what does that mean? It means that succubi are capable of producing devils with pillar traits. It means that succubi were Lilith's backup plan against the extinction of devils. Against the low birth rate. Succubi are weak, but they are extremely fertile, capable of having children much easier. And now that we discover that they could always have children with pillar traits? This changes the whole game!"
"And you, Riser, were selected as the first devil to test this theory!" I said grandiloquently. I looked at all the Phenexes. They seemed shocked entirely, not understanding what was going on. I blinked and looked at Ravel in confusion. She just sighed.
