Detachment from mundane and individualistic vocational training.
I was enjoying a deep and peaceful slumber, and all would have been well had it not been for the intrusive hands of a certain young lady, which sought to venture beneath my garments. The sensation was so familiar that I did not need to rely on my own senses to discern the identity of the uninvited intruder, whose actions were both bold and expert in their attempts to explore my form.
"Feza," I sighed wearily, as I caught the wrist of my student, who had nearly breached the final line of defense, shielding from her gaze the part of me that, treacherously, responded with delight to her insistent and impatient caresses through the fabric.
Indeed, I maintain my memory, fortified by the invaluable lessons of experience.
With a hint of amusement in her tone, my Drow stretched out playfully. I had long since accepted that, once Fesalia came of age, she would become my wife. Neither she nor I had any choice in the matter. Both of us desired intimacy.
"You are incorrigible," I replied to the girl's unabashed confession, locking eyes with her.
We have already had this discussion, and you have an excellent education, so you should understand everything on your own. Until you reach the age of a hundred and fifteen, no more intimacy! On her next attempt to reach out to the child, she took hold, yes, and her scarlet lips fell upon mine with such ardour that, had I not been reminded of the passionate and uninterrupted pastimes I had shared with my wives in solitude during those hot weeks, I might have been unable to resist. I have trained her well! This creature now employs all her unique talents for the benefit of the world, and the knowledge I imparted to her has helped her master these abilities and put them to use.
"Do you know, Svyatozar," she whispered, "that I cannot resist you? I am drawn to you by an irresistible force. I understand everything — that we cannot yet, that I am behaving like a child — but I cannot help it!" she cried at the end, burying her face in my neck, her breath hot and moist on my skin, making it ever more difficult to remain calm.
"And that is the only reason why I am not so strict with you," she continued, "and why I do not punish you for your transgressions against me. That is all."
I put an end to her harassment by telekinetically moving her from me to the chair Nigelus had occupied a couple of hours prior. There is an explanation for Fesalia's behavior in general, rooted in the nature of her soul. However, I also firmly believe that there is more to it than that. A significant portion of the responsibility for her provocative actions lies with her own disposition.
Alas, I must admit some culpability in the current situation. I should not have been so meticulous and diligent in her development and magical training, striving to unlock her full potential. Due to the fact that her soul's shells lack distinct boundaries, akin to the intermingling of world's oceans, I had to consider this nuance. In training a student with such unique characteristics, it was crucial to take into account the specific nature of the dark elf's soul. The knowledge I acquired from Khokhnan and his fellow archmages, the KhaAmmariyans, proved invaluable in this regard.. Those, too, possessed something akin to spiritual shells; more precisely, they did not possess them, I mean, soul shells. Their souls were an infernal concoction! However, they had a spiritual artifact to assist them, or a gift, if you will, that allowed them to harness this wild and untamed energy flux they employed in their mystical rituals.
To describe the practices of the distant progeny of the Aryans as magic is incorrect, for they employed not only mana in their manipulations of reality, which they warped as they saw fit, but all the energies their souls were capable of producing. Thus, I armed myself with their techniques and began to instruct my own young protégé. After making some adjustments for the realities of her own being, I began to train her in the art of manipulating the energy flux available to her at this stage of her spiritual penetration.. Naturally, such practices were more difficult for Fesalia than for the children of the Khajamrians, as she lacked the spiritual artifact inherited from the Aryans that helped them to manage such a stubborn and disobedient mix of energies. In contrast, Fesalia had only my guidance, her own determination, and her desire for strength.
However, in the end, she succeeded in taming her powers, bringing them under her control, and now she can manage them solely through her will, without relying on crutches or other devices that might simplify the process of working with the energies of her soul. This was the primary reason for her aggressive attitude towards me. With my assistance, Fesalia has surpassed the accepted standards for her race, and her spiritual bodies are now comparable to those of drow who have passed the age of three hundred years, if we compare them to her fellow tribeswomen.
Magic and the world are not bound by conventions. Fesalia is still a child in its eyes, and neither I nor Fesalia can change that.. All we have to do now is bide our time until she comes of age, and that is but six and one years hence.
Alas, it is a great pity about the young lady. And she is the one who is most affected in this situation. While I can release my pent-up excitement with my consorts, the young girl has no such outlet. The peculiarity of her essence is that it is a two-way street.
The advantage is that she operates with energies that are superior to any single-channeled spiritual practice, with the exception of Ba-Hyon. However, due to the fact that her soul has a hazy veil and her aura is filled with a chaotic blend of energies, her perception of reality differs somewhat from that of other endowed individuals. She perceives her surroundings simultaneously through her mental faculties, life force, prana, astral awareness, magical abilities, and sensual experiences. Any endowed person can also achieve this, but only through extreme concentration and for brief periods, as prolonged exposure can lead to sensory spiritual shock.. The young one has lived in this manner since the day of her birth. And now, at the point when she is both spiritually prepared for love and reproduction, when her body craves for caresses and attention, when she finds herself close to me, she immediately becomes overwhelmed. In her perception, I represent the ideal choice for Fesalia. Despite the fact that she was spared a man-hatred upbringing, there was still something in her nature, a remnant of blood memory, that inclined her in that direction. My wife and I have endeavoured to eradicate these prejudices from her, but with limited success. She only tolerates witches and a few other males, such as Vencenzenzo Amati, Patriarch Tikhon, and Alfonso Brance, my own brother. Even so, she does not regard them as potential partners. She readily accepted Maria and Koneca as her mothers. Yet, from the earliest moments of my self-awareness, I was never perceived as a father, and she fiercely resisted when my wife attempted to guide her towards that role.
"Tell me," she began, her voice initially hesitant but growing more confident and assertive with each word, "can you expedite time within your realm for me as swiftly as possible, and maintain it at such a pace for an extended period? I find myself growing increasingly weary with each passing day. My attraction to you is insatiable, yet this accursed age prevents me from becoming your consort! Ha."
"Of course, I am capable of it," I replied, "it is no challenge for me."
She continued, "If I were to accelerate time any further, my domain would not sustain itself at such a rate, and it would begin to drift away from the world of Rowling in chaos. I do not desire that. One-twentieth of the normal rate would suffice me perfectly."
I agreed, "Then I shall do so for you. However, there is one thing I must clarify: do you only take goddesses as your wives?"
She continued, "Well, I am determined to become one within the next six decades of sublimation in solitude! I will accomplish this feat with the aid of an expedition beyond the confines of the explored regions of your world, where there exists a genuine possibility of encountering perilous situations. Only under such circumstances will my progress be swift. And bear in mind, once I attain the age of one hundred and fifty and ascend to the position of Supreme, you will be mine! How delightful! However, it will be essential to accompany me with a small contingent that will not draw undue attention and will provide protection in case of imminent danger. My realm has expanded considerably, having grown at least fourfold since I first assumed control. Naturally, the indigenous flora and fauna have begun to swiftly occupy and colonize new territories.". However, due to the fact that I, with the assistance of Zakhar, my housekeeper, and the Serpent Tree, have diverted all available resources from the source of worldly power towards its expansion, the boundaries of my domain are somewhat erratic, constantly shifting and rapidly evolving, consuming space from the interdimensional realm as they expand.
This results in a significant amount of chaotic energy at the edges of my world, which spreads and extends into my territory for a maximum distance of approximately a dozen kilometers, after which it dissipates and blends into the background of my world. This is not entirely benign, as it affects the local fauna, which cannot be warned of the danger near the borders.
As a result, the flora and fauna that manage to survive in these areas before the chaotic energies dissipate are significantly affected by them, leading to the emergence of unusual creatures in my realm.. Often, such mutations do not survive and perish independently. However, there are occasionally remarkable «fortunate» specimens. These are bloodsucking moths, which employ a unique attack strategy. With a camouflage similar to that of the Veil of Morana and comparable properties to Potter's Invisibility Cloak, they remain suspended from the ceiling of underground passages, waiting for their prey.
These nocturnal moths measure approximately the size of the human palm, although they are not particularly large. Nevertheless, we have never encountered colonies smaller than one hundred individuals. When a sentient creature moves beneath them while suspended from the ceiling, the moths release pollen from their wings. This pollen, akin to charitable contributions in terms of its magical properties, is not inferior to the notorious cold iron. This allows it to easily bypass any magical defenses.
The properties of this pollen extend beyond its ability to bypass magical shields. It is also the most powerful soporific agent known to me, disregarding the immune systems and unique characteristics of its victims. It renders all beings unconscious indiscriminately.. It was with great effort that I surmounted the effects of this substance, having chosen to test it upon myself. Can one imagine the potency of a substance that even a deity might succumb to? And beyond the city limits, there exist voracious slugs, praying mantises, and other arachnids that the drow would relish consuming. I will not permit my daughter to venture there unescorted, armed with heavy artillery. Should even a hundred of my duplicates assigned to her protection prove incapable of confronting the threat she faces, they will find it easy to extricate her from any confrontation, for my dominion over the expanse of my realm is absolute.
The task is accomplished. The acceleration factor stands at twenty to one, meaning that an hour spent on Earth equates to almost twenty-four hours in the other realm.
As soon as I ceased speaking, Feza embraced me with all the fervour of youth, followed by a sharp tear, and with a swift and decisive movement, she fell through the portal that had materialized behind her, returning to my domain. Farewell, it seems!
Having made up her mind, Feza will not rest until she achieves her goal, which implies that I will be separated from her for at least the next three years — a span of sixty years for the girl. However, I shall not see her again for even longer than that.
Regardless of her immense potential and the most advantageous methods of cultivation she has discovered, it is improbable that she could attain the celestial rank within a mere hundred and fifty years without having at least one divine parent. Moreover, even for someone like me, it required over eight centuries.! Thus, she and I are to be separated for a period of at least ten years, according to the temporal framework of the enchanted realm. However, I harbour doubts regarding this prospect. As I witness my beloved daughter embarking on this journey, aspiring to attain the divine status, I am struck by a sudden realisation. In a relatively brief span of time, I will likely be commanding a sizable contingent of capable individuals who are on the verge of attaining the ninth shell of their existence.
Perhaps not within the next century or two, but what does five hundred years mean to an immortal being? I hereby declare a policy of open knowledge sharing. All my subjects are open to anyone seeking knowledge, offering a comprehensive body of information that can guide them step-by-step towards godhood.
Moreover, with utmost sincerity, all my followers have embraced the belief in the Creator. Of the third of the Ba-Hyon that originated from the witches' egregore, I redirect it back to my subjects for personal growth.. Thus, each dragon knight received a substantial boost, propelling them towards the celestial realms. Moreover, the best part is that they truly believe and revere me. The assistance I once provided them, which has transformed them into the most powerful force on the planet, forever made them my staunchest supporters. This sentiment has been imbued in their offspring and descendants as well.
Every young witch in the Rocky orphanage, under the tutelage of educators, was immediately subjected to propaganda glorifying my persona. I am delighted that my witches are not fanatical zealots with a single perspective and ideology in their minds, but rather sensible and rational individuals. If they receive an order from me to engage in any absurd activity, they will not blindly follow my instructions; instead, they will attempt to comprehend the situation and determine whether my intention is truly aligned with my wishes.. I must confess that it was only when I began to appreciate the magnitude of the situation that I realized the full extent of my predicament. To be a deity, albeit not one of the pantheon but rather among a multitude of other gods, is a vastly different proposition! Now all I can do is bide my time, for when that moment arrives, even demons with their hordes will not daunt me! As I contemplated my seemingly unclouded future, I glanced back at the present and something inexplicably stirred within me.
"Well, my dear child, I wish you every success!" these words echoed in my mind as I gazed upon Fesa's resolute figure with a sense of melancholy, for it was still difficult to bid farewell to this cherished companion for so long. I had seen her nearly daily for seven decades, but not anymore. Thus, I set out for London, initially to collect Bellatrix and subsequently to Greengrass Manor, where Sylvia had already settled and where my own clone, with Henry's consent, had been escorted to the library for further learning.
Now that my students had been adequately instructed by their guardians at home, it was my responsibility to conduct a ceremony with the girls, formally accepting them as my pupils. As this event holds significance akin to a wedding night in their lives, I resolved to make it both radiant, memorable, and festive! Together with my future protégés, I journeyed to the Chamber of Secrets to accomplish this objective.. What could be more solemn than the ritual performed in a place of such importance, one that holds the secrets of Hogwarts, and with it, the magical heritage of England's past?
As soon as I entered the Chamber of Secrets, the enchantments imbued in every inch of this space recognized me as its administrator and creator. A moment later, darkness was illuminated by soft, greenish light emanating from the bas-reliefs on the walls and columns, depicting serpents.
When the space became discernible, and the young ladies could take in their surroundings, a collective sigh of astonishment and admiration rose from them. It was not surprising, for Salazar was skilled at creating a sense of wonder, and while others suffered, he reveled in his grandiosity. Everything he created was grand and impressive, even the simplest potion crafted by a Slytherin.. He never exerted himself unduly, and he approached his magical pursuits with verve and ardour. He was an original thinker and unparalleled in many respects! But as my gaze swept over the walls that had grown oppressive in the five centuries of my confinement here, I could not share Bellatrix's and Sylvia's enthusiasm.
"The Chamber of Secrets!" Sylvia exclaimed, having finally overcome her astonishment at finding herself in the renowned room of the very founder. Ahem. And these are the ones who do not know my true identity. I requested that their parents refrain from divulging my secret to the girls. I desired to observe their reactions upon unveiling my identity, as they swore their mutual oaths to one another, with me accepting them as my pupils.
You are correct, Miss Greengrass. Please gather around, and do not be alarmed by those who are about to arrive.
One of the factors that further enhances the significance, mystery, and solemnity of this upcoming ritual is the laces that I have summoned from beyond, which are now slowly but gracefully creeping into the main chamber of the hidden room where Miss Greengrass and I are currently located.
Was it not a great burden to bear on the minds and senses of these two young ladies? I mused, observing how they became frozen in place, and a profound silence descended upon their mental realm and fifth shell. Such a profound silence! It truly pierced my perception like a vacuum, but it did not last long.. It was but a matter of five seconds after the basilisks had slithered into the hall, having emerged from the passageways that converged in the corners of the chamber, when the girls, as suddenly as it was for me, erupted in a geyser of emotions, the most contradictory of all, that sprang forth and soared to the heights of Hogwarts' tallest tower. The girls were filled with terror, yet at the same time they were captivated by the beauty of these two most dangerous predators in the magical world, known to modern scholars.
As the girls' minds and feelings were consumed by their inner storm, the future members of the Mrax lineage, at my behest, surrounded us, forming a mental barrier that encircled me and the girls who were observing the scene with fascination.
Now, young ladies, I must ask you to repeat verbatim the oath which your parents instructed you to memorize at home. I shall transmit my full name directly into your minds. Commence. The oath was spoken in Old Sumerian, yet they were fully cognizant of its translation. This is one of the fundamental requirements of such vows, in addition to the requirement of sincerity. Such vows must be formulated with a thorough comprehension of the actions and obligations that a reasonable person would undertake.. But now it was time to utter the name of the prospective instructor, whose tutelage they were about to entrust their destinies to, and in their minds arose my voice, reciting my name: "I, Bellatrix Cygnus-Druella, heir of the Black Family, I, Sylvia Henry-Rosalia, heiress of the Greengrass Family, do hereby swear, by the very essence of my being and the immortal core of my soul, to obey in all matters my teacher, formerly known in this world as Salazar Slytherin and later as Svyatozar Zmiev and now as Ormar Drake, to heed and abide by all his directives, to be exemplary students, to accept humbly what he provides for us, until such time as he deems us prepared for independent living and releases us from his tutelage. So mote it be!"
Awe and astonishment filled the air! Yet, there was something dark and unsettling within me.. Why do I experience a near-orgasmic sensation at the mere thought of the feelings of two young girls whose emotions are so intense that their hearts race, their blood pressure rises to dangerous levels, causing their ears to pop, and their legs to become so weak they can barely stand? Ha. That is the true essence of a depraved mind.
I find myself aroused by the emotions of these two young ladies, who, in their adoration and delight, have directed their attention towards me. One of them is particularly enamored with Salazar Slytherin, the name of whom they know more or less accurately due to the diaries of their forebears in their libraries. These diaries were written by those who lived during Slytherin's time and witnessed his adventures in both Europe and the Tin Islands, where he gained notoriety for his cunning, ambition, and skill as a wizard. The captivating reputation of Slytherin has been described by historians as one of the most intriguing aspects of his life.. Even in my first world, devoid of magic, there were snot-nosed young girls who were incapable of thinking for themselves and were fed a steady diet of Hollywood nonsense. The Twilight series, for example, portrayed vampires as knights in shining armour, despite their species being natural enemies of humanity.
And here I am, a fairly honest individual, who participated in the destruction of hundreds of thousands of goblins and millions of Christians in Europe after Salazar attempted to attack the Inquisition. I had to confront the rabid fanatics of the Church, who saw any magician without spiritual dignity as the spawn of Satan.
To top it all off, the youthful minds are taught that their beloved dark lord has a second personality that has gained global recognition, being the complete antithesis of his original self. This is Svyatozar Zmiev, a mage who has become the embodiment of sanctity and nobility.. Recently, I came across an account of myself as a saint, in which Svyatozar portrayed me as an exceedingly pious individual, relentlessly contemplating the immortal soul and adhering to all the divine precepts bestowed upon us. I abstained from the sin of gluttony, refrained from alcohol, and generally served as a paragon of virtue, but what ultimately brought me down was the claim of my purity!
I passed away as a maiden, having taken a vow of chastity, which I upheld with unwavering commitment. No one ever doubted my righteousness and magnanimity. My reputation was unblemished, and to top it all off, miracles were attributed to me by "God", with my active participation, and the sacrifices I made in battle against Dracula, wherein I fearlessly rushed to the rescue of others.
In essence, I appeared to everyone as a fearless and blameless knight, ready to gallop to the rescue of a damsel in distress, locked in a tower by a dragon.. And what young lady has not dreamt of being the damsel in distress, rescued by a valiant knight in shining armor? I am certain that many of the oldest and most noble aristocratic families in Europe, including the Greengrasses and Blacks, recall my encounter with Dracula in Vienna. Thus, my presence in those moments when I am inclined towards a serious confrontation is well-known. It gives me an air of epic grandeur! This is what captivates young women, for in their dreams and fantasies, the extremes of masculine attractiveness converge.
Dark and mysterious Salazar, driven by self-interest and a desire for possession of the best, the perfect, every woman considers herself unique and the most beautiful. Therefore, it is clear that they have already appointed themselves as the victim in their dreams, destined to rescue the heart of this dark sorcerer and bestow upon him their love. In contrast, Salazar embodies optimism and lightness..Thus, the young ladies experienced a state of discord. In the aftermath, as their inner selves wandered through the aftermath of these vivid sensations, a connection began to form between us. At that moment, I did not need to articulate an oath to the world, promising to take the girls as my personal students. Instead, it sufficed for me to simply think about it. Being a deity reveals many facets of interaction with the world that even an archmage might not consider.
I seized this newly formed bond between our souls and imbued my students with the gift of parseltongue. I cannot imagine what Riddle's reaction will be when he discovers that the gift bestowed upon him by the Goths and Slytherin — a source of immense pride and uniqueness — is no longer as exceptional as it once was, with over half a million individuals possessing the same ability in Europe alone.
"Father, I suspect you have chosen some rather foolish students this time around. They have been staring at us for some time now, and any scholarly mage would know that the basilisk's gaze can be deadly if we so choose. Are they certain they are alright?"
What a little imp, and what a talented actress. She has great sympathy for me in this matter. "Poor master, he will have his hands full with these two. It was all spoken naturally in Parseltongue, but since the young ladies already possessed this gift and with my bāhyon, it took root in them instantly. They understood every word Vasilisa spoke perfectly well.
"You're a fool!" Bella could not resist retorting. Only Sylvia immediately entered into the surreality of what was happening. It occurred to her that she perfectly understood the basilisk's speech! She could only read such things in fairy tales, for only in them a good fairy could give a reasonable person a gift, such as the ability to understand some animals.
"What?! I can understand you and talk to you?!" Bella realized what had happened to her: she had suddenly become a serpent-eater.
"Papa! Even now you don't share my opinion about this black girl?" I think it's time to put an end to this nonsense. Vasilisa acted well, quickly bringing back to reality my pupils who had flown away into fantasyland.
"That's enough, Vasilisa," said the professor, "stop teasing Bellatrix. You, too, can understand her; it is not every day that a renowned mage such as myself becomes your teacher. When you add to this meeting two such remarkable individuals as you, and gain a unique gift, it is truly extraordinary. Now, lace up, we must ascend to the castle. Return to your domain," he continued in English for his students.
"Come along, girls," he said, "let's depart from here. It's time to leave the dungeons, as you must be hungry, and dinner will soon commence. If you wish to attend, we had best make haste. You will need to change into your school uniforms, which are mandatory when entering the Great Hall."
The professor led the girls to a part of the castle on the seventh floor, where the portrait of Barnabas the Wretched hung. Why there? Because this part of the castle had not been used for some time, and it would take at least twenty minutes to reach the entrance to the Slytherin common room at a leisurely pace.. The young ladies required time to compose themselves and quell their elation at the joy that had befallen them. Neither I nor my pupils required attention, and had they entered my study in such a frame of mind, Slytherins might have inquired unnecessarily about it.
We arrived here with the assistance of Rowena's private chamber, the entrance to the public portion of which could be accessed from any part of the castle. I employed it in my own secret room, and after bringing my students there, we departed the chamber here on the seventh level. Salazar possessed numerous entrances and exits to his lair, not merely the one in the lavatory, which in the canonical narrative was discovered first by Riddle and later by Potter. There were over twenty such passages, but as Rowena's heir and successor, I found it much easier to utilize her chamber and the opportunities it afforded me, including the ability to traverse the castle at will. Thus, naturally, I am unencumbered by any limitations.. After all, I am a deity, and for me there are no places that are inaccessible in this world. At the very least, I have not encountered such locations yet, but I was not willing to bid farewell to the young ladies and, before that, once again, burden and confound their minds with a fresh batch of delightful and awe-inspiring information about myself.
Nevertheless, the capacity for employing spatial magic surpasses even that of archmages. It is no secret that during the construction of Hogwarts, the founders conducted a tabooed ritual prohibiting any spatial manipulations unless they were linked to the school's altar and fueled by a local source of power. Thus, what the young ladies have already witnessed and learned today shall suffice. Allow them to sleep with the knowledge they have acquired thus far, and then let us see. I had no concern that the young women might divulge too much.. The mutual oath between teacher and pupil, which has been passed down to us from ancient Sumerian times, is a remarkable institution. It establishes a spiritual bond that is broader and stronger than the one between a clan leader and his or her subjects, and even more powerful than the union between spouses who have undergone the most ancient and austere rituals of matrimony.
This bond supersedes all other ties, making the relationship between teacher and disciple paramount. They cannot speak ill of me, for their words would be prevented by the adhesive nature of our bond. The oath is based on my discretion, determining what can and cannot be spoken.
"Professor Drake, what should we address you as now?" Sylvia inquired, attempting to maintain an air of composure, as if she were not at all disturbed by the revelation. Aha! It was quite common for her to be a student of the most infamous and controversial founder of Hogwarts.
"If the question is asked within the context of the classroom, then as before — Professor Drake. If outside the confines of the school curriculum, then either Mentor or Master," Drake responded. However, Bellatrix's voice broke in, vibrating with the intensity of her eagerness to uncover the answer.
"Mentor, has Maria Badoër become your wife?"
This was the question that Bellatrix truly desired to hear. Not why Salazar departed from Hogwarts, not the specifics of my confrontation with Dracula, but rather the fate of her first student.
"She has. Maria and her companion Koneka have been my wives for seventy-three years."
I refrained from commenting on my student's inquiry, choosing instead to observe her reaction, anticipating further questions. However, none materialized. We proceeded in silence to the Slytherin common room in the depths of the dungeons, where Bella's countenance and demeanor transformed into a state of reverie and elation upon receiving an answer to her query. In contrast to her typical demeanor, her current state was markedly different, prompting Sylvia, her cousin, to avert her gaze in embarrassment due to her sister's behavior.
Upon delivering the girls to their destination, I departed, leaving them to vanish behind the door that led to the common room of my house. I proceeded to dine, determined to disrupt the composure and appetite of Slughorn, McGonagall, and Dumbledore with the satisfaction evident on my face!
I did not hesitate to express my thoughts in Russian, despite the portraits that were watching me intently. I did not feel intimidated, for I was eager to see how Albus would react when he learned that I spoke Russian, and I used it whenever it was appropriate to do so.