Underground raid

A small band of five quasi-sentient beings were navigating their way through an obstacle course of boulders that would have proved daunting for most, but not for this team of hunters, who had been pursuing the slayer of their young for two days.

These creatures were but at the outset of their evolutionary journey towards full sentience, yet their emotions already played with the full gamut of hues and sharp edges of extremity. And now, they felt naught but loathing for the alien that had infiltrated their nest and destroyed the majority of their brood. Thus, they yearned to apprehend the slayer of their unhatched kin as swiftly as possible and rend him limb from limb!

They felt that their objective was now within their grasp, and they were racing towards it with unwavering determination. Neither the steep walls, floor, and ceiling of the labyrinthine underground passages and caverns, with their most peculiar shapes, curves, and irregularities, nor the other denizens of the dungeon they encountered along the way, presented any impediment that could even slightly slow them down.

However, as they rounded another bend in the corridor, the Avengers were certain they would confront their adversary in a matter of moments. Suddenly, however, the space around them became suffused with a menacing aura for an instant, allowing their prey, who had suddenly transformed from a hunted to a hunter, to deliver five simultaneous strikes with her manifested plasma blades, which embodied the essence of stellar flame.

As soon as the plasmoids, with their temperatures reaching several million degrees, effortlessly penetrated the bodies of their intended targets, the space around the insect squad returned to its normal state, losing its viscous qualities. This caused the unsupported bodies of the creatures to collapse to the ground. The attack targeted the nerve center of the musculoskeletal systems, leaving the immobilized "hunters" on the floor, their six pairs of eyes fixed with hatred on the slender figure approaching them. It seemed to have appeared out of thin air, floating from the space that had previously been filled with the impenetrable darkness of stalactitic shadows, which remained enigmatic even to the compassionate eyes of the inhabitants of the underworld.

Fesalia's POV 

"There, there, girl. Just a little more perseverance and I shall ride this fool to the ground! He..." Fesalia — Svyatozar's apprentice — began to prepare for another ritual, her mind whirling with thoughts as she paced back and forth.

For the second day running, she had been leading her pursuers on a merry chase, keeping them at a safe distance, yet never allowing them to lose sight of her. This was part of a carefully crafted plan, but it had taken longer than she had anticipated for the creatures to close the gap between them. Thus, the "poor" maiden found herself forced to loop and weave through the same corridors three times over, ensuring that everything was in place for a most hospitable reunion with her adversaries on the fourth occasion.

She had encountered these beings three years ago, and ever since that initial encounter, she had been engaged in the task of raiding the nests of these creatures that had proliferated within the realm of her mentor. These new incursions of chaos were situated approximately five hundred kilometers away from the territories that Svyatozar already controlled and dominated.

However, considering the rapid expansion of this new breed of denizens of the dungeon, akin to locusts that devour local flora and fauna indiscriminately, it was only a matter of time before their hunting grounds extended to the borders guarded by the clones of her teacher, and it was her efforts alone that prevented this from happening.

A new species of creatures, which had been created in a most improbable manner through the influence of Chaos, aided by his assistance in cross-breeding a hedgehog and an urchin, emerged as graceful and lethal killing machines. Had Svyatozar been present, he would have recognized these beings as xenomorphs, for they bore a striking resemblance to them, albeit with a few distinctions.

The blood of these creatures was acidic, yet it differed significantly from the blood spilled by Ripley. This fluid coursing through their veins possessed the power to incinerate iron, dissolving dragon hide with ease and swiftly corroding even the toughest goblin steel.. However, it was not a simple task to reach the blood and release it, as the skin of these creatures, which mirrored the properties and functions of insect chitin in its intended purpose, serving as an external exoskeleton and providing robust armor, was only slightly inferior in strength to a high-quality mithril armor and easily resisted a direct strike from the blade crafted by Adair from some cleverly combined alloy, which incorporated the finest materials and knowledge available to him.

The flesh of the xenomorphs could only be accessed through the joints of their limbs. Moreover, the worst aspect of their skin was its complete invisibility to long-range sight, coupled with spiritual vision. Only when they were at close proximity could one detect faint traces of their bloodthirst and anticipation of a satisfying meal. These creatures were a true nightmare for Sigourney and Arnie, combining the abilities of their iconic adversaries: the Xenomorph and the Predator.!The dimensions of their bodies ranged from four and a half to five meters, complemented by a similarly long, flexible tail. Each of their phalangeal segments bore minute grooves on its sharp edges, which exuded a corrosive substance.

Feza herself narrowly avoided being struck a few times by the acidic rain these beings unleashed upon their adversaries, employing their tails like whips, hurling hundreds of droplets of highly corrosive fluid. One must evade the tail, but even if one manages to do so, one must be aware that one is still being targeted with a noxious, acidic assault.

Feza offered her gratitude to all the deities she could think of (Svyatozar, Maria, and Koneka), for their unseen guidance had imbued her with the ability to thrive in any environment, no matter how challenging. Her mentor's paranoia had instilled a trust in her intuition, which prevented her from entering the cave she had initially contemplated. As she approached the entrance, a prickling sensation coursed through her, prompting her to disrupt a nearby colony of millipedes. The alarmed predators, drawn by the scent of prey, followed her, ultimately leading them into the very cave she feared. Her intuition cried out in warning: "Danger!"

The outcome of this encounter proved to be a profound revelation for her, as she witnessed the swift and brutal demise of more than a dozen millipedes, with the smallest reaching up to seven metres in length, within a matter of seconds. And yet, there were only five Xenomorphs actively engaged in this assault on her erstwhile pursuers. They possessed the strength and dexterity to swiftly eliminate multiple opponents with each strike. However, what truly instilled fear was the realization that this cave served as an antechamber to the abode of the Charmers from the cosmic saga, with a formidable presence of over three dozen individuals. These beings were vigilantly guarding the entrance to their domain, and Feza's abilities, which she had once believed to be impeccable, proved insufficient to detect and evade the impending ambush. It was only through years of training under Svyatozar and the cultivation of her psychic abilities through meditation that she was able to save herself from a catastrophic fate.

How could she have known that a few dozen clones of her mentor, imbued with the essence of the Ba-Hyon, were ever-present to safeguard her from imminent peril? And yet, for these duplicates, the lurking entities in the cavern were not invisible; they discerned them with perfect clarity, and would have intervened had the little girl ventured towards them. However, intervention was unnecessary, and Svyatozar, through a conduit of his consciousness embedded within the illusory constructs he had imparted to his student, took great pride in both Feza's resilience and his own success in implanting the seeds of paranoia that had now taken root.

From the moment of her encounter with these monstrous beings, Feza embarked on a journey of self-discovery and confrontation with the perils that would prove invaluable to her and her allies.

She observed the creatures and scrutinized their behaviors for several days. Only when she fully comprehended their strategies, discerned almost every technique they employed during hunting, and verified their responses to various unforeseen circumstances, did she embark on their eradication.

The first three xenomorphs she eliminated provided her with an astonishing revelation. They bore a striking resemblance to her in terms of their inner essence and spiritual composition. Their spiritual cores were also intricately intertwined, rendering their entire bodies an extensive repository of energies generated by their souls. However, the energy stored within their bodies was not segregated but constituted a unified amalgamation of prana, mana, vital force, psi, astral, and even sensual spiritual energy. This power was concentrated within their internal organs, with the majority naturally residing in the heart.. The consumption of flesh that could withstand the corrosive effects of concentrated acids was a questionable delight, prompting Fesalia to resort to a ritualistic method of extracting energy from the dissected organs. Given that her soul structure shared more than ninety percent similarity with that of the creatures, their power had a miraculous impact on her development. She realized that this was her opportunity to attain what was missing and rise to the level of her beloved's wives. Once she was reborn as a deity, Svyatozar would not be able to resist adding a third wife to his harem! She had struck gold!

From that point on, her wild foraging commenced, but it was only when she delved deeper into territories that had been under the influence of the newly emerged dungeon monsters for some time that she truly grasped the gravity of the situation. She did not want to have to seek guidance from a mentor.

It became apparent that these creatures lived in nests, with a queen and her cohorts. When the queen gave birth to a new offspring, she dispatched a small group of her troops to scout for new hunting grounds that were distant from their own and suitable for the daughter's eventual establishment. Once the soldiers discovered a suitable location and the young queen was ready to produce her own offspring, she would accompany a dozen or so of her mother's soldiers to the new domain.. Before she establishes her own military force, upon arriving at her new habitat, she begins to consume the troops of her matriarch, who brought her here and do not resist, leaving a few to guard her as she constructs her own defense. Once her own troops are ready for service, she devours the remaining maternal soldiers, finally severing their ties with the previous colony and providing them with the energy they require for hunting.

Xenomorphs consume everything from lichens to other subterranean predators, devouring anything that can grow or move in this environment, including some ores and stones. Feza observed these creatures discovering a vein of charoite, a mineral similar in properties and function to cold iron. They began excavating it, consuming it themselves and carrying some of the precious ore deeper into their lair, presumably to feed their queen.

The danger posed by these creatures lies in the fact that once they have depleted their hunting grounds, the queen and her hive mind are compelled to seek out new territories that have not been occupied. Rather than seeking new prey, the queen begins to consume her own warriors. When she finds herself solitary, she enters a state of hibernation, but as soon as anything edible enters her sensory range, she awakens with renewed vigor and resumes her hunting activities. The queen of the xenomorphs in this locale is a veritable hero compared to her cinematic counterpart.

She is several times more powerful and agile than any of her progeny, and she possesses biological projectors that emit an energy beam against which the advanced defenses of Fez proved futile. Once again, she owes her success to her mentor who taught her the art of constructing elaborate decoys in front of herself and concealing them with illusions, while simultaneously assessing the combat capabilities of her adversary and seeking out their vulnerabilities, all the while observing the unfolding events from a different dimension. This is how she approached her first encounter with the queen. It was this strategy that saved her life, as the opponent's assault pierced through all her defenses with ease, striking at the illusion, leaving the real Feza behind, hidden in the shadows of another dimension.

The harvest that Fesalia had embarked upon had now been in progress for several years, and throughout this time, since the discovery of the new colony, it had been as simple and predictable as an automatic process. She would circle the nest for days on end, first eliminating the hunting parties that scoured the grounds in search of food for herself, the queen, and the entire swarm.

Then she would take up guard of the den, where she would initially provoke and harass the inhabitants, attempting to avoid confrontations with multiple creatures simultaneously. And so it continued, until all the soldiers were depleted and only the queen remained.

During her observations and hunts, she had gained further insight into the nature of xenomorphs. They evolve, adapt, and learn with remarkable speed. This knowledge was acquired through her encounters with the latest generations of colonies as she patrolled the edges of these creatures' habitat within the confines of Svyatozar's domain.

Today, she decided to venture deeper, having finally mapped the boundaries of territories already under their control. Her goal was to eradicate all new growth along the perimeters, thereby localizing the threat. She had previously ventured into this area a few weeks ago during a reconnaissance mission, only to nearly meet with disaster. It seemed that the anabiotic state into which queens enter does not hinder their growth. While their advance may be slowed, it is not halted, making the creature she faced today a formidable opponent, possessing a third greater strength than any queen encountered on the periphery.. She pondered two possible explanations: either the monster, before entering anabiosis, had devoured all its offspring, thereby concentrating the power of the swarm, or the powers of the creatures were growing regardless of the state of their queen.

She envisioned for a moment the specter of this scenario: this creature had somehow succeeded in emerging into the wider world, causing catastrophic casualties. Were there no archmages on Earth or in the Magical Realm, our worlds would be doomed.

How could she have known all this without having witnessed the process of hibernation in a swarm? She had been training with her uncle Alfonso, who had instructed her in the art of demonology, a discipline that included capturing, interrogating, and extracting the essence of a defeated adversary. Thus, when she slew her first queen, the latter's soul was instantly trapped in a specialized device designed for this purpose.

What could this creature, stripped of its physical form, do against Feza, who delved deep into its mental essence, which was essentially one with its sentient spirit and clung to the magical layers of its soul with a razor-sharp edge? In this regard, they shared a close resemblance to the Ayakashi, whose essence and power were embodied in their physical shells. Unlike the "xenomorphs," their essence resided in a new formative state, with blurred boundaries between each layer of their spiritual essence.

The local xenomorph surpassed in size and weight three fully mature dragons, or wyverns as they are known, both in terms of their physical dimensions and the quantity and quality of their energy reserves.

"And yet, you are a monster, Svyatozar!" exclaimed the adult girl. Naturally, this remark did not go unnoticed by the clones who were watching over Feza, leaving them puzzled as to why she had spoken such words. However, they did not need to speculate on the reason for her statement, as Fesa herself provided an explanation.

She explained that Svyatozar had transformed her into a killing machine, infusing a spark of her magical gift with such intensity that it shone brighter than the sun, hastening her growth. He had also subjected her to constant mental training, which had accelerated her development beyond the norm. After she fell in love with him, he vanished into the mist, leaving her with a goal that seemed almost impossible for others but not for her. She aspired to attain this power rank, and she would not let it slip through her fingers.

But why am I so incensed with him? He has been nothing but conscientious, meticulous, exerting all his efforts, not attempting to evade responsibility or shift it onto someone else, doing everything in his power to help me achieve the highest possible heights, which ought to guarantee me a cloudless present and future, allowing me to face any challenge! And the fact that he has caused me to become dizzy on the path to this objective, did he do so intentionally?

The very fact that Svyatozar has adapted the techniques and practices of the Kha'Ammarrians to her own unique soul structure is remarkable, is it not? In essence, he has crafted a bespoke system for her, drawing upon the knowledge and methodology of training novices in the magical arts from as many as three distinct civilizations — the Kha'Ammarrion, the Drow, and contemporary Europe — including all the arcane abilities inherited by mages from faerie, and expertly integrating them, resulting in an ideal system tailored to her specific needs. This comprehensive approach, devised by Svyatozar, has equipped her with the necessary tools to confront her current adversaries.

The spells from the earthly schools, such as Roman, Greek, and Sumerian, as well as those of the Drow, are based on rigid forms and structures. This is what rendered them ineffective against the beings they encountered. Upon contact with their auras, these spells were immediately dispelled.

The presence of the xenomorphs disrupted any order within the magical weave, causing it to collapse, leaving only a dissipating cloud of energy that was swiftly absorbed by the voracious auras of the monsters. My fate would have been dire had I not possessed the knowledge and abilities derived from my personal school of energy manipulation.

But praise be to Svyatozar! I still possessed my own unique magical techniques and methods. Being able to work not only with mana or any other type of individual energy generated by the soul, but also with a combination of them, I began to exert a direct influence on them in accordance with the method of the Kha'Ammarrians.

They did not create intricate energy structures, which, once created and filled with mana, followed a predetermined algorithm in their construction, affecting reality according to that algorithm. They controlled their power as though it were an additional limb, capable of performing any task. When an ordinary person reaches for a glass of water, they do so unconsciously, without thinking about it. The brain sends thousands of signals down the spinal cord to the arm, which is then moved by muscle contractions in the hand, causing it to grasp the glass. This is all done instinctively. The same can be said for any other natural physiological process that occurs in our bodies.. Thus, I imbued my power with the ability to obey me without reservation, instilling in it an indifference to all things.

Now it was as easy for me as for Zeus from Muggle folklore to hurl bolts of stable and tangible lightning with my hands like spears, which could not harm me or shock me, for it was my own power, albeit it manifested itself in the form of electricity at that moment, but that did not mean it belonged to me. My ability, a priori, could not harm me! This was the first lesson I learned.

I had to be utterly certain that my power was harmless to me, and if I had faith in it, then it counted as well, for it was a part of me!

Certainly, in the early stages of mastering this method of harnessing my own power, there were numerous instances of pain and peril. At that time, I was like an infant, constantly experimenting with my body and the world around me. Had there been a comprehensive guidebook with detailed instructions on how to perform spells and their intricate nuances, similar to what one might find in any magical school, I could have learned without the need for a teacher. However, in my case, as a student of Svyatozar, engaging in such practices without constant guidance from a mentor was utterly perilous. On more than one occasion, he brought me back from the brink of death after my power spiraled out of control, causing harm to myself. I even came close to death several times, only to be rescued by my mentor, who intervened and prevented my soul from being reincarnated. The same held true for the KhaAmmarrians; their path to mastering magic required the guidance of a skilled mentor.. Only their race, the hybrid Cro-Magnon and Aryan, possessed a unique gift that enabled them to master their power. Unlike them, I lacked such an advantage, and in order to learn to harness and control my powers, I needed to first understand them.

Thus, my initial training focused on mastering the art of maintaining a steady flow of energy from each layer of my soul, ensuring a minimum level of control. Only after achieving positive results in this area did I proceed to explore the intricacies of harmonizing and integrating these energies.

The power and I, in my mind and unconsciousness, became inextricably linked, and even as my energy, manifested as a lance of plasma at temperatures beyond the scale, pierced through the bodies of my adversaries, I maintained a connection with it.

When I first experienced the sensation of being an unbridled embodiment of fire, capable of consuming everything in its path, a foolishness overtook me, and I surrendered completely to this extraordinary sense of liberation. I saw no obstacles before me; in my perception and understanding at that moment, everything could be consumed by fire, and what remained unconsumed could be vaporized or melted. A wicked glee bubbled within me.

Reflecting on my younger self, now forty years removed, I often find myself wanting to approach my former mentor and offer an apology for my childishness.. To extricate me from my stellar elemental state, my mentor was compelled to confine me within an isolated energy sphere for an entire week. This measure effectively prevented me from venturing forth and incinerating everything in my path. Only when I was on the verge of exhaustion, and the intensity of my emotions within the flames began to diminish, was I able to revert to my drow form.

With the passage of time and the development of my emotional control, I acquired the ability to transform not only into a stellar elemental, but also into an embodiment of absolute coldness and lightning. These abilities have proven to be invaluable in my current endeavors, as physical manifestations against the creatures I encounter prove ineffective.

I endeavored to ascertain the extent of the xenomorph presence so that I might at least approximate the number of slumbering queens within the perimeter I had circumscribed and into which I intended to venture. Why was it important for me to possess an estimate, albeit imprecise, of the number of matriarchs I would encounter?

During this period of relative freedom, I sought to determine the number of soul repositories I would require, capable of containing the souls commensurate with those of minor archdemons. My staff, crafted under the tutelage of my mentor, could potentially store up to twenty-five or perhaps thirty such souls.

Considering the scale of the area I anticipated clearing, and assuming an approximate distribution similar to that of a swarm's hunting grounds, there appeared to be at least seventy potential targets. This information provided me with a crucial insight into the scope of my task.? At this very moment, in a rush, we are extracting the necessary metals from a spatial pocket, following the instructions of our teacher. These metals are of exceptional rarity and durability, thanks to the use of divine chitin in their creation, making them as simple as scraps but also as effective as soul traps. We will create a hundred of these traps.

My hamster may not know, but if our teacher were to discover that I have wasted such precious souls, allowing them to be reborn, his response would undoubtedly be severe.

"Well, that's done!" I exclaimed, having finally completed the final rune on the hundredth soul trap. This marks the completion of my preparations for the impending mission to eradicate xenomorphs.

The task is not one I relish, but I am grateful for the knowledge and skills imparted by our teacher. Now, it is time to claim the spoils. In my imagination, I envision these spoils as my dowry, a symbol of my transition from student to wife, bringing honour to my family.

******

I am seated here, partaking in a dish of casserole, and for the first time in what seems an eternity, I find myself reminiscing about my former existence. The taste is precisely the same as it was in my previous life, when I prepared it myself.

The process begins with frying the potatoes, which are then transferred from the pan to a bowl. During this interval, the finely chopped meat of your choice can be prepared for frying. You may opt for sausage or sausages, whichever suits your preference.

As soon as the meat has browned, add a chopped medium-sized onion, and once the onion has attained a golden hue, incorporate a chopped green or yellow pepper. Allow the mixture to sizzle, then add a few chopped tomatoes to the mix. Stew the ingredients until the pepper becomes tender.

Now comes the crucial step. Remove the stewed vegetables from the pan, arrange them on a plate, and place fried potatoes at the bottom of the pan. Evenly distribute the stewed vegetable-meat mixture on top.

Beat five to seven eggs, pour them into the pan, and cover it with a lid. Once the eggs are nearly cooked, leaving only a few small liquid pools on the surface, generously sprinkle finely chopped dill and parsley on top. Finally, grate cheese over the entire surface. Cover the pan with the lid for an additional five minutes, and your fantastic breakfast, lunch, or dinner — choose your preference — is ready to be enjoyed!

And here I sit, like a feline that has caught hold of its owner's lid with a dollop of sour cream, delightfully savouring a dish that I might not have recalled had I not recently encountered a similar one on the school lunch table — a plate of fried potatoes, another of sausages, and a bowl of peeled, boiled eggs arrayed side by side. This vision evoked memories of the past, allowing me to effortlessly project a mental message to one of the house elves working in the kitchen beyond the stove, requesting precisely what I desired for my dinner of the day.

As I savoured this morning delicacy, my spirits soared, but Dumbledore's gaze was fixed upon it with such intensity. Judging by his distant expression, he appeared to be pondering how I had influenced the house-elves into preparing a bespoke dinner for me.

In the days when the founders were still living and working here, each teacher could anticipate a private repast at the table, the menu for which could be ordered from the housekeeper, who was permanently stationed at the table at which the school staff dined.

In the present day, such a practice is unheard of. The headmaster meticulously devised a seven-day rotation of meals, which were to be repeated from one week to the next, and the domestic staff were bound by the strict adherence to this schedule, with no room for improvisation or indulgence. Everything was to be prepared precisely according to the prescribed list. Oh, dear me. I could sense Albus's desire to venture into the kitchen later, intending to delve into the minds of the noblemen and uncover the reasons behind their defiance of his orders on Earth. What reward would he seek from the castle's altar for such an act? After all, it would be viewed as a transgression against the school's employers, and the magical pact that Dumbledore had forged with Hogwarts explicitly prohibited any harm or interference in the affairs of its founders. Albus's day was about to be a trying one, indeed!

"Mmm... exquisite!" — as I savored the delectable fare, the headmaster mused. An idyllic scene unfolded at the Slytherin table, where Bella, Sylvia and their cousin, Edward, sat among their housemates, yet somehow apart from them. The Slytherin aloofness towards this trio was palpably evident, yet it did not dampen the spirits of the cousins, who conversed amiably, though without breaching etiquette, with quiet smiles that seemed oblivious to the disapproval directed their way. And it appeared that Bella, in particular, was most content with her new surroundings. I pondered what lay behind this dynamic.

Oh, that is it. They have chosen to enact an unspoken boycott. Such is my deduction from the initial scans of their minds. However, Bella and Sylvia appear content, as they are no longer subjected to the pressure to maintain friendships. Nonetheless, I remain astonished by the unity exhibited by the entire faculty, who, in a singular gesture, have chosen to condemn the students associated with the individual suspected of disrupting the pureblood lineage.

Incidentally, I am a curious individual. Will the Ministry of Magic in Britain react in any manner to the rumours regarding my involvement in the destruction of a family that once held a seat in the British House of Lords? In theory, it should not. The House of Lords represents a thorn in the side of the Ministry.

The Ministry of Magic in England serves as a bureaucratic entity that is subservient to the House of Lords. Its role is to enforce the laws passed by the House, uphold the decisions of the Wizengamot court, and ensure compliance with the Statute of Secrecy among wizards in England.

In reality, they lack any shred of evidence, even circumstantial, to implicate me in this matter, so they will not pursue me. Should the Ministry's agents appear on the school grounds, they would be trespassing onto Albus' territory, and the Ministry is not foolish enough to antagonize him. Regardless of what others may say, Albus was an exceptionally talented young man. Had he possessed a skilled teacher and access to precise, valuable knowledge, he could have become an archmage.

However, regarding the Ministry, it is worth noting that Albus serves not only as the Headmaster but also as the chairman of the Wizengamot. Thus, the likelihood of an Auror squad appearing at Hogwarts is virtually non-existent. While one stream of my consciousness was contemplating this thought, another was delving into the minds of the Slytherin students, seeking to discern the rationale behind their unanimous opposition to my presence.. Only Brother Avery advocated for their presence, disregarding the vehement objections of the elder students of the House that no other Slytherins should approach Bella and Greengrass.

Alas, I am appalled! Is this the faculty that shares one of my given names? How ignominious and mortifying…

James Travis and Rabastan Lestrange, using all their influence and even promising favours in the future if necessary, succeeded in persuading Slytherin House to do their bidding. I am certain that Riddle is already scheming on how to approach me, with his lackeys doing his bidding. Their fathers will likely receive a few Cruciatus curses from the Headmaster for their incompetence. And then their sons will receive some from their fathers for failing to prevent it, but this is not what saddens me. What saddens me is that there is not a single intelligent and influential member of the faculty who opposes such a foolish decision!

Sylvia and Bella may have been removed from my family's care for the purposes of their apprenticeship, but this is only a temporary measure, and once they are no longer under my supervision, they will return to their respective families.

Why can't young people think ahead? They should have been educated at home and instructed on whom to seek out, whom to avoid, whom to ignore, and with whom to maintain a neutral stance. Imagine the repercussions when their parents hear about their amateurish decisions, when their juvenile immaturity leads them to turn against the Blacks and Greengrasses. One might say, "It's a disaster, my friend."

Being neutral and expressing one's "disapproval" are two distinct concepts, and I look forward to seeing how all the heads of houses and families of Slytherins react when they learn that the Black family now has a new leader, with Nigelus Black rising from the dead.! The fact that this has grown, rather than been resurrected, is something that every mage would assume. I was certain of it. The surname Black leaves no other avenue for speculation.

Indeed, it is certainly worth observing! And in line with this thought, all of my spies at the estates of English lords were instructed not to miss this moment, capturing the expressions and colourful phrases the parents of these juvenile imbeciles would utter. They would find themselves apologizing not to Orion and his subservient wife Walburga, but rather to the mother of their possible, intelligent lich — a magister in her own right!