And this is chapter 23, it sparks off the end of Phase 0.5 of the story.

There are 4 Phases in SHP and we didn't reach Phase one yet, everything will kick off at Phase one and we will get more focus on Elissa this time.

---

March 26th, 2018

New York, Manhattan

Superhuman League HQ

Chairman’s office

11:05 AM

The Superhuman League Headquarters was designed by a board of renowned architects and served as the official headquarters of the superhuman league since its creation in 1947. It is located in the Turtle Bay neighborhood of Manhattan on grounds overlooking the East River.  

The headquarters holds the seats of the principal organs of the SL, including the General Assembly and the Hero council. Although it is situated in New York City, the land occupied by the Superhuman League Headquarter and the spaces of buildings that it rents are under the sole administration of the Superhuman League and not the U.S. government. They are technically extraterritorial through a treaty agreement with the U.S. government. However, the Superhuman League agrees to acknowledge most local, state, and federal laws. 

At the summit of the building, the office of the Chairman could be found, a dense bulletproof glass separated it from the rest of the floor, however, it wasn’t enough as Howard Blake’s secretary jumped as she heard her boss’s shout through it. 

“What do you mean they disappeared?!” Howard Blake bellowed. 

The Chairman wore a blue suit, with a black tie and a gold and red ‘SL’ pin on his breast pocket, he was a muscular man with his body frame showing through his clothes. 

The agent facing him wore a black suit and looked cool as a cucumber, used to the explosive behavior of the chairman. “Sir, we have been following the movements of the entire family and then they vanished when they reached Mercer Island. We don’t know how this could have happened.” 

Suddenly the scar on Howard's face caused by the black blade of a certain sorceress flared as it began burning him, Howard didn’t produce a sound as it burned, but he traced his finger over it. It was a diagonal slash from his brow to his cheek. The magic wound was still acting up from time to time, it refused to completely heal, even with his superhuman regeneration. It had caused him to be leery of anything about magic and the supernatural side of the world.  

“Magic, damned magic that’s how!” The desk of the Chairman vibrated as it resisted the strength of his fist hitting it. 

The agent gulped, his stoic mien melting like ice in the sun. “Certainly, sir.” The man tugged on his tie that suddenly felt like it was strangling him. “Mrs. Von Braun is rumored to be the strongest magic user on the planet from what our contacts in the council of Corvinus informed us. They are loath to even try scrying her, previous attempts have shown that those who try, turn into vegetables.” 

“How dreadful.” Howard closed his eyes, his fist tightening until his knuckles turned white. 

“Agent you are dismissed, thank you for bringing this information to me.” He thanked the man who nodded and departed quickly. 

*Crap.* Howard swore in his heart. 

He couldn’t let such a dangerous magic user out in the world, flaunting her power and disrespecting the laws of the Superhuman League. Howard knew that he was being biased because of how this woman had defeated him and put him on his knees before his entire squad of Omega ranked conscripts. He had to plead for his life as she was about to decapitate him, but she was stopped by her husband, only this had kept him alive. 

This was not good, he noticed a change in the pattern of movements of the Von Brauns since their oldest daughter had changed schools. Howard leaned in his seat and put his hands on the reinforced armrests, pondering what would have elicited such a change. 

The transparent green glass-door opened and a rather pretty middle-aged woman with auburn hair and trendy glasses in a white pantsuit appeared. Her hands on her hips she walked toward the desk and stopped in the middle of the room, looked at her wristwatch and said to her employer, “Chairman Blake, it is time for your meeting with Professor Tesla.” 

Howard looked at her, smiling as he saw his ever-efficient secretary reminding him of his appointment. 

“Oh, yes you are right. I am ready for it, thank you, Lena.” The Chairman stood from his chair and adjusted his suit. 

His secretary smiled and waved her hand as if to dismiss his platitude, “Your welcome sir, just doing my job.” She left to return to her post. 

Howard was a punctual man, a stickler for a time table and his appointments, this is a left-over of his time in the military and in his old superteam the Justicars. Exiting his office, the Chairman took the elevator on this floor and pressed the button that will bring him two floors lower to the private lounge where he deals with most of his important business with his last remaining friend Nikola Tesla.  

He had made a lot of political choices over the last three decades that made most of his now-retired friends give up on him; Howard had ruffled a lot of feathers and the consequences had been quite dire most of the time. His most regretful act had been in 1976 when he included the normal humans in the oversight of the Superhuman League at the request of the UN, it had opened this institution to political maneuvering, bribes, and conspiracies that had far-reaching consequences even now.  

That was how in 1980, he lost the support of the Amazonian Queendom that was aware of everything that happened in the house of cards he had built. Six years later when the Vadwaur Empire invaded Earth he had felt crushed by his choices as what followed was 4 years of occupation, and it had taken Nikola who had become a freedom fighter to convince the Queendom to join the fight and retake Earth. At least one billion humans are unaccounted for, enslaved and deported to the stars. 

He lost the trust of a lot of people over the years but he was trying to make everything better than it was now. Proposing to conscript the Omega ranked superhumans were his idea, to defend the planet, most of the countries under the umbrella of the League had followed suite. Certainly, those people had lost a bit of freedom but it was for the greater good. 

Finally arriving on his desired floor, the doors of the elevator opened and he followed the light fixtures on the ceiling that will bring him to the entrance of the lounge. The shiny metallic like corridor was full of employees mingling and speaking; they greeted him as he passed and some ignored him focusing on their phones and tablets feigning work. It didn’t bother him, not everyone liked him, after everything he’d done. 

Howard arrived at the door of the lounge, a hand palm scanner appeared from a hidden cavity on the wall. The Chairman put his palm on the device that scanned his handprints. 

The lounge reserved for him was luxurious, there was a white ceiling with electrical lights that lit the room completely, in the middle of the room a circular sofa with grey cushion unveiled itself, there was a steel and glass low table with alcohol on it. There was a bay window that showed the east river and Nikola Tesla could be found here with his wife Lyla Tesla gazing outside. Howard smiled, those two had been inseparable since they met in the ’60s. 

He walked toward them and noticed that Lyla was wearing her usual modernized victorian brown and black outfit with leather corset consisting of straps and buckles showing off her impressive breasts, a skirt that he thought too short for his tastes and knee-high boots. Mrs. Tesla was brown haired, taller than her husband at 5"10 with a voluptuous body that belied her status as a Matron.  

Lyla turned to him feeling his presence, her impish steel blue gaze fell on him and she gave him a grin that was electric. 

"Howy!! I am so glad to meetcha today!" The woman tackled him giving him a hug that would have killed him if he had been a normal human. 

Howard cried out. "Argh, Lyla how are ya?" He became embarrassed by the friendly display of familiarity. 

The chairman heard a familiar laugh and looked at Lyla's husband, Nikola. He looked ever the same since the war, a young man in his mid-thirties with an incisive wit and good humor. The last one of his friends. Howard heaved a weary sigh. 

"Howy, if you sigh too much you let go of some of the happiness in your tank." The woman tried to make him feel better by putting a hand on his left arm. 

"She's right you know." Nikola backed up his wife. 

"I have too many responsibilities to take advantage of it." Howard didn’t have time for anything other than his job, one of the reasons most of his family and his wife distanced themselves from him; the relative on speaking terms with him was his grandson Douglas and he was the new Major Freedom. 

"You put too much on your shoulders Howard, the goal of life is to be happy with the people you love and protect them." The scientist said, even though he knew his friend wouldn’t listen to him. 

"There's too much I need to answer for, I must fi-." Howard tried to say but was interrupted. "Then you should have stepped down as I told you after the Vadwaur left." A feminine voice intervened. 

Surprised, Howard turned toward where the strong dulcet voice came from. A six-foot tall woman in golden body armor with a wine red cape was seated on an isolated sofa near the bar. She had flamboyant golden reddish hair put together in a warrior braid, a glowing crystal blue circlet was around her head, the same as the indifferent eyes that looked at the chairman.  

She was beautiful, looked commanding and she was Queen Dorina Latina Hippolyta King, sovereign of the Undersea Amazonian Queendom. 

"Dorina?!" Howard Bellowed astonished to see the Queen sitting leisurely before him. 

"Don't forget about me, old chap." 

A man in black body armor that fit tightly against his body and a cat head shaped helmet with reflective eyes appeared at her side like a ghost gradually becoming visible, the powerful camouflage of his suit of armor was effective not letting him be seen even in daylight as it bent the light around him. He was the Leopard or Dwayne Luce for his friends. The man was powerfully built, his muscularity comparable to Howard’s own body. 

The Leopard’s helmet dissolved under the effect of his nanobot suit of armor; he sat at the side of his wife, the Queen. Dwayne had short african braids with curly hair, amber eyes, and a lean face. His black skin showed that he was of Afro American ethnicity. The Leopard looked as stoic as his wife. 

"Dwayne…" The chairman's hand balled into a fist. 

Howard didn't know how to react as his former friend was before him, after everything they had done together politics had come in the way of their friendship. Their relationship had become rather formal and stiff as he was the Consort of a Queen, who loathed his methods and wasn't shy of telling him what an idiot he was. 

"Was this a trap?" Howard's voice lowered an octave as he turned to Nikola who raised an eyebrow. 

Nikola shot him a grin and put his hands in his lab coat pockets, he had his light armor on with no visible weapon but it didn’t mean anything; he was known for pulling them from nowhere or they were built into the armor. “Peace, Howard. Today I gathered you all for a good reason, and believe me this is a dire situation. Could you all let go of your personal grievances, the fate of this world hangs in the balance.” 

Queen Dorina’s disinterested expression disappeared from her face as if the sun peeked from the clouds and cleared, she leaned forward; her husband, the Leopard stood up, glowing blue lines appearing on his suit, drawing his muscles on the suit. It showed how focused Dwayne was, and that he was recording this entire meeting. 

Howard was struggling though, it took a long time for him to calm down and realize that when Nikola Tesla said that the world was in danger or that the fate of the planet depended on him paying attention that he should. After all, there were threats that the League or him alone couldn’t take on. Like Aliens.

 Lyla went to sit with Dorina and her husband, Nikola stayed standing while Howard put himself in a position of attention with his hands behind him, falling back on his military training. 

“Everyone, is at ease? Do any of you need to have a drink? I think you’ll need it when I am done.” Offered the scientist as he looked over the assembly of the most powerful people on the planet. 

The Leopard closed his eyes and made a loud cry reminding everyone of an angry cat. 

“Get to the point, Tesla.” Dwayne hissed. 

“Yes honeybun, stop stalling!” Lyla raised her fist at her husband while smiling, she then looked at Dorina and rolled her eyes. 

“Fine, I will get to the point as you said D.” Nikola looked in mock anger at his friend who looked stoically at him. The scientist avoided the Leopard’s cold gaze. 

“Since, 1992 after I left Earth with Lyla on our third honeymoon in the solar system,” Tesla began. 

Lyla sighed in relish, her leather corset straining to contain her ample chest; she remembered their trip into space and said, “It was so dreamy, we had so much sex in zero-G!” 

Queen Dorina groaned in annoyance and looked coldly at the brunette. “We didn’t need to know that, Lyla! Let him speak, you gear head.” 

The brunette crossed her arms and pouted, throwing a mock glare at Dorina who wanted to slap her. 

“Hush, my love I am speaking.” Tesla threw a kiss at his woman. 

Lyla made the motion of catching the kiss and touched her lips with her linked hands. “Okay!” 

Cough, cough. “Like I was saying, we visited the solar system from Mars to Saturn, placing drones to collect data on the planets that NASA couldn’t obtain at the time, we also placed drone fabricators on the moon and in the asteroid belt to collect samples and set up mining facilities. As Jupiter 1 is bigger than a Vadwaur Support class mothership we took some souvenirs; fortunately, we didn’t leave Earth without weapons and a crew of my android maids.” Nikola touched his head with one gloved finger. 

Lyla nodded frankly at her husband’s speech, even though she already knew the story she listened raptly to him loving the sound of his voice. 

“What happened?” Queen Dorina asked, she couldn’t believe that Tesla had such an adventure and didn’t tell them about it; she was now waiting for the punchline. 

“We detected a ship at the edge of the solar system, the hyperdrive signature labeled it as a Vadwaur scout ship, we engaged it and destroyed јебач (the fucker).” putting his hand before him, Nikola made a fist and gave his friends a mirthless grin. 

“What?!” Bellowed Howard. 

The scientist ignored the shouting chairman and continued his tale. “However this wasn’t the end of it, we discovered that those lizards have quarantined the Sol system.” 

“Why didn’t you tell me?!” Howard came to Nikola took him by the lapels of his lab coat and raised him from the ground looking at him in anger. 

Nikola’s cold gaze fell on the Chairman. “Howard, release me.” 

Howard recognized it, it was the same one he had seen when the jokester persona of Nikola melted to give place to a man serious enough to blow up a bunker full of German scientists. He released Nikola whose smile brightened the room again as he adjusted his lab coat. 

The chairman’s hands balled into fists as he looked at him. “Damn it, Tesla! You always pull moves like this, why didn’t you tell us such an important-” 

Nikola placed his hand before him and Howard stopped his diatribe. 

“Well first, we were busy with the reconstruction,” Nikola raised his index, “then we had this surge of new superhumans who triggered because of the planet being irradiated by the cosmic energy reactor of the Omega Space station that the enemy had put in Earth orbit,” Nikola’s middle finger was next. “then I decided not to tell you because you have been naughty.” Finally, he raised his ring finger, those were the three reasons why he didn’t proceed to tell anyone. 

Howard backed off as he averted his eyes, and tried to laugh off what Nikola said. “What are you trying to impl-” 

Nikola came into the chairman’s personal space and looked him in the eyes, he was shorter than him but he looked intimidating to Howard. “Howard, we have been friends for seventy years I helped you build the League and saved your ass more times in the last thirty years than during the War. I know that you feel responsible for your bad choices but in trying to fix everything yourself, you have opened us up to threats you cannot even imagine.” The scientist talked him down. 

Everyone in the room looked at Howard Blake, chairman of the Superhuman League. To the Queen and her consort, he was a man who was once their friend but found him changed since he retired to become a politician. By wanting to please everyone he had been making mistake after mistake and it seemed that this trend had never faded. Lyla looked impassive at the scene before her, playing with a lock of her hair not caring about the Drama; she had already spoken about this entire affair with her husband, they were keen on giving Howard a chance to do the right thing just this once. 

“Tesla, what did he do this time?” Queen Dorina spoke to Nikola but looked predatorily at the Chairman of the League. 

Howard looked as if everyone was out to get him in this lounge, not moving at all. He prayed that Tesla wouldn’t open his mouth, everything that he did in the past decade would appear bad in the eyes of the Queen. However it wasn’t to be, Nikola was eager to tell what he did wrong. 

Nikola stepped back from Howard and said, “He has been doing shady deals with Upper Alpha and Omega ranked imprisoned criminals to induct them into his secret army. He uses them to take down most threats that normal superteams can’t take on. Nevertheless, they have been getting harder to control and enact revenge on those who helped in their capture.” The scientist showed his CLO and multiple holographic windows opened for all to see.  

Pictures of people mourning or of superheroes massacred in the street were shown. Nikola was pissed about everything he had discovered, all those lies, so much pain was in those pictures, so many lives shattered, Nikola thought that it had to end. 

The scientist pointed his fingers at the holographic slideshow. “Howard, how can you look at yourself when families are broken and those схит баг (shit bags) escaped your control to wreak havoc, you have been manipulating the media to cover for their misdeeds, to save your ass.” 

Howard went to sit on one of the sofas, his frame making the furniture creak. “I-” 

Queen Dorina stood up and said, “You have no excuse.” 

Her golden nano-armor glimmered under the light fixtures, showing off her toned body, she attempted to go slap the man who had become a thorn in her side. A fallen hero, a man who thought that he knew best. The Leopard caught her arm and stopped her from doing what she thought about, he knew his wife and wouldn’t let her get violent. 

“This was for the greater-” Howard tried to say, this was his mantra to justify everything he has done.  

The holographic windows projected by Nikola Tesla’s wrist computer disappeared when he took his arm back. The scientist looked at his wife who began to speak, “Howy, you have been pushing everyone away and you always think that you know best, what happened to you? This isn’t the man I met in Brooklyn and who saved me from Professor Maddox.” Lyla asked worried for him, the man had been the reason she became a superheroine and met her husband. 

She considered him a friend and seeing him this lost and torn hurt her deeply. 

Clapping his hands the Leopard asked for everyone’s attention. “Wait up, we will speak about his incompetence later. I want to know what you have been doing, Tesla.” Dwayne interjected. 

The situation with Howard had escalated quicker than Nikola had expected, the scientist knew that this was the last chance he and his group would give to the Chairman to cooperate with them. But Nikola was prepared to cut off his relationship with his friend if he made things difficult, he had spoken with Malicia about it and she had told him to eliminate him or throw him out of his position to be free to operate unimpeded.  

Nikola couldn’t do that of course. 

“Phew, yes I can tell you but before that.” Nikola took an item from the inside pocket of his lab coat and placed it on the ground.  

It was a metallic plate with strange blue glowing marking on it. Nikola focused on his magic core and as Malicia had taught him he channeled his mana from his core to the meridians in his arm and let out the mystical energy into the round plate. A bubble of blue opaque energy surged from the item and as it grew, engulfing the entire lounge. 

Dwayne looked around him with wide eyes, his armor no longer recording, the items that Tesla deployed killed the system. “What was that? A new tech?”  

The Leopard had always liked new technology and this little system of Tesla could interfere with the hardening system of the Amazonian tech that was supposed to be leagues ahead of everything the world had. 

“You could say that it creates an interference field against every kind of spying device or more exotic… means.” Said Nikola grinning like a Cheshire cat. 

Nonplussed, Dwayne continued his interrogation as he sat and crossed his arms. “Where did you get it?” 

“I was coming to that.” The scientist went near Dwayne who looked at him with interest. “I have made some aliens allies that are helping me with their technical know-how, and they have pledged to help us if we do the same; I also got into a partnership with Doctor Rogers who is the leader of a PMC in China and we are developing technology to augments sol-” 

“Aliens??” Howard interposed himself between the two of them. “I want to meet them! They could help us with the trouble with the Vadwaur! Why do you keep such details from us, Tesla!” The chairman looked crazily at Tesla who stepped back from him as he ominously walked in his face. 

Nikola was already seeing where this conversation was heading, he stood his ground and spoke with a clear voice as he stood tall with resolve. “That won’t be possible, they will only deal with me. They specifically didn’t want to negotiate with you Howard, nonetheless, they are open to mutual help with the Amazonian Queendom though.” The man grinned at the Queen. 

“Why us?” This was a good question. 

Queen Dorina was used to other powers asking her Queendom to intercede in conflict or for humanitarian help. She was surprised that extraterrestrial beings wished to negotiate with her. 

“Because they too are royalty in exile and you always act with honor, my Queen; and you wouldn’t try to imprison them, as we know Howard would and the Queendom is known to be neutral.” 

The Queen’s confusion melted like ice in the sun and she was curious about those foreign royals asking for her help. It reminded her of something, something really important. Putting that problem to the back of her mind Queen Dorina momentarily looked smugly at Howard and her gaze focused anew on Nikola.“Oh, then I can’t wait to mee-” 

Howard interjected again. “I demand to see them! You can’t deprive the League of such an opportunity! How can we ascertain that those ‘strangers’ have good intentions?!” 

*Yes, who knows if they aren’t colluding with the damn lizards. I must ascertain their threat level!* He told himself in his heart, but he also thought about securing the tech Tesla just showed for the League. It would further his agenda of global peace. 

“You are not helping your case, Chairman.” Dwayne shook his head amazed by the irrationality of the man. He recognized this gleam in Howard’s eyes, it always heralded a SNAFU of epic proportions like back in the ’80s when he had begun this beef with his wife for political power.

 “Tesla, I want to meet them and I mean it. I don’t like to resort to this kind of ultimatum but If I have to stop doing business with you to do it…” The chairman put himself at attention, a stubborn gleam appeared in his eyes and a serious poker face didn’t let any of his intention clear. He thought that he would get his way.

Everyone looked at him with an open mouth as tension build up in the room at the weight of his words. 

“Howard!” Lyla cried, shocked that the friend she trusted would threaten her husband; she stood and was about to try to come to make him see reason but was stopped by Dorina who shook her head when Lyla looked at her. 

Queen Dorina knew Nikola only wanted to save the planet, this kind of attack wouldn’t work, yet again she began to be disillusioned with the hero, Howard Blake. A mocking smile flashed on her face. “You cannot see the bigger picture, and that’s why I told you that you aren’t fit for your position, Blake.” The Amazon said aloud. 

Howard ignored her like he had been doing for thirty years, but it hurt his ego that she didn’t agree with him. As for Nikola he put his hand before him and another in his lab coat, sadness etched on his face as if he had lost a friend. No, today he lost a friend for real because this friend couldn’t see beyond his political agenda and thinking he was doing the right thing. Nikola thought that Howard had lost sight of everything that was good in life due to the disconnect in his personal life, he was more akin to a sad old man that lost everything and got embittered by his life choices. 

The device he had put on the ground deactivated, the opaque bubble passing through everything as it retracted. By using one of the telekinetic cantrips he learned from Malicia the disc raised from the ground and came to rest in his hand. Dorina, Howard, and Dwayne looked at him as if it was the first time they saw him, they weren’t used from this kind of display from the scientist. Lyla tackled her husband and embraced him, knowing that he hurt inside. 

Nikola kissed his wife on her forehead, then looked at the chairman, he opened his mouth and said, “At this time, Howard I am not here to make money, this is about survival and I cannot believe that you would threaten me so, over your power mongering. After seventy years of friendship is this how it is going to end?” 

Making a derisive smile as he looked at the man he had thought of as a brother. “I think my allies were right about not wanting to meet you, Mister Blake,” Nikola said as if to distance himself from Howard. “If it’s how you want to play it, I shall retake all the equipment I leased you and your,” Nikola looked around him for effect, “organization that is no longer standing for what it was created for anyway.” 

Lyla embraced her husband tighter, fortunately, the man wore his armor as his wife’s strength could have wounded him as she was superhuman. But he didn’t care anymore, with his regeneration, wounds or illnesses have no effect on him for long as his body returned to normal in a matter of minutes. Nikola took Lyla’s hand and walked to the Amazonian Queen. 

“Dorina, my Queen will you help me save what we can of this world?” The scientist said in a formal tone. 

Bowing her head, the queen answered, “The Queendom will be happy to help you in this endeavor, Tesla.” 

“Thank you, your Highness.” Nikola felt grateful that at least he secured the help of the ally that counted. 

Dwayne silently looked at Howard, his cat helmet reappeared in a cloud of nanites; he shook his head in disgust at Howard and activated his camouflage and he became invisible to the naked eye. The queen used the same ability and disappeared. 

“Wait, he might not mean it.” Lyla tried to defuse the situation but looked at Howard’s stubborn expression and slumped on herself when she realized that he won’t be changing his mind. 

The brunette took her goggles from her tool belt and put them on her head before saying, “I am disappointed in you, Howy.” 

Lyla opened the bay window and whistled, the sound of a flying vehicle coming in disturbed the heavy silence in the lounge. It was a sleek white and silver flying vehicle that looked like a futuristic airship, it connected to the balcony. Nikola’s wife jumped on the ramp and entered the vehicle and disappeared into the cockpit. 

Only Tesla and the Chairman were left. 

It was the scientist’s turn to leave with an ultimatum. “I will give you two months to get all my tech back, Howard or I will sue you.”  

Nikola went to the balcony, jumped into the vehicle and waited for the invisible couple to get in. After thirty seconds the doors of the ship closed and the scientist heaved a sigh. Queen Dorina reappeared in the passenger seat, strapping herself in with the seatbelt. Her husband didn’t deign to show himself. 

“Not before I ask for his impeachment, what I learned today proves that he is not worthy of being the chairman. Scratch that, he should step down by himself but he is too stubborn to do it. You’ll see me again, Chairman Blake.” Queen Dorina looked at the pitiful man through the window of the ship, the man was too taken in his own egoism to do the right thing. “You may have been a hero long ago, but now you are the enemy of the people.” The queen whispered. 

The ship disconnected the ramp from the Balcony and slowly rose in the air leaving at a safe distance to activate its reactor to leave New York in the direction of Bermuda. 

In the lounge, Howard sat shocked to his core by what he had just done. Today he had lost a friend and in doing so he might have well destroyed the Superhuman League!

---

Pocket Dimension

Von Braun Residence

02:11 PM

 

It was a good Monday, Elissa had woken up to her Demon familiars, done her toilet and ablution to then proceed to put on her sports outfit before mister Lenobi came knocking on the tower’s door. The new addition to the Princess Tower, Sarah Jordan didn't appreciate being awakened at such an early time, but Dawn shut her up by teleporting her into the bathroom under the shower that was rather cold; the Demoness had screamed bloody murder and then ignored the asian girl most of the day. 

School time at Daphne Snow ended up being all about Mathematics, Elvish 101 and Alchemy. Thanks to her power, Elissa began to speak Elvish at an intermediate level but still needed to focus on learning the alphabet, vocabulary, and grammar; fortunately her brain was getting used to the sounds, patterns, grammatical structures, vocabulary and rhythms of this new language the more she spoke or listened to the elven students in the school.  

However, Elissa didn’t find it funny when the boys kept speaking about her boobs or how they would want to court her and bring her home to their parents. So she switched from the boys to the girls who didn’t appreciate her at first thinking of her as an upstart, it was just a matter of finding a receptive elven girl to befriend. Tsarra Olaneiros was a beautiful Sun Elf, daughter of the ambassador to the realm of Alfheim, like Elissa she had red hair and green eyes, was tall and slender, a really sweet girl to hang out with and a total badass with a bow. 

This was how Dawn and Tsarra found themselves in Elissa’s home after the class finished for the day, they were having fun in the grass with the redhead’s animal familiars in the back garden. Chun-Li the Shiba Inu had missed her mama and didn’t leave her side for a moment. Elissa was glad that her dog was no longer fat and had put on some muscle, apparently, Cassandra had stuck to her diet and exercised with Chun-Li by running in the forest. Crowy and Ravi the two ravens were on Elissa’s shoulders affectionately rubbing themselves against her. 

“Pellinta at va (Look at you) Von Braun, you have neglected your familiars.” With an amused laugh, Tsarra was mocking Elissa who couldn’t move as her menagerie was not letting her escape. 

Dawn giggled. "That’s funny." 

Elissa’s girlfriend was munching on a cookie while watching the show before her. Seeing her squirm was a novel scene, the asian girl checked this on her list of things she liked about Elissa. 

"We are here big sis!" A childish voice echoed from the back entrance of the house. 

Cassandra in a green frilly dress arrived with a white cat in her arms that looked like a cute ball of fluff, her familiar Lady Christine; a Turkish angora female cat with shiny well-groomed white fur, blue eyes and an abnormal level of pride. When Elissa and Christine’s gaze locked tension rose in the air. 

“Now Chrissy why don’t you kiss big sis? You missed her right?” Cassandra said while scratching her cat behind the ear. 

“Hum, Cassie I don’t think that you should put down the cat.” Dawn noticed how tense Elissa became. 

After a long stare down contest the two contestants moved, Elissa adopted a fighting stance. 

Lady Christine roared, “Rawr!” The sound was different from a cat of her stature. 

The raven couple flew, Chun-Li fled from Elissa’s lap as Lady Christine leaped from Cassandra’s arms, changed into a giant cat the size of a saber-toothed tiger and attacked Elissa who somersaulted back, avoiding the tackle of the feline menace. The two began battling in earnest while Dawn and Tsarra looked on in astonishment at the scene. 

Lady Christine swiped a paw at Elissa with her claws out and the redhead evaded just in time but her uniform skirt got torn in the process. Elissa avoided another paw and caught it, she threw the giant cat behind her and then jumped on its back when it recovered in mid-air and landed on its paws. The two began grappling and rolling on the grass, subconsciously avoiding the flower bed knowing Malicia would skin them for damaging it. 

Cassandra was clapping and laughing, encouraging her cat who finally lost as Elissa held Lady Christine by the neck, immobilizing her with her superior strength. 

“They really did miss each other.” Holding her hand together on her flat chest, Cassandra sighed, overcome with emotion. 

Tsarra looked at Dawn, “Is that normal in this house?” 

“Cassandra is…” Dawn began, but Elissa’s sister turned her head and looked at her with a scowl on her face. “A good little sister, really amazing.” She continued. 

Meanwhile, Lady Christine gave up and returned to her normal form and tried to flee but Elissa caught her by the scruff of her neck and leveled her to her eyes. 

“Is that how you say hello, kitty?” Elissa glared at the female cat 

Lady Christine sniffed and answered her, <You stink.>  

The cat swiped her claws at Elissa’s face, the redhead let her go and the cat ran toward Cassandra who caught her and held her. 

Everyone looked warily at the cat who began to purr as Cassandra brushed her hand all over her white fur, the other animals came back, fanning around their mistress. Chun-Li growled at Lady Christine who ignored her; the Shiba Inu was then embraced by Elissa and Ravi landed on left her shoulder. 

“You didn’t change one bit,” Elissa whispered. 

The cat flicked her tail in annoyance; Elissa knew why the cat hated her so much and it was also her fault. Lady Christine had just become Cassandra’s familiar and she had stomped on her tail by accident in the corridor leading to her bedroom. Since then, her sister’s familiar had hated her; the redhead tried to win her affection again but was rebuffed by the cat each time. Their relationship had grown hostile, and Lady Christine didn’t like that her mistress was following Elissa everywhere, leaving her alone most of the time. 

Lady Christine wanted to be pampered and waited on by her mistress, but the older sibling seemed to want all her attention. 

Sighing heavily Elissa noticed that her uniform was damaged, it pissed her off and shot a venomous glare at her sister’s familiar who seemed to grin at her. 

<Shitty cat.> Crowy said as he flapped his wings. 

Ravi pecked at a bit of earth in her mistress’ hair. <Mistress maybe you should go bathe and change? There’s a lot of earth soiling your clothes and face.> 

Elissa rolled her eyes while wiping her clothes with her hands. “Great. I will be back girls, I need to go take a shower.” 

“It’s ok we can wait, I want to speak with Tsarra about her world anyway.” Dawn was fighting to not laugh at Elissa. 

The dynamic of the relationships in Elissa’s home sure was complex, the asian girl and their elven friend were mystified by it. Elissa left them in the garden and entered the house through the back entrance and let the inner security wards flash over her, letting them identify her. They let her in and Elissa walked into the house, turned left and went to take the stairs that will lead her to the first floor and to the bedrooms and bathroom. 

Once arrived, Elissa took a twenty minutes long cold shower where she thought about her magic and the problem that caused her mother to seal it. It had begun with her Magic Embodiment spell that she had used in the placement exam for Tesla Academy. Her mother had taught it to her in case she needed the power to save herself, and using it to show off was a break of her trust. 

As usual, her mother overreacted that was what Elissa wanted to think, but as she reread the effect and the consequences of Magic Embodiment she understood that she escaped crippling herself by an air breath and damaging herself. The redhead turned off the water and exited the shower cabin. She had been trying to get some alone time with her mother to properly apologize, like yesterday before she left her with Sarah; and after dinner last night too, but it seemed Malicia was busy. 

Elissa took a towel from one of the cupboards and began to wipe herself, she heard the voice of her mom and knew that she was now in the house. 

*Ah maybe I will get to speak with her, I feel bad about worrying her.* Elissa had felt that Malicia wronged her at the time but right now she sees that she deserved it, it took her time to realize it as her damned pride got in the way. 

Elissa found her uniform cleaned, repaired and pressed. Mrs. Bell had struck again, the Brownie was too effective. The redhead didn’t even hear her enter the bathroom, it was… eerie. Elissa shook her head and began to put on her clothes and once done reapplied her makeup. 

Minutes later the young woman left the bathroom and followed Malicia’s voice, she sounded really animated. Elissa activated her mage sight, she could see the runes of the ward system shimmering on the walls of the corridor. Walking silently, the redhead felt the earth node feeding mana to the house protections and life-enchantments; one to protect the residents and the infrastructure of the manor, the other for the everyday items: the lights, the electricity and the magitech appliances of every day. Elissa drew on the mana of the node, it didn’t even resist her as she was recognized as a resident. 

Wishing she could weave a spell, the redhead let go of the charge of mana she had subconsciously drawn into her core. She hoped that her punishment would be lifted soon. Even though now she had decent control on her ice than before, after the tests with Doctor Jordan and the fight with Price and his cronies she had trained her control every day, she was confident that now she could have taken on Price and his group alone. 

Arriving at the door of her mother’s study where voices raised as if people were arguing. Elissa knocked and opened the door. The study was always the same, well lit, the wooden walls were decorated with crystals, paintings and there was an altar with a statue of the Goddess Hekate holding two torches and her three sacred animals encircling her, it was a bit like a mini Sanctum with a lot of shelves filled with books and ancient texts preserved by magic.  

Elissa’s eyes found her mother who looked balefully at a man, a man Elissa was really familiar with. 

“Uncle Achilles!!!” The young woman shouted as she leaped at the man who caught her in midair and hugged her tightly. 

“Hi, Princess.” Her uncle’s tenor-like voice resonated. 

Elissa pushed him and looked him over in more detail, he wore a dark green t-shirt with blue jeans and the latest friction resistant boots with high grip soles, they were brown. Her uncle had long hair now and a trimmed beard, but physically he didn’t change; the young woman let her hand move on his torso and his arm.  

*Yup, still ripped.* the young woman gushed. 

Looking into her uncle’s deep green eyes, Elissa saw that he was happy to see her, however, there was something changed about him. There was a harshness in his gaze and features that she hadn’t seen before, he looked sad and the feelings she could smell on him had a sour tang that made her want to hug him more. 

*What happened to him?* Elissa asked herself. 

Achilles felt that the young woman was getting worried, as he was more experienced with their race’s innate talent, he tried to assuage her feelings. “I am okay Princess, really; don’t worry about me.” 

He tried to hug her but she caught his arm and held it while looking at him fiercely. 

“Impossible,” Elissa shook her head. 

<Sorceress, your youngling is as entertaining as ever.> The familiar mind voice made Elissa squeak. 

It was Gadhiss, the Dragon Matriarch in her human form those reptilian eyes, her tanned skin, and the black and gold hair were a dead give away. She wore a minimal dark crystal armor consisting of a breastplate, pauldrons, vambraces, and greaves that were covering a tasteful tight black leather jerkin showing off her muscular arms with a matching skirt. 

<Greetings aunty.> Elissa sent mentally, she included everyone in the conversation. 

“Elissa, what brings you here?” Malicia asked, a bit annoyed. 

They were having an important discussion before the young woman had come to interrupt them when she was about to tell Achilles to get out of her house. Heracles had made her erase the curse she had put on his brother now that he was here. The Dae breathed in and out trying to calm down, this man had always been able to raise her ire; always trying to use morale on her. She wasn’t human and could barely sympathize with their feelings or scruple, the only thing they had in common were extreme emotions like love, wrath, desire, betrayal, and sadness. 

Malicia was too young to delve into those kinds of weaknesses, leaving this to the old Demons and Faes. Elissa felt her mother’s irritation, but still braved her ire as she spoke, “Hum, I wanted to speak with you mom; but I see that you are… otherwise occupied.” 

“You don’t say,” Malicia said sarcastically as she tilted her head and putting a hand on her hip. 

Elissa looked down, not willing to endure her mother’s unnerving gaze when she was in a mood. The redhead saw her eyes glow after all, and it didn’t signal anything good for her if she insisted on staying. A flash of light interrupted her thinking, her gaze quickly found it; laying against Malicia’s desk there was a small bastard sword in an old scabbard, and Elissa found it simply beautiful. The pommel and guard were made of a golden metal she suspected to be Orichalcum with a blue jewel at its center and the blue leather grip looked worn and old. 

Kneeling on the ground, Elissa took it in her hand and touched its grip and was about to unsheath it. 

<Elissa, no!> Gadhiss mind screamed. 

But it was too late, the sword’s blade was out and began to glow blue and white happy to have finally found a user and what a marvel it felt. This user was overqualified to be its master, the intelligent weapon asked itself if it had ended up in the hands of a demigod? The ricasso of the sword changed as it decided to secure this powerful user to make it its owner and began to drink in her aura; the symbol of a snowflake appeared. 

“No! Elissa let go of the sword!” 

<Malicia make your hatchling hand this damned sword over!> Gadhiss shouted, but she didn’t come near her god-niece as she was holding a dragon slaying weapon in her hands. 

The redhead smiled, looking lovingly at the shiny sword. “That’s mine, now.” 

She watched as the light fell on the blade, she could see some imperfections in the mithril, nothing that couldn’t be fixed in her blacksmithing class. 

“No, Elissa this is the sword talking, unhand it,” Malicia told her firmly. 

The Dae’s eyes were aglow with fright, she kicked herself from not having secured the sword somewhere else. 

“No, I assure you that it’s all me.” Elissa began to play with her new sword. 

Elissa rejoiced as she heard the blade slice the air and sing at being free after all these centuries of being dormant. Achilles tried to pry the sword’s from his niece’s hands but was batted away as she used her martial art to avoid him by sidestepping. The speedster almost fell on the ground but recuperated, he became astonished by what she had been able to do.  

*Since when can Elissa avoid me while speeding?* His mind reeled from what just happened. 

“What’s your name, sweety?” Elissa asked her sword. 

The young woman had felt that the sword was more than a hunk of metal, that it was sentient and had an ego; the sword’s blade alighted in an ethereal blue-white glow, filling its owner’s mind with its name. 

“Balmung? Gram? Like in the legend of the hero, Sigurd?” Elissa’s mouth fell open in a little “o” that showed her astonishment. But the gleam of excitement in her eyes made it clear that no one would take this away from her. Gram felt contented to be loved and admired, its blade shined even brighter in pride. 

Malicia understood that her daughter was still there, that she was just being her stubborn self. “Elissa, give it back,” Malicia said without power in her voice. 

The redhead looked upon the members of her family, seeing their worried face dimmed her excitement and she lowered the blade of her sword to the ground. But she didn’t want to give it back, Gram was hers now; Elissa put Gram in its scabbard and then held it between her arms, pommel up.  

“No, that’s my sword. It said I am its true owner now and that no one will be able to separate us anyway.” She answered Malicia who seemed to have given up on trying to take Gram from her. 

Gadhiss didn’t move from the wall she leaned against near one of the shelves with her mom’s cooking books. 

<Damnation, I didn’t anticipate this. A dragon killing weapon in the hands of a hatchling and it isn’t controlling her mind like its previous user? First time I see that happening, however Elissa I can’t let you keep the sword.> 

<Eh, it did that? Control people?> Elissa felt less sure about Gram suddenly, but by thinking about it. Nothing happened when she had grabbed it. 

“Why do you think I am worried, you silly girl. This sword dared to choose you, I should give it to a Dwarf and have it melted!” 

Elissa held her new sword protectively, not believing that her mom would do such a thing to the sword of her dreams. Malicia took another sword from her spatial ring, her black dress fluttering as she moved to her daughter who gazed at her warily. 

“Here you can have this one if you hand me the sword.” Malicia acted like when her daughter was four and had something breakable in her hands and was about to throw it and had to exchange it with something else to make her put it back. Elissa scowled at her but still looked at the new sword. 

This sword was a one-handed one, made of white metal shined pink when the light fell on the blade. Elissa stepped back, from the pommel to the spear point, the young girl felt repulsed by it. 

“It’s too girly, where did you find it? It wouldn’t even pass muster in a movie, look at how ugly it is!” Elissa whined. 

Malicia held the sword as if it was something dirty and stashed it back in her spatial ring, ashamed to have even shown it to Elissa who was a sword collector. “It belonged to an angel I killed…” 

Elissa almost spits on the ground but barely restrained herself. “Angels are sissies, mom and I am not.” the young woman stomped her feet on the ground in annoyance. 

Achilles looked at the exchange and smiled at that, *Goddess, how I missed my niece!* 

“That’s my girl.” Despite herself, Malicia giggled. 

<There is a way for you to keep this sword, Elissa. You’ll have to make it into another type of sword, something other than a killer of my kind, if you cannot fulfill those conditions we are going to have a fight, hatchling.> Gadhiss interrupted them. 

<This fight would be legendary!> The redhead quoted to the dragoness who made a rare smile at the hatchling even though this was a serious situation.  

<But I am not suicidal, how can I do this aunty…?> Elissa continued, puzzled about the procedure, worrying that it might endanger Gram’s sentience. 

The Dragoness walked to Elissa, looked at her in the eyes while staring her down looking for any trace of corruption from the sword. She had to be sure before handing such a relic to this hatchling. She probed Elissa’s mind and found that she was alone there, no stench of foreign magic polluting her mind. 

<That is simple, you need a Dwarf! You always need a Dwarf.> The Dragon Matriarch shouted as she put her hand on Elissa’s shoulder and slapped them. 

The young woman made a pained cry but endured it, used to be manhandled by the Dragoness. 

Elissa giggled and said, “Then let’s do this!”