The Empress of Magic

Chapter 120 : Two Legacies are better than One

The second the doors to the throne room were pushed open and the arrival of Celestia was announced, silence befell the formerly arguing individuals within its large halls, eyes immediately turning to follow her figure as she was pushed up towards the steps leading to the thrones by Aelius while Aspen and Tom quietly followed.

It was maddening to the half-Veela, who was still in pain and wished for nothing more than to go to sleep and not be bothered unless the world was on the brink of destroying itself or being destroyed by something else, but even that seemed to be too much to ask of the bloody universe.

, .... The Fates help me if this meeting does not finish on time.......' thought the half-Veela, keeping her gaze forward and her features unchanged.

She glanced at the statues of her grandfather Theseus and her aunt Violet as they passed them, inwardly scoffing at the irony of it all.

, How I wish you were alive to take my place.....' she thought through gritted teeth as Tom helped her stand, before gently leading her up the steps. Her spine was still incredibly tender and her body was left in burning misery from her torn muscles and broken bones, making the entire process a lot more taxing on her than usual.

Still, she pretended that nothing was amiss and took her seat without so much as wincing, even though her spine greatly protested her moving about so much, and made sure she knew about it by letting nothing but pain shoot up to her brain.

, .... Damn you Apollo, and your inherited healing abilities.......' cursed the Ravenclaw, straightening her back and folding her still trembling hands across her lap to hopefully stop anyone from taking too much notice of them. There was no need to give those present even more ammunition against her presence than there already was.

,, I ask of you to please excuse my tardiness," spoke Celestia, her voice echoing through the otherwise silent chambers. ,, my absence was an unfortunate result of the events having taken place earlier in the day, but I can assure you that my injuries are not life-threatening nor will I need to sit out on this session, my kind Lords and Ladies."

,, It gladens us to hear of such, your Highness...." various individuals replied in kind, bowing to her once more, while others shifted their gazes, silently communicating to one another that their chosen strategy had to shift, lest their families would go to ruin.

She nodded her head in return, swiftly taking her Wand out of its' holster and pressing its tip against the statue of Themis behind her. ,, Now that that is out of the way.... Let us begin."

The statue of the goddess of justice began lifting her right arm, which was holding onto her scales, and as it moved up the statues of the former kings and queens began to move across the marble floors, sliding up to the walls and making way for benches to rise from the ground, circling Celestia's throne so that she could have a clear view of everyone present.

Ministers from various nations, members of the Sacred Twenty-eight, High-ranking officials, and members of the Ministries slowly began climbing the steps leading to their respective seats, avoiding even looking at those who did not belong to their country of jurisdiction while under the watchful eye of said half-Veela.

,, It is 11 o'clock in the evening of the twelfth of November in the year 2014." stated the silver-haired witch, Tom summoning a scroll and quill that began writing down everything that was said without interrupting her. ,, Thirteen hours earlier, Zeus, King of the gods on Mount Olympus, and members of the Greek pantheon declared war against all of Magical Europe and those who side with the members of House Pendragon. Following his decision, monsters, and beasts under his control were unleashed upon Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, resulting in the deaths of one hundred and sixteen souls and the maiming of seven hundred and eighty-three who managed to flee the castle before it was too late......"