Chapter 53: A Pact of Four (2)

Lilith's eyes narrowed, analyzing him. "You're suggesting something more than a regular magically binding oath, correct?"

"Yes," Nero confirmed. "One that ties us together. A vow that can only be altered if all four of us agree. And I want to take it further. With Rowena's insight and my knowledge, I intend to weave ritual magic into it, something ancient, something powerful."

A charged silence followed. Then Alaric let out a short laugh. "You really don't do things halfway, do you?"

Ember's lips curled into a smirk. "I like it."

Lilith tilted her head, her gaze sharp but intrigued. "I trust you. Then let's make it count."

The four moved into position, forming a perfect circle. Their wands hummed in their hands, responding to the magic gathering in the air.

Nero waved his wand and began inscribing intricate patterns onto the ground. The four house colors: crimson for Gryffindor, sapphire for Ravenclaw, emerald for Slytherin, and gold for Hufflepuff swirled in complex patterns, weaving together into a unified design.

For fifteen long minutes, his hand worked with precision, etching every line, ensuring every stroke had meaning. When he finally straightened, satisfaction gleamed in his eyes.

"This," Nero murmured, stepping back to observe his work, "is more than a pact. It's a declaration to magic itself."

He turned to the others, voice quiet but firm. "At the apex of magic, there exist laws, fundamental principles that shape reality. Those who master them rewrite what is possible. This ritual is not just about binding us together, it's about invoking those laws to recognize our commitment and tip the scales in our favor."

Lilith folded her arms. "You're saying you want to force the magic of the world to acknowledge us?"

"In a way," Nero admitted. "Magic fundamentally demands balance. Every action has a counterforce. Every gift comes with a price. What I propose is a bargain, offering our very beings to the path we choose, ensuring that fate itself cannot limit us."

Lilith's lips curled slightly. "So in exchange for our very lives, if we fail, you're trying to manipulate magic's own rules? Using its balance against itself to give us a greater chance of success?"

"That's the idea." Nero met her gaze without hesitation. "I'm exploiting a loophole. By binding ourselves to a cause greater than any of us individually, we invite balance itself to intervene, whether through talent, opportunity, or the right encounters at the right time. The laws of magic won't let such a declaration go unanswered."

Silence stretched as the weight of his words settled over them. Then Ember grinned. "Dangerous. Reckless. And yet… utterly brilliant."

Alaric rolled his shoulders. "Fine. Let's do it."

Lilith nodded. "No turning back."

Nero gestured to the center of the ritual circle. "Then let's begin."

They each stepped into position at the cardinal points of the intricate design. The lines glowed faintly, pulsating with raw energy.

With a flick of his wand, Nero conjured Ember's ceremonial silver dagger, inscribed with ancient runes. He held it aloft. "Seven drops of blood from each of us."

One by one, they extended their hands, pressing the blade to their palms. As their blood dripped onto the runes, the colors of the circles pulsed, absorbing their essence. The moment the last drop touched the ground, the entire formation flared, blazing with an ethereal light as the magic took hold. The colors swirled together, merging into a single radiant glow.

Power surged between them, the ritual responding to their intent.

Nero took a breath, then spoke first, his voice steady and resolute.

"With this blood, I swear to stand by you, in battle and beyond. To fight for our cause, to protect our bond, and to seek the truth, no matter the cost. I vow to walk the path to the apex of magic, and I shall not waver. If I falter, if I abandon this pursuit, may magic itself judge me unworthy and claim my life."

Ember followed, her eyes blazing with determination.

"With this blood, I swear to never turn my back on this bond. To wield my power in defense of it, to burn away doubt, weakness, and any who would break what we forge today. I vow to chase the summit of magic without regret, knowing that should I fail, my flame will be extinguished by the very force I sought to command."

Lilith's silver eyes gleamed as she raised her hand, letting the blood drip onto the glowing circle.

"With this blood, I swear to uphold our pact. To lend my strength, my wisdom, and my will to our cause. I vow to unearth the highest truths of magic, to wield them without fear or compromise. If I betray this path, let the weight of my broken vow be the end of me."

Alaric was last. His gaze swept over them all before he nodded, stepping forward.

"With this blood, I swear to fight alongside you, to be your shield and your sword, to never waver no matter how dark the path ahead. I vow to carve our names into the very fabric of magic, to leave behind a legacy that cannot be erased. If I falter in this purpose, let history forget me, and let magic cast me aside as unworthy."

As their words echoed through the chamber, the ritual responded. The light surged upward in a spiraling column of raw, untamed magic. The energy pulsed, coiling around them, searing their vows into reality itself.

Then, in perfect synchronization, the magic sank into them.

Their wrists burned as a symbol etched itself into their skin, a mark of unity, of shared fate. Not just an oath, but a covenant, woven into the very fabric of their beings.

The power faded, leaving only the sound of their steady breathing.

Ember exhaled first, flexing her fingers. "Well," she said, a slow grin forming. "Now we're really stuck with each other."

Nero smiled, glancing at the mark on his wrist. "Then let's make sure we're worthy of it."

Far away, four beings watched the ritual unfold, their expressions unreadable, until, one by one, smiles formed on their faces.

"We have ourselves some rather remarkable heirs, wouldn't you say, Salazar?" Godric mused, his arms crossed as he observed the fading glow of the ritual.

Salazar smirked, his eyes glinting with something akin to amusement. "Indeed. Though I must say, Rowena's heir seems to have borrowed a few traits from me. How else would but a twelve-year-old Ravenclaw dare to tweak an unbreakable bond, weaving ritual magic around fundamental principles, all for the sake of ensuring their own ascent?"

Rowena chuckled softly, pride gleaming in her gaze. "We Ravenclaws are simply built differently, Salazar."

Helga, watching the four young figures below, clasped her hands together with warmth. "Regardless of which House they come from, what matters is the choice they've made. Just as we once did, so long ago."

For a moment, silence settled between them, heavy with nostalgia.

Then Godric grinned. "Let's hope they make the most of it."

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