I will strive beyond this cursed bloodline!

“Sorry for the delay!” Elizabeth said as she opened the double doors into the meeting room, both Albert and Lizbeth were already sitting there waiting for them. Neither seemed bothered by the wait, and they were even eating snacks while drinking Tea as if it was their break.

“Oh, it’s okay, your Maid did tell us that you may arrive late.” Lizbeth smiled her way as she eyed her from top to bottom. “You could have taken some extra time if you wanted you know?”

Elizabeth felt herself blush at the implications behind the tone. She had rushed dressing since she wasn’t sure if Rossie’s Mother could pierce her shift, if she could and she was naked under… Well, she didn’t mind Rossie or Rena seeing her like that, hell. She could even tolerate it if it was one of her [Minions]. But her Mother-in-law?

Yeah no, as a result of that, she was dressed as fast and with as many loose clothes as she could find. All in an attempt to disguise her haggard appearance, she had even used Magic to accelerate the drying!

Heat and Wind magic weren’t comfortable to dry! Also, they may damage her skin and hair!

But she withstood them both!

And no, the fact that Rossie could cast very good [Healing] magic wasn’t taken into consideration! The matter at hand was how many sacrifices she had made to arrive in time! And they said she could take her time?!? If she took her time, it would be nighttime by the time she was done!

She couldn’t even enjoy the bath time with Rossie & Rena! It was a double surprise! And she couldn't enjoy it!

“No, it’s okay. We don’t want to impose.” Elizabeth answered while motioning both Rena and Rossie to take a seat, she sat the red-haired girl at the left of the table and the pink-haired one at the right.

Leaving the middle seat for herself, on the other side of the table was Albert Singh, with his wife to his right.

“So? What have you summoned us for?” Asked Lizbeth, it seemed that the patriarch of the Singh was once again, letting his wife deal with these matters.

Elizabeth could somewhat understand him, if she could do the same, she would do it too! But if she left it to Rossie…Either Rossie would sell herself to Elizabeth or would try to take everything that the Singh owned. Neither was an acceptable answer to Elizabeth, so she would do it!

She wasn’t a bimbo! She could do negotiations too!

… with some luck.

“We have finished checking the papers and we are willing to sign them.” Elizabeth started, she summoned the contracts already signed with her name and Rossie on them. She would check later on her financial condition and see if she could pass some of the new properties her way. Not that the girl would accept them…

“Oh, splendid. And I see you amended some clauses…” Lizbeth said without even reading them, was it her [Skill] at work? “Darling, sign them.”

The woman passed the papers without giving it too much thought.

“Sure, what did they remove?” Asked Albert after signing the papers and giving them to one of his maids. “Get a few copies, one for our archives, one for my personal file, and the original for Elizabeth and Rossaline.”

“It will be done, Master.” The Maid answered and promptly left.

Just like that? No haggling? No questions?

“Oh, don’t look so dour Elizabeth, I did check it you know?” Lizbeth smiled at her, “Your lawyer only removed the usual stuff, was it Engine? He always takes away those clauses even though they rarely are applicable.”

…so, she already knew who they went to check with?

“He told us that they were best removed.” Elizabeth said back, “But didn’t explain, what was the point of them?”

“They are a guarantee, that if you decide to renounce the plots of land then you will take full responsibility for the problems that made you discard them. You know that we will not be held accountable if the plot were cursed and you didn’t ask. Or that they are not in the state the photos imply…” Lizbeth said with a shrug, “The usual stuff that is your responsibility to check the state of what you accept.”

…What was this woman even speaking about? Didn’t the documents state what conditions the plot was in? Elizabeth had checked that, they recounted that they were in good condition. The dates were even of…the same day she arrived here…

“Oh, they are fine. That is why I told you that they were mostly useless stuff. Engine worries too much, but make this a lesson. Always check the goods you accept with a contract like this. If the date had been…I don’t know…Dated a year ago. And a meteorite hit the plot a week before, then you would be held responsible for the damages on the plot if you tried to renege the contract.” Lizbeth said with a dangerous glint in her eye, “Not that it will be the case on this one. We sent a runner with the proper skills to make sure the state was in order, and he sent updated files on all the plots…Minus your former home, since no one was able to verify it.”

And the date of the file for her house was almost two years ago, the same day she left for the MPI. Had her parents been prepared for this from that moment?

“That’s fine, I will not return to my home no matter what,” Elizabeth said as the same maid returned with a folder with the documents for her. Elizabeth checked them and sent them to the spire in her [Soulscape].

Well, most of them, the documents for all the other properties went to the shared [Garage], but the documents for her home? Those went to the spire.

“Was that all? I assume you didn’t call us only for this.” Lizbeth said taking a scone from the table. “I would be disappointed if that was all, I assume there is a reason why you only moved from [Magical Hero] to [Magical Girl - Shadow Attuned] too.”

oh?

“That is what I look like?” Elizabeth smiled at the woman, this made her eyes narrow, and the purple glint shone in her eyes for a second. Elizabeth felt the woman try to penetrate her defenses. But unlike the previous time, this time they stood strong.

“[Galaxidae Reader]” And with those words, the whole presence of Lizbeth changed, instead of the scary Mother-in-law she had seen, this time before she stood … [Something else]. “[Audit]”

Elizabeth almost doubled over as the first line of defense of her status was being battered over and over, with each pulse of purple light she felt as if something was trying to enter. She noticed how her girlfriends were tensing and with a message through their shared [Link], she reassured them to not move.

“[I can see you]” Lizbeth, no…The [Galaxidae Archiver] spoke, “[Both a Magical Girl and a Villainess. Interesting…it shall be recorded as such.]”

And as if it was a mere illusion, the presence of the woman changed once more from extremely scary, to…only scary. Not an improvement overall, but Elizabeth liked merely scary to [WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT?!?!?]. So she could work with this.

“So, from a dual awakening to a dual job huh? I can see why you would decide to take this route. I wonder if you will be able to continue like this, having two sets of skills can be useful, especially since you seem to be able to keep multiple high-level [Shift] spells going.” Lizbeth smiled as she cleaned some blood from her nose.

“.... you shouldn’t overstrain yourself like that. Think of the baby.” Albert said with worry in his eyes.

“It’s okay, besides. We have Rossy here. She finally got the right title to match her talent.” Lizbeth said with a bloody smile towards Rossie.

“ *Sigh* Don’t overstrain yourself…Mama.” Rossie said in a small tone while weaving a complex series of magical circles that she sent towards her Mother. “[Blessing] + [Divine] + [Heal] + [Boundary] + [Perpetual] = [Blessings from the Goddess, Mk 2]”

And followed by a golden halo of light the spell formed into a halo of light that healed Lizbeth Singh, her complexion returned to a healthier tone, and she seemed to even rejuvenate a few years.

“See…I told you she would make it.” Lizbeth smiled at Rossie, “She is recovering…Your big sister is finally recovering…”

And after saying that, as if Lizbeth Singh's biggest worry had vanished, she fell unconscious with a smile on her face, if this was a story. This would probably be a good moment to make a time skip or a change of scene.

“Get my wife to her room, send for her physician and the [Skill Integrity Checker] and [Soul Integrity Checker]. I want to make sure everything is in order.” Alas, this was reality, and Albert Singh was a man who would make sure everything was in order. “Not that I doubt your magic Rossy, but you can’t blame me for making sure.”

“No problem there…Papa.” Rossie said in a small voice as she sat back and moved her chair just a little, as if staying closer to Elizabeth would keep her safe (SO CUTE!!!!)

“So, was there anything else you needed Elizabeth? I would like for my wife to continue being here, as she is the one who wanted to make sure I wouldn’t try to extort you from anything.” Albert said turning his attention toward a group of maids that was transporting Lizbeth using [Force Platform] spells away. “But she will be shown the rest of the negotiations. You can rest assured that anything that we negotiate can be amended at a later date.”

“That’s fine, I just want to inform you that we will be leaving. I want to check on my house, and I want to know how many specialists I will need in case the [Ward] doesn’t recognize me.” Elizabeth was sure the wards around her house would pick on her, but…this wasn’t the same body she had two years ago. Even if it had been her Mother the one that stuck her in it. She wasn’t quite sure if the [Ward] had been updated after she ascended or not.

“Do you want to use the private jet? Or will you travel using the teleportation station?” Albert said fishing out his holo tablet. “If you use our private jet, we can prevent anyone from knowing your route. But if you use the teleportation station…The MPI and the other factions will know where you are.”

And that was the question, wasn’t it?

Agatha had implied that she had been protecting her while at the MPI, and that she wouldn’t be able to do so after the fallout from Akira’s…shenanigans. So… Did Elizabeth want to risk it? To go boldly forward?

To maybe have to fight the powers to be?

Yes, she did.

“We will use the Teleportation station. If needed I can always teleport away, be it using magic, skills, or…. otherwise.” Elizabeth smiled at the idea, besides. Who could even stop her if she wanted to run away?

Unless someone from the original [Twelve] came? No one should have those levels of powers, besides, if they did indeed come… wouldn’t they be good [Exp] sources? She should have around the same level of power as an average level 60. And if she cashed in all her skills and powers? Well, she would be very dangerous.

Worst come to worst? She would drop all her mana into the [Shadow Minion] skill and summon as many shadow dragons as she could. Surely an unending horde of shadow dragons could stop a few S-ranks…right?

“So long you are sure. We do know that you seem to have a way to bypass our wards…and they are on the expensive side. Only the [Nine Stars] have more sturdy wards than us.” Albert sighed and turned to Rossie, “Do return home before your baby sister is born.”

“Of course, I will make sure she is born healthy. That was what I promised.” Rossie said back.

“No, not because of that. Your sister will need a role model to follow, and you make us proud. Nothing would make me prouder than her learning from you.” Albert Singh said smiling at her daughter, not the councilman, not the future president of Camelot. Nor the cunning man who wanted shadow assassins to work for him, instead this was the father of a daughter. “You will always have a place here. I don’t care what your Mother says, if Elizabeth ever mistreats you, you come to us. We will make sure she regrets it okay?”

…Well, Elizabeth could appreciate the gesture if nothing else. Not like they could stop her, or that she would ever mistreat Rossie.

“...Thank you…Papa.” Rossie said in a small voice as she teleported away.

“...That one is new, did you teleport her away?” Albert said turning to Elizabeth.

“...No, but that was my skill,” Elizabeth said as she looked at the spot where Rossie had been before, that was her new favorite skill in use, [Shadow Step]. “...Oh right, Rossie has access to some of my skills…Since they never use it, I had forgotten about it.”

“...I see, those weren’t empty words Elizabeth Starbright.” Albert said focusing on Elizabeth once more, “I know everything Lizbeth knows about you. But even if I must pull down [Framework] from his lofty throne in the sky. I will make sure you regret it if you ever make Rossy cry.”

“Aye, sir!” Elizabeth said saluting at the man, one must always pay respects to such noble feelings. “But it will be okay. So long Rossie wants to stay with me, she will be as pampered as I can do without hurting someone else!”

…Well, she wouldn’t mind hurting a few if it would make Rossie happier.

“And her?” Albert said turning to Rena. “If you had to choose between Rossy or Watanabe Rena?”

Rena turned her eyes to her in a fraction of a second. Watanabe Rena is using puppy eyes! It’s super effective!

“Well, that’s easy,” Elizabeth said with a reassuring smile to Rena, then turning to Albert Singh her eyes turned draconic and blazed in azure fire. “I will kill and roast the soul of the one that would dare to even put me in such a situation for a thousand years, making sure they can’t move either to Hell, Heaven, or the abyss. For they should know better than to bother those I love.”

Was her mana flaring? Perhaps.

Was her draconic side surfacing? Probably.

Did she care? No.

“But it will be okay, no one is dumb enough to do something like that,” Elizabeth said as her eyes returned to normal and her mana settled down. “Right, Councilman Albert Singh?”

“...Yeah, who would even attempt to do something as stupid as that.” Albert Singh said with a small smile on his face as his back was drenched in sweat. Elizabeth had controlled his mana outburst so that the man wouldn’t black out again.

But he could still perceive the difference in mana levels and the density of the mana that Elizbeth was able to pump out.

“Rena, go and fetch Aura. Tell her that all the Shadow Dragons must return to our [Haven].” Elizabeth said to the red-haired girl.

“Sure thing Elizabeth,” Rena answered standing up from her spot. “Councilman, pleasure meeting you.”

And like that the red-haired girl left them, leaving Elizabeth alone with Rossie’s Father and a few Maids.

“The only reason your [Assassins] are alive is that they never moved to strike at Rena. Do not be mistaken, I know everything my [Minions] known. I let them have free reign so long they are reasonable, but they also known to report me important stuff, like how some assassins tried to encroach upon Rena while we were sleeping.” Elizabeth said in an icy tone. “And the only reason you have that head upon your shoulders is that Rossie is finally recovering, all so that she can enjoy having a Father.”

Her tone had shifted, no longer her usual carefree tone. But closer to a cold frosty one, “Heed your Wife's warnings, Albert Singh.” Elizabeth said as shadows started moving around the room as each shadow dragon returned to Elizabeth’s shadow. “Let the [Dragon sleep]. Because if you wake up my [Wrath]...Even if [The World] wants to keep you alive…you will die.”

Albert Singh could only nod, his body refused to do anything else, for he was mere prey in front of a [Dragon].

“Happy that we have an understanding then. I will send a [Minion] to help you with some of your campaign problems as soon as I can.” Elizabeth said as the last of her minions returned to her, “As an apology for this small…outburst.”

Really, she was willing to ignore it, since most of her minions had been making sure all the Singh employees stayed away from them. But to hear such a blatant attempt to make her pick between Rossie and Rena?

Yeah, she could only imagine what kind of plot they would do if she had answered what they wanted her to pick. Why would she even pick only one? Picking between the options that got sent her way? Why would she settle for so little?

Elizabeth was the daughter of the [Father of Superpowers] and [The Mother of Magic]. She was [The Inheritor], she was Elizabeth Starbright. She wouldn’t settle for what they wanted for her.

No, she would get what she wanted. She would protect what was hers, and she would return home. If someone wanted to get in her way…She wouldn’t mind letting some of her pent-up frustration into them. Be it with a [Dragon Breath] or a [Railgun].