A.N.: To those who had read the previous chapter within one hour of its posting:
If you see some repeated content (3-4 paragraphs) in this chapter, just know that it was edited out of end last chapter and added here for a better rhythm. There is no change.
Those who read after one hour, you're good to go.
Enjoy
.....
Lucas stood alone in the training room, doing warm-up stretches.
Last night, when he was desperate, he had entered a state in which he could temporarily boost his body and mind using his magic.
Not only that, but it had also increased instantaneous magic absorption and control limit.
For example, he can't fuse 7 absorbed bombards together without blowing himself up right now.
He also should not be able to absorb even a little bit of obscurus magic.
This must be why, he was so heavily exhausted afterwards, with his head and all of his muscles aching, that he could keep himself up to reach home through pepper up potions.
It is only now that he is feeling slightly less exhausted that he's going to give it a shot again.
He concentrated, trying to bring out the same energy again, but failed miserably.
After trying for a while, Lucas realized something.
This was a kind of magic as well. So, all the rules of casting magic should be followed.
He first visualized the magic, imagining feeling the power throughout his body and his mind, making his thoughts sharper and his body light, faster, and stronger.
He then gathered his will and tried to manifest it.
This time he felt like there was something, but he was not sure.
Now, he added desperation and repeated the process. This time, the magic, that always seems to be in a mysterious location, shifted, making its presence known.
But there was still not much change. His mind was too rational and cold to fully generate emotions.
So, Lucas only focused on using the magic for his fingers.
This time, it finally manifested, lighting up the magical pathways in his finger.
It was very weak, but it shows that he has made another major improvement.
No ordinary wizard can use any form of magic without a wand. It usually only happens with underage kids when they experience extreme emotions.
The fact that Lucas could do it on demand means that... with practice he should be able to completely recreate last night's effects.
…..
Later that night.
"Vivienne? Vivienne…? I need a massage."
Apolline was in her bedroom, calling for Miss Fontain.
But the one who showed up was actually Lucas.
"Miss Fontain has already gone to bed, Madame."
Apolline was startled to see him instead of the head maid. After all, she was currently lying flat in her stomach, wearing a translucent nightgown that only reached her thighs, ready for a massage.
But she controlled her expression and nodded.
"Fine then, you can leave. Close the door behind you as well."
"Madame, I have learnt massage from Miss Fontain. I have also researched extensively on muscle therapy."
"How about, I help you with the massage?"
Apolline seemed to hesitate before shaking her head. "No need."
But hearing that, Lucas lowered his head, staying a few seconds longer.
"Madame, could you tell me why you want to adopt me? You clearly don't seem to like me very much."
Apolline had to force herself to be awake when she heard this.
Lucas's meaning was clear: You won't even accept a massage from me, and you want me to be your adopted child.
Now that he had put it this way, Apolline could not say things like the difference between men and women.
It was to be noted that Apolline still thinks Lucas is on lust suppressing potions.
"Fine, just the shoulders then," she relented, laying down again.
Up close, it was impossible not to notice how beautiful she was — not in the fragile, decorative way people usually meant, but in something sharper.
Her posture remained strict and graceful in this situation. Her long pale neck exposed, dark silver hair gathered loosely at the nape. A few strands had escaped during the day and now brushed the line of her jaw.
Her slightly translucent light gown undulated over the curve of her back, ending over the middle of her milky-white toned thighs.
As Lucas approached, a hint of unease settled between her eyebrows as she seemed to realize what she agreed for.
"Make sure your hands are clean."
'What do you take me for?'
Lucas was glad to have rejected her in the morning. This woman was only pretending. Even though he has become powerful, deep inside, she still despises him, merely seeing him as a tool.
Actually, this was one of the reasons why Lucas volunteered. He wanted to probe Apolline's attitude towards him.
'Do you still hate your husband, or me? Or both?'
Lucas drew his blackthorn wand and made a show of sanitizing his hands which were already clean.
Taking the essential oil in his hands, Lucas slowly rubbed his hands together.
He placed his hands gently on her shoulders, letting them rest there for a moment before applying pressure.
It wasn't hesitation — it was permission. He waited for the faint shift of her breathing before he began.
Apolline's skin was soft, smooth and warm to the touch, ideal for any skincare product commercial.
The muscles beneath his palms were tight. Not rigid, but overworked. The kind of tension that came from hours of standing, walking, negotiating, and refusing to show weakness.
Lucas knew what to do.
He pressed slowly, thumbs working inward from the outer edge of her shoulders, careful not to rush.
But that was not all. A very light magic flowed into Apolline's skin through his hands.
Apolline exhaled through her nose — quietly, but he felt it all the same.
"Did I apply too much force?" Lucas asked deliberately.
"No," she replied. "Continue."
Lucas allowed himself a smile. This was the temporary-enhancement magic he had unlocked just today.
Although he hasn't been able to use it to his previous level, but just a little bit is enough for this case.
Lucas is not sure about the healing effect, but it definitely gives a very light temporary boost to the affected areas, alleviating Apolline's fatigue.
After massaging for a few minutes, Lucas moved his fingers to her trapezius area.
This was the muscle between her back, neck, and shoulder so it should already be out of the 'just the shoulder' massage Apolline agreed to.
"Does it hurt here?" He asked, pressing a few points and injecting his magic.
Apolline let out a breath that had a slight moan mixed in. "...Yes."
"I figured it would be so," said Lucas, his tone formal.
"Miss Fontain said this place is especially painful for women who are well endowed in the right places, yet thin in other places," he said while he massaged.
Basically, big breasted women.
"It doesn't… hurt that much," said Apolline modestly, but her voice was filled with relief.
In the end, Lucas ended up massaging her neck, back, ankles and calves as well before Apolline managed muster enough willpower to stop him.
Apolline had a healthy sheen of sweat on her body and she seemed to have melted into her bed, her body devoid of any bones.
Her brows, which are also furrowed, were completely relaxed and she had a thoroughly satisfied expression on her face.
"Thanks, Lucas. How did you learn to do this?"
"I have read too many books to relieve my exercise fatigue. So, I ended up developing a few new tricks. Let me know if you want a massage again."
But Apolline was already asleep.
Lucas smiled. This should be considered one step closer.
What he actually wants is for Apolline to listen to all of his commands, so that he can actually enter the game, develop his own power base, and dismantle the death eater faction.
But Apolline is very opinionated and supercilious, and she has already established an opinion of him in her mind.
It is difficult to make this woman listen to him with ordinary means.
To conquer her mind, you have to conquer her body first.
….
One month later.
Lucas sat in the common area of the Beauxbatons carriage that was headed for Hogwarts.
Yep, he had managed to be a part of the delegation. But it was not as easy as he had expected.
After the World Cup final night, too many high ranking ministry bigwits were offended, openly creating big or small problems for the veela community.
So, Apolline's connections aren't as strong as they used to be.
With most of the spots already taken through connections and various bigwits making calls for the rest, his personal skill no longer mattered.
The dueling instructor, the Quidditch coach, and even the chess club leader all said he was not good enough without checking his skills.
But, there is also supposed to be an Outing Activity, for which various survival skills and knowledge were tested.
Lucas won this one fair and square and finally made it here.
"If you don't do it, I will do it for you," said Fleur, who was sitting across from him.
Lucas sighed. "How many times have I told you? It will be too troublesome if I actually get selected. Both, for me and you."
But a sharp noise sounded from the table before he could finish.
"Fleur! Let us play," Gabreille whined, sitting adjacent her, holding magical cards. She was playing Exploding Snap with Lucas.
Two more girls held similar cards, also sitting at the table. They were Ilana and Sabrine, who had dyed their hair black and brown again.
"But didn't you say the Goblet wouldn't choose you? Then what's wrong with trying." Fleur continued, ignoring Gabrielle.
She had dropped the matter for the past month but now that the time was here, she was adamant.
"Oh please. If Lucas is not chosen, then it would only mean that the Goblet is not as fair as it is touted," said Ilona, playing her card.
"But I still don't understand why you don't want it," said Sabrine, studying Lucas with a calculating gaze.
Yeah, these two Veela friends of Fleur, whom Lucas had met at the Quidditch World Cup final and fought against the Death Eaters, were actually Beauxbatons students.
He was surprised at first, but he at least knew where their surprising mastery at spells came from.
Only veelas with who can control their allure can attend Hogwarts disguised as ordinary witches, since wizarding families fear letting too many veelas learn magic.
Unlike Fleur and Gabrielle, whose allure is impossible to fully control due to their Royal Veela bloodline, Illana and Sabrine could actually control their allure by 13.
This had allowed them to be transferred to Beauxbatons as ordinary homeschooled witches using connections, just like Lucas.
Now in their seventh year, they were already top 10 in the grade for everything, needing no connections for their Tri-wizard participation.
"The tournament would just waste too much time," Lucas sighed. "And besides, you should know why I won't be of much help, Fleur."
He had different priorities right now.
Getting close to his mother, building connections, a backup hideout, opening a few businesses, heck, even entering Ariana's inner circle, if there was one.
He had made plans for achieving all of this, and more, but it would take a lot of time. If he participates in Tri-wizard then most of his time would be spent in the preparation for the three tasks.
Not to mention that he cannot expose his unique abilities, which makes him completely lose his competitive edge compared to other competitors who have a 7 year advantage over him.
"I don't need you to do much. Just not being Alec is enough," Fleur murmured.
Lucas sighed. "Have the rewards been announced yet?"
If the benefits were enough, he could think about it.
"Not yet. Maybe at the Hogwarts feast, or later."
…..
"Attention students, kindly prepare yourself. We are about to reach our destination."
"Attention students…"
With the announcements underway, everyone began to get ready and take one final sweep of the place.
Lucas put down his card and made his way over to the boys section.
???
But he found that the trunk had been emptied, its contents scattered across the floor.
His 4 roommates were quietly gathering their own things, casting him apologetic glances.
Lucas didn't need to guess who it was.
Alec Rosier emerged from the adjacent room with his goons, casually glancing inside at Lucas's room. "I'm surprised there are no brassieres and make-up items."
Yes, it was this guy. He has been targeting Lucas since his day 1 at Beauxbatons. But previously, it was only limited to verbal assaults and minor inconveniences.
Since Beauxbatons really cares about its image, any problematic students were removed from the list of the Delegation members, thus restraining Alec.
As the head boy brushed past Lucas, his steps slowed down. "You know, since I'm already here. There is no one who can save you, right?"
To this Lucas simply closed the door to his room, locking out his roommates and… smiled. And it was a very happy smile.
A fist landed smack dab in the middle of Alec's guts, lifting him off the floor.
"You know what, Rosier?" Lucas said brightly as Alec hunched over the ground, coughing up bile. "I have been waiting as well."
….
Soon, Madame Olympe Maxime sat in a chair in front of the gathered student. Since her height was almost 12 feet, she was still significantly taller despite sitting.
"Alright students, this is it. It's time for the final moment. Do not embarrass yourself and your school in front of everyone."
With that their carriage tilted slightly as the abraxan horses started to descend. Through the windows, Lucas got his first glimpse of a magnificent castle, perched atop a large expanse of a hill side.
Its towers reached the sky, high enough to make one doubt if this was really constructed in the tenth century.
Below it spread a large body of water, dark and glassy, curving along the base of the cliff. From the air, its surface reflected the castle's silhouette, broken only by the boathouse and the narrow path leading up toward the grounds.
Beyond the castle stretch the lawns and courtyards, trimmed but imperfect, fading into a dense, uneven mass of green so thick it looks almost black from above.
Beauxbatons was more beautiful, and more luxurious and elegant than this place.
But Hogwarts just hit different.
He didn't have the memories of watching Beauxbatons on the tv with his mother and being amazed, nor did he have his mother read stories about it, making him wish he was there.
With a lurch, the huge carriage landed on the ground, and the giant majestic white horse pulling the carriage gradually came to a stop at the Hogwarts grounds.
The Beauxbatons students gracefully alight the carriage, their uniforms neat and sharp.
Fleur and her fellow seventh year girls were the first ones out, creating a very strong impression.
While standing in line, Lucas could already hear the sound of gasps and low murmurs from the Hogwarts students.
Yeah, Fleur does tend to have that effect on people.
When it was finally Lucas's turn, he saw Principal Maxime bend down to chat with who could only be Ariana Dumbledore.
This was the first time Lucas actually had the chance to see this legendary figure properly in person.
She was an ageless beauty, with her long, pure white hair swept back smooth, icy blue eyes like Albus's, and half-moon glasses that made her gaze feel both kind and inescapable.
In white robes that fell like light made cloth, she looked… sacred… inviolable—too composed, too luminous to measure by years.
Behind her, Lucas saw Hogwarts, finding it much, much more massive compared to the movies.
Lucas took in a deep breath, finding the air especially fresh and dense with magic.
"I am finally here."
….
Give me the powerstones whenever you get them guys.
Merry Christmas 🎄 🎁