The sun was just starting to rise when Elias finally pushed open the front doors of the Kuoh mansion.
He walked inside, holding a sleepy Illya gently by her hand.
"We are home,"
Elias announced cheerfully to the quiet house.
Hearing his voice, the younger members of the mansion quickly ran into the grand hallway.
When Elias stepped to the side, the group saw the little girl with white hair hiding nervously behind his leg.
"Don't be scared,"
Elias smiled, gently patting Illya's head.
"Everyone, this is Illya. She is going to live with us."
Asia stepped forward first. Her warm, green eyes were full of absolute kindness.
"Hello, Illya-chan,"
Asia said with her sweet, gentle voice.
"My name is Asia. Welcome to your new home. We are so happy you are here."
Koneko walked over quietly. She held out a small, colorful box of sweets.
"Do you like cookies?"
Koneko asked softly, offering her a treat.
"I can share."
Kunou, the little fox Yokai, wagged her golden tail with pure excitement.
"A new playmate!"
Kunou cheered happily.
"I am Kunou! We can explore the big garden together tomorrow!"
Even Gasper peeked his head out from behind a large vase, blushing shyly.
"H-Hello,"
Gasper stuttered.
"I am Gasper. If you like... we can play video games in my room."
Illya looked at the friendly faces surrounding her.
Her red eyes widened in wonder.
She was so used to the cold, empty halls of the Einzbern castle.
She had never been greeted with such simple, pure kindness before.
She slowly stepped out from behind Elias's leg.
She reached out and took a small cookie from Koneko's box.
A bright, beautiful smile bloomed on Illya's face.
"Thank you,"
Illya whispered happily.
Within just a few minutes, she completely fit right in.
The younger group of the house happily pulled her toward the living room to show her around, completely treating her like family.
Across the hallway, Sakura ran out of the guest room.
When she saw Rin standing safely by the door, she rushed forward and gave her a tight, desperate hug.
"Nee-san!"
Sakura smiled brightly, her eyes watering.
"You came back safely!"
Rin hugged her little sister back tightly, letting out a long, happy sigh.
The heavy burden of a mage was finally off her shoulders.
"I am home, Sakura,"
Rin said softly, brushing her sister's purple hair.
"You don't have to worry anymore."
Sakura pulled back and looked at Rin's tired but peaceful face.
"Is it really over?"
Sakura asked curiously.
"Did Elias win the Holy Grail?"
Rin crossed her arms. She let out a funny, completely defeated laugh.
"Well,"
Rin sighed, pointing a thumb at Elias, who was busy taking his shoes off.
"The war is completely over, but he didn't exactly win the Grail."
Sakura tilted her head, looking confused.
"What happened?"
Sakura asked.
"Did the Grail break?"
"No,"
Rin shook her head, still trying to process the absolute madness of the night.
"He didn't break it. He... he ate it."
Sakura blinked her big purple eyes.
She stared at Elias, and then looked back at Rin.
"He ate it...?"
Sakura repeated softly, not sure if she heard her correctly.
"Like... he ate the magical cup?"
"Yep,"
Rin nodded, rubbing her temples to fight off an incoming headache.
"It was full of corrupted, ancient evil magic. So, he just picked it up and swallowed the whole thing in one gulp. He absorbed the entire magical core of the war. There is no more Grail left, so there can never be another war again."
Sakura stood completely still for a moment.
She watched Elias walk into the living room, laughing as Kunou and Illya chased each other around the sofa.
Then, a soft, sweet giggle escaped Sakura's lips.
"Elias-san is amazing,"
Sakura smiled warmly, a deep feeling of safety filling her heart.
"He really can fix anything."
Rin looked at her new, loud, crazy family. She couldn't help but smile too.
"Yeah,"
Rin agreed quietly.
"He really can."
While the younger group was busy playing in the living room, footsteps echoed from the stairs.
Rias, Akeno, and Dee walked down to the hallway.
They had felt Elias's magical energy the second he returned.
"Welcome back, Elias,"
Rias smiled warmly. She walked up to him, wrapped her arms around his neck, and gave him a soft, loving kiss on the lips.
"We missed you, even though it was just one night away…"
Akeno added, stepping up right after Rias.
She leaned in and gave him a sweet, lingering kiss of her own.
"Did you have fun on your little trip?"
Elias smiled and hugged them both.
"Yup, absolutely."
Elias said.
Dee floated over, her endless dark eyes glowing with pure happiness.
She didn't say anything, but she gently kissed his cheek, making him feel a deep, comforting warmth.
"So, how was the big, scary Holy Grail War?"
Rias asked, crossing her arms playfully.
"Did they give you a hard time?"
"Not at all,"
Elias answered simply.
"It was actually super easy. Everyone was too scared to fight me directly. I just had to copy a few moves, save Illya, and eat the Grail. The war is completely over."
Rias and Akeno blinked.
"Wait... you ate it?"
Akeno asked, covering her mouth with a giggle.
"You really do eat everything, don't you?"
Elias chuckled, but then his face turned a bit more serious. He looked down at the pale, beautiful girl in the black dress.
"Actually, Dee, I wanted to ask you about something,"
Elias said softly.
"Something happened to me when I killed that old monster, Zouken. My connection to you changed."
Dee tilted her head, a knowing, playful smile on her lips.
"Show them, Eli,"
Dee whispered.
Elias closed his eyes for a second.
When he opened them, they were no longer just dark.
A faint, glowing blue-and-red pattern filled his pupils.
He activated the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception.
The moment he opened his eyes, the entire temperature in the hallway seemed to drop below freezing.
Rias gasped and took a step back, wrapping her arms around herself.
Akeno's playful smile completely vanished.
Even Rin and Sakura felt a sudden, terrifying chill run straight to their souls.
It was the ultimate, primal fear of mortality.
Just by looking at his eyes, they felt like their lives could end at any second.
"Elias..."
Rias whispered, shivering.
"Your eyes... They feel so incredibly cold. It feels like... like the end of the world."
But Dee did not shiver. She did not feel cold or scared at all.
Instead, she stepped closer to Elias and reached up, gently touching his cheek with her pale hand.
She looked into his terrifying eyes and saw only beauty.
"To me, they feel perfectly warm,"
Dee smiled happily.
Elias looked at her, seeing the dark lines of death on everything in the room—except for Dee.
She had no lines. She was the only thing in the world that could not break.
"What happened to us, Dee?"
Elias asked gently.
"This is more than just borrowing your power, isn't it?"
Dee nodded her head. Her dark eyes sparkled with pure affection.
"Yes,"
Dee answered softly.
"Our existences are getting much closer, Eli. You pulled me out of the dark, and I gave you my vision. I left my mark on your eyes, and you left your mark right here on my heart."
She rested her hand over her own chest, feeling the warmth he had given her.
"This is completely beyond a simple blessing now,"
Dee explained, her voice full of deep emotion.
"We are bound together. Your soul and my concept are becoming one."
Dee giggled softly, a sweet, musical sound that broke the heavy tension in the room.
"You know how human wedding vows say, 'Till death do us part'?"
Dee smiled playfully, wrapping her small arms around his waist.
"Well, that rule does not work for us. Death could not do us part, hehe."
Time flew by peacefully after that long night.
The magical world stayed completely quiet.
The powerful mages at the Clock Tower in London did absolutely nothing.
They did not send anyone to investigate, and they did not try to rebuild the Holy Grail.
They were far too terrified of Elias and the dark entity attached to him.
Because the magical core of the war was completely gone, the Servants could not stay in the human world forever.
Eventually, it was time to say goodbye.
In the backyard of the mansion, Archer stood with Rin.
He smiled softly, giving his proud Master one final nod before his body turned into glowing golden dust, returning to the Throne of Heroes.
Nearby, the giant Berserker knelt down on the grass.
Illya stepped forward and hugged his massive arm.
She wasn't crying this time.
"Thank you for protecting me, Berserker,"
Illya whispered with a bright, happy smile.
"You can rest now. I am completely safe here."
The giant monster let out a low, gentle rumble.
He patted her white hair with his huge stone hand, and then he too faded away into golden light.
Only one Servant remained.
Scathach stood perfectly still under a large tree, holding her red spear.
She closed her eyes, waiting to be sent back to the dark, endless loneliness of the Shadow Realm.
But she didn't fade away.
Dee had promised her true death one day. There was no need to go back.
A few weeks later, Elias was chilling comfortably on the living room sofa.
He was wearing casual clothes, eating a bowl of chips, and watching a cartoon on the TV with Kunou and Illya.
Everything felt completely normal.
Suddenly, a bright, glowing pink magic circle appeared right in the middle of the coffee table.
"Elias-chan!"
A cheerful, very loud voice echoed from the magical circle.
It was Serafall Leviathan, one of the great Devil Kings.
Elias paused his cartoon and leaned forward.
"Hey, Serafall,"
Elias smiled.
"What is going on? You sound very excited."
"I am excited, but it is also very serious!"
Serafall said, her voice turning a little more professional.
"The big Peace Treaty is finalized. It is going to be massive."
Elias raised an eyebrow and put his chips down.
"How big?"
Serafall explained quickly.
"Because of everything that has happened recently, other pantheons are joining the meeting as well!"
Elias let out a low whistle.
There were a lot of powerful people in one room.
"This treaty will change the entire supernatural world,"
Serafall continued softly.
"And because of that. You need to be completely prepared, Elias. This is not going to be a simple meeting."
Elias leaned back on the sofa and sighed.
His relaxing days were already over.
"Alright,"
Elias nodded calmly.
"What do I need to do?"
"Don't worry about anything!"
Serafall cheered, her bubbly energy returning instantly.
"I am coming to the human world right now! I will be at the Kuoh mansion soon to help you get ready. We need to get you a proper suit, go over the rules, and make sure you look like the absolute boss you are!"
Elias chuckled and shook his head.
"Okay. I will see you when you get here."
The pink magic circle vanished.
Elias looked around the loud, happy living room.
He had a big family to protect now.
If the gods and faction leaders wanted to meet him, he was ready to face them all.
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