MMB Chapter 176, page 175: Hogwarts, the Last Fairy Tale
Chapter 176, page 175: Hogwarts, the Last Fairy Tale
Chapter 176, page 175: Hogwarts, the Last Fairy Tale
As the saying goes, "One should not rest until one's words are startling."
Morgan the witch's words exploded in the young wizard's mind like a muffled bell.
His gaze gradually shifted from surprise to disbelief and uncertainty.
"You mean the skeleton that made that contract with me was actually a god?" Ian's incredulous voice was filled with an indescribable shock.
He thought his imagination was wild enough. He thought the black-robed skeleton might be a legend, but who would have thought that the truth was sometimes even more bizarre and absurd than imagined!
"What else could it be? Have you ever seen your teacher casually strolling around the human world? Even I can't do that, so do you think other legends can break through the boundary between life and death?"
Morgan gave a cold laugh.
What she said did seem to make some sense.
"Indeed, I've been cooking it for so long, and it doesn't have osteoporosis. It doesn't look like normal human bone at all." Ian always manages to find arguments that leave people speechless.
Even Morgan was at a loss for words. To be honest, she couldn't even imagine what Ian would do with human bone broth; even the most evil dark wizard she knew wouldn't be interested in that.
"The contract between you is for ten thousand years, right?" Morgan chose to change the subject.
She didn't learn much from Ariana's "unstable" messages.
They only knew roughly what kind of accident Ian had encountered.
Yes, an accident.
The fact that Ian was able to snatch someone from the clutches of death and return so quickly exceeded the legendary witch's predictions, and at the same time, it allowed her to clearly perceive two pieces of information.
one.
This little wizard wielded more power than she had imagined.
Secondly.
Death was likely weaker than she had anticipated. This corroborated another piece of information, since the more the little wizard possessed, the more Death had lost in the first place.
"Yes, at least that skeleton said the contract was for ten thousand years—didn't I ask you to help analyze that too?" Ian thought the witch might be starting to suffer from amnesia.
"I wasn't involved, nor was I a witness. It's already quite an achievement that I was able to analyze whether there were any pitfalls in the contract. Do you really expect me to know everything?"
The witch chuckled without any modesty.
The young wizard dared not refute.
"It's good that I know it won't do me any harm. My only worry is running into another Slytherin." His relieved expression made the witch sneer again.
"I still advise you not to laugh too soon." Morgan's voice carried a hint of mockery. "You know, a god doesn't let others take advantage of him for no reason."
"The contract between us, no matter how dire their circumstances, can only be a mutually equal contract with you. I think you should understand what that means."
They didn't even give the little wizard time to respond.
Morgan continued unhurriedly, "This means your deal is an equal exchange: you give ten thousand years, and what do you need to give in return?"
This posed a question to the young wizard.
"Give it love?"
Ian thought of the words the black-robed skeleton would continue to murmur even as it was being boiled into soup. Of course, he also knew that the legendary witch's meaning was certainly not so vague.
He simply couldn't figure out the real answer himself, so he pinned his hopes on Morgan to provide it. At the very least, pretending to be stupid would be a great thing if he could get a hint.
"This is just part of your contract."
Morgan glanced at the young wizard beside her. How could she not guess what the young wizard was thinking? She just didn't say anything. "The real price is hidden beneath this contract."
"He escaped Death's imprisonment with your help, and naturally he should pay a corresponding reward. However, in my opinion, this reward is definitely not worth ten thousand years of loyalty."
"That's why, perhaps—I mean possibly—the contract also includes the clause that you need to avenge him."
Or perhaps it was revenge for a civilization he had once sheltered.
Morgan shared his opinion.
Although it's just speculation.
But her tone still carried a sense of certainty.
"Forget it, if you can't even beat Death, do you expect me to take on Death?" Ian always knew his limits, so he never provoked trouble that he was unlikely to be able to handle.
only.
"Death only takes over anything that 'dies.' Who says the disaster that destroyed him and his civilization is Death?" Morgan's answer, full of profound meaning, was somewhat unexpected.
"If it's not Death, then what is it?"
Ian was quite strange.
"Ha, if I knew that, I wouldn't still be just a legend—it's a mystery you have to find for yourself. All I know is that the gods have disappeared in large numbers."
"Everyone is guessing that they are dead, as for the cause of death—... perhaps Merlin knows. If you can find the area where he is hiding, perhaps you can go and ask him."
Morgan spread out his long, slender hands, indicating that he was unable to help.
"The truth that only Merlin knew?"
Ian was also quite curious about the reason why the gods had disappeared and stopped appearing.
"Of course, although I don't like him very much, I still have to admit that he is bolder than any of us, and he has embarked on the path of seeking the gods."
"Unfortunately, it's clear that the wizards' faith didn't help him succeed. As for where he is now, I guess he's still somewhere within the illusionary realm."
"There is no greater obsession than failing to become a god." Morgan was still speculating.
For the first time, her tone betrayed a lack of confidence.
"Hiss, wanting to become a god—that's bolder than me." Ian exclaimed in genuine amazement at Merlin, while the legendary witch merely gave him a strange look.
"I think wanting to replace the Creator, that's real audacity," she remarked inexplicably, then continued without giving Ian time to think.
"If you want to find the answer, then use your special skills to dig three feet into the ground and find the hiding guy." The legendary black witch's voice had a cowardly tone to it no matter how you looked at it.
"I know where King Arthur's grave is. Maybe we can find information about Merlin inside?" Ian got excited as soon as he mentioned it, not needing to be intimidated. Ever since he got an address from Nick Flamel, the young wizard had been diligently researching how to improve the Corpse Control Charm, which could only control the body.
He firmly believed that there must be a magic that could pull out the soul of the original owner by using the bones, but he had not yet found it, nor had he figured out what kind of operation it would be.
Perhaps Voldemort's methods of resurrection can provide some insights.
"Hmm? Arthur's grave?"
Morgan paused slightly upon hearing this.
next moment.
Her gaze towards the young wizard turned dangerous. "You know, so why aren't you digging? What are you waiting for? You love digging graves so much, do you actually respect this legendary king?"
Good guy.
There is no such thing as kinship.
This is definitely a question that could kill you.
"Of course not, I just felt I should be more prepared. Look, I've got all my tools ready."
"Just waiting for everything to be ready, then I'll go on an adventure with my good friend Pandro."
Ian quickly showed off the tomb raiding suit he had obtained from Nick Flamel and promptly revealed his plan, leaving the eccentric teacher only momentarily stunned.
immediately.
The legendary black witch's gaze immediately softened again.
There was even a touch more affection.
"Very good! That's excellent! You truly deserve to be my favorite apprentice!" Morgan even reached out and patted Ian's head, his tone filled with a sense of satisfaction that Ian had surpassed his master.
really.
I'm not really a dark wizard.
The textbook template of the dark wizard in front of me proves this point.
"So, teacher, can you tell me now what the identity and background of the skeleton—that god—who made the contract with me?"
The little wizard also knows how to seize opportunities.
While the witch was in a good mood.
He immediately asked the most crucial question, the one most likely to be rejected—Morgan was in a good mood at the moment and did not choose to continue being a riddle-maker.
"Look at the sky, little one, I told you, it's that sun." Morgan stood on the steps outside the palace hall and looked up at the sky again. In the azure sky, a golden sun hung high, like a benevolent giant, generously showering down its warm and bright light.
That golden light not only illuminated the earth, but also gave life and vitality to all things.
"When I found that skeleton, there was a similar sun in the sky, but it was blood red," Ian recalled his experiences at the mysterious tower.
An entire country.
They were all plunged into a bewildering illusion... Now it seems that the immersion wasn't limited to just that country.
"This place, and the place you encountered there, actually all come from the same place, the same civilization—." Morgan had previously learned about Ian's experiences in the tower through Ariana's messages.
She wasn't surprised by this.
It's obvious they already knew some information.
"Many of the fairy tales you are familiar with come from this era and this civilization. Its influence can even extend into my own time."
Morgan began to explain in detail.
"I know the answer to this question: Snow White and My Beautiful and Wicked Senior Sister."
The little wizard chose to answer first.
"Yes, that's right. So for now, we can tentatively call this civilization 'Fairy Tale Civilization,' since nobody knows its official name."
"If I had been able to take a closer look at the small country where your senior sister lived back then, perhaps I could have learned more about this civilization. However, I was preoccupied with other things."
Morgan's tone carried a hint of regret, as well as some information he was unwilling to reveal.
The young wizard didn't intend to ask.
All he wants now is to figure out what's going on with the black-robed skeleton.
"Since Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and the Little Mermaid all live in this civilization, it must be very glorious. The gods who can protect and nourish this civilization must not be nameless beings, right?"
Ian tried to inquire about the detailed identity of the black-robed skeleton.
His teacher did not disappoint him.
How much do you know about Celtic mythology?
Morgan's question was clearly very informative.
"Um—not too many."
Ian, on the other hand, was caught in a blind spot in his knowledge. There were very few records of such myths in the Hogwarts library, and he had not made the connection before.
"Then go back and learn more about it. The god that's entangled with you comes from it." Morgan wasn't surprised, after all, she had studied the current magical world through Ian.
"The Goddess of the Sun?"
Ian seemed to be deep in thought.
Upon hearing this...
Morgan nodded slightly.
He actually conjured a book out of thin air and handed it to Ian. "????"
The young wizard looked somewhat bewildered.
"Have you forgotten how to study?"
Morgan's eyes held a hint of mockery.
"Well, okay." Ian sighed helplessly, took the book from Morgan, and began to cram for knowledge on the spot. He did find the information he was looking for in this book, "The Record of Celtic Mythology".
In Celtic mythology, there was indeed a sun goddess named Orwin. Her name means "golden wheel," symbolizing the radiance of the sun.
Legend has it that wherever Alwin went, four white clover blossoms would bloom with every step she took, hence her nickname "White Footprints".
This goddess emerges from the darkness, scattering spring blossoms across the earth with her footsteps, awakening new life from the death of winter. Her golden wheel unites heaven and earth, and her golden, flame-colored cloak touches the sky. The plant associated with Orwin is the hawthorn tree, symbolizing magical wisdom, fertility, and—immortality.
"No wonder it told me it couldn't die."
Ian finally had his long-standing doubts resolved. Perhaps the black-robed skeleton had truly forgotten his own identity, but clearly he had not forgotten the authority he possessed.
Just as the young wizard had learned about the sun goddess and wanted to learn more about Celtic mythology...
"Come back with me first, you have plenty of time." The witch Morgan suddenly glanced into the distance.
Without warning, she grabbed the little wizard's arm with her long, slender, fair hand.
"Sizzle~"
A portal suddenly appeared in front of the two of them.
"But I still have the bounty to collect."
Ian turned back, still somewhat unwilling to give up. In the hall, the king and queen, frozen in time, remained in the same pose as before. He was very curious about the reward that the couple would give him.
"I can freeze this place, can't you see the meaning behind it?" Morgan said helplessly, but found that the little wizard's gaze was still wary of what was behind him.
"This is just the past, which has been determined from beginning to end and directly erased from reality. You can't change anything, nor can you participate in it or gain anything."
Morgan's words extinguished Ian's desire for the bounty.
But that didn't extinguish Ian's curiosity.
"They are all very interactive people."
Ian thought about his interactions with the king and others.
"Like I said, this is how it was supposed to happen." Morgan dragged Ian toward the portal, her gaze repeatedly drifting into the distance.
"But I haven't seen Sleeping Beauty yet!" Ian was still unwilling to give up. He had been curious about what Sleeping Beauty looked like for a long time, and it felt like a hundred cat claws were scratching at his heart.
This desire was incredibly strong.
They've become so intense that the cause is now unknown.
"Sweetie, when we get back I'll conjure up a fairy tale book for you, and the book will tell you the beginning and the end of this story." Morgan realized he couldn't move Ian, so he could only coax him like a child.
Ian wanted to ask, "Can a storybook be the same as seeing it with my own eyes? Can he poke Sleeping Beauty's nostrils in a storybook?" But when he realized Morgan was getting increasingly forceful, he could only settle for second best.
"Can you teach me how to stop this echo from the past?" Ian figured since he couldn't see Sleeping Beauty anyway, he had to learn something useful to make up for his loss.
after all.
This is the second time this has happened.
No one can say for sure whether he will encounter a similar situation in the future.
"It's very simple, of course, provided that the things involved in the response cannot exceed your own power, otherwise it will cause extremely dangerous consequences."
Morgan made a rare choice to compromise.
She led Ian through the portal she had opened.
The two returned to the familiar castle.
And just as they disappeared into the "story," a story where everything was unchangeable and the ending was already predetermined, it began to flow again.
The wizard who arrived "riding the raging wind" has disappeared.
The story, though "interfered with," continues without any abrupt changes or shifts; the "plot" seems to have simply been "replayed" to an earlier point in time.
"Is this the wizard who descended amidst a raging storm and the 'Roar of the Sky'?"
"That's a good title."
"Welcome to my kingdom, esteemed wizard."
"I'm here because of the bounty."
"By the way, what about that black witch? Does she live nearby? I'll go see if I can capture her for research."
Of course, it would be best if I could also get the addresses of the other twelve witches.
"It's all to save your daughter, Your Majesty. Don't worry, leave it to me. There won't be any hidden dangers," Ian said eagerly.
"I am the sage of the forest, the philosopher of the valley, the hermit of the misty city, the apostle of light who is irreconcilably opposed to the black wizard. Why does Your Majesty slander my innocence like this?"
Everything seemed to be playing out again.
but.
The figure of the little wizard.
It was replaced by a raven that flew in from the horizon—it was there, saying the same things, doing the same things, and even using the same tone of voice.
"This—esteemed wizard, if we need your help, what price will we have to pay?" The king was continuing a past that Ian could no longer know.
"Your lost daughter has been speaking to me in my territory for thousands of years. She made a promise with me, so she has already paid the price she deserved—."
The raven is talking.
The king and queen looked worried.
"Can we find out what the agreement is?"
The queen spoke cautiously.
Do you know Hogwarts?
.
The raven, however, gave an irrelevant answer.
Under the bewildered gazes of the King and Queen.
It spoke softly.
That will be the last fairy tale—and also my new beginning.
This is something that happened long ago.
And at the end of the story.
The prince never came.
There was only one raven that had come as promised.