The Old Ones of Hogwarts

Chapter 224, Section 223: Blessings and the Creation of Legends

Chapter 224, Section 223: Blessings and the Creation of Legends

Say something.

The changes that occurred to the big bad wolf in the shadows were truly remarkable.

The once arrogant and domineering shadow creature, the gray wolf, was now struck dumb as if by a bolt from the blue. Its previously ferocious face instantly twisted in agony, its blood-red eyes widening in terror and disbelief. When it saw the raven that Ian had transformed into, its entire soul began to tremble, as if gripped tightly by an invisible, powerful force, and it collapsed to its knees inside the bottle.

It's hard to imagine a wolf kneeling on all fours. But from the wolf's perspective, how could it not slide to its knees at lightning speed? As a member of the Soul Palace, it recognized Ian's form almost instantly.

That was the ruler of the Soul Palace, the savior in the hearts of countless Soul Palace envoys—the Eternal Raven. And why would a human wizard possess such a form? Just contemplating the deeper meaning behind it made the Big Bad Wolf tremble uncontrollably.

Mortals cannot bear the weight of the gods.

In countless stories throughout history, there is only one possibility for a mortal to become a god: the mortal form is merely a disguise.

As a character in fairy tales and stories, the Big Bad Wolf felt that this situation was all too familiar. Some gods liked to transform into mortals to travel among humans. Thinking of this, the Big Bad Wolf's original arrogance completely vanished.

"Lord...Lord!" The wolf's spirit knelt in the bottle, its voice trembling with awe. Its eyes were filled with disbelief, as if it had seen something incredible.

"You...how did you get here? This...how is this possible?"

The wolf's voice carried a hint of despair and regret. It remembered the harsh words it had spoken to Ian, and a deep fear surged within it. Its entire soul swayed within the bottle as if it might collapse at any moment.

This guy is clearly not very brave. Well, if he really is the Big Bad Wolf who was tricked by Little Red Riding Hood, then that makes sense. Of course, although he's not human, the Big Bad Wolf's mind is definitely working faster than most people's right now.

Save yourself!

We must save ourselves!

"Lord, your trick on me was truly brilliant! You are truly worthy of me!" The big bad wolf's voice carried a hint of flattery as it began to frantically praise Ian, trying to improve Ian's opinion of it.

"I have received a lesson personally taught by you! I have deeply benefited from your guidance! It is a great honor for me to have you personally educate me in this way, and it also makes me feel very ashamed of my shortcomings!"

The big gray wolf looked at the raven that Ian had transformed into with pleading eyes, its tone filled with humility and obsequiousness, as if begging for Ian's forgiveness. However, due to the silencing spell Riddle had cast earlier, the big gray wolf's voice could not be heard. Its mouth opened and closed repeatedly, but Ian could not hear its "heartfelt words"; Ian outside could only see its mouth opening and closing.

The lip-reading skills that are only used by humans cannot be used on wolves. Of course, Ian doesn't need to hear what the big bad wolf is babbling about; he can guess roughly what it is.

For Ian

He was simply using this opportunity to verify some information.

"I was indeed connected to the Soul Palace."

Ian flapped his wings and circled in mid-air, his gaze settling on the large gray wolf inside the bottle. The wolf's extreme terror confirmed Ian's suspicions.

He recalled Merlin's earlier words—"You are the Raven"—and felt a mix of emotions. Now it seemed that Merlin was indeed somewhat right; perhaps he had really thrown one or two wrong punches out of the hundreds he had thrown at Merlin.

Ian still remembered the creature in the shadows. He had previously mentioned that Medivh was the Great Protector of the Soul Palace. Now, as he pondered it again, he felt increasingly strange. Why did he separate Medivh's identity from Raven's identity?

It is necessary to do so.

Or... is there some information about these two identities that I don't know about?

Thinking of this, the raven shook its head slightly.

Perhaps it was due to the Animagus magic, or perhaps it was the influence of the biological form he had taken, but Ian felt his "god-like" brain telling him not to overthink things and just to act recklessly.

He genuinely felt an urge to interrogate the entire world and find the answer... This was certainly not his true intention. It seemed that becoming a magical creature did indeed have side effects, and Ian could only hastily revert to his transformation.

All I saw was...

With a twist of his body, he transformed back into the handsome young wizard. Just then, Riddle's voice came from the side; he had already laid the unconscious Malfoy down and was looking towards Ian.

"Your Animagus form... is somewhat unexpected." Riddle had witnessed the entire transformation of Ian and knew what kind of magic it was, but he was somewhat disappointed with the raven that Ian had become.

"I had imagined your form would be more imposing, like... a magical serpent like Jormungandr." A fanatical glint flashed in Riddle's eyes at the mention of the magical serpent.

His lips curled up slightly, revealing a fascinated smile.

Clearly, the frail Riddle could not sense the immense power contained within Ian's raven body, and his love for snakes was ingrained in his very being, after all, Salazar Slytherin's blood flowed through his veins.

For the descendants of Slytherin, that special affinity for snakes seems innate. The influence of bloodlines in the magical world is so powerful that traces of powerful ancestors can be found at the genetic level.

of course.

Isn't this a form of existence similar to the "Dou Di bloodline"? At the genetic level, there will be many more imprints from powerful ancestors, and at the same time, descendants will also inherit a lot of the talents and blessings brought by powerful ancestors. Therefore, the concept of pure blood supremacy is not entirely wrong. Maintaining the purity of bloodline can indeed ensure that the decline of ancestral blessings is not too severe.

However, on the other hand, the wizards' research on genes and bloodlines was too backward, so they did not realize that genetic diversity could also create geniuses, the kind of geniuses who would become the ancestors of others without the blessing of their ancestors.

This is, to some extent, why many Muggle-born or half-blood wizards have been able to achieve great things.

"You really do have a thing for giants and basilisks." Ian couldn't help but find Riddle's words amusing. He didn't refute them, because he had already shown off to Riddle earlier that day.

The thrill of doing it twice in a row diminishes, so it's better to save it for later... if there's another chance to show off in front of Riddle.

"I need to study this thing properly." Ian didn't care about Riddle's opinion. He just shook the bottle containing the big gray wolf, preparing to get some information about the Soul Temple from this guy.

of course.

This requires finding a secluded room. After all, if the Big Bad Wolf were to reveal any sensitive information, Ian wouldn't want Riddle or any other outsiders to know. He knows all too well what he might do.

……

Night falls.

It did not bring the castle any gloom.

Instead, illuminated by countless candlelight, it radiated a warm and enchanting glow.

Ian, Riddle, and Malfoy originally thought they would continue to live quietly in the castle, but to their surprise, after pretending not to know of their existence for a whole day and night, the Duke suddenly announced that he would be hosting a banquet for his daughter's teacher.

Perhaps because the Big Bad Wolf failed to complete the mission, or perhaps because some secret intelligence had allowed Duke Roas of Dingtagil to learn that the mysterious existence of the Soul Palace had been captured by Ian, in any case, Duke Roas of Dingtagil stopped pretending that he knew nothing.

The banquet was also very grand.

The castle's main hall was lavishly decorated, with crystal chandeliers that shone like countless stars, each one appearing to be a priceless treasure, their brilliance enhanced by the glow of the burning candles. The banquet tables were laden with a variety of delicacies; although, as Ian had expected, the selection was not extensive, each dish was meticulously prepared with precious ingredients.

Steaming hot and emitting an enticing aroma, it must be said that for this land of Great Britain, known as a "culinary desert," this is an extremely lavish feast.

Several maids in black and white uniforms stood quietly to the side, ready to serve the guests at any time. It's a pity that certain maid gadgets haven't been invented yet, otherwise it might look even more pleasing to the eye.

"Sigh, having roasted lamb but no chili or cumin really feels like something's missing." Despite feeling a little sentimental, Ian slowly cut off a small piece of lamb and put it in his mouth to chew carefully.

She always maintained a polite smile on her face.

Duke Royas of Tintagil and his wife, Lady Igraine, were also dressed to the nines tonight. The Duke wore a deep red tuxedo embroidered with gold patterns, his expression solemn and dignified, yet his eyes held an undisguised joy. Lady Igraine wore a pale purple gown, elegant and noble, her gaze frequently falling on Ian, her eyes full of admiration and anticipation.

"Your Excellency Prince."

The Duke raised his glass, his voice loud and enthusiastic, "Welcome to my land, and thank you for your willingness to teach my daughter Morgan. I am overjoyed that she has finally found a true wizard, a powerful wizard."

As the saying goes, you can't hit someone who's smiling.

Ian smiled slightly, raised his glass in response, and swirled the cola he had secretly replaced in his glass as he spoke politely, "Your Grace is too kind. It is truly an honor for me to be able to teach Miss Morgan."

His voice was also loud and clear.

However, this statement clearly reflects a hidden drive for survival and vigilance.

The young wizard even used some of the magical tricks that professors in Hogwarts Great Hall use when they speak, to ensure that Morgan, who was sitting not far away, could hear him clearly and remember his words.

The young dark witch was dressed in a light blue dress today, her long dark hair cascading over her shoulders, looking obedient and elegant. She lowered her head slightly, holding a silver fork, and gently cut a small piece of cake, placing it in her mouth.

Morgan's demeanor was impeccable and elegant, not unlike the Morgan witch in Ian's memory, except that her elegance lacked a bit of casualness and had more of a deliberate quality, clearly because she was deliberately playing the role of a lady.

The acting skills of a bad woman.

Of course, he had been honed through countless trials since childhood. In comparison, Riddle, who was much older and in the form of Voldemort, actually had pretty good acting skills, after all, he was a bad man who could fool all the professors except Dumbledore.

He was dressed in a black tuxedo, holding a glass of red wine, which he swirled gently from time to time, like a true aristocrat.

Although he didn't speak, Riddle's gaze swept over the decorations in the hall, his eyes filled with the pleasure of his vanity being satisfied. Clearly, attending such a banquet was a very pleasant experience for him.

"Your Excellency Prince, you are clearly a wizard of extraordinary skill. I believe you can certainly train Morgan to be an excellent witch." Lady Igraine, whom I had seen earlier in the back garden, also raised her glass.

She looked at Ian's face with admiration in her eyes.

"Even without my guidance, Miss Morgan is destined for excellence." Ian spoke again, leaving no room for criticism. He noticed that the Duchess seemed to have a certain appreciation for his appearance in her eyes.

obviously.

This duchess is also a sucker for good looks. I wonder what she would think if she knew that Ian taught Morgan some dark magic on his first day, and even some unforgivable dark magic.

"Of course I believe our daughter will grow up to be very outstanding, but you can certainly make her even more outstanding." It was Duke Roas who spoke, and his praise of Ian was certainly not without reason and purpose.

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"Your Excellency Prince, I have a request that I hope you will consider." This revealed the reason why Duke Roas had carried Ian in a flowery sedan chair throughout the entire banquet, and Ian had clearly been waiting for this moment for a long time.

He knew, of course, that the other party had an ulterior motive.

after all.

Even if the Duke is very cunning, Ian is a spiritual master with the reputation of being a "natural mind-stealer". He can roughly understand that the Duke has some tricks up his sleeve by just sensing the Duke's emotions.

"Your Grace, please speak."

Ian gently put down the cutlery in his hand.

His gaze was calm.

The Duke took a deep breath and slowly spoke his thoughts after much deliberation, "Lord Prince, I wish you to reside permanently in my territory and become my personal wizard, whom I will honor."

"This will not only allow young Morgan to receive a better education, but also give me more confidence in these chaotic times... Of course, I will provide you with the best treatment, including a separate tower, generous compensation, and all the resources you need."

"You will be revered as a sage in my territory, possessing power second only to mine, and gaining the worship and faith of my people. I will also do my utmost to collect all kinds of magical books and secrets circulating in the world for you." The Duke revealed his purpose, but one could also hear the sincerity in his words. The conditions were extremely generous, and it was clear that he had taken into account the various privileges that King Uther had granted Merlin.

Well, how should I put it?

In a world where extraordinary beings exist, sometimes royal power does indeed have to bow to them. The existence of a wizard like Merlin is oppressive to every ambitious and powerful person. It is understandable that Duke Tintagil wants to have his own powerful wizard.

A powerful wizard is like a nuclear weapon.

This is why he was willing to pay such a high price.

"Forehead……"

Ian swallowed hard upon hearing the Duke's tempting offer, then gave an apologetic smile. "I am deeply moved by Your Excellency's sincerity, but I'm afraid I cannot accept this proposal. I have my own mission and journey, and I cannot stay in one place for long."

It's hard to say how much regret and inner turmoil the young wizard felt. It's also unclear whether a single thought of attraction crossed his mind. In any case, his demeanor showed that he had resisted the temptation that most men probably couldn't resist.

In this regard.

The Duke's face showed no disappointment, only regret. He nodded, as if he had expected it.

"Very well, since that's the case, I certainly can't force you to stay." The Duke looked at his wife. "However, I'm still willing to offer you my treasured possessions in exchange for a little help that may be insignificant to you."

He seemed to be settling for the next best thing.

"What kind of help?"

Ian did not refuse.

"My wife is pregnant again, and I hope you can name the child," the Duke said again, his smiling expression and doting gaze towards his wife somewhat unexpectedly.

So... Duke Roas, the one who suffered the most, actually knew about Lady Igraine's pregnancy!?

Morgan's father.

This duke... could he be a minotaur warrior living in the Green Grasslands?! Thinking of this, the little wizard's heart was in turmoil. He had never seen this version of the Arthurian origin story in even the wildest unofficial histories!

"Lord Prince?"

Seeing that Ian seemed stunned, the Duke called out to him in a low voice, pulling Ian back to reality from the shock that had gripped him for a whole year. The young wizard looked at the Duke with suspicion for several moments.

"Um, is there a problem?" The Duke felt a little uneasy under Ian's gaze and couldn't help but explain, "As you know, a blessing from a wizard like you is a rare and precious opportunity."

"Of course we don't want to miss out." There was nothing wrong with what he said. After all, in such an era, there was indeed such a special saying. The image of a powerful wizard was the same as that of the sorcerers in ancient Eastern countries. Ordinary people firmly believed that wizards had the ability to predict the future, avoid misfortune and bring good fortune, and bestow blessings upon others. Therefore, powerful wizards would also have names that included the word "blessing".

but.

Is this the key point?

Seeing that not only the Duke was looking at him with suspicion, but even Morgan and Morgan's mother were glancing at him sideways, Ian quickly cleared his mind of all his random thoughts, considered it for a moment, and then nodded.

"Okay, no problem."

He looked at Ms. Igraine's stomach.

"How about calling her Artoria?"

With everyone listening intently, the young wizard stroked his chin and spoke on a whim. He certainly didn't intend to rewrite history; he was just caught up in a mischievous urge and couldn't resist.

Ok.

This must be the lingering effects of turning into that damned raven!

That's not my true nature!

"Um... Your Excellency Prince, I believe my wife is carrying a boy, a fact confirmed by the other wizards I serve." The Duke was momentarily unsure whether to doubt Ian's abilities.

Or perhaps we should suspect that the wizards we worship have all made a mistake.

"Who says a boy can't be named Artoria?"

The young wizard blinked, and his somewhat matter-of-fact words made the Duke and Duchess Igleyn look rather strange. Even Morgan and Riddle, who was engrossed in his meal, couldn't help but hesitate to speak.

"Could we... perhaps choose a name that's less likely to cause misunderstandings?" Ms. Igraine finally couldn't help but ask, since no matter what, the child in her belly was definitely hers.

The thought of her son having to live with such a feminine name made her feel dizzy.

"Alright, alright, let me think about it. Let's call him Arthur. This name symbolizes courage and glory. This child will surely achieve extraordinary things in the future and leave a great reputation and achievements in the world." Ian gave the name with the "script," and spoke with natural confidence. His attitude made the Duke overjoyed, thinking that this was Ian's blessing. The Duchess also smiled broadly.

"Arthur... what a powerful name." The Duchess gently stroked her slightly protruding belly, a tender smile on her face. It was clear that she was very satisfied with Ian's name and the word "blessing".

"Okay! Let's call him Arthur!"

The Duke then burst into hearty laughter.

As the Duke finalized the name, Ian's mind suddenly jolted, as if something had been awakened. He closed his eyes and vaguely saw his legendary token, the image residing in his mind.

A sharp sword slowly emerged.

Just like.

It carries a... legend.

(End of this chapter)