The Old Ones of Hogwarts

Chapter 228, Section 227: The Mirror of Erised and Morgan

Dark as ink.

Thick clouds obscured the bright moonlight that should have been shining.

Only a few unusually bright stars were still twinkling in the sky.

The castle towers looked particularly lonely in the darkness, and the vines on the stone walls swayed gently in the night breeze, making a soft rustling sound, as if something was happening outside.

It's really creepy.

Ian's bedroom was located high up in the castle. The room, arranged by Morgan, was spacious and rustic, with several old oil paintings on the walls depicting elegant landscapes.

In the center of the room, where there should have been a heavy oak desk, Ian had moved it to another place and replaced it with a mirror that was even taller than him.

That's the Mirror of Eris.

The room was so quiet it felt almost oppressive.

There was only Ian's soft breathing and the occasional crisp sound of papers turning over.

Before him stood the mysterious Mirror of Erised, emitting an indescribable glow. Candles burned on the candlesticks above the room, casting flickering shadows in the dim light. Ian did not light any lamps, but instead sat cross-legged in front of the Mirror of Erised by the candlelight.

"Hey, what's going on?"

Ian had already begun to seek help from the alchemy books in his collection, which showed that he was indeed encountering some difficulties. His brows were slightly furrowed, and his gaze would occasionally be intently fixed on the Mirror of Eris in front of him.

Under the young wizard's magic, intricate hidden runes appeared on the frame of the magic mirror, each line seemingly containing some mysterious power. The mirror's surface was as smooth as water, reflecting Ian's figure, but his reflection appeared somewhat blurry, as if shrouded in an invisible mist.

Others cannot see what is being seen; only Ian knows what he is seeing. This is the characteristic of the Mirror of Erised, which is only meant to reveal the desires of the person looking into it.

It is now late at night.

But the little wizard couldn't sleep.

"I've been studying this for hours, and I still don't have a clue..." Ian was frustrated for the first time. He muttered to himself as he gently stroked the runes on the glasses frame with his raised fingers.

Say something.

His alchemy skills were definitely top-notch in the wizarding world. Although he was certainly not as good as a master alchemist like Nicolas Flamel, who was at the very top of the pyramid, he was no less skilled than most so-called alchemy experts. However, he was somewhat stumped when faced with this magic mirror.

Do you remember earlier today, when Ian was beating up Merlin, Merlin said that this magic mirror contained a secret, and a very important one at that.

This certainly piqued Ian's curiosity.

He has always had a very good memory, the kind that can remember everything he sees and has a memory palace, so he remembered that his teacher Morgan had mentioned similar things several times.

Especially before he found the Mirror of Erised and asked Morgan what was so special about it, his teacher Morgan had said that the mirror contained a secret that had troubled her for half her life.

Both legends have said so, so it is clear that the secret hidden in the Mirror of Erised is definitely not small. Ian, who was confident in his alchemy skills, thought he could easily explore the secrets of the mirror, but several hours have passed and he still has no clue—it's not that he can't understand the magic script on the Mirror of Erised.

Although these ancient runes are quite complex and uncommon, Ian is not incapable of deciphering them. The problem is that even though he deciphered all the runes, he still couldn't find the runes for the hidden space.

If Morgan and Merlin hadn't both mentioned the Mirror of Erised, Ian might have suspected Merlin was lying to him—he couldn't very well doubt his own alchemy skills, could he?

"Revealing the Secrets!"

Ian once again used the magic he used to study alchemical creations and decipher alchemical secrets; however, the Mirror of Eris did not reveal any hidden runes. This was perhaps because his magic was not high enough, just as a low-level lockpicking spell cannot open a high-level lock.

"It's too slow to start leveling up magic now." Ian started to feel troubled. Maybe he shouldn't have refused Merlin. Who would have thought that the Mirror of Eris would be so strange.

He originally thought that with his knowledge, solving the mystery of the magic mirror was only a matter of time, but now it seems that the magic mirror is much more mysterious than he imagined.

Merlin is indeed much better than Ian at alchemy.

no way.

Compared to those established legendary wizards, the young wizard, as a newly emerging legend, and a legend at the age of twelve, is indeed far behind in terms of knowledge reserves.

"Oops! I've really embarrassed myself this time!"

Ian sighed, temporarily shifting his thoughts. He reached out and picked up a crystal-clear glass bottle from the table; it was the sealed bottle he had retrieved from Riddle.

Inside this bottle is the spirit of a shadowy creature—the Big Bad Wolf.

All I saw was...

The big gray wolf was curled up at the bottom of the bottle, looking very quiet, even somewhat docile, like a husky. When Ian uncapped the bottle, the wolf didn't take the opportunity to escape. It simply raised its head, looking at Ian with its round, bulging eyes, constantly sticking out its tongue, completely unlike what one would expect of a wild wolf.

"You've suddenly become much more obedient." Ian chuckled upon seeing this, shook the bottle in his hand, and tapped the bottle lightly with his fingers.

"Since you're being so cooperative, why don't you chat with me?"

Ian also wants to study the Big Bad Wolf and the secrets behind it.

"Of course, of course, no problem." The wolf's spirit swayed slightly, as if nodding. Its voice was deep and hoarse, with a hint of ingratiating flattery.

"What would you like to talk about?"

The big bad wolf even smiled with his wolf face.

It doesn't have the uncanny valley effect; it looks more like the happy valley effect, which is quite comical.

"Let's talk about the Soul Palace," Ian said, stretching his neck. The true appearance of the Big Bad Wolf was reflected in his eyes, and the surrounding shadows did not conceal it at all.

"For example, how did you join the Soul Hall?" He deliberately chose a topic that shouldn't be too sensitive and started chatting casually with the Big Bad Wolf.

"Join the Soul Palace...?"

The big gray wolf was silent for a moment, seemingly recalling its past. Its voice slowly rose, tinged with a hint of emotion: "I had a nemesis. She grew into a beautiful young woman and moved away. I don't really miss her, but the days that followed were a bit empty, so I would occasionally go out to find some fun."

"I've seen the tortoise and the hare race, and I've also witnessed the rise of the lion king. I've scared the little horse that was crossing the river and laughed at the monkey that tried to catch the moon. Such a life can be considered quite fulfilling."

"But one day, a great fire broke out in the forest, and black flames devoured everything. I died in that fire, but my soul did not enter the underworld. Just when I was lost, Cinderella appeared. She took me to the Hall of Souls and gave me a new life as a wolf."

"Of course, there are other magical creatures as well." The Big Bad Wolf's spirit swayed slightly inside the bottle, showing that this memory and the past had a significant impact on his emotions.

"Cinderella?" Ian raised an eyebrow.

"Cinderella?"

He wanted to confirm it.

"Yes."

The big bad wolf nodded.

"She's the one with the most stories in the Soul Hall; we all think she's the same person as the Hall Master. She told me that we're all characters in a story, which is why we possess special powers."

"Actually, I didn't know much either. This is my first task. My task is to take care of Morgan because she is one of the Raven's serving angels."

have to say.

There's a reason why the big bad wolf was captured by Ian so carelessly; it's clear that such a guy is definitely not an experienced one.

"The Raven's Angel..."

Ian repeated the title in a low voice. This wasn't the first time he had heard the word "angel." As he pondered it, a complex look flashed in his eyes.

"It seems you can foresee fate; of course, that's the most basic characteristic of time travel." The little wizard looked up at the big bad wolf and asked curiously.

"So, have you seen any ravens?"

He is delving deeper and deeper into the secrets of the Soul Palace.

Well, how should I put it?

Very cautious, very resourceful, but clearly a little too cautious. The Big Bad Wolf was currently in a state of complete openness, and after shaking its head, it decisively gave its answer, "No. The Eternal Raven is the highest being in the Soul Hall, and almost no one has ever seen him. However, every member of the Soul Hall has His mark in their mind; that is our 'entry certificate.' It is precisely because of this mark that I feel fear towards you."

"You are our master... right?" The big bad wolf cautiously sought confirmation from Ian. Its willingness to answer was not a sign of betrayal, but rather a confirmation that Ian was the right person in its heart.

"Perhaps."

Ian blinked, his expression somewhat ambiguous.

The term "employment certificate" is used to refer to a document used for employment purposes.

That does indeed seem like his style.

However, he did not understand why he would continue to appear as a raven in the future. Was there some accident that prevented him from changing back, or was there some other situation?

Thinking about this...

Ian couldn't help but think of Medivh, the identity he had chosen. If Medivh and Raven could coexist, it would prove that there was no problem with his Animagus.

"And Medivh? How much do you know about him?"

Ian quickly asked.

Playing two roles is no problem for him, but when he thinks about how he obtained the Animagus form, he feels very confused and there are some things that don't make sense.

"Um, well..."

The big bad wolf stuck out its tongue.

They seemed somewhat puzzled as to why Ian was asking these questions.

Is he testing himself?

As you imagine it, it also responds.

"Madwin is the Grand Protector of the Soul Temple, but his whereabouts are more mysterious than you think. It is said that he is keen on burning, killing, and looting, and enjoys doing things that are difficult to judge as good or evil."

The Big Bad Wolf seemed to have already decided that Ian was his eternal master.

but.

It clearly doesn't know that Medivh is also Ian, otherwise it certainly wouldn't have made such a comment.

"..."

Ian was frustrated again upon hearing this. If only the Duke said so, then perhaps it could be said that the rumors were too distorted. But why did the members of the Soul Hall also say so?

He has no interest in arson, murder, or looting!

"You've probably only heard about it, right?"

The latest novel is first published here!

Ian persisted in asking.

The wolf's answer did offer him some psychological comfort.

"Well, perhaps only Cinderella and Cassandra have seen him. The connections between us Soul Hall members aren't very close; everyone has their own missions, and I'm still a newbie, so I don't know much." It had indeed never seen him, nor had it ever interacted with Medivh, and most Soul Hall members were probably in the same boat.

Upon hearing this, Ian immediately felt less depressed.

"Then it's still a rumor!"

His voice was resolute and his tone firm.

"However... the Soul Hall, various missions... perhaps that's why I did this..." Ian paused for a moment, his fingers unconsciously tapping the bottle.

His gaze fell on the Mirror of Eris again. The reflection in the mirror was still blurry, but in his pupils, he could see an extremely clear image.

Ian could certainly see his own desires.

He saw himself sitting at his desk, holding a book in his hands, with the words clearly printed on the pages: "I want all living beings to understand my will."

This is what Ian once told Dumbledore about what he saw in the Mirror of Erised—himself quietly reading a book, the book "The Legend of Wukong".

but.

Slightly different from what Dumbledore had told her before, the Magic Mirror contained nothing but the text: "I want all living beings to understand my will."

It seems so.

Throughout the entire book.

It was as if Ian only cared about that one sentence.

of course.

He himself might not think so, but according to the characteristics of the Mirror of Erised, it was just a desire hidden deep in his heart that he had not yet discovered.

"I do not wish for the heavens to obscure my vision, nor for the earth to bury my heart. I do not wish for gods and demons to vanish into thin air; my ultimate ideal is simply for all beings to understand my will."

Ian stared at the magic mirror, remaining silent for a long time. He increasingly felt that the Hall of Souls and the mysterious legends about Medivh might be the puzzles he had to overcome in his pursuit of this ultimate goal.

just.

This desire.

He was not yet moved.

Staring into the mirror.

Ian pondered for a long time.

The room was silent except for the faint crackling of the burning candle.

"There must be some hidden magic runes on this magic mirror that I haven't discovered yet." As Ian thought about it, he recalled his initial intention to analyze the magic runes that contained the hidden items from the magic mirror.

He picked up a notebook from the table and began to carefully record the arrangement and shape of the magic runes, hoping to find the key to unlocking the secrets of the magic mirror through sorting and analysis.

At the same time, the big gray wolf in the bottle shrank back down again. Its soul swayed slightly inside the bottle, as if it wanted to say something, but in the end it did not speak.

Time passed second by second.

Just as the young wizard was engrossed in studying the runes, a soft knocking sound came from outside the window, as if something was gently tapping on the glass.

"bat?"

Ian snapped out of his reverie, his brow furrowed slightly, and turned to look out the window.

The night was deep, and the world outside the window was shrouded in a thin layer of mist. The moonlight shone through the clouds, casting a faint glow that illuminated a blurry figure.

The figure, with disheveled hair, looked like a ghost crawling out of hell. It was pressed against the window, its fingers lightly tapping on the glass. Anyone who was easily frightened would definitely be startled.

but.

Fortunately, Ian had excellent eyesight, with night vision as good as day, so even through the murky window, he recognized the person outside at a glance—his future teacher, now his apprentice.

Miss Morgan.

Morgan pressed her face against the window, her large eyes peering curiously into the room. Her hair was ruffled by the night wind, and her face was flushed from the cold air.

"This scene is too eerie!"

Ian was both amused and exasperated, feeling both surprised and helpless.

Morgan actually climbed from the outer wall of the castle to his window with his bare hands. Keep in mind that this was a tower dozens of meters high, and the danger was such that a slight misstep could result in a fatal fall.

But little Morgan wasn't afraid at all and was still lingering outside the window.

That's incredibly bold.

Ian shook his head, raised his hand and gently waved, and the window opened silently. A night breeze instantly rushed into the room, stirring the pages of the books and the candlelight on the table. Morgan leaned against the windowsill, half her body inside, and asked with a grin, "Teacher, what are you doing? I saw the candle was still lit in your room, so I thought I'd come and check."

As she spoke, Morgan tried to climb into the room, but because she was wearing a skirt, she couldn't easily climb over the window with a high kick in front of Ian.

"Teacher, can you help me?"

So all she could do was smile and ask Ian for help.

Ian did not respond.

"Um?"

Morgan thought Ian was angry, but when she looked up at him, she was surprised to find that Ian's gaze was not on her.

Instead, they were looking behind them.

What's behind me?

Morgan was bold, but he also felt a chill down his spine.

"There's someone there."

Ian's answer was concise and to the point.

All I saw was...

In the darkness, a black figure floated silently outside the window, just a few meters from Morgan. The figure was surrounded by shadows, seemingly blending into the night.

but.

They couldn't escape Ian's eyes.

Ian's gaze even pierced through the shadows, revealing what was hidden within.

It was a delicate and aloof face, with skin as white as snow, and long hair that cascaded down like a waterfall, the ends of which were slightly curled. It was clear that she was a rather beautiful woman.

The woman noticed Ian's gaze.

"Cinderella?"

then.

The young wizard tentatively spoke.

(End of this chapter)