Magical Studies at Hogwarts...

Chapter 248 Not All Legends Are False

"You've made great progress."

"Thanks to your guidance, teacher."

"Humility is a good thing, but I won't dismiss your efforts."

In May, after a teaching session, Lao Fu and Ike sat down together for a rare chat.

Old Fu gently stroked Nagini's head; the cool touch made him feel comfortable, and his tone softened considerably.

"You're excellent, Ike," Old Voldemort said softly. "Even now, I don't think Bella and the others would be a match for you."

"But that's not enough, you understand?"

Ike nodded respectfully and said, "I understand, teacher."

"Hehe... I think so too," Old Fu laughed. "You possess the potential to become a great wizard, forever thirsting for magic and forever holding it in awe."

"Many people have done the first point, but they have forgotten that magic is never some kind of trick that can be manipulated at will."

He paused, leaned back slightly, and slowly closed his eyes.

"How much do you know about the origins of magic, Ike?"

"There are many," Ike replied.

"That's right, there are many versions. Come on, tell me everything you know, just like telling a story..."

Ike pondered for a moment, searching for a clue, before saying, "I remember it being recorded in the History of Magic that in the earliest times, there were no wizards. The land was a paradise for magical creatures, and people struggled to survive among those ferocious beasts."

"On an ordinary day, a person suddenly gained magical powers, able to summon flames and lightning at will, and easily defeat even dragons."

"That was the original magic, something even older than ancient magic, incredibly powerful and unpredictable. Later, its bloodline was passed down, and gradually some people would awaken in their childhood and master the power of magic; they were the first wizards."

"But the books I read in the forbidden section said that the power of magic comes from bloodline, that humans steal the power of those magical creatures that once ruled the continents and seas, and integrate their bloodline into themselves."

"After countless failures and the deaths of countless people, someone finally succeeded. Gradually, more and more people gained magical power and integrated it into their bloodline, which has been passed down to this day."

"There's another one, which is similar to Norse mythology. It says that magic is a forbidden power, one that even the gods don't possess. Odin, the father of the gods, in his quest for greater wisdom and power, hung himself upside down from the World Tree for seven days and seven nights, finally discovering the most precious thing in the world—the Fountain of Wisdom."

"Odin sacrificed one of his eyes to obtain the Fountain of Wisdom. After drinking from it, he gained insight into an even greater power. That power was too mysterious to be recorded. But Odin had acquired extraordinary wisdom, so he created runes to describe this powerful force."

"Power flows into the words, and when the runes are recited, that power can be harnessed."

"Later, Heimdall taught the runes to mankind, but they were too profound. Only twenty-four people comprehended their mysteries, and mankind thus mastered the power that only gods possessed—magic."

After listening to Ike's explanation, Old Fu slightly shifted his head from the back of his chair and softly asked, "What are your thoughts, Ike? What do you think is the origin of magic?"

"Me?" Ike was taken aback and remained silent for a long time. Old Voldemort was not in a hurry either, stroking Nagini's head while waiting quietly.

After a long pause, Ike finally spoke, saying, "Wizards and their descendants are more likely to awaken magic. This confirms that bloodline is a way for magic to continue."

"I think the explanation of fusing the bloodline of magical creatures is more logical."

"Hehehe..." Old Fu chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "So, what about that origin you mentioned at the end? Why do you think it's not real?"

Upon hearing this, Ike frowned and replied, "That's a myth."

"Gods? I've never believed in gods. They're just some kind of creature that possesses great power. Maybe they're human, maybe they're something else."

"When a person is able to master such incredible power, they will be given the title of 'god' by later generations."

"Slap, slap, slap..."

Old Fu slowly clapped his hands, a fleeting hint of approval in his eyes.

"I'm glad you think that way. Think about it carefully, wouldn't the power we possess now be considered 'godlike' in the eyes of those ignorant people?"

"Wizards can summon scorching flames and easily take the lives of those foolish Muggles. How similar are they to the gods in mythology?"

"In my view, the so-called gods are just those ancient wizards."

Leaning forward slightly, Old Fu looked at Ike with bloodshot eyes and tilted his head to the side.

"Don't ignore those myths and legends; they may contain the legacy of ancient wizards," Old Volt said. "Like the 'Tales of the Three Brothers' in The Tales of Beedle the Bard, the things that Death gave to the three brothers are real."

"Then think about it again, could the things mentioned in other legends and myths also be true?"

"This...is this possible, teacher?" Ike stammered, his face full of surprise.

"Of course it's possible, little Ike," old Voldemort chuckled. "Poseidon's trident from mythology appeared in the seventeenth century."

As he spoke, Old Fu sighed, his expression becoming more serious.

"Ancient magic, those unimaginable prehistoric mysteries... Although some fools believe that modern magic is no less powerful than ancient magic, don't forget that so-called modern magic is built on the ruins of magic from the Middle Ages onwards!"

"Ha, ignorance!"

Old Fu was somewhat agitated; a flush of red appeared on his pale face, even spreading to his neck. After a while, the redness faded, and he relaxed again, leaning back in his chair, his tone becoming calm.

"Ike, just like I said, the Dark Lord doesn't fail those who help him. You had Wormtail bring me out of the Albanian jungle, killed the traitors for me, summoned werewolves and giants, and even breached Azkaban to rescue my former servants. You deserve more!"

As he spoke, Old Voldemort gently waved his wand, and a spell landed on the basement door, sealing the entire room shut.

He stood up, wand in his right hand, and said sternly, "Ike Strayder, get up!"

Ike got up upon hearing the sound.

Extend your left arm!

Old Voldemort continued, and Ike immediately pulled up the sleeve of his left arm, revealing the Dark Mark on it. Then, Old Voldemort gently touched it with his wand, and a wisp of crimson slowly flowed in, turning the originally pitch-black mark blood red, and the python and skull also came to life.

As Old Voldemort put away his wand, the giant python seemed to come alive, slowly slithering along Ike's left arm, and a new line appeared on the useless notebook system in his mind:

Black Mark - Strayder Custom Edition

(Successor of the Dark Lord, you have finally gained his trust, and he will impart all his knowledge to you; however, in return, your magic will never harm him...)

(End of this chapter)