The Old Ones of Hogwarts

Chapter 221, Section 220: Ian! Danger! Warning: Identity Revealed!

Chapter 221, Section 220: Ian! Danger! Warning: Identity Revealed!

In this tranquil valley, a gentle breeze rustles the surrounding grass. Sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled shadows among the trees.

This should have been a wonderful atmosphere, but the young wizard couldn't find peace in his heart, all because he had heard that incredibly familiar name from Leonard Dumbledore's mouth.

Ariana Dumbledore! Although Ariana is the person I've spent the longest time with in this world,

Ian never imagined he would hear that name in this era!

"You—you said your ancestor was who?" Ian's voice trembled, his tone tinged with uncertainty and shock. His eyes were wide open, as if they were about to pop out of their sockets, as if he had heard something unbelievable. He really needed to ask Leonard for confirmation one more time.

Otherwise, he would really start to doubt that there was something wrong with his ears.

"Are you sure it's Ariana Dumbledore? You're not mistaken?" Before Leonard could even respond...

Ian then spoke again, enunciating very clearly.

His rather "reactive" reaction left Leonard completely bewildered. Merlin, meanwhile, glanced at Ian again, his eyes flickering with a hint of inquiry and contemplation. He noticed Ian's unusual reaction and couldn't help but feel a surge of doubt and speculation.

However, Ian was completely oblivious to Merlin's gaze at this moment; his mind was filled with the familiar yet utterly jarring name of Ariana in this situation.

"Of course I can't remember wrong."

Leonard Dumbledore stood before him, his expression calm and resolute. The phoenix on his shoulder gently flapped its wings, its golden-red feathers shimmering brilliantly in the sunlight.

His gaze was fixed on Ian, his tone unwavering: "How could I possibly have misremembered the family tree? Before the family was destroyed, every ancestor had their own portrait."

"I remember my father introducing me to each of the ancestors, and Ancestor Ariana was the first ancestor. Her portrait even reminded me to eat less sugar or I would get cavities." Leonard's expression was full of memories, not only for his past but also for the sadness of remembering his father.

He had never practiced magic, so he certainly couldn't have learned mind-blocking techniques. Therefore, every emotion that arose in his heart was exposed to Ian's perception.

"Is that really the case?"

Ian's heart was in turmoil, his throat felt like it was blocked by something, and he felt an indescribable emotion surging in his chest.

Absurd and bizarre.

It has an unreal, magical feel to it.

He couldn't help but think that he might have been attacked in his own tomb, and that everything he was doing now was just a nonsensical thought in his imagination.

Thinking about this...

Ian couldn't help but rub his temples, trying to calm himself down. His gaze involuntarily drifted to Merlin beside him, only to find Merlin looking at him with a meaningful expression. Merlin's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze filled with inquiry and contemplation, as if trying to read something from Ian's reaction.

"I don't think it's what I'm thinking." Ian didn't know what information Merlin was trying to read; one thought and possibility after another kept flashing through his mind.

"Perhaps it's just a coincidence of names." Ian took a deep breath, and without hesitation, took out his wand, raised his hand, and cast the spell—Patriot.

Since Leonard has seen the portrait of his ancestor, this is probably the best way to verify whether it is a coincidence.

All I saw was...

The surrounding air seemed to tremble slightly at his movements, and the tip of the wand began to shimmer with silver light, which gradually condensed into threads that wove a blurry outline in the air.

Magic began to take shape.

Silver threads, like nimble sprites, weaved and spun in the air, gradually coalescing into a human figure. Moments later, Ariana appeared before them from the enchanting illusion. Her figure was as light as moonlight.

It radiates a soft light, blending in with the surrounding natural environment yet standing out exceptionally.

I don't know if it's a coincidence.

After Ariana appeared, the surrounding environment seemed to be affected by some mysterious force. The gentle breeze gradually became stronger, rustling the surrounding trees. The sunlight seemed to dim, and clouds began to gather, casting a shadow over the valley.

It seemed like some kind of cover-up.

The light dimmed considerably, though not to the point of complete darkness. Ian looked up, feeling a strong sense of familiarity. Just two days prior, a hundred years ago in this world, a brute goddess whose name he hadn't even had a chance to ask had done something similar.

However, this situation does not seem to be the work of a human.

Ian seemed to be deep in thought.

Meanwhile.

"This? This? This???" Merlin's eyes widened slightly, his gaze filled with disbelief.

His fingers trembled slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately remained silent. His gaze shifted back and forth between Ian and Ariana, as if trying to understand what was happening before him.

"Ian, you summoned me again?" Ariana's voice was soft, as if it came from a distant place.

She stood before Ian, tilting her head slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Are you still in ancient times? Is there something I can help you with? This place seems rather familiar."

Her voice was soft, like a clear mountain spring echoing through the quiet valley.

As he spoke.

Ariana glanced around at her surroundings.

Meanwhile.

"Your ancestors probably didn't look like this, did they?" Ian had intended to use this to prove to Leonard that their ancestors could not possibly have had such a unique and famous face, but when he turned around, he was surprised to find Leonard staring incredulously at Ariana's curious face.

Leonard's silent reaction spoke volumes; indeed, reality can sometimes be more surreal than fiction.

"Gah~"

The young wizard felt as if a boulder had crashed into his heart.

The words he was about to say instantly stuck in his throat.

"This—this is—"

Leonard's voice trembled slightly, carrying a hint of uncertainty and shock, as if he had witnessed something unbelievable. His fingers were also trembling slightly, and the phoenix on his shoulder seemed to sense its master's emotions, letting out a low cry.

"Huh? A phoenix!"

Ariana seemed to only belatedly realize the presence of the phoenix at this moment. Whether she was oblivious or something else, she covered her mouth in surprise.

at this time.

Upon noticing Ariana's gaze, Leonard's phoenix eyes, already quite expressive, suddenly lit up.

A clear and melodious cry broke the tranquility of the valley. It gently flapped its wings and took flight from Leonard's shoulder, stirring up the surrounding air currents and causing Leonard's hair and robes to flutter in the wind.

The phoenix, with its graceful form, began to slowly circle around Ariana. Its feathers resembled flowing flames.

Each flap of its wings seemed to echo the dazzling starlight emanating from Ariana.

Ariana maintained a gentle smile as she quietly watched the phoenixes swirling around her. Curious, she raised her hand, and the phoenixes landed directly on the back of her hand.

Such extraordinary phoenix affinity—could this be considered a manifestation of the Dumbledore family's pure bloodline? Doesn't this further confirm that absurd possibility? Ian's lips moved, as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately no sound came out. He truly felt his imagination was running out of steam when it came to developing his magical world.

"Is this phoenix yours?"

Ariana's gaze kept shifting between Phoenix and Leonard.

"Could you be an ancestor of the Dumbledore family!?"

She seemed to realize something was wrong.

His eyes widened in astonishment.

And the next moment.

What happened next made her eyes widen even more.

"No! Ancestor Ariana Dumbledore! You are the ancestor!" Leonard quickly corrected, his voice filled with disbelief. He had actually seen the person in the portrait in reality.

Is this the soul?

Or is there some other situation?

Leonard's mind was in turmoil.

"what?"

Ariana seemed confused, feeling that Leonard had stolen her lines. Ian said that this was the Middle Ages, so shouldn't she be the one shouting "Ancestors"?

And how did the other party know my name?

Just as Ariana was still in a slightly dazed state, Leonard suddenly seemed to realize something and slapped the back of his head.

"I understand!"

Leonard looked at Ian with a surprised and shocked expression.

"You...you are also my ancestor! The husband of my ancestor Ariana!" He seemed to have forgotten how to address Ian, but this idea was getting increasingly outrageous.

Of course, from Leonard's perspective, this guess might be reasonable, since stories of immortal husbands carrying their wives' souls with them often appear in the mouths of bards.

He felt he had deduced the truth.

however.

Upon hearing this, the young wizard's neck stiffened, and his whole body went numb.

"What the heck?!"

He couldn't help but complain.

Ariana was also somewhat unable to keep up with Leonard's train of thought. In fact, Ariana had not even figured out what the current situation was or why she was being regarded as an ancestor by her ancestors.

"Ian? What's going on?" Ariana looked blankly at the little wizard beside her, but the little wizard could only shrug helplessly.

"I'm not entirely sure either. It involves a very complicated issue. I need to go back and ask Headmaster Dumbledore. Perhaps then I'll be able to figure out the current situation."

"Of course, I'll omit Mr. Leonard Dumbledore's absurd remarks, otherwise Headmaster Dumbledore would definitely kill me," Ian said in a low voice, swallowing hard.

He already had some guesses in his mind, and considering the secret operations that Headmaster Dumbledore was currently carrying out, he felt that Ariana might really be resurrected in the future.

only.

Why this paradoxical situation has arisen is still somewhat baffling to Ian. There's no way around it; issues involving time are always extremely perplexing.

"I think this... this Mr. Dumbledore must have mistaken me for someone else." Ariana, being rather simple-minded, made the simplest judgment with some embarrassment.

She was unlikely to think about the "chicken and egg" problem. After all, as a girl with the mind of a teenager, Ariana couldn't really accept becoming an ancestor.

And it's with Ian... The more I think about it, the more awkward and strange it feels!

"Yes, yes, he mistook someone for someone else."

Ian glanced at Leonard, who seemed about to say something, and to prevent Ariana from falling into a state of mental confusion, he immediately canceled his Patronus Charm.

"Please give my regards to the teacher and Pandelbrot."

He also bid Ariana farewell before she disappeared. A polite Ariana waved goodbye to Leonard and Merlin as well.

Leonard instinctively waved goodbye as well.

Merlin didn't react much, not because he was impolite, although Ian thought he did lack manners, but mainly because he didn't see it at the moment.

His gaze remained fixed on Ian.

After Ariana disappeared.

The sky cleared up again.

Merlin finally couldn't hold back any longer and spoke out.

"That's your guardian spirit? A human guardian spirit?" Merlin's voice was low and hoarse, his tone filled with shock and disbelief, and his hands, hanging down, were trembling.

"Impressive, isn't it? She can even make me chop people up." Ian raised an eyebrow, his tone light. The fact that she could shock the ancient wizard king was quite interesting to him.

"This isn't a matter of being powerful or not—" Merlin's throat bobbed a few times. "As far as I know, there are only two beings capable of pulling people from the underworld."

He clearly also valued Ariana's status as a Heroic Spirit.

"Besides me, there are two more? So many?" Ian's focus was strangely focused; he could clearly feel Merlin's shoulders shaking.

"Oh."

Merlin seemed to be suppressing his emotions.

"Yes, there are two more."

His gaze was fixed on Ian.

"Does he harbor the spirit of death?"

The little wizard made a guess.

Merlin shook his head.

"No, Death would never do such a thing. There have only been two people in history who have done this: one is the Dark Raven, and the other is the legend that alchemists firmly believe in—the true creator."

"Of course, now there's also 'you'—Medivh, or perhaps I should call you Ian, I hope that's truly your real name." Merlin seemed to be suffering from paranoia. His constantly shifting gaze was filled with a kind of interrogation, making Ian feel a chill run down his spine, and he couldn't help but take a few steps back.

"I'll definitely call him Ian."

Ian Shan smiled.

Leonard looked at him thoughtfully.

but.

Dumbledore's gaze was far less sharp than Merlin's.

"This is very unreasonable. If this journey has made me realize anything, I think it is that I have finally seen the astonishing truth buried by the dust of history."

Merlin's voice carried a hint of seriousness, "Summoning the dead from the underworld is no ordinary ability; it is authority, a symbol of the ruler."

His words made Ian swallow hard.

What are you trying to say?

The young wizard uncle already had a premonition.

as predicted.

"I just want to verify a guess." Merlin suddenly pulled a black sphere from somewhere and handed it to the little wizard in front of him.

"Perhaps, the power to control life and death, this authority in this world, has always been held by only one person." Merlin saw the little wizard hesitate and not take the black ball from his hands.

He quickly and directly shoved the black ball into Ian's hand.

"What is this?"

Ian was still curiously weighing the heavy black ball in his hand.

next moment.

The black ball began to crack and transformed into a metallic cybernetic eyeball—no one knew what this meant, but Merlin immediately showed an "I knew it" expression upon seeing it.

Before Ian could even ask...

next moment.

A fist the size of a sandbag appeared in the little wizard's sight.

"Holy crap! Mei Jinfu!"

The flowers in the woods are in full bloom.

Ian proved the wizard's omnipotence through his own experience.

obviously.

There are more than just sword saints in the Wizarding World.

And there's the boxing champion.