Feeling Wronged

Determined not to be swayed by unsettling emotions any longer, Tom tilted his small head, preparing to head to the library. He had never hidden his thirst for knowledge; the sooner he mastered greater strength, the freer he could be. When that time came... he would definitely get his revenge!

"Heh heh~ Just you wait... my dear senior!"

His mood instantly felt healed, and Tom pursed his lips into a faint smile. What did it matter if he didn't know who his parents were? What did it matter if those nobles looked down on him now? One day, he would rule the world, looking down on those he once had to look up to!

"Ah~ Tom... it's good to be passionate about learning, but shouldn't you also... get along well with your friends? Otherwise, you'll be wasting precious school days~"

The cheerful and relaxed tone brought Tom back to reality. Suppressing his slightly excited emotions, he bowed elegantly. "Professor Dumbledore~ I didn't expect to run into you here! But in my opinion, playing boring games with others is what's truly a waste of time. Everything in the magical world fascinates me..."

Tom's sapphire eyes flickered, and the expression on Dumbledore's face gradually froze. His tone turned cold. "Fascinates you, does it... Tom, sometimes, being too immersed in one thing can make you overlook people and things around you... When you look back, you'll find that behind you... there's nothing but your own shadow. Is that what you want?"

Tom pressed his lips together tightly. He didn't understand why Professor Dumbledore had changed again. Even if he had done something wrong, he hadn't done anything evil, had he? Why was he looking at him with such caution? Was it because of the lies born from jealousy?

Feeling a bit wronged, his pride made him disdain to defend himself. Tom lowered his eyes, staring at the shadow before him. The sun was behind him, so shadows appeared not only behind but also in front. He would never regret his choices. "I understand, Professor Dumbledore... I will meet your expectations..."

Dumbledore sighed softly. He wanted to reach out and ruffle the little wizard's hair, but found he couldn't perform such a simple action, as if countless hands were preventing him. His expression became dazed for a moment.

Gritting his teeth, Dumbledore raised his hand. He had a feeling that if he didn't do this, he would pay a heavy price. "No... Tom... the kind of person you become is not for others to decide, not even for me. You need to explore it all yourself, find your own answers in the unknown. All I can do is guide you, support you... and stop you when you make wrong decisions, before you give up."

Unlike Abraxas's broad palm, Tom looked up at the serious and earnest professor. For a moment, he felt a complex emotion he had never experienced before, as if he had been living in endless misunderstanding, and suddenly, in this instant, he was freed.

Tom stood there blankly, not knowing when the professor had left. He reached up and touched his face, staring at the tear stains on his hand in a daze. What was happening to him? Why was he crying? Why did he cling to that feeling of warmth?

Tom buried his face in his arms, indulging in an inexplicable sense of grievance. Just this once, he would allow himself to be weak. Afterward... he would strictly follow his plan.