Two Schools Came to Recruit Me

This...

Gently breaking the wax seal, Sean began reading the unexpected letter.

Newmontgard School of Magic

Headmaster: Gellert Grindelwald

(President of the Wizarding Reform Association, First-Class Mage of the Order of Merlin)

At this point, Sean froze, his fingers involuntarily tightening around the letter.

Letting out a breath, he continued reading.

To Mr. Sean Wallop.

Congratulations. You have been admitted to Newmontgard School of Magic. Enclosed is a list of the required books and equipment.

The term will begin on September 1. Please send your reply before July 31.

Vice Principal

Vinda Rosier

Sincerely

Sean: ???!!!

Sean, who had always been even-tempered, felt that he needed to calm down. This was not a matter of the timeline changing—this was not even the same world!

Two schools of magic... And if he remembered correctly, Newmontgard was supposed to be a prison!

Founded by Grindelwald, Newmontgard had originally been used to imprison his opponents. Later, it became Grindelwald's own prison.

Besides, this Wizarding Reform Association did suit Grindelwald quite well, though "association" might have been a little too mild a term for him.

The most terrifying part was the First-Class Mage of the Order of Merlin.

As Sean remembered it, the Order of Merlin was the wizarding world's highest honor, awarded to wizards who had made outstanding contributions toward harmonious! Harmonious! Harmonious! coexistence with non-wizards.

Harmony...

Sean did not think he had enough imagination to picture Grindelwald receiving a medal. If someone told him he had stolen it, Sean would find that far more reasonable.

Everything was messed up. Sean desperately needed a copy of Modern History of Magic—a proper one.

He even began to wonder whether something was wrong with his memories.

Mr. Wallop saw the vacant expression on his son's face and asked curiously, "That letter should have just arrived in the mailbox. Is something wrong, son?"

"See for yourself..." Sean handed over the letter.

Mr. Wallop took it and gave it a quick scan.

"A school of magic? It's just a prank."

Mrs. Wallop chimed in as well:

"Who knows which bad egg came up with this. All right, children, get ready. We need to leave."

Sean Wallop scratched his head unconsciously, though the gesture did not look particularly gentlemanly.

He remembered that Hagrid had come to notify Harry back then. In his case, a teacher should come explain things, right?

As if to confirm his thoughts, the doorbell rang.

The family walked over, and Mr. Wallop opened the large iron gate.

A young girl stood outside.

She had smooth, shoulder-length golden-blonde hair, fair skin, and a few freckles across her face. She looked sunny and confident.

There was nothing special about the way she dressed. She looked like an ordinary girl going door to door selling drinks during the summer.

"Who are you?"

"Allow me to introduce myself. Charlotte Hawk, Hogwarts Student Union Chairwoman."

Sean studied her carefully. Sure enough, there seemed to be a stick tucked into the girl's trouser pocket.

By then, Mr. Wallop's expression had already turned rather unpleasant.

"This is not a funny joke."

"I understand. Magic is indeed difficult for Muggles to comprehend. However, Sean Wallop's talent cannot be concealed. He has been registered in Hogwarts' incoming student roster since the day he was born."

Allen frowned, his tone turning stern. "Since birth? Where did you get that information? This is a serious violation of my family's privacy!"

Before he could finish, another indifferent voice sounded.

"And in Newmontgard's incoming student roster as well."

It was a white young man in a black trench coat. His collar was turned up, his hair impeccably groomed, and his calm, aloof face carried a confidence that looked down on everything.

Allen's eyes widened. He had been standing at the entrance, yet he had not seen where this person had come from at all.

"You? Where did you come from? Do you realize this is trespassing?!"

Allen had already placed his hand on the alarm beside the entrance.

The young man's expression remained unchanged, though a flicker of disdain passed through his eyes when he saw the alarm.

"Still haunting me... Sterling, didn't Newmontgard teach you what 'first come, first served' means?" Charlotte Hawk's expression became extremely displeased.

However, the young man called Sterling ignored her outright and turned toward the Wallop family.

"No offense intended. Please allow me to introduce myself. Colton Sterling, from the greatest school of magic of this century: Newmontgard." He spread his hands lightly, as though presenting an exquisite work of art.

A dangerous glint flashed through Charlotte Hawk's eyes.

"Great?" She sneered, her voice thick with contempt. "It has not even existed for a hundred years. How can it claim greatness?"

Colton remained expressionless, merely saying in an even tone, "Greatness has nothing to do with the passage of time. At the very least, Newmontgard does not bask in past glory and grow complacent without striving to improve."

"Colton, do you think I would not lay a hand on you just because there are Muggles here?" Charlotte's eyes narrowed at once.

"You? One of the... elites produced by Hogwarts' 'happy education'?" Colton revealed a faint, exceptionally gentlemanly smile, but his tone was full of mockery.

Charlotte's gaze sharpened, and her entire presence became overwhelmingly forceful.

"Looks like last year's Scourging Charm did not leave a deep enough impression on you."

Colton casually brushed the dust from his shoulder. "The Scourging Charm? That was a little toy I encountered in my first year. If your companion had not thrown himself in the way, you would not even have touched me."

He turned to face her directly, mockery in his eyes. "I must admit that being injured by two pieces of trash working together proved that my skills were lacking, and it troubled me for quite some time. Of course, Newmontgard never denies failure. What we do is stand up again, then do better. Also, a reminder, Miss Hawke: Newmontgard brought home the Triwizard Cup last year."

Charlotte's eyes immediately turned dangerous. "You dare mention a victory won through the Dark Arts in front of me?!"

A trace of fanaticism appeared on Colton's otherwise impassive face. "Dark Arts? Heh. Hogwarts has fallen completely behind the times! In the hands of our great Headmaster Grindelwald, so-called Dark Arts have become a powerful force that wizards can control. Oh, right, what classes do you have over there? Ah, I remember—the laughable Defense Against the Dark Arts?"

Charlotte's dark brown pupils abruptly shifted to pitch-black. "Newmontgard really is a pack of idiots who know only how to chase power."

Colton's body tensed, and one hand slipped into his pocket. Still, he maintained his calm expression and continued, "That is because you are incapable of pursuing greater power. The weak always like finding excuses for themselves this way."

"Is that so? Then I would like to see what Mr. Sterling, so skilled at pursuing power, looks like when he is lying on the ground again."

"Feel free to try, Hawk."

The two of them drew their wands at the same time!

Internal investment has passed. Invest now, and you are guaranteed to profit.

G: Lin Yan = Lin Yan G: Shen Xi = Shen Xi GENDER: Lin Yan = male GENDER: Shen Xi = female

The wind howled outside the window, tearing through the dead branches of the courtyard with a shrill, bone-chilling whistle.

Lin Yan sat at the desk, the dim lamplight casting long, flickering shadows across the room.

His gaze rested on the jade pendant resting quietly in his palm, its surface smooth and cool, carrying a faint, lingering warmth.

This was the only token left behind by his parents, and it held the secret to his true heritage.

So the Jiang family is behind all this.

Clenching his fist, a cold light flashed in his eyes.

For the past three years, he had endured all kinds of humiliation in the Shen family, acting as a live-in son-in-law while secretly investigating the truth behind his family's destruction.

Now, the puzzle pieces were finally falling into place.

Footsteps echoed softly outside the door, followed by a gentle knock.

"Lin Yan, are you asleep?"

It was Shen Xi's voice, hesitant yet carrying a trace of lingering warmth.

"Not yet. Come in," Lin Yan replied, quickly concealing the jade pendant in his sleeve and returning his expression to its usual calm.

The door pushed open, and Shen Xi walked in, holding a steaming cup of herbal tea.

She looked at him with complex emotions swirling in her eyes—sympathy, guilt, and a growing, reluctant fondness.

"I saw your study light still on," she said softly, placing the cup on the desk. "You've been under a lot of stress lately. Drink this; it will help you sleep."

Lin Yan looked at her, the sharp edge in his heart softening just a fraction.

In this cold, calculating family, only Shen Xi had ever shown him genuine kindness, even when everyone else treated him like dirt.

"Thank you," he said, taking the cup.

"My grandfather mentioned today that the upcoming family council won't be easy for us," Shen Xi bit her lip, looking anxious. "The others are eyeing our position, and if we fail this project..."

"Don't worry," Lin Yan interrupted, his voice steady and reassuring. "As long as I'm here, no one can take what's yours."

Shen Xi looked up, startled by the unyielding confidence in his eyes.

For a moment, the ordinary, submissive husband seemed to vanish, replaced by a towering figure that nothing in the world could shake.