21: Inverted Heavenly Stem!

Inverted Heavenly Stem!

Snape might have mastered the Inverted Golden Bell and been mastered by it, but he absolutely could not possess the ability to reverse cause and effect because of it. Ian believed he had seen the truth!

Snape was a plagiarist!

This was absolutely a huge weakness of Professor Snape's. Perhaps it could not compare to his past with Lily Potter, but it was certainly a truth that could make Snape die of social embarrassment on the spot at Hogwarts.

Its impact would be no less than if a middle school student let the whole school know that his online handle was Contempt of Kings and his signature was Let the world feel pain!

"You're grinning like an idiot."

The Witch had no idea why Ian was standing there laughing foolishly.

"I just thought of something happy."

Feeling the Witch's gaze, Ian immediately came back to his senses.

"Threatening someone makes you happy?"

The Witch's deep eyes seemed capable of seeing through everything.

"Teacher Mara! And you said you couldn't use Mind Reading!"

Ian was Astonished once again.

"You just asked me about that sentence, and now you're standing here grinning like an idiot. Any normal person could probably guess what you're plotting."

The Witch rubbed her brow helplessly, as if Ian's stupidity was unbearable.

"Tell me, who got my book?"

She seemed rather concerned about what she had left behind in the mortal world.

"It was one of my professors. Every year when he teaches, he uses the same opening line—the sentence Teacher Mara wrote in one of your books."

Ian hurriedly answered.

"The professor at that school called Hogwarts who teaches you potion-making?" Seeing Ian nod, the Witch replied in a somewhat indifferent tone.

"At least it does not disgrace it."

What exactly she meant by "it" was self-evident.

Naturally, it was the knowledge written by this proud Witch.

"Can potions really prevent death?"

Ian asked the question that had troubled countless Hogwarts students for their entire lives.

"Of course they can. It is simply impossible for that professor at your school to do it." The Witch gave a noncommittal chuckle, her tone filled with a certainty that aroused curiosity.

"Why?"

Ian hurriedly pressed on.

"Because I cut down the last Golden Apple Tree in the mortal world. And the primary ingredient needed for potions that can prevent death, or even reverse life and death, is the Golden Apple."

The Witch patiently answered Ian's question. "Of course, if your professor is talented enough, perhaps he can find a material in the mortal world that can replace the Golden Apple."

Though she said so, there was disdain in the Witch's tone. She clearly did not believe that later Potion Scholars could discover any Potion Ingredients capable of replacing the Golden Apple.

Ian did not believe it either.

After all.

If Snape really could prevent death, he would not have been mocked by so many people as someone who could only boast—one could easily see from the original story that Snape truly could not make such a potion.

However.

Now that he knew where and from what era that worn-out opening line had originated, Snape's classic line finally had an explanation.

He could not do it.

But once... someone truly could.

"Teacher Mara, why did you cut down the Golden Apple Tree?" Ian had heard the Witch mention cutting down trees more than once. He wondered whether it had something to do with the obsession that kept her in the Misty Illusion.

"Because I wanted to."

The Witch smiled sweetly.

There was not the slightest oddness in her expression.

"All right."

Ian knew he would definitely not get the real reason out of her.

"Potions differ from magic. All sorts of Raw Materials are constantly changing. If you want to learn, you will need to bring me some potion books from your era."

The Witch took the initiative to change the subject.

"Don't you need some Raw Materials too?"

Ian blinked.

"My dear apprentice, though I have been dead for a long time, I believe that even in your era, potion ingredients are certainly not worth mere pennies."

"So even if your teacher needs them, can you... afford them?"

Lies did not hurt people.

The truth was the sharpest blade.

Ian had been exposed as a poor kid, and his youthful face could not help flushing slightly.

"As long as the school has the ingredients, I should be able to get some." Ian admitted that he was poor, but Hogwarts was not a poor school!

"Heh, I do not want your potion teacher hunting you down." The Witch was clearly a Potions Master, so she naturally understood the importance of Potion Ingredients to a Potions Master.

"Professor Snape treats me pretty well. Maybe if I beg him pitifully enough, he'll be willing to lend me some Potion Ingredients. I already owe him quite a bit of money."

Ian spoke uncertainly.

"He treats you so well, and you still want to threaten him? Tsk, tsk. You truly do possess some of the qualities of a Dark Wizard." The Witch looked Ian over again, astonishment in her eyes.

"..."

Ian did not know how to explain it. He simply felt that leverage was like a nuclear weapon—of course, one might never use it, but having it was always much better than not having it.

"Forget it, I'm done teasing you."

The Witch waved her hand with a chuckle. "Do not underestimate your teacher. I simply have not come into contact with this knowledge for a long time. You only need to find me modern books."

"It will not be long before I catch up to your era, and then... surpass your era." With unparalleled confidence, the Witch's pride was on full display.

Even Ian felt his blood stir.

Who would not want an incredibly awesome teacher?

The more formidable the teacher!

The more the student could naturally learn!

He could practically see his bright future already!

"Praise be to you, Teacher Mara!"

Ian immediately began applauding and laid on the flattery.

"Heh, you will certainly achieve great things."

In a good mood, the Witch gave Ian her assessment.

"Of course! How could I not, with such an outstanding teacher as you!"

Ian immediately followed up.

It came out completely naturally.

However.

"I was referring to your talent for flattery. It will surely lead you unimpeded along the path of pursuing power." The Witch continued her assessment with a chuckle.

Was that praise?

It did not sound like it at all!

"How can praise from the bottom of my heart be called flattery...?" Ian widened his eyes with a sincere expression, as if he had heard something utterly unbelievable.

"See? I told you that you are very talented."

The Witch clearly did not buy it.

Even Ian, who had always been thick-skinned, felt a little embarrassed.

"Study magic well. When you are strong enough, you will not need to cloak yourself in disguises." The Witch gave Ian a meaningful warning.

"I understand."

Ian's expression grew more serious.

"Then, my dull-witted apprentice, let us learn some magic." The Witch suddenly rose from the bench and walked toward Ian on long, slender legs.

"You are far too weak right now."

The Witch stopped beside Ian. She was more than a head taller than him, and her air of superiority made Ian feel an unavoidable pressure.

"I don't have a wand."

Ian spoke somewhat nervously.

"A wand is only a tool."

The Witch looked at Ian's lost and helpless expression.

She could not help but sigh.

"Your era... is truly rather baffling." She could not help commenting. Then she raised a hand and snapped off the metal frame of a painting in the great hall.

Almost at the same moment.

Without an incantation.

Without any other movement.

As the Witch held the metal frame out to Ian, it gradually transformed into the standard shape of a wand, though it was impossible to tell what kind of wood it was supposed to be.

"Magic?"

Ian was Astonished.

"It is knowledge."

The Witch's voice was steady.

Just as Ian was still wondering whether this bargain-bin teacher of his was fooling him, the Witch had already walked behind him and raised a finger to press against the back of his head.

"Let us begin with some simpler magic."

Almost the instant the words fell.

Ian felt a chilling terror that made him tremble.

"Feel this killing intent."

The Witch's gentle voice made Ian realize that something was wrong.

What kind of simple magic required sensing killing intent?

"Feel it with your heart, then recite it with me..."

The Witch's finger pressed against the back of Ian's head. Some emotion traveled from her fingertip into Ian's mind, and Ian felt an incomparably intense impulse surge through his thoughts.

"Avada Kedavra."

Within the magnificent hall.

Flames burned in the fireplace.

The Witch taught her apprentice his first spell.