The Dark Lord's Relic

While the students at Hogwarts were busy with their memorization, Lin Du wasn't idle either--

He was busy researching Fiendfyre.

Within the small space isolated by the Undetectable Extension Charm and multiple protective enchantments, the air subtly distorted with the surge of magic.

Fine beads of sweat formed on Lin Du's forehead. The deep crimson Fiendfyre erupting from his wand tip was like a wild, untamed venomous snake, constantly trying to break free from his control, twisting into monstrous shapes and emitting a scorching, malevolent aura.

"Retract!" Lin Du grunted, forcefully drawing his wand in the trajectory of a counter-curse.

The Fiendfyre churned violently, contracting, and finally let out a piercing shriek before dissipating into a wisp of smoke, leaving only a pungent smell on the scorched ground.

"Tch, still not good enough." Lin Du panted slightly, lowering his wand. A trace of imperceptible fatigue and frustration flickered across his brow.

"The form is barely controllable, but its 'activity' is too strong, the backlash risk far exceeds expectations. To achieve fine control, or to safely channel its power, the current approaches seem to be dead ends."

Chao Feng, lazily sprawled on a nearby bookshelf, yawned. Its golden vertical pupils held a hint of schadenfreude:

"I told you long ago, this thing is incredibly wicked. Why bother with it? Why not research something practical, like how to get the house-elves in the kitchen to make the pudding sweeter?"

Lin Du ignored its teasing and walked over to a basin of water, splashing the clear water on his face to dispel the dizziness caused by intense concentration and significant magical exhaustion.

"Theoretically, there must be a more optimized way to control it; we just haven't found the key..."

Just as he was about to re-organize his thoughts, the office window was gently tapped.

A common-looking owl with drab feathers stood quietly outside the window, carrying an unsigned letter.

Chao Feng's ears immediately perked up: "Hmm? At this hour? Whose letter is it?"

Lin Du opened the envelope and frowned after reading the letter.

It was from an "old friend."

Lin Du had traveled for many years and made many friends--no matter where he was in the world, he could tell you the location of the nearest magical black market with his eyes closed.

This letter was from an "old friend" he had met at a hidden market in Southern Europe.

Lin Du took out the parchment, quickly wrote a concise reply, and arranged to meet the person at the famous Hog's Head pub in Hogsmeade on Saturday.

He was still pondering the intentions behind this "friend's" sudden contact even after the owl had disappeared into the night.

He clearly remembered the scene of their first meeting.

It was in a small market town on the Portuguese coast, hidden by magic. She called herself "Selene," possessing silver hair that flowed with a moonlight-like sheen and eyes that seemed to hold the starry sky--

It was the unforgettable beauty of a Veela.

Selene operated according to ancient and strict principles of equivalent exchange. Whether it was lost magical manuscripts, peculiar potions, or rare magical creature materials, she always seemed to find a way.

Lin Du had dealings with her several times, and the transactions were always smooth, establishing a certain trust based on mutual benefit and caution.

Therefore, he was indeed curious as to why Selene had sought him out this time.

Of course, he was equally curious about what "good stuff" she had brought this time.

At ten o'clock on Saturday morning, the Hog's Head pub was dimly lit, the air filled with a rich mixture of butterbeer and the scent of aged grime.

It was still early, with only one patron sitting in a corner.

Lin Du walked directly towards that table.

Selene was sitting there, appearing incongruously radiant even in this environment.

She was wearing a dark green robe today, which made her silver hair appear even more dazzling. Seeing Lin Du, the corners of her lips curved into a lazy, meaningful arc.

"You're here." Her voice was like silk sliding over feathers, carrying a natural allure.

As Lin Du sat opposite her, an invisible magical barrier quietly rose, isolating their figures and voices from the outside world.

"Selene." Lin Du nodded in greeting, his expression calm.

She leaned forward slightly, her captivating eyes scrutinizing Lin Du's face before letting out a soft sigh of admiration: "So many years have passed, and time has left such negligible traces on you... It seems those Eastern longevity secrets are indeed well-deserved?"

Lin Du calmly avoided her teasing gaze, his tone flat: "Let's skip the pleasantries. What do you need me for?"

Selene chuckled softly, leaning back in her chair, her expression becoming slightly more serious: "To discuss a transaction. About... a secret that might interest both of us."

"What secret?" Lin Du asked.

"About the possibility of 'Transcending Death'." Selene's red lips uttered the words, her voice dropping lower, laced with seduction, "A secret said to be related to the core legacy of the Second Dark Lord."

Lin Du's heart stirred, but his face remained impassive: "It sounds tempting, but also extremely dangerous. What is the price? And why do you think I would know, or be able to obtain, the relevant information?"

"Intuition, and... my trust in your abilities, my dear Lin." Selene smiled. "As for the price, we need to first establish a... foundation for cooperation."

She elegantly extended her hand, palm up. As an ancient and obscure syllable escaped her lips, a magical energy resembling liquid moonlight began to gather in her palm, swirling slowly.

"This is the 'Moonlight Vow,' originating from the oldest magic of my kind." Selene's voice became ethereal and solemn. "Unlike your wizards' 'Unbreakable Vow' which requires a third-party witness, it is equally binding."

She looked at Lin Du, her gaze leaving no room for refusal: "Swear to me, Lin Du. Swear that if you discover any item or information directly related to the secret of 'Transcending Death' at Hogwarts, you will not destroy it, conceal it, or share its core secret with anyone other than me, without informing me first."

Lin Du could feel the powerful magical energy contained within that silver orb, carrying the unique, beautiful, and dangerous aura of the Veela.

He remained silent for a moment, realizing that if he refused, she would not reveal any substantive information.

"I swear," he said in a deep voice, placing his hand over Selene's palm.