When Ares's fingertips touched the handle of "Eternal Cycle," time seemed to freeze for an instant.
Then, an indescribable sensation swept through his entire body like a tidal wave! It was not the domineering, razor-sharp infusion of power that Tom's wand had given him, but a deeper, more ancient resonance. The light and dark magic within him seemed to have found its long-lost other half, rushing joyfully as it perfectly merged with the blazing power of rebirth from the phoenix ash and the cold power of insight from the Thestral feather within the wand.
The Blood Pact Mark beneath his left eye suddenly turned scorching hot, radiating a soft, enduring golden glow.
Without needing to be waved, the wand itself began to shine with strange brilliance. Its dark gray and pale gold spiral patterns seemed to come alive, slowly flowing and turning. At its tip, rather than a single beam of light bursting forth, two intertwined streams of energy emerged at once—one a warm, dazzling golden radiance like a phoenix's tail feathers; the other a cool, profound silver mist like the wings of a Thestral beneath the moon.
The golden light and silver mist did not devour each other. Instead, like a DNA double helix, they wound and spun together in harmony, rising through the cramped shop and illuminating every corner. Two scents filled the air at once—one the warm fragrance of plants baked by sunlight, the other the cool mossy scent from deep within a forest after rain.
The light was not dazzling, yet it carried an ancient majesty that reached straight into the soul. The mountain-like stacks of wand boxes on the walls seemed to tremble faintly, emitting a low hum as though paying tribute to this one-of-a-kind wand.
Mr. Ollivander's mouth fell open, his moonlike eyes widening round with unprecedented shock and fervor. "Merlin..." he nearly groaned. "I have never seen... never! Light and dark, life and death, so balanced, so... symbiotic! It chose you! Without a doubt! You are the master it has been waiting for!"
Dumbledore stood quietly to one side, his expression incomparably complicated. He looked at the phenomenon of interwoven light and darkness, at Ares's profile, which appeared both more sacred and more mysterious beneath the glow, especially the brightly burning Blood Pact Mark. The nature of this wand echoed far too clearly with the child's origins and that past tangled in light and darkness, love and regret. This was no coincidence.
Tom gripped his Yew Wand tightly, his knuckles turning white. He looked at the wand in Ares's hand that had caused such a magnificent phenomenon, at the harmonious coexistence of light and darkness, then compared it to the aggressive, ominous red glow of his own wand. For the first time, an indescribable emotion rose in his heart, mixed with jealousy and extreme confusion. Why? Why did Ares always possess things that seemed contradictory yet perfectly unified?
The light continued for nearly a minute before gradually drawing back, finally merging completely into the wand. The shop returned to its previous dimness, but that strange sense of resonance lingered for a long while.
Ares held "Eternal Cycle," feeling as though it were part of his own body, as easy to command as an arm or a finger. He could clearly sense the two powerful yet opposing forces within it flowing obediently under his will.
"Marvelous! Absolutely marvelous!" Mr. Ollivander was too excited to contain himself. He looked at Ares as though he were gazing upon a priceless treasure. "'Eternal Cycle'... Legend says its wood was born where extreme emotions and magic collided, while its core transcends the boundary between life and death! It chooses only souls that bear immense contradictions within their hearts, deeply understand sacrifice, and can remain clear-headed amid pain! Mr. Phoenix, you are destined for extraordinary accomplishments!"
He turned to Dumbledore again, his tone filled with utmost solemnity. "Professor Dumbledore, you have brought two... exceptionally extraordinary young people today."
Dumbledore nodded slightly, his gaze still resting on Ares and the wand in his hand. His voice was calm. "Every wand's choice reveals part of its master's nature. Thank you, Mr. Ollivander."
After paying—Ares's wand had cost a considerable sum, but he had just withdrawn enough Galleons from the vault—the two of them carried their respective wand boxes out of Ollivanders Wand Shop.
The sunlight outside was somewhat glaring. Tom walked ahead in silence, his back seeming even more tense and isolated than before. Ares's wand, along with Ollivander's pointed words, was like a thorn embedded in his proud heart. He had originally believed himself unique, the chosen one selected by a powerful and special wand, but Ares's "Eternal Cycle" displayed a kind of "harmony" he could not understand and even vaguely found threatening.
Ares could sense Tom's gloomy mood, but he had no time to spare for him at the moment. He was immersed in the joy of obtaining a wand that truly belonged to him and in thoughts of the future. "Eternal Cycle"... the name itself was filled with a sense of destiny.
"A wand is a wizard's most important companion." Dumbledore's voice sounded beside them. He walked alongside the two boys, his gaze calmly fixed on the street ahead. "They do not merely cast magic; they also reflect our choices. How you use this power depends on yourselves."
His words seemed meant for both of them, but Ares felt they were more of a reminder to Tom.
For the rest of their shopping trip, the atmosphere became somewhat delicate. They went to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, where the short, plump, amiable witch measured them for clothes. Tom remained silent throughout, cooperating with every instruction, but his eyes were cold. Ares, meanwhile, tried to chat with Madam Malkin in a relaxed tone to ease the atmosphere.
Afterward, they went to Flourish and Blotts to buy the textbooks on their list. Tom quickly and precisely found every book he needed, including Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection, in which he showed particular interest. Besides his textbooks, Ares also selected several extra books on A History of Magic and introductory Runic script.
After purchasing miscellaneous supplies such as scales, a telescope, and a Brass Cauldron, they finally arrived at Eeylops Owl Emporium. Tom stared for a long time at a huge eagle owl with fierce eyes, but in the end, he chose a less conspicuous black owl with especially sharp eyes.
"It is quiet, and... not easily noticed," Tom explained flatly, though it was unclear who he was speaking to.
Ares had no particular preference for birds. Urged on by the system, he chose a snowy owl with pure white feathers that looked especially beautiful and spirited. When he reached toward the cage, the snowy owl affectionately rubbed its beak against his fingers.
[Wow! Host! (★ ω ★) It's so cute! Let's get it! It can help us deliver letters in the future!]
As the sun began to set, dyeing Diagon Alley in a warm golden hue, their shopping finally came to an end. Both boys had their hands full of bags and parcels, while Tom also carried the cage containing his black owl.
Standing before the back wall of The Leaky Cauldron, preparing to leave this dreamlike place, the two boys were in utterly different states of mind.
Tom looked back at the still-bustling street, cold flames burning in his dark eyes. He had obtained a ticket to power and glimpsed a broader world. The ambition in his heart grew wildly like a poisonous vine nourished by water. He wanted to control it all.
Ares also looked back, his heart filled with anticipation for the future and a trace of unease. He had a wand, a companion—though that companion was dangerous and complicated—and clues to uncovering his own secrets. He knew the road ahead would never be smooth.
Dumbledore tapped the brick wall with his wand once more. The archway slowly closed, hiding Diagon Alley's bustle and magic away again.
They passed through The Leaky Cauldron and returned to the gray, Muggle streets of London.
On the journey back, all three remained silent. Tom was immersed in his ambitions, Ares pondered the box in the vault and the meaning of his wand, while Dumbledore observed the two children who were about to enter Hogwarts and were destined to be anything but ordinary with his blue eyes that could see through people's hearts.
The Hogwarts Express was waiting for them, and their legend had only just begun.
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