Whispers of Horcruxes and New Pawns

The restricted section of Hogwarts' library was no longer an insurmountable barrier for Tom Riddle. With a special pass from Slughorn and his increasingly proficient Confundus Charm and stealth skills, he could move like a ghost among the shelves filled with dangerous knowledge. Ever since Professor Peverell's letters and Ares's uncontrollable magnetism had been constantly testing his nerves, Tom had been lingering here for longer and longer periods. He was no longer looking for ordinary dark magic curses, but for something deeper, more fundamental—about souls, about eternity, about... how to ensure a certain connection would never be broken.

His gaze finally settled on a thick book with an ancient binding, its cover made of some dark, dull leather, and its spine completely blank. It was casually tucked away in a dusty corner, as if deliberately forgotten by those who came before. As he brushed away the dust with his fingers, a few words that seemed to be formed from shadows appeared on the cover: Supreme Alchemy: The Separation and Bearing of Souls.

Tom's heart leaped. He carefully pulled out the book, hid in the most secluded corner, and began to read by the faint light from his wand tip. The book, written in obscure Ancient Runes and accompanied by disturbing illustrations, described a forbidden magic: the splitting of a soul and its sealing within a specific object—the creation of a "Horcrux." It claimed that as long as the Horcrux remained undestroyed, the creator could evade death and achieve a form of immortality.

Immortality! For Tom, who craved to transcend and control everything, this was an irresistible ultimate temptation. But what attracted him even more was a vague marginal note in the book: "...fragments of the soul can also serve as the deepest anchors, transcending bloodlines and space-time, binding another being, sharing eternal loneliness, or... absolute loyalty..."

This passage, like a devil's whisper, struck the deepest desire in Tom's heart. An idea, like a poisonous vine, began to grow: if he created a Horcrux, could he bind Ares to his side irrevocably, in a way that could never be severed? Could he make his secrets, his power, all his allure, be used solely for himself? Sharing eternity... how perfectly it aligned with their concept of "Symbiosis of Light and Dark"!

The thought made his fingertips tingle with excitement, but his remaining reason told him this was extremely dangerous and required meticulous preparation. He needed to research more deeply, find suitable vessels, and wait for the perfect moment. He hid the book in the deepest part of his beaded bag, deciding to keep it as his most core secret, even from Ares for now.

Meanwhile, Slughorn's club welcomed a new face. At a party themed "Emerging Powers in the Wizarding World," Slughorn enthusiastically introduced a transfer student from Durmstrang—a girl named Katarin Vol. She had long, jet-black hair, striking features, and an air of mystery and coolness characteristic of Eastern European wizards. She was a gifted duelist, particularly skilled in the Silencing Charm and highly aggressive magic.

Tom was immediately interested in her. Not because of her appearance, but because of her demonstrated strength and potential for exploitation. At Slughorn's urging, Tom engaged her in a friendly (at least on the surface) magical spar. Tom held a slight advantage with his precise control and deep understanding of spell principles, but Katarin's wild and efficient combat style also left a deep impression on him.

"That was brilliant, Mr. Riddell," Katarin said in accented English, her dark eyes gleaming with the light of a worthy opponent. "Hogwarts' teaching standards are truly renowned."

"Your combat style is impressive, Miss Vol," Tom replied politely, already assessing the possibility of bringing her into his circle. A powerful ally from Durmstrang might be useful in dealing with certain "troubles" in the future, such as... teaching overly persistent scholars to "be silent."

Ares also noticed Katarin. He could sense in her a similar pure craving for power as Tom, but more overt, lacking Tom's deep calculation. When Katarin's gaze occasionally swept over him, it held a pure curiosity, as if she were quite interested in him, this "special presence by Riddell's side," but without the excessive emotional display others showed. This pure, almost appraising gaze made Ares feel more at ease.

After the party, Tom spoke quietly with Abraxas.

"The Vol family has some influence in Durmstrang and the Eastern European wizarding community," Abraxas provided intelligence. "And it seems their family doesn't reject certain... unconventional dark magic legacies."

Tom nodded, his assessment of Katarin's value increasing.

However, when they returned to the Slytherin common room, a letter from Hogwarts, delivered by an owl and bearing the school's crest, was waiting for Ares. The letter was from Professor Dumbledore. The Transfiguration professor stated in a gentle tone that he had noticed Ares's "unique talent" in Ancient Runes and certain niche magical theories, and mentioned that Hogwarts Castle actually housed some rare manuscripts on ancient contract magic that were not even in the library. If Ares was interested, he could visit his office one weekend afternoon, and he could offer some "perhaps helpful" guidance.

This letter came at such a coincidental time! Just as Professor Peverell was pressing him, Tom was delving into Horcrux knowledge, and a potential distraction in Katarin had appeared. Was Dumbledore's action purely due to his appreciation for talent, or had he already sensed something? Had Professor Peverell communicated with him, or had he, with his own wisdom, already seen through part of the truth?

Tom held the letter, his expression grim. Dumbledore's office was not a place one could easily fool.

"You cannot go," Tom said decisively, his tone bordering on a command.

Ares looked at Dumbledore's flowing cursive on the letter, his heart filled with mixed emotions. On one hand, he longed to access knowledge that might unravel the mystery of his origins; on the other hand, he was acutely aware of Dumbledore's perceptiveness, and this visit would be like stepping into a dragon's den.

"I know the risks," Ares finally said softly. "But refusing might arouse even greater suspicion from him."

The whisper of Horcruxes echoed in Tom's mind, Katarin's appearance brought new possibilities, and Dumbledore's invitation hung over him like a sword. Tom felt that his once clear control over the situation was becoming increasingly complex and dangerous. He had to act faster, gain enough power more quickly, to deal with these mounting challenges and keep his most important "asset"—Ares—firmly in his grasp. On the second-year chessboard, new pieces had been placed, and the game between the players had entered a more perilous stage.