Witch! Teacher!

Ian's sudden arrival clearly disturbed the witch's meal. Not only did the table and tableware in front of her vanish, but the food on the plates disappeared along with them.

In the grand, resplendent hall, even the chandeliers hanging from the ceiling vanished, and the knife and fork the witch had been holding even sprouted tiny wings and flew away.

"I... I'm sorry."

Caught off guard, Ian recognized the witch not far away as the mysterious young woman who had approached him in the town earlier. She was still wearing that same incredibly luxurious black gown.

Like a phantom descending quietly into the night, she was suffused with an indescribable sense of mystery and depth.

"Although this method of arrival was unexpected, I was the one who extended an invitation to you, so you need not feel that this is overly impolite."

A napkin appeared in the witch's hand, and she elegantly wiped her red lips. As she swayed slightly with the movement, the cultivation and temperament of an ancient noble were displayed naturally.

This was not some affected pose.

It was a foundation that seemed to have been integrated into her every action long ago.

"I did not intend to disturb your meal."

Ian still hadn't managed to collect his thoughts. He actually wanted to say that he hadn't considered responding to her previous invitation, but he knew that such a statement would be far too rude.

"Souls within Limbo do not need to eat. I merely follow the habits I cultivated while I was alive; those foods cannot provide me with the slightest pleasure."

The mysterious witch chuckled, eyeing Ian with interest. Her words made Ian swallow hard, his inner tension and anxiety becoming all the more apparent.

Food couldn't provide pleasure?

Then what could provide pleasure to this young woman?

Toying with little boys?

The mysterious witch's gaze wasn't exactly burning, but Ian felt more and more like ants were crawling over him. He stood there blankly, his expression and posture looking slightly awkward.

Fortunately, the mysterious witch spoke again, breaking the awkward silence.

"It seems you have already set foot on the path of pursuing magic."

Ian truly didn't know how the mysterious witch had discerned this. He hadn't brought his wand into this world, yet she still spoke her judgment with a tone full of conviction.

"Yes, My Lady."

Facing the mysterious witch's gaze, which seemed even deeper than Dumbledore's, Ian nodded and told the truth. This situation was not a secret that needed to be hidden.

In front of such an unknown soul.

Attempting to hide with lies would likely bring him unnecessary trouble.

This was an intuition.

An intuition stemming from [Thought Perception]. Ian found it difficult to perceive this witch's emotions, much like when facing Dumbledore, but this extraordinary trait could also influence his sixth sense.

And sure enough.

Hearing Ian's honest answer, the mysterious witch seemed very satisfied.

"You should address me as... Teacher."

Ian didn't know if the mysterious witch had truly misunderstood him or if she was doing it on purpose, but she corrected his form of address with a tone that carried a hint of emphasis.

"I... I..."

Ian pondered for a moment and chose to be truthful: "Actually, I don't know why I suddenly arrived here at your place."

"Every other time, I have appeared in the same spot—that meadow outside the village." The fact that he was a living person was also something he couldn't hide.

Whether it was Ariana or Pandero, they had both realized immediately that Ian was not a dead soul. Naturally, the mysterious witch before him would not fail to see this.

"And so?"

The witch's deep gaze fixed upon Ian.

Ian steadied his mind and spoke carefully:

"I have indeed been considering learning magic from you, but in reality, I haven't made up my mind yet. This time, I actually just wanted to see if my friends had returned."

Ian tried his best to make his smile look innocent. He truly felt that the mysterious witch before him was not like a white wizard, and since he only knew a few minor spells, he could only choose a more timid way of responding.

"They have not returned. Only three days have passed here since you last left." The mysterious witch rested her right hand on the edge of her chair and propped up her face with her palm.

She tapped her other hand lightly on the armrest, speaking to Ian slowly with a hint of languor, "Limbo is a very peculiar place. It responds to the most genuine desires and obsessions within a person's heart. That is the reason why your arrival point has changed."

This was clearly an answer to Ian's confusion.

However.

"Er, sorry, I still don't quite understand."

Ian frowned.

"What a dull little pig."

The mysterious witch's brows twitched slightly, and her beautiful face held a trace of helplessness. "I never imagined that I would end up with such a slow-witted apprentice."

Although the mockery was much milder than Snape's, the mysterious witch was clearly a bit more arrogant than him; from beginning to end, she spoke with the attitude of a superior.

It was not overbearing.

Yet, one could clearly sense that she held herself above others—as for how to deal with this type of person, Ian had actually already gained a bit of experience through practice with Snape.

"Then, shall I leave?"

Although he sounded a bit cautious, Ian only said that one sentence, and the witch sitting across from him clearly choked, her eye twitching just like Snape's.

"What a slippery little brat."

The mysterious witch shook her head, speechless.

"In the past, you craved friendship; now, you crave magic."

In the end, she provided the answer.

Ian grew thoughtful.

Combining this with his current situation in reality, Ian felt there was some truth to it. But why, specifically because he craved to learn magic, had Limbo brought him here?

"Because deep down, you know that I can teach you powerful magic, as well as the knowledge those schools are unwilling to teach you—knowledge that can allow you to quickly gain the strength sufficient to confront crises."

The mysterious witch spoke abruptly.

It was like a response.

Except.

Ian clearly had not voiced the doubts in his heart.

"You can read minds!?"

Ian's gaze sharpened.

He felt he was empathizing with Snape from before.

Was this the boomerang of the wizarding world?

"That is not a difficult magic to learn, but in Limbo, I no longer possess the powers I attained during my lifetime, and naturally, I have lost the magic I once wielded."

The mysterious witch laughed quite merrily.

"I am simply good at observing."