You're back?

The Hogwarts Headmaster.

In the familiar room, various silver utensils emitted a soft mist, refracting delicate halos of light under the moonlight.

Lucien habitually glanced at the portraits of the past principals; most were asleep, only a few were briefly looked at before his eyes closed again.

The gaze finally settled on the golden bird's nest.

Having just undergone a rebirth and still in its infancy, Fawkes is huddled in its nest, its tiny head buried under its wings, rising and falling gently with its breath.

Lucien slowed his pace, not wanting to disturb the "baby's" peaceful sleep.

However, just as he approached, Fawkes suddenly opened his eyes.

Those eyes, flashing with golden light, locked onto Lucien precisely. Immediately afterward, a tender yet clear bird song rang out in the quiet Headmaster's Office.

Thanks to the Unicorn's blessing, Lucien immediately understood what Fawkes meant:

"You seem to have... won the favor of the fire element?"

The Fire Element's Favoritism?

Lucien was slightly taken aback, then realized—it was because of the fire elemental runes.

He subconsciously rubbed the barely perceptible flame-shaped mark on his right middle finger, and then he understood.

Lucien was not surprised that Fawkes could sense the changes in himself.

Magical Creatures like the Abraxan, Thunderbird, and Kelpie, which are relatively sensitive to elements, can sense the special aura brought by elemental runes to a certain extent.

Moreover, it is a legendary creature like the Phoenix, capable of rising from the ashes.

Lucien walked to the edge of the nest, Fawkes lowered his small head, scrutinizing him carefully, before letting out a low growl:

"Strange... it's not a magical effect, nor a blessing..." Its tone was tinged with confusion, "It's more like... a natural elemental affinity."

Fawkes shifted his body, poked his head out from the edge of the nest, and moved closer to Lucien.

"It seems there's more than just fire element, there's also..."

It suddenly raised its head and met Lucien's gaze, its eyes gleaming with a kind of curiosity:

"Did you have any Magical Creatures blood in your family?"

Lucien was taken aback.

This... Fawkes has misunderstood.

Well, the ancestors of the Grafton family were probably relatively traditional Muggle, and they likely wouldn't have done anything to allow their descendants to inherit the bloodline of Magical Creatures.

Before Fawkes could make any further inquiries, very light but steady footsteps echoed in the Headmaster's Office.

Lucien turned his head to look at the stairs, where an elderly man with silver hair and beard, wearing a dark purple nightgown, was holding onto the handrail and walking down the spiral staircase step by step.

Dumbledore was wearing a nightcap, the little pom-pom on top swaying gently with each step.

"You're back already?"

Dumbledore's first words were surprisingly this, with a hint of obvious surprise in his tone.

Lucien was somewhat surprised, but nodded nonetheless. "Yes, Headmaster, we just arrived. Didn't Professor Shafiq say anything?"

Dumbledore adjusted his nightcap, and since he wasn't wearing his half-moon spectacles, his deep blue eyes revealed a hint of helplessness:

"Professor Shafiq did not write to say whether you would return today or tomorrow."

Lucien blinked.

Was Professor Shafiq so overjoyed that he forgot to inform everyone about the return-to-school date because his school had won the championship?

Well, given Professor Shafiq's consistent style, it could also be that he's simply lazy...

No wonder there was no welcoming ceremony at the castle gate when we returned.

Lucien had initially thought it was too late and the school planned to hold the event tomorrow, but it turned out that no one knew they were arriving tonight.

Standing on the stairs Dumbledore seemed to have figured out the problem as well. He looked down at his dressing robe, then at Lucien, and a subtle silence and awkwardness fell over the atmosphere.