"Splash——!!!"
Vid suddenly broke free from the Penseieve, like a drowning man surfacing, his body staggering due to the violent motion. His hands instinctively gripped the edge of the sink before quickly letting go.
He gasped for air, cold sweat soaking his brow, the face in the mirror unusually pale and bloodless.
Vid's gaze fell on the seemingly ordinary Penseieve.
The silver memories had evaporated like steam, and the stone basin was empty. Its archaic edges bore no excess ornamentation, and its shape was not even very round, as if carved out of stone by primitive men.
But seeing the magic power flowing above, Vid instinctively stepped back half a pace, his fingertips curling slightly, not daring to touch this seemingly harmless container.
After the brief daze and shock, Vid took a deep breath, forced himself to look away, and quickly blinked his eyes to brush aside the damp hair, along with the chaotic buzzing speculations still echoing in his mind.
He still remembered where he was and what he had come for.
Closing his eyes, Vid took several deep breaths, then looked up at his reflection in the mirror again, his gaze becoming sharp and focused once more.
He drew out his Magic Wand. The glass vial that previously held the memories dissolved into powder with a tap of the wand, falling into the toilet.
He reached out to press the flush button, and as the wand tip pointed at the Penseieve again, he couldn't help but pause.
He instinctively resisted contacting that thing, even unwilling to let his wand touch it.
Then Vid tapped the edge of the stone basin with his wand, and a pure, smooth white sheen spread out instantly. In the blink of an eye, the sink reverted to the appearance Vid had seen earlier, as if nothing had ever happened.
After checking once more, comparing it with the sink in his memories to confirm it was exactly the same, Vid turned on the faucet and splashed the cold water on his face.
[Where is this place? The world after death? Are you the God of Death?]
The wet hand wiped past his ear, and Vid seemed to hear that voice again.
His body tensed slightly, then he continued washing his face and hands before looking up to dry with a towel.
The reflection in the mirror showed a bathroom that was clean and neat, everything white and seemingly reflective, with no thin-faced young soldier smiling behind him.
But the voice in his mind remained clear—
[Those evil people will surely be punished, right?]
Vid blinked, tidied his robe and facial expression, ensuring nothing was amiss, then turned to leave the bathroom.
As soon as he opened the door, the maid waiting quietly outside immediately looked up, a trained polite smile on her face.
But upon seeing Vid, she couldn't help glancing into the bathroom, her expression hinting at surprise and sympathy.
——Being in the bathroom for so long, looking so pale like he's about to faint... must be constipation, right?
So young and already having intestinal issues... it seems even being the most talented Alchemist isn't easy...
The maid's mind was full of random thoughts as she led Vid back to the study. Before they even got close, she noticed that the two Wizards acting as guards were back at their posts, with slightly bored expressions on their faces.
Entering the study, Vid found the previous chaos had subsided. The butler and guards stood in their original places in silence, as if they had never left.
Vid wanted to ask about the Penseieve, but seeing this, he could only keep his question to himself, nodding to greet them.
Stella was sitting on a sofa, tightly hugging a white tail-wagging dog, her expression a mix of anger and affection.
While the dog's big wet eyes seemed full of grievance, its ears drooping, and tail listlessly hanging by its side, occasionally trembling a bit.
Its front paws were still stained with blood and dirt. Stella wiped them with a towel while scolding angrily:
"Idiot! Aren't you supposed to be smart? Don't you know what you should and shouldn't do? If you bully me like before again, I'll neuter you! Don't blame me then!"
"Whimpering..."
The dog's tail immediately tucked between its legs, its whimper turning sharper as it licked its owner's palm placatingly, its tail wagging rapidly.
"Hmm, acknowledging mistakes and correcting them is good!" Stella raised her eyebrows and looked at Vid, who had just entered, saying with an implied accusation, "Unlike some people, who can't even utter an apology!"
"Stella!" Ms. Picquery's voice rang out, deep and steady, "Mind your manners!"
Reluctantly, Stella pursed her lips but eventually lowered her head.
Ms. Picquery turned to Vid, her face carrying a hint of appropriate apology:
"Please forgive Stella's rudeness, Mr. Gray. She experienced a fright today."
"It's alright," Vid said. "Miss Stella speaks her mind, and I can sense her sincerity."
The butler glanced at Vid, his mouth twitching slightly:
...You can feel her sincere dislike for you? You're pretty good at talking...
Ms. Picquery smiled and nodded, saying, "I'm sorry, but we must end our conversation. Mr. Elijah Watkins from the Magic Congress will arrive shortly to conduct necessary inquiries and records regarding the recent... unexpected escape of a Magical Creature."
"No need to apologize, Madam," Vid replied courteously. "Today's discussion has been very enlightening for me. Thank you for your hospitality and valuable insights. I look forward to having the opportunity to consult you again."
"Certainly," Ms. Picquery smiled slightly. "We will meet again."
[One day, we will meet again, won't we? Haha!]
The laughter echoed near his ear, but Vid's expression remained unchanged; he politely nodded farewell.
Ms. Picquery instructed her still pouty-faced niece, "Stella, see Mr. Gray out for me."
"Me? Me?"
Stella raised her head, her face full of reluctance, but under Ms. Picquery's irrefutable gaze, she grudgingly stood up, rolled her eyes at Vid, and lifted her skirt to stride quickly ahead of him.
"Follow me, Mr. Gray... please!"
Adding a reluctant "please" under Ms. Picquery's watchful eyes, Stella's expression became increasingly sullen.
Vid calmly followed along.
The girl, full of anger, walked quickly and nearly collided with a maid carrying a tray of coffee down the corridor. She immediately lost her temper:
"Be careful! Can't even manage such a small thing? My aunt is paying you enough! If you can't do the job, find someone else!"
The maid hurriedly bowed her head, only lifting it after the young lady had stormed past through the corridor.
Stella's temper was considerable, and her voice carried far, causing the surrounding guards and servants to slow their pace or slightly turn sideways, deliberately maintaining a distance from them, fearing they might unwittingly become targets of her anger.
Stella urged Vid again, "Hurry up! Stop dawdling!"
Vid also quickened his pace, catching up to her, hearing her ask in a very low, trembling voice:
"Did you... see it all? Everything in there?"
Vid nodded quickly and silently.
In an instant, Stella's eyes turned red, quickly welling up with water and teary glimmers.
She lowered her head, blinking rapidly, nervously and clearly saying with a nasal tone:
"You saw it too. Aunt Seraphina... she can't do much. The current Congress President restricts her at every turn... even the policies Aunt Seraphina supports, though correct, he covertly or overtly opposes... So, Aunt can only remain silent..."
She sniffed, trying to suppress the flood of complaints and questions, noticing the door was now close, she softly said:
"All the truth... all the hope... lies with Headmaster Dumbledore. I can only entrust you... please... make sure justice is served for them!"