It seemed like a complicated situation was about to unfold.
Aris sighed inwardly.
After a moment, when he raised his head again, his eyes were filled with confusion and helplessness.
"I don't know either..."
"I don't remember anything about my past. Ever since I can remember, I've been wandering alone. Until yesterday, when I fainted from hunger… and when I woke up, I was here."
Listening to Aris's explanation, Xenophilius frowned slightly.
"You're still just a child. How could you possibly survive outside by yourself?"His tone clearly carried doubt.
"Father, you just said yourself that he's only a child!"
Little Luna looked at her father with a hint of blame, obviously unhappy with the questioning tone.
"I'm sorry. I only wanted to learn more about you so that I could send you back home as soon as possible," Xenophilius said, his voice softening slightly. However, his attitude still felt somewhat stiff.
"It's alright. I'm used to it."
Aris answered calmly.
Looking at Xenophilius, he spoke seriously.
"During my years of wandering, I've met people with much worse attitudes than yours."
"I've slept under bridges, searched for food in trash cans, and even fought with stray dogs."
"There were several times when I thought I wouldn't survive the cold and dark night… and that I would never see the sun the next morning."
"You saved me, and for that, I'm truly grateful."
After speaking, Aris stood up and respectfully bowed to both Xenophilius and Luna.
Then he turned and began walking toward the door.
The things Aris had said were not lies.
They were real experiences from the original owner's memories, which had been included in the information transmitted to him by the system.
So in a sense, he wasn't acting.
However, the one who had truly experienced those hardships was not technically him.
"Wait! Where are you going?"
Before Xenophilius could react, Luna hurried forward and grabbed Aris's sleeve. Her voice carried a hint of anxiety.
"I think… maybe I shouldn't stay here any longer."
The confusion on Aris's face disappeared, replaced by the stubborn pride of a child.
"Father!"
Luna frowned slightly.
Xenophilius opened his mouth as if to say something, but eventually sighed.
"...Perhaps you can stay here for one night."
He clearly hadn't expected Aris's past to be so harsh. For a moment, he seemed uncomfortable.
His gaze softened, and his tone became much gentler.
"I'm sorry. I only wanted to confirm a few things."
Even so, the concern in his eyes had not disappeared.
He understood very clearly that if the Quill of Acceptance and Book of Admittance at Hogwarts had acknowledged Aris's surname, then it could not possibly be wrong.
Under the current circumstances, Aris was very likely the last descendant of the Shafik family.
Naturally, that also meant he was the final heir of this ancient wizarding family.
Everyone in the wizarding world understood what that meant.
Especially since the Shafik family was one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight.
That represented enormous wealth and influence.
Each of the Sacred Twenty-Eight families had once been incredibly powerful.
The Shafik family's businesses were rumored to extend throughout much of the wizarding world.
Some even claimed they possessed substantial assets within the Muggle world.
And now—
Aris was merely an eleven-year-old boy.
With many pure-blood families currently declining, it was inevitable that some people would covet such a fortune.
If others discovered his identity, they might develop dangerous intentions.
And if the Lovegood family chose to shelter him—
They could easily become involved.
"Father, Aris shouldn't have to suffer anymore. Let's take him in!"
Luna, being a child, naturally couldn't consider things as deeply as Xenophilius.
She only felt that Aris's life story was heartbreaking and wanted to help him.
Girls tended to be more emotional, and she had already developed a good impression of Aris.
At that moment, Luna looked at him with a trace of sympathy in her eyes.
Hearing her words, Xenophilius fell silent.
"Father~"
Luna's bright silver eyes looked firm and pleading.
She didn't throw a tantrum like other children might.
But this quiet determination was exactly what Xenophilius found hardest to resist.
Finally, he sighed helplessly.
"Alright."
He rubbed his forehead before speaking to Aris.
"You should reply to Hogwarts first."
"It wouldn't be impossible for you to leave after you start school and find your own place."
Hearing this, Aris finally felt reassured.
Although he had already expected this outcome, hearing it confirmed still eased his mind.
At least for now—
He had a place to stay.
"Thank you."
Aris bowed sincerely to Xenophilius and Luna once again.
After all, he had just arrived in this world.
Having a place to stay was extremely important to him.
And he truly felt grateful.
Half an hour later, an owl carried Aris's reply back toward Hogwarts.
Only then did Aris have time to properly look around the Lovegood house.
The cylindrical house had three floors and an attic, with two rooms on each level.
Luna's room was located directly opposite Aris's.
Xenophilius lived on the first floor, while the third floor and attic were used for storage.
The entire house was filled with copies of The Quibbler and strange little gadgets rarely seen in ordinary homes.
Most of them had been collected by Luna.
Items like butterbeer cork necklaces and Spectrespecs could be found everywhere.
She clearly loved collecting unusual things.
Outside, a gentle breeze swept across the endless green grass.
The Lovegood home stood atop a relatively flat hill.
The tall cylindrical house rose from the grass like a lonely tower floating upon a green ocean.
It looked mysterious and peaceful.
As the last rays of sunlight faded into the horizon, Aris and Luna sat quietly on the front steps, gazing into the distance.
Climbing vines covered the outer walls of the house.
Small ornaments hung from them like Christmas decorations.
The scene felt slightly mismatched, yet strangely charming.
Aris actually found it quite interesting.
"Luna…"
"Have you ever thought about the true nature of magic?"
Feeling the cool breeze brush across his face, Aris subconsciously raised his hand.
Instantly—
Countless blades of grass lifted into the air.
They floated and danced around the two of them in the wind.
As someone with the instincts of a top student, Aris couldn't help thinking about deeper questions whenever he encountered magic.
But before Luna could respond—
A voice suddenly echoed in Aris's mind.
[Ding! The Mission System has been activated!]
[When three people walk together, one of them can always be my teacher.]
[As a top student, you should always thirst for knowledge!]
[Daily Mission: Ask questions to teachers and obtain answers.]
Progress: 0/3
[Completing missions will reward Academic Points.]
[Note: The questions must involve knowledge that the host has not yet mastered.]