It turned out that Professor Snape didn't ask those three 'heart-warming' questions to all new students.
At least Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw weren't worthy; perhaps Gryffindor had a chance to enjoy such treatment.
However, it was most likely exclusive to Harry.
After all, his mother was Lily Evans, and his father was James Potter.
Karl was actually very curious what would happen if Harry resembled his mother, or if Harry was a girl.
A tender, doting father Snape...
Hiss! Why did that feel even scarier?
While Karl was lost in thought, Professor Snape had already finished explaining how to brew a Potion for boils.
He had the Young Wizards work in pairs to brew it, while he walked around, ready to unleash sarcastic remarks at any moment.
Nina pushed the snake's venomous fangs towards Karl, telling him to grind them into powder.
She, meanwhile, first put the horned slugs into the cauldron to steam, then weighed out the dried nettles and cleaned the porcupine quills.
As Karl ground the fangs, he whispered to Nina:
"I don't think I have any Potion talent. Why can these things cure boils just by boiling them into a soup?"
Nina quickly and precisely processed the ingredients in her hands, "It's fine, you have me."
"Keep an eye on the slugs in the cauldron; don't let them overcook."
"Oh."
Professor Snape walked past their table, casting a disdainful glance at Karl.
It was as if he was looking at a kept man or a weakling clinging to someone's leg.
Karl: ...
It really is you! How did you practice that taunting skill?
Why can you almost break my defenses without saying a word, just with your eyes?
I really want to throw the cauldron at your face!
Professor Snape, after circling the classroom, scolded several groups of Young Wizards who had made mistakes.
But when he returned behind Karl, he suddenly stopped.
Because a small furball appeared above Karl's head, and a pair of innocent big eyes were looking at him.
"Jee~"
The soft sound attracted no attention in the classroom filled with the bubbling cauldron, but it struck Snape like thunder.
Using Legilimency out of caution, after making eye contact with Fire Treasure, he immediately perceived his lost, no longer possessed love and beauty.
Snape pursed his lips, extending a trembling hand, wanting to get closer to this magical little creature.
But he stopped just before touching it, falling into a struggle.
Fire Treasure looked at this strange person; it could sense the pain and suppression in his heart.
Extreme love and intense hatred, endless darkness and a trace of unextinguished light, a corner of tranquility amidst insane emotions...
Fire Treasure didn't understand, but it felt this person was very pitiful.
So, while the other party hesitated, it actively touched the person's finger.
"Jee~"
Snape's dead heart instantly ignited like a bonfire, warming the most precious memories of his beloved hidden deep within.
He pulled his hand back as if burned, inadvertently brushing his face to instantly wipe away the flowing tears.
Looking at Fire Treasure again, Snape's lips trembled as he silently mouthed "Thank you," then quickly walked out of the classroom.
Karl suddenly looked up, staring at his retreating figure.
[Detecting...]
[Keyword extraction...]
[Sole Beloved, Undying Devotion, Fallen into Darkness, Heart Towards Light...]
[Matching...]
What happened? Why did Professor Snape suddenly trigger the light screen?
Also, why is the style of these keywords so different this time?
[Match successful!]
[Summoning Hero: Viego, the Ruined King!]
A stern face, eerie green eyes, pale hair, and twisted desires beneath a calm exterior, sinking into endless pain.
A figure shrouded in terrifying black mist appeared in the center of the light screen; just making eye contact made Karl feel madness and despair.
Just as Karl resisted this encroaching despair with his Soothing Fire, Viego shattered into black mist.
[Viego: My love is lost forever, and all I see is ruin! Pain! So much pain!]
[The Ruined King Viego's shattered heart surged with endless, deadly black mist, harvesting all life it touched.]
[Viego has taught you the Ruination, gaining the dormant Black Mist of the Harrowing.]
[Viego believes that since the world cruelly stripped him of his beloved, then destruction is its rightful end.]
What the f***... huh?!
Karl was completely speechless. No, buddy, what the hell is summoning a Viego?
With his Soothing Fire, he seemed like a sunny, cheerful young man, a respectable member of Wizard society.
Now? How did he become the dark source capable of destroying the world?
It's completely topsy-turvy!
It's hard to say how much trouble Lord Voldemort can stir up, but if his Ruination were to erupt...
Endless Black Mist would shroud the entire Earth, and the whole world would be swallowed by the Harrowing in despair.
Apart from a very small number of powerful Wizards, probably nothing would survive.
...
Nina successively added the dried nettles and fangs powder to the slug soup, then took the cauldron off the fire.
After adding the porcupine quills, she brewed it again, satisfied to see pink smoke rise.
"Done!"
Clapping her hands, Nina turned to look at Karl, only to see him poking Fire Treasure's forehead, muttering:
"I really thank you for this! You're a part-time therapist now, are you? Can this just be cured casually?"
"Jee~"
Fire Treasure covered its head, feeling guilty and wronged, weakly begging for mercy.
It hadn't expected to cause trouble; it just simply wanted to help a poor person.
"What's going on?"
Nina reached out and rescued Fire Treasure, tenderly rubbing its head.
"Ask him!"
"I can't communicate with Fire Treasure yet, but..."
But looking at Fire Treasure, it did seem to have caused trouble.
Nina looked at Karl's helpless expression and asked with concern, "Are you okay? Is the problem serious?"
"Let me think..."
Karl began to analyze whether he needed to do something.
The danger of the Ruination was undeniable, for himself and for others.
Moreover, this thing was of no help to him; in fact, using it would cause eternal damnation in endless pain.
Its only purpose was to destroy the world and resurrect his loved one?
Nonsense! Viego himself didn't even succeed!
Now he had this collective reincarnation tool inside him, it was a bit hard to bear.
However, as long as he didn't use the Ruination, theoretically, the Black Mist of the Harrowing wouldn't erupt.
It seemed like he didn't need to worry about it...
Forget it, it's a dangerous curse that can destroy the world, so he should still respect it.
He wondered if he could add a sealing layer for extra insurance. Did the Wizarding World have such a setting?
Anyway, it was like beating a child on a rainy day; he was idle anyway, and there was nothing major this semester, so he might as well treat it as a way to pass the time.
...
Nina quietly asked, "How is it?"
"It's alright, I have some ideas."
"Is the problem very serious?"
"Actually, it's not too bad."
"Is it very urgent?"
"We can take our time, but we must be quick."
Nina: ...
What are you saying? Do you need to go to the hospital wing? I think you should take some medicine!
Karl ignored Nina's look as if he were an idiot, "Do you have class this afternoon?"
"Only Transfiguration Class at three o'clock."
"Great! I'll accompany you to the library to read during the other times!"
Karl decided to go to the library to look through spellbooks, to see if he could find any sealing spells, even if it was just for peace of mind.
As for why he was dragging Nina along, he simply wanted a reading buddy.
He definitely wasn't trying to freeload a buff tool! Hmm! Absolutely not!
Nina looked at Karl in disbelief, then after a moment of hesitation, she picked up Fire Treasure and poked it.
"Still want to read? No way! Be normal, okay? How about I help you teach it a lesson?"
Karl: (¬_¬)
Fire Treasure: (>_<)
What words? What words are these!