Karl was confident he wouldn't mistake Peeves' appearance; after all, they often had friendly exchanges.
These included both verbal reasoning and physical arguments, making them old acquaintances... no, old ghosts... no, old acquaintances.
But why was Peeves here?
Karl cautiously approached the stone circle and quickly noticed something was off.
Although this spirit was identical to Peeves in height and appearance, its demeanor was completely different.
At this moment, the other party was smiling with closed eyes, their face serene, and their hands crossed over their chest, resting on their shoulders, giving off a sense of peace and gentleness, completely unlike Peeves.
Then Karl suddenly remembered something Nina had told him:
Ms. Ravenclaw believed that Peeves was formed from the negative emotions, such as naughtiness and willfulness, of all Hogwarts students, which is why Ms. Hufflepuffwas always puzzled as to why the students' positive emotions of kindness and friendliness hadn't formed a 'good ghost'.
So, this spirit, identical to Peeves, couldn't possibly be...
"Mr. Olin, your courage is beyond my expectation, not like Hufflepuff, but more like Gryffindor."
At this moment, Elvis Heller had finished his bowing ritual and looked at Karl, who had followed closely behind.
"That only shows how shallow your understanding is, because Hufflepuff never lacks courage."
Karl pointed his wand at the red jade sphere on the altar, "Professor Heller, what is that thing?"
"You can call it the magic Core of Hogwarts Castle, or you can call it by its true name, the stone of destiny or the Stone of Ireland."
Elvis Heller paced around the altar, waving his hands and speaking in a high-pitched voice, his mental state very strange.
Karl couldn't help but frown upon hearing this, "The stone of destiny? Are you talking about the Coronation Stone?"
"It seems Mr. Olin's understanding is very shallow," Elvis Heller retorted Karl's earlier sarcasm, "The Scottish Coronation Stone, the Stone of Scone, the Coronation Stone of Tara, are merely parts of the stone of destiny, and this one before you is the core of the stone of destiny, possessing endless, continuous magic."
Goodness!
Things were starting to get interesting!
The stone of destiny, imbued with magic, that must be a treasure from Celtic mythology, right?
Karl stopped outside the stone circle, with no intention of entering it, "What about this spirit then? It's not Peeves' twin brother, is it?"
"Actually, that's not wrong to say. It and Peeves indeed share the same origin, both coming from the emotions of Hogwarts students."
At this moment, Elvis Heller had his back to Karl, ascending the altar step by step towards the stone of destiny.
Seeing this, Karl became a little anxious and raised his hand, ready to cast Fiendfyre.
However, before he could even raise his wand, an invisible large hand pressed it down.
Alright, this is your decision, old man.
It has nothing to do with me! If something goes wrong, you take the blame!
"However, Lord Herpo the Foul cast a spell on the stone of destiny, causing the formed spirit to split into two, and this one has finally met the requirements, so I have come to take it away."
Elvis Heller carefully observed the spirit's state, looking very satisfied.
Karl sincerely advised him, "Stealing things from someone else's home, isn't that a bit improper? You are Greek, don't learn the ways of the British."
"Steal? If it weren't for Lord Herpo the Foul's help, Hogwarts Castle would never have been built."
So, the Wizard who claimed to be "Merlin" was actually Herpo the Foul... wouldn't that be even more outrageous? The era he was active in was even more ancient than Merlin's!
"So, you bury nails in someone else's home? This inhuman behavior is even more British, and you even impersonate others."
Facing Karl's incessant complaints, Elvis Heller scoffed dismissively.
"The four Wizards who originally founded Hogwartsaccidentally obtained the core of the stone of destiny and had no way to use it. It was Lord Herpo the Foul who gave life to the Castle. Shouldn't he receive some compensation?"
"As for Lord Herpo the Foul claiming to be Merlin, it's actually out of pity for him, as the method of completing a soul with a spirit was created by Merlin. It's just a pity that before he could act, he was sealed by the Lady of the Lake in Avalon."
After speaking, he placed his hand on the stone platform beneath the stone of destiny and pulled out a blood-red long spear.
Elvis Heller gently caressed the long spear, then looked at Karl again, "Mr. Olin, I'm giving you one last chance, will you accept my invitation?"
"What about the benefits?"
"True immortality!"
"Are you talking about Horcrux?"
Elvis Heller sneered, "Lord Herpo the Foul invented Horcrux not to escape death, but to save that Lord from... It's just that later Wizards misunderstood its purpose."
Karl's expression shifted, "From whose hands? And who is that Lord? What is the true purpose of a Horcrux?"
"You have too many questions. Until you become Lord Herpo the Foul's servant, I will not answer you."
"However, as your Defense Against the Dark Arts ClassProfessor, I am very willing to give you a final lesson."
"Creating a Horcrux allows a Wizard to escape death, but it cannot extend life like the Philosopher's Stone."
"At the moment of life's end, both the soul and the Horcrux will perish together."
At this point, Elvis Heller revealed a gloating, evil smile.
"After Wizards die, they enter the afterlife through the veil of illusion, but if a fragmented soul cannot return to completeness, it will only be eternally trapped within the veil of illusion."
"That poor man called Lord Voldemort split his soul and created Horcrux multiple times, which truly makes one feel tragic for him."
"Because as long as one Horcrux is destroyed, a part of his soul will be incomplete."
"If all his Horcrux are destroyed... that would truly be an interesting thing!"
Karl took a deep breath. He thought of Lord Voldemortwhom Harry saw at King's Cross Station in the original story:
An underdeveloped, twisted, and ugly infant shape, a soul so shattered and riddled with holes that it could only exist in this form, unable to move forward or backward.
Poor Tom!
Elvis Heller expressionlessly pointed the long spear at Karl, "What is your decision?"
"I refuse!"
Are you kidding me! My leader is standing behind me! Only a fool would agree to you!
Hearing this answer, Elvis Heller regretfully shook his head, "Although your talent is a great pity, my patience has run out."
"Karl Olin, farewell."
Before he finished speaking, blood mist flowed from his seven orifices, spreading onto the blood-red long spear in his hand.
Then he leaped down from the altar and charged directly at Karl, with a speed that was shocking.
Karl swung his wand, and violent black Fiendfyre, like a flood and tsunami, smashed towards Elvis Heller.
Unexpectedly, the other party did not dodge, but instead crashed directly into it.
An ominous bloody light broke through the black sea of fire, staining the entire square space crimson.
The sharp long spear, like a venomous snake, lunged at Karl's chest. In this critical moment, Karl instantly transformed into a Jungle Cat and calmly jumped aside to dodge.
However, in his line of sight, a fiery red bird suddenly appeared, blocking the incoming long spear.
Karl: ...
Oh, this! How awkward, my friend!
Fawkes: ...
You're making me look a bit foolish!