When Wentworth heard Nala's words, a wry smile crept onto his face. He knew himself well, if it hadn't been for the Half-Blood Prince's notebook he had obtained in advance, he might still have been able to earn an "O" in Potions, but that would have been the limit of his achievement.
Compared to the genius before him, blind, yet capable of brewing Felix Felicis, he didn't stand a chance. Not just against Nala, but even someone like Cedric might outclass him.
Just then, Jabari appeared again, carrying another plate of food, which he slammed onto the table in front of Wentworth with a noticeable thud.
Wentworth chuckled and didn't seem to mind, but Nala frowned and scolded her younger brother before turning to Wentworth once more and warmly inviting him to try Jabari's cooking.
Wentworth didn't refuse. Though he'd attended a lavish banquet that evening, he hadn't really eaten much. The aroma rising from the dishes now made his stomach rumble in earnest.
Taking his first bite, Wentworth couldn't help but give Jabari a hearty thumbs-up and exclaimed,
"Jabari, your cooking is leagues ahead of your spellwork!"
Hearing this, Jabari raised a fist at Wentworth behind Nala's back in mock defiance, while Nala burst out laughing at the remark.
Nala had a much smaller appetite than Wentworth. While he was still halfway through his meal, she had already finished and simply waited quietly, not rushing him. Once he was done, Nala turned and said to her brother:
"Jabari, go make two cups of Dreammoon Tea. It's Wentworth's first time visiting our village, he simply must try our specialty! Dreammoon Tea has a unique flavor, a sweet aftertaste, and it helps with sleep. They say it even improves one's accuracy in Divination, it's considered a top-tier tea for tea-leaf readings!"
Wentworth perked up with interest at her description, clearly intrigued by this Dreammoon Tea.
The moment Jabari stepped out, Nala leaned toward Wentworth and said in a low voice:
"Wentworth, do you want to win the Golden Cauldron at this year's Wizarding Schools Potions Championship?"
Wentworth was taken aback by the bluntness of her question, then smiled and replied:
"Well, since I'm competing, I might as well try for it."
Nala wasn't surprised, it was the expected answer. But her next words caught Wentworth completely off guard:
"I can help you. Every Championship features different challenges, but in the end, it all comes down to mastery of Potions. You've seen what I can do. If I help you, and with your own talent added to the mix, the championship is as good as yours."
Wentworth fell silent for a long moment before replying in an unreadable tone:
"And what's the price?"
Seeing that she had his attention, Nala gave a slight smile and answered plainly:
"I want you, when the investigation into Uagadou is complete, to publicly report that the school suffers from administrative disorder, and that international oversight from the International Confederation of Wizards is necessary."
Wentworth couldn't help but smile bitterly.
"Sounds like you've got a serious grudge against Uagadou, Nala."
But Nala shook her head and denied it firmly.
"You're wrong, Wentworth. I'm grateful to Uagadou. I'd even say I love it. I want nothing more than to see it thrive in the future."
Wentworth paused, clearly puzzled, then said thoughtfully:
"If that's true, then the problem isn't with the school, it's with certain people in it?"
Nala didn't answer the question directly. Instead, she simply said:
"That's not something you need to worry about, Wentworth. Think of it as a transaction. You report to the Confederation as I ask, and I'll hold up my end of the deal. I'll make sure you win that Golden Cauldron."
"And if you're worried I might go back on my word, we can seal it with an Unbreakable Vow."
But it wasn't the proposed deal that caught Wentworth's curiosity, it was the person Nala seemed so discontented with.
He stared at her silently for a moment, then said abruptly:
"It's Headmistress Adisa, isn't it?"
The moment he spoke her name, the previously composed expression on Nala's face cracked, an unmistakable flash of anxiety and inner conflict crossed her features.
Wentworth waited a few moments, and when she remained silent, he continued:
"Honestly, it wasn't hard to guess. This morning, Jabari told me something, under your instruction, I assume?"
"Nala, you're a clever witch. Anyone who can brew Felix Felicis at your age is certainly no fool. You must realize that if what Jabari told me gets out, the fallout would be enormous."
"A thousand-year-old institution like Uagadou, held in high esteem across the wizarding world, and yet its Headmistress is allegedly selling admission spots? That would destroy Lakayla Adisa. Forget keeping her post, she could very well be put on trial by the International Confederation."
By the end, Wentworth was practically shouting, his voice sharp with intensity.
Across from him, Nala trembled. Eventually, she buried her face in her hands, her shoulders quivering as she sobbed softly.
Wentworth wasn't surprised. From the moment he arrived, it had been clear that Nala was trying to appear confident and in control. But having spent time around people like Rosier, Wentworth could tell the difference between true confidence and a carefully maintained façade.
Her proud declaration—"Yes, I'm the top Potioneer at Uagadou"—sounded more like self-reassurance than genuine pride.
Even her insistence on the Unbreakable Vow betrayed a lack of certainty and inner strength.
Now, with her head in her hands and tears slipping through her fingers, she whispered:
"I had no choice... I really had no choice. I never meant to hurt Headmistress Adisa. If it weren't for the Rune Stone she sent me through the Dreamwalkers all those years ago, I wouldn't even be alive today. But I can't just watch Uagadou slide into ruin. I can't stand by while it loses even the hope of redemption."
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TN: This fanfic has been fully translated and is available on my Patreon —— patreon(.)com/PrimalDemon [remove the parentheses ( )]