Upon seeing Malika arrive, Juma offered a gentle smile and gestured for her to take the seat across from him at his desk.
Malika inhaled deeply before slowly sitting down. Noticing this, Juma furrowed his brow and asked:
"Malika, you seem a bit tense. Has something happened? Whatever it is, you can tell me, after all, we're family."
Malika gave a small, mechanical nod in response. Then, she began recounting her conversation with Wentworth, detailing everything with care, though she did withhold certain parts.
As she spoke, Juma remained silent, his expression entirely unreadable.
It was only when Malika finished that he slowly rose to his feet and walked step by step to her side. Seeing him approach, Malika closed her eyes.
A second later, she was suddenly seized by the throat, lifted clean off the ground by Juma's strong hand.
In her ears, his cold voice rang out:
"I remember telling you last night, don't involve yourself with Wentworth again. Why didn't you listen?"
As if she had anticipated this reaction, Malika struggled to respond:
"I… I just wanted… to try one more time…"
At this, Juma let out a disdainful snort.
"Is that truly your reason, or are you hoping to use Wentworth to escape? You know the answer. I told you before, stop playing your little games!"
"In this world, truly intelligent people are rare. Truly foolish people, also rare. But self-proclaimed clever people? They're everywhere."
"You disappoint me, Malika."
While Malika was facing Juma in his study, Wentworth was being led by Nala to the headmistress's office at Uagadou.
The door bore a bronze parrot, its eyes closed in slumber. As the two approached, the parrot abruptly opened its eyes and spoke:
"State your purpose."
Wentworth stepped forward and answered clearly:
"Wentworth Dumbledore, from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I request an audience with Headmistress Adisa."
The parrot shut its eyes once more. After a pause, it opened them again and spoke:
"Headmistress Adisa welcomes you both. Please enter."
With that, the great door to the office opened slowly.
Wentworth and Nala stepped through into a corridor that stretched forward like a tunnel. What surprised Wentworth most was that it resembled a tunnel of stars—above, around, even beneath their feet, they were surrounded by an endless expanse of glittering constellations.
Walking quietly through the dim starlit passage, they finally reached the heart of the headmistress's office. There, Lakayla Adisa sat patiently behind her desk, awaiting their arrival. Behind her, a vast celestial map shimmered with a quiet, flowing brilliance.
As the two entered, Headmistress Adisa gestured toward the chairs in front of her.
"I didn't expect the two of you to become acquainted so quickly," she said, smiling. "I thought you'd first meet when the Potions Championship began. Sit, please."
Once they were seated, she turned her gaze to Wentworth and said warmly:
"Wentworth, congratulations. You are the first Hogwarts student in a thousand years to enter Uagadou's headmistress's office. So, tell me, how does it compare to Professor Dumbledore's?"
Wentworth smiled politely.
"Your office and Hogwarts's feel completely different. Dumbledore's office feels… weighty, as though history is carved into the very walls. Yours feels mysterious, like a place touched by the stars."
Adisa gave the faintest nod, clearly pleased.
"A fair assessment," she replied. "I've been to Dumbledore's office. Small, yes, but one can sense that time itself once stood still in that space."
"This room, however, was rebuilt after I became headmistress. Unlike Hogwarts, we lack the burden, and blessing, of centuries of layered history."
Wentworth quickly added, "Still, Headmistress Adisa, I think Uagadou's office is quite unique. Actually, I'm curious, why are there so many astronomical elements in the décor?"
At that, Headmistress Adisa replied calmly:
"There are many wizarding schools around the world. Among them, eleven are internationally recognized. Each of these schools teaches all branches of magic to young witches and wizards, but each has its specialties."
"Hogwarts, for example, is known for its expertise in Potions, Herbology, Charms, and Transfiguration. Take Professor McGonagall, an undisputed master of her field."
"At Uagadou, our strengths lie in Astronomy, Alchemy, and Self-Transfiguration. Of course, we also teach Potions, we are, after all, participants in the Wizarding Schools Potions Championship."
"Most of Uagadou's former headmasters and headmistresses were masters of the stars, many were accomplished Seers. Perhaps that's how Uagadou has managed to survive in Africa, a continent of contrast, where desolation and abundance, war and peace, constantly intertwine. Now you understand the reason behind the design of this room."
Wentworth nodded, his understanding of Uagadou deepening.
"I see, Headmistress Adisa. Hearing all this makes me even more fascinated by Uagadou."
At that, Lakayla Adisa let out a soft laugh.
"I would rather you weren't."
Wentworth paused, slightly taken aback.
"Headmistress Adisa, I don't understand what you mean."
Adisa's gaze grew serious. Her voice, though calm, was resolute:
"You do understand, Wentworth. The stars have spoken. Uagadou will be reborn, but rebirth only comes after destruction. Without ruin, there can be no new beginning."
"I once thought it would be Albus Dumbledore who would strike the final blow to Uagadou."
"Everyone assumes I agreed to his visit to the International Confederation of Wizards out of trust for his character. That's partly true. But in truth, I was searching… for Uagadou's bell ringer."
"The one who will toll its funeral bell."
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TN: This fanfic has been fully translated and is available on my Patreon —— patreon(.)com/PrimalDemon [remove the parentheses ( )]