A silent understanding passed between them.
"Exactly. I've already got enough rumors following me. Let the professors worry about this, not us. Whoever wrote that line… they clearly don't have the strength to actually pull off anything major." Ian's logic wasn't wrong; only those bluffing would do something so flashy to scare others.
The truly dangerous types?
They would never give a warning before murder or mayhem.
"Well, I've got things to do. You stay here and finish your punishment. On your way back, try chatting up our door knocker a bit. It'll do you some good." Ian took a quick photo of the writing on the wall, preparing to leave.
He figured Lirim was good-looking enough that the bronze eagle knocker might fall for him, maybe then that neurotic, temperamental doorknocker would finally shift its affections elsewhere.
"No problem," Lirim clearly hadn't caught on to Ian's "malicious" intent.
As Ian turned to go…
"You don't seem interested in becoming a Dark Lord," Lirim suddenly said, "and you don't seem particularly invested in the support of the pure-blood families either. But you're not blind to the fact that our Houses are trying to push you toward something."
His tone was unexpectedly mature, revealing a level of awareness that didn't match his age, perhaps exactly what one should expect from the heir of a pure-blood noble house.
"I'm listening."
Ian stopped in his tracks. Rain continued to pour outside in a chaotic rhythm. He turned back to look at the blond-haired boy in the distance, his eyes filled with a showy and clearly fake confusion.
Lirim wasn't fooled by Ian's act.
"You know. You've always known… The wizarding world craves a king. And they see you as a new option. But while you're accepting their gestures of goodwill, you don't seem willing to shoulder the responsibility that comes with it."
"Believe me, this won't end well. There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world. If you can't give them the future they want, the more they praise you now, the more they'll turn on you later."
It sounded like Lirim was warning him, maybe even advising him.
But, Ian didn't seem concerned.
"My dear junior, you speak of things far beyond your years or your understanding for that matter… and know far more than you should at your age..."
Ian gave Lirim a long, meaningful look.
Ian had just offered a heartfelt assessment.
Then, switching gears, he began to respond to Lirim's earlier question.
"Of course I understand that gaining something means giving something in return. I just don't want to become the kind of person you're all expecting me to be. But that doesn't mean I can't fulfill your wishes." Ian normally would never discuss things like this with someone his own age, but he had already realized Lirim was a bit different.
"What do you mean?" Hearing Ian's answer, Lirim furrowed his brows, his eyes flickering.
"It's simple. I really don't want to be molded by you guys, but I also admit I'm happy to accept the benefits you're offering. So, I've come up with a win-win-win solution."
In the firelight, Ian smiled, but it wasn't exactly a sunny smile.
"Oh?"
Lirim looked genuinely surprised, his golden eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"You want a king? Fine, I'll give you a king. But that king doesn't necessarily have to be me… This way, everyone wins. Everyone gets what they want." Ian wasn't speaking on a whim, he'd clearly thought about this for some time.
"Give us a king…" Lirim's golden eyes narrowed slightly at Ian's words.
But, that meaningful expression vanished almost instantly.
"That sounds like a win-win to me. Who's the third winner?" When he came back to his senses, his attention had clearly wandered. His confused tone was full of curiosity.
Ian immediately gave a cheerful laugh.
"No, it's a triple win. Whether or not I can find the third 'win,' I'm winning twice either way."
Ian's response left Lirim speechless for a long moment, his mouth half open.
He truly didn't know what to say. How could such a ridiculous person exist in the world? Just as Lirim felt like he was once again seeing Ian in a new light,
"Alright, it's getting late. I've got studying to do." Ian waved his hand and started walking down the winding corridor toward the alchemy professor's office.
His figure disappeared into the stormy night, where lightning and torchlight danced together.
A moment later,
"'Give all wizards a king'? What a cocky bastard." A colorful nightingale silently slipped out from Lirim's coat.
Its tone was clearly irritated, having listened to Ian and Lirim's entire conversation.
"I don't think it's that bad. Just a bit unexpected… Or maybe this is more normal. His subconscious cognition is still influencing him." Lirim's eyes were still fixed on the direction Ian had gone as he spoke.
His pensive voice left the little nightingale confused.
"What subconscious cognition? Did he hear scary stories about wizard kings when he was a kid?"
To be fair, the soft-voiced bird had a rather peculiar way of thinking.
Her sarcasm didn't get an immediate response.
Instead, the blond-haired boy turned to look out the window, the corridor lighting was warm and dim, in sharp contrast to the chaotic world outside. The sky looked like it had been torn apart in fury; thunder and rain intertwined, gales raged, and raindrops pounded the windows and roof like a furious drumbeat.
"The subconscious is fascinating, it's often more stubborn than memory. I suspect my 'senior's' resistance to becoming the king of all wizards is being driven by his subconscious."
"His words, his thoughts, they all confirm it. He doesn't want to shoulder the responsibilities that come with being a king… but he's all too willing to wield the kind of power most people wouldn't even dare dream of."
A bolt of lightning split the sky like a divine blade, tearing the darkness in two. It illuminated the entire world, and also lit up Lirim's furrowed brow and deep eyes.
"Huh? What does that even mean? Speak human! No, speak bird language so I can understand!" The nightingale was clearly overwhelmed. She could tell the blond boy's voice carried deep emotion, but not its meaning.
"You still don't get it, my friend?"
Lightning arcs danced in Lirim's eyes.
"This is what it means: Royal power and riches… can never rival… the divine right of kings."
Thunder rumbled overhead.
In that booming chorus,
The blond-haired boy whispered his inner thoughts.
(End of Chapter)
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