"ROAR!"
The Hell Cerberus burst forward, black mane flying like flames, radiating terrifying pressure. Under Ethan's command, although the beast recognised the girl ahead, its momentum didn't decrease.
Seeing those sharp claws about to pounce on Luna, everyone squinted and held their breath, unable to bear watching. They completely couldn't understand what this "crazy girl" was trying to do.
After all, Luna had shining golden hair, a pale face gentle as moonlight, with a quiet and intelligent appearance. Maybe even Ethan could misjudge someone sometimes.
At this critical moment, Luna softly uttered, "Parapet, come here."
The next instant, the robe binding the parapet suddenly tightened. Whoosh. The effect of this absurd spell was that Luna herself flew up.
"ROAR!"
The Cerberus's fangs scraped past the bottom of Luna's shoes. In its six widened pupils reflected Luna's graceful flying figure. Golden hair flowing, her skirt embroidered with dirigible plum patterns gently lifted.
Luna gripped tightly to the rope made from her robe. If judged by exam standards, it would definitely fail. The rope still retained the texture of the black robe, looking quite strange. But it was sufficient.
She squinted, feeling the breeze on her face, and couldn't help curving her lips. Thud. Luna fell headfirst into the parapet.
When she climbed up again, her hair was messy and her face dirty. But she waved down happily.
"Woof woof." The Cerberus barked quietly and couldn't help wagging its tail. Sensing a sharp gaze from behind, it immediately tensed up and ran off majestically to chase others.
Soon, screams echoed from the depths. The other students stared at Luna in bewilderment, three big words floating through their minds: This works too?! No way... how did she do that?!
Hermione gaped, dumbfounded. She stared in disbelief at the figure behind the fence, feeling like she'd witnessed a glitch. She quickly deduced the principle of "Luna's flight" in her mind.
The key was that phrase, "Parapet, come here." Naturally, the parapet connected to the castle couldn't fly over. So this led to two possible results... one was spell failure, with nothing happening. The other was flying over yourself. Shortening the distance to the targeted object. A reverse "summoning".
Hermione remembered Muggles had concepts called "action" and "reaction". But damn it! She'd never seen Muggle physics applied in the magical world! This was too heretical!
Magic, to some extent, was the power of the mind. You needed to clearly visualise your desired outcome in your mind. Even though Hermione had witnessed this alternative use of the Summoning Charm, she couldn't accept it, much less replicate it.
Foul play! Coach, she's cheating!
Hermione frantically looked toward Ethan. But she saw clear admiration on his face. Ethan's cobalt-blue eyes gazed at Luna, lips slightly curved, his face radiating a kind of brilliance. As if seeing someone of his own kind.
Ignoring the powerful abilities, that streak of madness was somewhat similar to Luna's.
Hermione was stunned. Something felt off in her heart. Hmph, anyway. She would never approve of such cheating behaviour.
Luna stood on the high platform. She rubbed against the fence, getting some brown colour on her fingertips. "Indeed, everything here is a painting," she murmured.
Looking up to meet the gazes below that viewed her as an oddity. Luna knew many people wanted to chase after Ethan... that Hufflepuff youth and Gryffindor's Hermione. They desperately wanted to prove themselves before Ethan, to catch up with his steps.
"Mm, but it's okay even if you can't catch up," Luna said softly, golden hair brushing her lake-like peaceful face. "I have my own path to walk. If our routes happen to be similar, then let's travel together."
Besides, the moon didn't need to chase the stars, because they were already in the same night sky.
When the three minutes were up, Luna smiled. Very inelegantly, she climbed over the parapet and leaped down amid exclamations. Meeting Ethan's outstretched hand.
Those cobalt-blue eyes looked at her as always, with the same gaze he used for ordinary people.
"Heave-ho." Ethan used magic to lift Luna up. Taking her hand, he gently set her on the ground. "Wonderful, Luna. Very clever thinking. Actually, I was wondering if anyone would discover that platform's usefulness."
That was where Professor Quirrell once painfully drank two "dung stones"... a historic site, Ethan thought internally.
Luna said cheerfully, "Looks like we thought alike."
The two looked at each other and laughed together.
"So envious..." Ron murmured, staring directly at Ethan and Luna. "Right! Take notes!"
He suddenly snapped back, frantically searching his body. But then remembered he never carried such things. So he could only desperately widen his eyes, trying to imprint this scene in his brain for future practice.
Harry teased, "Did you notice a key factor?"
Ron quickly asked, "What?"
"Looks."
"Go away!" Ron said, deflating. Looking at the Pepperup Potion in his hand, he threw his head back and downed it like alcohol, then burped loudly. This made Harry giggle continuously.
"This group has three successful candidates!" Ethan announced. "The Weasley twins, who through perfect cooperation eliminated all other students and repelled the Cerberus with Dungbombs!"
Ron's face reddened. Amid friendly laughter, the twins bowed. "Too kind, too kind!"
"And the first-year Ravenclaw who used ingenious strategy to evade pursuit... Luna Lovegood!"
This time, it took a full two or three seconds before sparse applause rang out. "A witch even younger than Hermione..." someone muttered.
Hermione heard this and pursed her lips in frustration.
Ron comforted, "Hey, don't be upset. You're better than her."
Hermione turned her head. "Don't talk to me, dropout."
Ron looked at Hermione, who had passed, then at Harry, who was predetermined from the start. Slumping dejectedly, he drank from his empty potion bottle again.
Hermione stared intently at Luna standing beside Ethan, thinking: I absolutely won't give up! In the future, the one with the strength to create great endeavours with Ethan will definitely be me! Hm? Wait. What great endeavours does Ethan want to create?
She fell into thought.
The remaining students all gathered in the third group and began assessment. Surprisingly, the only successful candidate from this group was Neville Longbottom. That round-faced, chubby boy whom no one thought belonged in Gryffindor. He had bound himself tightly to the corridor with vines, avoiding being swatted down by the Cerberus, and played dead until the end.
Now everyone couldn't hold it in. What kind of configuration were Ethan's Morning Star Club's initial members?!
"Know-it-all" Hermione Granger and the famous Saviour were still relatively normal. Prank kings the Weasley twins, "Loony" Luna, and the most cowardly Gryffindor, Neville Longbottom.
How were they all such notoriously problematic students?! Could this club really be run well?
Ethan hadn't expected the initial members to turn out to be such exceptional individuals. Indeed, capable people attract each other, he thought profoundly.
After thinking for a moment, he said, "Finally, to commend Cedric's brave actions, he also passes the assessment and is specially admitted."
Upon hearing this, Cedric's eyes widened. Ethan before him seemed to suddenly burst with brilliant radiance. "Yes, yes!" He immediately stood at attention, excitedly shouting, "I definitely won't disappoint your expectations, Ethan!"
Ethan picked at his numbed ears. Good. Very spirited.
"Finally." He slowly turned his head, his puppet-like inorganic gaze falling on a figure hiding in the corner. "As for those who came here but didn't participate in the assessment... congratulations, you've triggered the hidden jackpot. Playing happily with the Hell Cerberus in the castle. No time limit. How about it, Senior Wallace?"
The named Gobstone Club president shuddered violently, his eyes nearly popping from their sockets. He watched the silently parting crowd and the terrifying beast slowly approaching him.
Trembling, he murmured, "No, I had no other intentions, just... just wanted to take a look... Ethan, you can understand your senior, right... ahh!"
Wallace was suddenly yanked down by the Cerberus. Gripping his robes, it dragged him toward the castle's gleaming spikes.
"No, no!" Wallace panicked, screaming to everyone around, "Save me, save me! I didn't do anything!"
Seeing everyone just silently looking down at him, Wallace completely broke down. All I wanted was to borrow Ethan's popularity to recruit some people for my club! Shouldn't younger students help older ones?!
"Don't you all think something's wrong?! This... what kind of weird club assessment is this! It's too strange, too terrifying!"
Students looked at each other and said, "Actually... it was pretty fun."
"Yeah. Though it was really scary at first, thinking back now, it was quite an exciting game."
After all, it was just a normal castle. Not built in Ethan's usual flesh-and-blood style. Ethan held back after all. The master is merciful, students thought emotionally.
Seeing the expressions on their faces, Wallace was stunned. Then fear crept up his spine. "Crazy... everyone's gone crazy!"
He turned and shouted at Professor Lockhart, who hadn't spoken. "Professor! Professor Lockhart! Make that madman stop! Why are you just watching?!"
However, Lockhart just shuddered and buried his head lower. Looking like he wanted to merge with the stone wall.
Now Wallace's eyes completely lost their light. I should never have provoked Ethan Vincent from the beginning.
He hung his head dejectedly, losing all strength and means, letting himself be dragged into the dark castle by the Cerberus.
Watching his figure disappear, Ethan crossed his arms and snorted. When the tiger shows no might, you treat me like a sick cat? No warning does not equal not knowing. I already spared that senior once at the bulletin board. Still hasn't learnt his lesson, following me to the assessment site.
Though I won't really finish off that senior, just play nicely with my Hell Cerberus in the castle.
[Your Lamp doctrine has left a deep impression on everyone!]
[Lamp brightness and propagation increased!]
["Breaking Out of Shell" progress increased by 5%!]
[17% becomes 22%]
[Light the lamp, illuminate the hidden.]
[You have found a tool lost in who knows which layer of history:]
[Molting Shears]