Vivian watched Sterling's figure slowly disappear before her. He turned back to wave at her, promising to tell her more funny stories about his friends next time.
"Remember not to get close to that Dark Lord again!"
Vivian warned worriedly, unsure if Sterling had even heard.
After hearing that the Dark wizard's mark was Death Magic, she felt the sky was falling. She didn't know how that Sage Magic headmaster managed to repel Death Magic, but thank goodness for him...
There weren't many magics that could affect Avalon from the present world. Death-version Killing Curses were one.
If Sterling were killed by such a Killing Curse...
Just thinking about it made Vivian feel cold all over. Warmth rose from behind her, Maleficent emerging from flames.
Maleficent looked at her suddenly pale face with complex eyes.
"What did you give him? Or rather, what did you transfigure into mud spots?"
"None of your business, Maleficent. Mind yourself."
Vivian rarely showed such a haughty expression. Maleficent wasn't angry but wore a touch of sorrow.
"The people I know who've survived since Avalon's closure... there aren't many left... Stop opposing the Queen, Vivian. The Queen won't harm Sterling..."
Maleficent looked up at the magic mirror covering the entire sky, millions of prisms layered together like an inverted bowl, firmly imprisoning Vivian and her territory.
"You also know what prophecy the seer made at the meeting!"
Vivian's eyes reddened, but she held back tears.
"Saviour Magic... humans cannot possibly master the 'First Magic'... What must Sterling sacrifice to obtain this magic?"
"Don't tell me about his classmate who holds the 'Saviour' title. Impossible. At that Dark Lord's level, even Hero Magic would be a pleasant surprise!"
Maleficent tried to help Vivian up, but she grabbed Maleficent's hand and made her lean close.
"I don't believe you taught him so long without any feelings..."
"He's my only godson now... My goddaughter died when Avalon closed. I cannot let my godson die when Avalon opens..."
"I promise you." Maleficent patted her hand.
"We cannot interfere with his fate, but if I discover anyone reaching out from Avalon... I can appear wherever 'war' exists, and war has never ceased in the present world."
"Good..." Vivian showed a fierce smile, staring at a small mirror shard that had appeared nearby.
"I make a pact with you..." she spoke deliberately, each syllable carrying a hook. "If Sterling dies in the present world... regardless of reason, regardless of whether he resurrects..."
"I will breach the path between Avalon and the present world from my territory, making Avalon fall directly where Sterling died, wherever that may be. I think Avalon could completely destroy a continental plate, right?"
The mirror shard stiffly flashed twice, then shattered into worthless fragments.
Sterling sneezed, feeling someone was talking about him.
Terry disgustedly handed him a tissue. "You're not catching a cold, are you? Don't infect me. Cold remedies taste terrible."
"How terrible?"
"Both your ears would smoke. How terrible is that?"
Imagining that ridiculous sight, Sterling shuddered. He had some pride in his appearance...
"Mr. Page, please don't disturb students still completing transfiguration. If you've finished, you may preview later sections."
Professor McGonagall lightly tapped Sterling's desk. He and Terry immediately closed their mouths. If not for Sterling's exceptional favour with McGonagall in Transfiguration, they'd start with two points minimum.
McGonagall also placed a Transfiguration notebook on Sterling's desk. Terry leaned over. Good heavens, it was signed "Minerva McGonagall".
"Professor McGonagall's second-year notes! You've struck gold. Professor McGonagall is recognised as Britain's second-strongest Transfiguration master!"
Unsurprisingly, first place went to Dumbledore.
They didn't know Dumbledore used Transfiguration as his mark's foundation, but they knew he'd been a Transfiguration professor before becoming headmaster.
So the top seat couldn't go to anyone else.
"Watch out for Professor McGonagall's return. She won't forgive a second offence."
"What's the worry? I'll just transfigure too."
Terry confidently waved his wand. With a "bang", the ladybird crawling on his desk became a teacup with legs, tumbling dizzily off the table and shattering.
Looking at the ladybird paste that had reverted on the floor, Professor McGonagall closed her eyes.
"One point from Ravenclaw for damaging teaching materials."
Terry grinned sheepishly, Sterling held back laughter, and Ron laughed openly.
"Two points from Gryffindor!" McGonagall suddenly turned, catching Ron off guard with his mouth still open.
"I don't recall teaching you to mock classmates!"
Professor McGonagall angrily walked to supervise Ron's completion of transfiguration.
"Fine, laugh quietly. I want to laugh too."
Terry covered his face. Sterling recalled Terry's spectacular first Transfiguration class performance, his face reddening from suppressed laughter.
"Honestly, I think your talent isn't in Transfiguration."
"I think so too. Charms comes much faster than Transfiguration..." Terry fetched another ladybird from the podium and stared at it.
Sterling stopped disturbing him and focused on McGonagall's notes. They contained many creature anatomy diagrams, but drawn roughly and simply, not frightening at all.
Since Transfiguration was ultimately magic, not rigorous science, will played a larger role.
Just understanding the basic structure of what you're transfiguring and avoiding mistakes like cats having three eyes and magic would help clarify unclear parts.
But biological transfiguration wasn't second-year material... Worthy of Professor McGonagall, sharing his ability for advanced learning.
Sterling casually flipped through, his attention caught by one magic:
"Animagus"
He knew Professor McGonagall was one of the world's few Animagi. That tabby cat was her Animagus form. But he hadn't expected her to start preparing in the second year.
Sterling's interest immediately sparked. He hadn't forgotten that Maleficent's dragon transformation was an ability from the "Draconic" spell modification.
If he learnt it...
Though according to Maleficent, post-transformation size is related to magic quantity. He probably couldn't match Maleficent's mountain-high form, but Sterling couldn't resist dragons' allure.
After all, wasn't the standard fairy tale template hero versus dragon?
With this thought, when class ended, before Terry even finished packing, Sterling immediately cornered Professor McGonagall, expressing his desire to learn Animagus transformation.
"Animagus... You saw the preparations in my notes, didn't you?"
Professor McGonagall carefully considered Sterling's performance.
"This Saturday, come for testing. I need to see if your level meets the requirements for learning this magic. You know, Animagus transformation is extremely dangerous."
"Mr. Page, promise me you'll never attempt learning this magic alone, nor let your Utopia members learn it. Their Transfiguration isn't qualified yet."
"Understood, Professor McGonagall... So we're agreed?"
"Yes, agreed. If you pass my test, I'll begin teaching you Animagus transformation."
"If you can master it, I could give you outstanding marks for first through seventh-year Transfiguration."
Professor McGonagall joked lightly, patting Sterling's fluffy head.
No one could dislike this talented, adorable child... except a certain professor brewing cauldrons in the dungeons.
"Damn! How did I mess up?"
Snape rushed to salvage a potion ruined by a sudden sneeze. Sharp as he was, an ominous premonition suddenly arose, as if some event was brewing.
Present Snape didn't yet know what he'd face in tomorrow's Potions class...