Ian's face was solemn.
Relying on the knowledge he acquired at Hogwarts and his keen perception of magic, he determined that these patients were suffering from an extremely ancient and powerful curse.
This curse's power was something he had never felt in reality, only heard of slightly in those ancient magic scriptures; it is said that only wizards of legendary rank can cast such terrifying curses.
Indeed.
This is a meme curse spread by a legend.
Undoubtedly.
Its structure was completely identical to what Ian had seen in the notes within the Forbidden Book Area of the library, in Slytherin's writings, at least in terms of form and characteristics.
Of course, regarding this point, Ian found it difficult to explain to the priests here—the differing understanding spanning two thousand years, everyone's thoughts and ways of comprehending knowledge varied, and we couldn't say the priests were entirely wrong, after all, the means of a legend indeed belong to a domain no longer of the mortal realm.
Legend.
It is the rank closest to godhood.
The magic and power possessed are completely out of reach for ordinary wizards, and perhaps it can indeed break through divine protection, considering gods have never offered unreserved protection to their believers.
Against weak divine power.
The legend can probably achieve it. Regarding this, Ian isn't entirely sure either, as he has yet to truly become a legend, or say for such a long period he can only be considered a half-step legend.
The kind of half-step powerhouse that even fantasy novel systems would call an insider, whereas in essence, Ian can still only be regarded as the pinnacle of wizardry, and he has yet to glimpse the means legends possess.
"How can I make the image in my mind clearer..." Ian pondered this question whenever he had time, understanding that the image in his mind is closely related to his path of legends.
Experiencing the handiwork of a legend in ancient times, made the little wizard even more concerned about the path of legends; he didn't think his current self could face off against a legend.
While Ian's thoughts were rapidly turning.
"Did you discover something?" Priest Laine couldn't help but ask, observing the little wizard pacing between the patients, his eyes deep and profound with the sediment of years.
"Your expression tells me you've discovered something." Priest Laine still covered Cassandra's eyes with his hand, preventing any possibility of Cassandra glimpsing the unseeable shadow.
"You have been targeted by a very powerful existence, I believe he definitely doesn't intend to curse just these few people." Ian's deerskin boots crushed the shattered pottery scattered across the floor.
He glanced around the surroundings.
The smell of disinfectant mixed with the scent of decaying laurel flowers lingered here, the torchlight flickering upon the stone walls of the examination room stretched out his shadow, the patients on the twenty-seven beds cast shadows as well.
However.
All presented bizarre snake-like shapes in the shadows. If someone Ian was familiar with liked snakes, undoubtedly the first would be the Black Demon King Voldemort and his ancestor Slytherin.
Would this be Slytherin's handiwork?
Highly unlikely.
Although Slytherin indeed was a legend, the era he belonged to and now are separated by a thousand years, it can't be that Slytherin also possesses such a powerful time machine.
"Regarding this matter, we were aware too, but our gods didn't provide us with any insight. He's too busy." Priest Laine, while sighing, didn't forget to defend the gods he reveres.
This perhaps is a major feature of the current era, with the gods sitting on high, even wizards must follow this group of gods, and the most fervent believers among the gods are this group of people who likewise possess magic power.
"Too busy?"
Listening to Priest Laine's words, Ian discerned some information, suggesting the priest perhaps has the ability to communicate with gods, much like the stories narrated in many ancient books that once existed.
"Child, not only do we face life's hardships, the gods too have their troubles and matters to contend with, all we can rely on now is ourselves." Priest Laine's tone carried a sense of heaviness, yet he didn't divulge too much information, after all, to him, Ian was just an outsider.
"This style resonates with the one I seek, however...he shouldn't possess such powerful strength and means." Ian's eyes were filled with a confused expression.
He pursued Riddle to this era, but if Riddle arrived in this era a few months ahead of him, it wouldn't be impossible, given that the span of two thousand years is exceedingly long, minor fluctuations of a few months in this time stretch wouldn't count as any substantial ripple compared to Hogwarts' lengthy history.
However, even so, a mere remnant soul of Riddle, in Ian's view, absolutely couldn't possess such powerful strength, to step into the legendary realm that still entangles him.
"Who are you searching for?"
Priest Laine's gaze suddenly became somewhat wary as he looked at Ian.
"A dark remnant soul."
Ian didn't hide.
He honestly provided Priest Laine with the answer, dispelling the caution in Priest Laine's eyes. It was evident Priest Laine confirmed Ian wasn't lying and ruled out the possibility of Ian or the person he was looking for being the source of the disaster.
A mere remnant soul of a child around ten years old, how powerful could it be?
Moreover.