First, Ron—the Sleeping Dragon—woke up the entire dormitory with a yell.
Then, Harry—the Young Phoenix—perhaps still groggy from sleep, spilled the beans completely.
The result was that the news of Harry and Basil having private lessons together spread throughout the castle.
But the focus wasn't on Dumbledore's private lessons. It was on having lessons alone with Basil.
Although the [Sword of Truth and Goodness] could dampen the fiery passion in everyone's hearts, it couldn't alter their memories or thought patterns.
Basil's handsomeness and his dazzling presence at last night's end-of-term feast had captured everyone's attention.
Compared to that, private lessons with the greatest white wizard were like dust.
Unfortunately, after breakfast, Hagrid and Filch ushered the students out of the castle.
The older students boarded the "self-moving" carriages, traveling down the stone path flanked by pillars topped with winged boars to Hogsmeade Station.
The first-years followed Hagrid, boarding the small boats to cross the lake to the station.
Harry left the castle by boat with the other first-years.
Finally, all students gathered at the station and boarded the Hogwarts Express.
Inside the Club Space.
Madison was surprisingly wearing a few articles of clothing. She asked, "So, how did you convince Hermione?"
Basil raised an eyebrow, one hand caressing Zoe's ankle. "She knows I can leave the castle anytime. Alright, let's start compiling a list of people you think could join the club. Everyone propose candidates, and we'll discuss."
"This has been delayed for too long. Also, we should consider activating the search function to add people from other worlds who fit the 'Witch' tag."
Sophie raised her hand: "The Swamp Witch, Misty Day. She's the most professional when it comes to resurrection. She can even use the power of resurrection on herself."
Madison twirled a pen. "What about Mallory? The one whose lineage traces back to the first white witch, Scáthach? The Supreme who can reverse time and defeated the Antichrist, Michael Langdon?"
"She's useful, more so than that so-called Swamp Witch. She doesn't need to play with poop (referring to swamp mud; Misty believed it had great healing properties, but also mentioned the Louisiana swamps were full of tillandsia and alligator dung) to resurrect people."
"Unlike Vitalum Vitalis in the Seven Wonders, which requires a complete corpse, she can resurrect the dead even if the body is turned to ash."
"When Basil and I reviewed American Horror Story: Apocalypse in the space, Basil mentioned her actress."
Zoe chimed in: "I was there too. Basil only remembered her because Mallory's actress is the daughter of the actress who played Princess Leia in Star Wars."
"He didn't think she was pretty."
"Beatrice, what do you think?" Basil looked at Beatrice, who hadn't said a word since the beginning.
Beatrice lifted her chin arrogantly. "Once the club reaches Level 2, we can visit Madison's world and meet them in person."
"In my opinion, we should activate the search function. Let a new world join our system."
"The ending of Madison's world is terrifying if you think about it. Even though time was reversed to before the apocalypse, risks still lurk."
"If the new member's world is powerful, it might help them."
"Plus, maybe the searched world will happen to have a missing [System Component]."
After speaking, she looked very proud of herself.
Except for the last sentence, all these points were taught to her by the professors at the School for Good and Evil. Basil hadn't hidden the Club's existence within the school.
As the School Master, immune to magic from that world, he was invincible there.
So, the professors of various subjects knew Basil actually came from another world.
And that she and Sophie had joined a cross-world organization led by Basil.
Unlike Sophie, who just hung out with her Never roommates, Beatrice specifically consulted Professor Anemone—the Dean of History, whom she considered the wisest person—for advice.
"Are those really your own words?" Madison narrowed her eyes.
"Did you ask a teacher?" Sophie jumped up like a cat having its tail stepped on. This made her look stupid for not thinking of asking a teacher herself.
Beatrice took Basil's arm. "So what if I did? Basil, what do you think of my proposal?"
Basil looked at Sophie and the others. Although they looked unconvinced, they seemed to agree with Beatrice's plan.
"Alright then."
A blue screen appeared on his retina, and he mentally clicked Search.
——
Isabella Swan loved Phoenix—that vibrant, sprawling, ever-expanding city.
She loved the sunshine, the blistering heat.
She always wished she looked like a Phoenix girl should: tanned, athletic, maybe a volleyball player or a cheerleader... possessing all the traits befitting someone living in the Valley of the Sun.
But sadly, her body seemed to have a memory, engraving the physical traits of a girl from a rainy small town—pale skin, slender but soft build, poor hand-eye coordination, bad at sports.
She still remembered that town—Forks.
Located on the Olympic Peninsula in northwest Washington State, constantly shrouded in dark clouds, insignificant, with more rain than anywhere else in the United States.
Fortunately, her mother divorced her father when she was a few months old and escaped with her to Phoenix.
But because of her father—Sheriff Swan of the good people of Forks—she had to spend a month in Forks every summer, during the happiest time of the year.
And now, she was going there to attend high school.
Four hours flight from Phoenix to Seattle, then an hour on a small plane north to Port Angeles, followed by an hour's drive south to Forks.
Over the years, she had memorized every detail of the journey.
Including the white clouds in the blue sky on the way to Port Angeles.
So, she lowered her head, ignoring the scenery, and drifted into sleep.
Then, she appeared in a room that looked like an aquarium.
Half of the ceiling and walls were made of transparent, glass-like material.
Illuminated by green lamps hanging from chains on the ceiling, she could see water plants, fish, and fleeting massive shadows in the murky dark lake outside.
There were even shadows flashing by that looked half-human, half-fish.
The rest of the ceiling and walls were built of rough stone, circular, carved with various snake sculptures.
The green and silver carpet on the floor, the long tables, the sofas... everything was filled with snake motifs.
Strange, she knew nothing about snakes.
yet now, at least a hundred snake sculptures appeared before her.
Ideally lit by the crackling wood fire in the fireplace, they were exceptionally clear—and eerie.
"Hello, Isabella." A voice sounded, slightly babyish but very assertive.
Isabella turned quickly. A petite girl, looking like a head cheerleader or the mean girl in school, appeared behind her.
She swallowed. "Who are you?"
"She's Madison. I'm Zoe." Hearing this voice, Isabella finally saw how these ghosts appeared.
A tall girl, the standard "good girl" type with a slight baby face, materialized from the air.
"You look decent." Another petite girl. She had fluffy blonde hair, looking like a doll. But her eyes told Isabella this girl wasn't to be messed with.
"Looks like you're an Ever." Next appeared a graceful, elegant girl who looked like a princess. She sat sideways on the sofa, looking arrogant like a princess meeting her servant.
"Welcome to the Witch Club. Isabella Swan of Phoenix and Forks."
With this voice, all of Isabella's hesitation and insecurity vanished.
A boy who looked like the sun appeared before her. His physique was sculptured and proportionate. His sapphire-like eyes and perfect white teeth made him radiate approachability.
But the most striking thing was that face—beautiful beyond anything found in the mortal world.
A face she couldn't hope to see on the glossy pages of fashion magazines, a face even a master painter depicting angels couldn't match.
More handsome than any movie star she had ever seen.
The eerie aquarium seemed to turn into heaven instantly.
'Apollo' continued, "Sorry. They're too mischievous. They wanted to try meeting a newcomer in the Slytherin common room by popping out of thin air."
"It's... it's okay." Isabella lowered her head. The moment she met those eyes, she felt her entire face and neck burning up.
Basil looked at this girl who resembled Kristen Stewart but was prettier, with red hair and blue eyes closer to the description in the Twilight novels. He opened her data panel.
[Name: Isabella Swan]
[Race: Human]
[HP: 10]
[Mental Power: 34]
[Luck: 6~10]
[Talent: Mental Shield (Semi-Awakened)]
"Superpowers in human form? Makes sense, different world. Just same names."
"Alice Cullen could predict the future when she was human, just not as strongly as when she became a vampire."
"Mental Shield? Like an AT Field... is this why Edward couldn't read her mind in the movies, and why the Volturi's Aro and Jane's powers didn't work on her?" Basil marveled.
Vampires in the Twilight world were extremely perfect. Immortal, unafraid of sunlight. Immune to ordinary iron weapons and bullets.
Didn't need to breathe, and human blood wasn't even a necessity. With strong willpower, they could survive on animal blood. Even so, their incredibly strong and fast bodies wouldn't deteriorate.
Their appearance would invariably be optimized after becoming vampires, becoming inhumanly handsome and beautiful.
Eye color would change, skin would be ice-cold, and in the sun, their skin would sparkle as if thousands of tiny diamonds were embedded in it.
Besides that, after becoming vampires, they would awaken various wondrous abilities.
For example, the male lead Edward Cullen could read minds. The range was vast, able to capture thoughts of people he knew within miles. He could even see battles miles away through the wolves' telepathic link. But he could only read current thoughts and inner voices.
Aro of the Volturi had a similar ability, but he had to touch the person to know their thoughts. His range was far inferior to Edward's. But in depth, Aro excelled. He could read every thought and memory a person ever had, from past to present. He could even smell the scent of blood from someone's memories.
His subordinate, Jane, could inflict bone-deep pain on others with just a look. Basically a visual Cruciatus Curse.
Jane's brother, Alec, could release a black mist that paralyzed senses and intuition, rendering opponents helpless.
Alice of the Cullen family possessed the ability to foresee the future. As long as she had seen the person, she could predict possible future events. She could even see the future of Isabella, who had the [Mental Shield].
Jasper Hale, also of the Cullen family (but using the surname Hale to pretend to be Rosalie's twin), could manipulate emotions. He could influence people around him to view things his way. For example, calming a room full of angry people or exciting a lethargic crowd. But this ability seemed to be related to hormones, not just mental influence. So Isabella couldn't resist his power.
Kate, who taught Isabella to develop her talent, could release electric shocks through her body to incapacitate others.
Benjamin, a vampire from Egypt, had the ability to manipulate natural elements. He could accurately control the four elements—Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire. True physical manipulation, not mental illusions. He could crack the earth with a punch. The ceiling for physical abilities among vampires.
The sisters Zafrina and Senna from the Amazon could create illusions, making you see whatever they wanted you to see.
As for Isabella, while human, her [Mental Shield] could only resist non-physical attacks and grant immunity to mental abilities. After becoming a vampire, she could project the shield from her mind, adding defense to others and herself against external harm.
Compared to them, the werewolves of the Twilight world were much weaker.
Not in terms of strength—in wolf form, they had bodies stronger than vampires and teeth that could tear them apart. They had vigorous vitality and healed wounds visibly fast.
And they always moved in packs, sharing thoughts. No matter the distance, they could hear each other's thoughts and share vision.
Their human forms also had interesting traits.
They were all burly and muscular.
As if deliberately contrasting the cold vampires, they had a body temperature of around 42°C (108°F) and never caught colds.
Their foreheads were hot enough to fry an egg.
Standing shirtless in a storm, snowflakes would turn to rain around them.
But their lifespan wasn't much longer than ordinary humans. They just didn't age while phasing. This was their weakness compared to vampires.
However, they were far superior to the werewolves of the Harry Potter world.
Although they might hurt loved ones during their first transformation due to heightened bestiality, subsequent transformations retained rationality. They could control their beast nature, weren't restricted by moon phases, and could turn into giant wolves with just a thought.
Rather than werewolves, they were more like shapeshifters who could turn into wolves.