Chapter 123: Cecil's Self-Directed and Self-Performed Drama

After defeating the normal-difficulty trial puppet, Eda had been practicing against an upgraded version with strength comparable to Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall. So although she hadn't yet reached the point of perceiving all movements around her, she still detected the curses flying toward her at the first moment. She swiftly swung her wand and blocked all three spells. 

Not only did Eda have to keep an eye on Cecil in front of her to prevent him from attacking, but she also needed to quickly identify the attackers. She was in the open while they were hidden—enemies lurking in the dark were often the most dangerous. And there were at least three of them. 

"I told you to come with me, but you refused. Now, even if you want to leave, it won't be easy." Cecil pulled his wand from his robes but didn't point it at Eda. Lowering his voice to a level only the two of them could hear, he said, "Stay alert and watch our surroundings. Let's leave here first." 

Eda nodded and followed Cecil, moving slowly toward the cemetery's exit. However, she still hadn't lowered her guard against him, remaining wary of him just as much as the hidden attackers. Right now, Eda had absolutely no trust in Cecil. 

The attackers didn't launch a second wave of attacks for the time being. Taking advantage of this brief moment, Cecil grabbed Eda's hand and Disapparated from the graveyard. 

They reappeared on an open piece of land far from the cemetery. 

Due to his deteriorating health, Glover Cecil was unable to take Eda out of Little Whinging in one go. But even if he could, he wouldn't have done so—because those attackers just now had been arranged by Cecil himself. 

Cecil's health had taken a turn for the worse. He had attempted to use a dangerous form of Dark magic transfiguration to cure himself, but the results had backfired. Instead of healing his illness, he had almost died in the process.

It was at this time that Dumbledore found him and invited him to take a position at Hogwarts. Cecil refused without hesitation. Though he didn't die immediately, the damage caused by the Dark Magic transfiguration was irreversible and incurable—he might not even live to see the start of the school year. 

Dumbledore was the one who had sent him to Azkaban, yet Cecil didn't hate him in the slightest. On the contrary, he was grateful for everything Dumbledore had done for him. He should have accepted the invitation, but his body simply wouldn't allow it. 

After being rejected, Dumbledore left. But the very next day, he returned—this time, bringing Snape's potion with him. He explained both its effects and its side effects, leaving the choice to Cecil. 

Glover Cecil had unfinished business. He was unwilling to die just yet. So, he chose to drink the potion—and also agreed to Dumbledore's invitation. 

After drinking the potion, Cecil temporarily regained his "health." Before the school year began, he took care of his unresolved matters and then came to Hogwarts, waiting for death to come. 

During this time, he and Dumbledore discussed many aspects of Dark Magic, especially those related to the soul. Cecil shared everything he knew. Throughout the school year, he also continued searching for Dark Magic related to souls and resurrection. 

After the school year started, because he was frequently in contact with Dumbledore, Cecil unintentionally discovered that Dumbledore paid particular attention to Eda, who was only a second-year student at the time.

Intrigued, Cecil began observing her as well. 

It didn't take long for Cecil to notice Eda's unique qualities.

He saw great potential in her and thought it would be a shame if she never studied Dark Magic. This led to his first test at the Black Lake, for which he even had a heated argument with Dumbledore.

Cecil had once asked Dumbledore why he was so focused on Eda, but Dumbledore never gave him an answer. However, he also never forbade Cecil from approaching her—only prohibiting him from teaching her Dark Magic unless she actively sought to learn it.

This was why Eda had received Cecil's signature for the Restricted Section and why she was constantly subjected to his persistent recommendations about Dark Magic. 

Although Cecil failed to turn Eda into his successor in Dark Magic, his interactions with her helped him understand why Dumbledore was so interested in this Gryffindor girl—she had the potential to achieve greatness in the future. 

This was the reason for today's meeting at the graveyard, as well as everything that was about to unfold.

Cecil knew he was nearing death, and he didn't want to owe Dumbledore anything once he was gone.

So, as his final act, he decided to do one last favor—using what little life he had left to give Eda a lesson. 

The people who had attacked them at the graveyard were all Cecil's enemies—the kind who wished to skin him alive and tear him apart limb by limb. They had found him in Little Whinging because he had deliberately leaked his whereabouts. 

This was the special lesson Cecil had prepared for Eda—a life-and-death trial.

Without a baptism of blood, how could a genius truly grow?

The battle between life and death was the greatest test of all. 

As for whether Eda would die? That wasn't something Cecil cared about in the slightest.

A Dark wizard who saw human lives as mere playthings would never concern himself with a girl's survival. A dead genius was no longer a genius but a fool.

If she wanted to live, she would have to defeat everyone present! 

Of course, Eda was still unaware of all this. If she found out, she would probably tear Cecil apart on the spot. And she would be even more determined never to learn Dark Magic—because clearly, anyone who studied it was fucked in their mind.

The more they learned, the worse their mental state became. Glover Cecil and Voldemort were both prime examples of that!

Three men and one woman—four robed and hooded wizards—appeared before Eda and Cecil, each taking a position to block any possible escape route for Cecil. 

Eda wasn't sure if Cecil could still be considered a viable combatant at this point, nor did she know whether he would stab her in the back. So, she braced herself for the worst-case scenario: could she survive if she had to fight five opponents alone? What about four? 

"Glover Cecil, today we're going to kill you and avenge our dead family members!" said the tallest man. He seemed to be the leader of the group, towering at least six feet five inches tall. 

The second man, a bit on the heavier side, sneered, "Run, then! If you've got the guts, stay holed up in Hogwarts forever!" 

The third man, a thin, wiry figure who looked like a walking twig, hissed, "We won't let you die easily. If we don't make you suffer first, I'll never be satisfied!" 

Standing directly opposite Eda was a woman whose face was obscured by her hood. She turned to the tall leader and asked, "Isaac, what about the girl? What do we do with her?" 

"She's with someone like Cecil, so she can't be anything good either. Just kill her," the fat man said immediately. 

The leader, Isaac, nodded and said, "Kill her. Joan, make it quick. Don't let her suffer. She just has bad luck." 

"Tsk tsk, such a pretty little girl," the wiry man murmured, shaking his head. "What a shame."

"Shut up, you bastard!" Eda shouted angrily at the wiry man. 

"You lot are really deciding our fate as if we're not even here," Cecil remarked lazily. "But wouldn't it be embarrassing for you if I ended up killing all of you instead?" He paused for a moment before adding, "By the way, which one of your family members did I kill? Never mind, I've killed too many people— even if you told me, I wouldn't remember." 

"Miss Twist, you heard them, didn't you? They're planning to kill you too. Don't you have anything to say about that?" Cecil grinned at Eda. "I recall you having a bit more temper than this. Don't tell me you're too scared to speak?" 

"Spare me your childish taunts, they don't work on me," Eda said, narrowing her eyes at the wiry man. His disgusting clicking noises from earlier had rubbed her the wrong way—she'd deal with him first. 

The three men and one woman, their expressions hidden beneath their hoods, remained serious and cautious. Cecil's reputation spoke for itself, and even though he was rumored to be gravely ill, they hadn't come unprepared—no one dared underestimate a wounded beast. 

Compared to them, Cecil looked completely at ease, idly twirling his wand between his fingers as if this were all just a game. 

Eda's heartbeat was fast—not from fear, but from excitement. She couldn't wait for this fight to begin. Either she'd take them all down, or she'd be taken down herself. No fear. No hesitation.

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