Chapter 72: Are You Interested in Coming to Kamar-Taj?

Sitting on the plane to London, Noah was as quiet as a well-behaved puppy.

Even when Ms. Haifin tried to start a conversation with him from time to time, he would only respond incoherently.

His state made Ms. Haifin very worried. Once they boarded the plane, she could no longer hold back. She reached out, grabbed Noah's hand, and stared at him intently, making him feel a bit strange.

"What's wrong, Ms. Haifin?" Noah touched his nose and asked in a low voice.

"What's wrong? I should be the one asking you that, Noah."

Ms. Haifin still held his hand, her concern evident. "Ever since you left with Mr. Constantine to deal with the Son of Hell, you've been like this. What happened?"

She had been observing Noah over the past few days. He was either silent or lost in thought, as if something was weighing heavily on his mind.

At first, she wondered if she was the reason for his behavior. Had taking Noah to Los Angeles without reporting to the Ministry of Magic put him in trouble? Or perhaps it was because she—a regular person—had been exposed to a world she wasn't supposed to know about, and yet Noah had refused to erase her memories?

Her thoughts were a mess. She didn't want to be the reason Noah, a young wizard, got caught up in unnecessary trouble. If she had truly put him at risk, she would regret it deeply.

"It's nothing," Noah finally said after a long pause. "I just met someone… No, I should say, I met the guardian of Earth—the most powerful sorcerer in the world. And there are some things I need to think about."

"I know you met the Sorcerer Supreme. You were so excited about it half a month ago. But what does that have to do with how you're acting now?"

What does it have to do with it? A lot. More than he could explain.

Noah smiled bitterly. He didn't regret his choices, but he couldn't stop thinking about them.

It happened about two weeks ago—his first meeting with the Ancient One in that damn mental hospital.

After dealing with the Hell-related disturbances, the Ancient One had casually put Constantine to sleep and ensured Angela wouldn't wake up. Even though they were both involved in the magical world, she clearly didn't want them hearing what she had to say next.

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"I recall that there were two schools of thought in Britain," the Ancient One had said. "One side rejected the Dark Arts entirely, while the other sought to master and control them. Hogwarts is Dumbledore's domain, yet you seem quite proficient in the Dark Arts. How is that?"

"Well," Noah hesitated before answering. "I unexpectedly came across Professor Snape's old notes from his student days. Do you know Professor Snape?"

"I've heard of him. A former Death Eater and an exceptional Potions Master, correct?"

"Yes, that's him."

Facing the Ancient One, Noah didn't want to be careless with his words. Some things needed clarification. Luckily, he had a general idea of her beliefs about power, so he knew how to approach the conversation.

"I see. So, did Dumbledore ever make things difficult for you? And how did you become so proficient in using the Dark Arts?"

"Not really. I actually discovered a little secret at Hogwarts—a place called the Room of Requirement. It provides whatever the user needs. My friends and I used it to study and practice magic. Professor Dumbledore was aware of it, and he allowed us to continue."

"I see. Dumbledore must trust Snape a great deal… and he seems to have been very generous with you. He is quite an exceptional headmaster."

"Yes, he's a great man. Honestly, I've always believed that magic isn't inherently good or evil—it depends on how it's used. I think Dumbledore lets us practice these spells because he understands that as well."

Noah smiled. It didn't hurt to give Dumbledore a few extra points in front of someone like the Ancient One.

And, in truth, that was exactly how Noah felt. Light magic wasn't necessarily "good," nor was dark magic inherently "evil."

In World of Warcraft, there was a saying: "The Light is merely another form of power—it does not inherently make one good."

Noah had always found that concept fascinating. The Holy Light was revered as a sacred force, much like Light magic, but it had led to plenty of controversy. In that world, Blood Elves had forcibly extracted and wielded the Holy Light through arcane means, proving that, at its core, it was just another form of energy. The notion that one needed "faith" to wield it was nonsense.

And yet, after prolonged exposure to the Light, those same Blood Elves began to genuinely believe in its ways. They eventually dedicated themselves to it, as if the Light itself had subtly influenced their hearts and minds.

To Noah, that was no different from how the Dark Arts could erode a person's soul.

A true magician should put faith only in themselves and their own strength—otherwise, what was the point of learning magic in the first place?

That's why mastering magic was risky. It wasn't about what type of magic one used, but about having a strong enough will to control it.

If a person was righteous at heart, even the Dark Arts could be used for good. If a person was evil, even Light magic wouldn't save them from corruption.

A true magician doesn't deal in "ifs" or hypotheticals. And that was precisely why gods—who relied on faith to maintain power—often saw magicians as dangerous.

---

"Oh?" The Ancient One looked at him curiously. "You believe that magic is neither inherently good nor evil? That its morality depends on the user?"

She seemed genuinely interested in his response.

"Yes," Noah replied without hesitation. "Every form of magic has its dangers. That's why the most important thing for a sorcerer isn't the type of magic they use—it's their mindset. The person wielding magic determines its nature. If someone is good at heart, Dark Arts won't necessarily make them evil. If someone is corrupt, then even Light magic won't stop them from doing harm."

The Ancient One regarded him in silence for a long moment. Then, unexpectedly, she sighed.

"You have more insight than most seasoned sorcerers, child."

For a moment, she almost seemed to see a kindred spirit in the young wizard before her.

Then, as if making a firm decision, she smiled.

"Noah, is that your full name?"

"Yes, Noah Finniel."

The Ancient One nodded.

"Alright, Noah. Let me ask you—are you willing to come to Kamar-Taj and become my disciple?"

"What?"

Noah's eyes widened in shock.

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