Chapter Text
"As expected, the special child of the Isagi family. No—perhaps the most special child I’ve encountered so far, Isagi Yoichi."
***
Isagi tightly gripped the broomstick—his birthday gift from Rin—as he sat awkwardly in the Itoshi family’s living room. His heart still felt heavy from what had happened the day before.
His birthday should have been a happy occasion, but instead, Sae had been taken away by mysterious men from Durmstrang. Rin had been so shocked that he couldn’t say a word—he must have been devastated.
If Isagi had an older brother, he’d be just as heartbroken as Rin was. That’s why he was here today, hoping to offer some comfort.
He sat hesitantly alongside Rin’s father, waiting in silence. Footsteps echoed from outside the room, and soon after, Rin’s mother entered. Her face was etched with exhaustion and worry.
"Isagi… Rin can’t see you today."
Isagi’s heart sank. He stammered, "Did… something happen to Rin?"
Rin’s mother sighed. Her gaze softened as she looked at him, but the sadness in her eyes made his own chest tighten.
"Rin fell ill. He’s had a high fever since last night due to the shock. He hasn’t eaten anything."
Isagi knew how much Rin loved his older brother, but he hadn’t expected Sae’s disappearance to affect him this severely. He wished he could be by Rin’s side right now, but he also knew Rin needed rest… and his presence might only make Rin relive yesterday’s nightmare.
He blinked quickly to keep his tears from falling, then hesitantly reached inside his robe. He pulled out a small box with a clear lid. Inside was a four-leaf clover.
"Then… can I leave this here for him?" Isagi asked, holding it out to Rin’s parents. "I think he’ll like it."
Rin’s mother looked at the gift, then smiled gently and took it from him.
Rin’s father crouched down to ruffle Isagi’s hair. "Thank you, Isagi. I’ll give it to him right away. I know Rin will love it."
Afterward, Rin’s parents personally took Isagi home. They spoke for a while—Isagi eavesdropped a little, but nothing they said seemed important or interesting enough for him to linger, so he left.
***
Issei and Iyo listened as their son recounted what had happened at the Itoshi house. They exchanged glances, looking just as downcast as their child.
Right now, Rin was sick, Michael—no, better not even mention him; with the distance between Germany and England, the chances of those two ever meeting again were zero. And Sae… had been taken away by Durmstrang.
Isagi had no one left to play with.
They were right back to square one. And if Issei had to endure another storm of their son’s emotional breakdown, his headquarters was going to explode from the sheer pressure.
Seeing both her husband and son looking so miserable, Iyo racked her brain for a solution—something to distract them...
"How about we try contacting Ego?" Iyo suggested. "Maybe he can start the lessons earlier than planned. Keeping busy might help Yocchan feel less down. What do you think, Yocchan?"
Isagi slowly nodded in agreement. Issei, on the other hand, was on the verge of shedding tears of gratitude as he kissed his wife.
The three of them eagerly gathered around the fireplace, using the Floo Network to call Ego. However, the first time, the second time, and even the third time—no one picked up. The Floo system was working perfectly fine, but Ego was completely unresponsive.
"That’s strange," Issei muttered. "He’s arrogant, but we call three times and he doesn’t yell back, 'CAN’T YOU SEE I’M BUSY?!'—something’s off."
Iyo scratched her cheek. "Maybe he’s not home?" Issei nodded at the possibility.
Just then—
A frantic, desperate pounding on the door made all three of them jump.
For someone to bypass the protective charms around their house, they either had to be an extraordinarily powerful wizard… or someone the Isagi family had granted permission to enter. The latter seemed more likely.
Issei and Iyo hurried to open the door. But the moment they did, both of them sharply inhaled in shock.
Standing there, right in front of their doorstep—was none other than Ego Jinpachi. The very person they had been trying to reach.
But he no longer carried his usual air of arrogant detachment. His cloak was torn, a large section missing. Dirt and mud clung to his face, arms, and legs. Dried blood stained his forehead, and scratches marred his skin.
And he wasn’t alone. Over his shoulder, he carried a child.
A pale-haired boy, limp and unconscious, slung across Ego’s back—his condition unknown.
Before anyone could utter a word, Ego—the man who had never bowed to anyone—looked up and locked eyes with Isagi’s parents.
"Please help me," Ego rasped, his voice hoarse. "The kid won’t make it if he doesn’t get treated right now. But… we can’t go to St. Mungo’s Hospital."
Issei and Iyo froze for a moment before quickly moving to take the child from Ego’s arms. The boy’s breathing was shallow, his skin deathly pale, and there were no signs of consciousness.
"Please trust me."
Ego’s voice was firm, unwavering.
Isagi’s parents exchanged one last glance—before nodding.
Iyo gestured for Ego to hurry inside, while Issei rushed to contact their private healer. Isagi stood there, watching everything unfold, unsure of what to do.
For some reason, his chest clenched painfully, and his vision blurred for a brief moment.
***
The silver-haired child was receiving medical treatment, lying still on the sofa. Beside him were the Isagi family and Ego, each wearing expressions of deep concern.
The boy had yet to wake up, and despite the Isagi family's insistence, Ego adamantly refused health check-up, insisting that he was uninjured—just utterly drained from repeated apparition.
"This child's name is Gagamaru Gin," Ego finally said, catching his breath. "His parents… they were most likely eliminated."
Isagi’s parents inhaled sharply, their fingers unconsciously digging into their clothes. "By who?" they asked.
"A group of dark wizards. I didn't recognize them—they seem to be from another country."
Isagi felt numb. His father had always told him that dark magic itself wasn’t inherently evil, but the harsh truth was that there were still people who used it for unethical purposes. He had witnessed some of them kidnapping Sae, but that was different from seeing a child nearly killed by their hands.
Ego remained silent for a moment, giving the couple time to absorb the gravity of the situation before continuing.
"I was out searching for herbs when I happened to stumble upon their ambush. I heard the screams—the sound of spells clashing violently against each other. And then I saw his family."
His grip tightened slightly. The image of Gagamaru’s parents—desperate and injured—burned into his memory.
"They begged me to take their son and run," Ego said, his voice quieter, heavier. "They knew they couldn't escape. But their child… they entrusted him to me."
There was a long, suffocating pause.
"They likely didn’t survive," he admitted, looking down at the unconscious child. "If we take him to the hospital now, we’ll attract unnecessary attention. If even one of them finds out Gagamaru escaped—"
"They'll pretend to be his relatives and 'reclaim' him without anyone being able to stop them," Iyo finished the sentence.
No one spoke. The atmosphere in the Isagi household had become stiff.
Isagi’s throat felt dry. He watched Gagamaru tremble weakly as the doctor treated his external wounds. He realized then just how fortunate he was. Mimi, Gagamaru… even Rin—each of them had suffered so much. And him? He was just a little lonely. He still had parents who loved him. He still had a family.
"I couldn’t leave him there," Ego finally muttered, and for once, his voice carried something almost foreign—guilt. "I'm sorry for dragging the Isagi family into this."
With that, he dropped to one knee.
Issei immediately stood up in alarm, moving to lift Ego back to his feet, but the man refused. He wasn’t oblivious to the severity of the situation—he had entangled the Isagi family in the mess of a yet-unknown faction of dark wizards.
Had this been any other noble family, he likely would’ve been thrown out the moment he arrived carrying an injured child on his back.
Iyo sighed. Contrary to what most would assume, the one with the softest heart in the family—the one always reaching out to help others—was not her, but her husband. Iyo, a Ravenclaw through and through, was far more rational. She had already calculated the extent of the danger Ego had brought to their doorstep.
The moment he arrived at their door, there was no turning back.
And by choosing to help him and Gagamaru, the Isagi family had likely put themselves on the radar of a dangerous, unidentified enemy.
But still, she wasn’t the kind of person who could ignore a wounded child right in front of her.
"You did the right thing," she said at last. "But at some point, we’ll have to report this to the Ministry of Magic. And we need to search for any of Gagamaru’s surviving relatives."
"I understand," Ego replied without argument.
"For now, let him stay here," Issei reassured him. "We’ll take care of Gagamaru."
Ego studied the couple for a long moment before slowly nodding, looking as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
The Isagi family’s private healer soon concluded the treatment after a thorough examination of Gagamaru.
"His condition has stabilized. His external injuries have been treated, but he has a mild concussion due to both physical trauma and a magical outburst. However, his mental state is in severe shock—he won’t be able to speak for at least a few days, maybe even weeks. Let him rest, keep him calm, and avoid mentioning his family for now. If all goes well, he’ll recover soon."
"Is there anything we can feed him to help him regain his strength?" Iyo asked worriedly, slightly relieved now that the boy was no longer in critical condition.
Neneko shook her head. "Overfeeding him will backfire. Just give him regular meals as usual. Or light, easy-to-digest food for the next two days." Then she turned to Isagi and grinned. "And feed your son more too. He’s tiny!"
Both Isagi and Iyo gasped in outrage. Iyo shoved the doctor’s shoulder. "Chigiri Neneko! How dare you?!"
The two women then dissolved into lighthearted banter.
Ego turned to Issei and muttered, "...A bit unprofessional, isn’t she?"
Issei chuckled helplessly. "She’s an old friend of ours. But trust me, she’s a brilliant doctor."
"She sounds more like a mother. And if that’s the case, I imagine your kids would get along well," Ego mused. Even he—who had only been around for a short while—could tell how few friends Isagi had.
Issei pressed his lips into a thin line. "She does have children. And she’s currently fighting for custody."
Ah. No wonder. Ego didn’t press further. There was something far more important on his mind.
Noticing the flicker of concern on Ego’s face, Issei reassured him,
"We’ve made an Unbreakable Vow with Neneko. She won’t be able to reveal anything about our family or anyone under our protection. You don’t have to worry."
"Once again, I’m truly grateful for the Isagi family’s kindness. You don't know how meaningful it is. " And how dangerous it was. Ego bowed in gratitude.
Issei, perceptive as ever, understood what he was thinking.
"Don’t overthink it, Ego. And don’t bow your head—for you did the right thing. Be confident."
Ego looked up, meeting the unwavering gaze of Isagi Issei—the head of the household, a man who at first glance seemed harmless, almost fragile.
But he was so much more. Born into dark family, yet sorted into Gryffindor. Defied his family to marry a Muggle-born. Courageous beyond measure, yet endlessly compassionate.
Beside them, Isagi clenched the hem of his robes, staring at Gagamaru’s pale, frail body as he stirred slightly in his sleep.
"Are you okay, sweetheart?" Iyo asked, always attuned to her son’s emotions. She realized she had been so preoccupied that she hadn’t checked on him. "You must be scared, but Gagamaru is safe now. You don’t have to worry, okay?"
She reached out, and after a brief hesitation, Isagi stepped forward and buried himself in her embrace.
Seeing Gagamaru like this reminded him of Rin—his only friend—who was also bedridden from the trauma of losing his brother.
His heart couldn’t bear watching anyone else suffer.
So, he made a decision: If Rin couldn’t see him right now, then at the very least, he would take care of Gagamaru the way he wished he could care for Rin.
And, of course, he would send Rin lots of gifts and letters too!
***
The next morning, Isagi brought some porridge that his mother had helped him prepare to Gagamaru’s room.
He still looked pale, but thankfully, he had woken up. The boy nodded at him to greet.
“I made this for you,” Isagi held up the bowl of porridge proudly. “You don’t mind if I feed you, do you?”
Gagamaru’s cheeks turned a little red. He shook his head vigorously, not knowing whether he was refusing or accepting the offer. But he didn’t have much of a choice anyway—his hands were trembling so badly that he couldn’t hold anything.
And so, Isagi patiently blew on each spoonful of porridge to cool it down before feeding it to Gagamaru, just like taking care of a baby. They were the same age, but at that moment, Gagamaru looked like a tiny kitten.
“Tastes good?” Isagi blinked expectantly, his expression clearly saying, Come on, praise me!
Gagamaru nodded rapidly and shakily gave a thumbs-up, making Isagi burst out laughing.
“You know, you’re probably the third person I’ve really talked to,” Isagi said after finishing feeding him, flopping down onto the bed next to Gagamaru, propping his chin up as he chatted away. “I have two friends—one is Mimi, and the other is Rin… Do you have any friends?” he asked.
Gagamaru shook his head.
Isagi clicked his tongue. “Well, you have me now.”
Gagamaru smiled cutely.
“You can’t talk much right now, so I’ll do the talking,” Isagi kicked his feet playfully. “When you get better, you’ll have to tell me stories to make up for it, okay?”
Gagamaru’s dark eyes seemed to light up. He nodded eagerly.
“I met Mimi in Germany… He's really cute, like a little golden-furred cat, with eyes as blue as the ocean…”
“… Rin is adorable too, his big round eyes are like two gemstones… but he’s really fierce. His big brother is fierce too. Rin likes me a lot, he even gave me a gift…”
“…Do you know how to play Quidditch? Wait, you don’t even know what Quidditch is?! Oh my, let me grab Quidditch Through the Ages for you…”
"…"
Every day, Isagi would visit Gagamaru and send letters and gifts to Rin. He wanted Rin to know that he was always thinking about him, that he wanted to see him again, and that he had never stopped missing him. Lying in bed all day must be boring—reading his letters would surely cheer Rin up. At least, he hoped so.
***
Despite Gagamaru’s sudden arrival, Isagi’s tutoring class remained uninterrupted. Ego was a tutor possessing two traits—extraordinary talent and a terrifying level of authority. He was the kind of strict person who wouldn’t let anything slow down his teaching schedule, not to mention that he owed Isagi’s family a favor he could never fully repay.
Everything had been arranged perfectly for both of them. They would have lessons almost daily in the study room, lasting about an hour and a half or longer. In their previous sessions, they had come to a silent agreement—Ego would assign books, lecture on fundamental concepts, and wait for Isagi to ask questions. Then, Isagi would be expected to keep asking more. Ego had made it clear that he despised students with poor critical thinking skills, and Isagi was definitely not a kid with poor critical thinking skills!
Isagi figured this was Ego’s way of provoking him into studying harder, and wow, Ego was truly a master of mind games. He ended up spending more time reading Ego’s assigned books than he did reading fairy tales. Isagi both hated and admired the way Ego manipulated him like this.
If he ignored the times he wanted to yell at Ego in frustration, Isagi had to admit that the man was a ridiculously cool teacher—creative even in the way he insulted people. But he would never tell Ego that.
Today’s lesson began with an overview of Hogwarts’ history, and they would delve deeper into different eras later.
“—Hogwarts was founded over a millennium ago—though the exact year remains uncertain—by four of the greatest witches and wizards of their time. The students were sorted into four Houses named after them: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin.”
Ego’s voice was monotone, but that same indifference made Isagi listen more attentively.
“Hogwarts is the greatest magical creation they ever made, more so than any potion or magical artifact of their era. The castle was built not only to protect wizards from Muggle persecution at the time but also to ensure that future generations of wizards would survive and grow stronger than ever.”
“Students are sorted into their Houses based on the values and qualities they uphold,” Ego slowed down, his sharp gaze landing on Isagi. Isagi carefully took notes as Ego went into the details of each House.
"Godric Gryffindor, a noble and fair warrior, valued bravery and chivalry, believing these were the virtues his students should possess. He was famous for his legendary sword, which only appeared before the true Gryffindors when they needed it most, and for being the original owner of the Sorting Hat. Godric and Salazar were once close friends before Salazar left Hogwarts."
"Helga Hufflepuff, loyal and selfless, believed that Hufflepuff was the house of those with loyal hearts, diligence, and patience. She also welcomed students rejected by the other houses, believing that everyone deserved a chance to prove themselves. It was she who brought house-elves to Hogwarts and established the school's culinary traditions," Ego muttered. "Thanks Helga for allowing Asian students to choose their own food. Don’t hesitate to ask for some properly seasoned rice when you get to Hogwarts, Yocchan."
Isagi shuddered. Of course. Seven years, and he still hadn’t gotten used to the food in England.
"Rowena Ravenclaw, a wise witch, designed much of Hogwarts' architecture. She believed that Ravenclaw students should possess outstanding intellect, and her ambition was for Hogwarts to cultivate future wizards with extraordinary intelligence, curiosity about the world, a thirst for knowledge, and an insatiable desire for learning. She was also a close friend of Helga Hufflepuff."
Finally, when speaking about Salazar Slytherin, Ego hesitated for a moment.
"Salazar Slytherin… a wizard with views very different from the other three. It is said that Salazar believed only pure-blood wizards were worthy of learning magic and did not want to teach Muggle-born students, as Slytherin rarely accepted Half-bloods or Muggle-borns. This led to severe conflicts between him and the other founders, especially Gryffindor—a man of fairness and justice."
Isagi tilted his head and raised his hand as Ego fell silent. "I have a question."
Ego nodded. Isagi continued, "You said Hogwarts was built to… protect wizards from Muggles? That was during the period when Muggles were hunting witches, right?"
Ego's eyes lit up.
"Exactly. Many wizards of that era were hunted down and burned at the stake—even innocent Muggles were caught in the crossfire. Hogwarts became a safe haven for wizards and helped them learn how to protect themselves in the future."
"If that’s the case," Isagi frowned. "Is it possible that Salazar Slytherin didn’t actually despise Muggle-born students… but was trying to protect them?"
Ego blinked. Isagi pressed on, "The term 'Muggle-born' says it all—they're too closely connected to Muggles, the very people trying to exterminate wizards. If Muggle-born students came to Hogwarts, what if wizarding students… started hunting them down in retaliation? Muggle-borns probably had it even worse than pure-blood wizards. They weren’t accepted by either world, and both worlds feared them. I wouldn’t be surprised if Salazar was so extreme that, in order to protect Pure-bloods, Half-bloods, and Muggle-borns alike, he refused to admit Muggle-born students and… gave them some potion to erase their magic and memories, safeguarding both sides in the process."
Then he realized he had gone off on a tangent and gradually lowered his voice in embarrassment. He didn’t notice that, as he spoke, Ego was listening more and more intently, even smirking mischievously.
"That’s just your theory. Salazar did build a chamber and raise a monster to eat Muggle-born students," Ego grinned from ear to ear.
"As much as I love books," Isagi shrugged. "Who’s to say everything written in them is true? What if Salazar mumbled, 'To protect the students, especially the Muggle-borns, I should get a giant monster to eat anyone attacking them,' and people misinterpreted it as 'To protect students from Muggle-borns, I should get a giant monster to eat them'?"
"What house do you like best, Isagi?" Ego didn't argue, steering the conversation in another direction.
Isagi shook his head. He wasn't sure what he wanted… "Probably Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw. I like reading."
"Think about it more, brat."
Ego finally summed it up.
"Gryffindor—the house of warriors and heroes. They are willing to die for justice, righteousness, and fairness. Brave and valiant soldiers."
"Hufflepuff—diligent, devoted and selfless workers. The most loyal warriors of all, they would die for anyone they have pledged allegiance to."
"Ravenclaw—eccentric geniuses and knowledge-seekers, endlessly curious about the secrets of the world. Having them on your side is half the battle won."
"Slytherin—home to cunningness, determination, decisiveness, and ambition. Masters of strategy and talented leaders."
Isagi pondered for a moment, then absentmindedly said, "If I ever got to support a faction to win a war, I’d want a Slytherin leader, a Ravenclaw strategist, Gryffindor at the front lines, and Hufflepuff handling the support. Nothing is scarier than someone with ambition who carefully utilizes the intelligence, bravery, and loyalty of others."
Ego raised an eyebrow. "Slytherins can’t take any other role but leadership?"
Isagi pursed his lips. "Too ambitious. I’d worry that if it wasn’t an absolute win for them, they wouldn’t stay."
Ego stared at him for a long moment before sighing and shaking his head with a strange smile. He didn’t explain or ask anything else. Isagi didn’t understand, but he had a feeling that even if he asked, Ego wouldn’t answer. What a weird tutor.
"What makes Slytherin special? Gryffindor contributed the Sorting Hat, Hufflepuff handled food and maintenance, and Ravenclaw designed most of Hogwarts? There aren’t many records left about Slytherin’s contributions because they focused on his rare, nearly extinct ability… Parseltongue."
Isagi nodded along, but as soon as Ego mentioned "Parseltongue," he let out an "Ah."
"That’s the snake-talking thing, right?"
"Exactly. Slytherin’s descendants inherited the ability, but… his bloodline is nearly extinct. This ability is practically lost—at least in Britain's reccord. A real shame."
Isagi wasn’t too convinced. He considered himself an ordinary kid—what were the odds that he would have this ability? So, without thinking, he blurted out,
"It’s not that rare, actually. I can talk to snakes too."
The atmosphere dropped instantly. Ego froze, but only for two short seconds. He raised an eyebrow indifferently, as if Isagi’s words were nothing out of the ordinary.
"Oh really?"
Isagi nodded. "I could talk to Lunar, Itoshi Sae’s snake, when I visited Rin’s house."
He paused for a moment, recalling his first encounter with Lunar in the flower garden. The snake had hissed and slithered, trying to intimidate him—but it didn’t work. Instead, it ended up demanding to coil around his neck and even told him…"Don’t tell anyone you can speak to me, kid..."
Oh no.
Isagi’s smile stiffened. A sudden chill ran down his spine as he realized he had just slipped up. But it was too late.
He stammered, trying to cover it up, "I–I was just joking. How could I possibly talk to snakes?"
Ego chuckled. It wasn’t a mocking laugh—it was filled with intrigue.
"No, no. You weren’t joking," he said, eyes gleaming like a predator that had just found a rare treasure. "As expected, the special child of the Isagi family. No—perhaps the most special child I’ve encountered so far, Isagi Yoichi."
But Isagi didn’t feel happy about that at all.
***
Ego later insisted on speaking to Isagi’s parents about it, regardless of how much control Isagi had over the ability.
"This ability is too special to be kept secret. Even if you only got some part of it, your family needs to know," Ego said seriously. "If anything happens, they could be able to step in and protect you."
Isagi bit his lip. He didn’t like this. He didn’t want people looking at him differently.
But Ego didn’t give him a chance to argue. "Secrets exist to protect us from those who seek to harm us, Isagi, but they should never be a weapon against the ones we love."
With that logic, Isagi had no choice but to surrender.
Ego left to talk to his parents. While waiting, Isagi unconsciously leaned back in his chair—but something felt off.
He turned his head sharply, glancing toward a nearby bookshelf—and met the wide, stunned eyes of Gagamaru. The boy had gotten out of bed at some point and was now standing behind the shelf, watching everything in silence.
Isagi frowned slightly and walked over to him. Gagamaru looked a little flustered, but he neither backed away nor panicked. He just stood there, observing as Isagi approached.
"You heard everything, didn’t you?" Isagi asked quietly. Gagamaru didn’t respond, but his expression said it all.
Isagi sighed and moved closer to him.
"The Parseltongue ability Ego talked about—it’s dangerous, you know."
"But, is it a secret… or something I can share with you, Gagamaru?"
Isagi wasn’t sure what kind of expression he had right now, but the air between them had grown oddly heavy. Gagamaru stared at him, his large dark eyes unblinking.
Then, without hesitation, he grasped Isagi’s hand—tightly. As if using all the strength he had to make Isagi understand his points.
Isagi’s lips curled into a gentle smile. "That means we’re family now, Gin." His voice was soft but sincere. "Do you want to study together?"
Gagamaru didn’t answer right away. He stared at his own pale hands for a moment before slowly looking up.
Then, he gave a small nod.
Isagi smiled. "Good. Let’s learn together."
***
Sae was taken to a cold, windowless room, dimly lit by the flickering torches mounted on the walls. He could feel the eerie atmosphere wrapping around him, sending a shiver down his spine due to the absolute silence in the air.
He had woken up about an hour ago, finding himself on a train before being brought to a concentration camp in Durmstrang with other children. Since his capture, everything had felt like fragmented memories— the clanking of chains (were they seriously putting chains on children?), and hushed voices speaking in a language he didn't understand (German? Or maybe Austrian?).
The door suddenly swung open. Two men in black robes entered without a word, merely gesturing for the children to stand and leave this gathering area. They were then led into a much larger, slightly brighter room.
Other children—around his age—huddled close together, confusion evident in their eyes. Some trembled and sniffled, crying for their mothers, while others tried to maintain a facade of composure. But the tensing atmosphere weighed on them all.
A masked man in a black cloak stepped onto a platform. His cold, piercing gaze swept over the children as though he were inspecting products. His voice was deep, rigid, and carried an undeniable authority:
"Welcome. You are seeds of great potential, specially chosen for training. The moment you turn eleven, Durmstrang will accept you without any condition."
He paused briefly, his eyes boring into the children before him.
"This is an honor—engrave that into your brains. Not everyone is granted this opportunity. But remember, honor comes with responsibility and achievement. The weak will be eliminated."
The crowd erupted in hushed whispers. Some children became wary, while others remained curious or even scoffed. Sae simply clenched his fists. Selection? Sure... Such a refined way of saying mass legal abduction, no?
The man raised a hand, and as if trained, the children fell silent immediately.
"Durmstrang will grant you power," he declared. "Prove that you are worthy of it."
Sae's chest tightened. He had no idea what awaited him, but he was certain it wouldn't be anything good.
After his speech, the man divided the children into three separate groups. Sae wasn't sure what the criteria were, but he could vaguely sense a distinct difference between them.
The first group was the smallest. They huddled together timidly, their eyes darting around as if afraid they would be devoured by the others.
The second group was larger, and among them, one child stood out. Unlike the others, who were dressed either in strictly Muggle attire or full Pureblood robes, this purple-haired child wore something... unusual. An oversized wizard hat, a thick scarf wrapped around his neck, and a wizard's cloak over Muggle clothes. Due to such a peculiar appearance, he was ignored completely by the other children in their group.
The last group, the largest, was where Sae ended up. He immediately noticed another striking presence—a golden-haired boy with an aura so strong it was impossible to ignore. Unlike the fearful or uncertain children around him, this boy stood with his back straight, his cold eyes glaring at the cloaked figures before briefly sweeping over the children surrounding him with clear disdain. His poised demeanor only made him even more eye-catching.
Sae let out a tired sigh. What kind of mess had he been thrown into now?
Once the black-robed men left, the room became noisier. The children began talking amongst themselves—except for the first group, who remained curled into a tight circle, keeping their distance from everyone else.
The second and third groups engaged in lively exchanges, speculating about where they were and why they had been brought here.
The two children Sae had noticed earlier—the purple-haired one and the golden-haired one—were still standing alone. The former remained ignored by the others, almost as if he didn't exist. Meanwhile, the latter actively ignored everyone else, showing no interest in engaging with anyone.
Then, the purple-haired child began to tremble violently, eyes welling up with tears. He bowed his head, small hands clutching the hem of his robes tightly as he let out a faint, choked sob.
"Stupid Yoichi..."
Immediately, both Sae and the golden-haired boy snapped their heads toward him.
Sae jolted, realizing his reaction was too obvious. There were plenty of people in the world named Yoichi—it was probably just a coincidence. Embarrassed, he cleared his throat.
The golden-haired boy, however, looking at the purple-haired child carefully before stepping forward with absolute confidence. He stopped in front of him, raising his chin slightly, and spoke in flawless English:
"What’s your name? I’m Michael Kaiser."
The purple-haired child stammered, taking a sharp breath.
"A-Alexis Ness… n-nice to meet you."
Kaiser observed Ness for a moment before flashing a sharp, knowing smile.
"I think we’ll get along just fine, Ness."
Then, he extended his hand. Ness hesitated for a second before timidly reaching out. Kaiser grabbed his hand firmly, shaking it with purpose.
At that moment, Sae’s eyes unintentionally flickered toward Kaiser’s wrist—and his heart nearly stopped.
That bracelet…
It looked almost identical to the one Isagi always wore.
A deafening alarm rang inside Sae’s head. His fingers instinctively reached inside his cloak, fumbling for the tiny item he had kept safe all this time.
A small gift box.
The one he never got the chance to give Isagi for his birthday.
Ah…
Stupid Yoichi… No, He was the stupid one here. He forgot to give him his present...