Chapter 353: Message

“Four statues, representing a wizard’s mind, body, soul, and heart… meaning this transfer student has been fully recognized by all four statues?”

“The last time this happened, I remember, was sixteen years ago…”

“Where is this transfer student from?”

The young wizards burst into a wave of exclamations.

But all of them clapped without exception.

But Wizard Sean had no time to listen, for a faint voice was already sounding in his ear.

“Choose me, Horned Serpent, and I shall grant you the ability to fly through the heavens of wisdom and vanish amid chaos.”

A wise voice said.

“I have seen your perseverance; I am certain you will fight like a warrior—ultimately, the wizard who battles to the end belongs to Cat Bao College.”

A resolute voice said.

“Since embarking on your journey, you have never paused for fear, young wizard—I spread my wings for you.”

A soaring voice said.

“Those who carry beauty within shall enter Gnome College.”

A gentle voice said.

Wizard Sean guessed they possessed the same ability as the Sorting Hat, but theirs was weaker, hence their inability to decide.

“I haven’t seen such a case in a long time, Hel… Mr. Green. When all four statues recruit a single young wizard, the choice must be his own.”

The young witch said.

How… should he choose?

Wizard Sean hesitated slightly.

…

Beyond the rolling mountains of western Massachusetts lay Ilvermorny; the night’s hue turned silver-white, and the castle’s clamor fell still.

All held their breath, waiting for the young wizard at the center of the circular hall to make his choice.

“Horned Serpent College.”

Wizard Sean said slowly.

He came to Ilvermorny to seek knowledge.

“Excellent!”

Professor Tera was the first to clap from the stands.

“He heard them…”

Headmistress Herrera wore an inexplicable expression.

Very few could hear the statues’ voices.

In fact, even when jointly recruited by all four colleges, a wizard might not hear the words of all four statues.

Even she had never received such honor—since becoming headmistress of Ilvermorny, she had never encountered a wizard like this.

“Welcome to Horned Serpent College!”

The senior Horned Serpent prefect shouted excitedly.

She had to shout—otherwise her voice wouldn’t reach the stands.

In the hall.

Wizard Sean bowed silently; he heard the three voices in his mind sigh.

“The warrior has fallen again—”

The resolute voice said.

“The warrior has fallen once more—”

The soaring voice added.

“The spirit of Gnome College lives not only in its emblem.”

The gentle voice said.

“The wise wizard always makes the right choice.”

The wise voice said slowly, with a hint of pride.

Then the statues returned to their original states.

Under the young witch’s glance, Wizard Sean stepped onto the Horned Serpent platform.

The young wizards there clapped incessantly; some young witches blushed as they glanced at him.

“Quiet—”

At that moment, the young witch spoke.

The stands fell silent.

“Now, before the Sorting Ceremony ends, let us sing the school song together!”

From the stands, Headmistress Herrera called out loudly. She flicked her wand gently; from its tip, words coiled like a serpent high above the tables.

Simultaneously, several portraits of the college animals descended from the stands.

Before Wizard Sean could react, a senior prefect approached him and joyfully handed him a piece of parchment.

It contained the lyrics of Ilvermorny’s school song.

Meanwhile, the young wizards began swaying and singing:

“We stand united,

Against the Puritans.

We draw inspiration from the kind witch Mo Mo Ruigen.

For she was once persecuted by non-wizards.

Thus she fled from distant Ireland to this land—this is the origin of our school.

Oh! Ilvermorny of Massachusetts!

We chose it!

We chose it!

A magnificent magical academy,

Whose walls protect us.

Our days with you are but a dream.

You taught us all there is about magic.

Now one thing is certain:

Wherever we may be,

No matter where we go,

Our true home,

Our one and only home,

Is Ilvermorny!”

Now.

On the stands.

Wizard Sean would remember that on this Christmas, no matter where he was, Hogwarts remained in his heart, a distant and quiet symbol.

Then everyone finished singing the school song unevenly.

Only the Cat Bao students still sang; Headmistress Herrera directed them with her wand through the final measures, and when they finished, her applause was the loudest.

“It is time for bed. Return to your dormitories.”

She gave Wizard Sean a glance, signaling he could go.

“Our college is in a tower. By the way, let me tell you a little secret: our founder, Isolt Sayre, could understand the speech of serpents.”

The senior prefect smiled and spoke to Wizard Sean.

“So this is how Horned Serpent College came to be.”

Wizard Sean showed a hint of curiosity.

He recalled some stories about this founder—how she was a descendant of Slytherin, and her aunt, her enemy, was Gormlaith Gaunt.

So her Parseltongue had mutated into Serpent-Speak?

Magic is truly wondrous.

The prefect seemed to have noticed the headmistress’s signal; she said nothing, only gazed at Wizard Sean with burning eyes before bidding him farewell and leaving.

Ignoring those dazzling titles… she thought, he’s a handsome, polite young wizard.

She thought.

And following her gaze, Headmistress Herrera smiled as she spoke:

“There is a small path in the castle leading to the Stone House. You have an extra dormitory there, dear Mr. Hermes.”

Professor Tera wore an expression of “I knew it.”

“Go, my disciple—that is the Stone House, the origin of Ilvermorny…”

Wizard Sean did not ask why Professor Tera wouldn’t accompany him; he recalled her forlorn expression before the Stone House—then he understood: it had been open only to him since that moment.

He did not know why, but assumed it was an extra privilege.

What he did not know was that Professor Tera had fiercely argued with Headmistress Herrera for a long time to secure this condition.

So he followed the path out.

He walked toward the hidden stone house.

The snow on the ground was soft, the trees a blanket of white,

each tree coated as if with cotton fluff, snowflakes spinning slowly in the air.

They landed on Wizard Sean’s face and melted at once.

He realized he was no longer at Hogwarts.

So he opened the door of the stone house, which had changed utterly—inside stood a warm hearth, a soft and spacious bed, stained-glass windows dusted with wind and snow, and a large work area.

Wizard Sean could also see a lavish meal on the dining table.

He shook his head and prepared to search for the so-called secrets of the stone house.

At that moment, the fire in the hearth flared violently, and a familiar voice rang out:

“Come to me, child…”