"Draco Malfoy is learning Dark Magic under someone's control. He's in an abandoned classroom near the Astronomy classroom. If someone could rescue him, they would surely gain his gratitude and friendship."
Sterling understood clearly. Just as he was about to close the book, a line of golden characters began continuing below this text.
"The Dark Lord is approaching true power, or is power approaching him? Who knows? Magic always attracts magic, especially things of the same origin split in two."
"But the so-called Dark Lord isn't truly a king, actually using fear and tyranny in exchange for loyalty. A laughable act. Time will prove his fate to us, though the Dark Lord probably won't learn, since he was already educated by history ten years ago yet made no progress."
"Author, you walk the path to strength, but let this ignorant, reckless Dark Lord serve as contrast. May you find your original intention. Strength doesn't mean it's correct."
"Power isn't the solution to everything."
The golden-glowing words slowly faded after three minutes, and "Witness of the Author" dissolved into air.
Another autonomous reaction. So far, except for the first summoning of "Witness of the Author" with its opening guide-like passage, each autonomous reaction revealed only half the truth while concealing the rest, making it difficult to discern the meaning.
Yet the information it provided was valuable and couldn't be ignored.
Sterling rubbed his temples. He had been getting headaches lately. Whenever he thought about multiple things, pain immediately started.
The autonomous reactions of "Witness of the Author" seemed increasingly human-like. As if a real person were speaking. Could Origin Magic have this level of autonomous consciousness?
Thinking of this, Sterling couldn't help missing the pre-school days when he could directly ask his godmother and teacher in Avalon about any problems, though answers weren't guaranteed correct.
He still remembered asking Maleficent how to get along with school friends, then the next day holding a lighter to someone's hair to make them be his friend, only to have teachers call his parents.
He now knew that was "unfriendly", but at the time he naively thought it was because he hadn't used hand-conjured fireballs, showing disrespect to his new friend.
"Wait, why are past memories becoming clearer?"
"Sterling? Sterling? Time for class!"
Terry's voice came from outside, frantically pounding the door. Sterling could only say he'd be right out.
Anyway, better memory was good.
The day's tedious classes passed quickly. In a blink, evening arrived. Sterling, strolling the corridors, habitually gazed toward the moon. It made his mind feel much clearer.
He appeared relaxed against the wall corner, but beneath loose sleeves were tense arms and a raised wand.
"Step, step, step."
As the pocket watch pointed to "8:00", footsteps stopped at the stair corner before Sterling. Draco's pale face nervously emerged.
"Sterling... Page..."
"Relax, Mr Malfoy. This isn't our first meeting."
Sterling greeted with a smile, though his wand tip locked onto Draco's head like it had eyes. Of course, being concealed, Draco didn't notice.
He gasped loudly several times, sweat beading his forehead.
Given his Quidditch-player physique, just travelling from the Slytherin common room here shouldn't cause this.
But considering how Voldemort had drained even adult wizard Quirrell to weakness, it made sense.
"You should know why I came to find you. Perhaps you know something from Professor Snape, but I'd rather tell you myself. The Professor surely thinks so too."
"After all, seeing is believing."
Indeed, Draco hadn't expected Sterling to be so cold.
Yes, cold.
His tone had no fluctuation whatsoever. Even Draco's weak legs nearly giving out didn't change his gaze one bit.
How could the leader of a student organisation, praised by almost every professor, be like this?
Draco's body trembled. He remembered being knocked down by Sterling that day. Panicked about his "abnormality" and "not fitting in", he hadn't noticed Sterling's equally cold tone then.
Though Sterling was at fault, his tone was completely distant. Not hateful, but like a wizard facing Pygmy Puffs, if Draco had to compare.
That was more thorough arrogance than ignoring, as if everything Sterling did was from "should do" rather than "want to do", his actions seemingly controlled by invisible threads.
Draco swallowed.
Few could perceive this arrogance, and Slytherin's young heirs destined to inherit families were among that "few".
This was why no Slytherin had ever confronted Sterling or mocked his questionable bloodline.
"I... You-Know-Who two days ago... controlled me..."
"Frank confession is a smart decision, Malfoy. You don't want to follow his instructions, do you?"
This tone was exactly like a true Slytherin!
"Yes, but I have no choice! His magic, and my parents... he threatens me with my parents! If I don't obey, he can make my mother suffer anytime..."
"So what did he make you do? Was yesterday's news about Professor McGonagall told to him by you?"
Sterling interrupted Draco's complaints without reason, or rather, because it felt like wasting time.
"Yes, if any professor left the Quidditch pitch, I had to tell him immediately. That was his order. I had no choice!"
Draco's tears flowed freely. Sterling conjured a tissue and handed it over.
"Wipe your eyes. Did he give you any other commands?"
"No, no." Draco looked up briefly when taking the tissue, then quickly lowered his gaze as if needle-pricked.
Sterling's face remained completely impassive, showing no trace of empathy. He'd handed Draco the tissue like it was nothing more than a routine courtesy - mechanical, impersonal, meaningless.
"No." Sterling chewed these words. Almost instantly, he knew Draco was just a disposable pawn.
"How did you contact Voldemort?"
"He gave me a one-time device. Just press it. It broke after that day."
As expected. According to Sterling's knowledge, Voldemort should grant his "believers" the so-called "Dark Mark".
Malfoy wasn't just a pawn. Probably one deliberately thrown out.
The purpose? Still unknown.
"I understand. One last question. Malfoy, did Professor Snape tell you to find me, saying I could help you?"
Draco nodded.
"I... I can't say what it is. He left something on me that keeps draining my magic..."
Sterling noticed he didn't mention learning Dark Magic, probably not considering it a side effect. That wasn't Sterling's concern.
"Fine, go. At least now, we have nothing more to discuss."
With that, Sterling turned and left. Draco stood there dazed, watching Sterling disappear, nervously looking around before pulling an Invisibility Cloak from his bag.
Walking away, Sterling modified his reality signature from 'controlling Draco Malfoy's situation' to 'far away in Ireland, completely uninvolved.'
"Haha! George, look what I found? Our good boy Sterling night-roaming too?"
"Fred, I'm just taking a stroll."
Facing the Weasley twins, Sterling's voice carried some warmth again, like when he was usually with Ron and the others.