Chapter 14
Knowledge Society, Outpost No. 2.
The figures of Lucian and his two assistants appeared once again "Professor! You're here!" Seeing Lucian, the students present visibly lit up with joy.
Lucian patted one of them on the shoulder and smiled gently "Gather everyone. I have something important to say."
Rand Scott had been in the middle of experimenting with his latest discovery. When he heard the professor had returned, he immediately stopped his work and ran outside with uncontainable delight.
"Professor! I've made an astonishing breakthrough!" He waved his arms excitedly, trying to push his way to the front of the crowd.
But the closer he got, and the clearer Lucian's expression became, the more the excitement in Rand's nerves rapidly cooled.
'Why… did the professor look so serious? Had something major happened again? Was their organisation, after all, inevitably going to be disbanded?'
Lucian swept his gaze across the students surrounding him, letting his gaze pass slowly over each face — every single one of them wore a simple, earnest smile, looking almost like scientists from the 1980s.
These were people willing to devote their lives to magic, yet who had no intention of using it for evil. Was it really fair to them if he simply sealed everything away without explanation? "I came here today to reach a consensus with all of you." he muttered and then turned to his assistant "Jeffery, please repeat for everyone the most recent research conclusions we've reached."
"…Yes, Professor." Jeffery stepped forward from behind Lucian and began to explain once more.
As the presentation continued, the quiet crowd gradually grew restless; fragments of discussion rose here and there. When Jeffery finished, Lucian didn't give them much time to talk among themselves before speaking again "When I first founded the Knowledge Society, I established one rule "Magic must never be used to maliciously maim or kill. To me, magic has never been a weapon for evil — it is the foundation for uncovering the mysteries of ourselves. It is precisely because we all share this belief that we have been able to walk this path together until now. I trust no one has forgotten that?"
Seeing everyone nod, Lucian nodded as well and continued "The reason I came today is that our latest line of research has allowed me to foresee a truly terrifying danger. I hope to establish with every one of you an unbreakable vow — one that will completely eliminate this danger."
No one objected, at least, not openly.
"Then let us begin. Please form a line and stand before me." Lucian drew his wand and, in full view of everyone, cast a barrier that temporarily sealed the entire area.
Jeffery and Camille stepped forward first as the demonstration pair. Their right hands clasped tightly together. Lucian approached and touched the tip of his wand to their joined hands.
Jeffery spoke, "Camille, do you swear that, at any time, in any place, under any circumstances, you will never again voluntarily research the three Unforgivable Curses?"
"I swear it." A thin, dazzling tongue of flame shot from the wand — like a red-hot wire — and coiled around their clasped hands.
"Do you swear that you will never, of your own free will, disclose today's research findings to anyone?"
"I swear it." A second tongue of fire erupted and entwined with the first, forming a slender chain glowing red.
"Do you swear that, unless you are in indisputable and immediate mortal danger, you will never use any of the three Unforgivable Curses on any living being?"
"I swear it." A third tongue of flame burst forth and wove itself tightly with the previous two, wrapping around their joined hands like a rope, or like a serpent wreathed in fire.
"Very good. Next person, step forward and take Jeffery's hand."
Rand Scott, standing in the line, quietly shifted himself a few places backward while everyone was focused on watching the vow-taking process.
How could this be happening? For the past several years the professor had been actively searching for ways to increase spell power. They had finally found a truly feasible method — and now the professor wanted to seal it away! So what if it was dark magic? So what if it might harm one's personality?
A practical, effective method for tempering the spirit was right in front of them, yet the professor was willing to abandon it entirely just because of some negligible risks?
Rand was unwilling!
He could practically see the outcome if they continued down the path they had theorised: using emotion-amplifying agents combined with self-created spells to intensify negative emotions, then repeatedly casting Unforgivable Curses to sense and catalyse those emotions, followed by Occlumency to deliberately wall off the negative thoughts.
A perfect cycle — each emotional surge would be stronger than the last, and each time they used Occlumency to resist it, their mastery of Occlumency would grow deeper. A complete win-win!
And as the negative emotions grew ever stronger, the power of the three Unforgivable Curses would rise explosively.
Combined with the battle formation the professor himself had developed… with the twenty-four of them united, led by the professor and his two assistants — who in the magical world could possibly stand against them?
Not even Dumbledore.
"Scott! Scott! Scott!"
"Ah!"
Rand snapped back to reality and realized everyone was staring at him. Somehow, the people ahead of him had already taken the vow — he was now at the very front of the line.
"I… I…"
Reluctantly, Rand extended his hand. Jeffery's right hand seized it in a firm grip!
"Scott, do you swear—"
"I swear it."
Three crimson beams lit up his face in a scarlet glow. Powerlessly, Rand released his grip and retreated to the back of the crowd.
After everyone else had formed the contract, it was finally Lucian's turn. Under Camille's witness, Lucian and Jeffery clasped hands and made the same unbreakable vow: never to learn or use the three Unforgivable Curses.
There had never really been much resentment in the group to begin with. Seeing that Lucian wasn't applying double standards — that he was willingly binding himself in the same way — the last traces of dissatisfaction vanished.
"I'm sorry. This time, we went in the wrong direction. This is entirely my responsibility." Lucian apologised solemnly to the group and continued "The prerequisite for exploring the mysteries of dark magic must be ensuring our own safety. that safety refers not only to the body, but also to the integrity of the soul. Until I find a feasible and harmless path forward, I will temporarily prohibit all research into dark magic. If anyone feels that this decision conflicts with their own ideas or with our shared principles, you may come to me afterward and request to leave."
"Professor, don't worry. We've already seen how dangerous dark magic can be — how could we possibly ignore your warning and dive headfirst into it? That would really turn us into dark wizards!"
"Yeah, anyway I still haven't even figured out Potions properly. It's not like dark magic is the only subject we can work on." The group spoke up one after another, comforting Lucian and telling him not to overthink it.
As night had already fallen, Lucian answered a few more questions the students had encountered in their studies, then left again with his two assistants. Only after they departed did the others begin to quietly share their scattered thoughts on the matter. A few felt Lucian was overreacting, but on the whole, they firmly supported his decision.
Rand Scott stood silently among the crowd, listening to their carefree remarks, then left without saying a word.
Bang!
The door closed. In the dim room, a single ferocious, twisted face slowly emerged from the shadows.