socalfunplaces Chapter 255 The "Value" and Risks of a Diary
Chapter 255 The "Value" and Risks of a Diary
Chapter 255 The "Value" and Risks of a Diary
Inside the Eagle's Nest's inner workshop, the air was still, with only the rustling of quill pens across parchment and the occasional murmur of discussion from the outer public area—Wesley and Ernesto were preparing preliminary materials for their communication quill pen experiments, while Fabian quietly recorded data.
Karen paid no heed to this; his entire focus was on his worktable. His journal lay open on a specially made, insulated tray, next to several sheets of parchment filled with questions. His wand was at his side, the pale blue Fiendfyre spell hovering on his tongue, ready to burst forth at any moment.
"Regarding the reverse application of the Thurisaz rune in ancient runes in offensive magic, what is the specific structure of the magic circuit at the node transition point for the third variant you mentioned? I need a more precise diagram." Karen's voice was calm and emotionless, as if she were asking a question from a regular reference book.
In the diary, ink rapidly outlined a complex structure of runes, accompanied by meticulous annotations. [You must understand that this reversal requires extremely precise willpower control; otherwise, it can easily trigger a magical backlash, harming the caster.] The handwriting was elegant and calm, as if engaged in an academic discussion. [Especially when dealing with counterspells like "Petrify All," a deviation of even a fraction of a second can cause permanent mental damage—I've noticed you seem quite interested in defensive spells; perhaps we can start with the more basics? Have you encountered anything like this in your recent practice—]
"Just answer the questions, Tom," Karen interrupted, a barely perceptible blue light flashing at the tip of her wand. The temperature in the workshop rose slightly for a moment, then quickly returned to normal. "Draw the node structure and mark the main directions of magical flow. Don't add unnecessary suggestions."
The diary paused for a moment, then continued drawing, "As you wish." The words about "concern" and "suggestion" quietly disappeared.
This has become the norm for the past few days. Karen strictly adheres to the plan, conducting such "interrogations" only every one or two days, ensuring she is in peak condition and fully protected. Each session is strictly limited to fifteen to twenty minutes, and the questions are carefully selected, mainly focusing on advanced magical theories, the principles of some lost spells, the application of ancient runes, and the secrets of Hogwarts.
He had to admit that Tom Riddle, this sixteen-year-old fragment of the soul, possessed an astonishingly vast knowledge. Especially in the areas of dark magic, ancient magic, and insights into aggressive runes, he offered many valuable perspectives that even Nico's library only had scattered records of or never mentioned at all. However, it was clear that a considerable portion of this content was being repeated by Tom rather than being his own original knowledge. Therefore, Cullen was now completely certain that Tom had received some inherited knowledge, and most likely from Slytherin.
But Karen always maintained the highest level of vigilance towards the diary. The Occupational technique acted like the most solid fortress, tightly sealing off his true thoughts, emotions, and plans, leaving only the image of a calm, inquisitive, ambitious but morally ambiguous young genius.
Tom, however, never stopped his underhanded tactics. His probing became more covert and cunning. Sometimes, when explaining a complex spell, he would deliberately slow down the writing of a key step, trying to provoke Karen's impatience or eagerness, thus opening a sliver of mental leverage. Other times, he would "inadvertently" mention the powerful effects of certain dark magic, describing the sense of control and power it brought, his words filled with seductive incitement.
More commonly, as mentioned earlier, they try to play the role of a "caring" mentor, asking Karen about her "worries" and "confusion," and trying to find her psychological weaknesses.
"—The stability of this rune combination largely depends on the caster's emotional state. Anger and fear can sometimes bring greater power, but calmness is the key to longevity." After explaining a certain ancient protective magic, the diary's tone naturally shifted: "[You always seem so calm, Karen. But I can sense a strong drive for something deep within you. Is it a desire to prove something? Or—is some threat forcing you to seek power so urgently? Perhaps sharing it will allow me to offer more suitable advice.]"
Karen sneered inwardly, but her face remained impassive. "My goal is simple, Tom: to understand the nature of magic and acquire enough power to protect myself. That's all. As for the threat?" He paused, tapping his wand lightly on the cover of his diary. "I believe the greatest threat is currently in my grasp. Continuing with the previous question, how compatible is the ancient magic you mentioned with the modern Ironclad Charm?"
[————Excellent question.] The ink in the diary paused for a moment, seemingly frustrated by another failed attempt, but quickly resumed its flow. [The compatibility is very poor, mainly due to differences in magic structure and will projection methods. Ancient magic focuses more on ————]
The confrontation ended silently once again.
After each "interrogation," Karen would immediately reseal the diary in its lead box and then spend at least half an hour examining himself. He would repeatedly recall every detail of the conversation, using the "eye of truth" to introspect and ensure that there was not a trace of external spiritual force remaining. He also had his roommates act as additional "observers."
"So, what tricks did that lousy book pull today?" After an "interrogation," Wesley leaned over and asked in a low voice, still holding a feather that shimmered with an unstable light in his hand—one of the failed experiments with the communication quill pen.
"The same old thing, trying to spy and manipulate." Karen rubbed her temples, looking slightly tired but with clear eyes. "Today it hinted to me that great power comes at a price, and it's concerned about whether I'm ready to bear that price."
"Merlin's beard, it's really persistent." Ernesto frowned, putting down the parchment he was using to calculate rune energy consumption. "Are you sure it's safe to continue feeding it this much information? The more information it gets about you, the more dangerous it becomes."
"The risks are manageable," Karen nodded. "The information I provided was carefully selected, mainly to showcase my value—a highly promising young wizard, greedy for knowledge and thirsting for power, but not yet completely corrupted by darkness. To it, this is both a threat and an irresistible temptation. It's more interested in figuring out my background and controlling me now than destroying me immediately. And we are gaining tangible benefits from it." He pointed to several notebooks on the table filled with new ideas, improvements to the protection system made under Tom's "inspiration."
Fabian seemed somewhat worried: "But it's better to be careful, Karen. After all, it is—you know."
"I understand," Karen said solemnly. "I've been prepared for every contact. The Occlumency technique is key, and your observation is an important second line of defense. If you notice anything amiss with me, do as I said before immediately, without any hesitation."
The three roommates nodded seriously. They knew what Karen was doing was extremely dangerous, but they also understood the necessity behind it—to extract knowledge from a dangerous prisoner that would be enough to fight a greater threat.
"Don't worry, Cullen," Wesley patted his chest. "If you suddenly start praising Slytherin or think that Lockhart, that good-for-nothing, is actually quite capable, we'll knock you out and drag you to Professor Dumbledore's office right away!"
These words eased the tense atmosphere somewhat. Karen smiled: "When that time comes, I'll have to be quick about it."