Regulus of Hogwarts: Lord of the Stars

Let's talk? Talk about what?

Regulus looked down at the five people below. The two survivors were standing at the very back. It was unclear whether they were impressed by him and subconsciously wanted to stay away, or simply because they were of lower status and could not be ranked alongside the other three.

Judging from the magical feedback, the one in the lead is probably at the level of a Hogwarts professor.

But simply comparing magic power is not very meaningful, as many wizards will gradually increase their magic power as they age healthily.

But that's just magic power. The real strength depends on the ability to cast spells, the understanding of magic, combat experience, and reaction to unexpected situations.

The person in front of me was clearly not the type who only possessed magic power. He stood on the sea, and his magic power was like the undercurrents in the deep sea, calm on the surface but turbulent underneath.

Regulus recalled Freya's words from the day he arrived in Reef Town, about the whispers of the abyss.

The Whispers of the Abyss worship the deep sea, believing that magic should be like the ocean—objective, vast, and capable of swallowing all individual noise. Their magic feels cold and possesses a kind of inhuman rationality.

It sounds a bit like that lump in the ruins.

That thing revealed something more fundamental and underlying, more like a source; it didn't require individuals to have free will or independent thought.

What it wants is to make the individual part of something grand, to make the individual's noise disappear, and to let everything return to that cold, magical system.

Regulus thought to himself, this doesn't seem like a coincidence.

The origins of the Whispers of the Abyss, their beliefs, and what they seek are likely related to that relic.

It's even possible that they are an organization derived from that magical system.

Perhaps hundreds of years ago, someone obtained something from the ruins and embarked on the path it set. That person created this organization and passed down his magical philosophy.

But over time, later generations transformed it into a belief and a goal to pursue.

And they may have already tracked it down decades ago, but back then there was someone standing in their way.

That document was the key to access the ruins, but it was in Grindelwald's possession. After his failure, he gave it to the Eisenhardt family, and it wasn't until this year that it was given to Freya.

So they could only wait, until Regulus came to Germany, until today they came to the slumbering abyss.

The thought flashed through my mind and then subsided; now was not the time to think about it deeply.

Regulus remained silent, leaving Freya to handle the negotiations. He stood by as a deterrent, his body wreathed in flames, the gray-green light on the tip of his wand flickering faintly.

Freya's voice was icy: "What do you want to talk about?"

The leader below was actually feeling somewhat helpless.

Does he want to talk? Of course not.

He would rather just snatch it, take the document, or even just glance at it and return it.

He could apologize for it, offer a generous gift, or bring out the organization's treasured possessions.

Magical items, secret knowledge, unique magic, treasures from the deep sea—anything is possible.

Or instead of grabbing, you can exchange it for more attractive items.

But now, none of those seem to work.

The two people mentioned above are from the Eisenhardt family and the Black family, both of which are among the most powerful families in the European magical world.

The Black family, in particular, is the clear heir.

Even so, the leader had nothing to fear.

The Whispers of the Abyss have existed for hundreds of years, and perhaps in some places they are indeed no match for the pure-blooded families who have cultivated their roots there.

However, the power they wield is enough to give them the confidence to engage in equal dialogue with these families.

In fact, he felt that he was the one who needed to be treated with caution.

Those pure-blood families spend their days fighting for power, maintaining their bloodlines, and engaging in pointless social games.

What are they pursuing?

Status, wealth, marriage alliances, and a seat in the Ministry of Magic.

Whispers of the Abyss seeks the truth of magic, the hidden knowledge buried by time, and the traces left by beings older than humanity.

They're not even on the same level.

But that witch was different. The leader looked at the blue flames swirling around Freya with a strange expression.

He had some doubts when he heard the island leader describe it before. Blue flames were not unusual; many wizards could create fires of various colors.

But once he saw it with his own eyes, he no longer doubted it; he recognized the flame.

Thirty years ago, there was someone whose flame was just like this—its color, its shape, its way of burning, and its magical aura that made people instinctively want to back away.

The same.

Grindelwald.

That was a mark of an era, even though he had been imprisoned in Nurmengard and had disappeared from public view for nearly thirty years.

But as long as he was alive, and as long as this might be his tentacles, the leader of the Abyss Whispers dared not actually do anything.

And that boy from the Black family, the fierce flames swirling around him were clearly extremely powerful, and he was so young.

The island leader's description of the sudden, area-of-effect magic speaks volumes.

At such a young age, to have mastered such profound incantations and to have achieved such power.

If he doesn't kill him in one go, he'll become the entire organization's nightmare, not to mention the Eisenhardt witches around him are no pushovers.

"Robbing is out of the question," the leader quickly assessed the situation and immediately abandoned the idea of ​​taking action.

But he still wanted to try and see if they could make an exchange.

He stepped forward and looked up at the two people on the boat.

"My name is Joachim von der Wilder," his voice was still old and rough, with a harshness like that of a sea breeze: "the current head of Whispers of the Abyss."

"Miss Eisenhart, Mr. Black."

"I could trade everything the whispers of the abyss have accumulated over centuries—knowledge, wealth, treasure, information from other ruins, unique magic—just for a glimpse of that document."

Every word he spoke was sincere, but Freya didn't hesitate, her tone leaving no room for negotiation: "No."

Joachim remained unmoved; he was prepared.

When he saw them in the sea, he noticed something.

They had no magical effects on them, no Bubble Charm, no Ironclad Charm, nothing at all, while the five of them on their side were all wearing full protective gear.

This difference can only mean one thing: they went inside the ruins.

Anyone who has been inside will naturally understand what's inside. Even if they only bring out a little something, or a magic spell, it's enough to benefit an individual or a family for generations.

Anyone would want to occupy such a place and wouldn't share it, so it's normal to refuse.

Joachim paused for a moment, then asked, "May I know what you brought out from there?"

Freya remained silent. She truly didn't know what Regulus had brought out, or even whether he had gained anything.

Judging from the relaxed expression on his face, he must have gained something, but as for what exactly—

Thinking of this, she looked at the people below with increasingly unfriendly expressions. If it weren't for their delay, Regulus would have already started talking to her.

Joachim was somewhat puzzled by that look.

He saw the blue flames on Freya's body flash and burst for a moment, though they quickly receded back around her body. But he still subconsciously began to gather his magic power.

He experienced the entire Grindelwald era.

Thirty years ago, he saw that person casting a spell from afar. Wherever that blue flame passed, some people turned to ashes, while others remained unharmed.

That power, that oppression, those characteristics—I still remember them vividly.

The flames on the witch in front of them were far less powerful than those of Grindelwald, even worlds apart.

Grindelwald's flames can engulf an entire sea, while this witch's flames can only protect herself.

But magic is magic. Even if the same flame is much weaker, it is still something to be careful about. Besides, who knows if this is all she can do?

No one answered the question, and Regulus naturally wouldn't offer to answer it, especially since he really hadn't brought much with him. If one had to say he did—

He glanced at the fierce flames surrounding him, "They're all manifested here. Do you want them?"

Joachim was at a loss for words. He couldn't take it or exchange it, so he turned his gaze to Regulus.

"Mr. Blake, what about you? Would you be willing to trade with us?"

Regulus simply shook his head.

The item wasn't his, so he couldn't possibly agree on Freya's behalf, and besides, his word didn't count.

Joachim took a deep breath; he knew he wouldn't get anything, but he was truly unwilling to give up.

It's been hundreds of years.

The organization has existed for hundreds of years and has finally found this place, but someone is blocking their way, preventing them from pursuing that ultimate goal.

Centuries of searching, centuries of perseverance, were thwarted by these two witches, a man and a woman, who were extremely young to him.

Even without considering Grindelwald's potential involvement, they might not be able to take down just these two.

He was confident that he could easily defeat them on his own, but he had just seen them in the sea; they could Apparate.

This means that as long as they are not killed in one blow, they can leave at any time. On the vast ocean, they can teleport anywhere and be nowhere to be found.

You can't hit it, you can't steal it, you can't exchange it.

As Joachim looked at them, a thought suddenly popped into his mind: if that's the case, we can just wait another hundred years or so.

Now that the target has been confirmed to be there, all that remains is to wait.

Besides, they are so young, there will always be times when they need help, or their ideas may change after a few decades.

Rather than tearing each other apart now, it's better to...

The waves at Joachim's feet gathered and coalesced into a stream, lifting him upwards and forwards.

The current lifted him up to the bow of the boat, where he was at eye level with Freya and Regulus, less than three meters away.

Regulus remained calm, standing there without moving, simply watching the other rise in front of him, but his magical perception was already fully deployed.

His further refinement of Star Orbit Meditation also greatly improved his magical perception. He discovered that the other party had no intention or preparation to attack.

However, he was not careless. If the opponent was skilled enough, they could completely shield their own magic power so that he could not sense it.

The light at the tip of his wand shone even brighter.