Hogwarts: What are the four great masters doing?

So Ryan remained silent.

He looked at the Hufflepuff in front of him—she wasn't enjoying the meal with him.

"So, teacher—don't you have anything to say to me?"

"Like, where the hell did you go?"

He asked softly, "Why did you leave this nursery behind? Why did you leave behind... this thought?"

His words pointed out the facts.

That's right.

Of course he could see it.

The person in front of him was indeed Hufflepuff herself, but she was not the real her.

She was just a remnant of thought—like a picture within a magical painting.

But after hearing Ryan's question, Hufflepuff was not surprised at all.

She obviously knew Ryan well enough, even better than Ryan himself.

"Little Ryan, I can tell you... everything you know is true, including our ending."

Her words made Ryan put down the strawberry cake in his hand.

"So, you all really..."

He was speechless for a moment and was unwilling to believe this fact.

But he had to believe it - because it was Helga Hufflepuff herself who confirmed this fact.

The Big Four are really dead, and she admitted this fact herself!

"Don't be sad, Ryan."

Hufflepuff, upon seeing this, simply smiled and said, "Death—it's also a part of life. I've told you this theory, haven't I?"

"but why!?"

But Ryan's voice became a little low at this moment.

"You left behind the treasure, you left behind the vault, you left behind the prophecy, and the things you did in the past—that's clearly not normal, is it?"

He thought about all the information he had collected over the past few days.

Slytherin's departure, the treasure left behind by the Big Four, the message in the vault, the memories of the Sorting Hat...

All of this points to the fact that the ending of the Big Four is not that simple!

"What are you encountering? What are you fighting against?"

Ryan said in a deep voice.

"What... killed you!?"

He was eager to know the answer.

"Ryan."

But Hufflepuff's voice remained calm.

"You should know that we won't hide anything from you—you are our only heir."

"So, if there's something we haven't told you...it's not that we don't want to, it's that we can't."

Her words reminded Ryan of his previous conversation with Dumbledore.

The current headmaster of Hogwarts, the greatest white wizard of our time, said something very similar.

But Ryan had a hard time imagining it.

What on earth is it that the Big Four can't even bring themselves to say it?

Is it some kind of curse? Some forbidden knowledge? Or some evil, dark blood curse?

"so..."

So, Ryan said in a deep voice: "I can only find the answer myself?"

"Oh, boy—in fact, you've already found a quarter of it."

Hufflepuff's voice remained gentle.

And Ryan certainly understood what she meant.

The treasure left behind by the four giants - the truth that Ryan wants to know is hidden in it.

And he has found one of them.

"You look full, let's go."

So at this moment, Hufflepuff stood up.

"Remember our agreement?"

She winked at Ryan.

"My disciple, you promised me to witness my greatest work."

"...Of course I remember, teacher."

Ryan was also a little confused when he heard this: "But, isn't your work already completed? This tree..."

He was a little puzzled.

"Oh, it's too early to say anything...my child."

Hufflepuff smiled mysteriously.

Then Ryan saw her give a small wave.

"laugh!"

Roots and vines grew instantly around the platform.

They lifted the platform and continued to climb upwards until it reached the top of the entire giant tree, and came to... the side of the 'sun' hanging on the top of the giant tree!

then...

Ryan faced the sun.

But contrary to Ryan's expectations, its light was not as dazzling and hot as the real sun.

It was warm and gentle, just like Hufflepuff herself.

And what's even more amazing is.

Through the shining light, Ryan could see the core inside the 'sun'.

That's a...seed!

Its outer shell is tinged with the colorful hues of fertile earth, while endless vitality and magic overflow from its interior.

"..."

Then Ryan understood the truth.

The key that Hufflepuff left him was not this giant tree, but this seed!

"Like I told you before, Ryan."

"I have succeeded in creating it—the wonder of all life, the convergence of all nature."

"But it's just a seed... 'Seed of Plenty'!"

Hufflepuff whispered.

"A seed must have the right soil for it to germinate, right?"

When she said this, Ryan almost realized a fact.

And the next moment, he heard Hufflepuff's words.

"Witness it, Ryan."

At this moment, Hufflepuff's voice came with a hint of laughter.

"My greatest work is about to be born."

She said so.

Then...

"Fuck!"

Ryan saw the 'sun' crashing towards him!

To be exact—it was the seed that crashed towards him!

Ryan clearly saw it touch his skin and then go straight into his body.

Then Ryan heard his heartbeat.

He felt the seed taking root in his body, in his magic.

It became part of Ryan Elias.

Or...

It really started to grow because of Ryan!

Then Ryan finally realized that he had made a stupid mistake.

He mistakenly thought that this seed, this giant tree, or this nursery was Hufflepuff's greatest work.

But this is clearly not the case.

From thousands of years ago to the present day.

Hufflepuff's greatest, proudest creation... would always be her apprentice.

"Ryan."

And at this moment, Ryan heard the voice of Hufflepuff.

He turned his head and saw that her body was gradually becoming transparent - this thought had fulfilled its responsibility and she would leave.