Chapter 1157: Madam Villanelle’s Betrayal - Darcie’s Choice!

Darcie continued to walk a few steps behind her Mentor, her lips on the verge of frowning.

She looked around without turning her head.

They were already in Hogsmeade and were still walking, continuing in the direction that would take them beyond the village.

For the last half hour, after making Darcie come with her over an obviously urgent matter, Madam Villanelle hadn’t shared a single sentence with her.

If it hadn’t been for Darcie’s innately quiet disposition, preferring not to ask questions where they didn’t matter, she would have already pestered the Professor to death like any other student.

It didn’t mean she wasn’t getting a touch... worried, though.

This wasn’t like Madam Villanelle at all.

Her Mentor took extra care to explain every step, even if it was related to the most mundane matter.

Whether it was just taking a long walk or secret business, Madam Villanelle had never hesitated to share all the details forthwith, Darcie remembered.

So, for her not to talk once, despite covering so much distance...

"Where are we going, Mentor?" Darcie asked.

"I need you to meet someone," Madam Villanelle replied without looking back, suddenly picking up the pace. "It is a matter of terrible urgency. So, instead of bothering with the paperwork, I am taking you to meet him outside."

Now, Darcie finally let the frown settle on her face.

An immense Bounded Field was covering the Hogwarts grounds.

So immense that it covered the farthest boundary of Hogsmeade on one side and the smallest camp in the very opposite direction beyond the Hogwarts Quidditch stadium on the other side.

Apparition and Disapparition were completely forbidden within this Bounded Field.

But that was its most basic function.

Professor Dumbledore had come up with a registration system using blood magic.

The Bounded Field recognized all its occupants within it and monitored their presence when they went out or returned.

It was a necessary step that the members of the Order of the Black Phoenix, including all the Schools and various Ministries from across the globe, had unanimously agreed to after learning of the incident that had claimed Professor Lupin’s life.

Now, regardless of the person’s status, they would need to register themselves, letting the Bounded Field record their blood signature.

That, of course, took time, creating lots of hassle.

It still beat losing lives to surprise attacks from Voldemort or the Dark Alliance by a great margin.

So, the reason Madam Villanelle had given about the urgency made sense.

That wasn’t why Darcie had frowned, though.

It was because Madam Villanelle, her Mentor, would never dispense with paperwork, no matter who was waiting outside the Bounded Field.

It didn’t matter if the Witch of Endor herself appeared.

It didn’t matter if Professor Dumbledore experienced some anomaly and needed to re-register himself, instead choosing to meet Darcie first.

Madam Villanelle, the woman who had mentored her almost half her life, would always prioritize her over any urgency.

And knowing that, confirming that within her heart, Darcie couldn’t help but stop.

They had almost come out of Hogsmeade.

A few hundred meters more, and they would have gone out of the Bounded Field as well.

Not hearing the footsteps following her anymore, Madam Villanelle stopped, but still didn’t turn around.

Instead, Darcie saw her Mentor let her head down, take a deep breath, and release it as if she had just let out a helpless sigh.

When Madam Villanelle did turn around, slowly, Darcie was already wielding her wands, just like the reincarnated Biblical Witch was wielding hers.

"... Why?" Darcie asked, a layer of wetness blurring her vision.

"You are the Candidate of the Indigo Seat, child," Madam Villanelle said. "That means something. Something vaster than even you could ever imagine. You are destined to rule, to protect, to exist... for eternity. The responsibility on your shoulders goes beyond mundane Wars... no matter their scales. This...

"This feels good, I understand. These are the people you have grown up with. Your parents, your brother, your friends, and even your schoolmates and teachers. I know that you feel an attachment to them. But... You are but thirteen years old. Fourteen, if I were to ignore the next few months.

"Time erodes everything, Darcie. It erodes love and hate. It erodes all attachments. One day, you will look back on these days and will see them for what they truly are. Nothing. A drop in the river of time. Come with me. Leave this life behind. Leave everything behind. Leave everyone behind. A bigger and far brighter future awaits you, I promise. You can make new friends and regain all these attachments if you want to as well. Just... come with me."

Darcie looked at the witch standing before her.

Slowly, she reached up and rubbed away her tears.

Slowly, the frown on her face vanished, replaced by a smile.

Seeing her smile, Madam Villanelle allowed a smile to blossom on her own face as well.

"Good!" the older witch almost shouted. "I knew you were the most prudent, not only in your generation, but across generations. But to actually see you make the best decision — a decision that would take you to the highest realm a wizard or witch can achieve — is astounding to say the least. I am so relieved. Sigh... Alright. Let’s go. We just need to..."

Madam Villanelle, smiling ear to ear, was already turning around.

But halfway into that action, she paused, finding Darcie not budging an inch, the small smile on the girl’s lips broadening even more.

"I’d thought..." Darcie said, uncharacteristically stuttering. "I’d thought that my Mentor had betrayed us. I was so wrong. How could I doubt the person I have trusted for years? No. My Mentor is a strong woman, a stronger Witch besides. You... You are not my Mentor."

The Witch frowned. "Snap out of it, child," she said. "I am Madam Villanelle."

"Oh, I don’t doubt that," Darcie said, a coldness seeping into her gaze. "You are Madam Villanelle, alright. All I said was that... you are not my Mentor."

Madam Villanelle’s wand flickered at the speed of lightning.

But before the fastest spell Darcie had ever laid eyes upon could be cast, a sword, made purely of magic, traced a bluish arc...

... beheading the Pillar right there and then!

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