Bewitchment

Order Epoch, Year 1138.

Mian slowly closed his eyes on the bed.

The fatigue of the day surged like a tide, only to recede abruptly at some critical point—he knew that moment was about to come again.

Consciousness, like a small boat freed from its mooring, began to dissipate and sink irreversibly. The sense of reality around him rapidly peeled away, colors and sounds merging into a chaotic vortex.

Soon, as expected, Mian found himself once again in that familiar place.

All around was chaos and pallor, but at the center of this void was a small, tranquil space.

The layout inside was identical to the room Mian was currently living in outside. Aise was lying listlessly on the bed, legs crossed, holding a book of magic.

“Yo, hello there, Mian,” Aise said, putting down the book and greeting him as he entered.

Aise flashed a bright smile, like welcoming a good friend, with not a trace of madness or chaos in his eyes.

“Mr. Aise…” Mian let out a silent sigh, his tone carrying a resigned helplessness, along with a hint of the weariness of one whose sleep had been disturbed. “I just wanted to get a good night’s sleep. Why did you drag me in here again?”

“Well, it’s been a long time since I’ve talked to a normal person… Before you, all I had to converse with were all sorts of bizarre creatures.” Aise narrowed his eyes, stood up from the bed, and asked, “Would you like something to drink?”

“Hot cocoa, please.”

The next second, with a snap of Aise’s fingers, two steaming cups appeared in his hands, and the rich aroma of cocoa immediately filled the air.

Then, a coffee table materialized out of thin air, and the surroundings began to change quietly, replaced by an elegant and cozy living room.

Soft wool carpet, a fireplace with lifelike flames dancing inside, several landscape paintings with delicate brushstrokes hanging on the walls, and a few comfortable-looking armchairs surrounding the coffee table where they sat.

“This place is…”

Mian looked around at the scenery.

The furnishings here carried an old-fashioned warmth and nobility… If Xia Lun and Aina were here, they would surely be all too familiar with this scene.

“This is my home,” Aise said flatly. “I’ve remembered some more memories from before.”

Mian thought for a moment, then said, “So… should I say congratulations?”

“Ha ha, you really are funny… Do you know what that means?” Aise looked at the young man before him with a hint of mockery. “It means I’m recovering quite well, and I’ll be able to take over your body in the real world sooner.”

“Oh…” Mian tightened his grip on the cup, his knuckles turning a little white, but his face didn’t show the fear or despair Aise had expected. He just nodded to show he understood.

Aise wasn’t very satisfied with his reaction.

“Don’t you have anything to say?” Aise sat across from Mian, lounging and slack against the chair back, his feet propped up on the table, leaning backward with the chair’s two legs teetering precariously. “You should know that I’m only using you as a shield right now. I can annihilate your consciousness at any moment… If it weren’t for keeping my father and mother from striking at me directly, I wouldn’t have let you live this long…”

“In short, you won’t kill me,” Mian said, taking a sip of the hot cocoa Aise had conjured. The flavor was very rich, quite authentic, making it impossible to tell this was a dream.

“You don’t seem to understand your situation.” Aise yawned lazily, looking bored.

“I understand it very well, Mr. Aise.” Mian slowly set down his cup. “I’ve been taken hostage by you. You don’t dare to kill me casually. And out there, the legendary hero is the one coming to save me…”

Mian shrugged his shoulders at Aise. “I’ve heard countless legends about the hero, so I figure there’s really nothing to worry about.”

“Ha… uh ha… UH HA HA HA! You’re right, Mian—my father really does give people an unparalleled sense of security.” Aise let out an exaggerated laugh, clutching his stomach with one hand and slapping the table hard with the other, as if he could barely breathe from laughter. “He’s just that kind of man, frighteningly powerful… after all, he is my father, whom I’m proud of.”

“Never thought you’d say something like that.” Aise wiped the tears of laughter from the corners of his eyes, his expression gradually calming down. “Interesting, this is truly interesting…”

Mian quietly watched his performance, neither agreeing nor interrupting.

A brief silence spread between them, broken only by the crackling of the virtual flames in the fireplace.

“Oh, right, I brought you in this time because I have a nice proposal,” Aise said, sitting up a little straighter in front of Mian, suddenly speaking again. “I’m planning to leave you.”

“What?” Mian was taken aback.

“For Father and Mother, your worth clearly isn’t enough—you’re just an irrelevant stranger after all. If this drags on, I’m worried Father might be persuaded by Mother… or worse, Mother might take matters into her own hands quietly and get rid of both of us together.”

Mian’s hand holding the cup trembled slightly, but he still managed to keep a composed demeanor.

That look in Aina’s eyes… it truly made Mian feel the threat of death.

Mian spoke. “What are you getting at?”

“So… I want to find someone else to possess.” The Aise across from him suggested lightly with a smirk. “That girl called Mo Lini isn’t bad. She’s Moke’s descendant, isn’t she? To Father and Mother, her value is surely far greater than yours. Tomorrow, invite her in to play chess with you. I’ll take the chance to leave you and possess her body. From then on, you’ll be free… What do you think?”

Everyone fears death, and Mian was no exception.

He was still quite young, at a critical juncture in his life.

His parents were ordinary people, and his family wasn’t wealthy, but because of his magical talent, he had been admitted to Ollivander School, and that had quietly changed everything.

His future was full of promise… He absolutely did not want his life to end abruptly here, with so many regrets left unspoken.

“I refuse.” Mian shook his head decisively.

But some principles that must be held onto were clearly more important than life itself.

“You won’t leave my body… There’s an entire mine of magical energy inside me, a power far too precious for you to give up easily. Not to mention whether you could actually succeed in possessing Teacher Mo Lini—even if you could, I don’t believe you’d simply let me go.” Mian analyzed calmly. “Your real purpose is just to make a move on Teacher Mo Lini, to satisfy the desires growing inside you.”

Aise stared blankly at Mian, then a smile curled at the corners of his mouth, and he gently applauded.

“I underestimated you, Mian.”