Sylas immediately understood, his face darkening with murderous intent as he glared at Saruman.
"You told Sauron about that sacrificial circle?"
Saruman nodded openly. "I knew that circle was used to offer sacrifices to Morgoth. All such circles were destroyed by the Valar's forces when Morgoth was defeated and banished to the Void. But for some reason, the one in the Black Shrine was left behind.
"At first, I was only curious about what you did there. Using the palantír to look back in time, I saw the sacrificial circle you destroyed. Out of curiosity and for research, I memorized it.
"Later, when you destroyed my body and my soul fled to Mordor, I was captured by Sauron and became his servant. That was when the circle ended up in his hands."
Elrond, who also knew about the circle and had once insisted Sylas destroy his sketch of it, frowned deeply as he listened.
Sylas asked, "That circle was used by Morgoth's cultists to sacrifice humans. How could Sauron use it to restore himself?"
Saruman replied, "Because that sacrificial circle can connect to Morgoth. Even though he was banished into the Void beyond the world, if enough sacrifices are offered, Sauron can reconnect with his former master and draw power through him."
A mocking smile curved Saruman's lips.
"The problem is this: once the circle connects to Morgoth, Morgoth might use the link to find a path back into Arda. And although Sauron once served him, he is now a king himself. Why would he willingly risk becoming a slave again? That's why he never used that method, it's too dangerous.
"But now, because of your presence, all his plans have failed. Mordor is confined, weakened, and unable to expand. And with my mission failing and no hope of reclaiming the One Ring, Sauron may very well choose the sacrificial circle instead. With Morgoth's power behind him, Sauron would become far stronger than before."
The room fell silent.
Sauron alone was terrifying enough. Morgoth's involvement plunged the atmosphere into heavy dread.
Galadriel, who had fought in the ancient wars against Morgoth, felt the weight more than anyone. Compared to Morgoth, Sauron was insignificant, merely a fallen Maiar.
Morgoth was the strongest of the Valar, whose battles shattered continents and reshaped the world.
Gandalf and Elrond had only heard the accounts, but even those stories were enough, Morgoth had created orcs, trolls, wargs, dragons, and Balrogs. His war tore Middle-earth apart.
Sylas stared at Saruman, unsettled.
"What are you trying to achieve by telling us this? Begging for your life?"
Saruman merely laughed. "Maybe it's my final regret. Or maybe I simply don't want Sauron to succeed."
His gaze shifted westward, his eyes filled with longing.
"Perhaps my first choice was the wrong one, and now, I've lost the right to return."
A faint wind blew in the sealed room, coming from the west.
Before Sylas could react, Saruman's weakened soul dissolved into the breeze and vanished.
"What… was that?" Sylas turned to Gandalf and the others.
There was no way for wind to enter the room, yet the strange western breeze had passed through the walls as if they didn't exist.
Elrond and Galadriel remained silent.
Gandalf finally said, "Saruman has gone where he belongs. Don't worry, Sylas, he will not return."
Sylas had already suspected what that wind meant, but since Gandalf spoke, he didn't press further.
Saruman wasn't completely destroyed, but as long as he could never return, that was enough.
With Saruman dealt with, Sylas turned to Edward's condition.
He brought Edward to the infirmary. Under Lady Amanda's care, and with Elrond, the greatest healer of Middle-earth present, Edward soon regained consciousness.
However, because he had been possessed by Saruman for so long, Edward's soul had taken damage, and the corruption from the Ring of Power had also affected him. He needed to remain bedridden for some time.
According to Edward, Saruman had possessed and controlled him not long after the school year began.
Saruman originally took over a second-year student from Isengard. When that student saw Sylas, his enemy, at the opening banquet, he unintentionally revealed a flicker of malice, which Sylas noticed.
Feeling unsafe in that body, Saruman had planned to possess Arwen, or even her unborn child, and use them to force Sylas into handing over the One Ring and the Philosopher's Stone.
But he hadn't expected Sylas to act so quickly, sending Arwen away to the Valley to recuperate and prepare for childbirth, completely ruining Saruman's plan.
Saruman then turned his attention to Edward. As vice-principal, Edward wielded authority second only to Sylas within the school. He was also Sylas's trusted steward and had access to areas no one else could enter.
So Saruman, still inside the student he controlled, approached Edward in the Transfiguration office under the pretext of asking about magic, ambushed him, and successfully possessed him.
From that moment on, using Edward's identity, Saruman gained access to Sylas's private domain, subtly probing for information about the One Ring and the Philosopher's Stone.
To prevent Edward's primary body from being exposed, and to divert suspicion, Saruman occasionally possessed students and other professors, creating incidents throughout the school.
His schemes were meticulous and his disguises flawless.
Sylas, Gandalf, Galadriel, and the others noticed nothing wrong with Edward at all.
If not for sheer luck, and the Marauder's Map exposing him, Saruman might truly have succeeded.
Fortunately, everything was finally over.
The school lifted its lockdown, and the atmosphere returned to one of ease and cheer.
The cancelled Quidditch matches resumed with renewed enthusiasm.
Aside from a few affected students and professors who now required regular checkups and treatment at the infirmary, everyone else was free to roam as usual.
The shadow of the incident slowly faded, and laughter returned to the castle.
The Dwarven Ring, which Sylas had dropped into Smaug's mouth, was instantly melted and consumed by dragonfire.
The far more dangerous vial containing the Black Death plague was ultimately purified and destroyed by Galadriel, Gandalf, and Elrond, leaving no trace behind.
Time passed quickly, and March of the following year arrived.
Sylas had long since left the castle, leaving all school matters in Edward's hands, and was now spending his days with Arwen in the Valley.
Arwen was three years pregnant, and her due date was approaching.