The counterattack proceeded exceptionally smoothly.
The pure white lion completely tore through the pitch-black thorns. Despite Hecate's desperate attempts to resist, the polluted space couldn't escape its fate of being worn away to nothing. Finally, Professor McGonagall walked into the garden, which still contained remnants of that dark substance, and personally uprooted the black rose at its center.
Thus, the dream shattered with a crash. McGonagall blinked, and the cramped little room reappeared before her eyes.
However, the difference was that she now had the ability to move, and the room no longer contained just herself and William. She subconsciously flexed her somewhat stiff fingers, and her gaze was immediately drawn to the person sitting in William's original spot.
It was a young woman who appeared a bit reserved, with long, pitch-black hair cascading down her back and a face pale from lack of sunlight.
Very familiar... extremely familiar.
Professor McGonagall narrowed her eyes, her mind rapidly scanning her memory bank. That face, that outline...
"Who are you?"
"Professor McGonagall." The young woman spoke first, her voice dry and seemingly a bit nervous, "It's me, Nagini."
"!"
At that moment, William was standing with his back to them, busy with something at the Meditation Basin he had just used for monitoring McGonagall. Without turning his head, he responded, "Oh, you know each other? I was just wondering how to introduce you..."
Upon hearing that somewhat unfamiliar name, Professor McGonagall's pupils contracted sharply, the floodgates of memory flinging open.
"Nagini... is it you?"
Professor McGonagall's voice was filled with deep shock. She nearly leaped up from her chair, "Wait, wait, how are you here? And, I remember..." She gazed at the other person's appearance, which seemed entirely unrelated to her age, and the shock overflowed from her eyes.
"Mr. Richard... he helped me break the curse."
Nagini explained in a low voice, her tone filled with gratitude. Sitting there, she looked a bit pained and after a moment of hesitation, she spoke, "I'm sorry, Minerva... I hope you still allow me to call you that. My sudden departure back then must have caused you much distress..."
"Yes, I was certainly troubled, but... it's good that you seem alright... Clegg..."
Professor McGonagall sighed, sitting back down. She instinctively wanted to mention that name, but seeing Nagini's obviously pained expression, she swallowed the rest of her words.
At this moment, William turned around, holding a small bowl filled with a faintly shimmering silver liquid, "Alright, let's set aside the reminiscing for now. We have a bit of a task that needs the cooperation of you both. After all, the old squatter in the house is not easy to confront."
He said, rubbing his temples—just in the conscious space, he indeed couldn't exert any strength. After all, if he exerted full power, he would have shattered Professor McGonagall's fragile soul into pieces before Hecate could even act. Fortunately, the latter was capable enough, and his assistance managed to deal with that damn parasite.
Hearing those words just now, Professor McGonagall blinked, then she understood William's intention. Her brow furrowed tightly, showing strong disapproval on her face, "William!" The woman's voice returned to its usual seriousness, with her lips pressed into a line, "Are you suggesting using that thing... no! Absolutely not!"
She took a step forward, her emerald eyes piercingly fixating on William, "You saw it just now, that thing is simply... is there really no other way?" Professor McGonagall realized her tone might have been somewhat harsh, but her stance remained firm. Clearly, her nature did not allow her to drag others down because of herself—
Whether or not that person was her friend.
"Minerva, listen to me."
But at this moment, Nagini spoke voluntarily, she lifted her head, "It's not as dangerous as you think—or rather, I've been through much more perilous situations: turning into a beast, then being made into a Soul Artifact by a Black Wizard... I'm quite experienced."
"..."
McGonagall blinked blankly, she understood every single word Nagini said, but how come when put into sentences, they...
"I guess it's time for me to give you a tutorial?"
William picked up the conversation, placing the small bowl in his hand on the table, where the silver liquid gently rippled, "Firstly, Mrs. Nagini once served as Voldemort's Soul Artifact—yes, you heard right. Her soul has endured the 'trial' of being inhabited and corroded by powerful soul fragments, to put it simply, she has passed the Sea God's Nine Quests..."
"...What part of that is simple?"
William ignored Professor McGonagall's incredulity, continuing to explain, "Secondly, the Blood Demon Curse has ravaged her body for decades. It's far more than just a curse—at some level, this curse has sprouted and solidified a 'sub-personality' deep within her soul... which means, her conscious space isn't a blank, easy-to-manipulate slate like yours just was."
"Which means, there's a bodyguard residing in my soul. With Mr. Richard's help, it's no longer a threat to me, but if we talk about a newcomer..."
Nagini didn't continue, as everything was already quite clear.
"... Will this work?"
"The soul constructed by the Blood Demon Curse is devoid of any humanity, pure beasts. If that guy dares to mess around, that snake will absolutely take a few surprise strikes at her—don't worry, besides, Nagini's soul is currently integrated into the 'Voldemort global soul network', her mind is riddled with traps..."
Professor McGonagall refrained from attempting to understand the words William spoke, instead turning to look at Nagini. The latter nodded to her affirmatively, her eyes resolute. So she then turned to William, who wore his usual relaxed expression that most of the time made people question his reliability, but his consistent performance, however, was beyond doubt.
After nearly a minute of silence, Professor McGonagall finally exhaled slowly, her tense shoulders relaxing, "...Let's hope there are no mishaps."
"Rest assured in my work."
William smiled and patted his chest, his magic wand touching McGonagall's forehead. In the next moment, a dark rose, exuding an ominous aura and with slightly curled, wilted petals, floated out from her forehead. It appeared somewhat illusory, as if it didn't exist in reality.
The rose was guided by William, sinking into the earlier bowl, the silver substance gently rotating, emitting a soft glow.
"Are you ready?"
Then William turned to Nagini.
Nagini once again took a deep breath, closing her eyes, "I'm ready."
And so, she raised the small bowl to her lips...
"Wait! This stuff isn't a Magic Potion!"
William hastily stopped the woman who was about to take a gulp, gesturing with some helplessness for her to lean down. As Nagini obediently brought her face close to the cold liquid, her body trembled slightly. Then, a faint black thread, like a tentacle, rose up silently, flowing into Nagini's forehead—