"Wait, what is that?"
Old Youn's words suddenly eased the already tense atmosphere a bit, and Old Youn's eyes moved from Maka's face to Maka's right hand.
No, to be more precise, it was actually the staff that had just been taken out in Maka's right hand.
"The long wand," Maka said while still maintaining the due vigilance in her heart, "Although the short wand has become a mainstream one since your era thousands of years ago, I think it is at least better than it is now. Much more, right? What's wrong?"
"Of course I know about the long staff at that time," Old Youn said, struggling to hold on to the armrests of his wheelchair so that he could sit up straighter. "I want to ask, on the stone at the top, What is engraved on it?”
This staff is roughly made of materials from the basilisk. It can be said that it has been with Maka for a long time, and many changes have been made during its use. However, that was just an improvement on the rune pattern carved on the staff.
As for the pattern carved on the stone at the top of the staff, it is naturally the same.
"Since you ask that, I think you already know it." Maka considered the words in her mind and carefully turned some of them into words.
But after hearing this, Old Youn just shook his head, but the magic power fluctuations that had been fully active in his body gradually calmed down.
"The ancient runes that symbolize the rules of truth," the old man said slowly, "... Of course, I only know that Rowena calls them that, and I know almost nothing about the rest."
"Yes, this is the rule rune," Maka followed the other person's words, "one of them."
Although he said this, in essence he just simply repeated the old man's words without mentioning any other information.
For Maka, the knowledge about the regular runes is a secret.
If someone other than him gets this secret, the knowledge is no longer just knowledge, it is more likely to become a huge danger that is no less than the source of disaster.
"So," Old Youn nodded when he heard this, as if he was sure of something, "You were indeed selected by Rowena and her three friends..."
The old man didn't say any more, he just looked directly at Maka's eyes when he said this.
Maka knew that the other party wanted him to complete the sentence.
"... Candidate," Maka said calmly, "I have entered Rowena's secret room."
"Sure enough!" A flash of understanding flashed in Yoon's eyes, but then more hesitation arose, "But, in that case, you should have been to Salazar's secret room, and... why don't you know Salazar's secret room? Where is the backup plan left behind for 'that person'?"
Hearing the old man mention Salazar Slytherin's so-called "backhand" again, Maka was actually more confused than the other person.
He always felt that there must be something he had missed here, but other than the matter of Enns, he couldn't think of any relevant clues for a while.
"All I can say about this is... It seems that there can be more than two candidates at the same time," Maka said casually, and then turned to ask, "What exactly is the 'back-up' you are talking about? Choose the candidates. What on earth are you trying to protect yourself from, Chosen One?"
It was rare to find an insider, and it seemed like an insider who was willing to talk more, so Maka naturally wanted to ask more questions.
However, Old Youn shook his head decisively.
"I don't know," he said calmly, "That was discussed by Rowena and her three friends. She didn't let me know too much... She only told me that it would be to solve a problem. It's such a huge disaster that no one should try to understand it unless they have no choice."
At this point, Old Youn's face suddenly became a little darker.
"Once you blindly touch certain truths," he lowered his eyelids and said dullly, "it will inevitably lead to disaster and lead to the worst ending."
"The worst ending..."
Maka chewed on this sentence and couldn't help but think of what was mentioned at the end of the original "Book of Sin". Although it was only a few words that were not very clear, the "loneliness" and "fear" contained in them were unquestionable.
"Yes, 'the worst ending'." The old man repeated this sentence, "I don't know what that specifically refers to, but I know that it must be far more serious than 'a person's death' Much more!"
"What's the meaning?"
Hearing this strange statement, Maka couldn't help but frowned, but Old Yoon seemed to be immersed in some kind of emotion, and there was not much expression on his face that was dissatisfied with the traces of time.
"That's the literal meaning," he said calmly, "Maybe you don't know, but I can tell you... Rowena actually committed suicide."
This is obviously another big news.
As far as Maka knows, among the many historical documents in the wizarding world, the death of Rowena Ravenclaw is already a controversial matter.
In the 11th century, this outstanding witch, one of the four founders of Hogwarts, died inexplicably early, and there was no relevant official record from beginning to end.
Some people say that she died of an unusual serious illness. It was the departure of Salazar Slytherin, the best at Potions, that made her lose her last hope of survival.
It is also said that she actually died of a heart attack. Her daughter Helena stole her golden crown and ran away. As a result, she and Barrow, who was sent to find her, both lost their lives.
But now, the "Ewan Ravenclaw" in front of Maka told him that Rowena's death was actually a suicide.
"Let's not talk about it for now." After a long pause, Old Yoon sighed slightly, "Since you are indeed the candidate, that's right... Maybe as you said, the candidate may also be There is more than one, which is indeed in line with Rowena's character concept of being prepared."
No matter what, being able to continue talking well is what Maka wants.
To be honest, he didn't want to become an enemy with this old man - at least he didn't want to fight with him prematurely. After all, he is still unable to determine the opponent's strength, and it is not advisable to be blindly hostile.
Of course, when faced with an unreasonable guy like Herbo, the other party often has the only option of "hostile".
Unless the person standing in front of Haierbo is a fool with no sense of crisis.
"So?" Maka asked after hearing this.
"So, didn't I just say that?" the old man said bluntly, "Salazar's back-up plan failed to kill 'him', so it will be my turn for this 'backup plan' to come on stage... Maybe it is inevitable. It will make you feel ridiculous, but I have to say that when we can’t find a second way, the absurd way will become our last choice.”
At this point, he sorted out his thoughts for a while, and then continued: "Once 'he' is resurrected, he will definitely look for the ancient mirror that belongs to him... Back then, Salazar smashed it with the Monument of Bewitchment. It became fragments, and Rowena sealed the fragments underground somewhere to prevent them from automatically being put back together."
"And the first step we have to do now is to find it!"
When Yoon said these words, Maka's heart was still very delicate. In other words, it is a subtle feeling with sporadic doubts.
What puzzled him was that there was no trace of the discord between Salazar Slytherin and Rowena in Yoon's words; and what he felt deeply subtle about was the two things the other party said, It's all in his hands now!
However, doubts were just doubts. In the final analysis, Maka didn't fully believe whether this old man was really Ewan Ravenclaw himself.
When a bunch of unknowns suddenly pile up in front of you, you really can't let yourself have other thoughts except doubt.
"Didn't Rowena tell you where she hid her things?" Maka asked casually while thinking to herself.
"Yes, I think this mainly depends on you," Old Eun said calmly, "Because, although she didn't tell me the specific location... she once said that the clue is in Hogwarts Castle."
Is there any clue left? Isn't it the "Mirror of Erised" that has been broken long ago? Although Maka didn't detect any traces of geographical location on it at first, the fragments of the mirror are still in the bag on Maka's waist and can be studied again at any time.
"Okay," Maka responded calmly, "I'll go look for it."
"Very good, I hope the plan can proceed smoothly. I've been waiting for this day... for thousands of years!" The old man said, coughing a few more times, and a look of exhaustion appeared on his face.
"Of course, the plan itself means that we can't rush it..."
As he was speaking, he suddenly glanced in the direction of the sentry tower not far away. It can be seen that Miriam and Seaman are already coming here.
"One more thing I must say -" the old man said immediately, "after we leave here, you and I will still be enemies. Don't underestimate 'that person', he may choose anyone he can control and try to resurrect him! Whether it's coercion, inducement or deception..."
At the end, he emphasized: "Remember, be careful of the people around you at all times."
Needless to say, Maka has been paying attention to this too. Halbo is not Voldemort, that guy is a living fossil in the magic world that has lived for thousands of years. Even if the other party uses any means, Maka will not be surprised.
He can trick the opponent to death once through the unequal amount of information, but there is no guarantee that it will be the same the next time.
"What a tough nut to crack."
Maka couldn't help but feel a hint of fatigue in her eyes.