"Knowledge and power, Mr. Dumbledore, so that I may find my emotions."
Seeing the shock and confusion that surfaced on both of their faces, Maple tilted his head before realizing that they seemed to have misunderstood what he had just said. So, before Dumbledore could ask, he quickly added,
"Mr. Dumbledore, please forgive my previously ambiguous words, but, well…my situation is kinda difficult to describe using words. If you use Legilimency on me, you should be able to more or less understand me."
"No, Maple, I won't,"
Dumbledore shook his head, rejecting Maple's suggestion without any hesitation.
"This old man's life long experience told me that one should never wantonly peep into other's thoughts, otherwise misfortune may befall both."
"I think you have misunderstood, Mr. Dumbledore,"
However, Maple did not give up, he just pursed his lips and said with an equally solemn and firm tone.
"Please use Legilimency on me; only then will you be able to understand my special circumstances. After all, only through honesty can we avoid any further misunderstandings, right?"
"I can use Occlumency to hide away my private memory. Although for you, breaking through my Occlumency barrier would be as easy as flipping over your palm, but I am willing to give you a bit my trust. So, can you please also give me a bit of your trust?"
"Merlin's beard…."
Dumbledore looked into Maple's calm eyes, and couldn't help but release a soft sigh in his heart.
He massaged his temples in distress, even though this great wizard has experienced countless ups and downs, but he still felt helpless and troubled by the maturity and stubbornness of the little child in front of him.
"Alright, alright, you really give me a problem, 'Mr. Maple.' Indeed, trust is mutual. Since you choose to trust in the character of an old man like me, then it will be too unwise of me if I reject your expectations."
Speaking of this, Dumbledore seemed to have realized something, the unique charm of the great wizard reappeared. The amazing surge of magical power caused Maple, a Beyonder, to refresh his previous judgment.
Sequence 6. in terms of magic power alone, this legendary wizard is definitely a genuine sequence 6!
"Mr. Maple,"
Dumbledore interrupted Maple's thoughts with a light smile while those deep blue eyes were blinking mischievously.
"If I recall, Occlumency should not have any distracting thoughts? Please let me know when you are ready."
Nodding, Maple closed his eyes and began to arrange for the memory seal.
"Then, I will go outside and tidy up a bit."
Looking at the consensus reached by both the old and the young, the corner of Snape's mouth twitched, unsure whether Maple was smart or stupid.
Glancing at the corpse lying beside his feet with a cold snort, Snape flicked his black wizard robe with some disgust, waved his wand and transfigured a stone puppet and quickly left the dark room with John's body.
After a while, Maple opened his eyes. Dumbledore observed that the boy's spirit seemed to have diminished slightly.
"I am going to start, Mr. Maple."
Dumbledore understood the burden of this state was great and no longer hesitated. After warning Maple, he began to use Legilimency.
The azure eyes burst out with light blue magic light visible to naked eyes, even the thick glasses could hardly conceal the sharpness, which showed Dumbledore's magical prowess.
"Skilled occlumency."
As Dumbledore's mind wisp gently entered Maple's mind, he praised in his heart and did not touch those seals but continue on deeper through the path paved by Maple, moving deeper into the depths of Maple's mind.
In the endless darkness, the passage seemed to stretch on forever. Only the shadow of Dumbledore's mind emitted a faint blue glow. Yet, he was not anxious; he continued forward slowly and resolutely.
It wasn't until the passage suddenly widened that the Galan Cave, previously known only to Maple, was glimpsed by an outsider for the first time.
"Merlin's beard!"
Just a glance caused Dumbledore's mental wisp to almost be assimilated by the endless emptiness and despair, but it also made him understood everything.
In the next moment, Dumbledore's mental wisp felt the pressure from Maple's occlumency from all sides, but soon he understood more of Maple's thoughts, and did not resist. Instead, he cooperated and quickly escaped from this soul forbidden place.
"I see, I think I understand, you are right, Maple, if this was not done, I would never have understood what you were going through. I think I need to apologize to you for my previous misunderstanding."
Quickly cancelling the legilimency, Dumbledore's eyes softened again, only the slight trembling of his body showed that the old man's mood was currently as turbulent as the stormy sea. This was one of the rare times he lost his bearing.
Everything made sense, Dumbledore sighed in his heart.
"Galan Cave" created absolute rationality, the endless suffering and the despair of breaking free from nothingness, allowing the budding of emotion.
The conflict between absolute rationality and budding emotion within the persona was the reason why Dumbledore felt uncomfortable
"Knowledge and strength, was it?"
Remembering Maple's words, there was a sudden realization in Dumbledore's heart.
"Truly, only these two things could possibly fill the endless void, right?"
But after the sudden realization, there was a deeper sadness, because the old man could already imagine the child's future….
It was a long road with no end in sight and no certainty of success, if there was no turning point, he would most likely fail in the middle.
Dumbledore once thought that this child would become the second Grindelwald or even the second Voldemort, but now he understood, Maple would not become any of his predecessor, not even the one known for her wisdom and knowledge, Ravenclaw, could carry his path.
Maple, maple leaf, yes, just like a floating rootless maple leaf, bright red and beautiful as fire, but destined to only bloom once in the wind.
The knowledge the boy pursued was destined not to be his wealth, but the most vicious curse to himself.
"I'm sorry, child, truly sorry, I once again realized that I am still incompetent."
Dumbledore did not know what to say, he could only gently but strongly stroke the boy's dark hair with his big old hands while apologizing over and over again in a whisper no one could hear.
"Dang…dang…dang…"
At this moment, the midnight bell came faintly from the night, announcing a new start.
"Little Maple"
"Yes, Mr. Dumbledore."
"Will you walk with me? I hope you can appreciate the superficial knowledge of this old man who has wasted his time."
"You are too modest, mister, I am willing, this is the best present I have ever received in my life."
"Really? Then it's good, it's good… also, happy birthday, little Maple."
~~~
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