The Great Hall was alive with chatter and laughter as students gathered for the Sorting Ceremony. The enchanted ceiling reflected the evening sky, its stars twinkling brightly above. At the Gryffindor table, I sat with Garuda perched comfortably on my shoulder.
As the Sorting Hat sang its traditional song, I absently fed Garuda bits of roasted chicken from my plate. The bird happily accepted the offering, his sharp eyes scanning the hall.
I leaned closer to him, keeping my voice low. "Hey, Garuda, did something happen last year? People keep staring at me."
Garuda tilted his head, considering my question. "It's probably because you unlocked more of your power. Your parameters might've increased as a result, making your presence more noticeable."
I frowned, glancing around the room. Sure enough, several students were sneaking glances in my direction.
"Speaking of parameters," I muttered, "I need a seal."
Garuda's eyes narrowed slightly. "A seal? What for?"
"For Excalibur," I replied, my tone serious.
Garuda cocked his head, confused. "Excalibur? Why would you need to seal it?"
I sighed, leaning back in my seat. "My Excalibur is unsealed. Its power isn't something I can control easily. After thinking it through, I'm starting to believe the Gacha might have had a hand in all of this. When the Template integrated my new magical circuits, the Gacha put me in a resting state within Avalon. And while I was there, it had me go through Merlin's trials. Which was all an illusion confirmed by Merlin herself, It's possible the Gacha needed Merlin to remove the seal on Excalibur—but I could be wrong."
Garuda remained silent for a moment, processing my words. "So, what do you plan to do?"
I shrugged, picking at my food. "I don't know yet. I'll need to find a world where I can get or create a seal strong enough to contain Excalibur's power. The rune knowledge I have isn't nearly enough for something like this. Until then, I'll rely on Caliburn. I can control its power output, even at full strength."
Garuda nodded, his sharp beak clicking thoughtfully. "That sounds like a wise decision. But you'd better figure something out soon. Unchecked power has a way of attracting the wrong kind of attention."
I nodded in agreement. Garuda was right, of course. Excalibur was a legendary blade, but its unsealed state was a double-edged sword. If I wasn't careful, it could become a beacon, drawing enemies from across the multiverse.
---
As the Sorting Hat continued to sort the new students into their respective houses, I glanced around the hall. My clones had done an admirable job maintaining my cover over the past year, but it was clear I'd need to take a more active role moving forward.
Moriarty's capture of Barty Crouch Jr., Dumbledore's discovery of the Horcrux locations, and the failed attack at the Quidditch World Cup were all impressive feats. But with the Triwizard Tournament now on the horizon, the stakes were only going to get higher.
Garuda nudged me with his beak, pulling me out of my thoughts. "You seem distracted."
"Just thinking about everything that's happened," I admitted. "The clones did a lot while I was... away. But now it's my turn to step up."
Garuda chuckled. "Don't worry, Arthur. You've faced bigger challenges before."
I smiled faintly, appreciating his confidence in me.
---
After the Sorting Ceremony ended and the feast began in earnest, I quietly slipped out of the Great Hall. I needed some time alone to think.
Walking through the empty corridors of Hogwarts, I couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. The castle had become a second home to me, a place where I'd faced countless challenges and grown stronger as a result. But now, with Excalibur and Avalon in my possession, everything felt... different.
I stopped by one of the large windows, staring out at the moonlit grounds. The night was calm, a stark contrast to the storm of thoughts swirling in my mind.
"I need to figure out my next move," I muttered to myself.
Garuda, who had been quietly perched on my shoulder, spoke up. "Do you think the Gacha will give you any hints?"
I shook my head. "Doubt it. The Gacha operates on its own logic. If it wanted me to figure something out, it would've dropped a clue by now."
"So, where does that leave us?"
"With a lot of questions and no answers," I admitted. "But for now, I'll focus on the tournament. If Voldemort's planning something, I'am ready for him."
Garuda chirped in agreement. "And in the meantime, you can work on finding a way to seal Excalibur. It's better to be prepared than caught off guard."
"Exactly," I said, a renewed sense of determination filling me. "One step at a time, Garuda. One step at a time."
---Note
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