The horizon was tinged with only a faint afterglow, and the once crimson clouds had faded, signaling the impending darkness. By the time they returned to the small town, not a single ray of light remained.
One by one, the streetlights flickered to life, casting a touch of nocturnal vitality over the town.
A cool evening breeze swept in, bringing with it a refreshing chill, soothing the lively town into a more serene state.
Zhao Lun walked hand in hand with Maria, strolling slowly, watching the people coming and going. No one disturbed them, and his heart, like the tranquil town, was still, filled with a quiet joy.
This was his domain, this peaceful and beautiful place was his home—stable, secure. When the heart is at peace, joy naturally follows.
With this contentment, they passed through the train station, reached Diamond Star Square, and then wandered through the town, heading towards the familiar road home.
This road, though brightly lit, was deserted. After passing a few professors' magical arrangements, the temperature here was lower, and at night, few ventured here, making it even quieter than the town itself.
The weather had grown colder, and even the chirps of crickets and other insects had softened compared to before.
On either side of the trees, a light mist hung in the air, carrying the earthy scent of plants. The damp grass beneath their feet was cool, and before long, their shoes were wet.
Neither of them paid much attention to it; instead, they opened their bright eyes, gazing at the strange apparitions that appeared by the roadside.
Having seen many ghosts, they remained unfazed, occasionally discussing the more tragic ones.
"Brother, do you think the underworld really exists?"
"And do the dead really go to heaven?"
"Will we die?"
Looking at the ghosts appearing along the road, Maria, for some unknown reason, asked these questions.
"The underworld? I've read some books, and they say it exists, but whether it truly does, no one knows."
"Perhaps, only when we're stronger, we will understand."
"Heaven? Maybe it exists, but I don't believe many can go there. It's not a place you can simply enter."
"Will we die? Why ask such a question? Are you thinking about House?"
The concepts of the underworld and heaven had first come to him through mythologies, and later, during his time at Hogwarts, he had read books on the subject.
The underworld did exist, and the grim reaper was real. Wizards had a neutral, objective stance on the underworld. As for heaven, they regarded it with disdain, demeaning it, for in their view, heaven was merely a comfortable hell.
Zhao Lun, standing from a wizard's perspective, understood their thoughts and found himself agreeing with their evaluation.
Wizards valued freedom, and their beliefs had long been in conflict with the doctrines of the Church.
The tyrannical Church could not tolerate such heresy, leading to a bloody conflict, with many innocent wizards burned at the stake, and countless common people deceived and harmed.
Though wizards had eventually gained their due rights, they had paid a heavy price. At the same time, under the Church's propaganda, they had been cast as evil.
The seeds of hatred were sown. While ordinary wizards might forget, those of ancient lineage would never let go. That hatred might one day erupt.
The conflicts between Muggles and wizards recorded in wizarding history partly stemmed from this, and partly from the provocation of ambitious individuals.
Although the agreement of non-interference had been signed, preventing direct confrontation, the Church's strategy had effectively suppressed wizarding development, successfully isolating wizards from the common people.
It wasn't until several centuries of progress that wizards began to overcome this influence, but even then, it was only a recent development. Many of these beliefs were not easily changed and still required time to settle and fade.
Wizards were an ancient group with a long lineage. As long as their traditions remained intact, they remained vigilant, which is why the Church's propaganda about heaven had little effect on them.
This influence was only truly shaken by the two World Wars.
Both wars destroyed much, but they also broke many barriers, shattering the Church's influence and the old power structures, reshuffling the world's order and giving some individuals their moment to rise.
With the advent of certain technological tools, the influence of the world expanded, and many isolated forces were shaken, eventually compelled to leave their seclusion, only to be humbled by the world.
For instance, the Church in this world had seen its power dramatically reduced, and no longer could it mobilize entire nations to cleanse heresy at will.
The isolated wizards, who had thought the Muggle world still operated in medieval times... now began to acknowledge the power of Muggles, and were influenced by it, lowering their pride and gradually stepping into the outside world, starting to change everything around them.
From a different perspective, the transformation in the wizarding world had not gone unnoticed by Zhao Lun.
"Once we're dead, we'll be separated from you, and never see Nicole and the others again, nor eat all the delicious food."
"And we won't see the sun tomorrow, or play with Ivy... Maria doesn't want that."
Maria couldn't understand what death was. She only felt that it was a separation, one that would never be reunited. The thought of parting from her dearest family, never to meet again, brought tears to her eyes.
"This is something you're too young to understand. We'll talk about it later."
"Besides, with me here, no one can force us to do anything, not even the gods!"
Seeing Maria, somewhat melancholic, Zhao Lun pushed aside the fleeting thoughts in his mind and spoke with confidence.
The world was dangerous, but so what? As long as he didn't act recklessly, there should be no major danger. And even if there was, he could solve it.
If the enemy proved too powerful, he would take his loved ones and run, growing stronger until the day he could fight back.
The manor was quiet, with the soft glow of lanterns guiding their way. Even before they entered, they could already see the bonfire lit at the center of the open estate. Nearby, a barbecue grill stood, along with drinks. Perhaps they had already noticed their return, as the aroma of grilled meat wafted towards them the moment they arrived.
Three well-dressed ladies, elegantly poised, were holding wine glasses, smiling as they looked at them.
"Aaron, you're late!"
"Bringing Maria without anyone responsible for accompanying her—this isn't right."
"Yes, boss, you shouldn't joke with your safety and the safety of your loved ones."
Though their words were playful, Zhao Lun couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. Their actions today had indeed been a bit reckless. While the three hadn't pressed for an explanation, it was clear they had been worried. Now that they were safely back, they could rest easy.
"Alright, I'll be more careful next time."
Zhao Lun didn't deflect nor offer further explanation—everything was summed up in that one sentence. He trusted that these intelligent ladies would understand.
"Wow! Grilled meat! Maria is so hungry!"
"It's so delicious! Brother, give me some!"
Maria, seemingly oblivious to Zhao Lun's awkwardness, ran straight to the skewers of grilled meat and began eating eagerly.
As she ate, she praised how delicious it was, and without a second thought, handed Zhao Lun a skewer, alleviating his discomfort.
"Mm, not bad! Everyone, come join us."
"Also, would you like to hear a story? I've got one to tell."
Zhao Lun winked at Maria, giving her an approving nod before turning to warmly invite the others. (To be continued...)