Ian really doesn't like dealing with the Riddler.
He only likes being the Riddler himself.
Fortunately, although the mysterious Witch was tainted with the wizards' bad habits, this kind of hobby of being a Riddler wasn't too bad; after seeing Ian's bewildered, bean-sized eyes, she provided a detailed explanation once again.
"You and that girl have often discussed a Dark Wizard named Tom by the riverbanks over these years, talking about how dangerous it is to go to a school called Hogwarts... Perhaps next time, you should speak a little quieter." The mysterious Witch had clearly grown accustomed to Ian's "silly" demeanor.
This was truly an unexpected answer for Ian.
Yet it seemed so reasonable.
Observing?
More like eavesdropping!
Ian quietly muttered complaints in his heart, while outwardly he forced a meek smile, "I didn't realize you've been silently observing me for such a long time."
What else could he say?
Of course, he could only quote classic answers from "Civil Servant's Path to Promotion"! Ian had learned them before crossing over but hadn't had the chance to use them; little did he expect he'd use them in such an odd situation now.
"Observing, yes... observing." The mysterious Witch squinted her eyes, resembling a crescent moon, not pure and lovely, but instead possessing a fox-like cunning.
"We've been conversing for quite a while, and I've answered many foolish questions for you, yet until now, I don't seem to have heard you call me one time as 'teacher'?"
Still that voice with a hint of laziness mixed with softness, yet hidden beneath the seemingly calm tone, was a trace of sharpness hard to notice.
"That's because you haven't told me your name yet." Ian quickly perked up, slightly bowing to demonstrate that he wasn't truly "silly."
"You can call me Teacher Mara."
Witch Mara's lips subtly lifted, forming a shallow smile. Her smile seemed to contain deeper meanings, like flowers blooming in the rainforest—beautiful yet thorny.
"Teacher Mara."
Ian blurted out instantly.
Adopting a naive child's posture.
However,
at the same time, he mused inwardly—within the widely known Harry Potter stories, he hadn't heard of a famous witch by that name.
Is it an alias?
Or perhaps this teacher's name had already faded into the dust of history as time passed? Well, it seems this teacher isn't an exceptionally powerful wizard, after all, the names of the four Hogwarts founders or Merlin are never forgotten despite the lapse of time.
Of course.
Teacher Mara might be from a much older era, otherwise, it may not be her original name, instead one she adopted with the fading of her memories.
Thinking of this.
Ian couldn't help but recall some words Teacher Mara said earlier, prompting his curiosity and perplexity as he ventured to ask.
"Teacher Mara, you said you no longer possess the power and magic you had while alive?" Ian acted cautiously, yet still drew the Witch's intense gaze.
"Do you think there's nothing I can teach you?"
The Witch smiled brightly.
"Of course not, I'm just curious about those runaway dishes, weren't they enchanted?" Ian dodged a direct eye contact with the Witch by looking around.
"The earth may take away my magic, strip away my power and bloodline, but..." The Witch leaned on the long bench, raising her slender fingers to point at her head.
"Knowledge never betrays its owner, my apprentice, remember, knowledge is our most precious treasure, it accompanies us on every journey."
"Until... the end."
For the first time, the Witch serious attitude, gave Ian a meaningful lesson.
"The end?"
Ian looked at the Witch.
"To me, and the souls here, it represents the unknown ahead." The Witch smiled in response, her tone holding a sense of expectancy.
Every soul lingering in the Misty Illusion Realm still clings to obsessions, honestly speaking, Ian was now really curious about what this expectant Teacher Mara is obsessed with. However, as it might touch some soul's scars, he didn't dare ask why she lingers within the Misty Illusion Realm.
"Teacher Mara, then what kind of knowledge can I learn?" Having already called her teacher, Ian certainly hoped to learn as eagerly as possible.
"Magic and magic potions, which would you like to start learning?" Witch Mara evidently had great confidence in her abilities; her manner and tone unmistakably reflected this.
"You can brew magic potions?"
Ian was somewhat surprised.
He wondered in this field, between Teacher Mara and Professor Snape, who would be stronger? Probably Snape from a much-developed era.
"Of course."
Witch Mara nodded noncommittally, before suddenly changing the topic, "Though it's a very high-bar field; few can comprehend the beauty of a cauldron simmering on low heat, wafting white smoke, releasing true fragrance. Even fewer can genuinely feel the magical power contained in the liquid flowing through people's veins."
Her prolonged voice seemed to carry the mystery of ancient legends.
However.
The way he listened.
Ian felt it sounded familiar.
"Uh, next you're going to tell me, as long as I'm not stupid, you can teach me how to gain reputation, brew glory, even stave off death?"
How could it not sound familiar!
Professor Snape gives this opening speech every year to new students!
You potion brewers share the same script?
"Heh."
Witch Mara was initially slightly amazed, then let out a light laugh, "Seems I still leave a trace of existence in the human world."
What do you mean?
Ian's thoughts raced.
Quickly grasping her meaning—Snape is a plagiary!
"Did you ever write such words?"
Ian's eyes sparkled.
Greatly intrigued.
He felt he had discovered Professor Snape's great secret.
"Of course, I should have left behind a book."
Witch Mara spoke softly in a low tone, as though submerged in reminiscing but unable to catch the memories that elapsed over time, a trace of sorrow swept across her delicate face.
However.
Ian didn't notice.
He was still immersed in the breathtaking revelation of Snape as a plagiarism master.
Upon thinking more about it, it made sense!
Snape once obtained a book left by Teacher Mara!
Perhaps specifically sought after?
After all, given Snape's passion and pursuit for magic potions, he'd naturally seek out those unknown magic potion ancient tomes; the magic potion books left by Teacher Mara indeed might have come into his possession.
Just like "The King Must Not Be Insulted," and "Bearing the Weight of the World, Independent for Ten Thousand Generations," these phrases. Our Half-Blood Prince might have seen spirited words in Teacher Mara's books that awakened his emo soul, hence, he copied the passage down to perform his yearly must-give speech to new students.
Hiss!
The more he thought, the more plausible it seemed!
Ian felt he had grabbed a big piece of dirt on Snape!
After all.
Just like Wu Cheng'en couldn't have played Black Myth before writing Journey to the West, Teacher Mara, a ghost dead for many years, couldn't possibly have plagiarized Snape's iconic quotes, could she?