บท 180: Chapter 180: The Sin of Arrogance
The silence was broken by the creak of the library door opening. Augustus lifted his head, his brows furrowed slightly. At the entrance stood a girl with long pale blonde hair and silvery-gray eyes. Her face bore a hint of surprise as she gazed at him.
The girl stepped inside, her movements seemingly unplanned, as if she wandered wherever fate carried her. "Oh, someone's here," she murmured, sounding mildly surprised. "I was chasing a pack of Wrackspurts. Have you seen any around?"
Augustus's expression shifted slightly, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "Wrackspurts? What are they?" Despite his extensive knowledge, he had never heard of such creatures.
The girl paused, tilting her head in thought as she tried to explain. "They're invisible, so you wouldn't be able to see them even if they were right in front of you. But they're dangerous—they get into people's ears and make their brains go fuzzy. Fudge once planned to use an army of Wrackspurts to counter the Death Eaters."
Augustus chuckled softly and touched his chin in amusement. "How intriguing. I must admit, I've never encountered such fascinating creatures. You've piqued my curiosity."
The girl regarded him with wide eyes, a spark of surprise lighting her expression. "You believe in Wrackspurts? Most of my classmates think I'm making them up, but they are real."
Augustus smiled warmly. "Why wouldn't I believe you? There are far too few things in this world we can truly trust. Often, what we fail to see is hidden only by the limits of our perception."
The girl's face broke into a radiant, childlike smile. "I knew you'd be different, Augustus."
Augustus raised a brow, his lips curving into a slight grin. "That's hardly fair—you know my name, but I know nothing about you."
Her cheeks tinged pink with shyness. "I'm Luna. Luna Lovegood. From Ravenclaw. I'm in my third year."
"Luna," Augustus repeated thoughtfully. "Moonlight. A lovely name."
Her gaze shifted to the book in his hands. "What are you reading? Is it about preparing for the second task? It's not far off now." Luna leaned closer, tilting her head curiously as she peered at the open pages.
The title at the top of the page caught her attention: Ayohan's Song, Chapter Thirteen. The words gleamed faintly in purple.
"It's a treatise on the Seven Deadly Sins, an intriguing religious concept in this world," Augustus explained with a casual wave of his hand. "I found it rather fascinating, so I decided to read further."
Intrigued, Luna read along with him. Beneath the title, a string of vivid crimson text leapt from the page:
I fear solitude, yet I dread betrayal.
Above the rainbow lies my heaven.
But that is no heaven, only self-deception.
I am the one cast from the rainbow's grace.
What is hell? What is heaven?
This is my hell, but it may well be your heaven.
East of Eden lies desire; along the River Styx grows grief.
Manjusaka, blood-red blossoms soaked in sorrow.
Manjusaka, born of love, not sin.
Blooming on the other shore, it speaks of yearning.
Oblivion is an insurmountable trial.
A thousand years of slumber cannot match a single moment of passion.
Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven.
This was your final vow.
What is arrogance?
To the gods, arrogance is belief in yourself.
That is your heaven.
Where is my heaven?
From love arises suffering; from love arises fear.
Free from love, there is no suffering. Free from love, there is no fear.
Luna blinked, her silvery eyes shining with quiet wonder as she absorbed the verses. "It's beautiful," she murmured. "There's so much sorrow in those words… yet they feel strangely comforting."
Augustus nodded slightly, his gaze distant. "Arrogance can be many things, Luna. To some, it is defiance against divine authority. To others, it is the unwavering belief in oneself. Ultimately, it is all a matter of perspective."
The library fell silent again, save for the soft rustle of snow outside. In that tranquil moment, Luna and Augustus sat together, sharing not just words, but a deeper understanding of the complexities of belief and the human spirit.
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