You can read the Prologue >>> HERE
The twilight sun cast a dreamy beauty as its rays slipped through gaps in the clouds, exuding a lazy tranquility. Among the closely spaced tombstones, elongated shadows were drawn by the fading golden evening sun, creating an atmosphere unlike any other.
Not far from where the gaze extended, by the side of a sprawling white poplar tree, stood a man with unruly cotton candy-like white hair, holding the hand of a little girl. Undoubtedly, they were a father-daughter pair paying their respects at the graves.
And what Maca had just noticed was the silhouette of the girl with long, waist-length pale golden hair.
Of course, Maca wasn't inclined toward anything inappropriate; he had no interest in a little girl who seemed to be barely ten years old—although he was around that age himself. Yet, it was the cascade of her long hair radiating a shimmering halo in the evening sun that he couldn't ignore.
Maca found himself stealing a few more glances, but it ended there. He hesitated for a moment, then quickly averted his gaze and continued his way toward the village, carrying his luggage.
However, just as he was about to step out of the cemetery's boundary, he faintly heard the man speaking.
"Luna, let's head back as well. It's getting late."
Luna? Long golden hair? In the depths of Maca's mind, a flash of insight brought forth a few terms that had become somewhat obscure due to the passage of time.
"Could it be just a coincidence?"
Maca halted his steps once again, pondered for a moment, and then slipped into the roadside bushes—he wanted to circle back and confirm.
By the time Maca emerged from the woods and returned to the graveyard, the father and daughter had already left. He purposefully went to the spot where they had been standing moments ago, lowered his head, and gazed at the tombstone.
"Pandora Lovegood... Lovegood, that should be right." Maca pondered briefly, then set his legs in motion, "It's much better to ask a practicing wizard for directions than to wander aimlessly. What's that thing called? Floo... Floo powder?"
"Uh... Mr. Lovegood, please wait a moment!"
The father and daughter didn't seem to be in a hurry. Fortunately, they hadn't used magic to leave yet, allowing Maca to catch up.
"Um, excuse me, who are you?" Luna's father, Xenophilius Lovegood, turned back as Maca rushed toward them, a look of puzzlement on his face.
"Oh, yes." Maca quickly caught up to the father-daughter duo, took a moment to catch his breath and organize his thoughts, then continued, "I'm a fan of your magazine, as you know. I really enjoy the articles inside, they add so much color to my life."
In truth, Maca couldn't even remember the name of the magazine, but that didn't hinder him from using it as an opening line for conversation.
"Um... a companion."
Luna's tone was somewhat dreamy, yet her silvery-gray eyes remained fixed on Maca's face without blinking. It was evident that she had taken some interest in him.
"Haha, thank you for your support, my dear young reader." Xenophilius Lovegood nodded happily, looking quite pleased.
Seeing this, Maca promptly showcased his knack for blending in, plastering a smile across his face. He engaged in a lively chat with Xenophilius, as if he were indeed a faithful reader of the magazine.
Believe me, it wasn't difficult at all. Just follow the topic of Crumple-Horned Snorkacks, let Xenophilius speak, and occasionally offer agreement; that would be enough to keep the conversation going.
As the three figures gradually walked away down the road, laughter echoed along their path. This attempt at conversation had clearly been quite successful.
Finally, Maca was not at all surprised when he was invited to the Lovegood household and decided to stay for a while. It was all because he "accidentally" let slip that he would be starting at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on September 1st this year.
Without a doubt, if everything went as planned, Luna would be starting next year, and Maca would naturally become her senior student.
"Next year, Mr. Maca, I'll have to trouble you to look after your junior student, Luna." Xenophilius Lovegood ruffled Luna's hair, grinning widely, "Come on! It seems tonight's dinner can be a bit more lavish than usual. Let's welcome your future senior student in advance!"
One couldn't help but notice, from this "very lavish" dinner, that the economic situation of the Lovegood family didn't seem too robust. However, for Maca, this wasn't a significant concern; he wasn't one for extravagance. To him, poverty and hunger were the norms of his childhood.
Moreover, the small table before him was adorned with quite a few ingredients he had never seen before. Some of them were a bit odd in shape, but they had a unique flavor, and the portions were generous.
Maca particularly enjoyed the soup made from a water-dwelling creature called the "Broadmouth Prismfish." It was indeed a quite delicious dish. However, their meat wasn't all that impressive, probably due to excessive activity that made the flesh rather tough, and it had a peculiar earthy flavor.
"Are you full, dear?" Xenophilius inquired as Maca set down his spoon, "Perhaps you'd like a cup of Gurdyroot tea?"
"Oh, no, thank you. I believe I've eaten a bit too much." Maca patted his round belly, somewhat embarrassed, "Would you mind if I took a walk outside?"
"Of course, you can have Luna accompany you around the vicinity. It's quite safe here, and the air is refreshing." Xenophilius shrugged, "I'm afraid I must prepare for tomorrow's work, you know, writing articles and such."
"Luna, would you mind if I invite you to take a stroll?" Maca turned his head, looking towards the girl who seemed lost in thought.
"Hmm?" Luna turned her head upon hearing her name, "What? Oh, sure, we can continue discussing other magical creatures as well..."
"Yes, yes, I think discussing unicorns could be an excellent choice. They seem to have quite a reputation among Muggles as well." Maca smiled, standing up to put on his coat and then opening the nearby door.
Everything was pleasant here, except that the house felt a bit cramped, reminding him of the attic he had lived in for three years.
The evening air was still so familiar. However, the air here was much fresher than in Diagon Alley's Knockturn Alley. After all, the Lovegood residence was situated on a small hill.
The expansive view and the multitude of stars made Maca's gaze distant, perhaps Luna's personality was somewhat linked to this living environment!
"It's beautiful here, with a sense of freedom."
Here, no obstructions could hinder your steps. Following his instincts, Maca walked forward, gazing up at the endless night sky.
Luna, who had been talking to herself about mistletoe and Nargles, abruptly ceased her monologue upon hearing that statement. She stared at Maca for a moment when she heard him, then shifted her gaze to the myriad of stars.
"Luna, you see, there's a taste of freedom here. Can you sense it?" Luna softly spoke, her tone more dreamy than usual.
"What?" Maca hesitated at her words, then as if remembering something, he blinked, "Oh, yes, did your mother mention it?"
"Mom liked it here too. She used to bring me out to watch the stars when she needed a break." Luna nodded, her expression completely unreadable, but it was clear that some matters were not so easily let go.
Maca nodded; he vaguely remembered that Luna's mother had passed away, perhaps not too long ago. Of course, he also recalled his own mother, from this life and the previous one.
"It's said that the positions and paths of the stars can be used for divination, and Centaurs seem quite skilled in this."
Taking himself as an example, Maca felt that in such situations, deftly sidestepping rather than offering phrases like "I'm sorry for your loss" would be the right approach. However, Luna was clearly not an ordinary girl.
"But my mom has passed away, just last year, because of a terrible curse." Luna didn't pick up the topic Maca had presented but continued on her own.
"It's truly dreadful; I've been saddened by this event. But I can't let Dad worry. I think he might be even more devastated than me, so I can't cry."
As Luna's murmur grew softer, Maca listened. He reached into his coat pocket and touched the envelope that he had kept hidden. A thought crossed his mind, causing him to raise an eyebrow involuntarily.
"My mother passed away as well. I think I understand that feeling you're talking about. But I've been thinking, maybe this doesn't mean we can never see our mothers again." Maca pondered briefly, then continued, "The principles of magic have always been quite vague. If we could study them more thoroughly..."
Luna's face finally showed some semblance of an ordinary expression, yet it seemed this idea didn't necessarily elicit surprise.
"When things go wrong, they can become very dangerous." Luna's voice remained soft as she spoke, but the dreamy quality had vanished.
"Uh, I suppose you're right." Maca awkwardly rubbed his forehead.
Luna gazed at Maca for a moment but offered a faint smile. She pursed her lips and softly added, "But that is indeed a path."
While the night breeze was refreshing, it was still somewhat chilly. Maca shrank into his coat and motioned for Luna to follow him back inside. He turned and headed toward the building that resembled a chess piece. Luna stood behind, watching Maca's retreating figure, and then pursed her lips.
"Wisdom is humanity's greatest treasure." Luna's words were barely audible, almost as if she was speaking to herself.