Sword is equal to Wand, Chapter 31 (Patreon)

The wait for Ariella, as countless snakes watched us from the surrounding thick grass and the thick willow trees that surrounded us. Thankfully did not last too long with Professor McGonagall's comforting presence.

Soon enough, Ariella strolled back out of that cottage with three serpents on her body. Two resting on her shoulders and another one she held almost carelessly in her hands.

And the one intertwined with her hands was half again the size of the green and purple serpents on her shoulders. "These three are the newest brood, all three of their parents wish and hope for them to form a familiar bond with a wizard as they had when they were young."

I tilted my head to the side and asked curiously. "What happened to the wizards they parents bonded with?"

Ariella paused before she gave me a thoughtful look and then said slowly with a cold smile. But that coldness was somehow aimed at Professor McGonagall for some reason? "They were both Monster Hunters from the mainland, and they both died during the Phoenix and Phenex War in the Eighties. Their parents barely survived those battles just as well."

Professor McGonagall's hand on my shoulder tightened, and she said quietly. "That is a war that is rather... Complicated Mr Bariss, especially with how the Headmaster's own bonded Phoenix unfortunately was partly the catalyst for the war."

I felt like this rather recent war was something I should probably look into... But there was always a dark lord or monster lord active so such things would always fade into the history books, especially after twenty-plus years.

Then Ariella cleared her throat and said with a careful wave of her hand, holding the larger gorgon in her hands. "This is the youngest, and while her bloodline is thin... She does have the Gorgon's Eyes of Petrification. But her venom density hasn't done too well as you can see."

I nodded slowly in understanding before she then pointed towards the other two atop her shoulders. "These two are true twins. They were born three days earlier then this one in my hands, and as you can see from their slim and shorter forms, their venom is showing some great promise!"

There was zero denial the favortism that Ariella had for the two serpents on her shoulders and while I would like to say I would be the guy who would make eye contact with the adorable runt's eyes and choose them...

Well for one, they were extremely venomous snakes and they looked more alike royal emerald death noodles. Rather then some adorable undersized puppy.

"How do they choose their bond mates? How will they test me?" I asked with a frown. As because the serpents were unconcious currently for some reason. The Library of Heaven's Path had absorbed their internal data.

And Ariella was right about the bigger one having undeveloped venom due to having absorbed a great deal of nutrients that went to having enhanced their bodies long growth in their eggs.

But also their interal magic, no matter the power of their bloodline was still extremely low with how young they were. They weren't a spirit beast who lived in the outer edges of the forest who had leapt to test me with simple violence.

Then as Ariella spoke I felt Professor McGonagall's hand on my shoulder tighten. "How else would a Gorgon test a wizard. A wizard they will bond to for their rest of their lives and entrust said life to in some cases. You will need to meet their gaze, and then accept their venom at the same time."

The clearing went quiet, even the almost silent slithering of the countless surrounding other serpents paused at Ariella's words to give weight to them.

I looked at those three Gorgon's, I quickly dove into the Library of Heavens Path with the time stretching each second in reality to more then a hundred in the Library. And after a very quick search...

I gave Ariella a dark look before I said flatly. "No. The gaze of a Gorgon directly to the eyes, as well as their pure venom going into me? Just to 'see' if they will declare me fit to run alongside them? No." I said with finality.

Ariella's face went stiff and I could see the inhumanity in it as her slitted eye's became marked more dangerous as Professor McGonagall's overwhelming mana flowed slowly into the air as well.

And from behind me Professor McGonagall said all to clearly and coldly. "Mr. Bariss, no Jake. I am very, very proud of you thinking in advance. Because that 'test' is not a normal test at all."

Professor McGonagall's mana became markedly more hazy. Literally bending the air like a high-temperature haze off of asphalt as she said slowly. "Ariella, the parents of these Gorgon's don't want their children to actually make a bond do they? That is why they haven't come outside correct?"

Ariella didn't even react as she said placidly. "And so what if that is the case? These three are pure-blooded Gorgons. Any decent wizard who has the talent and bodily strength to make the bond will be an Immortal in the future. What is there to nitpick?" 

I coudn't help it. I said rather dryly. "I rather not be the poor bastard who is blinded at best and dying of extremely powerful poison thank you very much." 

Professor McGonagall cut off Ariella as she said blandly. "Mr Bariss, do you know why Humanity despite the vast majority of whom are weak mortals who can't cast magic or have the strength and will to cultivate themselves through decades of martial arts. Are at the top of the food chain of the world?" 

I slowly shook my head with Professor McGonagall's cool, amused voice filling the air from behind me. "It's because humans are made of pure potential. Our souls are, at the time of any simple teenager, stronger than the vast majority of all spirit beast bloodlines."

Her stiff grip on my shoulder tightened just a tad before she said with finality. "And while humanity most certainly has its issues. We, for the vast majority of time. Will not betray those we consider part of our own tribe."

There was a brief silence before Ariella said dryly. "Come now... Was that motivational speech supposed to mean something?"

Professor McGonagall then said even more dryly. "Yes, yes, it may. It means Ariella, that Mr Bariss and I leaving. And that Hogwarts will be diverting our request for Occamy sheddings and other materials to another Spirit Beast holding if this game is what you will play. When I bring a genius of my kind in good faith."

Ariella's eyes filled with a dark, poisonous green light before she hissed out. "Oh? Are you sure you wish to threat-"

Professor McGonagall's voice was sharp as she said bluntly. "That is no threat Ariella. The Headmaster will be here within thirty minutes as I am sure he will be... Very interested in ironing out these details."

And as the professor mentioned the Headmaster Dumbledore. I was actually surprised to see Ariella's face go pale at the mention of him.

'Wait... She literally didn't think that Dumbledore would bother coming here? Did she think Dumbledore just wouldn't give a damn if I ended up crippled here somehow?' I thought in complete confusion.

Then, before I could react. Space collapsed in on itself as Professor McGonagall's mana flooded the area and with a loud crunching noise that felt like liquid glass was running over my body.

We were torn through space and indeed even time as I could literally see us from the moment Professor McGonagall told reality to get bent so she could teleport us through the wards surrounding this place.

My feet hit solid ground and... I burped as I could distinctly taste all the layers of my breakfast taco of egg, shredded beef, cheese, and all the spices in the damned salsa!

"Why... Why can I taste the corn so clearly from my breakfast salsa?" I asked helplessly as I held in a gag.

Professor McGonagall gently patted my back and said softly. "I apologize Mr. Bariss, Temporal Stepping is never a pleasant thing. And the side effects are a good way to stop foolish wizards from doing things they shoudn't be touching."

Though on the other hand... Seeing her do that filled a new spell book in my Library of Heavens Path. But there was probably a good reason for me to NOT try to leap through space and very specifically time without specific training.

Then, as Professor McGonagall strode forward to actually make eye contact. She exhaled softly and said frankly. "Mr. Bariss... I am sorry, normally while the higher-tier bloodlines can be troublemakers. They are very rarely so very rude to the students we suggest to them." 

I exhaled helplessly before I shrugged and said evenly. "Maybe, I will just have to rely on fate when it comes to roaming around the Spirit Beast Forest."

"Speaking of fate... Could I meet with that Chimera I saved previously?" I asked.

Professor McGonagall's face turned up in dismay before she said softly. "Mr. Bariss, Chimera... Although they are very strong. Each head of theirs is basically their own person to a minor extent. And they often have mental issues after spending most of their lives fighting for control over their body."

I looked her straight in the eye and said. "I have seen the moon grow teeth and bleed out of eyes that shoudn't exist. I have just walked through space and time. Gods regularly break the other laws of reality, and merely saying their names without reverence can lead to a life of torment. What is wrong in a bit of clear madness?" 

Professor McGonagall's face turned annoyed before she said. "Mr. Bariss, a moment of clarity, please."

She took a deep breath before saying. "Mr. Bariss, you can ask Mavuika to set up such a meeting. I will certainly not get in the way of your quest to become strong. But, how about we go down into the Great Lake as well, Mr. Bariss."

"The mermaid bloodlines within the Great Lake are nothing to look down on. And there is a clan of sea serpents with amply thick dragon bloodlines that owe me a favor and would give you proper appreciation." Professor McGonagall offered.

I raised an eyebrow at that, and while I still wanted a spirit beast that was tied to my own cultivation's themes of astral effects. The most important thing right now was for the spirit beast itself to have good potential.

That and I still needed to teach other people now that I had officially won the first year's dueling tournament to get Golden Pages. As I now had a reputation of being much stronger than my own peers.

"I would appreciate that, Professor," I said respectfully, with her giving a small smile, and she said thoughtfully.

"Then we will go next weekend. While those sea serpents are certainly less bellicose than the Emerald Serpent Burrow we just visited. I still need to give them forewarning, and it gives you time to meet with Mavuika, so if it doesn't pan out with her in the next three days, come and tell me so I may set up an appointment, Mr Bariss." 

I slowly nodded in agreement. Before I said, with an exhale. "Please excuse me then, Professor. I need to go find Mavuika in a reasonable time."

Professor McGonagall gave me a final look before she turned on her heels and her form flickered, and she faded away as she teleported away.

I exhaled heavily before I popped my knuckles as I muttered. "Well... There is nothing wrong with having a mermaid waifu I guess. Plus there is the bonus of them having their own innate magic, human intelligence, and innately having more human emotions."

Then, seeing as I was dropped off at the Entry Hall, I made my way towards the Main Hall as I had a big-titty blonde to find and then tutor.