Though Meiko wasn’t pleased that her lady was about to enter a dark lair without her, she still served steaming cups of tea to Scarlet and the peculiar old wizard settled in the living room.

William was away at the airport, checking flights to Japan; the young lady of the Tachibana clan had been absent from the main estate for quite some time, and it was nearly time for her to return, as Lady Sato and Mr. Hong from the former Hong gang were eager for her arrival.

“Milady, although I mostly served as a maid in the Red House, I am, in truth, your guard, and I must act as such.” Meiko gave Scarlet a stern look, standing watchfully beside them. “I understand you bear the responsibility as the follower of the Queen of Shadowy Land, but that does not mean you should leave me behind and proceed alone. Milady, may I ask if you’re questioning my dedication to protecting you?”

“...No, I trust you completely. It’s just...”

“Just never thought of having me there to make your path easier?” Meiko raised an eyebrow. “Milady, I’m here, fully prepared. Why do you never think to use my skills?”

Professor Dumbledore, who had sweetened his tea with a rather generous amount of sugar, watched the exchange with an amused, inquisitive look.

“Well, it’s only a minor matter...” Scarlet replied cautiously. “All we need to do is go there, find the ring, destroy it, and come back home. That’s all.”

“It’s a magical artefact containing a malevolent spirit.” Meiko remained resolute. “I am a Shrine Maiden of the Amanoiwato Shrine, devoted to Amaterasu Ōkami, Goddess of the Sun. I can dispel darkness and banish evil. With me accompanying you, your journey would be far smoother. Why tread on a pebbled path when you could walk upon a paved road?”

This evidently intrigued the old wizard, but he stayed silent. Scarlet offered Meiko a pleading smile. “You see, I’m not going alone; Britain’s greatest wizard is coming with me. And I’m not the one handling the transport - he is. So...”

“If he were truly reliable, Milady would not need to attend herself.” Meiko turned her gaze towards the headmaster, her eyes narrowing. “She could instead be preparing for her journey back to Japan, leisurely awaiting news of the artefact’s destruction if this gentleman were a truly capably ally.”

“No, no, it’s not because of him - it’s because of me,” Scarlet replied swiftly, “because I want to ensure the evil spirit is properly dealt with by the Queen. I am the only one who can summon Her.”

Meiko seemed to process this before conceding, though reluctantly. “Very well. However, I must insist on accompanying you, or I shall contact Lady Sato for further guidance.”

Scarlet looked to her headmaster apologetically. “I’m terribly sorry for the delay, Professor, but could you...erm, bring her along? I promise she won’t hinder our mission to handle the ring!”

Meiko kept her thoughts to herself but clearly disapprove, now holding a poor impression of Hogwarts’ headmaster - the so-called greatest wizard in Britain. In her view, Jutsushi Academy would have been a far better fit for her lady, though circumstances were fixed by her lady’s bond to a deity in Scotland rather than in Nippon.

“It’s a pleasure to have such a charming young lady accompanying this old man,” Professor Dumbledore chuckled. “I must say, Scarlet, you continue to surprise me in ways I could never anticipated.”

“Of course, our lady is simply the best!” Meiko chimed in proudly. Scarlet could only sigh quietly, wondering when her maid’s cosplay habits would finally fade.

After finishing their tea, the three of them set off. This was Scarlet’s first experience with Apparition, and it was just as Alexis had described – profoundly uncomfortable for the first time user. She felt as if her stomach had flipped upside down, and the moment her feet hit the ground, she moved to the side and threw up.

Meiko fared better, perhaps due to similar training or travel techniques. The moment her gaze fell on the ruins, she tensed, swiftly clutching a few paper talismans in her hand.

Scarlet murmured a few incantations to steady herself and returned to Professor Dumbledore’s side once she regained her composure. The old wizard looked at the ruins, his expression calm but unreadable, though she imagined there must be a mix of emotions behind those wise eyes.

“Milady, must we search within these ruins?” Meiko asked, frowning. “If nothing here is worth keeping, I suggest we burn the entire place down. I can ensure the dark aura will be cleansed in the Sun’s flame.”

Actually...that sounded rather sensible. Scarlet turned to her headmaster, “Perhaps we could burn it down once we’re certain there’s nothing valuable? It’s a dangerous place if any dark wizards interested in dark arts were to find it.”

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Professor Dumbledore considered this thoughtfully before looking at Scarlet. “While I share your desire for safety, Scarlet, I feel compelled to explore other avenues first. The past often holds secrets that, though shadowed, might still offer us insight. We’ll see what we find, and then decide if removal is indeed the wisest course.”

“I have no opinion of these ruins, and I respect antiques and old building conservations,” Scarlet shrugged, “but burning it would make things easier and prevent any unexpected incidents. I’d rather avoid running into terrorists. Right, let’s get to it...”

“Milady, allow me.” Meiko stepped in front of Scarlet, holding out a stack of small paper figures shaped like men. With a deft toss, she sent them scattering across the area, each piece of paper coming to life and darting around like swift little mice.

“Paper Shikigami...I can’t believe I didn’t think of that,” Scarlet muttered, scratching her cheek. So much for advising others to not solo the path on hard mode, and to think outside the box - she sometimes forgot to do so herself.

“Remarkable,” Professor Dumbledore murmured, observing the animated papers with gentle fascination. “It seems we have much to learn from one another’s traditions. Never I imagined would encounter this form of magic.”

“That’s because it isn’t magic,” Meiko said, rolling her eyes. “The wizarding world is so behind and isolated. Even those rigid Taoist Priests are more progressive and open than you lot, and it was you Westerners who began the revolution. It’s absurd!”

Scarlet tugged on the headmaster’s sleeve, and he leaned down as she whispered, “She doesn’t mean anything against you personally. She’s just a bit put out that I’m at a boarding school in the UK. She’s rather proud of being Japanese and wishes I could study there instead.”

If Scarlet wasn’t mistaken, Meiko came from a traditional family of Jutsushi that upheld certain customs and practices, much like pureblood families in wizarding world. Though Meiko looked down on others outside her family, it was in a more restrained, respectful way – unlike most Slytherins pureblood wizards, who often sneered openly at Muggle-borns and even those more skilled than themselves. Meiko’s family held a certain contentment and subtle respect for “Muggle”, if they proved their excellence.

“Milady, I’ve found it,” Meiko said with a frown. “My shikigami can’t bring it here – it’s corrupting the paper.”

“That was quick,” Scarlet said, genuinely surprised.

Meiko puffed a little. “I was the best tracker of my year. None of the juniors could break my record even five years after I graduated. Give me a trace, and I’ll find the source faster than anyone else!”

“...Is that why grandma chose to hire you in the first place?”

“Precisely. If anything unusual happens, I’m here to keep you safe. And if you were ever kidnapped, I’d be able to track you down, anytime, anywhere.” Meiko glanced at her meaningfully. “Sometimes our competitors play dirty, like when young master Kyle was taken. They didn’t want the same fate to befall you.”

Scarlet, though dubious as to whether she or any would-be captors, which one would be in more danger if such a situation arose, held back a sigh and let it go. “Let’s just...destroy the ring first, shall we? Meiko, lead the way.”

“Yes, Milady.”

They found the ring stashed under a cupboard near the kitchen, where the paper figures had all gathered around it. A few Shikigami were even mourning the state of one of their own, which lying on the floor lifelessly, bore dark scorch marks and had lost part of a limb.

Professor Dumbledore looked sympathetically at the singed figure, but before he could draw his wand, Meiko made a few precise hand signs and murmured in Japanese. A warm, bright light emerged from her palm, bathing the damaged Shikigami. The dark scorch marks vanished, and in one smooth motion, the paper figures stacked together and returned to her hand, even the torn one.

“A delicate task,” Professor Dumbledore remarked, observed her with interest. “Ms. Inoue, would you like me to attempt repairing the damaged piece?”

“It’s fine; it’s just a piece of paper, not a living thing,” Meiko replied with a dismissive wave, then added as she noted his expression, “It’s merely a vessel for wandering invisible spiritual being, or ‘fairies’, as I believe they’re known locally. They’re not beings in the usual sense – they have no brains, emotions, or life. They’re more akin to elemental energies that respond to commands and display certain preferences. Mine happen to be a bit mischievous; they enjoy performing and can be a touch of naughty. I can easily find them other vessels if needed, but the paper figures are just the most convenient.”

Professor Dumbledore stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Fascinating.”

“Right, I see it now.” Scarlet hadn’t been idle; she was crouched down on the floor, peering under the massive cupboard with a pen-size torch. “Stand back - I’m taking out my spear.”

The old wizard and young maid made room for the little spearwoman, who summoned her spear from an unknown realm. With the tip of her weapon, a gift from the deity, she carefully swept the ring out of its hidden place, revealing it in full.

It was an ancient ring, surprisingly large, with a dark stone set in its centre. Etched into the black stone was a symbol of three intersecting lines: one long and straight, the other two short and curved.

Scarlet was momentarily puzzled, then remembered the notes she appended to her proposal after Alexis insights, recognising the mark as the symbol of the Deathly Hallows. In fact, she once asked her assistant to fetch her the bedtime stories wizards told their children, reading The Tale of the Three Brothers from cover to cover. It was her habit of gathering information, initially hoping to draw inspiration from wizarding folklore to craft a new novel distinct from Akahime’s Diary. Frustratingly, though, she hadn’t found the right theme for her next book. She’d never imagined that bedtime story would link to the concept of the Master of Death...How absurd, she thought, with the Queen watching over, no mortal could hope to evade death.

Perhaps that’s why the Queen accepted me as her one and only priestess? Scarlet mused as she straightened, lifting her spear high and preparing to chant.