"As long as you do it skillfully, no one will notice."
"If your actions don't cause a chain reaction, time will automatically smooth out those tiny ripples. History is like a mirror, sometimes it gets scratched but it always repairs itself."
One must admit.
Previously Ian probably underestimated the wisdom possessed by this Giant Dragon.
It was also highly knowledgeable.
"But what if something important is changed?"
Ian continued to inquire.
"Then it depends on your methods," the Giant Dragon snorted, "Clever Wizards create 'alternative events'—making history seem to follow its original trajectory, even if the details have changed. Time is lazy, as long as the general direction is right, it won't punish those who play small tricks on it."
This is still contrary to the knowledge in textbooks.
But perhaps the theory of the Ancient Giant Dragon is the correct one.
Ian pondered deeply.
He thought about everything he did in Pompeii—considered a 'disturbance of time', yet later history remained unchanged.
"A kind of time deception?"
Ian recalled his experiences in Pompeii—he once saved a young girl, altering her fate. At that moment, he clearly saw the fear and hope for the future in her eyes.
But upon returning to the present, history books still documented the date of Pompeii's volcanic eruption and the death of countless people.
No one remembered that girl.
Nor did anyone remember his deeds.
The Gods must have used some higher-level means.
To completely deceive time.
Ian listened intently, his gaze becoming increasingly focused.
"Then... how can one achieve 'undetectable' actions?"
The Giant Dragon remained silent for a moment, seemingly pondering whether to impart such classified knowledge to a human.
Eventually, it spoke:
"Firstly, leave no traces. This means you must not let anyone remember what you did. You must come and go like the wind, leave no evidence, leave no name."
"Secondly, don't change key points. You could kill a passerby or steal a stone, but if you alter a decisive event, like preventing a war, saving a monarch, or killing a baby... Then time will notice immediately and start correcting."
"Thirdly, exploit loopholes in rules. There are natural blind spots at certain time points, such as eclipses, crossings between dimensions, intersections of multiple universes. At these places, time's perception is weakest."
"Fourthly, let history explain you. Have you ever wondered why some legends sound absurd yet truly exist? Because they are modified realities. When what you do is vague enough, ambiguous enough, history will create a reasonable explanation for you, making your existence 'reasonable.'"
To be honest.
It's surprising that the Giant Dragon could provide such detailed answers on this matter.
Perhaps it truly had read Ravenclaw's papers.
Ian listened with his jaw dropped.
He suddenly remembered Dumbledore.
"So... Dumbledore became a legend also due to such methods?" he murmured, thinking that perhaps many of Dumbledore's previous actions made sense now.
Perhaps.
This old headmaster also read Lady Ravenclaw's papers.
Gained knowledge about Time Rules.
Furthermore.
It might not only involve how to become a legend, but also include methods on how to deceive time to revive the deceased, as the headmaster of Hogwarts undoubtedly has access to the legacy of the founders.
Maybe Dumbledore found Ravenclaw's secret library, or perhaps every headmaster inherits that legacy. Either way, it makes sense that Dumbledore would think this way.
Lady Ravenclaw's papers and research about deceiving time and history is likely the underlying force supporting Dumbledore's bold attempts and speculations.
You should know.
Ian has seen Dumbledore's memories, knows that Dumbledore started researching this from his youth, so if Lady Ravenclaw's research results still exist, they surely would have been found by him.
Professor Dumbledore himself said that part of the reason he chose to become Hogwarts Headmaster was because the headmaster could access knowledge others could not.
"Turns out such an operation, ancient people were already attempting."
Ian suddenly felt some absurdity. Time, which in the eyes of ordinary people is an irreversible rule, seemed like a draft book for the truly powerful, able to be repeatedly altered.
"Then if..." He hesitated, then voiced his conjecture about Dumbledore's plan, "If someone did something significant in the past, yet wasn't recorded in history?"
The Giant Dragon's eyes narrowed slightly.
"That means some higher power intervened." It raised its head, gazing at the gradually darkening sky, "Like the Gods, or... some beings touching the rules."
Upon hearing this.
Ian thought about what Dumbledore said—regarding the plan to revive Ariana, surely involving Ian's participation, and how Ian himself is a kind of embodiment of the rules?
If he truly is the Raven, he represents a fate closest to altering the past. This, again, aligns with what the Dragon just said.
The possibility of Ravenclaw's research outcomes in Dumbledore's hands increases. The courtyard falls into brief silence. The night wind rustles, bringing the distant sound of the forest.
Ian stood up, dusting off his robe: "Thank you for the answers."
The Giant Dragon lazily lay back down, rolling its tail to cover its nose.
"You're welcome. Anyway, I haven't talked with anyone about this for a long time." It closed its eyes, its voice gradually quieting, but Ian still shook it awake again. "Hey!" He reached out, patting the Dragon's nose, his voice not loud but tinged with urgency, "Don't sleep! I still have questions for you!"
The Dragon, which had been slowly closing its eyes, reopened its golden pupils, somewhat impatient and somewhat scrutinizing.
"What?" It grumbled in a low voice, its tone carrying a trace of "you'd better have a good reason for disturbing my rest" authority.
Ian didn't back down, instead stepping forward and fixing his gaze: "About the Dragon Slayer."
The Dragon slightly lifted its head, a glimmer of interest flashing in its eyes.
"You want to become a Dragon Slayer?" Its voice was deep and slow, like assessing a soul about to step into an abyss.
"Not wanting, but wanting to know," Ian said, "Twelve Giant Dragons achieve a legend... What does this mean? Why twelve? Is there significance to this number?"
The Giant Dragon was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke:
"It is an honor."
Its words echoed like ancient bells in the air.
"Dragon Slayer is not just a title."
"It is an achievement scarce among the time's river."
"When you slay a Giant Dragon, you leave a deep mark in history. And when you slay twelve, you are recognized as 'Dragon Slayer.'"
"It is a ceremonial achievement," it continued, "also a response from the world. You prove your strength through slaying dragons, and the world grants you some kind of reward."
"Reward?" Ian's eyes lit up, "What kind of reward?"
The Giant Dragon gently shook its head, its voice carrying a trace of helplessness: "How would I know? I'm not a Wizard. You humans always like to add labels, classifications, levels to everything."
"But the world's recompense for Dragon Slayers isn't fixed. It could be knowledge, it could be power, it could be some secret authority... even an enhancement in 'presence.'"
Ian frowned in thought: "Enhancement in presence?"
"Yes." The Giant Dragon nodded, "Like emerging from the ordinary to be specially marked by the lines of fate. It's hard to describe, but you can understand it as you becoming more 'important.'
Ian listened intently.
He knew.
If Dumbledore knew this answer.
Perhaps.
11 more Giant Dragons will suffer.