Sagres's voice remained calm as he looked at the "corpse" as though admiring a work of art.
"You see, Madame, the future is unpredictable. An accident, a tragedy with an 'unknown cause,' is enough to change everything. Sometimes, a change in leadership doesn't require fair competition."
He slowly turned towards the pale-faced Madame Maxime and spoke in a sincere tone.
"We sincerely hope that such an unfortunate possibility never comes to pass. Even more, we hope you will continue serving as the respected Headmistress, working alongside Deputy Headmistress Vilis to usher in a new era for Beauxbatons. That would be the best outcome for both the school and yourself. What do you think?"
Madame Maxime gasped for breath, her eyes fixed on the horrifying image of herself.
Humiliation and terror intertwined within her, but after a long moment, she swallowed with difficulty and spoke in a dry voice.
"...I... I need time to think."
"Understandable. You have one minute."
Sagres's tone remained utterly unruffled.
Madame Maxime immediately understood her predicament.
The man before her possessed a power she couldn't even comprehend, one that could make her disappear without a trace and replace her perfectly.
"...Take... take it away..."
She pointed at the corpse, her voice trembling.
Sagres gave a casual wave of his hand, and the "corpse" instantly reverted to an ordinary blanket.
"So, regarding the appointment of the Deputy Headmistress?"
He asked softly, as though nothing unusual had happened.
Madame Maxime seemed to have lost every ounce of strength. Lowering her head, she nodded weakly.
"...As you wish... I'll... make the arrangements."
"Thank you very much for your understanding and cooperation."
Sagres gave a graceful bow, showing not the slightest trace of triumph at Madame Maxime's submission.
"Beauxbatons has a long and distinguished history, and it deserves an equally vibrant future. I believe that, with your combined efforts, it will enter a new golden age."
He then turned to Nightingale.
"Vilis, I think you'll need an office closer to the Headmistress's office. It will make communication much more convenient."
Nightingale understood immediately and replied calmly,
"The vacant classroom on the east side of the second floor has an excellent view."
"That sounds like a fine choice."
Sagres nodded before looking back at Madame Maxime.
"Then we'll designate the room on the east side of the second floor as the new Deputy Headmistress's office. I hope the transition proceeds smoothly."
With that, he gave the ashen-faced Headmistress no further attention and left the room with Nightingale.
Sagres and Nightingale left Madame Maxime's sitting room but did not Apparate away immediately.
Cool moonlight bathed the ivory walls of the palace, while the gardens were filled with the quiet serenity and delicate fragrance unique to the night.
"Since we're already here, we might as well take a look around this ancient school of magic."
Sagres spoke calmly as he walked ahead, with Nightingale silently following at his side like a shadow, also serving as his guide.
They passed through meticulously maintained gardens, their feet sinking into soft, even lawns rather than the uneven gravel paths of Hogwarts.
From time to time, Nightingale pointed towards a landmark and explained briefly.
"That's the Moonlight Greenhouse. It mainly cultivates magical plants that thrive under moonlight."
"The building in the distance is the duelling hall. It was built only within the last two years, and its style focuses more on elegance and technique than Hogwarts'... practicality."
Sagres listened quietly, his grey eyes sweeping over the distinctly Southern European architecture without either admiration or criticism.
Eventually, they arrived at Beauxbatons' famous magical fountain.
Seen up close, it was even more magnificent.
It was far more than an ordinary fountain.
At its centre stood an exquisitely sculpted group of angels and magical beasts, while the flowing water moved as though alive, weaving intricate and graceful patterns through the air.
At times, it formed a shimmering curtain that reflected the moon and stars, refracting them into hazy, dreamlike colours.
The air was cool with mist and carried the refreshing fragrance of magical flowers.
"It is said that the spring water possesses a certain revelatory property. Every new student drinks a cup during the entrance ceremony."
Nightingale watched the ever-changing flow of water as she spoke softly.
"But more often than not, it simply serves as a symbol of Beauxbatons' tranquillity."
Sagres stepped to the edge of the fountain.
Rather than scooping up the water like an ordinary visitor, he produced a small crystal vial from somewhere within his robes.
He held the vial beneath the most active stream at the fountain's centre.
As though drawn by an invisible force, a ribbon of water separated itself from the fountain, traced a silvery arc through the air, and flowed neatly into the crystal vial until it was completely full.
He put away the vial. With a gentle tap of his fingertip against the crystal, the water inside emitted a faint silvery glow before the light vanished again.
He did not drink it, simply storing it away.
"The symbolism outweighs the practical value," he remarked without looking back as he pocketed the vial. "Still, it's a nice finishing touch. At the very least, it's far better than Hogwarts' gurgling drainage system."
His gaze shifted once more to the palace complex and the snow-capped mountains silhouetted beneath the moonlight.
"The layout is well designed, and its heritage is impressive. However, its excessive pursuit of elegance has, in many ways, become a constraint on its true potential."
Nightingale nodded, understanding exactly what he meant. Beauxbatons' devotion to elegance had indeed, at times, become a shackle on its own progress.
Sagres withdrew his gaze from the distant mountain peaks and looked at the tranquil magical fountain, its waters still tracing graceful arcs beneath the moon.
"Elegance and tradition are certainly worthy of respect," he said quietly, his voice like the night breeze passing through the gardens, "but the true vitality of the magical world comes from exploring the unknown and breaking through existing boundaries. Beauty that never changes will eventually become nothing more than a museum exhibit."
He turned to Nightingale, his grey eyes especially deep beneath the moonlight.
"I've said it before. The magical world needs a revolution. It needs new ideas. I have many hypotheses... about the nature of magic, about the deeper relationship between magical power and matter, and even about whether a magical network exists that supports and connects every witch and wizard."
"A magical network?"
Nightingale repeated softly. Even to her, the concept sounded unfamiliar.
"Just a hypothesis."
Sagres did not elaborate further, but the simple idea alone was enough to stir the imagination.
"Many of these studies require time, countless experiments, and repeated verification. My own time and energy are limited. That is why we need not only people who can carry out instructions, but pioneers. Beauxbatons, and schools like it, should become places that cultivate such people."
He paused briefly, gathering his thoughts before continuing.
"Curriculum reform is only the first step. The goal is not to produce more accomplished spell-casters, but to cultivate people who understand the underlying principles of magic, who possess genuine research ability and innovative thinking. In the future, they should be capable of advancing Charms, Potions, Alchemy, and even magical theory itself, rather than simply walking the same paths as those before them."
"But that requires an entirely new foundation of knowledge."
Sagres continued, "Over the next few years, I'll devote time to writing several foundational textbooks. They will become the cornerstone of the new curriculum."
He looked directly at Nightingale, his voice carrying unmistakable trust.
"Your task is to establish yourself firmly within Beauxbatons. Observe and wait. For now, keep a low profile. Don't rush into sweeping reforms, or you'll provoke unnecessary resistance from the traditionalists. First, gain a thorough understanding of how the school operates, the backgrounds of its professors, and the abilities of its students. Once I've finished the initial textbooks and developed a more complete plan, we'll begin introducing changes gradually, starting with elective courses, attracting those students who possess both curiosity and potential."
"What we need to do is plant seeds and let them grow naturally, not uproot old trees by force. Once those seeds begin to flourish and demonstrate strengths beyond the old system, change will come of its own accord."
He finished firmly.
"Beauxbatons may well become one of the starting points for that change."
Nightingale listened quietly, committing every word to memory.
"I'll be ready."
Her reply was brief but resolute.
Sagres cast one final glance at the magical fountain flowing peacefully beneath the night sky before turning to leave.
"I'm going. I still have a great many experiments to conduct."
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