[Bonus chapter for Powerstones]
"He asked to send him fifteen Mandrakes a month. He found out that roasting one helps him fall asleep, and eating one raw keeps him asleep.
Basically, I've beco the official sponsor of the Headmaster's beauty rest," Kane bragged, sounding like he'd just negotiated a major international treaty.
"Mandrakes really have that effect?" Ron stared at the ceiling. Apparently, there was still much he didn't know about this world. Maybe I should try to sneak a slice in the next class?
anwhile, Kane sat down and listened as Harry filled him in on the afternoon's events. To summarize: Neville had lost control of his broom during Flying Class and was currently recovering in the hospital wing.
Malfoy and Anrela, being the "delightful" individuals they were, had snatched Neville's Rembrall and tried to engage in so classic British bullying—only to be heroically thwarted by Harry.
McGonagall had summoned Harry to her office, but instead of the expected lecture, Harry had been recruited as the new Seeker for the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
To top it all off, Malfoy had formally challenged them to a midnight wizard's duel in the Trophy Room.
"I see. So that's our itinerary for tonight?" After his high-quality Mandrake nap, Kane was worried about being too wired to sleep. This duel was basically a gift from the heavens.
Harry and Ron nodded. "Exactly. It's Malfoy, Anrela, and his two goons. Three of us against four of them—those 'small fry' shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"Don't worry, brothers. We've got this," Kane said. Then, he rembered sothing.
He had completely forgotten today's "Main Quest." He was supposed to ask Hagrid where the giant spiders lived in the Forbidden Forest. But thanks to the Mandrake incident and his demonstration for Dumbledore, he'd slept the entire afternoon away.
If he went to the Forbidden Forest now, he might still get lucky. As for going back to the dorm? They were heading out for a midnight brawl anyway; he might as well stay outside the castle for a bit.
Harry and Ron noticed the shifting expression on Kane's face and asked in unison, "What's the plan now?"
Kane looked at them and smiled. What great friends, he thought. Having people to join in on the nonsense—what a beautiful thing.
Half an hour later, Ron stared into the pitch-black abyss of the Forbidden Forest and swallowed hard.
As a "purebred, competition-grade" Gryffindor, he wasn't afraid of much. He'd face death without blinking, but his brothers had ntioned there were spiders in there. Large ones.
Kane's goal, of course, was exactly those spiders. He probably should have co up with a better excuse, but that wouldn't have been the Gryffindor way.
Kane drew his wand and cast Lumos. Because his wand was unique and his magic was rooted in his own Shadows, the light actually helped push back the darkness—keeping "Miss Charlie" (the darkness-dwelling monster of his holand) at a comfortable distance.
The three of them strolled into the forest. To Kane, the magical creatures within were "low-level mobs." No one understood wilderness survival and defeating beasts from all directions better than he did.
As the canopy thickened, blocking out even the starlight, their Lumos charms beca their only source of security. Harry and Ron chatted and joked behind him; seeing only trees and grass for the first ti, they assud the forest wasn't actually dangerous.
Kane didn't share their optimism. Should a forest this size be this quiet? Not even the sound of an insect? In the chaotic Eternal Domain, there were always sounds of predators or prey. This silence was unnatural.
He didn't tell the other two. He didn't trust their ntal fortitude not to panic. Instead, he began leading them in a subtle arc, circling back toward the exit without them realizing it. If they were lucky, they'd leave before the "hidden presence" in the dark even realized they were there.
But Kane's luck had always been abysmal.
He suddenly froze, extinguished his Lumos, and grabbed Harry with his left hand and Ron with his right. He kept a tiny, faint spark of Shadow-light in his pocket to ward off the darkness-monster's "kiss."
"What's wrong?" Harry whispered, quickly steadying himself.
"Shh."
Kane signaled for silence and called out to his "external eyes": Maxwell, what is that?
"I'm seeing what you're seeing," Maxwell shrugged, manifesting invisibly before Kane and pointing toward the brush.
"But judging by the magical fluctuations... it's a strange Dark Wizard. And it's quite obvious he's already spotted you."
That was all Kane needed to know. The fact that the wizard hadn't attacked yet ant he wasn't looking for a direct confrontation—likely soone trying to stay hidden.
In a "Battle Royale" scenario, if soone sees you and doesn't shoot, they're either unsure of a win or don't want to expose their position.
If they minded their own business, they could slip away. But "safety" required a backup plan.
"Don't speak. Follow ," Kane whispered. They ford a line, slowly bypassing the Dark Wizard's position. anwhile, Kane began frantically using the Summoning Charm combined with his Shadows to create a swarm of Killer Bees.
Small, fast, and airborne—they were the perfect "flares" to intercept any incoming spells from behind.
They crept toward the forest edge. Stay calm... just a few more steps...
VROOOM!
A sickening, high-pitched rushing sound tore through the air. A flash of erald green light illuminated the massive tree trunk in front of them.
"That's the Killing Curse," Ron whispered, his body turning rigid as he recognized the one spell his parents had always warned him about.
"What do we do now?" Harry asked, his hand flying to his wand.
"What do we do? WE RUN!" Kane abandoned his whisper. He spun around and whipped his wand, unleashing a staggering swarm of buzzing Killer Bees toward the hidden attacker.
Without waiting to see the result, he grabbed Harry and Ron and bolted at top speed toward the castle.
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed. Claim early access on Patreon: Patreon/kazama677
🔓 You hold the keys to bonus chapters:💬 10 reviews ignite 1 bonus chapter🔷 200 Power Stones summon another
🔥 Your power determines how fast the tale unfolds.
User Comments
0 comments from readers