Hunter Association, Secure Storage Facility
The Goblin Eyes arrived in New York eight hours later, transported by a team of elite Aurors under high security measures. Despite its unassuming appearance—a palm-sized orb of dull metal with flecks of copper and silver embedded in its surface—the artifact was handled with extreme caution.
In a specially prepared chamber deep within the Hunter Association headquarters, Draco, Luca, and a select group of specialists gathered for the activation ceremony.
"Remember," instructed Marwen, the Association's resident artifact expert, "the Goblin Eyes were created for surveillance, not combat. Their true power lies in revealing what is hidden—both physical structures and magical deceptions."
Draco nodded impatiently. "I'm well aware of its capabilities. Proceed with the activation."
Marwen placed the orb carefully in the center of an elaborately inscribed circle, then stepped back to join the other wizards forming a perimeter around it. At his signal, they raised their wands in unison, sending streams of silvery light into the artifact.
The orb began to vibrate gently, the flecks of metal on its surface shifting and coalescing into pattern that resembled dozens of tiny eyes. A soft humming filled the chamber as the artifact rose into the air, hovering at eye level.
"The Goblin Eyes are awakened," Marwen announced. "Now for the targeting phase."
A side door opened, and two Aurors escorted in a gaunt-faced man Draco recognized as one of the wizards they'd arrested during the London incident. The prisoner's eyes darted nervously around the room, widening when they settled on the floating orb.
"You can't—" he began, but froze when Marwen flicked his wand, extracting a silvery thread of memory from his temple.
"We're not asking for your cooperation," Draco informed him coldly. "Merely borrowing your memories."
The extracted memory was carefully guided into the hovering orb, which absorbed it with a flash of golden light. The tiny eyes on its surface blinked rapidly, then all swiveled to focus in a single direction—pointing unnervingly toward the direction of the New York Temple.
"It's locked on," Marwen confirmed. "The Goblin Eyes recognize Kamar-Taj's magical signature now."
Draco approached the orb, careful not to touch it. "Show me what's hidden," he commanded.
The orb pulsed once, then projected a three-dimensional image into the air before them—a detailed rendering of the New York Temple, not as the nondescript apartment building it appeared to be, but as it truly existed: a multi-level structure with sweeping architectural elements reminiscent of what Aaron and Ali had described from the café.
Intricate patterns that seemed to shift and flow adorned its walls, and at its core, a massive circular chamber pulsed with energy that the projection rendered in deep amber light.
"Magnificent," someone whispered, and Draco couldn't disagree. The structure was beautiful, in its way—and far more extensive than they had anticipated.
"Can it show us the occupants?" Luca asked.
Marwen nodded. "Goblin Eyes, reveal the living."
The projection shifted, becoming semi-transparent, with glowing points of light indicating people within the structure. Dozens of figures moved throughout the building, concentrated particularly in the central chamber and what appeared to be an infirmary area.
"That's considerably more than we estimated," Draco observed grimly. "They've managed to gather a significant force without detection."
"And their protective enchantments..." Marwen shook his head in amazement. "I've never seen anything like this. It's not standard concealment magic—it's as if they've folded space itself."
"Can we penetrate those protections?" Luca asked, his voice low.
Marwen considered this carefully. "Not directly, no. But the Goblin Eyes give us something invaluable—we can see where the weak points are." He gestured to several areas where the strange patterns seemed less dense. "Here, and here. These would be our best points of entry if—when—you decide to act."
Draco studied the projection intently, memorizing every detail. "Expand the view. I want to see further out from the Temple itself."
The projection zoomed outward, revealing a network of faint lines extending from the Temple into the surrounding city—and beyond. These connections stretched for miles, some extending so far they disappeared from the projection's range.
"What am I looking at?" Draco demanded.
"Connections," Marwen replied, his voice hushed with what might have been awe or fear. "The Temple isn't isolated. It's connected to... something else. Something distant."
"The other temples Wilson mentioned?" Luca suggested.
"Possibly," Marwen agreed. "But some of these connections don't terminate anywhere in our world. They simply... vanish."
A cold sensation settled in Draco's stomach. "Other dimensions," he murmured, recalling Wilson's words. "'Those exploiting weakening barriers between dimensions.'"
"Sir?" Marwen looked at him questioningly.
Draco straightened, his decision made. "We need more information before we can act effectively. Maintain the Goblin Eyes' surveillance. I want to know if anyone enters or leaves the Temple, and I want to know immediately if there's any change in these... connections."
"And Rhodes?" Luca asked.
"He remains our best source of direct intelligence," Draco replied. "For now, we wait and watch. But make no mistake—" his voice hardened "—we will act. The Federation cannot tolerate a power operating within its borders that answers to entities beyond our dimension."
Luca nodded in agreement, but couldn't entirely suppress a flicker of unease. They had expected to find dark wizards. What they were discovering seemed to be something else entirely.