Medea turned in surprise, her eyes falling on the covered cages behind her. The smugglers had draped tarpaulins over the cargo, concealing whatever lay within, and in the chaos of battle, no one had stopped to check. But now, she noticed a small tear in the waterproof covering of one particular cage. And from within that small opening, A pair of wide, doll-like eyes peeked out.
Medea stepped forward, grabbing the edge of the cloth and pulling it back fully. Her breath caught at what she saw. Inside the iron-barred cage stood a girl no older than fourteen or fifteen. Her pale golden hair, slightly tousled, framed a face so delicate and porcelain-like that she almost seemed unreal. Though covered in dust, her lace-trimmed Lolita-style dress suggested she had once been dressed with great care, perhaps before being thrown into this cruel imprisonment.
But the most striking thing about her wasn't her beauty. It was the chains. Her wrists, ankles, and even her neck were bound in heavy, enchanted shackles, thick iron chains connecting them in a web of confinement.
Medea clenched her jaw. "What in Merlin's name…?" she breathed, her voice tight with anger. The girl's large, glassy eyes met Medea's with a mixture of fear and hope. "Sister," she whimpered, "can you let me out?"
Medea crouched down, peering closer. "What's your name?" she asked gently, though her grip on her wand tightened. "Why were you locked up here?"
The girl hesitated, her lips quivering as if she were about to cry. Then, in a trembling voice, she replied, "My name is Shalltear Bradfrenn… I, I was a student at Ilvermorny, in America."
'A student?' Medea felt her stomach twist. "How did you end up here?" she pressed.
Shalltear swallowed hard, tears pooling in her golden eyes. "I… I was home for Christmas break when I accidentally discovered what these smugglers were doing. They… they kidnapped me before I could tell anyone!" Her voice cracked into a sob. "They said they were going to sell me…" she hiccupped. "Please, please help me…" She grasped the iron bars of her cage with her shackled hands, her expression one of pure desperation. "You're a British Auror, aren't you? You can save me, right?"
Medea inhaled sharply, feeling a wave of fury rise within her. These monsters weren't just smuggling magical creatures. They were selling people. "Sister, please!" Shalltear pleaded. "I just want to go home…"
Medea reached forward, ready to undo the bindings, Then, she stopped herself. Something wasn't right. She was a trained Auror. She had seen plenty of people lie, manipulate, and deceive their way out of situations. And while Shalltear's story sounded heartbreaking, something felt off. Medea hesitated, then shook her head. "Not yet."
Shalltear's eyes widened in shock. "W-Why?"
"Listen," Medea said firmly, "it's not safe out here right now. If I release you now, you'll be defenseless. Those ghouls won't care that you're an innocent girl, they'll tear you apart just like anyone else. It's safer for you to stay in the cage for now.*" She stepped aside and gestured toward the battlefield. The ghouls, mindless and relentless, still swarmed against the barriers, their hollow eyes burning with unnatural hunger. The girl paled. "We'll get you out soon, I promise," Medea reassured her. "But first, we need to survive this battle. Just hold on a little longer."
Shalltear's hands trembled as she gripped the iron bars, her once fragile demeanor shifting into something more urgent. "Sister Auror," she pleaded, her voice still sweet but with an edge of firm determination. "I know I might not look strong, but I swear I can help. If you give me a wand, I can fight too!" Her clear, glass-like eyes locked onto Medea's with a desperate intensity, trying to sway her.
Medea hesitated. There was something off about this girl. Despite her weak appearance, she didn't seem as helpless as she wanted to appear. But then again, could she really blame her? She was a child, a student from Ilvermorny, held captive and shackled like some beast. Medea softened slightly. "You're brave, Shalltear, but I can't let you fight. You're exhausted, you're in no condition to, "
"Please!" Shalltear's voice cracked, her breath hitching. "These chains are heavy… I can barely breathe… Just let me out. I promise, I won't be a burden!"
Medea frowned. She knew better than to make rash decisions in the heat of battle, but the pitiful sight in front of her tugged at her protective instincts. And Shalltear was persistent. Too persistent. But the fight was still raging, and Medea had bigger concerns. The ghouls were relentless, and the barrier wouldn't hold forever. "Fine." She exhaled sharply, making up her mind. "Step back. I'll unlock the cage."
Shalltear's expression brightened immediately, but for the briefest second, Medea thought she saw something else flash across her face. Something… darker. But then it was gone.
It took longer than expected to remove Shalltear's chains. Medea quickly realized why, the bindings weren't just for containment, they were enchanted. High-level magic, the kind used for dangerous magical beings. That fact alone should have raised alarm bells. But Medea pushed down her doubts. 'She's just a girl. A victim. Right?'
With a final flick of her wand, the last iron shackle fell to the ground. Shalltear let out a slow, shuddering breath. Then she stretched, her small frame elongating unnaturally, her bones cracking softly as if she had been restrained for far too long.
Medea watched uneasily. Something still didn't feel right. But before she could dwell on it, Shalltear turned to her with an innocent smile. "Thank you, Sister Auror."
Medea, still trying to shake off the unsettling feeling, handed Shalltear a wand, one confiscated from the smugglers. "Stay behind me," she instructed, absently dusting off Shalltear's dress. "We'll protect you until reinforcements arrive."
"Mhm!" Shalltear nodded, her lips curling into a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
The last few smugglers had finally managed to stumble into the safe zone, seeking surrender. One of them, barely able to stand, lifted his panicked gaze and locked onto Shalltear. His face drained of all color. "You, !" His wand snapped up in an instant, aimed directly at her. "Why is she out!? She's, !" He never finished his sentence. With inhuman speed, Shalltear flicked her wand, and the smuggler's body jerked violently, a curse slamming into his chest.
BOOM!
The force of the spell sent him hurtling backward, his body smashing into the swarm of ghouls. The undead descended upon him instantly, tearing into his flesh as his screams were drowned in a sea of gnashing teeth and ripping muscle. The battlefield fell silent for a moment. Medea turned, her expression stunned. "You, "
"Hee hee." Shalltear giggled softly, tilting her head. Her eyes gleamed, as though she found the entire thing… amusing. "Sister Auror," she said sweetly, "thank you for releasing me. I'll be sure to repay your kindness one day."
A wave of blood-red magic surged from her body. The air shook as Shalltear's delicate form twisted and distorted, her limbs stretching, her dress billowing unnaturally as shadows curled around her like living tendrils. Her body melted into a shapeless form, then reformed, A massive, winged creature with a fanged maw and piercing crimson eyes now hovered where the girl once stood.
A vampire. Medea's blood ran cold. "Shalltear, "
Before she could react, Shalltear beat her wings once and shot into the sky. "Hahaha!" She let out a joyful laugh, her voice echoing across the battlefield as she darted toward the distant treeline. "I'm free again!~" And just like that She was gone.