Chapter 47. A Simple Task
"Favourability 80?"
A look of surprise flickered across Duncan's face.
This was the first time in a mission he had seen such a large increase in favourability in one go.
It seemed these pixies really were going mad from being kept in iron cages.
Duncan thought for a moment, planning to see whether he could talk with Professor Kettleburn later and trade for those pixies.
Meanwhile, the sleeping Professor Kettleburn was finally woken by the din.
He blinked his eyes open, squinting until his view ahead cleared, and he saw Duncan.
"Oh, it's you," Professor Kettleburn said with a smile.
"I thought it was those two brats from the Weasley family sneaking in again!"
"Fred and George?" Duncan said.
"Do they come by often?"
"Mm, last term they came several times a week," Professor Kettleburn nodded.
"They often asked me to collect all sorts of odd things, such as the droppings of various magical creatures; I've no idea what they were for..."
At that, Duncan's expression shifted.
Could the Dungbombs Fred and his brother made all be using the real stuff?
That would be far too pungent!
Duncan decided without hesitation to keep his distance from Fred and George in future—at the very least, to keep his distance from their Dungbombs.
"Enough about them."
Professor Kettleburn's interested gaze fell upon the case in Duncan's hands.
"This is your case?
Hm, it looks rather different from Newt's; looks like he made you another one.
The last time I asked him for help, he said he'd forgotten how to make it!
How has he grown as old as Dumbledore already..."
Facing Professor Kettleburn's head-shaking grumbles, Duncan could only smile, open the case, and invite him in.
After all, both sides could put the squeeze on him; the poor lad was weak and helpless.
"Do I just jump straight in?" Professor Kettleburn asked, peering at the pitch-black opening.
"Mm-hm," Duncan nodded.
"Mind the stairs below."
Professor Kettleburn answered, his face full of expectation, and, like a young man, leapt high and dived into the case.
Moments later, a rumbling came from within, sounding as though something had tumbled down the stairs.
"You can't be serious?"
Duncan hurried into the case, and the scene before his eyes made him give a helpless wry smile.
Professor Kettleburn lay face-down amid a heap of clutter, most of his body buried.
The table that had been there had been knocked flying by him and had crashed elsewhere, lying on its back in as sorry a state as he was.
"Professor, are you all right?" Duncan pushed the clutter aside, helped Professor Kettleburn up, and asked with concern.
"N-no problem..." Professor Kettleburn held his old back, forced a smile, and put on a brave face.
Perhaps wanting to save face for his tumble, he glanced back at the visibly widened stairs, pondered a moment, then turned his head and kept looking around.
"Duncan, where's that Kelpie?
Let's go have a look; I've classes this afternoon!"
"All right, I'll take you over now."
Duncan did not call him out, and led Professor Kettleburn to the Kelpie's area.
After taking the potion Duncan had brewed for it that morning, Mori had yet to wake, lying by the bank with half its body submerged.
"Shh, keep your voice down."
Professor Kettleburn's expression turned serious, and he assumed a magizoology expert's air.
He motioned for Duncan to be quiet, then shuffled forward with care, slowly reaching the lakeside and bending to examine Mori's condition.
Holding up his wand, which emitted a milky-white glow, he moved it over each part of Mori's body; his expression grew ever more grave.
After a moment, Professor Kettleburn pocketed his wand and straightened up, sighing.
"Sorry, Duncan, I can't find anything either.
"There are black specks at the base of the hair.
I've seen this on other Kelpies before; it's called Dark Star Syndrome, but..."
Duncan continued where Professor Kettleburn left off.
"That's only a common ailment.
A Kelpie with it will have dense black dots on its hair like a starry sky, and it only causes the Kelpie to shed; it doesn't make it feel pain or turn irritable."
"As expected of a Scamander child—your fundamentals are solid," Professor Kettleburn nodded in approval, looked down at the slumbering Kelpie, and asked in thought, "When did it fall ill?"
"It had red-eye disease before I moved it into the case.
After I cured that, I still felt something was off; when I examined its body, I discovered those black specks on the hair."
"Have you checked the water quality?" Professor Kettleburn crouched, reached one hand into the water, and swirled the lake.
"I have.
No problem," Duncan replied.
"My grandad laid enchantments underneath; the lake cleans itself at regular intervals."
"What about its food?"
"It's all stored in the cold room, and every piece of meat was personally inspected by my grandad."
Professor Kettleburn nodded, then asked several more questions; by Duncan's answers, there were no issues.
"That is strange..." Professor Kettleburn was at a loss; he had never seen this odd illness in his research career.
He repeatedly examined the black specks on Mori's hair, unable to make up his mind.
In the end, he gave up, stood, and said apologetically:
"Sorry, Duncan, I'm not sure what exactly this Kelpie has come down with.
But don't be too anxious.
I have a potion recipe here—take it and use it.
It won't cure the root cause, but it can ease its pain so it won't be so agitated."
"Thank you, Professor."
Duncan looked at Mori on the ground and bowed to Professor Kettleburn in thanks.
"Have you written to Newt?" Professor Kettleburn said.
"Though I hate to admit it, that fellow's research on magical creatures is a bit better than mine.
He might know how to treat this illness."
Duncan replied, "I wrote long ago, but Grandad has probably run off to some remote place again, and he still hasn't written back."
"All right," Professor Kettleburn said, patting Duncan's shoulder in comfort.
"Don't be too anxious.
I just checked—this Kelpie's in good health, and there won't be any problem in the short term.
If its symptoms worsen, I'll call all my friends to the school.
I refuse to believe that so many of us put together could be no match for a single Newt!"
Duncan worked to dispel the worry on his face, raised the corners of his mouth, and squeezed out a smile with a nod.
"Right then, now take me to see the other magical creatures in your case?"
As Professor Kettleburn spoke, his gaze had already drifted afar.
In the distant sky, he saw a tiny black dot moving quickly, as though a stout figure were soaring.
"Of course."
Duncan led Professor Kettleburn towards the other areas.
Suddenly remembering the pixies in the office, he spoke up.
"Professor, those pixies you've locked in iron cages..."
"You mean those little blighters?" Professor Kettleburn frowned, his tone somewhat displeased.
"I bought them when I went travelling over the holidays, thinking I'd give the students a lesson on pixies.
But arranging them has become a problem.
Kept in iron cages, they rattle on all day; but if I let them out, they'd turn the castle upside-down in half a day!"
"How about putting them in my case?" Duncan asked tentatively.
"Is that all right?" Professor Kettleburn said in delight.
"I'd certainly be willing.
But can you keep those little beggars under control?"
"I should be able to..." Duncan widened his eyes; he hadn't expected this mission to be completed so easily.
Right now he only wanted to say:
may there be more tasks like this!
Enjoyed the story? Support me and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at: Patr*eon*.com/Resium
Free members can read 10+ Chapters Ahead of Release
Paid member can read 150+ Chapters Ahead of Release
Stories Available
Honkai? No, This Is Daily Life
Hogwarts Pet Master
Pokémon: Who Let Him Leave Pallet Town!
Scrolling Yu-Gi-Oh! Shorts