Compared to Hogwarts Castle, Dana still preferred the Forbidden Forest. He felt more at ease here—its air was sweeter, its atmosphere more familiar. Determined to uncover Merlin's true hidden treasure, he first hoped to find a Unicorn or a Hippogriff, though success would depend on luck.
The forest floor was strewn with decaying leaves, emitting a soft, mushy sensation underfoot—it had rained two days ago, after all. As he ventured deeper, the name "Dark Forest" seemed more fitting: sunlight barely penetrated the thick canopy, and the pervasive scent of damp rot clung to the air.
Suddenly, a small, dark blur leaped from the underbrush, aiming for Dana's neck. Reacting swiftly, Dana snatched the creature—it was small, quick, but no match for his speed. After all, he'd caught Golden Snitches with ease. He wasn't intimidated by a little beast.
It was a Niffler. In Dana's grip, it twisted and squirmed, squeaking desperately.
"Sparkly! Golden! Want it, want it—give it to me! Let me go!"
Dana dangled the Niffler in front of him. "You want gold? Tell me where the Unicorns are, and I'll give you a Galleon."
The Niffler's mind was clearly obsessed with gold—it repeated "golden" like an addict, scarcely registering anything else. Dana produced a Galleon.
"Gold for directions to the Unicorns—yours if you cooperate!"
The Niffler struggled harder. "If you don't give me gold, I'll take it!"
Clearly, negotiation wasn't working. Newt Scamander must've known how to handle such creatures better.
Dana pocketed the Galleon and tossed it aside. "No gold, no directions—your choice."
Then he pulled it out again. "Show me where the Unicorns are, and gold galore!"
Without the Galleon visible, the Niffler's compulsive greed was briefly quelled. It squeaked, "There, there!"
Dana followed the tiny paw's direction: a dense patch of bushes. It was a direction even he would hesitate to take.
He tossed down the Galleon. Instantly, the Niffler leapt, snatched it midair, and tucked it into its pouch. Content, it rolled on the ground, watching Dana's departure with regret. The human had vanished, leaving nothing but the fluttering back of a raven disappearing into the forest canopy.
Not far ahead, Dana spotted a small lake—more of a pond, actually. At its edge lay a group of Unicorns, basking in rest and radiating a sacred glow that illuminated the gloomy surroundings.
Dana shifted into a raven and, with silent grace, glided toward them. Upon landing, he reverted to human form. The Unicorns awoke, startled, rising defensively.
"Don't flee," Dana called out. "I am Merlin's heir. I seek your guidance."
One Unicorn, stronger and larger than the rest, turned and gestured to his horn—clearly their leader.
"You claim to be Merlin's heir. Prove it," it demanded.
Dana shrugged. "I understand your speech. Isn't that proof enough?"
He summoned the Spandim Gate casually.
"How about this test?"
In a brilliant flash of blue light, Dana shunted himself into the Unicorn leader's body, guiding it a few steps before withdrawing. He then transformed into a majestic, spectral Unicorn in midair.
The leader hissed, displeased: "You have offended me! Yet… you are indeed Merlin's heir. Cambion cub, follow me. I thought such a story was legend."
Unicorns have their ways—and Dana, in Unicorn form, followed the majestic creature through the depths of the Forbidden Forest. They traveled swiftly until, after thirty minutes, they stopped.
Around them lay an area so forbidding even Hagrid never dared set foot here: a dismal-colored swamp and an impossibly dense tree canopy, blocking any view—even from broom-riders. Long ago, the Fire Serpent Party might have poached here, but now… it seemed thoroughly abandoned.
"This is it, Cambion cub," the Unicorn leader announced. "My task is done." With that, the leader departed, leaving Dana alone.
Dana approached a tree hollow surrounded by gravel dusted with magical traces—identical to those on the tapestry he'd previously studied. The hollow was about a meter square—large enough for even most adults. But Dana wasn't an ordinary wizard; his unique self-transfiguration allowed him to squeeze through cracks far smaller than this.
He stepped into the hollow—and suddenly everything changed. A sensation of weightlessness surrounded him—as if he'd plunged underwater. His vision blurred, then refocused on solid ground.
He found himself in a small room, entirely alive: walls, floor, ceiling, and pillars woven from tree trunks and vines in an irregular pattern. At its center was a glowing stone platform supporting three books: War Magic, Natural Magic, and How to Bring the Dead Back to Life.
Dana's eyes nearly popped from his skull.
"How to Bring the Dead Back to Life?" he whispered, recognizing the true treasure.
Certainly, War Magic and Natural Magic were powerful—but mastery over life and death? That was the greatest prize!
He placed all three books into his necklace's hidden compartment, remembering his true quest—to harness a magic source powerful enough for the New City's grand magical array. This hidden trove promised much more.
As Dana stored the books, a wooden door materialized in the wall. He approached and pushed, and though it didn't budge at first, he felt warmth flow through him into the door and back—like a pulse of shared life energy.
A line of embossed text appeared, glowing softly:
"Bloodline awakening level met, permission to enter the second level."
Then the door swung open on its own.
A booming creak echoed as the threshold revealed a surge of magic more intense than anything at Hogwarts. Dana steadied himself, excitement and determination flaring within—for beyond that door lay the next level of Merlin's legacy.
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