Ominis spoke in a gentle tone, "Annie and I are old friends. Not long ago, when we went up the mountain to pick mushrooms, she happened to spot a beautiful magical creature."
"That magical beast was letting out a long, low call as it calmly shed its horn. The moment it noticed us, it bolted into the depths of the forest, leaving behind only this…"
He held out a horn, its shape reminiscent of a rhinoceros's, but with a deep ruby sheen that glimmered like a natural work of art.
Xenophilius examined it with great ceremony, running his fingers along the grooves and even casting Lumos to inspect its clarity, as if appraising a priceless gem.
Wyzett racked his brain for any book that might describe such a horn, but came up empty.
In fact, even during his time in the Hogwarts library, he'd never found a single record of the Crumple-Horned Snorkack.
No wonder Luna was so captivated by them—the Crumple-Horned Snorkack was truly a creature of legend.
If this horn really did belong to such a beast, it must be a marvel to behold.
Xenophilius seemed to share the sentiment, his gaze softening as he regarded the horn, as if he were holding a rare treasure.
"It really might be from a Crumple-Horned Snorkack! They're so mysterious—and so shy. Their call is long and sounds just like snoring—that's how you know it's a Snorkack! Can you take us to see where you found it?"
"Of course, I'd be happy to. Shall we set off now?" Ominis smiled and led the way.
...
The four of them left the village at a brisk pace. Ominis extended his wand ahead, sweeping it gently from side to side as he walked with calm assurance.
Despite his steady stride, Wyzett and the others felt a touch of anxiety, instinctively forming a triangle around him, as if to protect him.
Noticing this, Ominis gave a small smile. "You needn't worry about me, my friends. I've lived this way for more years than I can count—nothing will happen."
"My wand is my eyes. It guides me through the world, wards off illusions, and keeps me on the right path."
"That's remarkable. Are you locals here?" Xenophilius asked, seizing the chance for conversation. "Our guide said he'd never seen you before."
"I've come to this island to remember the old days," Ominis replied, his tone vague. "But I know its legends well. Would you like to hear one?"
Seeing Luna and Wyzett's eyes light up, Xenophilius nodded eagerly. "Of course! We love a good story."
Ominis smiled. "Long ago, there was a wizard of unmatched talent. He could command lightning and the sea with ease…"
"He was a pioneer, determined to pass magic on to future generations and help wizards realize their potential. Riding a crimson horse, he journeyed to this very island…"
"There was already a towering tree here, but after his arrival, it grew even taller, as if spurred on by his presence…"
"His magic grew stronger and stronger, until it spilled out across the land, unleashing storms and monstrous waves that kept other curious wizards at bay…"
"Then, one day, the lightning and waves vanished, and even the great tree disappeared. Only then did the other wizards dare land on the island…"
"They searched for the great wizard but found no trace—only magical artifacts he'd left behind, and a scroll of parchment covered in crimson script."
"The wizards settled here, studying the artifacts and the parchment, and developed new spells and magical practices. Do you know what script was written on that scroll?"
Wyzett answered instinctively, "Runes? A History of Magic says the earliest runes appeared in Northern Europe and spread across the world."
"Exactly—runes," Ominis nodded.
Wyzett ventured, "Mr. Ominis, was that pioneer wizard's name… Odin?"
A towering tree, a wizard who commanded lightning, and the island's name—Midgard—made the connection hard to ignore.
"A link between Muggles and wizards, is that what you mean?" Ominis smiled. "Back then, relations between Muggles and wizards weren't so strained."
"In fact, they exchanged stories often. Muggles would weave their own myths from the legends wizards told them."
Suddenly, he stopped and pointed toward a nearby thicket.
"Time flies, doesn't it? It was beneath that tree that Annie and I found the Snorkack, in the middle of shedding its horn."
Xenophilius pushed aside the branches, revealing a trail of softly glowing footprints, each shaped like a rounded triangle.
He led the way, while Wyzett gripped his wand tightly, already focusing on Custodis Meditatio, alert to every movement around them.
The forest was quieter than expected. They encountered only a few common magical creatures, none more dangerous than XXX-class.
Following the footprints, they arrived at the edge of a shallow pond.
"Is there someone over there?" Wyzett whispered.
On the far bank, a figure crouched by the water's edge.
The figure's body shook with violent coughs, the sound ragged and painful, and now and then, a spray of blood flecked the ground.
The stranger was wrapped head-to-toe in black robes, but Wyzett could sense them carefully counting the group's numbers.
Wyzett narrowed his eyes, a spell flashing through his mind: Sectumsempra.
He still remembered Snape's warning—in the world outside Hogwarts, it was best to assume the worst.
Especially with Luna at his side, he couldn't afford to be careless.
Anyone hiding in darkness likely had ill intentions; counting heads might mean they were weighing their chances.
Perhaps deciding the odds weren't favorable, the figure retreated, still coughing, and quickly vanished into the forest.
"Not everything you see with your eyes is real," Ominis murmured, shaking his head as he watched the spot where the figure had disappeared.
After that brief interruption, Ominis took the lead, guiding everyone along the pond's edge.
"The Snorkack's tracks end here. We never saw it again after this point."
Xenophilius asked, "Could it be hiding in the pond?"
"A good thought. We checked, but found no magical traces."
With a gentle flick of his wand, Ominis caused the pond to churn and rise, swelling like a giant bubble until it hovered in the air.
Just as he'd said, there was nothing beneath the pond but mud, a few bones of fish and frogs, and some tangled water plants…
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