Xenophilius swallowed hard. "Did that really happen? Was it... the Unforgivable Curses?"
"In times of war, whether it's the Unforgivable Curses or any other form of Dark Magic, none of it is considered extraordinary," Annie Salu replied, her voice suddenly cold.
"When war drags on, people's sense of morality erodes. Chaos breeds disorder, and in disorder, the darkness in one's heart grows unchecked."
"Those who died on Muggle battlefields would still be used by wizards—turned into Inferi to die a second time on the wizarding front."
"Ugh..." Xenophilius twisted his neck and glanced at Luna and Wyzett. "Maybe you two should head back to your rooms?"
"Let's return to the circus story, shall we?" Annie Salu propped her elbows on the table, fingers steepled beneath her chin, her tone softening.
"Those wizards knew the Maledictuses' greatest weakness. Just as the Maledictuses transformed into beasts and performed with all their might, Muggle artillery began to rain down."
"The wizards, of course, didn't have much to fear—they simply cast spells and vanished from the island. But the Maledictuses, unable to turn back to human form in time, were swallowed by the bombardment."
Xenophilius hesitated. "So... they all died?"
"Perhaps," Annie Salu said with a shake of her head. "At least, none of those Maledictuses could have survived."
"When the wizards returned to the village, they sought out a more powerful wizard to cast stronger protective spells—hoping to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again."
"Most people chose to forget what happened. Only a few of us chose to remember. I happen to be one of the latter."
"So that's why you were standing on the lake..." Xenophilius murmured, realization dawning. "What a heartbreaking story. Those were truly terrible times."
He quickly composed himself and asked, "Would you mind sharing—how many people were in the circus? Any extra details would really help bring the story to life."
"Let me think..." Annie Salu closed her eyes for a moment, searching her memory. "There were four of them—three Maledictuses and a child."
"The performances were done by the three Maledictuses. The child was in charge of collecting tips... In those days, just getting into a wizarding school was nearly impossible."
"That sweet child was named Sigurd. Every time someone tossed a coin into his hat, he'd beam and say, 'Thank you, sir! May you be happy and healthy.'"
"They must have been family—all their animal forms were reindeer. There were also plenty of magical creatures in the show: little dragons, hippogriffs, and the like."
"But those weren't so unusual. Any magical circus could boast a menagerie. What made this circus special was always the Maledictuses..."
...
Back in their guest room, Wyzett and the others sat in somber silence.
A circus meant to bring laughter, destroyed by senseless, misdirected anger. The story left a bitter taste.
Xenophilius read over his notes twice, then slipped out of the room, as if seeking to confirm something.
Wyzett glanced at the wanted poster on the table, his mind drifting to the mysterious figure they'd encountered that afternoon.
Across from him, Luna asked softly, "Do you think that person was the one who attacked the Swedish Ministry of Magic?"
Wyzett mused, "I just think we should be careful. After all, the Ministry still hasn't caught him."
"I agree." Luna pulled a sketchbook and some paints from her trunk.
Soon, she'd captured the scene of the black-robed stranger on paper.
"At least it adds... a little bit of credibility."
"Absolutely."
Wyzett took the drawing from Luna, his resolve hardening. He filled in the information on the wanted poster and sent it off with the village owl.
...
At the Fedrot Inn, Annie Salu and Ominis remained in the lounge, watching as Wyzett stepped out the front door.
"What do you suppose the boy is up to?" Annie Salu asked, glancing out the window.
"Sending a letter to the Ministry of Magic, most likely," Ominis replied, giving his wand a gentle wave and sipping his tea. "Probably because of the person we encountered this afternoon."
"He's nearly at his limit," Annie Salu said, a touch of helplessness in her eyes. "Do you really think that boy can succeed? He's so young."
"A Guardian with an Obscurus—stranger things have happened," Ominis replied, setting down his cup. "I don't think we should doubt him."
"Serena was only a fifth-year, wasn't she? Even if you don't believe in prophecy, you should believe in Serena. That notebook contains mysteries meant for Guardians alone."
"Yes, at the very least, we should believe in Serena," Annie Salu agreed.
Just then, an owl swooped past the window.
Ominis raised his wand and gave a gentle flick. A letter appeared in his hand.
Annie Salu took it, finding a completed wanted poster and a drawing inside. "Ominis, you were right—he did send a letter to the Ministry, and he's suspicious of that man."
"But that's not enough," Ominis said, fingers interlaced, thumbs tracing slow circles. "He needs to be even more perceptive, to notice what's wrong with the story."
Annie Salu leaned in, intrigued. "Do you think he can do it?"
"If the prophecy's true, then he's the most extraordinary Guardian... without question." Ominis shook his head. "So, everything depends on tomorrow night..."
"I never liked tests," Annie Salu sighed. "Especially ones you can't prepare for."
"But this one matters," said Ominis. "He's our hope."
The next day at noon, Wyzett and the others finally emerged from their room.
When they entered the lobby, Ominis was seated by the window, blowing gently on a steaming cup of tea.
Sensing their approach, he smiled faintly. "Didn't sleep well last night?"
"That story was a heavy one. I hope it hasn't spoiled your mood—you're here to travel, after all."
The truth was, the story had weighed on them. Xenophilius hadn't returned until after midnight, and Wyzett had spent the night poring over everything he could find about Maledictuses, barely sleeping at all.
...
Behind the village, a narrow forest path led straight to the wizarding ruins.
Wyzett and the others walked along the trail, the soft rustle of small animals and the snap of twigs and leaves beneath their feet filling the cool air.
The deep, tranquil hush of the forest washed over them.
The island's trees were especially thick and ancient. Rounding a massive boulder, they glimpsed, through the gaps in the giant trunks, the faint outline of a towering, mysterious structure...
🔥 Want to read the next 20 chapters RIGHT NOW?
💎 Patreon members get instant access!
⚡ Limited-time offer currently running...
👉 [Join on - patreon.com/GoldenLong]