Inside Newt's suitcase world, a Nundu approached with graceful strides. Despite its massive size, it moved silently, not a hint of clumsiness in its steps.
As the Nundu drew closer, Lucien stayed on high alert. This was a XXXXX-class magical creature, likely one of the most dangerous in the world. Its mere breath could unleash deadly diseases, capable of wiping out an entire village. It would take a hundred elite wizards working together to even have a chance at subduing it.
Though Luster sensed no malice from the creature, they edged closer to Lucien and Newt, ready to whisk them away at the first sign of trouble.
But the Nundu didn't come too close, keeping a safe distance. It also paused the contractions of the air sacs around its neck, ensuring no toxic fumes escaped its body.
"You smell nice, human," a strange voice echoed in Lucien's mind.
He immediately realized it was the Nundu communicating. Thanks to the unicorn's blessing, he could now talk directly with animals. But the Nundu's comment was odd—he smelled nice?
Wait a second… Lucien recalled what was on the Nundu's menu. He pulled a small vial from his pocket, filled with a potent, toxic potion. Popping the cap, he gave it a little shake.
"Is this what you mean?" he asked.
"Yes, but there's another scent too," the Nundu replied.
Lucien nodded, understanding. The Nundu's diet included all sorts of toxins—it must have picked up on the potion's scent. To the creature, it was probably like catching a whiff of a delicious meal.
So, Lucien dug out a few more bottles and jars, opening them to let the Nundu take a sniff.
"Yup, that's the stuff," it confirmed.
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"Human, can I have those treats? I'll give you something good in return," the Nundu offered.
Lucien raised an eyebrow. This big cat was pretty straightforward, wasn't it? Since he'd brewed the potions himself, he didn't mind sharing. One by one, he tossed the vials to the Nundu, who caught each in its mouth, swallowed the contents, and spat out the empty containers.
Newt watched as Lucien calmly fed the Nundu, giving a subtle nod of approval and easing his guard slightly. He was impressed that someone so young could stay so composed when facing a creature as dangerous as a Nundu for the first time, without overreacting.
Interacting with magical creatures required a calm mindset. Animals were often more perceptive than humans, and a wizard's wrong move could easily provoke a defensive reaction.
Lucien's quick thinking—offering the potions—showed he understood the Nundu and could act swiftly. Newt was certain Lucien had just communicated with it, thanks to the unicorn's blessing and its Tongue of Beasts ability. When it came to dealing with magical creatures, few skills were more practical.
Once Lucien had fed all the potions to the Nundu, it licked its lips, clearly wanting more. It paced a few circles on the grass, then elegantly squatted and… produced a purple-brown, barbed… pile of dung.
"Here, human. I left you the good stuff. Take it," the Nundu said.
Lucien froze, forcing himself not to look at the "good stuff" and keeping his eyes locked on the Nundu. The black whirlpools in his pupils kept spinning as he gripped a small stone tablet in his pocket.
The once-smooth surface of the tablet now bore a vivid image of a Nundu, its intricate magical pathways glowing faintly and nearly fully etched. A few seconds later, the tablet vibrated slightly in his hand.
Lucien let out a soft breath and blinked. Done. The Nundu's magical circuit was fully recorded.
That alone made this visit to Newt's suitcase worth it. Nundus were rare and dangerous, almost impossible to encounter under normal circumstances, let alone observe up close like this.
The Circuit Tablet could record magical pathways in two ways:
1. Direct contact with the target for five seconds.
2. Lucien holding the tablet and using his Eye of Insight to observe the target's magical pathways until the recording was complete.
The second method took varying amounts of time depending on the complexity of the pathways—anywhere from a few seconds for simple ones to several minutes for intricate ones like the Nundu's. Since getting close enough to touch a creature that emitted area-of-effect toxins wasn't an option, Lucien had opted for the second method.
Noticing Lucien hadn't moved, the Nundu's voice sounded puzzled in his mind. "Human, don't you want it? The other guy who feeds me always sneaks off with the dung I bury. I thought you all liked it."
Lucien's silence was deafening.
To be fair, Nundu dung was valuable. Despite feeding on toxins, their excrement was a prime ingredient for antidotes. It made sense that Newt would collect it.
But to the Nundu—or magical creatures in general—it probably looked like humans were sneaking around, stealing their poop…
Lucien suddenly realized that being able to talk directly with magical creatures opened a whole new world. This was wild.
Leaving the Nundu's area, Newt led Lucien and Luster deeper into the suitcase. Along the way, Lucien marveled at its wonders. A simple curtain or panel could divide entirely different environments, each perfectly contained without interfering with the others. That was the Scamander family's secret magic at work—seriously impressive and convenient.
Following Newt, Lucien encountered all sorts of magical creatures: Kelpies, Bowtruckles, Occamies, Demiguises, Horned Serpents… This little world housed nearly every kind of magical creature imaginable, most of which weren't found in the Forbidden Forest.
Lucien's knowledge expanded immensely, and the Circuit Tablet's records grew richer with each encounter. With so many new samples, he was one step closer to mastering magical creature transfiguration.
Boom!
Thunder roared across the sky. Lucien looked up to see a golden bird flashing in and out of dark, heavy clouds.
"Is that a Thunderbird?" he asked.
Newt nodded. "Yup, an injured one. Once I've healed it, I'll release it back to Arizona in North America."
"Oh, and by the way, it'll probably be summer break by then. Lucien, fancy coming along?" Newt added.
Lucien didn't hesitate. "Count me in."
Reading books was one thing, but traveling and seeing the world was just as vital for learning.
Suddenly, a strange feeling hit him. Instinctively, Lucien reached into his pocket for the Circuit Tablet. But instead of the cold, hard stone, his fingers brushed something soft and warm.
He gently grabbed it and pulled it out. In his hand was a fluffy, long-snouted creature.
"A Niffler?"