The Shadow Realm was the world's reverse side. In theory, one could use it to reach any corner of the earth.
But in practice, that was nearly impossible. The Shadow Realm was chaotic, without up or down, without direction. Even its native inhabitants couldn't match its locations with the real world.
To use it for travel, one needed two corresponding anchor points.
Still, while he couldn't walk through it, Louis could at least send signals and control his ninja soldiers from afar.
Through the Shadow Realm, his eyes watched as the ninja soldiers hidden in the Ministry linked up with those in the Department of Mysteries.
Everything went smoothly. Using the elevator shaft, nine ninja soldiers slipped into the Department, joining the one he had already placed there. Ten in total—enough for Louis to one day empty the Time Room of its Time-Turners.
But not yet. He couldn't act so soon after he and Dumbledore had "accidentally" stumbled into the place. It would raise suspicion.
Exploration, however, could begin. They would lurk, prepare, and when the time was right—strike and vanish in one motion.
The Department of Mysteries had seven known chambers: the Brain Room, the Time Room, the Planet Room, the Hall of Prophecy, the Unspeakables' office, a locked chamber, and the Death Chamber.
As the wizarding world's most secret place, every item here deserved study—each hiding magical mysteries still unsolved.
But exploration required secrecy. Louis had no intention of exposing his Shadow Legion too early.
The ten ninja soldiers gathered in the circular atrium, the place the lift opened into. Before them stood twelve identical doors.
Blue firelight flickered over the ancient stone walls. It was Ever-Burning Blue Flame, the atrium's only light source.
Fiendfyre and this flame were opposites.
Fiendfyre was violent, destructive, but easy to conjure—any wizard trained in the spell could unleash it, only to be consumed in turn.
Blue Flame, on the other hand, was steady and nearly unquenchable, but almost impossibly difficult to create. Only a handful of wizards in the entire world could produce it.
"Compared to this, Fiendfyre feels like some cruel joke—easy to grasp, but eager to devour you," Louis thought, unimpressed. Not even as pure as phoenix fire.
At his command, the ten ninja soldiers each chose a door. Two doors were left untouched. As they stepped through, the walls turned, the twelve identical doors whirling until it was impossible to know who had entered which.
It mattered little. Louis quickly saw that soldiers who had gone through different doors sometimes ended up in the same room.
Five of them emerged in a cramped office—unfortunately, with three Unspeakables working inside.
Luckily, ninja stealth was absolute. The instant they saw humans, they melted into shadows and vanished.
The remaining five scattered through other chambers.
It seemed the Department's layout was strange. Except for the locked chamber and the Hall of Prophecy, every room now held at least one ninja.
Two of them prowled the Death Chamber—also known as the Hall of Death, or even the Execution Chamber.
This was the place where, in the original timeline, Sirius Black had died. At its center stood the ancient stone archway.
The chamber resembled an amphitheater, about half a football field in size. The square room sank downward in tiers of steps, like seating for an audience. In the very center, on a raised dais, stood the stone arch.
Unsupported, it stood upright—impossible by physics, but perfectly natural for magic.
Through his soldiers' eyes, Louis saw nothing outwardly special about it.
Still, it demanded attention. If given the chance, he would come study the arch in person.
For now, he could experiment.
At his order, one ninja approached the arch without hesitation. As it neared, Louis thought he glimpsed skeletal hands waving within the fluttering veil, only for them to vanish.
Far away in his bedroom, Louis frowned. The unclear vision was unpleasant.
Then the ninja stepped fully into the arch's domain. At once Louis felt a jolt—as though a massive hand had seized the soldier. Through the ninja's eyes, a hollow gaze looked back at him.
The soldier shattered into shadow and was gone.
Louis shot to his feet, face grim.
His hair paled, as though something was draining his life from afar. His youthful features dimmed, wrinkles spreading across his skin.
"Hmph!"
Louis snorted coldly. Golden vertical pupils blazed in his eyes. In an instant, his body became pure flame, burning away the unknown curse.
The sensation of life being siphoned faded. His body returned to normal—no wrinkles, no white hair, nothing left behind but a phantom memory.
The heat dissipated slowly. Louis waved his hand, the Horse Talisman's restorative power repairing the scorch marks his flames had left.
"What was that?" he muttered, troubled.
Why did this world harbor such terrors—things that could drain life with a glance?
"Could it be Death itself?" Louis thought of the Deathly Hallows' legend. "Does that arch lead to the realm of the dead?"
And with Harry Potter's Invisibility Cloak—could one stroll through undetected, taking a day trip to the other side?
The idea fascinated him. But now wasn't the time for side quests.
"Wait until Voldemort's great battle is over. At least rack up a few dozen Legendary Draws first, then take the risk," Louis muttered.
Then he flopped onto his bed and went limp.
He'd had enough for one day. No more.
---
RedX43's Note:
➤ Want More? Read Extra Chapters on Patreon!
➤ [email protected]/RedX43
➤ Thanks for the support! 🙌