The shadow wasn't mist; it was a person in a black cloak.
The figure moved incredibly fast. It was lucky that Fang had spotted him. Otherwise, Rey might not have reacted until he was already tackled.
Surprise lasted only a split second. Rey was no longer a fledgling wizard who knew nothing of magic. He hurled the lantern in his left hand at the rushing figure and simultaneously drew his wand from his belt with his right.
"Everte Statum!"
Pointing his wand, a burst of white light shot toward the charging shadow.
The spell unleashed a ball of energy designed to knock opponents off their feet.
Using a Knockback Jinx to stop a linear, high-speed charge like this was the perfect counter.
But when the energy ball slammed into the cloaked figure, he didn't fall. He was merely forced to stop. The impact made him stagger back a step, but he quickly regained his balance.
The Knockback Jinx had failed!
Even cast by an underage wizard, the spell shouldn't have been ineffective. Rey was certain that even someone like Snape would have been knocked down by a direct hit, even if uninjured.
However, what shocked Rey even more was the face revealed under the hood when the figure stumbled back.
It was Professor Caradoc Dorry. The person attacking him was his own teacher.
"Professor!"
Rey exclaimed in surprise, but he didn't lower his wand. Although he had suspected Dorry's teaching methods and motives, he hadn't found any concrete proof. He never imagined Dorry was the shadow lurking in the forest.
"Oh, Rey Faest. There is a Thestral behind you preparing to attack. That is why I rushed over. But it seems I've scared it off."
Professor Dorry's pale face still wore that stiff, unnatural smile. He spoke as if his lie were the absolute truth.
"A Thestral? Trying to attack me?"
Rey questioned skeptically. Before he turned around, he hadn't seen any Thestral.
Thestrals were invisible to anyone who hadn't witnessed death. But Rey had seen death long ago.
Whether it was his own natural death in his past life or the man he killed in self-defense in this one, he had experienced death. He could see Thestrals perfectly fine. In fact, shortly after school started, he had even gone to feed them.
For Dorry to use such a clumsy excuse to cover his tracks seemed incredibly desperate.
"Look behind you. It's right there by that big tree."
Dorry tried to make his smile look gentle, but his voice betrayed a hint of urgency. He didn't even seem to realize he was contradicting himself. A second ago, he said he scared it off; now, he claimed it was still there.
---
Dorry's explanation was laughably weak, and Rey wasn't a naive child. He didn't speak, nor did he turn around. He just kept his wand leveled at Dorry.
Fang, the cowardly boarhound, had already barked and fled, presumably to find Hagrid. As long as Rey could hold out until Hagrid arrived, he would be fine.
"Please, look behind you at the dangerous Thestral! It is right there, staring at you!"
Dorry's anxious voice rang out again, this time practically screaming at Rey.
Rey kept his wand trained on the advancing professor and slowly backed away.
The man was acting crazy—manic, even. He seemed obsessed with making Rey turn around, likely creating an opening for a surprise attack.
"I don't want to kill you. You just need to listen to me and look behind you. I'll knock you out, take a little blood, and then pretend I saved you. Why are you so disobedient? That is not how a good student behaves."
Dorry shook his head as he spoke, pulling a wand strapped to his thigh. He had dropped the facade and was ready to take the blood by force. He looked like an addict going through withdrawal, trembling as he accused Rey of not cooperating.
"Expelliarmus!"
As Dorry drew his wand, Rey's wrist flicked. Dorry's wand flew out of his hand.
"Professor, I might not be a model student, but I've practiced the spells you taught me very well."
Rey backed away slowly, offering a faint smile. He tried to appear calm. For every step Dorry took forward, Rey took one back, maintaining the distance between them.
Dorry was fast. Rey had learned that in the first lesson. If the gap closed any further, Rey might not be able to react in time.
"Your spellwork is impressive. However... I can barely use magic anymore anyway. Even with just physical speed, I believe you are helpless."
Dorry didn't even glance at his fallen wand. His eyes were filled with mockery.
"Sectumsempra. I know that one too. Professor, don't force me to use it."
Seeing Dorry preparing to use his speed advantage, Rey tried to stall for time. Inside, he was panicked. There was no sign of Hagrid returning.
"I don't recall teaching that spell."
Sectumsempra was a dark, slashing curse. If it hit, Dorry wouldn't just stagger back like before. But Dorry assumed Rey was bluffing.
"Professor, I don't need you to teach me. The library is full of information."
Whether Rey actually knew the spell or not didn't matter; he couldn't lose the verbal battle. Making Dorry hesitate even for a second bought him time.
"Heh. What are you looking at?"
Dorry suddenly chuckled, a chilling sound. Although Rey hid it well, his subtle glances in the direction Fang had fled hadn't escaped Dorry's notice.
"That giant Hagrid won't be here anytime soon. He went deep into the forest. Give it up!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Dorry blurred into a black streak, charging forward.
This time, he was committed. Even if Rey knew Sectumsempra, Dorry was willing to risk injury to catch him. Rey's blood was too important.
---
"Sectumsempra!"
The moment Dorry moved, Rey cast the spell.
Dorry accelerated suddenly in a straight line. If you saw the start of his dash, you knew exactly where he would end up. His shocking speed limited him to linear movement.
Rey had analyzed this carefully after that first Defense Against the Dark Arts class, imagining how he would counter such a fast attack.
Sectumsempra, the invisible sword, was the perfect counter.
For some reason, Dorry was immune to Knockback Jinxes. Rey didn't have high hopes for Sectumsempra being lethal either, so he aimed low—at Dorry's legs.
No matter how tough Dorry's body was, if his legs were slashed, his speed would be crippled.
And without speed, Rey figured he could escape.
After casting the spell, Rey immediately scrambled backward. He had no choice. The twenty-meter gap had shrunk to five in the blink of an eye. After retreating another few meters, Dorry collapsed right in front of him.
Too fast. Dorry had used his full speed, intending to give Rey zero time to react.
But Rey's reaction time exceeded Dorry's expectations. Dorry's right leg was slashed, and his momentum sent him tumbling face-first into the dirt, getting a mouthful of mud.
"ARGH!"
Dorry lifted his head and let out a roar.
It didn't sound human; it sounded like some unknown beast. His eyes had turned blood-red, and two long fangs protruded from the corners of his mouth. The image was terrifying.
"Vampire!"
Rey retreated frantically, shocked. He fired a Stunner at the fallen professor.
"Stupefy!"
But just like before, Dorry merely swayed slightly as he stood up.
Vampires don't bleed, but as Dorry stood, blood trickled from his right leg. It wasn't much, but it was there. Sectumsempra had sliced through his trouser leg, so Rey could see the wound clearly.
"No... I am not a vampire yet. If I drink your blood... I can live!"
Dorry roared, verging on madness. The stiff expression on his face seemed to melt away, revealing a naked, ravenous hunger for blood.
---