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Night fell, and the mist began to rise.
On the scorched earth ravaged by the sea of fire, the temperature plummeted rapidly once the sun went down.
Wizards flew everywhere, extinguishing lingering flames and rounding up the scattered, fleeing elves.
In the darkness, Caractacus Burke stood outside a large circle of black mist, clutching his withered staff.
The circle formed by the black mist was vast, stretching several hundred meters in diameter.
Rey was his must-have target, but Burke couldn't enter the circle to check on his condition.
He didn't know the origin of this black mist magic, but the moment he tried to step inside, a needle-like agony pierced his entire body.
If he dared to force his way in, he wouldn't make it ten meters before dying from sheer pain.
However, after waiting for a full day, the massive circle of black mist finally began to retract.
---
By the time the black mist fully retracted into Rey's body, he was able to stand with Helena's support.
Although he was still as weak as a wet noodle, he was in much better shape than before. At the very least, he had enough strength to be greedy when kissing Helena—and enough resilience to endure her shy, playful punches.
Rey didn't know what the black mist was.
But he could clearly sense that it had spread over a large area, forming a circle to protect him.
Inside the circle, there was no danger. Even fleeing wild beasts that stumbled in would collapse and die within five meters.
It felt like a form of magical energy that directly attacked the soul. Regardless, it had effectively protected him during his most vulnerable moments.
Helena supported the slightly recovered Rey as they prepared to return to Hogwarts.
Staying out in the open was dangerous. If Rey had been able to move earlier, Helena would have taken him back long ago.
However, just as they prepared to walk, a figure suddenly appeared on the slope to their right.
In the darkness, Helena couldn't clearly see who it was. Judging by his attire and lack of physical disabilities, she assumed it was a wizard sent by Madam Hooch to find them.
"Don't!"
Helena was about to call out to him when Rey stopped her with a low whisper.
Caractacus Burke. Even in the dark, Rey wouldn't mistake him. The little old man was like a maggot in the bone—impossible to shake off.
Especially that dark, gloomy magical aura; Rey could sense it clearly even from this distance. Since meeting Death in the underworld, he had a vivid memory of that specific magical signature.
Caractacus Burke's magic shared the same origin as Death's, though the quality and quantity were vastly inferior.
Sometimes people, especially wizards with magic, have unique senses that allow them to detect threats in advance.
---
The black mist was gone, and Caractacus Burke appeared on the slope, searching for Rey.
Rey was just over thirty meters ahead to his right, but Burke couldn't see him.
Helena had cast protective charms around them long ago. Invisibility and Muffling Charms were standard components of such protections, so Caractacus Burke naturally couldn't see them.
Rey signaled Helena to help him retreat slowly. Caractacus Burke, wearing a confused expression, gradually approached the boundary of the protective charm.
Helena's heart was in her throat. She now recognized the little old man. He was the dark wizard who had threatened to take Terence and Rey as apprentices. She hadn't expected him to be so persistent, following them all the way here.
If he takes just a few more steps and charges directly into my protective charm... that would be perfect.
Helena had layered multiple protective spells. Inside the Invisibility Charm, she had cast a Protego Totalum. If Caractacus Burke charged in unprepared, even if he wasn't disintegrated, he would suffer severe injuries.
However, just as Burke was about to step in, he froze, as if sensing something.
He stared at the empty space before him for a long time, puzzled. After replaying the details of following the black mist in his mind, a knowing smile curled the corner of his mouth.
He took a few steps back, raised his withered staff, and pointed it forcefully at the empty space in front of him.
Crack!
A bolt of magical energy shot from the staff, slamming directly into the protective barrier.
The barrier flashed. The Invisibility Charm collapsed, and Burke's magic collided directly with the Protego Totalum shield.
In that instant, Caractacus Burke saw Helena and Rey inside the barrier, and his face lit up with joy.
"You go first."
Rey struggled to break free from Helena's grip, trying weakly to push her away.
"You're chasing me away again!"
Helena held onto Rey's arm tightly, refusing to let go. Rey was too weak to push her away.
"Don't be stubborn! He wants me. He wants to turn me into a dark wizard, so he won't kill me. But you... if he catches you and uses you to threaten me, what am I supposed to do?"
Rey tried earnestly to persuade Helena, but the woman clenched her teeth and refused to leave his side, even on pain of death.
---
Helena's Protego Totalum wasn't weak; it withstood Burke's initial strike without shattering. However, the barrier began to waver, showing signs of instability.
Rey was frantic. Helena refusing to leave was a massive problem. To turn him into a dark wizard, Caractacus Burke would likely stop at nothing.
Rey didn't fear what Burke might do to him; he feared Helena falling into Burke's hands.
"Please, I'm begging you... just go..."
Helpless, Rey pleaded with Helena to leave. He tried kindness, he tried logic, but Helena remained silent, continuing to support him as they retreated.
Flashes of light illuminated the night as Caractacus Burke attacked fiercely. The barrier looked like it would shatter at any moment.
Snort...
A sudden snort startled them. As they backed away, Helena bumped into a black horse.
The black horse had appeared out of nowhere. Neither Rey nor Helena had noticed it, and it definitely hadn't been there when she cast the protective charms.
A black horse that emitted a faint, ethereal glow!
This wasn't just a black horse—it was clearly a unicorn with a single horn.
A black unicorn. Rey had told Helena that he rode one when he first arrived in this era.
The unicorn didn't run away. It looked at Helena and Rey with curiosity, as if it recognized them.
Helena felt a surge of joy, but Rey began to struggle. He knew exactly what Helena was planning. The foolish woman intended to make him ride the unicorn alone.
Sure enough, Helena waved her wand. Rey's body floated into the air, his struggles completely futile.
BOOM!
An explosion rang out in the night. Caractacus Burke had naturally seen the black unicorn too. Surprised, he unleashed his full power, finally shattering the barrier.
He couldn't let the cooked duck fly away now. Caractacus Burke charged forward, determined to capture Rey.
---
Helena leaned in and kissed Rey, silencing his protests. Before he could react, she waved her wand at him.
" Somnium " (Sleep Charm).
Rey's eyelids grew heavy. No matter how hard he fought, they slowly drifted shut. His head felt groggy, and his will to resist melted away.
"A thousand years from now, I will definitely be with you. We'll have lots of children together then..."
"That is our promise..."
Her murmurs echoed in Rey's ears. The unicorn caught Rey on its back, turned, and galloped away into the night.
Helena turned around, waving her wand. Two bright beams of magic collided in the air as she intercepted the charging Caractacus Burke.
Fighting the sleeping spell, Rey used the very last of his strength to lift his limp hand, reaching out toward the blurring figure of Helena.
But no matter how much he wanted to, no matter how hard he tried... her beautiful silhouette grew further and further away, and his eyelids became heavier and heavier.