Chapter Forty-One: A Crisis of Life and Death

“Expelliarmus!”

A blurred, indistinct voice suddenly rang out from the side, and a flash of red light shot toward Professor Kettleburn with such speed that he had no time to react!

In that split second, a round shield glowing with red light and etched with intricate patterns materialized between the two, absorbing the force of the Disarming Charm.

Behind the red Ring of Laggedor, Siwin lifted his head, his gaze landing on another dark wizard who was slowly emerging from the shadows.

This newcomer wore black wizard’s robes, his entire head wrapped in bandages with only his eyes exposed—clearly, he did not wish his true identity to be known.

“What spell is that?” came his muffled voice from behind the wrappings.

“It’s none of your business!” Siwin answered coldly, holding the red Ring of Laggedor defensively before him.

“Never mind, it makes no difference,” the bandaged man replied in his indistinct tone. Then, raising his wand, he advanced on Siwin.

“Siwin, hold on for half a minute. Give me thirty seconds to deal with him!” Professor Kettleburn, seeing the new threat, grew more anxious, his attacks becoming fiercer.

The wizard in the hooded cloak immediately felt the pressure and shouted in panic, “Why haven’t you finished off that brat and come help already?”

The bandaged man didn’t answer, but acted swiftly. A powerful spell blasted from his wand toward Siwin!

Even through the Ring of Laggedor, Siwin felt the immense force. First, searing pain shot through his arm, and then the spell hurled him off his feet, slamming him into a tree behind.

“Stupefy,” the bandaged man intoned, walking toward Siwin’s limp figure and firing off a Stunning Spell for good measure.

Yet this spell passed right through Siwin’s body and struck the trunk behind, knocking off only a few scraps of bark. Siwin’s image faded and vanished.

“Protego Totalum!”

The bandaged man tensed, instinctively conjuring a transparent barrier around himself.

At the same time, Siwin’s voice rang out—“Expelliarmus!”

The red spell struck the shield at the bandaged man’s side, sending faint, insignificant ripples across its surface.

The bandaged man reacted instantly, sending another Stunning Spell in Siwin’s direction.

Caught off guard, Siwin was struck by the spell, but once more the magic passed straight through his form, hitting the ground beyond. Siwin’s image vanished again.

“What—?” The bandaged man barely had time to react before a golden rope suddenly coiled itself around the wand in his hand, yanking it free with irresistible force!

Whirling around, he saw Siwin at the other end of the rope, pulling hard—a golden magical whip in his hand, wielded as a unique form of disarming spell.

“Interesting,” the bandaged man chuckled. With a sweep of his hand, the shrubs near Siwin transformed into a long whip, lashing viciously toward Siwin’s left hand, which controlled the magical whip!

“How—?” Siwin gasped, startled. He dodged the strike in haste, but the golden whip was snapped, scattering into a shower of golden sparks.

The bandaged man beckoned, and his wand flew back into his grasp.

“Haven’t you learned at school that any wizard of sufficient skill can cast spells without a wand?” he asked, toying with his wand and eyeing Siwin with a hint of amusement.

“It’s over,” he declared, raising his wand before Siwin could retort. “Stupefy!”

‘Damn it!’ Siwin was still entangled by the transfigured whip, with no chance to dodge the spell.

At that perilous moment, another spell crashed forcefully into the bandaged man’s Stunning Spell!

“No, it’s far from over!” declared Professor Kettleburn, his clothes a little disheveled, appearing before the bandaged man.

True to his word, he had defeated the hooded dark wizard and arrived just in time.

“Well done, boy,” the professor said to Siwin with a smile.

Siwin let out a long breath, using a Severing Charm to slice the whip into pieces before stepping to stand at Professor Kettleburn’s side.

“I admit, this boy was more than I expected,” the bandaged man nodded, giving Siwin an appreciative look.

“But now, it truly is over,” he said.

Professor Kettleburn’s brow furrowed as he sniffed the foggy air, his expression suddenly changing dramatically!

“It’s a Venomous Shadow Panther! Quick, wet your clothes and cover your nose and mouth!” he cried, using a Water-Making Charm to soak the sleeve of Siwin’s school robe, urging him to cover his face.

He had no strength left to soak his own clothes, and with only one arm, covering his nose and mouth with his wand hand would mean forfeiting his last chance to fight back.

In the distance, a third dark wizard approached, walking alongside a massive beast. The creature was huge, its body a dark gray-black, its face that of a leopard but with a thick black mane like a lion’s encircling its neck.

At the sight, despair flickered in Professor Kettleburn’s eyes.

“In a moment, I’ll hold them off. Run as far as you can!” he told Siwin resolutely.

While they had been fighting, the Venomous Shadow Panther had silently spread a thick poisonous mist through the air. Siwin was already feeling weak all over, powerless to do more than watch as the professor charged at the two wizards and the savage beast.

He saw that brutal monster easily knock the exhausted professor to the ground, its sharp teeth sinking deeply into the man’s only remaining leg.

“No, Professor!” Siwin cried out in anguish, somehow scraping together a last reserve of strength. A golden ring sprang to life, coiling around his wrist.

At that moment, a beautiful silver light emerged from the darkness of the Forbidden Forest.

A magnificent silver unicorn, bearing an adorable silver-striped kitten on its back, leapt through the obstacles and appeared before Siwin.

“Cerys, little cat? Why have you come back? Leave, quickly, it’s dangerous here!” Siwin pleaded anxiously, desperate for them to escape.

But Cerys did not heed him this time. She darted to Siwin’s side, bent her head, and with a gentle nudge, lifted him onto her back beside the kitten.

Then, with swift determination, she charged toward Professor Kettleburn.

“Meow—” the kitten called out, its voice clear and sweet, catching the attention of the Venomous Shadow Panther. The two felines locked eyes for a moment, and the huge beast suddenly swayed dizzily, nearly collapsing to the ground, thus releasing the unconscious professor.

With the last of his strength, Siwin swung his wand.

A vast golden shield separated the two dark wizards from them, trembling but holding firm against a barrage of powerful spells.

Summoning the Seraphim Shield had drained him; forcing himself upright, he grabbed the professor’s jacket.

Immediately, the world spun, and light and shadow twisted around them, as if they had plunged into a deep blue, dreamlike veil...

...

...