Dark Arts and Unicorns

In the early afternoon, Cypher practiced using the compass in Dumbledore's office.

By teatime, he had finally mastered this ancient artifact.

Nicolas had mentioned that he discovered its use over his long life.

He had casually asked his house-elf to try it out, and found that the elf could use it.

This was the reason Dumbledore had called Cypher in.

After all, Cypher had recently learned house-elf magic right in front of him.

After mastering it, Cypher tested it multiple times.

He shared his findings with Dumbledore.

Simply injecting his own magic into it yielded no response. Only by communicating with natural forces, like when casting house-elf magic, and injecting a mixture of natural power and his own magic, would the compass function properly.

Dumbledore thought for a moment and offered a clumsy theory.

"I believe the compass needs the 'scent' of its surroundings to locate and function correctly. What do you think?"

Cypher considered it. It made sense, but he could tell that, just like when he was learning house-elf magic, Dumbledore was holding something back.

But he trusted that Dumbledore wouldn't set him up, so he turned a blind eye and played along.

"Professor, this compass can only help us find invisible spirits, but we have no way to deal with them!"

Hearing this, Dumbledore sighed. He hadn't wanted Cypher to come into contact with this kind of Dark Arts just yet.

He hadn't brought it up himself, but since Cypher had asked, he had to answer.

Oh well...

"Cypher! Any magic that can harm a soul is Dark Arts!"

Dumbledore emphasized the words "Dark Arts" heavily.

"I understand, Professor. I'll be careful."

"No... you don't understand. I mean all of it is Dark Arts!"

Cypher paused, all... could it be...

Cypher didn't speak, but pointed to Dumbledore's wand.

Dumbledore nodded slightly.

Hiss—Cypher felt like he was stepping into a huge pit. Soul-damaging magic woven with a wand was all Dark Arts, unapproved by the Ministry of Magic.

"However, there's no need to worry too much. Many desperate people use them, so using this kind of magic isn't that unique."

Dumbledore reassured him, then called the silent Cypher to his desk.

He demonstrated a powerful piece of Dark Arts.

"Soulfire Incineration."

This was a very domineering piece of Dark Arts aimed at the soul.

However, it was developed to help Wizards deal with the spirits in places of accumulated yin.

Depending on the intensity of your release, the damage to the soul can range from minor injury to annihilation.

This spell was much more difficult than the Spells in the textbooks.

If the textbooks were elementary school, then this was high school knowledge.

By dinnertime, Cypher could finally cast the pale blue spell proficiently.

"After dinner, you'll patrol the castle with me."

After agreeing with Dumbledore, Cypher got up to leave.

Walking out after dinner, watching others enter the Great Hall in groups, Cypher felt empty.

He wondered how Iris and Luna were doing in the Forbidden Forest.

A trace of concern and worry flashed in Cypher's eyes.

The perspective shifts to Luna and Iris.

After lunch, the two said goodbye to Cypher at the entrance of the Great Hall.

Cypher returned to his dormitory to continue reading, while the two were going to treat the unicorn's injuries.

Leaving the castle, they walked towards the Forbidden Forest under the midday sun.

The two girls walked hand in hand.

"Did Cypher make this path?" At the entrance of the forest, Iris asked Luna in shock. Luna quickly nodded in agreement.

Looking at the neat, arched garden tunnel in front of her, Iris clicked her tongue in wonder.

They walked straight until the end, where Iris saw a small wooden house.

"Is this the place?" Iris asked excitedly, already eager to see a unicorn.

"Yes, the last time Cypher and I came here, the path ended."

Luna pointed to a small path on the side, complaining that the cobblestone road stopped here.

"Who knows what he was thinking? Maybe he ran out of stones and was too lazy to pick up more."

After Iris finished speaking, she didn't wait for Luna to reply, grabbing her and running towards the cabin.

"Uncle Ogg! Are you there?!!!"

Fortunately, Iris knew that barging into someone's house was impolite.

She shouted loudly at the door of the cabin.

"Who is it?!"

Ogg, inside the house, clearly didn't recognize Iris's voice, and he opened the door with a puzzled look on his face.

"Oh! It's you! Is this your friend?"

After some introductions, Ogg understood that the two were good friends who had grown up together. If they're together, they're together.

And so.

The three of them passed through bushes, stepped on fallen leaves, crossed streams...

Finally, they arrived at a haven that was completely different from the previous Forbidden Forest scenery, and the three stopped.

In November, most of the trees in the Forbidden Forest were bare branches and fallen leaves, with only a few evergreen plants dotting the landscape with a touch of green.

But here, all that could be seen were lush trees and grass.

You could even see a few butterfly-like fairies dancing among the flowers.

"Wow~"

Iris exclaimed excitedly, grabbing Luna and rushing in. The two danced with the fairies in the flowers for a while.

Ogg arrived belatedly in front of the two.

"Uncle, why are you so slow?!"

Straightforward and quick-tongued, Iris asked directly.

Ogg wasn't annoyed. He smiled and said that the two were pure maidens and could easily pass through the unicorn's barrier, while he, although recognized, needed to methodically unlock a temporary entrance.

Iris and Luna understood after listening.

Praised by Ogg, the two hummed happily and skipped forward.

Seeing this, Ogg shook his head and quickly stepped forward to catch up with the two girls.

At the end, there were dense trees everywhere.

The two girls had to stop and wait for Ogg to catch up and lead the way.

Ogg walked forward without any action.

Instead, he took a deep breath.

"Anderson! Are you there?!"

He shouted loudly at the empty forest in front of him.

The sound traveled far and wide in the quiet forest.

But it didn't startle a single bird.

It could only be said that either there were no birds gathered here, or Ogg frequented this place so often that the birds with magical bloodlines in the Magical World had remembered Ogg's voice.

Not long after the sound fell.

There was a rustling sound from the bushes in front of the three of them.

It stopped as it was about to appear, as if to identify the person.

Soon, the trees parted to both sides, Revealing a handsome and robust unicorn.

Unicorns are a class of strong magical creatures, classified as high-risk creatures by the Ministry of Magic. Many adult Wizards are no match for adult unicorns.

The two girls' eyes lit up when they saw a living unicorn.

"Yes, Anderson, it's me!"

Ogg's withered face also showed a smile, but it looked like a piece of withered tree bark suddenly crumpled into a ball.

He stepped forward, and his calloused hands stroked the unicorn's neck, which quietly narrowed its eyes to enjoy it, without the slightest resistance.

It was an incredible thing for an adult male Wizard to gain the trust of a unicorn.

At this time, the two girls truly admired Ogg, admiring his spirit of purely caring for magical creatures.

You know, only young virgins can approach unicorns, and whether they let you touch them depends on fate.

"Let's go, Anderson. They're first-year students this year, not outsiders."

The unicorn, Anderson, hesitated, lifting its front hoof.

Ultimately, it stepped forward and touched the foreheads of the two girls with its horn in turn.

A faint fluorescent light shone on Luna and Iris.

Anderson sensed the aura of Fawkes the phoenix from them.

He understood that these two could be trusted.

Just as he was about to withdraw his magic, a faint air of superiority suddenly flashed past.

He was surprised and uncertain, carefully sensing again, but he couldn't feel anything.

Ogg, seeing Anderson's hesitation, quickly said that the two were there to help him.

Although that aura... but there was no hostility either...

So, the unicorn Anderson nodded, stamped its front hoof, and signaled for the three to follow him.

"Don't mind it. Anderson's wife is about to give birth, and it's lacking vitality, leading to a difficult labor... so Anderson is in a bad mood and is particularly sensitive and vigilant."

Ogg softly apologized and explained to the two girls on behalf of Anderson.

"It's okay, we understand."

The two girls, arm in arm, nodded and smiled, indicating that they didn't mind.