Desert and Ruins

Ian left the Pharaoh's resting place at dusk. Standing at the edge of the desert, he looked back at the ruins that had slumbered for a thousand years and felt a faint reluctance to leave. But more than that, he felt satisfied. He carefully sorted and sealed the supplies he had gathered into his Potions ingredient pouch, then softly recited a Transfiguration spell.

"Animagus, Raven form."

A faint glimmer flashed.

His body rapidly shrank, his skin turned to feathers, and his limbs became talons and wings. A low caw tore through the silence, and Ian had become a raven black from beak to claw.

With a beat of his wings, he soared into the sky and vanished into the dusk.

Under the blazing sun, the desert resembled an endless golden sea. The wind swept over the dunes, making them rise and fall like waves. The raven Ian had become circled above the scorching desert, his black wings cutting through the dry air while his crimson eyes scanned the vast golden sands below. He had only just left the Pharaoh's pyramid and had already gained quite a haul, but a Potions master's greed was not so easily satisfied.

"There were always rare little treasures in the desert."

He descended.

His sharp gaze locked onto a group of Desert Spirit Foxes running between the dunes—later subspecies of these creatures had long since gone extinct, and their blood was a premium ingredient for brewing Phantom Potion.

The raven dove down and reverted to human form just before landing. Ian stepped lightly onto the scorching sand and took a crystal vial and a silver knife from his money pouch.

"Don't move, little one. I'm only taking one drop of blood."

The spirit foxes pricked up their ears warily, but before they could flee, Ian