Traces

Surrounded by a dozen Magical Creatures, Newt carefully pulled out several letters with worn edges and yellowed paper from his inner pocket. These were his last correspondence with Nagini.

Time flies, the writing fades, and the paper retains only a faint, almost imperceptible scent.

The little ones crowded around, each using their innate abilities to memorize the characteristics of the aura.

A moment later, they darted into the surrounding forest and began their pursuit!

After the Magical Creatures dispersed, Newt chose a direction guided by his intuition and began his own exploration.

His magical skills were already solid, especially in identifying animal tracks and clues, where he possessed a sensitivity far beyond that of ordinary people.

Newt's profound understanding and application of the habits of Magical Creatures is unparalleled.

These furry, Winky companions have performed countless heroic deeds in the past, serving as bodyguards and protectors, helping him escape from prison by picking Bowtruckle, and carrying him through the air like balloon birds and Zouwu...

Even more Niffler, a Niffler helps Newt steal someone's love token, directly impacting the overall situation.

Three or four more days passed, and the Magical Creatures searched several nearby areas, but still no definite news came.

Newt wasn't in a hurry; after retirement, he had plenty of time.

He walked through the cold, rugged forest, showing none of the sluggishness of an elderly person; on the contrary, he moved with remarkable agility.

Previously, Liuguang sent a special gift—a potion concocted by Lucien called "Revitalization Potion".

After taking the medicine, Newt and his wife Tina both felt noticeably lighter.

In their youth, this couple was a mix of different backgrounds. One was Auror in the Magical Congress of the United States of America, constantly dealing with dark wizards; the other traveled extensively, encountering dangerous Magical Creatures and fighting against insidious poachers. They also personally experienced the wizarding war against Grindelwald and his Acolytes.

Over the years, some hidden ailments inevitably remain on his body, which are difficult to eradicate with healing magic and conventional potions.

Unexpectedly, he was cured by a potion from Lucien.

Newt even felt like he was a bit "younger," with his physical strength and energy back to what they used to be, able to stay up for several nights in a row to take care of Magical Creatures.

"Revitalization Potion," the medicine truly lives up to its name.

Newt was slightly lost in thought, recalling his correspondence with Lucien a few days ago. The boy had mentioned participating in an alchemy competition in Beauxbatons. Newt was familiar with Beauxbatons; he had been there a few times in his younger days to investigate the Magical Creatures there...

Suddenly, he felt his trouser leg being tugged at a few times.

Newt looked down and saw the pure black Niffler tilting its head back, its beady black eyes gleaming slightly.

He instantly understood what the little guy meant: he had made a discovery and needed someone to guide him.

"Here you go."

Newt praised in a low voice, then immediately took out a pre-prepared sapphire from his pocket—not particularly valuable, but sparkly enough—and handed it over.

Niffler excitedly took it, carefully stuffed it into the pouch on its belly, patted it with its little paws to make sure it was secure before turning around, its nose close to the ground, and starting to lead the way.

Led by the Niffler, Newt walked through a tangled thicket of bushes and came to a clearing in the woods where snow and a thick layer of dead leaves were mixed together.

"Is this the place?"

Niffler nodded vigorously, pointing its little paws to a spot on the ground.

Newt no longer hesitated, and raised his wand.

"Appare Vestigium"

With a soft "pop," a large amount of fine golden magic powder sprayed out from the tip of the staff, quickly spreading outwards and covering the ground within a radius of several feet.

Within the area enveloped in gold dust, marks of varying depths and shapes began to emerge on the original ground—footprints left by various animals in recent activity, including bird claw marks and plum blossom-shaped footprints of small beasts, all intricately intertwined.

Newt crouched down, carefully searching through the overlapping marks, his eyes scanning for the winding, serpentine imprints left by a snake.

The Niffler, having just received a reward, was exceptionally enthusiastic, its little nose almost touching the ground as it Niffler here and pawed at there.

Suddenly, it stopped in a spot near the tree roots where the snow was thinner, let out a short cry, and then jumped up, waving its little paws vigorously at Newt.

Newt strode forward, stopped at the spot Niffler had indicated, and waved his wand again.

"Revelio"

The tip of the wand emitted an even brighter light, and the surrounding golden powder seemed to be summoned, rapidly converging to a single point. Then, like a reversed image, it surged upwards, coalescing, and finally forming a slightly swaying, translucent, illusory scene in mid-air.

A massive snake with dark green scales was slowly crawling across the ground.

Its movements carried the composure and eerie stillness characteristic of cold-blooded animals. On its triangular snake head, those cold, vertical pupils revealed no trace of human rationality or emotion, only the most primal, purest wildness and a detached vigilance towards its surroundings.

Newt recognized him at a glance.

Nagini!