The two of them tumbled miserably into a narrow alley. The ground was damp and filthy, and beside them stood garbage bins reeking of spoiled food.
Lila failed to steady herself again and was thrown hard enough to see stars. Fontana's legs gave out as well, and he fell, nearly crashing into a garbage bin.
"Are... are we safe?"
Lila asked in a broken voice. She could taste blood in her throat and felt so sick she nearly vomited.
Fontana did not answer. He merely shoved something hard into her hand—the thing Lila knew best, her Wand set with tiny sapphires.
Holding her most important weapon should have reassured her, but panic uncontrollably rose in Lila's heart.
She gripped the Wand, looked at Fontana, and asked in a trembling voice, "Do you think I'm a burden? Are you going to leave me behind?"
"No." Fontana coughed twice, a thin trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. He wiped his face carelessly and said, "I grabbed this."
An unfamiliar oak Wand, barely ten inches long, had appeared in his hand. Fontana gave it a casual flick, and a stream of icy water sprayed from its tip.
Sensing the faint resistance within it, he furrowed his brow tightly.
But no matter how poorly it suited him, he could only make do with it for now.
Fontana hesitated no longer. He tapped each of them with his Wand, and the dust and bloodstains covering their bodies vanished. Their clothes also changed into styles commonly worn by Muggles.
Other than looking paler than usual, they were no different from ordinary people.
But Fontana did not let down his guard. He cautiously surveyed the surroundings, then quickly led Lila out of the alley.
"Something's wrong."
His voice was taut. "They shouldn't have