"Sorry. I said I'd take you back, but it looks like we'll have to part ways for a while first."
Roy murmured apologetically to Aisling, who stood before him under the Imperio curse. Then he picked up the coffee pot from the ground and poured himself a cup.
Roy poured a cup of coffee for the Aisling he had controlled as well, ordered her to drink it, then took a bag of bread from his backpack and handed it to the vacant-eyed girl.
Roy sat beside the controlled Aisling, and the two of them enjoyed a hearty yet peaceful breakfast together.
After breakfast, Roy took out two identical bottles of Potions from a hidden compartment in his backpack. He studied them in his hands for a long while before finally making up his mind.
"They've surrounded the entire forest. If we want to get out of here, one of us has to stay behind and draw their attention away."
Aisling, under the Imperio curse, was completely unable to respond to Roy's words. Roy simply continued giving instructions to the controlled Aisling on his own, as though he were leaving behind his last wishes.
"If you can't get away and have no choice but to fight them, find somewhere to hide. Stall for as long as you can. I think Dumbledore's rescue party should be arriving soon."
Roy reached into the air, and a rose made of gold appeared in his hand. Releasing Fiendfyre in Riverside Town last time had consumed a great deal of the magic stored in his exoskeleton. After being recharged yesterday by the Thunderbird power bank, the golden rose, which had only been charged enough to form a bud, had now bloomed completely. Its open petals slowly scattered glittering golden dust, constantly radiating powerful ancient magic.
"Alright,