Ever since Shawn had stepped into the public eye and become a leader, he had been wearing less black so people would not think him brooding and scheming.
Behind Wenge Castle, the purple-patterned hem of Shawn's white robes fluttered in the breeze as he strolled toward the detached three-story building.
On its balcony, Tom stood silently at the railing in his Silver Star-Patterned Robe, his face pale as he pondered.
In the gentle summer breeze, the midday sun hung directly between them.
One upstairs and the other below, Shawn looked up warmly while Tom gazed down gloomily. Their eyes met in midair.
A little over ten seconds later, Shawn's figure flickered, and he appeared directly on the balcony. He stood beside Tom, looking at the castle not far away.
Shawn turned to study Tom's unusually pale face again and asked with concern.
"How did you get hurt? Was it that mutated red snake?"
Tom's lips moved, but in the end, he raised his hand and wrote in the air.
"You already know? Dumbledore must have told you. He's still just as powerful. He easily suppressed that mutated red snake all by himself.
"Strangely enough, Parseltongue didn't work on that giant serpent.
"As for my injuries, they're nothing serious.
"I have some information you might find interesting.
"While Dumbledore was sealing off the temple, I discovered this while tracking those Tattooed Wizards. Take a look yourself."
After he finished writing, Tom drew his index finger away from his temple, pulling out a silver thread of memory that floated over to Shawn.
Shawn glanced at the silver thread of memory, then gave Tom a surprised look.
This time, Tom had been more patient with his explanation than usual.
Then Shawn extended his own index finger and touched the silver thread of memory,