Shalltear didn't look thrilled. She trudged along behind Alex, grumbling under her breath as she followed him through the uneven terrain.
What irritated her most wasn't just the hike, it was how casually Alex gave out instructions, like he was directing some routine stroll rather than sneaking into a dangerous area. She wasn't just walking either; she had a heavy metal pole strapped to her back while Alex moved ahead at an easy pace, holding a map like he was enjoying a nature walk.
Her complaints didn't last long. Without warning, a subtle vibration ran through her cloak. Faint magical lines shimmered across its fabric, reacting to something nearby.
Alarmed, she spun toward Alex. "Master, did you feel that?"
Alex glanced over, his expression tightening. "Detection spell," he said calmly. "We've reached the edge of their security barrier."
Even he was caught slightly off guard. They'd only walked about eight kilometers, which meant the Silver Wand base had cast a perimeter that began a full twelve kilometers out.
That was seriously impressive. Most wizarding properties, even heavily protected ones, didn't bother with anything nearly this large. The further out you extend a magical barrier, the bigger the area becomes, and that increases the cost and complexity exponentially.
Maintaining that kind of range isn't cheap, or easy. It made one thing clear: the Silver Wand had deep pockets and serious magical infrastructure.
Alex's tone shifted. "From here on, we move with extra care."
He gave Shalltear a pointed look. "To maintain something this big, there's probably a magic node close by. Watch for it. There might be guards too, either wizards or magical creatures."
Shalltear nodded quickly. "Yes, master." Her earlier annoyance was gone, replaced with focus. They hadn't expected to reach the outer zone this soon, and it had clearly rattled her a little.
Thankfully, Alex had taken precautions in advance. A sudden run-in with defensive spells or patrols could've caused real trouble.
Shalltear scanned the trees ahead, her voice quieter now. "Do you think there's another layer of security inside? This already feels pretty serious."
Alex considered it for a moment. "Definitely possible. The closer we get to the center, the tighter the security will be." He wasn't convinced they were just dealing with a basic perimeter spell.
Warning enchantments like these were usually used for theft prevention, detecting active magic use or large life forms. They were common enough, but not that reliable. Covering this much ground would demand a constant power source, and he suspected there were more advanced wards deeper in.
Suddenly, Shalltear pointed toward a large tree nearby, whispering sharply, "There, look!"
Alex leaned in, a bit annoyed by her sudden urgency, but his eyes quickly locked onto the faint magical symbol glowing inside a hollow in the tree trunk.
He recognized the pattern immediately. "That's the outermost node." It pulsed faintly, made up of warning curses and Muggle-repelling runes, standard security layering.
He handed Shalltear the map. "We've found the rune. Now we need to figure out what's powering it."
Pulling out a magnifying glass, Alex crouched near the base of the tree and examined the area around the symbol. Sure enough, he spotted a faint, delicate line etched into the bark, continuing down into the soil.
"It's a magic channel," he muttered. "Agrippa alloy, woven into a circuit. This one connects straight to the breeding base. These lines probably run all over the place, underground, like a spider web."
He shook his head. "Agrippa's not the most expensive material, but they've laid kilometers of this stuff."
He sighed quietly, thinking back to the basic magical piping he'd installed at his own home, cheap, barely enough to power his security system. This, by comparison, was in another league.
The Silver Wand had actually buried magical circuitry over several kilometers. That alone told Alex everything he needed to know about how serious the group was, and how much gold they were willing to throw around.
"Come on," he said finally, straightening up and adjusting his glasses.
"Let's follow the circuit. To save on power distribution, the next node should be close, probably placed right along this line." He tilted his head and led the way, his tone steady but eyes alert.
After discovering the first magical power node, Alex felt a surge of confidence. Judging by the distance, roughly a kilometer from the outer edge, he figured there wouldn't be any additional patrols or wards for at least another kilometer. With that assumption, he picked up his pace slightly, moving faster and more freely.
Shalltear, trailing behind him, looked more annoyed than anything. She had started out only carrying a simple launch stick, but now she had been handed an extra tactical map, all because Alex was determined to trace the full path of the magical circuit. She didn't argue, but the exasperation on her face was clear as day.
Fortunately, their progress proved smooth. The next kilometer passed without incident, and as they continued, Alex confirmed that there were no new protective enchantments in their path.
Eventually, after moving along the circuit for another kilometer, they encountered a second rune inscribed with a familiar warning curse. From the looks of it, the outermost zone had been laid out with a wide perimeter of low-level alert enchantments, basic, but effective.
However, after pushing forward another kilometer, Alex paused. He felt a shift in the magical atmosphere.
"This magic fluctuation… it's a mix," he muttered. "Alarm Charm, Human-Tracking Charm, and a Muggle-Repelling Curse. Why does this setup feel so familiar?"
Just past the second warning rune, about a thousand meters in, Alex tested the area with cautious steps before quickly backing away. Beyond the outer security layers, the protection became noticeably more advanced. The Alarm Charm here was stronger, able to detect intrusions with far more precision and send immediate alerts. The Human-Tracking Spell could pinpoint the exact location of humanoid figures, and the Muggle-Repelling Curse wasn't just general warding, it actively interfered with the minds of nearby Muggles, nudging them to stay far away from the area.
This node seemed to mark the true boundary of the outermost ring, twelve kilometers out from the heart of the breeding base. It created a magical buffer that ensured Muggles wouldn't even approach the area. Thankfully, this was still part of the outer layer, and the spell's sensitivity was manageable. But any deeper, and the risk of being detected would shoot up dramatically.
The cloaks that Alex and Shalltear wore were charmed to block basic Alarm Charms and Repelling Curses. That much protection had served them well so far, but it wouldn't be enough against the Human-Tracking Spell.
Fortunately, Alex had planned for this. He tapped the brooch on his chest, activating the protective enchantment embedded within. A faint shimmer spread across his body, forming a subtle magical barrier.
It was a custom enchantment, an Enhanced Shielding Charm specifically tailored to disrupt tracking spells. After confirming it was working on himself, Alex used the brooch to cast the same shielding on Shalltear.
They continued moving forward, slower now, their steps more measured.
"Master," Shalltear said quietly, scanning their surroundings, "this mix of magic... I feel like I've seen it before."
Alex glanced back, surprised. "You too? I was thinking the same thing. I don't want to jump to conclusions, but I think someone we know might've cast these spells."
Shalltear blinked, confused. "Someone we know?"
"It's just a hunch," Alex said, his tone low and unreadable. "We'll know more once we reach the next node." He turned and continued ahead, offering no further explanation.