Without another word, Shalltear transformed into her bat form, landing lightly on Alex's arm. He carefully strapped the small tactical vest onto her, making sure everything was secure before they set off toward the edge of the barrier. The mission had begun.
As Alex approached the entrance, he didn't reach for his wand. Instead, he raised a hand and slowly extended it into the empty space in front of him, fingers brushing the air as if searching for something invisible. His movements were careful and deliberate, feeling around with quiet precision.
After a few seconds of silent focus, he whispered, "Now. Fly straight ahead, right where my finger's pointing, there's a gap there."
Shalltear blinked behind her mask, expecting something dramatic to happen. Maybe the enchantments would flicker or a faint glow would show where the opening was. But the view through her enchanted goggles remained unchanged.
The magical shield still looked solid. That's when it finally clicked, Alex hadn't been exaggerating when he warned her she might not find her way back. Even standing right in front of the entrance, she couldn't see it.
But there was no time to second-guess. Without hesitation, she braced herself, crouching low. Using both her hands and feet, she launched forward, sprinting straight along Alex's outstretched arm and then leapt through the invisible point he had indicated.
The moment her body touched the Magical Barrier, it felt like passing through still air. Though the barrier was clearly visible, it offered no resistance.
There was no pushback, no shimmer or ripple, just an eerie, weightless sensation. Then, in an instant, the world around her warped. Her vision blurred for half a heartbeat, like stepping through a moving waterfall of light.
When it cleared, she was already inside. The outside world vanished behind her, replaced by the vast, hidden expanse of the breeding base concealed within the magical dome.
As soon as Shalltear slipped through the protective shield, she instinctively drew back her magical presence and landed with a feather-light touch, careful not to make any sudden moves that might draw attention.
The moment she stepped inside, her vision wavered briefly, and everything around her shifted into unfamiliar territory. Now that the barrier no longer blocked her sight, she could finally see the entire breeding base in all its detail. Beneath her feet, stone-paved roads stretched outward in elegant curves, hand-laid and clearly well-maintained.
These roads followed the arc of the dome-shaped barrier, forming a large circular perimeter. From this ring, smaller paths branched inward at even intervals, leading toward the base's center.
As they continued, they connected to smaller circular roads, repeating this layered pattern every few dozen or hundred meters. Seen from above, it all looked like a massive spider web, or a giant dartboard, with concentric rings and spokes radiating outward.
Between these roads lay neatly organized pens for magical creatures. Some were open to the sky, covered in soft, green grass. The creatures inside, though appearing a bit sluggish, seemed to live in decent conditions.
Other enclosures were sealed tight with thick, weatherproof tarps, the kind Alex had seen before at Scamander's place. Not far off, Shalltear spotted a larger pen housing eight Mooncalf.
The cows blinked lazily at her arrival, clearly unbothered by the bat-like shadow she cast. They must have assumed she wasn't a threat. She scanned further into the distance, and something unusual caught her attention, making her blink in surprise.
Hanging from poles at many of the road junctions were rows of magical lamps, lighting the entire facility with a warm glow. And not just any lamps, Shalltear immediately recognized them as the cheapest imitation oil lamps sold by Wilson's Arcane Alchemica. Yet, despite their price, the setup gave the place an oddly cozy atmosphere.
Even though she was deep in enemy territory, Shalltear couldn't help but smirk a little. "this dump's actually kind of nice," she murmured to herself. "They really are managing this place, but they've got no taste. Just using whatever's cheap."
She stayed alert as she looked around, eyes flicking from corner to corner. Suddenly, faint footsteps and murmured voices floated her way.
Her heart skipped. Without hesitating, she darted forward and slipped into the Mooncalf pen.
The path outside was too exposed, nowhere to hide. Once inside, she crouched low in the thick grass, flattening herself against the earth. Using her claws, she pulled the upright bat ears down over her face, leaving only her wide, glassy eyes peeking out as she watched the surroundings in silence.
She held her breath as the footsteps grew closer. Soon, two wizards walked past the enclosure, chatting without a care.
One of them, dressed in worn hunting gear, said with a hint of enthusiasm, "Ever since we swapped out those lamps a few months ago, it's been way brighter around here. Would be nice to do some night training out in the open with those lights."
The other, wrapped in standard wizarding robes, gave a lazy shrug. "Forget it. The boss already said no. Those lamps are strictly for inside the park.
They shine too bright. If we use them outside, the shielding charms won't hold up. We'd just end up drawing attention."
Shalltear didn't move an inch. Her eyes followed their shadows as they faded down the road, and only when she was sure they were gone did she finally allow herself to breathe again.
Just then, the wizard in the robe glanced down and realized his shoelaces were untied. Without a second thought, he stepped onto the railing of the Mooncalf pen and bent down to tie them, completely unaware that he was standing right above Shalltear's hiding spot.
The sudden shift in weight startled her so badly she nearly let out a squeak, barely managing to clap a hand over her mouth in time. Her heart pounded in her ears as she stayed perfectly still, flattened against the ground just beneath him.
The younger wizard in the hunting outfit let out a long sigh. "This is so boring. Every time I patrol outside, the only thing I run into is some stray mutt. Don't you think it's creepy being out there in the pitch black all alone?"
His tone held a nervous edge, and he looked barely older than a Hogwarts seventh-year. His companion scoffed as he knelt on the railing, still fumbling with his tangled shoelaces.
"You're such an idiot. If you spot anything during patrol, it usually means something serious is about to go down."
The robe-clad wizard grumbled, still trying to get the knot right, but only made it worse.
With a frustrated shake of his head, he suddenly barked out a laugh and glanced over at the younger wizard with a teasing grin. "How old are you again? Still scared of the dark?"