After some consideration, Nolan did not hesitate any longer. After finishing his leave request, he made his way to his instructor.
"Can you tell me why you need to go to the swamp in search of slime?" The instructor, after reviewing the request, looked at Nolan with curiosity.
This instructor was Laurie Faulkner, the newly appointed Dark Arts professor. He was a pureblood wizard, but unlike many of his kind, he did not judge people by the purity of their lineage. What mattered most to him was magical talent and the purity of a wizard's heart.
"I need the slime to brew a potion," Nolan answered truthfully.
Seeing his straightforward attitude, Laurie Faulkner quickly signed his name on the leave request. As he handed the document back to Nolan, he added, "Since you're going to the swamp, could you bring me back some night toads?
"You know there aren't many Dark Arts instructors at the academy, which means our supply of certain study materials is quite limited."
"I was planning to collect some myself when I had time, but since you're going anyway, it would be convenient if you could bring some back for me."
Laurie Faulkner smiled, entirely unconcerned about the dangers that might befall his student while capturing night toads.
After all, this was no ordinary student. Nolan belonged to the vampire lineage—and not just any vampire, but one with unquestionable dominance within his kind.
Nolan's crimson eyes flickered as if weighing his professor's intentions, but soon, a smile curved his lips. "It's no trouble. I'll bring some back for you."
Since the instructor was granting him a favor, Nolan had no problem returning one in kind.
Once Nolan left, Laurie Faulkner's face bore a satisfied smile.
He had heard many rumors about Nolan since assuming his position. Initially, he had worried that the student would be difficult to approach. However, it seemed that Nolan was actually quite reasonable—for a dark creature.
The only question that remained was whether he would be easy to control.
…
For this journey to the swamp, Nolan intended to travel alone.
However, as he was packing his belongings, Eve caught sight of his preparations.
"You're leaving the academy?" Eve placed a delicate hand on her chest in feigned distress, looking at Nolan with deep concern. "But your injuries from last time haven't fully healed yet! Even though vampires have incredible regenerative abilities, you still shouldn't disregard your body like this."
"You should know by now—there is nothing in this world that can make me feel fear. If I want to do something, I will do it," Nolan replied indifferently. He saw no reason to explain himself further. It would be a pointless waste of breath.
"Then I'll go with you!" Eve declared resolutely. She was not about to pass up the chance to travel with Nolan. In her mind, she had already begun fantasizing about the moments they would share during their journey, deepening their bond along the way.
"You don't have a leave permit, do you?" Nolan stated flatly.
The color drained from Eve's face. He was right. Without approval, she wasn't allowed to leave the academy grounds.
"So you should stay here and focus on your studies. The curriculum is intense, and soon, the inter-school magic competition will take place. You wouldn't want to lose, would you?" Nolan's words struck precisely where he knew they would.
As expected, the moment Eve heard the mention of the inter-school competition, her expression turned serious.
In her mind, she had to excel in every aspect to be worthy of standing beside Nolan. She dedicated herself to learning relentlessly, fearing that even the slightest lapse would cause her to fall behind. Winning the upcoming competition was a necessity.
"Don't worry. I'll definitely take first place in my year," Eve declared confidently, placing a hand over her chest.
She didn't dare claim the title of overall champion, knowing that older students possessed more advanced magical knowledge. However, securing the top position in her year was a goal she was determined to achieve.
"Then you'd better work hard," Nolan said, his tone devoid of warmth.
Despite his lack of enthusiasm, his words filled Eve with motivation.
With Eve watching him like a hawk, Nolan swiftly departed the academy.
As soon as he stepped beyond the school grounds, he wasted no time unfurling his wings and soaring into the sky. To him, magical flying tools were nothing but cumbersome accessories. His own wings served him far better.
…
In just half a day, he reached the swamp.
After retracting his wings, he landed lightly on the damp earth.
This particular swamp, known as the Black Marsh, was the closest one to the academy. The entire environment was shrouded in darkness, from the pitch-black soil to the deep green of the leaves.
Only under the glow of the moonlight did tiny silver lights shimmer across the swamp's surface, casting an eerie, dreamlike glow.
Unlike most magical plants that thrived on sunlight, the flora here absorbed lunar energy for sustenance. Exposure to sunlight, on the other hand, would cause them to wither and die.
For a dark creature like Nolan, this environment was incredibly comfortable.
As soon as his feet touched the ground, he instinctively stretched out his arms and took a deep breath—
…Only to be assaulted by the pungent stench of swamp gas.
Nolan wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Tch... If only this place didn't reek of decay," he muttered.
With a slight sigh, he cast a cleansing charm on his own sense of smell, transforming the foul odor into something more neutral and bearable.
With that issue resolved, he pressed onward.
He glanced up at the sky. The sun still hung high, casting a dismal light over the dreary landscape.
The slime he needed would only emerge under the moonlight.
Since he had time to spare, Nolan sought out a large banyan tree, spread his wings once more, and flew up to perch on one of its sturdy branches. Hanging upside down, he wrapped his wings around himself, closing his eyes to rest.
The journey had left him slightly fatigued, and this was the perfect opportunity to take a brief nap before nightfall.
…
Meanwhile…
Four figures swept across the sky on magical brooms, heading straight for the swamp.
Before long, they reached the edge of the swamp.
"This is the swamp, huh?" Astoria peered around curiously, her eyes full of fascination.
"According to the information in the books, the magical plant we need is Moonlight Cinnamon. It can only be harvested at night, once the moon has risen," Hermione said as she flipped through her notebook, reminding everyone.
"Most of the trees here are banyans. They're the only kind that can survive in such an environment," Harry frowned. "Finding a cinnamon tree in this place won't be easy."
"Maybe we should focus on finding the cinnamon tree first, then wait for nightfall," Ginny suggested, coming up with an idea.