Thorn Grass was the easiest to find.
As long as banyan trees were present, Thorn Grass could be found growing at their roots. This plant had a parasitic nature—it buried its sharp thorns deep into the banyan's roots, siphoning its energy. However, it wasn't purely parasitic; it also returned nutrients to the tree, aiding its growth. This mutually beneficial relationship allowed the banyan to tolerate its presence, forming a stable symbiotic system over time.
After gathering a sufficient amount of Thorn Grass, Ron wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and turned to Harry.
"Have you spotted any slimes yet?"
Slimes were almost impossible to find. Their jelly-like, translucent bodies made them nearly invisible, even in daylight—let alone in the dim swamp, where visibility was low despite their magical flames providing some illumination. The difficulty of spotting them only made capturing them even more troublesome.
Watching the two struggle awkwardly with their search, Nolan, who had been silently observing, finally scoffed.
"Did you two even bother researching swamp creatures before coming here?" he asked coldly.
It was obvious from Harry and Ron's clumsy efforts that neither had done enough preparation.
Slimes were indeed difficult to catch, but not impossible. There was a simple trick—these creatures were irresistibly drawn to sweets.
"You just need sugar to lure them out," Nolan remarked, his tone filled with disdain.
Harry and Ron exchanged confused glances, clearly failing to understand.
Nolan sighed and shook his head. "Next time you venture out, I strongly suggest you study the local ecosystem first. Otherwise, you'll end up in real trouble."
With that, he reached into his pocket and casually tossed two pieces of candy onto the ground.
Within moments, under Harry and Ron's astonished gazes, a palm-sized, gelatinous slime trembled into view, cautiously inching toward the candy. The sweet scent was too tempting—it couldn't resist crawling forward, eager to swallow the treat whole.
As the sugary aroma spread, more slimes emerged, squirming toward the bait in a slow, undulating tide.
These creatures were the swamp's natural cleaners, consuming organic waste and rotting debris. Harmless to humans and animals alike, they posed no threat whatsoever—if anything, they were so defenseless that even ants considered them prey.
The moment the slimes appeared, Nolan wasted no time.
With a wave of his hand, several empty glass jars materialized from his magical storage. In mere moments, he skillfully scooped up multiple slimes, sealing them away without breaking a sweat.
Once he was done, he nonchalantly tossed one of the jars to Harry. "One slime is enough to make the potion you need."
Having said that, he stored the remaining slimes back into his magical space, already shifting his focus to the next task—finding swamp toads.
The mere thought of them made his expression darken slightly.
These grotesque creatures, covered in bloated pustules, were nothing short of revolting. And, as if their appearance wasn't bad enough, they had a nasty habit of secreting corrosive liquid when threatened—a lesson Nolan learned firsthand when one nearly spat its acidic defense onto his flawless face.
While Nolan wrestled with the toads, Harry and Ron hurried back to the cinnamon tree, bringing the captured slime with them. Under Hermione's expert hands, they quickly prepared the medicinal potion.
The moment the potion was applied, Ginny's wound began to heal rapidly.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "It doesn't hurt at all anymore!"
Harry clenched his fists, determination flashing across his face. "When we get back, I need to seriously study magical creatures."
Ron nodded in agreement. "I'll study with you."
Not long after, Nolan returned, having successfully gathered all the necessary toads. With the mission complete, he turned to the group, curiosity flickering in his crimson eyes.
"Are you planning to do anything else?" he asked, intrigued by their determination.
He couldn't help but wonder what had driven these humans to venture into the swamp so ill-prepared.
"We need to harvest Moonlit Cinnamon to brew the Elixir of Clarity," Astoria answered eagerly, her eyes practically glowing. "It enhances mental acuity and expands cognitive ability."
Her gaze lingered on Nolan, drinking in his moonlit silhouette with admiration. To her, he was the very embodiment of perfection, his ethereal beauty almost suffocating under the pale glow of the night.
Nolan considered her words, intrigued. A potion that sharpened the mind and expanded thought? That was an interesting concept.
If it worked, it could significantly enhance his research into amplification potions. Using Moonlit Cinnamon as a base ingredient might even increase the success rate of his enhancement elixirs.
"I'll help you harvest it," he offered. Before they could misinterpret his intentions, he added, "I'm not looking to take credit—I simply want to confirm whether this tree's properties match the records in my clan's tomes."
Pausing, he elaborated, "According to vampire records, these trees defend themselves with razor-sharp leaves during the day, slicing apart any creature that attempts to take its bark."
"At night, while it becomes safe to harvest, the cinnamon's scent will attract undead creatures."
His crimson eyes gleamed as he continued, "You should know what that means—undead are notoriously difficult to kill."
"So, I propose a deal: I'll defend you against any undead threats while you harvest the cinnamon. In return, you'll share a finished potion with me."
Nolan hated wasting time. He considered inefficiency an unforgivable sin—though he was hypocritical enough to occasionally indulge in time-wasting pleasures when it suited him. But that was beside the point.
"With Lord Nolan's help, we'll definitely succeed!" Astoria declared, puffing out her chest proudly. "I'll fight the undead by his side. The rest of you focus on gathering the cinnamon."
Her excitement was clear—this was her chance to stand shoulder to shoulder with Nolan. If they fought together, it would almost feel as if they truly belonged together.
Hermione, recognizing that this was a fair exchange rather than charity, didn't hesitate. "We accept your offer."
With a nod of understanding, the group exchanged glances, steeling themselves for the task ahead.
As they began their work, the intoxicating aroma of Moonlit Cinnamon slowly spread through the air.
And with it, something stirred in the darkness.