"Intense Training"
"Alright, now that we have someone else to help Neville heal them, it's time to raise the difficulty," said Einar firmly, as Hermione and Neville stood by his side.
In front of them, Harry and Cedric were dressed in more comfortable clothes, fit for training. They had already learned that wizard robes weren't the best choice for combat"unless they were enchanted with defensive spells.
"Wait, professor… we still haven't managed to defeat the flame atronach," said Harry quickly, visibly worried.
"Relax. You surpassed the first atronach I summoned a while ago," Einar replied calmly, as if it were obvious. "Every day, I've been summoning a stronger one than the day before. That's why you haven't noticed the difficulty increase. But now, you could defeat the one from the first day without much effort."
Harry and Cedric exchanged a look of astonishment. They had never noticed. Every battle had felt just as challenging.
"Alright, this time it'll be an ice atronach," announced Einar, extending his hands with determination. "Unlike the fire ones, these fight hand-to-hand. Don't get overconfident… they're much stronger. Their blows are devastating."
From a dark portal that appeared nearby, a massive ice golem emerged. One of its hands was an icy mace; the other, a spear carved from pure ice.
"Change your hands. Use two maces this time… and don't kill them," ordered Einar, without needing to explain further.
Hermione, recently added to the group, watched the scene with wide eyes. It was the first time she had seen a summoning spell like that. The creature didn't look like a simple magical construct… its movements were too fluid, almost human.
But the atronach paid attention only to the two designated for the fight. With surprising speed for its size, it charged at Harry. He barely managed to roll to the side to avoid the brutal blow of the mace.
"Rolling is starting to become your favorite move," murmured Einar, raising an eyebrow.
Taking advantage of the atronach's focus on Harry, Cedric cast a spell:
"Incendio!"
A large jet of flame burst from his wand, striking the enemy's icy body.
The atronach turned quickly, its left arm transforming into a shield that deflected the flames as it rushed toward Cedric.
Cedric had to stop attacking. The golem raised its icy mace high above its head.
"Protego!" Cedric shouted, conjuring a barrier.
The blow shattered the magical shield with ease, and Cedric was sent flying several meters backward.
"Neville!" Hermione shouted instinctively.
But Neville was already ready. He raised his wand and cast a healing spell from a distance.
"Thanks…" Cedric panted, as the pain in his stomach faded away.
"This is insane…" Hermione said, watching as Harry and Cedric ran across the field, dodging and counterattacking, only to be knocked down again. Neville healed them, and the cycle continued.
"Is that what you think?" asked Einar calmly. "I didn't have anyone taking care of me when I faced monsters like these."
And it was true. Einar had fought atronachs before"ones summoned by enemies trying to kill him. Those didn't hold back their strength, nor were they told not to kill. They were brutal and merciless.
In contrast, Cedric and Harry were facing a limited version. Adjusted to their level, but without a deadly threat.
"But… does it really need to be so violent?" asked Hermione, her concern genuine.
"Did you read the book on past Triwizard Tournaments? Do you know why the last one was canceled?" Einar asked, not taking his eyes off the fight.
"…It was because a cockatrice lost control and injured the heads of all three schools," Hermione answered after thinking for a moment.
"Exactly. A creature capable of injuring the heads of magical schools. Don't you think they might bring equally dangerous trials this time?"
Hermione remained silent. She had no way to counter that logic.
"Look at them," Einar said, pointing at Harry and Cedric, who were now fighting side by side with determined expressions. "If they give up, I won't just stop the training… I'll also let them train however they want."
"Hermione, I could use a bit of help here…" Neville said, visibly exhausted from casting healing spells.
"I'm coming," she replied, still conflicted, but recognizing that the training made sense. They weren't in real danger.
Meanwhile, Einar crossed his arms and watched the scene with a proud smile.
Then, suddenly, his expression changed. He turned his head toward the forest. He had heard something… and whatever it was, it completely caught his attention.
"Keep going for one more hour, and then you can rest," Einar said as he calmly walked into the forest.
He took a few steps, and as he advanced, he could hear someone casting spells.
He arrived at the source to see the Beauxbatons champion training against a tree, casting spells one after another as sweat dripped down her face.
It seemed like she had been training even before Cedric and Harry woke up.
Her face was full of seriousness, as well as worry. She looked nervous, as if she were trying to improve her strength before the first task, even without knowing what they'd be facing. Something that wasn't helping her"or the other champions.
Einar stood watching for a good while as Fleur continued casting every spell she knew. Then, exhausted, she collapsed onto the ground, sitting with an expression that showed she still felt something was missing.
But she couldn't even lift her hand to cast another spell.
"Looks like you need to train your physical stamina first. That'll increase your magical energy reserves. But fighting an immobile object isn't very helpful," Einar said, surprising Fleur, who quickly turned around with worried eyes. But when she saw it was Einar, she visibly relaxed. Something Einar took note of but didn't comment on.
"I'm following the training Madame Maxime gave me, so I don't think stamina is something she considers important," Fleur said quickly with a forced smile.
Einar immediately thought of the giant headmistress and nodded in amusement.
"I… um… wanted to apologize for last time. It's not like I wanted to spy on you while you were bathing or anything. I was just training when I saw you enter the forest," Fleur blurted out quickly.
"Oh, I didn't know you were spying on me," Einar said with a smile, which made Fleur nervous. "Just kidding," he added quickly.
"I… um… wanted to ask… how old are you, Hogwarts professor? You look quite young," Fleur said, changing the subject.
"I should be seventeen," Einar said calmly. "And you can call me Einar. Most of my students forget I'm even their professor," he added.
"You're that young… and already a professor? How is that possible?" she asked in surprise.
"Because I'm strong," Einar replied confidently.
"Yes… I noticed. You don't…"
"Fall under your charm?" Einar continued casually.
"Yes… honestly, I was afraid that if it had been another wizard who found me while I was weakened, it could've been a serious problem," Fleur said with a hint of sadness. "I always have to be careful around men when I'm alone," she added.
"Well… let's just say I've had similar problems with women," Einar said softly, recalling his past.
"I'm sure you have. If you weren't a man, I'd have thought you were a Veela the first time I saw you without your mask," Fleur said quickly with a smile.
"Well… though I wouldn't want to turn into a harpy that spits fire," Einar replied with a respectful grin.
"Haha. That's why it's nice to only be part Veela," Fleur said with a smile.
Einar looked at her for a few seconds before saying:
"I recommend working on your reflexes as well as your stamina. You can use the training area near your carriage," he said, already turning to return to his students.
"Wait…" Fleur said quickly, her face slightly worried and full of embarrassment.
"What is it?" Einar asked seriously.
"Well… I… think I might have overdone it… and I can't stand up," Fleur admitted, her face completely red.
"…I see," Einar said as he calmly walked over and lifted her up without a second thought. He then began walking back out of the forest at a steady pace.
Meanwhile, Fleur was stunned, embarrassed, and in shock. It wasn't normal for a man to touch her, as she usually kept them at a distance"they always ended up being a nuisance once they fell under her charm.
Fleur looked at Einar's face, which was hidden beneath Otar's mask, wondering what he might be thinking.
Once they exited the forest, Einar walked toward the carriage, where several Beauxbatons students saw him carrying Fleur in his arms, watching with surprise.
"Is it alright if I leave you here?" Einar asked as he stood at the carriage door.
"Yes, thank you," Fleur replied quickly, a bit embarrassed under the gaze of her classmates.
Einar gently set her down, and Fleur was able to stand after having rested during the walk. She quickly thanked him again and walked into the carriage, her legs still a little shaky.
Seeing that, Einar smiled slightly, then turned and headed back to his students.