More power stone = Chapter daily
"Ethereal Shadows and a Duel of Wills"
The next day, while walking through the halls of Hogwarts, Einar noticed how many eyes were fixed on him. Especially those of the Beauxbatons students, who seemed torn between awe and fear.
He didn't pay them much attention. He was used to those kinds of reactions. However, when he crossed paths with Fleur Delacour, something different happened. She looked at him for a moment… with embarrassment, with guilt, as if she carried a burden she couldn't confess. And then, without saying a word, she fled down the hallway as if running from her own thoughts.
But Einar didn't stop to think about it.
There was a class to teach.
The third-years were waiting for him, while Cedric and Harry had preferred to train on their own… or rather, to use the class as an excuse to rest.
The classroom was already full when Einar walked through the door. Luna and Ginny greeted him enthusiastically from their seats.
"Alright. Be quiet and let's begin the class," he said firmly, his gaze sweeping across the room like a contained storm.
The students quickly settled down, expectant.
"Due to complaints from Professor McGonagall, I must once again teach from the Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook," he continued with an annoyed grimace. "Apparently, creating weapons and fighting like real warriors won't count toward your grades."
The students groaned in unison, clearly disappointed.
Einar let out a short laugh.
"Don't worry. I'll make this interesting. And today… I'll teach you a spell that no one in all of Hogwarts has ever seen."
Their eyes lit up. The atmosphere changed immediately.
Of course, Einar had his reasons. After months as a teacher, he already knew his students well. He knew who they were, their virtues, their fears, their thoughts. Some needed discipline. Others, inspiration. But in all of them, he saw a dormant potential. Though, deep down, he couldn't help but feel that the wizards of this world were weak.
He was a Nord. A Dragonborn. In Skyrim, every week was a battle for survival. Here, in contrast… it had been too long since he'd had a fight worth the trouble.
"What spell is it, professor?" asked Ginny eagerly. She had seen several of his spells during visits to her home, and she knew none of them were ordinary.
"It's the one you liked the most," Einar replied with a half-smile. "Summon Familiar."
He raised a hand. He murmured words in a guttural language that no student recognized. And then, the air in front of him tore open with a ghostly mist that spun on itself as if summoning a storm from another dimension.
From the fog emerged a majestic ethereal wolf, its eyes glowing and its body translucent like ice crystal.
There was a collective gasp.
"This is an ethereal wolf," said Einar in a calm tone, walking among the desks. "It's not a ghost, nor an illusion. It can fight if its summoner commands it. And, yes… it can also be touched."
The wolf walked among the students. Some reached out their hands in fear, others in fascination.
"This is one of the most basic conjuration spells," Einar continued. "It's used mainly for practicing the craft. But if mastered… it can be devastating."
Without warning, Einar raised both hands. A new ethereal roar shook the room and five more wolves appeared out of nowhere, surrounding the classroom like spectral guardians.
The students straightened in their seats. Now he had their full attention.
"Alright. Before I teach it to you, we'll talk about Red Caps."
For the first time, everyone stayed focused. They wanted the spell. And for it, they listened with more concentration than they had shown all year. The class moved quickly, with active responses, enthusiastic participation, and an energy that filled the room.
Einar did not disappoint. After finishing the lesson on the creatures, he taught them the fundamentals of the spell.
Few managed it. But some did. Luna was the first. Then Ginny. A couple more students. Small ethereal wolves howled faintly when called forth by the will of the young wizards.
"Keep practicing. Practice is what strengthens the wolves," said Einar, as the students left the classroom, laughing and chatting excitedly among themselves.
Luna approached the professor with one of her unique questions:
"Professor Dragon… if I practice this spell a lot, will I be able to summon a Wrackspurting Horned Snorkack?"
Einar blinked.
"A… Wrackspurting Horned Snorkack? …I'm sorry, I don't know what kind of creature that is. I come from another… place. But these spells summon creatures from Oblivion, a realm full of monsters and wonders. And knowing the Daedra… I wouldn't dare say it doesn't exist."
"Then I can!" said Luna with a radiant smile, as she ran off to keep practicing. The small ethereal wolf trotted beside her like a loyal pup.
"Wait," said Einar, stopping her with a firm voice.
Luna turned, tilting her head.
"Are your classmates still hiding your things?"
"Classmates? You mean the Nargles? No, they already gave everything back. I guess they don't want to play anymore," she replied naturally.
"Nargles?" repeated Einar, frowning.
"Yes. Little pranksters. They love hiding my things," said Luna, as if talking about the rain or bread.
Einar sighed with a smile.
"I see. You may go practice."
"Goodbye! Goodbye to you too, Shadowy!" Luna waved into the air.
Einar watched her leave, with the wolf following her like a faithful shadow.
"Sir," said a deep voice behind him. Dren, the protective spirit, appeared at his side. "The students who were bothering her were punished with the appropriate curses. They returned the items and apologized. Though… it seems the young girl didn't even understand why they were apologizing. And… she seems to be able to see me."
Einar remained silent for a moment. Then nodded.
"Her eyes are more special than I thought… Alright. I need you to do something else…"
...…
"Is it true what Professor Einar said? That if any of us challenged one of you two to a duel… you would be forced to accept?" asked a sharp-eyed young woman, the Slytherin emblem gleaming on her robe. Her voice was as cold as marble, devoid of emotion.
Harry frowned in displeasure. There was something in the way she looked at him that he didn't like.
"Yes," he replied curtly, his tone tense.
But to his surprise, the girl wasn't looking at him.
"Then… I want to fight the champion of Hogwarts, Cedric Diggory." Her statement was blunt, without a hint of emotion.
Both Harry and Cedric blinked in confusion. For a moment, they had assumed the challenge was directed at Harry.
"Me? Well… alright. I don't mind, if Professor Einar authorizes it…" Cedric said, a bit awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. "But we should find him first. He has to be the judge, right?"
"I'm already here."
Einar's deep and calm voice rumbled behind them like a restrained thunderclap.
Harry turned around so fast he almost fell backwards.
"Could you stop doing that, Professor?!" he exclaimed, heart pounding. "You're going to scare me to death one of these days!"
"Doing what?" asked Einar, genuinely confused, tilting his head slightly.
"Nothing…" Harry muttered, resigned, rubbing his chest.
The Dragonborn stepped forward, his imposing figure cloaked in a mantle that whispered with a heavy rustle, as if the northern winds followed him. His eyes calmly settled on the Slytherin girl.
"So you're the one who seeks the duel…" he said, assessing her with a gaze that seemed to see beyond her skin. "Your name?"
"Daphne Greengrass," she answered without hesitation.
Einar nodded.
"Very well, Daphne. I accept your request for a duel in the name of the Martial Learning Code. Cedric, are you ready?"
"Yes, Professor," said Cedric firmly, now adopting a more serious stance.
The ground trembled slightly as Einar raised a hand and a conjuration rune circle lit up beneath his feet. He stomped the ground with his boot and murmured softly. A wave of cool wind expanded outward, clearing the glade at the forest's edge and forming a natural dueling ring.
"The duel will continue until surrender or until one of the combatants is incapacitated," Einar announced as the air grew heavy with tension. "No Unforgivable Curses or life-threatening spells."
Daphne and Cedric walked toward the center of the circle, wands in hand, as a few nearby students stopped upon feeling the magical energy enveloping the area.
"Ready?" asked Einar.
Both nodded.
"Begin."
"Stupefy!" Daphne shouted, launching her first attack.
Cedric moved swiftly to the side, dodging the spell with ease. Around them, students began gathering, drawn in by the tension of the duel.
"Repulso!" Cedric replied, raising his wand with confidence.
Daphne reacted quickly, conjuring a protective shield. But it was a quick shield, the kind that only holds for one hit.
"Aguamenti!" Cedric cast as soon as the shield vanished.
A powerful jet of water shot from his wand. Both he and Harry had become experts in that spell after countless training sessions against the fire atronach Einar summoned. Their aim, refined by constant practice, was lethal.
Daphne took the hit full on and fell back, soaked to the bone. Before she could react, Cedric moved his wand with precision once again.
"Expelliarmus."
Her wand flew from her hand.
"That's enough," declared Einar firmly, crossing his arms as he watched the scene seriously.
Daphne, still on the ground, stared at her wand for a few seconds. Her usually unreadable face showed a flicker of disappointment. However, she quickly regained her composure, stood up with dignity, and cast a drying spell.
"Thank you for the duel. I'll train more… and challenge either of them again." She bowed slightly to Einar, picked up her wand, and began to walk away.
"Wait."
Einar's voice stopped her.
Daphne turned slowly, her gray eyes meeting the intense gaze of the Dragonborn.
"Why did you choose Cedric and not Harry? I assume your House doesn't exactly have affection for Mr. Potter."
Einar's eyes seemed to pierce through her, as if they could see every corner of her soul.
"Not everyone in Slytherin has issues with Potter," she answered calmly. "Honestly, he's irrelevant to me. I just wanted to face one of the champions to measure the gap between us."
She paused briefly, then smiled faintly with irony.
"And even though I believe Potter would be easier to defeat than Cedric"considering he's older than me"you imposed that rule: anyone who faces him must kneel and apologize if they lose. And that… I'm not willing to do for a simple duel."
Einar observed her in silence for a few seconds. Her body language, tone, logic… all of it was genuine. He nodded respectfully.
"If your intention is to grow through combat and not pride… then I will allow you to face them without that condition."
"Then, I thank you," Daphne bowed again. Then, without wasting a second, she turned toward Harry with a determined look.
"I challenge you to a duel," she said, with the same coldness with which one would draw a sword.
Even Einar raised an eyebrow, surprised by her speed. Then, a smile formed on his face.
"Interesting…" he murmured with amusement, crossing his arms like someone witnessing the birth of a new warrior.