"Vineaforma!"
A spark lit in Wyzett's eyes as vines erupted from the dead leaves, once again ensnaring the Acromantula.
The giant spider seemed to have anticipated his trick. All eight of its eyes glinted with the same mocking disdain as it methodically shredded the vines to pieces.
"Animus Demens!" Wyzett murmured, feeling the core of his Obscurus tremble ever so slightly—yet there was no sign of losing control.
In that instant, the Acromantula sensed mortal danger. It frantically tore at the vines, desperate to escape.
With a flick of his wand, a slender beam of dark gray magic shot from Wyzett's wand tip, aimed straight for the spider's cluster of eyes.
A smile touched his lips—this time, the spell felt right. He was in perfect control, wielding the Wasting Curse with true ease.
The Obscurus within him did stir with a trace of malice, but it no longer threatened to overwhelm him.
He could now dial back the Wasting Curse's intensity, even as he increased its speed. Everything was under his command.
The Acromantula's fangs clicked—clack, clack, clack—as it twisted its head, trying to dodge the deadly ray.
Too late. The dark beam flashed, piercing the outermost eye in a blink.
The spider's head jerked violently, pincers opening and closing in stuttering spasms. Its body slumped, motionless.
With a wave of his wand, Wyzett transformed the vines into a massive cocoon, wrapping the Acromantula tightly, leaving only its head exposed.
The spider didn't react, just kept shaking its head, sometimes spewing silk laced with green venom.
"Still alive, I think. Even if it's not fully grown, Acromantula venom should fetch a decent price."
Wyzett wasn't one to hesitate. Once he'd made up his mind, he acted at once.
He cast Severing Charms at the fangs, slicing open the spider's head until he found the venom gland tucked behind the mandibles.
"There's a foal over there… and I still sense Acromantula nearby…"
Suddenly, a deep voice echoed from the distant trees.
Hearing it, Wyzett yanked free the venom gland and dashed away from the scene.
A series of crisp hoofbeats followed, and that deep voice called again, "Young foal, I mean you no harm! Please, don't be afraid!"
Young foal?
What a peculiar way to address someone.
Wyzett stopped, waiting as the voice drew closer.
With the help of his night vision spell, he soon saw the tall figure approaching.
It was a centaur—youthful and striking, a bow slung across his back, a small pouch at his waist. His hair shone a pale platinum, and his lower half was that of a silver-maned stallion. He looked every bit the hero from a myth.
"Greetings, young foal. I am Firenze. It's a pleasure to meet you. May I ask your name?"
…
Voldemort hadn't left after all. He stood within a shimmering magical field, watching with keen interest as Wyzett faced his "little test."
Under Wyzett's command, dust whirled into vines, which twisted and stretched through the air, binding the Acromantula.
"Barely a year at Hogwarts, and he can conjure vines—not just for show, either. There's promise here."
Wyzett kept his distance with Knockback Jinxes, only moving in for Severing Charms when he was sure of his safety.
"Interesting… His grasp of ordinary magic is solid. When I first arrived at Hogwarts, I was probably at about this level."
The duel continued, a rhythm forming between Wyzett and the spider. Yet, for all his efforts, he couldn't halt the Acromantula's relentless assault.
"A shame. Relying on these alone, he'll never beat an Acromantula—their magical resistance is formidable."
"So reluctant to use Dark Magic? He's clearly capable, so why hold back? Embracing Dark Magic would make things so much easier…"
Voldemort sighed, uncorked a vial of Soul-Soothing Draught, and took a sip.
"No! This isn't the flavor I wanted!"
His expression twisted in shock.
The potion tasted ordinary, stripped of the "chaos" he craved.
If there was any merit, it was that the current Soul-Soothing Draught would be perfectly suitable for most wizards.
But "ordinary" was precisely what he despised.
It was for that reason he'd erased all traces of his former self, becoming Voldemort.
"Something's gone wrong!" His eyes narrowed as he opened a second vial.
"There's something strange… hidden so deep… What is this taste? Is it happiness?"
"Pure happiness? No—it's more complicated! I can't comprehend it… Not as I am now!"
His face grew grave, the potion in his hand as entrancing and deadly as a mandrake blossom.
He longed to taste that elusive, twisted flavor again, but feared what irreversible changes it might bring.
In the depths of his soul—beyond the soul itself—
Something was stirring. Something he'd once cut away was beginning to take root…
The flavor of these Soul-Soothing Draughts was far beyond what he'd expected.
And Wyzett's battle with the Acromantula had surpassed his expectations as well.
Though far away, Voldemort could sense that the Wasting Curse Wyzett cast was intentionally weakened.
A conscious act of will—a true "ease" in spellcasting.
"I shouldn't have said so much!" Voldemort took a deep breath. "There's no point in lingering…"
"The Soul-Soothing Draught is compromised… and he's mastered the Wasting Curse… I'll settle everything at the final exam."
…
The centaur had shown kindness first, so Wyzett responded in kind.
He bowed slightly and said, "Good evening, Mr. Firenze. I'm Wyzett, a student at Hogwarts."
"So you're Wyzett?" Firenze hummed softly. "Hagrid has mentioned you to me."
"Hagrid mentioned me?" Wyzett asked, surprised.
"Yes, you saved many Bowtruckles. Hagrid says you're a good lad." Firenze's tone softened. "But what brings you here?"
He glanced around, then spotted the massive spider carcass nearby. He trotted over at once.
Staring at the Acromantula with half its head missing, disbelief colored his voice. "Young foal… Wyzett, was this your doing?"
Wyzett nodded. "I ran into the Forbidden Forest, and it attacked me."
Firenze circled the corpse nimbly, muttering, "Far too dangerous! Was it for the sake of your friends?"
Wyzett noticed a hint of displeasure on Firenze's face—directed not at him, but at the Acromantula…
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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