The two people standing in the boat suddenly felt as if a cold wind had blown past, brushing against their slightly heated cheeks.
Yeah, they didn't need to go to the center of the lake to get that fake locket, so why take the boat?
Dumbledore reacted the fastest, naturally lifting his foot and stepping off the boat back onto the shore.
"Oh, people do get forgetful when they grow old… I think you might want to see Voldemort's design, it's just like this, all his usual tricks, unchanged for decades."
"Yes, you're right," Kael replied with a smile.
Fawkes on his shoulder immediately turned his head elsewhere, seemingly very interested in the barren rock wall.
Sirius and Kreacher also came to their senses at this point, quickly stepping off the boat behind him.
It was indeed quicker here than going to the center of the lake, and after finding Regulus, they could leave faster too.
After everyone was off, the boat returned to the lake and disappeared.
Sirius stood by the shore, looking at the peaceful lake surface and said, "Do we have to make contact with the lake water here to attract those creatures?"
Although he asked, he seemed not to need an answer, for he was already at the lakeside, putting his hand into the icy cold water as Kreacher had described.
This action seemed to trigger some sort of switch, as a pale arm shot out of the water, quickly grabbing Sirius' arm and pulling him into the lake.
At the same time, the lake surface ceased to be smooth as a mirror and began to churn violently, with pale arms and heads emerging from the dark water, rushing toward the shore at great speed.
"Let go of the master!" Kreacher shouted, stretching out his fingers as if using a Knockback Jinx or something, causing the Inferius to release Sirius, who fell back into the water with a splash.
However, more Inferi had already climbed out, grabbing the slippery rocks with their withered hands, their hollow eyes fixated on Sirius.
Sirius hurried back to the shore, drawing his wand and carefully checking each face of the Inferi, making sure it wasn't Regulus before using a charm to send them back into the water.
Soon, six or seven Inferi were knocked down, but more kept coming.
Kael and Dumbledore also stepped forward to help.
Dumbledore appeared the most at ease, not needing to incant any charms, just waving his wand would send these creatures flying back into the water, unable to climb out again.
For Dumbledore, dealing with these non-magic-using creatures was exceedingly simple.
If not for the worry of inadvertently harming Regulus, he had several more efficient methods.
Kael also kept casting Petrification Spells beside him, attacking those who obviously couldn't be Regulus.
Everyone divided the tasks clearly, with Sirius acting as bait in the front, Kreacher searching for Regulus, and Kael and Dumbledore providing spell support at the back. The three and the elf worked in perfect unison.
After casting several more Petrification Spells, Kael watched the enemy numbers remain unchanged and couldn't help but say, "If only we could use the Fiendfyre Curse and circle it around Sirius, ensuring that as many come, as many die."
Hearing Kael's words, Dumbledore paused slightly with his wand hand, causing the charms around Sirius to briefly stall.
Though a brief moment, it was enough for Sirius to be engulfed, with cold arms lifting him off the ground and moving slowly but surely towards the Black Lake.
"Disperse!"
Dumbledore quickly waved his wand, rescuing Sirius.
"There is such a charm, but it cannot be used now," he said softly. "The fire would instinctively cause them to retreat, making it harder for us to find Regulus."
"But do you know it?" Kael asked, "Can you teach…"
"No!" Dumbledore interrupted Kael.
After a moment of silence, he continued, "The Fiendfyre Curse is advanced dark magic, and though I don't know how you learned it, I must tell you, this dark magic is extremely dangerous and exceptionally hard to control; if not absolutely necessary, it's best never to use it.
If you're truly interested, I can teach you another charm, derived from the Fire Charm, that is relatively safer."
"What is it…"
"Master Regulus!"
Kael was about to ask when he heard Kreacher's excited scream not far away.
He then rushed toward the corpses, trying to drag someone out, allowing the other to grab and bite him without letting go.
Kael instinctively looked over; it was a very young man, his face pale and shriveled, yet instantly recognizable by all, including Kael, as Regulus.
Because in this state, he was strikingly similar to Sirius when he had just escaped from Azkaban.
Kreacher dragged Regulus to the rock at the entrance, holding him while crying and shouting.
Everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief, and Sirius' laughter echoed in the cavern, as if he had not been pursued by terrifying creatures, but by hundreds of adorable Moonstruck Beasts.
Dumbledore also smiled, turning to Kael and saying, "I was worrying about how to describe the effect of the charm to you, but it seems unnecessary now, come a little closer…"
Kael nodded, taking a few steps forward immediately.
Then Dumbledore raised his wand, and flames instantly burst forth from its tip.
The pitch-black cavern was illuminated.
The bright, golden red flames rolled around Dumbledore, like waves following the rotating wand, continually growing in size.
A shrill crackling sounded around, with the once cold and damp feeling instantly dissipating, replaced by an intense heat.
As Dumbledore stretched out his wand again, the flames surged and gathered into a massive golden-red tsunami, rushing forward.
In the blink of an eye, a wide empty path, at least ten feet across, appeared in front of Kael, flanked by two blazing walls of fire extending forwards, seemingly stretching across the entire lake, the end not in sight.
Kael was utterly awestruck.
He had been considering letting Norbert clear the way, but hadn't anticipated… Dumbledore's technique was far more powerful than a Fire Dragon.
Dumbledore put away his wand, looking at Kael's expression with a satisfied nod.
"So, what do you think?" he asked with a smile, "Would you like to learn the Fiendfyre Curse or this one?"
"Professor, I'd like to learn this one," Kael said without hesitation.
Having received the answer, Dumbledore was even more pleased.
That's right, drawing a circle around with the Fiendfyre Curse is pointless; learning it is useless and a waste of time.