The precise moment the combined starlight magic and yellow divine energy wrapped completely around the desperately struggling blue light, the conflict was effectively concluded.
The forest fell into profound, almost oppressive silence as the chaotic blue radiance vanished entirely, leaving only the warm yellow glow interwoven with shimmering starlight.
Erwin smoothly sheathed his wand, his physical form flickering as he transformed into distinctive purple smoke and rematerialized directly beside the ancient stone platform.
He looked down dispassionately at the now-subdued blue light, still faintly struggling against its magical bindings.
His lips curved into a knowing smile. "Abandon the futile resistance. You don't even recognize who your true original master is anymore, do you? Too much time has passed. Has it made you forget too much of your fundamental purpose?"
As Erwin spoke with calm authority, the frantic blue light gradually stilled into quiescence.
Erwin raised his right hand with deliberate, ritualistic slowness. An invisible blade of compressed magic flashed briefly, slicing cleanly across his fingertip.
A single drop of crimson blood—noticeably tinged with faint golden luminescence—dripped precisely onto the subdued blue light.
Instantly, the previously frantic energy went completely docile and cooperative.
Erwin waved his hand dismissively, dispersing the restraining streams of magical power. The liberated blue light hovered uncertainly for a brief moment, then drifted forward willingly to settle in his open palm.
It danced there for several seconds with what almost seemed like joyful recognition.
Erwin chuckled quietly with genuine amusement. "It appears you've finally figured out the truth of your situation."
He flicked his wrist smoothly, causing his distinctive wand to appear in his grasp. The cooperative blue light merged seamlessly with the weapon's amethyst core, causing the embedded gemstone to shine with brilliant, electric blue radiance that contrasted strikingly against the deep purple of the wooden shaft.
Erwin pocketed the enhanced wand with satisfaction and turned his analytical attention to the now-inert stone platform.
A fierce, cold glint flashed dangerously in his eyes.
With a contemptuous snort, he unleashed a concentrated blast of raw destructive energy, utterly shattering the ancient platform into countless fragments that shot outward in all directions like shrapnel.
He didn't bother looking back at the destruction as he walked purposefully away.
At the forest entrance, Ebony had been pacing with obvious anxiety, his tail lashing with agitation and worry.
The precise moment the familiar's acute hearing detected Erwin's approaching footsteps, both ears immediately perked up with alert hope.
Seeing Erwin emerge unharmed from the shadowed treeline, the cat's expressive face lit up with unmistakably human-like excitement and relief. Without hesitation, he launched himself enthusiastically into the air to pounce on his returning master.
Erwin casually flicked a single finger, freezing the airborne Ebony mid-leap with effortless telekinesis.
"Your paws are absolutely filthy from digging around out here," Erwin chided with mock severity, "and you still try to jump directly on me? Go clean yourself properly first."
Ebony meowed with indignant protest at the accusation, but Erwin gently set him down on the ground regardless.
He conjured and tossed a pristine handkerchief. Ebony—smoothly transforming into a small monkey in mid-air—caught the cloth with dexterous hands and began wiping himself down with meticulous, almost comical care.
Once satisfactorily clean, the familiar shifted back into his preferred feline form. Only then did Erwin scoop him up approvingly.
"Alright then, let's proceed," Erwin stated with renewed purpose. "We need to reach the second location quickly. I'm genuinely curious how long this next acquisition will require."
Ebony nodded against his shoulder with complete trust.
Erwin raised his hand skyward, the distinctive Purple Lotus Mark flaring brilliantly to life in the air again as his summoning beacon.
Big Head received the magical command instantly and rushed over with impressive speed, landing with a ground-shaking thud.
"Let's go, Big Head," Erwin said while mounting the creature's broad back. "You'll serve as my primary transportation again."
The massive dragon grunted twice with what sounded suspiciously like complaint.
Erwin chuckled, patting the creature's thick, scaled hide with familiar affection. "Don't attempt to negotiate terms with me. You understand perfectly well it's genuinely inconvenient for me to maintain you as a permanent companion given current circumstances. But it shouldn't be much longer now—you can continue playing and exploring independently for just a while more."
Big Head released several pathetic, pleading cries that would have been heartbreaking from a smaller creature.
Erwin simply patted the dragon's enormous head more firmly. "Enough dramatics. I have critically important matters requiring immediate attention, and I genuinely cannot waste additional time on reassurances."
With that decisive statement, Big Head resignedly spread his powerful fleshy wings and launched explosively into the sky, beginning the journey toward the second marked location with determined speed.
The aerial journey proved remarkably swift despite the considerable distance. Even though the second destination lay significantly farther than the first, the flight required only approximately half an hour at Big Head's comfortable cruising velocity.
As before, the ever-efficient Cavendish family forces had thoroughly cleared the entire area, ensuring absolutely no Muggles or unauthorized wizards would accidentally stumble upon the sensitive location.
This particular site was dramatically different from the first: ancient ruins, a temple-like structure half-swallowed by encroaching earth and aggressive vegetation over countless centuries.
Erwin landed smoothly and immediately ordered the assembled Cavendish family security personnel to spread out in defensive perimeter positions, strictly forbidding anyone from approaching the ruins themselves.
Once proper security was firmly established, he dismissed Big Head back to the skies and carefully set Ebony down, preparing to investigate the ruins alone.
He provided his familiar with absolutely firm instructions to remain outside under any circumstances.
Although Ebony's expressive face clearly displayed unhappiness with being excluded again, Erwin remained unmoved by the emotional manipulation.
I don't know precisely what dangers I'll face inside, he reasoned pragmatically. There's no valid reason for Ebony to risk his life unnecessarily.
If Erwin ventured alone, he maintained absolute confidence in his ability to escape virtually any conceivable danger through his various capabilities.
But with Ebony accompanying him, that crucial confidence would be severely compromised by the need to protect his vulnerable familiar.
Besides, if absolute worst-case scenarios somehow materialized, Ebony remaining safely outside might represent Erwin's only viable contingency plan for ensuring crucial information reached allies.
Stepping carefully into the ruins' perimeter, Erwin didn't immediately rush toward the interior structures.
Instead, he began an extremely careful, methodical examination of his immediate surroundings, consciously extending his magical senses to search systematically for what he sought.
After several minutes of concentrated effort, his expression shifted to a troubled frown.
Something is fundamentally wrong here. He sensed absolutely no unusual magical aura whatsoever emanating from these ruins.
Had the Cavendish intelligence operatives somehow brought him to an incorrect location? Or was the sought fragment hidden considerably deeper than he'd initially anticipated?
Genuinely uncertain, Erwin cautiously moved forward into the ruins proper.
With every deliberate step, a brief flash of warm yellow light appeared beneath his feet—he was actively channeling Hufflepuff's earth-aligned power, dramatically heightening his natural perception of terrain and geological structures.
Yet as he ventured progressively deeper into the abandoned complex, he continued discovering essentially nothing of significance.
Soon, Erwin arrived at the most structurally intact building remaining in the entire ruined complex: an ancient temple.
Though severely dilapidated from centuries of neglect, the basic square structure somehow remained standing, supported by weathered stone pillars and forming a maze of interconnected passageways and chambers.
Only one proper entrance remained accessible. The three other sides were lined with rows of smaller alcoves containing headless or severely damaged limbless statues of forgotten deities.
Erwin stood thoughtfully before the temple's imposing entrance, hesitated for a single measured breath while reassessing potential risks, then walked purposefully inside.
The interior chamber proved surprisingly empty save for one feature: a massive central statue dominating the space.
The carved figure was heavily covered in the mottled scars and erosion of immense time, the facial features worn into barely distinguishable vague outlines. What remained suggested chainmail armor and a distinctive skirt-like lower garment.
Erwin's analytical gaze immediately locked onto the stone sword prominently resting in the statue's right hand. He carefully compared the weathered artifact to his extensive knowledge of Arthurian legends.
"That's it," he murmured with growing certainty. "The Sword in the Stone."
He narrowed his eyes, reaching out again with his magical senses in concentrated effort. "But why can't I detect any fluctuation of magical energy whatsoever? Is this merely a mundane commemorative statue of King Arthur? Or is there some concealed anomaly I haven't successfully detected yet?"