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Chapter 36 - The Devourer Question

Morning sunlight barely touched the tall windows of Hogwarts. Clouds hung low over the towers, making the entire castle feel dim and heavy, as if something unseen was pressing down on it.

Julian, Noah, Lake, and Oliver moved through the stone hallways with purpose.

None of them spoke much.

They had all felt it the night before.

That presence.

That pressure.

Something powerful had entered the castle.

Lake muttered under his breath.

"Tell me I wasn't the only one who felt like the air tried to punch me in the chest last night."

Noah shook his head.

"Nope. Definitely real."

Oliver adjusted the collar of his pink suit.

"Which means Naomi's people are here."

Julian pushed open the heavy oak doors to the History Hall.

Professor Kieran stood at the front of the classroom as usual, calmly lighting his pipe.

Smoke curled slowly upward.

He didn't look surprised when the four of them approached.

Instead, he said quietly,

"So… you found the second chamber."

Lake crossed his arms.

"Yeah."

Noah stepped forward.

"And we saw the mural."

Oliver added,

"The one with the gate."

Julian's voice was calm but direct.

"What is the Cosmic Devourer?"

The pipe smoke paused in the air as Kieran exhaled slowly.

For a moment, the old professor said nothing.

Then he walked toward the tall window.

Outside, the castle grounds stretched across the hills and forest beyond.

Finally, he spoke.

"The thing behind the Gate," he said quietly, "is older than kingdoms."

He tapped his pipe against the window frame.

"It is called The Cosmic Devourer."

Lake leaned forward.

"And it does what exactly?"

Kieran looked back at them.

"It consumes worlds."

The room fell silent.

Noah frowned.

"You mean… like a monster?"

Kieran shook his head.

"No."

His voice grew heavier.

"It is a living force of destruction."

He walked slowly back toward them.

"Long ago, a group of archmages discovered that the Devourer existed between dimensions. It drifted through the void… devouring magical worlds one by one."

Oliver raised an eyebrow.

"So they trapped it?"

"Yes."

Kieran nodded.

"They built the Gate beneath Naomi's mansion to imprison it."

Julian's eyes narrowed.

"And Naomi wants to open it."

Kieran's face darkened.

"She believes she can control it."

Lake laughed nervously.

"That sounds like the worst idea ever."

Kieran gave him a grim look.

"Yes."

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