A thought stirred in Lewis's mind.
Since the unicorn had mentioned her parents—saying that what she knew about Druids came from them—then they likely knew more.
So Lewis smiled gently at her. "Little one, now that your injuries are healed, let me escort you home. I also have a few questions I'd like to ask your parents."
"Okay!" The young unicorn sprang to her feet and began leading the way. "Then please come with me, Druid… but you won't be able to meet my parents. They were killed by bad people."
Killed by Voldemort…
Seeing the sadness in her eyes, Lewis felt a surge of anger.
Truly unforgivable. To slaughter such a beautiful creature without hesitation.
He gently stroked her head. "I'm sorry… stay strong."
"It's okay, Druid," the little unicorn shook her head, her eyes brightening. "My parents left behind many younger siblings. I'll take good care of them."
What a kind little creature.
Lewis patted her neck. "Then take me to meet your brothers and sisters."
"Oh, and don't keep calling me 'Druid.' It sounds distant. Just call me Lewis Green. I'll call you by your name too—then we'll be friends."
"Mhm! Lewis and I are friends!" she snorted happily. Then she hesitated. "But… I don't have a name."
"Why not?" Lewis asked, surprised.
"Because I'm not an adult yet. Only adult unicorns are given names by their parents."
She thought for a moment, then suddenly said, "But since I'm raising my siblings, that means I'm grown up now, right? If I'm grown up, I should have a name. Lewis, can you give me one?"
"A name?" Lewis blinked, intrigued.
After a moment, he found one in his memory.
"Then I'll call you Lurue."
Lurue—the name of a unicorn goddess from another world.
Queen of unicorns, protector of intelligent beasts, ally of the forest gods.
Lewis chose it not only as a blessing, but also as a bridge.
Unicorns held a high status in the forest.
To gain their recognition was to gain the forest's goodwill.
And if he was already seen as a "Druid"…
Then playing the role of a forest representative didn't seem so far-fetched.
"Lurue! I like it!"
The unicorn accepted the name instantly, prancing around him with excitement.
Then she nuzzled his chest. "Um… Lewis, it's a bit far from here to my home. Do you want to ride on my back? I can carry you."
Lewis felt a spark of temptation.
Riding a unicorn—
That was something reserved for legends.
But outwardly, he shook his head. "Better not. We're friends. Riding a friend feels… impolite."
"Is it?" Lurue tilted her head. "That's just human thinking. We unicorns don't mind."
She explained earnestly, "Carrying smaller creatures is normal for us. Birds land on my back all the time when I sunbathe. If you were bigger than me, I wouldn't let you ride—but you're not."
…So in her mind, he was on the same level as a bird.
Lewis sighed inwardly.
Different species, different rules.
To humans, it might seem disrespectful.
To unicorns, it was natural.
And besides—
the unicorn goddess herself served as a mount to a forest deity.
With that in mind, Lewis stopped pretending.
He grabbed Lurue's shoulders and hopped onto her back.
"Hold onto my mane, Lewis. Sit tight—we're going!"
She dashed forward into the depths of the forest.
Lewis wrapped his arms around her neck as the wind rushed past his face.
It felt like riding a galloping steed—
a different thrill from Quidditch's speed,
but no less exhilarating.
Perhaps this was a different kind of romance.
They crossed a narrow stream, passed through dense undergrowth, and arrived at a shallow lakeside.
Tall fir trees surrounded the water. Fireflies danced above the surface.
The water was shallow—barely reaching Lurue's knees.
And in the middle stood a small island.
Lush greenery covered it, and intertwined branches formed an archway, giving it a dreamlike appearance.
This was her home.
Lewis dismounted and followed her into the water toward the island.
Halfway there, a small unicorn head peeked out from behind the arch.
Then another.
And another.
Five in total.
Upon seeing a stranger, they quickly retreated into hiding.
"Sorry, Lewis," Lurue said apologetically. "They're a bit shy. Can you wait here? I'll talk to them."
"Of course."
Lewis stepped back to the lakeshore.
Soon, the golden-coated young unicorns emerged again, lively and curious.
After a brief exchange with Lurue, they scampered off—
only to return moments later, running toward Lewis.
Each carried something in their mouths—
bright red or glowing blue berries.
They circled him, eager to offer their gifts.
"Not on the ground," Lurue reminded them. "Wizards don't like that."
So Lewis held out his hands.
One by one, the little unicorns placed the berries into his palms.
"These are gifts for our guest," Lurue said proudly. "Freshly picked."
Lewis ate one and nodded. "Sweet, juicy… very good. Thank you."
The taste was decent—
a bit tart compared to cultivated fruit,
but that wasn't the point.
It was the thought that mattered.
Soon, Lewis found himself playing with the young unicorns.
They adored him.
And he gained full permission to pet them as much as he liked.
Surrounded by fluffy little creatures,
he finally understood the joy of having pets.
Before leaving, Lurue led him to a hollow tree stump in the corner of their home.
Inside—
treasures beyond measure.
Seven or eight unicorn horns, each about twenty centimeters long.
A large bundle of tail hair.
And a stump filled with gold and silver down.
"Humans like these things," Lurue explained. "We collect what we shed. Sometimes we give some to the forest keeper."
She looked at him seriously. "You saved me. You're my friend. So you can take whatever you need."
Lewis was genuinely moved.
This stash alone could fetch tens of thousands of Galleons.
Even a single horn was priceless.
But he didn't take much—
just one horn, a small bundle of tail hair, and a handful of down.
Seeing her confusion, he smiled.
"We're friends, right? Whether it stays here or with me makes no difference. If I need more, I'll just visit. You won't refuse me, will you?"
"Of course not!" Lurue beamed. "You can come anytime!"
The younger unicorns also gave him farewell gifts—berries, mushrooms…
and one even spat a mouthful of fresh grass into his hand.
Lewis laughed helplessly.
By the time he left, his appearance was… less than dignified.
His clothes were wrinkled, covered in dirt and grass—
he looked like Professor Sprout after a long day in the greenhouse.
Lurue carried him back through the forest.
When they reached the stream where he had fought Voldemort,
Lewis suddenly grabbed her mane.
"Careful. Someone's coming."
She stopped immediately.
Moments later—
heavier hoofbeats echoed from the distance.
A figure emerged.
Taller than Lurue, with the body of a horse and the torso of a man.
Golden lower body, striking blue eyes, and flowing platinum hair.
A centaur.
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