Oliver's elation at the discovery of the Draconis cave picture soon faded as the mammoth task before him was fully understood. Looking through the near endless quantity of maps, magical and non-magical made pictures and photos of caves throughout Europe, he managed to narrow down the search from over seven hundred potential locations down to just twenty-one. Although the picture had drastically reduced the number of possible caves to something more searchable, the daunting task of checking out each location now lay ahead. And Oliver kept reminding himself, it was still possible that the Draconis cave was not even amongst them.
Jynx's attempt to uncover the artist behind the Draconis picture was as fruitful as Finikis' search into what or who was the Dread. Both had not unearthed anything that shed any light on the subjects. They had spent the past two days going over books in Finikis' library, even venturing out to checking local magical book and supply stores. And still nothing. Finikis had pretty much resided himself to the fact he wasn't going to get anywhere, and Jynx was nearing that conclusion too with her own investigation. The pair had been sat in the library since breakfast and it was now nearing lunch. Finikis had not once opened a book that day and Jynx flicked through pages in a book about famous artists within the magical community. She was confident it held no answers, so she was apathetically reading it.
'The Dread must refer to a dragon. I thought it about it. Draconis basically means dragon. The most infamous dragons that acquire a name are often prefixed with an adjective. And dread is not an uncommon one.' Said Jynx, as she closed the book she was reading.
'I thought same. I haven't found anything. It can't be anything else.' Replied Finikis.
'Well, if we do find the cave. I'm not looking forward to facing a dragon. What dragons are local to this area?' Said Jynx, as she raised from her chair and made her way to the stacks that contained books about dragons.
'Norwegian Ridgeback and Ukrainian Ironbelly have been reported. But not common. Anyway. If it is a dragon, I wouldn't Vorry. Not as ve have Oliver.' Said Finikis, who remained seated as he watched Jynx, who turned to stare at him on the mention of Oliver's name.
'Oliver. Why?'
'He faced a dragon before. At school. He vas only student in thirty years at Mahoutokoro to complete Vat Vas described as the true tradition of Mahosodachi. He held out getting robes changed gold until he finished his Mahosodachi vand. He nearly didn't graduate, he vas so obsessed vith honouring the traditions of Japanese magic. He vanted to proof a foreign born vizard had vat it took. And he proved professors vong.'
'Mahosodachi?' Asked Jynx.
'Ya. Had I not told you? Mahoutokoro differs lot from most vizrding schools. You given robes at start and each year vhen you pass and get the grades, your robe takes on new colours and markings. In the last two years, you complete all classes to graduate. And vith each of the seven class you achieve a gold band on the robes. If you receive top marks in all classes your entire robe turns gold. I only gold bands. But Oliver was pretty much top of the class for everything, particularly transfiguration and defence against the dark arts. The class he nearly failed was Mahosodachi, and that vas because he vanted to do it the old vays. He vanted a dragon core to his wand. And in true tradition, he vasn't going to use dragon heartstring supplied. True Mahosodachi required a vizard to find and kill dragon themselves, and to take heartstring. Only then vould you be able to produce a vand that truly belonged to you. Oliver wanted that so bad. He vas a mad man that final year.' Said Finikis, who as he spoke it was clear he was reminiscing of good days. Jynx was eyes wide listening to the story.
'So, Oliver hunted down a dragon for his wand?' Asked Jynx.
'Ya! He did. Only student in years to complete Mahosodachi properly using a dragon heartstring. He vas coy about the story to other students. But the Professors vere impressed and verified it to be true. He got top marks from that and earned golden robes. I still remember how annoyed so many classmates vere at his achieved. Not just them, but their parents. But you couldn't argue. Oliver vas very gifted.'
'Did he tell you about his dragon encounter?'
'He did. He played it down to most students. He told everyone he had not bested the dragon, killed it as you vould think. He said he earned the gift of the heartstring and that fighting a dragon vas most dangerous thing he had ever done.'
'Incredible. Do you think he'd tell me about it? If I asked him?'
'I don't know. He seemed not to give much detail. He seemed closed off after a vhile. Everyone vhen he got his robes asked him about it. And vith each reply, he gave less and less.' Replied Finikis.
Jynx was eager to ask more questions, but before she could say another word, Oliver walked in. He noticed Finikis and Jynx hush up and jump on his entry, and he sensed that they were either talking about him or something they were not keen on sharing. He assumed it was the latter, as he didn't feel he was that interesting of a topic for conversation.
'Down to Twenty-one.' Said Oliver, as he waved his final list of potential caves. 'I think we should start tomorrow. How have you two gotten on?'
Finikis stood up and walked to Oliver. Taking the list from his friend before he spoke.
'Not far. Nothing to suggest vhat vas or is in there. Not vhat the dread could be.'
'And I have searched through all the artist works around here. Nothing. That signature doesn't match anything I have seen before.' Said Jynx, as she stepped to Finikis side and peered down inspecting the list.
'Well, we can't get it all I guess.' Replied Oliver.
'True. We were both thinking it might be a dragon though. Or dragons?' asked Jynx. She was readying herself to pry into his wand making story.
'Yes, I had naturally thought the same. However, something about that seems too obvious. Although, the obvious is often the truth.' Replied Oliver.
'If it is dragon. You'll ready right?' Asked Finikis.
'Of course. Though let's not go there. And let us hope it's not. I don't want to relive those experiences again.' Replied Oliver. His response deeply disappointed Jynx. It put a stopper in her being able to pose some probing questions.
'We should probably take stock of our progress. Before we begin searching the locations.' Said Oliver.
'Agreed.' Said Finikis.
The three spent the afternoon going through Radoslav's journal, the original letters of Domantas, and the picture of the Draconis cave. They listed what they had found to date. They knew what the Tear of Ra did, how to enchant it, and what it looked like. Jynx penned down a transcription of the spell, she did it to make it clearer and easier to follow.
The droplet of the enchanter must be imbued with the spell Ligatus Aeternum. The enchanter then forms the protection bond. The droplet must then be carefully placed in the stone itself. If the incantation and the will of the enchanter is pure and correct the stone will glow red and the connection will be established. The vessel should then wear the stone. They should willingly put it upon themselves. No bewitching can be in place. The heart of the vessel must be wanting.
Oliver watched Jynx write down her version, he felt it was as accurate as it could be, though he was left with an unnerving feeling, that something about it wasn't right, or not as informative as it should be. Although, he could not put his finger on what it was.
Before he could explore his concerns further, a strange unfamiliar voice spoke out from behind them.
'Do not look for the cave. Let the stone have its resting place.'
The three of them turned on the spot to look towards the portraits on the wall. They were all shocked, none more so, than Finikis. For the portrait of Radoslav was now not without the wizard. Now stood in the centre of his picture that hanged in the family tree collection, Radoslav was dressed in an elaborate gold and green robe. His face was stern looking, it was slightly aged, that of a man on the other side of his midlife.
'Hear me this once. Do not search for the cave. Only death Vill great you.' Continued Radoslav.
'After all these years, you not frequent this picture. And now you come here to speak this.' Said Finikis angrily.
'I do not come here, as I tire of questions about the bracelet. I know you, like you farther before you. I knew you'd will be blinded by that quest. Vhich has been born to be true.'
'We have to find the bracelet. Someone else is looking for it. And we need to find it before they do.' Said Oliver boldly.
'Then they will find death there too. I plead that you end the search now.' Said Radoslav from his portrait.
'We can't do that.' Said Jynx.
'Then you Vill face death and dread. As I did.'
'There's a dragon there?' Asked Finikis.
'There is only death. Do not valk in my footsteps. Let go.'
'Ve Can't. Ve Vill not fail. Ve are ready.' Said Finikis.
The three all stood glaring at the portrait. Jynx and Finikis disregarded the pleas. Oliver, however, was curious in the warning and wanted to learn more. He stepped forward and boldly spoke.
'We hear your warnings. But we have no choice. Give us insight into what we will face. And we can prepare for it. It is not just the resting place of the stone; it is where you ventured in the end. It is where you died. Right?'
Radoslav paused, his eyes fixed on to the audacious ex-Auror as he spoke.
'It is. My overconfidence, my biggest regret. I cannot help you repeat that folly. Remember the phrase for vhich I am known.'
Oliver turned to look at Finikis who looked blankly, nothing came to his mind in that instant. A second later he remembered something.
'About the Killing Curse?'
'Ya. Remember, it only makes that vhat is living, dead.' Replied Radoslav.
'And?' Asked Jynx.
'You're not ready.'
'Ve are. But tell us how does that help?' Demanded Finikis.
Oliver had shut out Jynx and Finikis as they spoke, his mind was working on that phrase.
'But what does it do, to the dead?' Said Oliver, as he stared at the floor. It was a question he did not direct at anyone. It was his thoughts spoken aloud. It was a question he was posing to himself. But after the words left his lips, he looked up and back towards the portrait.
'Precisely. It cannot make dead, the undead.' Said Radoslav, stunned.
Jynx and Finikis looked at Oliver as they could see his recognition and understanding that he had deciphered what might be in the cave. They however were still clueless.
Before anyone could ask the portrait anymore questions. Radoslav walked off.
'Vat Vas that?' Asked Finikis.
'I'm not sure. Very cryptic.' Lied Oliver.
'It seemed like you were following what he was saying?' Said Jynx.
Not really. I was just thinking allowed. He has definitely opened my mind to a new line of thinking. Something else to research.' Said Oliver as he turned towards the two of them. 'We should get back to planning.'
*
The first cave they visited the following day, was, after hours of navigating through the dark damp tunnels, revealed not to be the Draconis cave. Oliver, Finikis and Jynx would spend at least eight hours searching each cave looking for clues, charms, any inclining that it could be the Draconis cave; and only when they had scrutinised every inch would they determine that it was not the cave they were looking for.
Days quickly turned to weeks and after searching fifteen locations on Oliver's list, despair and fatigue began to set in. As the months roll on, it was soon nearing the end of May and each of them started to consider that they might never find the cave and therefore the Tear of Ra. Not one of them was brave enough to mention their despondency to the others. Oliver did not feel as disheartened as the other two. Weeks of hard work, which did not always produce results, was an experience he had endured before. Most of an Auror's job was waiting around, taking notes and searching for clues. He was more than hardy for this line of work. Jynx and Finikis however, were not. They increasingly became frustrated with the lack of progress. And with each week that passed, their tolerance for the work decreased. Being short fused and snapping at the slightest comment, was common for the two of them. Oliver resorted to rarely engaging them in conversation unless he truly had to. It was a difficult time for them all.
The cave the three of them searched on an uncommonly wet day in May was not too unlike the fifteen others they had visited before. The damp mould smell filtered throughout and the floor of the cave was covered in a slippery moss. Jynx lost her footing and screamed out.
'That's it. I can't keep doing this. How many of these caves do we have to search before we decide, the list is just wrong. This is going nowhere.'
Oliver moved to her side to help her back to her feet. Finikis was just off in the distance. He muttered something under his breath and continued to walk down a dingy passageway, which he illuminated with Lumos light from his wand.
'Fine. Don't answer me.' Shouted Jynx, directed at Finikis.
'Forgive him. He's as tired of these long hunts as you are.' Said Oliver, as he steadied Jynx.
'I know. But he's been taking it out on me.' Replied Jynx.
'I think it might be sensible if I carry on the search of the caves on my own. I think it's getting too much for you both. This work isn't suited to everyone.'
'We can't let you do that. What if you came across the dragon?' said Jynx, her tone returning to a more cordial tone.
'There's no dragon. I don't think anyway.' Replied Oliver.
'And if there is and you come across it, you'd be ready. You could kill it? Like you did before?' asked Jynx. It had been over months since she first heard about Oliver's encounter with the dragon at school, and she had been dying to quiz him about it. She had not really had the opportunity and now that they were alone, it felt to her, like the perfect moment.
'Finikis told you about that did he?' Asked Oliver.
'He mentioned something about you facing one to construct your wand.' Replied Jynx.
Oliver took out his dragon core wand under his right sleeve and held it up. Holding it in his hand he could feel the subtle vibrations that emanated from the core. The memories came flooding back. He wasn't sure if it was that feeling he got from the connection from his wand or the fact he was in a cave similar to the one where he beat the dragon; but he felt willing to share the story.
'It's strange. This cave is very similar to the one where I came across the dragon. And the story is nothing like what I imagine Finikis had told you. It's not the tale of George and Dragon. This is a about a reckless boy experiencing what was needed, to become a man.' Said Oliver, as he perched down on a rocky outcrop at knee height.
'I found most of my classes easy at school. I always had my head in a book. If I wasn't in the library, I was helping out at the Storm Petrel Aviary. At either place, I spent a lot of the time reading. I enjoyed every class at school and exceeded from my first year there onwards. Most of my professors thought highly of me and would often ply me with praise. At the start anyway. By my final years, it was a given, for the most part, that I would be top in at least three classes and impressing the professors became increasingly more difficult to achieve. That is when I came convinced that I would top the Mahosodachi class. And the only way this brazen British lad was going to do that was to complete it in true Japanese tradition. I was convinced I had to kill a dragon and create a wand from its heartstring. I spent over three months searching various island mountains near the school. I used Storm Petrels to travel around. And much like this search, it took ages to get anywhere near the thing I was looking for. That was until one day, when on an island, which was just one large mountain, I found a large single cave near the summit. As I entered the cave there was a putrid and burning smell which filled my nostrils. I could sense that it was home to a dragon before I saw it. As I walked into the dark tunnel, I held my first wand so tightly, I thought I was going to snap it. I entered a large cavern and before I could illuminate the space, a large ball of fire raced towards. I threw up the most powerful shield I had ever done in my life. As the fire slammed my shield. I quickly lit the space up with a Lumos charm. I saw the dragon lying on the floor, she didn't lunge at me, didn't try to physically attack me. I was out of reach from her mouth and claws. That didn't stop her however, sending ball after ball of flaming bolts at me. I spent near on half an hour blocking the flames, dodging them as best as I could. My clothes were so blackened and scorched. A few times, I really did think I was going to die. I was certain my fool hardy quest had been so incredibly stupid. But at the time, I could do nothing but try to stay alive.'
'That sounds frightening. I have never faced a dragon before. But I know it usually takes several wizards to control one.' Interjected Jynx.
'Yeah. I wish I hadn't gone alone at that point. It was so hairy. And I recall this one fire ball that nearly got me, it was inches away from striking me in the face. I knew I couldn't keep it up for much longer, so I decided I would try and stun the dragon. As soon as there was a lull in the barrage of fire, I mustered up all my strength and sent an incredibly powerful stunning spell. I can still see it today, in my mind, as clear as day. The large deep red jinx flew through the air and smashed into the dragon squarely between the eyes. I don't think I had ever been so on target before or after. Not sure if it was the adrenaline running through my veins, but I had never felt so pumped. Seconds after the spell hit the dragon, its eyes rolled back and its head crashed to the ground.'
'That was some powerful stun.' Said Jynx.
'It was. Best I ever cast I reckon.' Said Oliver, he could see the events clearly in his mind's eye. 'As the dragon lay on the floor, I finally took the situation in. It was a Chinese Fireball, its red scales shimmered in the light from my Lumos. It snored loudly as I could make out the edges of its golden underbelly. I used my wand to utilise elemental magic and craft a sword from the rock. I walked over to the dragon, ready to drive the blade through the creature's eyes, to its brain. I wanted to give it a quick death. As I walked close to it, I saw something that changed my life forever. Near the dragon's tail, there was pool of blood, remnants of decaying tissues, some large broken eggshells. It froze me on the spot. I dropped the sword on the ground and walked over to inspect it. As I got closer, I could see that the dragon's skin around the lower abdomen was all red with green patches, the festering smell became almost unbearable. I covered my nose. It was clear that she was ill, she was infected with something. I quickly discovered she was dying from some form of labour related infection. There were smashed eggs around the area soaked in blood and what I believed was embryonic dead dragons.' Oliver paused for a moment. His eyes welled up for a moment. 'That was when I saw it. There was a small fledgling dragon hiding behind the tale. It was alive, the size of a small dog. It was peering over, fearful eyes peered into my soul. There was this baby dragon, who was so small and defenceless it was clear that it was utterly dependant on his mother, who seconds ago, I was moments away from murdering.'
'Oh my god. What did you do?' Asked Jynx.
'I couldn't kill the dragon now. And when she woke from the stunning spell, she attacked me again with flame. I continued to deflect them with shields. She stopped the attack after a few minutes. Struggling to muster the strength. I stayed there for two days, trying to gain her trust. I left to get her food and using some portions I attempted to nurse her to good health. Over a week, I supported her to gain her strength. There were a couple times I had to jump out of the way of a snap from her teeth or grasp from her claws. The baby dragon, which I didn't know at the time, got all their food from their mother. I was not only getting food for her I was supporting the baby dragon to suckle on his mother's teats. For over two months I kept coming back to that cave with food and portions to keep her in health so she could nurse her only surviving child. I stocked up on whiskey and chicken blood, in case I had to step in and feed the baby dragon directly. I did some studying in between and found that chicken blood and whiskey was a good substitute, but the mother's milk was best. So, I focused on keeping her alive. The last day I entered that cave, the male baby dragon was the size of large Labrador and his wings were strong enough to allow him to fly. He would need teaching on how to hunt and nest, but he was now no longer dependant on his mother's milk. I knew that, and it was clear she knew that too, on that day. She had held out for so long, surviving to that very moment. That day, she finally succumbed to the illness. Although, as she was dying, she looked at me, as though she was reading my thoughts, analysing my soul. It was in those moments that as she rested down for the last time, she rolled on her side, revealing her chest to me. There was this incredibly poignant moment, a shared look. Where I knew she was gifting me what I wanted. Rewarding me for what I had done for her, for her baby. She was signalling to me, that I had permission to take what I had come for all those months before.' Said Oliver, he again paused. And wiped a single tear.
'That's amazing. After all that time.'
'Exactly. It was the most meaningful experience of my life. This wand, that I take with me everywhere, is connected to that moment. It reminds me of the sacrifice, the graft, the commitment, the fragility of life. All rolled up into one memory. That is the core of my wand. It is the core of me.' As he spoke, he brought his wand to eye level and smiled before looking over at Jynx who was listening intently.
'I can see why your professors rewarded you. You did beat the dragon. You might not have delivered the fatal blow, but you won her over. I can't get over that.' Said Jynx.
'I know. And if you take anything from it. Remember, it took me months of time and hard work to get to that point. If something is truly important, you put in the time and it will be pay off. These past weeks have been difficult. Though with perseverance, we will get there in the end.' Finished Oliver.
'Thank you. I know that wasn't easy to tell. I do appreciate it.' Said Jynx.
'Right. We should call this one a day. I'll go get Finikis.'
'Yes. We should. What happened to that baby dragon?' Asked Jynx.
'Well, he survived. I hope, and I believe he's out there living his best life.' Replied Oliver, with a longing, happy smirk.