"Very well, gentlemen, what excuses do you propose?" inquired Lord Black. Without waiting for a response, he continued: "And you had better endeavor to find some, for I am not inclined to be lenient."
This was a gathering of all members of the Black clan in the dining hall at Grimmaud Place, with the lord presiding over the proceedings.
It had been little more than a sennight since Nigelus was brought back to the realm of the living, and during this time he had already established his feeble and incompetent descendants, who had recently assumed leadership of his clan.
Orion was swiftly overwhelmed by Nigelus' authority and the might of his strength. The unfortunate man was too afraid to look his ancestor in the eye, for he felt guilt. However, Walburga, accustomed to regarding herself as untouchable within the family and entitled to issue commands as she had in the past, lorded it over her husband to her heart's content, was deeply displeased with Nigelus.
Upon regaining her composure after encountering her ancestor, she attempted once again to display her "Black" nature by challenging the new head of the household, but Nigelus met her defiance with a punishment of one thousand rods, each with fifty lashes, administered over twenty days. He prepared the implements for the chastisement of his great-granddaughter, each rod a finely crafted dark magical artifact.. The consequences of striking the skin with these objects were far more severe than those resulting from ordinary blows with a staff, and these wounds could not be healed or hastened by magical or other means, except through natural regeneration. Only the Lord Black himself possessed the power to remove the curses that hindered the healing process through the use of healing spells, a power he was not inclined to exercise.
Even the fact that many Blacks possessed some form of metamorphic ability did not escape Nigelus' notice, and he took this factor into account when crafting his cursed items. The curse placed on the affected area not only prevented it from healing, but also blocked this innate ability. Of course, this curse could be overcome, but to do so, one needed to possess at least expert-level control over one's own magic and possess knowledge equivalent to that of a master in the fields of dark magic, malevolence, blood magic, or metamorphosis.. But Walburga, far from possessing any of these qualities, now found herself with the "pleasure" of sitting with her posterior propped up on a chair, enduring constant discomfort without even the slightest relief. She had once considered herself exceptional, the bearer of the most unyielding and obstinate Black nature, but the new leader had managed to instill humility into her in a matter of days, showing her her true position in the current pecking order of the family. At the very least, she had been enlightened now and no longer attempted to interfere in everything that transpired around her.
Over the past week since assuming the mantle of Lord Black, Nigelus has been actively engaged in the sacred space of the ritual chamber, where the familial stone resides. Here, he has conducted a multitude of daily rituals at the altar of sacrifice, with only brief interruptions for meals and visits to the training hall. Had it been possible, Nigelus would have continued to perform ritual after ritual without pause, but the intensity of his efforts to affect the kin stone was such that it proved impossible to maintain. It became necessary to allow him time to recuperate and harmonize the magical currents within himself after each ritual on the altar, which had a profound impact on the clan's magical energy.
Nigelus was appalled at the sight of their birthstone, which was covered in grime. There had been numerous family curses in the past, but in the past, he and his predecessors had performed weekly rites that temporarily stunted and isolated these curses, preventing them from affecting clan members. Neither he nor his predecessors, the Lords Black, possessed the power to lift these curses.
They resorted to weekly rituals involving the sacrifice of sheep (humans would have been preferable, but sheep sufficed), which served to bind the curses and prevent them from feeding off the clan's magical energy, weakening them until they became vulnerable to removal.
The sight that greeted Nigelus after more than half a century in the afterlife was not one he found particularly agreeable, to say the least. Neither Orion nor Arcturus, his father, had performed any of the required rituals for over thirty-five years, in defiance of the specific list of practices designed to protect the clan and its descendants from the pernicious effects of ancestral curses.
The rituals intended to shield the members of the Black family from the ever-present influence of these curses, which had been imbued in the family stone since time immemorial, were blatantly disregarded, a fact that Nigelus could not reconcile. Their negligence had rendered futile the efforts of at least five generations of Blacks, and without a remedy, the curses regained their strength. It would take another two centuries, employing similar strategies, to restore the family stone to its former state, as it existed under Nigelus's watch.
And that made the new patriarch want to rend, sunder, and annihilate!
"What are you saying, you curs?!" Nigelus bellowed, his fury unbridled. "Arcturus, face me!" he thundered. "Arcturus, meet my gaze!"
As soon as Orion's father encountered the gaze of his suddenly revived grandfather, Lord Black burst into his mental realm at full speed, akin to a truck that has lost its brakes on a steep incline, eager to uncover the cause of the recent events.
On the very first day when Nigelus became aware of the situation with the birthstone, he summoned Orion to his presence. Just as he did now, Nigelus invaded Orion's mind using legilimency and delved into his memories of the altar and the birthstone. His surprise was palpable when he failed to find anything of interest.
Orion was unaware of any specific rituals required on the altar. He grew up with the understanding that these rituals and interactions with the altar through birth magic were not essential or necessary. In his lifetime, he had participated in approximately a dozen rituals, and these were only conducted when necessary.. Precisely, upon his marriage, upon the welcoming of his newborn progeny into the fold, binding them in a sacred covenant, and upon the severing of the line of Marius Black, his uncle, from the family, having been excommunicated.
It was inconceivable to Lord Black that Cygnus II, son of Nigelus, would not have imparted to his heir, Arcturus — the father of Orion — the knowledge necessary for his role. After all, Cygnus was a master of rituals, and it was his duty to instill in his son an understanding of the significance of the rites Lord Black himself performed during the great feasts of the annual cycle and on each full moon.
This was one of the reasons why Lord Black had convened all members of the Black family under the roof of the ancestral home. His intention was to unravel this mystery, and to accomplish this, he required access to the recollections of all those who still lived.
The discovery in his grandson's mind caused him to swear in disbelief! The fool had married Melania Macmillan in a manner that deviated from the traditional rituals, as prescribed by his ancestors, opting instead for the more democratic Saxon rite, which granted the wife greater rights and even allowed her to inflict harm on her husband, albeit in self-defense.
This union, arranged for political reasons, aimed to put an end to a long-standing rivalry between two ancient families. Had his grandson adhered to the prescribed customs, all would have been well. However, once Melania was in close proximity to Lord Black, with the means to protect her husband from harm, she began administering mental potions to Arcturus, subtly influencing his thoughts and convincing him that he no longer needed to engage in the rituals.
She was well aware of the consequences, both for herself and her husband, even with her reduced obligations to the Black clan. The magic of the family to which she belonged punished Melania for her actions, despite the fact that they were directed against her own husband.. Having been raised in a family that despised her husband's lineage, she made a sacrifice that cost her her own life, departing on a journey of rebirth a decade after her marriage to Black.
Her efforts were successful, and her malicious actions could have threatened the future of the Black family had not Nigelus intervened and resolved the issue with the birthstone.
Tonight, at the dinner table, the Black family was in full attendance. Among them were Pollux Black, his wife Irma née Crabb, their children Alfard and Cygnus III, and Druella Black, their cousin, who was also the wife of Orion Black, the former patriarch. Also present were Cassiopea, Pollux's sister, Walburga Black, Orion's daughter, and Lycoris, Arcturus Black's own sister, who remained unmarried.
In this alternate reality, the plague of dragonpox had not yet ravaged the islands, allowing the older generation of the Blacks to continue to thrive. However, under the leadership of Arcturus, the puppet master, the once-mighty Black clan had fallen into decline, leaving little hope for its future.. It was the general inadequacy of the family, not so much due to the leadership of the weak-willed head of the household, but rather to the mounting curses that had taken a toll on the minds of the Blacks, exacerbating their mental state, as well as their family's capacity for conflict and strength. The root cause of this was the very essence of the problem, the erosion of the family foundation under the weight of the curses that grew upon it.
In the presence of the head of the family, who cared little for his position within the family hierarchy, they might have been authorities to Orion, uncles, and aunts. But not to Nigelus, who dissected his grandson's mind before their very eyes, commenting on his words and thoughts, and what he perceived in Arcturus.
When Nigelus, having delved deep into the root cause of the current family troubles, after having burned and uprooted all the behavioral patterns and reactions of Arcturus that had been implanted in his subconscious by his beloved wife Melania, decided to lend his support to the unfortunate man, he unleashed a spell that caused Arcturus to slip off his chair like a block and roll under the table, leaving him unconscious.
The incident left everyone in the room stunned, but none of those haughty Blacks seated at the table with their towering sense of superiority dared to react, for fear of igniting the already tense atmosphere. Thus, none sought to draw attention to themselves, and in an attempt to preserve their own dignity, they attempted to shrink into obscurity, lest they become the next target of their illustrious ancestor, who seemed to be unsettled in the family vault!
They were taken aback when they saw Black, not Orion, presiding over the table, for his family features were striking, yet he was a stranger to them. When Nigelus introduced him, they gasped in astonishment! A resurrection from the dead and a return to the living world after such a lengthy absence was an extraordinary event. They could recall the name Vencenzo Amati, but this was a miracle sent by a deity whose follower was the cardinal. However, it was impossible to avoid the influence of black magic, given his surname. Naturally, they had many questions, but after the tragedy at Arcturus, the number of those daring to ask them had dwindled to zero. Now, their thoughts were solely focused on ensuring their ancestor had no questions for them.
Nigelus was ablaze with such fury that his innate ability to manipulate the energy of sentient spirits imbued his aura with such potency that it became discernible even in the conventional spectrum, manifesting as a flicker of malevolence that enveloped Lord Black in a menacing shroud. His anger would not persist for long, as there was little he could do to change the situation, but he vowed to exact retribution upon Clan Macmillan in due course, and his penchant for devising elaborate schemes was well-known. A few moments later, having regained his composure, he addressed the assembled crowd.
I hereby declare Sirius Orion Black III as the heir to the Black family, in the event of my unforeseen demise. Should Sirius not have attained the age of majority at that time, I appoint Cygnus Black III, son of Pollux, to act as his guardian.
I state explicitly that all members of the family are required to visit the ancestral home on a weekly basis, bringing a suitable offering for the ritual, preferably a human sacrifice with a black soul. The state of our ancestral altar, currently under the care of my grandson Arcturus, is a cause for concern. The magic of our bloodline is suffering under a weight of curses.
The location of the sacrifices is of no concern to me, provided they are not the souls of the innocent. This applies to all members of the family. I have a question specifically for you, Orion. Who is Lord Voldemort, and why does he presume to address Lord Black in such a manner when you are Lord Black yourself?
After yet another outburst of rage from Nigelus, so violent that the enchanted crockery on the table rattled from the resonance of his magic, Orion was struck in the face by a stack of parchments hurled at him by the enraged Nigel.
"He is the heir of Slytherin!" Orion's father-in-law, Walburga's husband, retorted, attempting to maintain his composure, but sounding more like a pathetic bleating sheep. His response was met with a smug smile from Walburga. This did not go unnoticed by Lord Black.
With an exclamation of "Crucio!", something considered unthinkable occurred before the eyes of the older generation of the Black family. Nigelus had cast the Unforgiveable Curse on two targets simultaneously, directly at Orion and at his father, who remained unconscious under the table, without the use of a wand.
"Fools!" Lord Black exclaimed after a moment of chastising his negligent progeny, "Do you not know the family code? No Lord of a living magical family may assume any name other than his own, and so Marvolo cannot be a Lord!"
Then, Lord Black burst out in a booming, choking laughter.
"Ha-ha-ha! Oh, I can't! The heir of Salazar? You are all imbeciles! We must tell Salazar of this." Nigellus spoke more quietly towards the end, but his recent laughter and demeanor suggested he was unhinged, and his words were taken lightly. Except by Cygnus and his wife, who smiled.
From that day forth, I, acting Lord Black, prohibit all members of this clan from interacting with this reprobate, and if he continues his pursuit of contact or correspondence, refer to me for my decree. The Lord commands, period. Let us see what comes of this.
Following Nigelus' interruption, a chorus of assenting voices rose from the table of parents, affirming their comprehension of their liege's decree and their commitment to its implementation.
"Now, my granddaughter, I have a query for you: what correspondence do I detect between myself and Lady Malfoy, Lady Lestrange, and Lady Travis?" The tone was so amiable and affectionate that it was immediately evident to all present that it was a deliberate ploy, and Walburga was on the verge of receiving a severe reprimand. Druella, the sole occupant at the table who had not joined in, could not suppress the vindictive grin that lurked behind her mask of indifference for a moment. As the mother of daughters who were to be sold to sadists and degenerates for preferential treatment by the Slytherin heir, she wished for the most excruciating punishment and a death filled with agony for Walburga!
In a conversation among myself and my companions, we explored the prospect of our kin marrying into the families of Cygnus and Druella, a union that could significantly bolster our social standing.
Despite being subjected to four hundred verbal rebukes, Walburga's intellect and haughtiness remained unabated. She responded to Lord Black with a patronizing tone, as if imparting a self-evident truth to a child, failing to comprehend or accept her new role as a widow without the support of a submissive husband. Naturally, this enraged Nigelus.
"Kreacher!" Nigelus called out, summoning the house elf responsible for various tasks, including disciplining negligent parents.
As Walburga writhed on the floor, subjected to the non-verbal torment of her Lord in response to her answer to Nigelus' question, she found herself in the company of her husband and in-laws, who were still recovering from the effects of the Crucio. Lord Black issued a new decree regarding his foolish great-granddaughter, his voice filled with anger and frustration.
"From this day forward, she will receive one hundred lashes of the birch each day! And this number will increase by a thousand!!! She has completely lost her mind. I will teach her respect, you mindless fools."
Nigelus ended his speech with a hiss of exasperation, unable to believe what had become of his family. There was no intelligence, no cunning, only arrogance and a fanatical belief in their own superiority based on their pure bloodline. But he had seen it before, how prosperous families could start to decline. There were no signs of trouble, until one day, they descended into decline.
Pollux, my grandson, how could you have raised such an imbecile and been so foolish as to make her a Lady Black? Silence! That was a rhetorical question, after all.
What on earth is to be done with all of you? All of you are grey-haired wizards, yet none of you possess any intelligence! I cannot fathom how you managed to gain admission to Slytherin at Hogwarts; you should have been sorted into Gryffindor.
Poor Nigelus... but then there was a sharp retort from Lycoris directed towards her great-nephew, Cygnus III, Bellatrix's father, who she had not forgiven for joining another house.
"Why not?" Cygnus could not have been admitted to Slytherin; he was destined for Rowena's Eagles, I cannot believe we have one of them here!
It seems to run in the family; Black women are notoriously lacking in self-preservation. Why did she choose to speak out against the only member of the family who had not fallen into disfavor with the new head of the house and the old one? That is what the foolish woman has earned herself.
"What is your right to speak? What have you done for this clan? Not a single talent, never married, no offspring! You are like a weed, you have drunk the resources of the Black Clan, but you have not contributed anything in return.
Listen to me carefully, I give you one month to memorize our ancestral laws from cover to cover, and during this time, not only to know them by heart, but to live and think according to them. Those who fail, I will expel from the clan and sacrifice them on the altar, if they are of no use to their former family. Perhaps they can break the curse."
Lord Black was in a dark mood when he began the meal. He could not contain his anger and postponed the family gathering, snapping at everyone. After a tense meal, Lord Black addressed Cygnus before leaving.
"Rest assured, Cygnus," Nigelus said, "no one will wed your daughters without your consent. So there is no need for concern on that account. I thank you on behalf of my family for having raised such a daughter who has caught the attention and interest of our liege lord. Within the month, all who pass my tests and remain in the service of the Black family shall swear fealty to our lord! You may yet discover his identity. You must still prove yourself worthy of such honour."
With a more cheerful demeanour, Nigelus departed the hall, leaving his family members in a state of astonishment at this news. Never before had any member of their clan been a vassal to another, and now it seemed that such a fate had befallen them.
"Orion, from where did our most esteemed ancestor come? How is it that he has been revived, and what is expected of us all now?" Alfard was far from pleased that he would be required to answer to another, participate in the active life of the clan, and, even more so, pledge fealty to an unknown individual to whom Nigelus pointed. His previous existence had been satisfactory as it was, with his cousin and sister at the head of their respective families, leaving him to quietly pursue his research in the confines of his cottage.
"I know no more than you! Eight days past, I collapsed from the sudden loss of my lordship, and when I awoke, Nigelus had already arrived. Our meeting could not have been more awkward. After the new Lord Black spent time in the dungeons, in the chamber with the birthstone, I experienced my grandfather's Cruciatus for the first time. Father, is there anything you wish to share with me? Why was I unaware of the rituals expected of the head of our family?"
Upon assuming the role of head of the clan, Nigelus imposed a strict ban on Orion and Walburga's interactions with the outside world. Meanwhile, he meticulously managed the affairs of the clan and delved into the publications of the press that had emerged during his absence. Consequently, the erstwhile Lord Black was unable to inquire of his father as to why he had not been taught the essential rituals, nor to seek any information regarding them in the library or the office of the clan head.
"Oh…" Arcturus clutched his head as his son's question echoed through the room. "Oh, damnation! I loathe it!" For the first time in years, the father of Orion could look at his life without the reality being distorted by the mental bookmarks that had been placed there. It had only just occurred to him that a single mistake he had made, when he foolishly went along with his fiancee and married her not according to the traditions of his family, but those of hers, had cost him his freedom of will and nearly cost his family their very lives! Had his grandfather not stepped forward, the Black family would have ceased to exist within a couple of generations. And if not for himself, then in a moment of weakness, there were many who would have assisted in their demise.
"Forgive me, my son, forgive me, my family!" Orion's father asked for forgiveness for the first time in his life. He had just seen the full picture and realized that he had nearly caused the destruction of his family — it was all his fault.
With his head bowed over the table, grey hair obscuring his face from his listeners, he spoke. After a moment of painful silence, he lifted his gaze to meet his relatives' eyes, but when he met his son's stare, he declared:
"I swear, I shall rectify my mistake and exact retribution!"
The oath was taken by both the world and the family's magic, and there was no escape from its fulfillment.
"Druella, why does your family suddenly favour Nigelus?" Walburga demanded the moment Orion was out of her great-granddaughter's presence, her desire for dominance reignited.
— And why in the world should I deign to respond to you? Do not ever again open your mouth in my presence or address me in such a manner. Lord Black has not abolished duels, and should this happen again, next time I will have you eat your tongue for such impudence! Do you comprehend me, wretch?
The enmity between the Rosiers and Walburga Black is a long-standing one, dating back to their days at Hogwarts. In their youth, they were members of a duelling club, and Walburga, already then believing herself superior to others, was repeatedly defeated by Rosier due to her impetuous tongue. Druella was the one who gave her most trouble. However, once Walburga joined the Black family as Lady Rhoda, she made it her mission to make her sister-in-law's life intolerable.
Even in selecting potential partners for Druell's daughters, Walburga's primary concern was not the potential benefit to the clan through such unions, but rather how unhappy the young women would be with the suitors chosen by the matriarch of the clan.
Orion, in their marital partnership, quickly grasped the direction of the winds, having sailed through life, adjusting to currents and avoiding obstacles, he fully understood that if his spouse failed to cultivate flexibility, she might become a sacrifice on the altar of the clan's demands. He did not harbour any illusions about the forgiveness of their ancestors. He did not rule out the possibility that, for his wife's sake, he might make an exception and allow her to be sacrificed without waiting for the month he had granted them to rectify their situation through self-improvement.
Thus, as soon as his spouse was about to erupt in profanities and cause a commotion, he delivered a stunning blow.
As flighty and foolish as she might have been, Orion still cherished her deeply and did not desire her demise. While he might have previously allowed himself to be submissive, there was no longer any way he could do so. Not if he wished to keep his wife from trouble. Thus, he would now be firm and resolute; if necessary, he would silence his wife and lead her away. Otherwise, she would simply drive Lord Black to madness, and he would slay the fool.
"Please forgive my wife's conduct. The past week has been exceedingly trying. If you will excuse us, we must depart."
With a wave of his hand, he levitated his wife and left the hall with her in tow. The scene had left everyone in attendance astonished. What had transpired in Orion's mind to compel him to raise his hand against Walburga, using a stunning spell on his beloved spouse? He had almost dusted her off!
Only Cygnus understood, and it filled him with pity for Orion. Such a fool to love, even an enemy would not wish for it!
"What shall we do now, Cygnus?" inquired Alfard, casting a glance at the erstwhile Lord and Lady Black.
"The same thing that any good family member ought to do, one who cares for the welfare of the family. To learn the code of the clan, the entirety of it, not merely the obligatory portion with rights and obligations. As it transpires, it was not sufficient to avoid making mistakes in front of the clan's magic. Moreover, it is imperative to direct all our energies towards strengthening the family, adhering to the Lord's directives."
All present concurred, for none desired to incur the displeasure of Lord Black himself.
"Very well, then. I am off to the library," said the first girl, rising from the table. She hastened towards the Lycoris family codex, without so much as a farewell. She was uncertain whether she would be able to make a copy, and so she wished to reach it as quickly as possible in order to begin her study. With a mind like Nigelus', they would all have to abandon their slumberous and affected aristocratic hauteur if they wished to preserve their skins. She would need to demonstrate her diligence, and she did so immediately. Today, she felt acutely that she had nearly crossed the line past which her posterior awaited the lash. Grandfather cared not for their "advanced" age, and he held no authority over them in his eyes.
Arcturus sprang from his seat, almost in a state of agitation, but managed to maintain his composure and departed the table with a measured step instead of hastening to the library. His companions, including Cassiopeia, followed suit. Cassiopeia remained silent throughout the gathering, the sole member not to speak. She possessed the gift of prophecy, inherited from her mother within the Krebb lineage. The fate of the Black family had long been shrouded in foreboding in all foreseen visions of the future, until this year when, with the return of Nigelus, the darkness began to lift.
********
It had been a sennight since I had taken on two personal apprentices, and once more I found myself gratified by my instinct and my choices. They had been diligent from the outset, and my words and counsel were heeded and recorded with care and thoroughness, including the inflection and timbre of my voice.
But from the moment they became my disciples and learned of my former identities, under which I had traversed Europe, they became enraptured by my presence. Such fervent devotion, dedication, and piety might be expected of religious zealots or elderly fanatics, who have been indoctrinated throughout their lives, but certainly not from two youngsters.
While Sylvia revered me as a grand and powerful sorcerer to emulate, Bellatrix also harbored romantic feelings for me. In her mind, aside from thoughts about her studies, there always remained space for all manner of romantic notions.
Ah, it was easier with Maria.. At that point in time, my persona, Salazar, had not yet been shrouded in the many legends and veil of secrecy that would come to define it, nor had I, as Svyatozar, accomplished any heroic deeds. To Bella, I am like God and Satan combined, the ultimate good and ultimate evil in one person.
During meditation, Bellatrix, you must not attempt to capture your mind and subjugate it to the goal of concentration. Instead, you must completely relax and endeavor to sense, smell, taste and feel your own magical energy within you, its flow and state. It is easiest to begin by listening to your own breath and learning from it how to seek what you seek. Excessive concentration leads to tension, which ultimately distracts you from your goal.
I was currently teaching them the art of sensing their mana, for without this ability, magic unguided is impossible.
"I comprehend, mentor," Bella responded, and with that, she immediately relaxed and followed my guidance. Even though she could not yet sense her mana, both Bellatrix and Sylvia were close to the threshold.
We now found ourselves in the aid room, which the girls had accessed through my office, transformed into a training ground. Here, there was a duel track and an enclosed arena, separated by a barrier. Additionally, there was a meditation area in the form of a soft, cushioned platform for comfortable seating.
As my students delved into self-discovery and explored their magical abilities, I formulated plans for their future training. In my mind, I contemplated the array of potions and elixirs necessary for their spiritual development. Moreover, I had already compiled a list of rituals that they would soon undertake.
The following day, upon the girls' admission as my pupils, I conducted a ritual of divination upon them, employing my divine authority over reality, thereby ascertaining their strengths and vulnerabilities.
I promptly commenced devising a strategy for their advancement, aiming to maximize their potential and mitigate their weaknesses. Finally, I was able to outline a preliminary plan for their future training and education. However, my cherished patronus interrupted me.
"My dear Sviatozar and I, along with Koneka, are currently at the Citadel on a personal matter. We encountered Yarik there, who sought to see you. It appears that he has news from China regarding the Celestial Empire's decision to allow witches to participate in the purification of the Kitsune's nest."
What delightful news! I am certain that there must be at least a few kitsunes among these creatures who have already attained the ninth shell. Devouring their hearts will certainly provide Koneka with a significant boost in power. Perhaps I will also benefit from this (I cannot say for certain whether consuming the heart of a seven-tailed entity, whose heart I consumed and whose gift I acquired, and who has undergone multiple transformations, will yield additional benefits beyond what I already possess), but I cannot speak for Maria.
After all, my initial apprentice evolved into a goddess after being human, and the likelihood of her acquiring the fae enhancement chip would have been virtually non-existent were it not for her connection with her familiar, Koneka, and her marriage to me, a divine serpent. Ever since becoming the Goddess of Dreams, my power has diminished in comparison to hers. The essence of such a complex and metaphysical ability she now possesses remains beyond my comprehension.. It is beyond my ken. I can only marvel at her helpfulness.
So, why are my students so silent? Turning my attention to them, I caught a curious sight. Two young ladies, sitting in an unconventional lotus position, dressed in what I considered a suitable outfit for such exercises, which resembled a traditional Chinese qipao, with a wide ochre sash, were staring at my wife's material patronus, who resembled an actual dragon in appearance. Hmm...
I immediately drew parallels between my wife's patronus and the character from the first world anime I watched. However, I decided to put that thought aside for later.
"Girls, how do you feel about traveling?" I asked, breaking the silence. Only then did they look away from the dragon on my shoulder and focus on me, their instructor.
"We have never left the Tin Islands, master," one of them replied.
Sylvia responded on behalf of herself and her cousin, while Bella's attention continued to drift towards the dragon, which was rubbing against her cheek like a domesticated feline. How could I react when he embodied the radiant emotions of his creator? Thus, he rubbed against me, conveying Maria's feelings for her partner.
"Then I can assure you that we will be setting off for China today on our quest for foxes. How delightful is that? What noble and loyal Englishman could not rejoice in such exhilarating pursuit as the hunt for red-haired thieves?"