Evan approached the owl ghost, which didn't move aside but instead cocked its head to curiously observe him. Its translucent form, bathed in the wand's light, appeared absentminded as if it were fascinated by what this young boy might do.
"Cursed soul?" Evan muttered, recalling the mention of a "cursed soul" magic from an ancient book. Although he understood the power of demons and curses, the term "shade," soul magic, was unfamiliar. This particular magic might not reveal the proper form of a ghost but could potentially affect souls. Its purpose might not be to materialize a ghost but to communicate with one.
Evan pointed his wand downward, and from the tip flowed a creamy liquid that sparkled with a faint glow. He carefully drew a complex magic rune on the ground while Sirius and Elena observed.
Under Elena's persistent questioning, Sirius refrained from engaging in conversation and instead shared his knowledge about Auror's skills with her. Despite the vast difference in their skill levels, Elena genuinely wanted to learn to become an Auror. She paid close attention to what Sirius shared.
After several minutes of meticulous work, Evan finished drawing the complex magic rune. He then gestured for the owl ghost to come forward.
The owl ghost, still gazing at him, approached cautiously. It was as if it was studying Evan's actions, trying to comprehend what the young wizard was attempting. After a moment, the owl ghost extended its wings and landed within the rune Evan had drawn.
"Visualization!" Evan declared as he tapped the ground gently with his wand.
With the movement of his wand, the blue, luminescent runes etched on the ground rapidly spread, casting a pale blue glow that enveloped the owl ghost.
"It worked!" Evan exclaimed as he stood back. Sirius and Elena approached to look at what had just occurred.
"What worked?" Elena asked, clearly bewildered. "What did you do? What kind of magic is this?"
In the next moment, a figure emerged within the blue glow. The owl ghost's wings and talons slowly transformed into human hands and feet, and shoulders sprouted from its ethereal form. Its body grew, taking on a human-like appearance reminiscent of the dreaded Owl-Man. However, the feathers on its face vanished, revealing a more typical human countenance.
The transformed entity resembled a middle-aged man about fifty, bearing deep wrinkles. He wore outdated servant's attire from centuries past, indicating that he had once been a resident of this ancient castle.
Despite its ghostly transparency, the entity had fully taken on a human form, and it was in disbelief as it looked at its own hands. Then, it turned its gaze to Evan, a 13 or 14-year-old wizard.
"What have you done to it?" Elena exclaimed in astonishment. "How... how did this owl become a person?"
"Alright, enough staring at me like that. It's just a simple spell," Evan replied, choosing not to delve into the complex magical principles behind it.
"A simple spell?!" Elena rubbed her eyes in disbelief. "Honestly, I have no idea how you managed to do that. It's simply inconceivable—turning the soul of an owl into a human. My goodness, maybe I should have attended Hogwarts. What do they teach there? Even a 13-year-old can perform magic of this caliber?"
"This is indeed a simple spell!" Sirius said, cutting through the conversation. "Now, be quiet!"
Sirius looked at Evan curiously, his face showing obvious shock. However, he didn't say anything further. It seemed he believed that voicing the same amazement as Elena would be embarrassing and lacked self-control. He found her chatter rather irritating.
Over the past two years, Sirius had witnessed numerous miracles performed by this boy. This was just one more to add to the list of extraordinary feats, and it seemed like a minor one to him.
The other owl ghosts had left their positions in the kitchen and gathered around. They were curiously watching Evan, the transformed entity, and his companions.
"Can you speak now?" Evan asked the transformed entity, who was still in a state of shock.
"I... I can," the entity replied hesitantly, its voice strange and stammering as if it hadn't spoken in a long time. It sounded unfamiliar with its own voice and had a strong panting sound. "Be careful. It's around you. Don't trust anyone."
"Who are you referring to? What exactly happened in this castle in the past?" Evan inquired.
"Demons! Demons!" the entity exclaimed, its voice growing louder and more unearthly as it continued. "Beware! The demon is within you. You cannot escape. You are its prey. Your soul will become like ours, never finding rest."
Evan suddenly realized that he was not alone. Besides Sirius and Elena, there was someone—or something—else in the vicinity. Who was this demon?
"I don't understand what you're saying. Please explain. Who is this demon?" Evan pressed for answers.
But the entity abruptly stopped speaking and began to scream in agony. It writhed in pain as if it were under the effects of the Cruciatus Curse, convulsing and struggling.
"It seems to be in distress!" Elena exclaimed, her face pale as she hid behind Sirius and kept her wand steady. However, she didn't know what magic to use on a ghost, which was beyond her expertise.
"Evan, be careful!" Sirius warned.
Evan didn't need a reminder. Seeing the entity's suffering, he instinctively took a step back. It seemed that things were taking a dangerous turn.
"Tell me, who is the demon?" Evan shouted, desperation in his voice. "I want to help you break this curse. I want to help you find peace."
"I... I can't say its name. We made a pact!" The entity gasped for breath and continued to scream intermittently. "I must obey its commands. I must. Do not disturb the souls of the past. It will end your life, stranger."
Suddenly, the entity lunged at Evan. But as it passed through him and left the magic rune on the ground, it rapidly transformed into an owl.
It moved through Evan's body like an ice-cold shard, causing intense discomfort. In the kitchen, dozens of owl ghosts surrounded them, staring at them with eerie expressions.
Evan had just realized how genuinely unsettling owl creatures could be.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Evanesco!" Sirius quickly waved his wand, dispersing the owl ghosts before them. While these entities lacked attack power, their dark and hateful glares made it clear that they despised Evan and his companions. They might have torn the three of them to shreds if given the chance.
These owl ghosts, however, were not a threat. They were merely pitiful souls, former castle servants who had been poisoned and imprisoned here after their deaths. Now, they were controlled by the demon, unable to act according to their own will or find peace.
Evan couldn't help but ponder the identity of the demon that even these souls were afraid to name. Why couldn't they utter its name, and what kind of pact had they made? Moreover, what had the entity meant when it said the demon was nearby? The mystery only deepened.
"We should leave this place as soon as possible," Sirius suggested, noticing more owls gathering around them.
Evan was jolted from his thoughts. He realized that if they stayed here much longer, all the owls in the castle might converge on their location. The idea of that was unsettling, considering the discomfort he felt in the presence of these souls.
"Yes, let's move on and check the dungeon," Evan agreed.
He didn't want to stick around and wait for all the castle's owl ghosts to assemble. It would be a dreadful experience, even though these entities had no offensive capabilities. The fact that they were once people made the situation eerie and uncomfortable.
They made their way across a web-covered corridor and found the entrance to the dungeon within the kitchen's wine cellar. It was an unpleasant sight—narrow archways, rusty iron bars embedded in the ground, and dried bloodstains, signs of past horrors.
Crossing the railing, they entered the dungeon. It was divided into small cells for prisoners. However, it had now become a vast burial ground. Stone coffins were scattered about, with simple and rough carvings indicating that these were not the resting places of the nobility.
As they proceeded, they reached a square chamber where stone coffins were arranged haphazardly. The carvings on the sarcophagi were crude and contained the remains of ordinary individuals. Most of the bodies had deteriorated beyond recognition, with some gnawed on by rodents and insects, leaving only skeletal remains behind.
Evan couldn't help but notice one skeleton, particularly its eye sockets, two dark, empty cavities.
The entire castle exuded an oppressive atmosphere, and the air felt thick with an unidentifiable pollution.
"This is the castle's dungeon, where prisoners of war were held. But many people died here overnight, and because there was nowhere to bury them, they were laid to rest here," Elena explained in a hushed tone. She didn't want to draw any unnecessary attention. "Before my arrival, no one had ventured in here, but those who did found nothing. There was nothing else here besides the deceased and the skeletons."
"Where's the altar that woman mentioned?" Sirius scanned their surroundings.
"It can't be out in the open; it must be hidden," Evan remarked. "We need to search for anything out of the ordinary. I have a bad feeling—someone or something might be observing us from hiding."
Evan's unease had grown stronger since they hadn't encountered anyone else since entering the castle. It was as though an invisible presence was keeping an eye on them.
"Let's keep moving, but be quick. Those cursed owl ghosts are multiplying!" Sirius warned.
The three decided to continue exploring, each going in a different direction. They planned to meet up if they found anything significant or needed assistance.
After several minutes of searching, Evan found himself standing in front of a coffin. He noticed a square opening below it, leading downwards. Only when he examined it with his wand's light did he realize it was a rope descending into a dark abyss.
This rope was unusual. It appeared relatively new, not something that should be found in such an old castle. Someone had recently used it to descend into the depths of the castle.
Evan debated whether to call out to Sirius and Elena. Still, before he could make a decision, he saw something peculiar. A small, translucent blue owl ghost appeared before him, no more significant than the palm of his hand. It gazed at him intently.
When Evan asked if it had something to tell him, the owl nodded and made a series of movements, urging Evan to follow it.
Without waiting for Evan's response, the tiny owl flew towards a wall and disappeared into a hollowed-out space. It seemed to want Evan to follow.
Curiosity piqued, Evan hesitated momentarily but ultimately decided to trust the owl. He crouched down and crawled through the narrow passage behind the owl, leaving the rope behind.
As he emerged on the other side, he found himself in a small secret chamber. In the center of the room stood an altar—the very altar where the demon had been summoned. It was the root of all the evils within the old castle.