There's a Muggle saying: if something looks like a duck, sounds like a duck, and walks like a duck, then it's a duck.
But this doesn't apply in the magical world, where magic can truly transform one species entirely into the likeness of another, even bridging the line between living and non-living.
When Daphne was talking to this "Rhys" who had just returned to the dorm, she couldn't shake off a feeling that something was off. She suddenly realized that the flow of magic within this "Rhys" was unusual.
After careful observation, Daphne was certain that the Rhys before her was a fake.
And so, she acted without hesitation.
Whether this fake was created by Rhys himself or was a spy with ulterior motives infiltrating the Slytherin common room, Daphne was determined to strike hard.
If it was truly an enemy spy, Daphne felt no guilt; and if Rhys had made this counterfeit himself, then she would feel even more justified in giving him a beating.
Daphne was thrilled to find that choosing to act had all advantages and no disadvantages, which instantly solidified her resolve: she wanted the enemy—or Rhys—to know that Daphne was a capable witch in battle, too!
She raised her hand and unleashed a basic offensive spell.
Although basic, the spell's destructive power was no joke, and Daphne's speed was rapid enough that most wizards wouldn't have had time to react, let alone this nearly instinct-driven replica of Rhys.
In the next moment, the heart area of Rhys's replica body was pierced by a spell.
For an ordinary wizard, this would have been a fatal injury, but since this was merely a body made of magic and clay, the replica could still move.
Seeing that a single spell didn't defeat him, Daphne continued her assault without hesitation.
However, Rhys managed to block her subsequent fierce attacks—because the moment the replica was hit, Rhys had immediately transferred his consciousness back to it and was now controlling it to fend off Daphne's rapid strikes.
"Great awareness, excellent attack methods, Daphne Greengrass. You need to stop now!" Rhys said to her.
Daphne gave no response, relentlessly maintaining her attacks.
Rhys was exasperated: if this went on, the magical reserves in the replica would soon be depleted by her barrage!
"I'm really Rhys. Stop! I can explain!" Rhys said as he intercepted several of her attack spells mid-air, feeling slightly irritated. "If you keep this up, I'll really get angry."
At last, Daphne ceased her attacks.
With the continuous onslaught coming to a halt, Rhys's annoyance gradually faded, replaced by a sense of admiration for Daphne: her vigilance was genuinely commendable.
This was the level of awareness a wizard should have!
However, Daphne's stopping didn't mean she had let her guard down; her wand remained pointed at Rhys's replica, and her other hand gripped her necklace.
It was obvious: if she detected anything suspicious, she'd unleash her most powerful attacks in full force, ensuring that the "person" before her would be thoroughly dealt with.
If the attack spell embedded in the necklace Rhys had gifted her were triggered, only one of two things would be left standing—the replica or the Slytherin common room.
Wait a second…
Rhys suddenly realized something.
"Stay calm! Don't release the spell in the necklace here!" he blurted out, now genuinely alarmed. The Slytherin common room lay beneath the Black Lake, and the attack spell he'd embedded in that necklace hadn't had its power reduced one bit.
Though the castle walls and windows had been fortified by Hufflepuff with defensive enchantments, Rhys had never been reckless enough to test their strength. He had no clear idea of the defensive limits of the castle's walls or windows.
More importantly, he doubted those defenses had been properly maintained over the centuries—understandable, considering how complex magical energy flow was for young wizards. Who knew how much strength was left in those defenses?
If Daphne's spell accidentally hit a wall in the common room, or worse, struck a window…
If luck ran out, the entire Slytherin house could be flooded by lake water, with everyone inside! At best, Slytherin would be forced to abandon its thousand-year-old common room—the common room would become a dangerous ruin!
Seeing that the figure in front of her knew the secret of the necklace, Daphne relaxed slightly; this meant it was likely something Rhys himself had created.
But this also made her a bit annoyed—Rhys, that guy, he really… didn't see her as an ally!
She was more than capable of helping! Why else had she worked so hard to practice spells when she could've just coasted?
Rhys thought for a moment, then made a decision.
"I'll be heading out for a couple of days. Could you manage this replica for me?" Rhys decided to entrust the control of the replica to Daphne.
Compared to Ravenclaw, whose credibility was completely shot in his eyes, Rhys trusted Daphne a bit more.
"What do y—"
"It's not hard. It can operate on instinct and respond to simple questions; you'd only need to step in for special cases—which are very unlikely to happen." Without waiting for Daphne's response, Rhys continued, cutting her off.
Daphne was tempted to refuse because she'd much rather join Rhys on an adventure than manage a replica.
But his next words swayed her.
"You're the person I trust the most. I believe you can handle this task, right?" Rhys played his trump card.
The effect was immediate; Daphne's focus shifted from "You're going away for a few days" to "most trusted person" in an instant.
Daphne: "Is… is that true? Am I really the one you trust the most?"
"Of course!" Rhys nodded without a moment's hesitation—not really lying either; when it came to looking after the replica, he did indeed trust Daphne the most. She was far more reliable than Ravenclaw.
Daphne's cheeks flushed with excitement, and she eagerly accepted Rhys's request, agreeing to control the replica when necessary while he was away from the school.
"That's great," Rhys smiled slightly; he was beginning to get the hang of how to "win over" her.
He first repaired the damage on the replica, then transferred control over it to Daphne.
"Do this, then that, and you'll be able to control this body!"
The procedure wasn't complicated, and after about ten minutes, Daphne could smoothly control the replica Rhys had created through Transfiguration.
"Perfect." Rhys praised Daphne, then severed his connection with the replica entirely.
Now, he had to make the most of his time heading to the locations Vigo had mentioned.
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12 Advance Chapters—Patreon.com/HornyFBI