In a frantic escape, John Wick found himself outpacing his fellow wizards, proving the old adage true: to escape a predator, one need not be the fastest, just faster than the slowest in the group. Despite his youth, John's superior physical condition allowed him to easily overtake a blood-robed wizard who was struggling to keep up. As the Hungarian Horntail bore down on them, its massive jaws opened to unleash a fireball directly at the lagging wizard.
With quick thinking, the blood-robed wizard conjured a spell, "Protego!" and a nearby tree stump flew in front of him, intercepting the fireball. The stump was instantly incinerated, but it bought him precious seconds to evade further attack. He then retaliated with a spell of his own, "Oppugno!" causing the ground's gravel to pelt the dragon. The attack, though futile, only served to aggravate the beast further.
Before the wizard could launch another spell, the dragon retaliated with a swipe of its tail, hurling a massive boulder at him. John, witnessing this, turned just in time to see Fleur Delacour narrowly avoid a similar fate by shattering an incoming boulder with an "Expulso" spell, the debris grazing her cheek.
As the Hungarian Horntail descended upon them, its scales shimmered under the moonlight, a formidable sight with its yellow eyes and bronze horns. John, standing protectively in front of Fleur, cast "Protego," summoning a shield of white light. The dragon's spiked tail swept through the trees, sending splinters and stones crashing against the magical barrier.
In the midst of this chaos, John's eyes flashed fiercely, and without realizing, his pupils transformed into vertical slits reminiscent of a dragon's. Speaking in the ancient language of dragons, he commanded, "Enough!" To everyone's astonishment, the Hungarian Horntail halted its assault, confusion evident in its lantern-like yellow eyes.
Fleur, still recovering from the shock, inquired about the strange language John had used. To her and the blood-robed wizard, it sounded like an imitation of a dragon's roar. As John approached the dragon, it seemed unable to connect the diminutive figure before it with the commanding voice it had just heard.
"We have no intention of offending," John spoke again in the dragon tongue, capturing the creature's full attention. The Hungarian Horntail's gaze softened, a mix of surprise and curiosity in its eyes as it regarded John.
"How do you know the language of dragons?" the dragon finally asked, its voice a deep rumble.
John took a deep breath, his eyes now mirroring the vertical pupils of a fire dragon, an aura of formidable power emanating from him. "My name is John Wick," he began, poised to reveal the depths of his mysterious connection with these majestic creatures. John found himself in an unexpected situation, standing before a Hungarian Horntail with no intention of causing any harm. To demonstrate his sincerity, he carefully lowered his wand and communicated with the dragon. "You are... the Dragon Whisperer," the dragon's anger seemed to fade upon hearing John's words. This remarkable interaction left the two onlookers, Fleur and a blood-robed wizard, in awe, barely daring to breathe.
John nodded in response, "I'm not sure where we are. The portkey I was using malfunctioned and brought us here." Upon learning they were in the Valley of Never Breathing in Scandinavia, John felt a mix of relief and curiosity. The presence of the blood-robed wizard suggested human activity nearby, which eased John's initial fear of being lost in an unknown location.
Seeking to mend the situation, John respectfully bowed to the Hungarian Horntail, "Fire Dragon, I extend my sincerest apologies for our intrusion and hope you can forgive our recklessness." Although he referred to 'us', John was primarily apologizing for the actions of the blood-robed wizard. Given their current predicament, he chose not to dwell on the specifics.
The Hungarian Horntail, named Amoham, accepted John's apology, a gesture that did not go unnoticed by Fleur. She was astounded to witness John speaking the dragon language, a skill thought to be lost since the time of Merlin. This revelation led her to speculate about John's heritage, wondering if he could be a descendant of Merlin himself, given Merlin's connection to Hogwarts.
The blood-robed wizard, identified as Heinrich Edgar from Durmstrang, also took note of John's unique ability. Edgar's reaction was one of cautious intrigue, especially considering the respect Amoham showed towards John after their conversation.
John's diplomatic efforts led to Amoham forgiving them for the disturbance, and in turn, John learned about the conflict between Amoham and Edgar. It appeared Edgar had unintentionally provoked Amoham, leading to a prolonged chase.
Once the immediate danger had passed, Edgar thanked John and Fleur for their assistance, though Fleur was quick to point out that they wouldn't have been in danger if not for Edgar's actions. Despite the tension, John introduced himself to Edgar, revealing that he was a student from Hogwarts. Edgar's admission of being from Durmstrang surprised John, given the school's controversial reputation and its association with dark figures like Grindelwald.
Fleur's reaction to Edgar's name suggested a recognition of his family's dark legacy, hinting at the complexities of the wizarding world's various families and their histories. This encounter in the Valley of Never Breathing marked the beginning of an unexpected alliance, forged under the watchful eye of a dragon and in the shadow of ancient magics. Edgar was a unique figure in the wizarding world, openly embracing the label of black magic practitioner. Each member of his circle was not only profoundly eccentric but also shared a voracious appetite for challenging the powerful. Edgar, in a bold move, once issued a challenge to Grindelwald himself. Despite suffering defeat at Grindelwald's hands, Edgar's admiration for his opponent's strength transformed him into a loyal follower. Thus, Edgar earned the moniker "the deputy of the strong," signifying that only those of considerable power could command his allegiance and utilize his skills.
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If you are tired of reading I also have this converted to an audio novel on my youtube
https://www.youtube.com/@NovelAudioForge/featured
Direct Link to playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Hg-qsW4rM&list=PLKskshYG-OcPTR4-Nw7IWFEBZm07D8pBV&ab_channel=NovelAudioForge