The Forbidden Forest, predating the establishment of Hogwarts, is home to a myriad of magical creatures. As legends of these creatures spread from a certain century onwards, they attracted the attention of many: brave knights and sycophantic courtiers alike. Dragons, known for hoarding treasures, drew the king's knights into battle. Elves and fairies, with their enchanting voices, became targets for circus slave traders. Unicorns, however, fared slightly better due to their majestic appearance and the purity they symbolized. Despite not being as mythical as the legends suggesting they could only be tamed by virgins, unicorns' aversion to dark magic was indeed a fact. Given John's previous use of dark magic, he theoretically should not have been a favored presence among unicorns.
Guided by Weiwei, John arrived at a serene location where the forest opened up to reveal trees laden with enormous fruits, and clear streams meandered through. Here, a group of majestic unicorns grazed peacefully. Among them, John noticed a centaur observing from a distance, which sparked his curiosity about the centaur's preferences.
One unicorn, in particular, stood out with its thick horn, radiant white coat, and imposing size. When Weiwei approached this unicorn, she affectionately touched its spiraled horn, resembling a child seeking comfort from a parent. John was taken aback when the unicorn spoke in a deep, resonant voice, "Are you the student who saved Weiwei?" Introducing himself as Clark, the unicorn expressed his gratitude towards John for saving his daughter, revealing a golden mark of ancient magic on his body.
John, realizing the voice was a result of magical communication rather than the unicorn actually speaking, introduced himself with a polite bow, "My name is John Wick, and it's an honor to be welcomed into the unicorn habitat."
Unicorns are typically solitary creatures, making the sight of over a hundred of them gathered here, behind a hidden waterfall, all the more extraordinary. Without Weiwei's guidance, John would have never discovered this secluded haven.
Clark, sensing something amiss with John's right hand, gently enveloped it in a silvery light that emanated from his horn. The light, reminiscent of moonlight, seemed to mend John's soul, albeit slowly. After the treatment, Clark admitted, "Your soul has been injured, and my abilities can only do so much."
John, feeling a significant improvement and less tremor in his hand, expressed his gratitude. The healing he experienced surpassed that of any soul potion, a testament to the ancient and sacred power of unicorns.
Weiwei, noticing her father's kindness towards John, nudged him playfully. Clark explained with a smile, "She's inviting you further in; what you seek is within."
Intrigued, John followed Weiwei through a lush, vegetated hollow in a tree. Beyond it lay a breathtaking sight: a cavern filled with unicorn horns, their varied luminescence filling the space. Weiwei, touching John's head gently with her horn, conveyed through a sweet voice, "This is where we unicorns shed our horns. You may take what you need from here."
John was awestruck. The sheer number of horns, accumulated over centuries before Hogwarts was even founded, was staggering. This hidden trove was a testament to the long and rich history of the unicorns residing in the Forbidden Forest. The hollowed-out tree stood like a giant, offering shelter to the group. John was amazed to find that despite being hollowed out, the tree thrived with life. Its roots were robust, and its leaves shimmered with vitality. "In that case, thank you, Weiwei," John expressed his gratitude sincerely, without a hint of pretense. As he sifted through the myriad of unicorn horns, some of which had aged into jade over thousands of years, resembling precious gems, John felt as though he had stumbled upon a treasure trove. The potential impact of releasing these into the magical world's economy was staggering. After careful selection, he chose ten horns.
John then took out a necklace adorned with gold and precious stones, crafting it to be long enough to drape around Vi's neck. "I hope you accept this as a token of my friendship," he said. The necklace, a new creation, contained an Iron Armor Curse that could automatically restore magical life. The glowing gemstone necklace delighted Wei Wei. She gently touched John with her horn, and her voice resonated, "Then we are friends, John."
Clark, observing from a distance, felt a surge of happiness. A smaller unicorn approached him with concern, saying, "Clark, that child touched the soul." Clark was aware but remained unfazed, replying, "But he's good, isn't he?" As Wei Wei's father and the king of the unicorn herd, Clark could see the soul wound on John's body and the chaos within his magic.
Wei Wei escorted John back to the edge of the Forbidden Forest, where he learned the communication magic from her. This mind magic was a precursor to Legilimency, born from the same magic that led to the creation of the soul-hunting mind. The origins of wizards remained a mystery, but their abilities were known to be derived from magical creatures. They learned to control fire from dragons, read minds from unicorns, and apparate from ball birds. The rise of wizards was a result of continuous learning from magical creatures, with legends even suggesting Merlin studied among them. This foundation made the existence of Parseltongues and Dragon Whisperers less surprising.
John pondered whether ancient magic could be the origin of blood magic, considering the inherited nature of talents like Parseltongue. Unlike wizard magic, ancient magic existed as a result of magic's erosion in the quest for magical knowledge. In the wizarding world, there were individuals born with innate abilities like Legilimency or Transfiguration, talents that required no learning but were engraved on their bodies.
After bidding farewell to Wei Wei, John emerged from the Forbidden Forest at dusk. He noticed the lights in Hagrid's hut and saw Hagrid diligently reviewing manuscripts collected by Hermione. Hagrid was deeply grateful for her help. John hoped for a resolution to the cold war between Hermione and Harry. Sensing John's presence, Fang looked up, but John gestured for silence, and Fang obediently lowered his head, tail wagging. After waving goodbye, John headed towards the castle.
Upon entering the castle, John sensed that the monitoring magic he had set was triggered, a spell designed to activate after curfew. He summoned the Marauder's Map with a touch and declared, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good!" The map revealed ink lines stretching and outlining to form a detailed map of the castle. A black dot labeled "Sirius Black" with accompanying footprints was moving towards Gryffindor Tower.
"He is still there!" John hurried towards Gryffindor Tower, realizing that taking shortcuts would be futile since Sirius Black was more familiar with them. Upon arrival, John was shocked to see Sirius Black entering the Gryffindor common room, not through violence, but as if he belonged there. Driven by urgency, John dashed towards Gryffindor Tower, neglecting to cast the Disillusionment Charm to conceal his presence. On his way, he encountered Mrs. Norris on the stairs. The cat didn't utter a word but observed as John hurried past. The sound of hurried footsteps caught the attention of Argus Filch, who caught a glimpse of John's retreating figure. Assuming it was a student out of bed after hours, Filch eagerly gave chase. Unfortunately for Filch, John's speed far exceeded his own, making it impossible for him to catch up. As John neared Gryffindor Tower, the portrait of Sir Cadogan swung open to reveal a man with disheveled black hair, dressed in tattered clothes. As he ran, his form began to morph, transforming into a large, black dog with a notably thick build.
Meanwhile, in the Gryffindor boys' dormitory, panic ensued. Ron's voice pierced the air, laden with terror. "Black! Sirius Black! He's got a knife!" The urgency in his voice echoed the gravity of the situation, signaling the imminent danger posed by the notorious fugitive.
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Direct Link to playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Hg-qsW4rM&list=PLKskshYG-OcPTR4-Nw7IWFEBZm07D8pBV&ab_channel=NovelAudioForge