The cave, in its dark silence, slowly opened, letting in the echo of distant voices. Máximus, with his senses now sharpened thanks to the potion, could hear those voices clearly. He could distinguish the authoritative tone of a young wizard and the raspy voice of a subdued creature.
"Kreacher, this is the cave." "Yes, Master Regulus. Here the Dark Lord brought Kreacher... to the center of the island, where he made Kreacher drink the cursed potion…"
Regulus and his elf were near. Máximus tensed, his mind racing. He wasn't sure how many Inferi he could control at once. He still hadn't made contact with all those who stirred at the bottom of the lake, and that worried him. He could feel how the bodies, beneath the black waters, moved slowly, still bound to the ancient curses of the cave.
Regulus and Kreacher reached the chain that connected the submerged boat, and with a spell, they made it rise from the depths. The boat slowly emerged, cutting the surface of the lake as the waters trembled, disturbed by the bodies trapped at the bottom. In silence, they made their journey to the center of the lake. With each stroke, Regulus remembered the elf's warning.
"Kreacher… When we reach the center, we must be careful. At any moment, the Inferi could rise again. According to what you told me, it's part of the cave's defense to protect what's hidden on the pedestal."
"Yes, Master Regulus," Kreacher responded in a trembling voice.
The boat reached the shore, and Regulus drew his wand before disembarking. The runes were just beyond the shore, waiting to be activated. As soon as he set foot on solid ground, a violent flash of light illuminated the cave. The runes activated simultaneously, radiating power.
"AAAAAHHHH!" Regulus screamed in pain, falling to his knees. Kreacher, who followed him, was also caught in the runes' spell, unable to move. The suffering paralyzed them, but the real terror was just beginning.
From the dark, thick water, the Inferi emerged en masse, their decaying bodies rising with clumsy yet determined movements. Máximus, watching from afar, gave the order.
"ATTACK!"
Regulus, still stunned by the pain, opened his eyes only to see the Inferi surrounding him. In an instant, his mind searched for solutions, alternatives… and only one option presented itself. A forbidden spell he had read in the Black family library, a spell he never thought he'd use. Fiendfyre.
"FIENDFYRE!"
The roar of the fire echoed through the cave, a wave of flames born from Regulus's wand, spreading with devastating speed. Máximus understood immediately, but it was already too late. Fiendfyre was a destructive magic, a power that not even the wizard who cast it could control.
"NO! What have you done?" Máximus shouted at Regulus, feeling panic consuming him as the flames advanced relentlessly.
The flames, in the shape of infernal beasts, roared as they spread to the edges of the lake. The water didn't stop their advance; the magical fire propagated uncontrollably, engulfing the Inferi still submerged. Máximus could feel the suffering of his undead companions as the fire devoured them, unable to flee or defend themselves.
"YOU! Stop it!" he yelled, desperate, his voice echoing in the cave, filled with fury and terror.
Regulus, with a pale, sweaty face, looked at him with wide eyes.
"I can't… Once unleashed, not even the wizard who cast it can stop it. Fiendfyre won't stop until it consumes everything it sees…" his voice trembled, full of regret.
Máximus looked at him, incredulous. "Then we're all going to die! You idiot!"
The fire continued its unstoppable march, surrounding the island. Máximus glanced around, quickly assessing the situation. The six most conscious Inferi, especially Rachel, were visibly agitated. They all knew what the fire meant, and not just any fire, but these cursed flames that couldn't be extinguished or contained. It was a death sentence.
"YOU, ELF!" Máximus shouted. "How many people can you transport at once?"
Kreacher, still trembling, remained silent, looking at his master with a mix of loyalty and fear. Before Máximus could shout at him again, Regulus spoke.
"Kreacher, answer!"
The elf nodded quickly, his voice trembling.
"I can… perhaps five people… Six, at most, Master…"
Máximus didn't have time to waste. The fire was already devouring the Inferi in the lake, and soon it would reach the island. Every second was crucial.
"Take us six out of here!"
Kreacher froze for a second, looking at Regulus with eyes full of devotion. "No! Kreacher will not leave his master!" he cried desperately.
Máximus growled, filled with rage. "DAMN IT!" he shouted. "Take the five of us and Regulus too!"
The fire was dangerously close, and the twisted flames of the Fiendfyre consumed everything in their path. There was no more time to hesitate. The chosen ones were Rachel, one of the stronger men, and the child, who would form the foundation of his new group. Máximus knew he would need versatility to escape and plan for the future, and these three offered him just that.
In the last second, as the flames almost touched the island, they all held hands. Kreacher closed his eyes, concentrating with all his might, and in a flash, they disappeared from the cave, leaving the fiery chaos behind.
Outside the cave, Máximus opened his eyes, his body tense from the effort and pressure of the last moments. They had escaped.
The night air was cold, and the moonlight illuminated the clearing where they found themselves. For a brief moment, Máximus felt something he hadn't felt in a long time: relief. They were outside, safe, at least for now.
"Where are we?" he asked, his heart still pounding.
"About two kilometers from the cave… in a forest near the beach, Master," Kreacher responded, his voice tired.
Máximus slowly turned, his cold gaze falling on Regulus and Kreacher, who were being held by the three Inferi. Rachel and the man held Regulus under control, while the child restrained Kreacher.
They had escaped, yes, but the price had been high. The Fiendfyre still burned, and the fate of the Inferi left behind was already sealed. But what mattered was that the six of them were safe, and now Máximus had a new opportunity.
The outside world awaited them, and with it, a new chance.