As the group began to retreat, the sound of deliberate footsteps echoed ominously through the corridor, each step growing louder and more foreboding. Suddenly, Lucian, the Head Prefect, strode into view. His impeccably pressed robes, adorned with the Terra emblem, flared dramatically with the wind rushing in from the shattered courtyard. His sharp blue eyes swept over the scene, widening in sheer disbelief at the chaos that greeted him.
"What in the blistering blue barnacles happened here?!" Lucian's voice rang out, his tone a mix of outrage and disbelief. "The floor! The fountain! The whole bloody courtyard!" His hands gestured wildly, his gaze bouncing between the disheveled group of friends, Údar, and Cú.
Helga froze, her eyes darting to the others in panic. "Oh, no..."
"Hufflepuff, I should have known!" Lucian's piercing glare locked on to them. "Explain yourself now!"
Helga suddenly brightened, a mischievous grin creeping across her face as she reached into her pocket. "Oh… nothing much," she chirped. "Just a bit of… Pocket Confetti!"
Before anyone could react, she hurled a handful of vibrant, shimmering confetti directly into Lucian's face. The colorful explosion engulfed him, and he stumbled back, sputtering as the glittering pieces clung to his hair, robes, and glasses.
"What the—!" Lucian coughed, frantically waving his hands to clear the confetti cloud.
"RUUUUN!" Helga bellowed, hoisting Godric with surprising strength and taking off at a sprint, her friends scrambling to keep up.
The group dashed down the hallway in a flurry. Helga glanced back, her grin widening as she caught sight of Lucian standing frozen, coughing and flailing amid the rainbow chaos.
Lucian spat out a particularly stubborn piece of confetti, his face turning a furious shade of red. "Get back here, you scoundrels! This isn't over!" he shouted, charging after them with the determination of a man on a mission.
****
As the commotion echoed down the hall, Údar crossed her arms, her single silver eye glinting with amusement. "Well, would ya look at that," she said with a chuckle, her voice dripping with approval. "Feckin' brilliant, that one."
Cú stood beside her, grinning as he leaned against the wall. "Gotta hand it to them, they've got guts," he said. "That one with the confetti? She's a bloody menace."
"Aye, and I love her already." Údar smirked, watching the chaos unfold. "Sal's got himself some proper craic for company, if I do say so meself."
"Aye, that they are," Cú nods thoughtfully. "But that Godric lad... there's somethin' different about him. Somethin' else entirely."
"Oh?" Údar raised an eyebrow, her tone teasing as a smirk danced on her lips. "And what's yer own take on the lad, then?"
Cú crosses his arms, his expression thoughtful. "He's an unrefined blade, that one. His skills are unconventional—raw and chaotic—but damned if they aren't effective. He fights like someone who's had to figure it out on his own, though I'd wager he had a skilled mentor to lay the groundwork."
He pauses, a grin spreading across his face. "Still, the lad's got more heart than sense, maybe, but that heart... it's fierce. Give him some time, Údar," he says, glancing at her with a raised eyebrow. "And he might just surpass me someday. Hell, who knows? He might even outshine the Visionaries themselves."
"Is that so?" Údar smirks. "That's high praise comin' from the likes of you. Seems the name 'Lion of Ignis' is well earned, after all," she says, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "He'd make a fine addition to the Hounds of Cu, don't ya think?"
"Might be a tough sell," Cú says with a slight frown, rubbing the back of his neck. "With Slytherin having his coils around the lad. Wherever the Lion of Ignis goes, that snake's never far behind."
"Ah, sure, don't you be worryin' about Sal," Údar says with a dismissive wave of her hand, her grin mischievous. "I'll deal with him meself if it comes to that. He fancies himself the cleverest fox in the den, but the lad wears his heart on his sleeve for anyone with eyes to see. Always has."
She tilts her head, her fiery red hair catching the light as her expression softens into a thoughtful smirk. "A lion and a snake, eh? Now there's the makings of a grand tale. Let's hope it doesn't end with one of them eatin' the other."
The pair turned and began to walk away, their footsteps echoing softly against the ancient stone walls, each step steady and deliberate. The corridor seemed to swallow their words as their conversation softened, fading into low murmurs, blending seamlessly with the faint hum of the castle's distant activity.
"There's a new wind blowin' through Excalibur, Cú," Údar said, her voice low and laced with meaning. "And with it, a spark that's bound to ignite a flame the likes of which none of us have seen before."
"Aye," he nods, a wicked grin spreading across his face, his eyes glinting with excitement. "And I'll be right there to see how brightly it blazes."
****
The four friends found themselves in the all-too-familiar waiting room of the Hospital Wing. The same sharp, sterile scent of herbs, disinfectant, and freshly brewed potions lingered in the air. The spacious room was bustling with students and a few townsfolk from Caerleon, waiting their turn for treatment. The Hospital Wing, a standalone annex connected to Castle Excalibur by a covered stone walkway, also served as the primary medical center for the city. Equipped with cutting-edge magitech and an expansive array of medicinal resources grown in the castle's orangery under the watchful eye of Professor Lagduf.
The four friends sat stiffly around on worn leather seats and couches, the weight of several pairs of curious eyes fixed on them. Whispers filled the room—half-muttered gossip about the earlier commotion.
"I've never seen Doctor Adani so livid before," Rowena muttered, her sharp glare cutting through Godric. Her fingers drummed impatiently against the armrest of her chair. "Not that I blame her, mind you. After all, you practically waltzed into her worst nightmare."
Helga tried and failed to stifle a giggle, pointing a finger at Godric as she shook with laughter. "Oh, but it was priceless! Our brave Lion of Ignis, trembling like a bunny before a wolf!" She clutched her sides. "I swear, Godric, half the castle probably heard you stammering apologies."
Godric slumped in his seat; his crimson scarf pulled up to cover his reddened face. "Alright, alright, no need to rub it in," he grumbled. "I wasn't exactly expecting to face her wrath right after dealing with Cú." He peeked over the scarf at Helga. "Sides, after that ass chewing, she gave me three days off classes. Hell, she even threatened to have my permit revoked if I wound up here again."
Salazar smirked, leaning back in his seat, clearly enjoying the spectacle. "You've got to admit, though, Godric, there's something poetic about the Lion of Ignis being reduced to a shivering kitten."
Rowena sighed, her hand coming up to massage her temple. "Honestly, this reckless behavior is going to land us all in a permanent bed here one day."
Salazar then gave Helga a pointed look. "By the way, Helga," he began, arching an eyebrow, "what sort of absolute lunatic goes around carrying a pocket full of confetti?"
Helga grinned, unfazed by his tone. She patted her pocket confidently. "Hey, it worked, didn't it? We got away from Lucian, didn't we? And besides," she added with a mischievous glint, "Pop-Pop Hufflepuff always said, 'Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.' Words to live by!"
Rowena, sitting upright in her chair, tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Something's been bothering me, though," she said, her voice drawing the group's attention. "If Gáe Bolg is the cursed spear that never misses its mark, how in Hecate's name did Údar manage to stop it?"
"That's because of her lineage," Salazar explained, his tone carrying a hint of respect. "As the scion of House Culaan, Údar holds dominion over Cú through a blood oath. It grants her the ability to control his skills and even his magic."
Godric's brows furrowed, and his eyes widened in disbelief. "A blood oath?" he repeated, his voice tinged with shock. "Are you telling me that Cú is… a slave?"
"No, no," Salazar dismissed the notion with a wave of his hand. "A slave implies ownership, which this is not. It's more of a pledge of allegiance. Once Cú fulfills his obligation, he'll be free of it." His expression turned sly. "But that's a tale for another time."
"Speaking of tales," Helga interjected, pulling a small yellow rubber duck from her pocket with a gleeful grin. "Who wants to hear about the time I flooded the Prefect's bathroom with hundreds of these little beauties?" She held the duck aloft like a trophy. "Oh, Lucian was so mad…"
"Helga, please." Rowena groaned, pressing her fingers to her temples. "For the love of all that is holy and true, we're already in enough trouble as it is."
Godric leaned forward in his chair, an intrigued smile creeping across his face. "Actually," he said, his voice brimming with curiosity, "I'd love to hear about that."
Helga beamed at his encouragement. "See? Someone appreciates good story!"
Salazar chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Heh, it seems our brave little lion cub has a budding taste for mischief. Who would've guessed?"
****
The autumn sun hung low, its golden light rippling across the surface of Cardigan Lake as Godric sat by the pavilion, the brisk air brushing against his cheeks. He adjusted his scarf, savoring the quiet. The gentle lapping of the water against the wooden foundation was the only sound accompanying him as he flipped through his Charms textbook.
"Blimey, this is driving me mad," Godric muttered, his brow creased in frustration. "Now, what did Rowena say? Accio? Hm…" His fingers trailed over the incantation on the page. "Summoning Charm. Sure would come in handy someday."
Soft footsteps approached from behind, followed by a familiar, gentle voice. "Oh, hey there, Godric."
Godric turned to see Raine standing a few paces away, her long, white hair swaying in the breeze. "It's good to see you up and about," she said. "Especially after… well, after everything with Master Chulainn."
Godric's expression lit up, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "Raine! What a pleasant surprise." He patted the bench beside him. "Care to join me? I could definitely use a break."
Raine nodded shyly, sitting down beside him. Her fluffy tail wagging faintly as her amber gaze shifted to the open textbook on the wooden table. "So," she asked, her voice cautious but curious, "what're you working on? Looks… complicated."
"Charms homework for Professor Eridan," Godric said, gesturing to the page. "See this? It's called Accio. A Summoning Charm. Looks like it could be pretty useful."
Raine leaned closer to the page but hesitated. Her wolfen ears drooped slightly, and her gaze faltered. A flicker of sadness crossed her face as she stared at the text, her fingers unconsciously brushing the metal collar around her neck.
Godric noticed the change in her demeanor, tilting his head in concern. "Raine," he asked gently, "is something wrong?"
Her amber eyes darted to the ground, and she fidgeted with her hands. "I… I can't read," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Like I said, the slavers… I was just a pup when they took me, and… slaves aren't allowed an education."
Godric's eyes flared with indignation. "But that… that's outrageous!" he spat, his fists clenching. "Everyone's entitled to an education!"
Raine shrank back slightly. "That's just how it is, Godric," she said quietly. "Under the Ius Servitium… the Slavery Laws. Slaves aren't permitted to learn. I've seen people taken away by The Authority for simply knowing how to read or write." Her voice trembled. "And anyone caught trying to teach us? They face even worse consequences."
"Well, to hell with those blasted laws!" Godric stood abruptly. Fire burned in his crimson eyes. "Anyone who takes issue with that can come find me!" His hand moved instinctively toward the hilt of his sword resting nearby. "And they can answer to this."
Raine's eyes widened, her ears perking up as she stared at him. "You… you'd do that? For me?"
Godric turned to her, his expression softening. "Of course, Raine," he said without hesitation. He sat back down, rummaging through his bag before pulling out a fresh sheet of parchment and his quill. Dipping it in ink, he set the parchment between them. "We're friends, aren't we?"
Raine blinked rapidly, her amber eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Friends…" she whispered, as though the word itself were something precious and fragile.
He smiled warmly at her, his voice steady. "So, let's start with the basics. The alphabet. You ready?"
Raine quickly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, nodding eagerly. "Yes! I… I'm ready to learn."
Godric's smile widened as he carefully drew the first letter on the parchment. "Alright, this is 'A.' See how the lines meet here?" He pointed, guiding her hand with his.
Raine's tail wagged slightly as she leaned in, her focus sharp. "A…" she repeated softly, her voice filled with determination.
"That's right," Godric said. "Now, let's do the next one together."
As the two worked, the golden light of the setting sun bathed the pavilion, casting their shadows long against the wooden planks. For the first time in a long while, Raine felt something she thought was forever lost to her—a spark of hope.