Oliver had barely noticed when the faint moonlight faded, and the first rays of sunlight poured into his room. He woke up groggily, rubbing his eyes as he looked at the book he had fallen asleep reading. The handwritten notes on summonology, ancient rituals, and skeletal summoning fascinated him to no end. He gently closed the book and placed it in his drawer, locking it to ensure its safety.
After a quick shower, Oliver got dressed and made his way downstairs to the dining hall for breakfast. The chatter of students filled the hall, some excited about the weekend while others discussed their recent classes. Oliver joined Lily and Ethan at their usual table, where plates piled high with pancakes, toast, and fresh fruit awaited them.
"I'm going to explore the town this Saturday," Oliver told his friends between bites.
"Don't forget to visit the market," Ethan replied. "I heard they have skeletons for sale there! Imagine owning a griffin skeleton!" before that we should play Quidditch
Lily rolled her eyes. "Skeletons and dangerous games. Boys are so wild." She sipped her tea delicately. "I'll pass on all this madness, thank you very much."
Flying Brooms and Midnight Antics
During the week, Oliver spent much of his free time practicing flying on his broomstick. Ethan joined him most days, their laughter echoing across the quidditch field. Ethan's male black owl, Shadow, seemed particularly fascinated by Oliver's white owl, Aurora. Shadow would try to impress her by doing aerial loops and dramatic dives, much to Snow's disinterest.
"Looks like Shadow is smitten!" Oliver teased Ethan, who turned red.
"Shadow has better taste than you, Oliver," Ethan shot back, but they both burst into laughter.
Lily would occasionally come to watch them fly but refused to participate. "This is a ridiculous sport," she declared, folding her arms. "There's no strategy, just chaos."
"That's the fun part!" Oliver called from midair, but Lily only shook her head with an amused smile.
History of Magic: A Sleepy Lesson
One class that Oliver wasn't thrilled about was the History of Magic. The classroom itself was fascinating, with high arched windows that bathed the room in natural light. Shelves lined with ancient tomes and magical artifacts surrounded the students. There were glowing globes, rusted swords, and even a floating quill that wrote in the air.
The professor, Ms. Evelyn Dreyar, was a tall and elegant woman with sharp features and piercing eyes. Her long silver hair was tied back into a bun, and she wore a flowing emerald-green robe. Despite her beauty, her monotone voice could put anyone to sleep.
"The Eastford Academy was founded over 400 years ago by Archmage Veltan Eastford," she droned, gesturing to a portrait of a stern-looking man with a long white beard. "He united warring magical factions and established this institution to train the next generation of wizards…"
Oliver tried to stay attentive but found himself nodding off. His head jerked forward, startling him awake. Lily shot him a glare while Ethan smothered a laugh.
Saturday Excitement: The Town and the Skeleton Shop
Finally, Saturday arrived. Oliver could barely contain his excitement. He grabbed the map and the summonology book from his drawer, stuffing them into his bag. After breakfast, he said a quick goodbye to his friends and headed to Eastford Town.
The town was bustling with activity. Cobblestone streets were lined with colorful stalls selling magical trinkets, potions, and food. The air was filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread and the chatter of merchants haggling with customers.
Oliver's first stop was a shop called Togi's Summons. The shop's exterior was made of dark stone, with a sign depicting a skeleton holding a staff. Inside, the air was heavy with the scent of dust and old bones. Skeletons of all kinds were displayed on shelves and pedestals—human warriors with swords, horse skeletons posed mid-gallop, and even the majestic skeleton of a griffin with outstretched wings.
Oliver's eyes widened in amazement as he approached the griffin skeleton. Its intricate bone structure was mesmerizing. Just then, a stout man with a bald head and a bushy mustache appeared.
"Admiring the griffin, eh?" the shop owner asked with a grin.
"Yes! How much does it cost?" Oliver asked eagerly.
The shopkeeper chuckled. "That beauty will set you back 35,000 gold coins."
Oliver's jaw dropped. "That's…a bit out of my budget. What can I get for 900 coins?"
The man scratched his head, muttering under his breath, before leading Oliver to the storage room. There, covered in dust, lay a wolf skeleton. Its bones were sturdy and well-preserved, with sharp fangs and clawed paws.
"This," the shopkeeper said, brushing off the dust, "is the skeleton of a pack leader. It's old, and no one wants it anymore, so I'll let it go for 850 coins."
Oliver was thrilled. He bought the skeleton along with a cleaning kit and a magical collar. Then the shopkeeper brought up another issue. "Where will you store it? You don't have a subspace, do you?"
Realizing the problem, Oliver asked for the cheapest subspace artifact. The shopkeeper showed him an old, secondhand ring.
"It's small—barely fits this wolf skeleton and a few small items. But it's functional," he explained.
After some intense bargaining, Oliver managed to buy the ring for 5,000 coins. Though he had spent a lot, he felt it was worth it. He placed the skeleton in the subspace and left the shop, beaming with satisfaction.
Secrets and Skepticism
As Oliver walked through the town, he decided to head to the forest marked on the map. However, he ran into Ethan and Lily, who had come to town to explore.
"Why didn't you tell us you were coming?" Lily scolded.
"And why were you in a skeleton shop?" Ethan asked, raising an eyebrow.
Oliver quickly came up with an excuse. "I wanted to buy a skeleton and a subspace ring. I'll show you later."
Ethan's eyes lit up. "You bought a subspace? Let me see!"
"Later," Oliver replied. "Let's grab some lunch first."
Valtor, the Wolf Skeleton
Back at the hostel, Oliver showed his friends the subspace ring. With a wave of his hand, he summoned the wolf skeleton. Its sturdy bones gleamed after Oliver had cleaned it with the kit he bought.
Ethan and Lily were amazed. "How much did all this cost?" Ethan asked.
"5,000 for the ring and 900 for the skeleton," Oliver admitted.
Ethan looked horrified. "You're going to need a part-time job if you keep this up!"
Lily suggested Oliver make a contract with the skeleton. Following the instructions in his book, Oliver chanted a spell and placed his hand on the skeleton's head. A glowing red magic circle appeared, and the skeleton came to life. Its red eyes glowed as it knelt before Oliver, acknowledging him as its master.
"I'll call you Valtor," Oliver said, smiling as he patted the wolf's sturdy head.
That night, Oliver cleaned Valtor until the skeleton gleamed. He then fed his owl, Aurora , her favorite treat, stroking her soft feathers. Tomorrow, he would venture into the forest marked on the map. As he drifted off to sleep, he couldn't help but wonder what secrets the forest held.
He was determined to uncover them, no matter what challenges lay ahead.