Chapter 59: 59 News
In the heavy London rain an elderly man was standing on top of Big Ben, looking down at the mirror in his hands. It had taken a long time until Dumbledore got back out of that room, but now he was observing Lucas after he had arrived at his destination. 'Tokyo. A little too far to apparate to.'
----
Lucas and Sophia found themselves in a bustling city filled with bright lights and unfamiliar sights. Despite the pain coursing through his body, Lucas remained determined to keep his mother safe and find a place where they could seek refuge.
Although his injury had gotten better over the flight, thanks to his medical knowledge and the few supplies he had found on the plane, his right arm was still unusable. And most likely will be for the foreseeable future.
They made their way outside of the bustling city towards the countryside. Once there they found a cosy little muggle hotel with a nice hot spring attached to it.
----
Meanwhile in Britain another sensation shocked the magical world.
The artifacts they had confiscated from the Fosters' home were untraceable. They neither showed up on any tool nor were found by spells like the revealing charm.
This naturally caught the eye of some unsavoury individuals, which smelled a massive potential to make money, as well as other businessmen, who liked the idea of untraceable merchandice.
But a small number of individuals who had a peculiar incident in mind thought something completely different.
With double the effort to find the fugitives, the British ministry of magic decided to officially send out a wanted order to every magical community all over the globe with a reward for information or for capturing either Lucas or Sophia. It was of an outstandingly rare scale, only seen during war time or for the most heinous of criminals.
----
The days flew by and Lucas had taken full control of every muggle staff working at the hotel. Thanks to that his mum was able to get a job there, on top of finding out that she had a 'natural' gift for the japanese language.
Lucas was currently relaxing in one of the hot springs. The warm water did help a bit with his injury. He absentmindedly traced the newly scarred pink tissue with his fingers, when he picked up something breaking into the resort.
His domain was ever present so the little two tailed fox couldn't hide from his senses.
He let it approach the wooden walls around the bath without stopping or looking at it.
It cast some magic on itself before jumping over the wall in one smooth leap and landing at the edge of the pool. Lucas was about to act, when a second presence made itself known. It looked directly at him, like it knew he was aware of it. 'Six tails, huh.'
Two Kitsune had decided to visit him. Most likely a mother with her child. Lucas kept up the illusion that he hadn't noticed the child approaching him and when it tried to cast an illusion on him, he reflected it back, causing it to think that Lucas was unable to see it.
The Kitsune outside had watched carefully, ready to attack at any moment, but when she had seen the human cast magic wandlessly she panicked and rushed inside. Lucas was barely finished with dealing with the child, when a tail was hovering dangerously close over his chest.
'Interesting', she was slower than the old man he had met in that one shop.
"That's not a polite way to greet someone." Lucas said in perfect japanese. The Kitsune looked down at the strange human, half submerged in the hot spring, wondering where he got his confidence from. She paused, her sharp eyes assessing Lucas with a mix of caution and curiosity. She felt strangely uncomfortable, like something was amiss.
The steam from the hot spring swirled around them, creating an almost surreal atmosphere. The mother glanced at her offspring, then back at Lucas, her gaze softening slightly. "You possess powerful magic for a human. Wandless, no less. That is rare."
Lucas stared back at her, "I would prefer if you would retract your tail first."
The Kitsune narrowed her eyes but slowly retracted her tail, allowing Lucas to breathe more freely. "You are not an ordinary human," she said, her voice calm but laced with a hint of suspicion. "Why are you here, in our land?"
Lucas sighed. "I'm just seeking refuge with my mother. We didn't come here to cause any trouble."
The Kitsune studied Lucas carefully, her sharp gaze never wavering. The tension in the air was palpable. After a moment, she nodded slowly, her tail swishing behind her.
"Very well," she said, her voice a bit softer now. "I am Akane, and this is my daughter, Yuki." She glanced at the two-tailed fox beside her, who looked off into the distance with a sense of wonder. "We will not harm you, but you must understand that our land is not a sanctuary for those who bring danger with them."
Lucas nodded, his expression earnest. "I understand, Akane. My mother and I are simply trying to stay hidden and safe. We have no intention of causing any harm."
Akane tilted her head slightly, considering his words. "Your magic is strong, and it will draw attention. The fact that you have taken control of this place suggests you are not merely seeking refuge."
Lucas sighed, knowing there was no point in hiding the truth. "I did what I had to in order to ensure our safety."
Akane's eyes narrowed slightly, but she nodded, accepting Lucas's explanation for now. "Very well, Lucas. You may stay here, but know that my clan will be watching. Any sign of trouble, and you will have to leave."
Lucas inclined his head in gratitude. "Thank you, Akane. We will not cause any problems."
With a flick of her tail a towel floated over to her and with another she transformed into her human form.
She had beautiful orange hair tied to a bun with strands to the side framing her mature face. The fox ears in the same coulour as well as the whisker-like markings on her cheeks gave hints to her origin. The already partially wet thin towel wrapped tightly around her voluptuous body, making her large breasts threaten to spill out.
Lucas averted his eyes briefly, respecting her change. As she settled into the hot spring beside him, her presence radiated a quiet authority.
While trying to avoid the awkwardness of Akane's boldness and the hormonal shift in his body, which he had to suppress, Lucas gaze landed on her child, "What about your daughter?"
"What about her?"
"Don't you want to help her?"
"No. This will be a valuable lesson for her."
Akane settled into the hot spring beside Lucas. He glanced at Yuki, who still seemed fascinated by the surroundings, and then back at Akane.
"You have a unique approach to parenting," Lucas remarked, his voice laced with a hint of curiosity.
Akane's lips curled into a faint smile. "Kitsune children must learn the hard lessons early. It's how we survive and thrive. Yuki will come to understand that her actions have consequences."
Lucas nodded, respecting her perspective, while continuing to trace the scar on his chest absentmindedly. "I can understand that. In my world, lessons learned through experience tend to be the most enduring."
Lucas and Akane sat in silence for a moment, the warm water of the hot spring soothing his injuries and the steam rising around them, creating a peaceful atmosphere. Lucas's mind, however, was anything but calm. He was aware of the looming threats and the need to stay vigilant.
After a few moments, Akane spoke again, her voice softer and more contemplative. "Your magic... it feels different. There is something peculiar about it, something not entirely human, almost sweet."
Lucas's eyes met hers, and he saw the curiosity and slight attraction, yet caution in her gaze. "I've had to learn many things on my own," he replied, choosing his words carefully. "I have been through a lot, and I have had to adapt to survive."
Akane studied Lucas for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Adaptation is crucial for survival," she said, her tone thoughtful. "But it can also change us in ways we do not expect."
Lucas nodded, understanding the weight of her words. "Yes, it can. I've had to make choices that I have to live with now."
Their conversation was interrupted by Yuki, who had broken out of her own illusion. "Mother, is he really that powerful?" she asked, her voice tinged with a mixture of fear and admiration.
Lucas and Akane exchanged a brief glance, both aware of the curiosity and caution in Yuki's voice. Lucas smiled gently at the young Kitsune, attempting to put her at ease.
"I've had to become strong to protect the ones I care about," Lucas said softly, his eyes meeting Yuki's. "But with power comes responsibility and consequences. It's not always as great as it seems."
Yuki's eyes widened, her youthful curiosity piqued. She looked to her mother for guidance, and Akane nodded slightly, encouraging her daughter to ask more if she wished.
"Can you show me some of your magic?" Yuki asked tentatively, her voice almost a whisper.
Lucas glanced at Akane for approval. The elder Kitsune gave a slight nod, her expression guarded but not hostile.
Out of thin air at first one, then two, then a dozen colourful butterflies manifested, gently flapping their gorgeous wings. Yuki's eyes widened in amazement, captivated by the display.
The butterflies flitted around Yuki, their iridescent wings shimmering in the warm light of the hot spring. She reached out gently, and one of the butterflies landed on her paw, its delicate wings brushing against her fur. A look of pure wonder spread across her face.
Akane watched the interaction closely, her eyes flicking between Lucas and her daughter. She seemed to be weighing something in her mind. Finally, she spoke, her voice calm but with an underlying firmness. "Lucas, I would like for you to meet my clan."
----
In Hogwarts, the news of Lucas's actions and his wanted status had caused a stir among the students and faculty alike. Whispers and rumors spread like wildfire throughout the castle, painting Lucas as a villain, just like the newspapers had depicted him.
"I told you I had a bad feeling about him." Ron muttered, his brow furrowed in concern as he and Harry sat in the Gryffindor common room.
Harry sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I guess you are right. I never thought he could do such a thing."
"I bet he was also behind the Dementors' attack during the game. He made them come to you and tried to get rid of you. I mean, which upcoming dark lord would want the boy who lived to grow up to become a powerful wizard?" Ron passionately gave his reasoning.
"You think so?" Harry was sceptical. He didn't believe the Dementors would listen to a student, however, they did seem to be targetting him and his friends. First during the train ride and then during the game. It was a strange coincidence that it happened twice.
"Of course! I bet he was fed up with your fame. He couldn't stand being in your shadow anymore." Ron's voice was filled with conviction.
Harry frowned, considering Ron's words carefully. It was true that Lucas had always seemed to dislike him. He had always felt a sense of unease around Lucas, but he never imagined that it would come to this. The idea that Lucas could be behind the Dementors' attacks seemed far-fetched, but Ron's words planted a seed of doubt in his mind.
"And now we have proof, printed in black and white." the redhead pointed at a picture of two people laying in a hospital bed with the headline: "Is the next dark lord on the rise? Two Aurors sent to the hospital after attack on the ministry."
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