Capítulo 57: Hope in Despair
David clutched the Invisible Beast Illustrated Book in desperation, willing its power to activate. An ethereal figure materialized beside the black-robed wizard ahead, mimicking the wizard's movements seconds before he actually made them.
David's heart surged with hope. It worked!
Using the phantom's preemptive movements as a guide, David quickly sidestepped to safety just as the wizard's curse struck where he had stood moments before. The black-robed figure hesitated, clearly puzzled by David's sudden improvement in combat reflexes. But David, emboldened by his newfound advantage, pressed on.
He summoned his magical creatures—a massive, clawed water monster and a snarling three-headed dog—both conjured from spells he had learned through tireless practice with Newt Scamander. They charged at the wizard in tandem, creating an opening. With a flick of his wand, David cast Expelliarmus to disarm his foe.
The wizard evaded the spell with practiced ease, but David had planned for this. A split second later, his follow-up Confringo—a blasting curse—struck the wizard's shimmering light shield. Cracks splintered across the shield before it shattered, leaving the wizard momentarily exposed. David grinned in triumph.
But his victory was short-lived. As the water monster and three-headed dog lunged for the wizard, the air around him shimmered and twisted. In an instant, the wizard reappeared several feet away, unharmed. David stared in disbelief. He can apparate mid-battle? Isn't that risky?
The wizard, visibly weakened by his exertion, stood still for a moment, his breathing labored. But his patience had run out. Raising his wand, he unleashed a torrent of powerful spells. David scrambled to shield himself with his summoned creatures, directing them to block each attack. Sparks flew as curses struck the ground and trees, leaving scorch marks and craters in their wake.
Amid the chaos, David felt the temperature rise. A dull roar filled the air, and he turned to see a wall of brilliant blue flames creeping toward him. Trees crumbled into ash as the magical fire consumed everything in its path. Panic gripped David as he realized the fire would soon engulf him.
"Professor... if you don't show up now, I'm toast," he muttered under his breath, half-praying for salvation.
With no help in sight, David's mind raced for a solution. Then he remembered Neville's broomstick, which had been abandoned earlier in the forest. Summoning all his focus, David aimed his wand and cried, "Accio broomstick!"
For an agonizing moment, nothing happened. Then, with a faint whoosh, Neville's broomstick broke through the flames, soaring toward him just as the fire closed in. David leaped onto it and shot into the sky, narrowly escaping the inferno. The flames snapped shut below him, leaving a smoldering black circle where he had just been.
Hovering in the air, David gasped for breath. Exhaustion weighed on him, but he knew he couldn't give up now.
"Impressive," a hoarse voice called out from below. It was the black-robed wizard, his tone dripping with malice. "Not many wizards your age would have lasted this long."
David, despite his fatigue, couldn't resist a retort. "Really? You sound like my grandma's old gramophone. Do you ever stop talking?"
The wizard's reply came in the form of another volley of curses. David zigzagged through the air, barely dodging each one. His summoned creatures remained below, unmoving. Maintaining their forms was draining the last of his strength, but he refused to let them vanish. If the wizard turned his attention back to the injured unicorn, all would be lost.
"Still trying to save that pathetic creature?" the wizard sneered. "How long can you keep this up?"
David didn't answer. He couldn't. His strength was fading fast, and when a stray curse came hurtling toward him, he braced for the worst. He closed his eyes, expecting pain.
Instead, there was a metallic clang. Opening his eyes, David saw a shimmering armor-like barrier surrounding him. The wizard below was gone. Before David could process what had happened, a familiar voice spoke.
"David, that was quite the performance."
David turned to see Professor Dumbledore stepping out from behind a tree, his signature calm smile in place.
"You were here the whole time?" David asked incredulously as he guided the broomstick to the ground.
"Of course," Dumbledore replied. "I arrived not long after your message. But you seemed to be holding your own, so I didn't interfere."
"'Didn't interfere'? I nearly got roasted alive!" David protested, though his relief was palpable.
"That flying broomstick spell of yours was quite inspired," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling. "I must admit, I almost stepped in during that moment. But you handled it beautifully."
David sighed and rolled his eyes, too drained to argue. He turned his attention back to the unicorn, which was cowering nearby, its silver blood pooling beneath it. David approached slowly, murmuring soothing words. The unicorn allowed him to come closer, its eyes filled with a mixture of pain and trust.
Gently, David examined its wound. The gash on its hind leg was deep, the bone visible. Anger flared within him at the cruelty of the wizard who had caused this. "You'll be okay," he whispered to the creature.
Carefully, he administered a potion to numb the pain before stitching the wound closed and wrapping it in gauze. The unicorn flinched but didn't pull away, seemingly understanding that David meant to help. Once the procedure was done, David plucked a few of its silvery hairs and placed them in a vial.
"I'll come back tomorrow to change your bandages," he promised, patting its flank gently.
As he returned to Dumbledore's side, his exhaustion finally caught up with him. "I think I deserve some answers now," he said, glaring at the professor.
Dumbledore smiled. "Indeed you do. But first, how about a cup of hot chocolate in my office? You've earned it. Oh, and don't worry about the unicorn bloodstains—I'll take care of those."
David sighed but nodded, too tired to argue. Together, they began the journey back, leaving the forest—and the chaos—behind them.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder