Cassandra's crazy plan
He mused, 'Is this a coincidence? Hope she's not in trouble… I have a bad feeling…'
As Blake rounded the corner Cassandra had just disappeared into, he didn't see her. He checked nearby alleys and saw her faint, slender footprints on the ground, which abruptly vanished at the end.
Blake approached the wall and thought, 'A wall with protective and invisibility charms? Interesting...'
He understood that, though the barrier had magic defence, it wasn't strong; with enough force, the magic could be broken. But breaking in wouldn't be wise.
He raised his hand and tapped the air; an invisible mirror cracked open. Blake entered the mirror space, which reflected everything in the real world without affecting it.
Drawing his wand, he pointed at the wall and whispered a blasting spell, watching as the invisible wall shattered into pieces within the mirrored dimension, dissolving all defences.
Stepping over the debris, Blake spotted Cassandra at a distance. Since he was in the mirror space, she couldn't see him, though he could observe her without detection.
Using this dimension was far more effective than any Disillusionment Charm since people in the real world couldn't interact with those in the mirror realm. With a snap of his fingers, he restored the wall in the mirror space, making it appear untouched.
Now that he could observe the surroundings clearly, Blake took in his environment—a large, dusty room, its neglected floor and cobwebbed ceiling signaling long abandonment. But the table in the center, cluttered with food and drinks, indicated someone was using it as a temporary base.
Around the table were five or six wizards in strange clothing. Blake surmised they were behind this setup, though their purpose was unclear.
Cassandra stood at the table, speaking loudly to a peculiar-looking man. The man, with two thin mustaches, wore a mismatched outfit: a neat three-piece suit on top, flared trousers below, and a tall hat, exuding an odd style.
Blake edged closer, listening to the muffled sound of their conversation through the mirror space. The man's voice was firm yet condescending. "...the Worley girl. I would prefer to talk to your parents."
"No! You'll speak to me only," Cassandra insisted, her voice shaking slightly.
"I intercepted your letter." Blake noticed her calves trembled despite her calm façade.
The man chuckled. "Well, what business matters could I discuss with a little girl like you? Sheffield, go write another letter to Mr. Tenford."
Panic flickered across Cassandra's face before she concealed it. "It's useless! I told my father the truth about you. He won't come." But her defiance couldn't hide her naivety.
Blake frowned, sensing her vulnerability.
The man smiled with sinister interest. "The truth? We're just honest herbal merchants…"
Cassandra sneered, "Honest? The Rookwood family has a special nutrient formula for herbs, which has hurt our business. You promised my father you had that formula. But…"
"Yes, I do," the man interrupted smugly. "One of my men in the Rookwood company investigated and found it. I'm only here to offer your family a valuable opportunity. This formula could save your business."
Cassandra looked doubtful, challenging him, "What's to stop me from thinking you're with the Rookwoods? What if that formula has side effects? That would ruin us."
The man sighed, amused. "Clever little girl. But unfortunately... also foolish. If you really convinced your father, why are you here?"
She faltered, stepping back. "I-I…"
"You honestly thought you could reveal our 'true colours'? Even if I admitted we had bad intentions, what could you do? And you believe you can walk away from here?" The man's tone became threatening as Cassandra's face paled, her fearful eyes glancing subtly behind her.
Blake, watching carefully, pieced together the situation. 'Cassandra must be expecting someone—maybe her father, or an Auror?' She seemed to be executing a risky plan, hoping reinforcements would arrive as these wizards confronted her.
If they attacked Cassandra and the reinforcements appeared just in time, her father would never do business with them. But the plan depended on precise timing; if reinforcements were delayed, she'd be in serious danger.
The man chuckled as silence fell over the room. "Did you think the Aurors would come? They won't." His words drained the colour from Cassandra's face.
"Y-you…" she stammered.
The man sneered, "How did I know? Because we have people among the Aurors. Even if they did receive a report, they won't take it seriously." He drew his wand.
"You've got spirit, little girl. But we can't have you spreading rumours. So, I'll simply erase your memory."
As he stepped closer, Cassandra backed away, clutching a necklace around her neck, murmuring, "Impossible… I drank…"
Blake's gaze narrowed as he recognized the necklace—a vial containing a luck potion he had given her. Only half the gem-like liquid remained.
'So, that's why she dared to risk such a dangerous plan,' Blake realized, amused yet concerned. The potion's influence must've brought her luck so far—and perhaps had even led Blake to find her. He had to step in.
The man's voice softened mockingly as he aimed his wand at Cassandra. "Now, let's make sure you forget everything, shall we?"
"You may want to rethink that," Blake's voice rang out from behind.
The man whirled around, surprised. Cassandra's eyes widened, filled with relief and astonishment.
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