“ how can anybody hate the rain?”(chapter 53)

Chapter 53

"Anyways, I'm going out. Want to come along?" Gray asked. Rachel affirmed by shifting in her cane form, and together they exited the suitcase. Sneaking past the guards of Stormhold was easy, and soon Gray took on his Animagus form to run as far as he could. As he sprinted, thoughts raced through his mind. "I definitely need to learn Apparition," he mused, leaping effortlessly over a mound. After running for an hour, he arrived at a mountainous region. Rachel, now in her human form, asked, "And why did you bring us here?" Gray responded by removing his shirt, revealing that the vascular-shaped scar on his chest was gone.

Gray cast a levitation charm, wandless and nonverbal, causing small and medium-sized stones to float into the air. Not stopping there, he controlled their direction—up, down, left, or right—with precision. "Oh, you've recovered your magic," Rachel noted. "Not only that, but it's also stronger," Gray replied. To prove it, he cast Confringo, blasting the floating stones into pieces. "Wandless and nonverbal charms," he said with a smile, earning an impressed look from Rachel. "But wait, there's more," Gray added. Taking a deep breath, he released a cold stream of energy that expanded into a 100-foot-tall, 20-inch-thick ice wall.

"What are you trying to do?" Rachel asked as Gray's hand began to glow with silver light. He threw a straight jab at the wall, cracking it, and from the crack, a silver light radiated. Gray continued punching, each jab charging the wall with starlight energy. Finally, he delivered a powerful strike that shattered the ice wall into flying pieces. Immediately, Gray shouted, "Bombarda!" The shards exploded in an intense display, resembling fireworks. "Beautiful," Gray remarked as the ice chunks turned to water, raining down on them. "Rain, how can anybody hate the rain?" he chuckled, wiping his face. Rachel, however, frowned, her drenched cloak clinging to her. "I guess there are always exceptions," Gray teased as Rachel returned to her wand form, which he stored in the suitcase.

As night fell and the rain poured, Gray continued walking until he came across a strange inn. It was a magical construction, which immediately set him on edge. "This smells like a trap," he thought. Just then, he noticed a carriage drawn by two men—an older man and a younger one—alongside ghosts. "Interesting. A magically conjured carriage with ghosts," Gray murmured, approaching the inn. The rain hammered down as Primus paced outside Lamia's Inn, his expression dark with irritation. Nearby, Tristan stood calmly. "Maybe we should try the next inn," Tristan suggested, trying to ease the tension. "Carry on a little longer," Primus replied, barely containing his annoyance. "If your Moonstone really is as close as the runes say." Before Primus could say more, the inn's door creaked open, revealing a young man named Billy.

"At last!" Primus exclaimed, brushing past him. "We require accommodation. Help my friend take the horses to your stable." Just as Gray appeared, Primus looked at him. Gray shook the rain from himself as he walked in, completely ignoring Primus. While Primus disappeared inside, Tristan handed over the reins and began walking toward the stables, only to whirl around in confusion when Billy dipped down and nipped at the hem of his jacket. Billy stared blankly, offering no explanation, and Tristan continued, unsettled. Inside the inn, Lamia spoke softly to someone hidden in the shadows. "Relax here, my love. I'll be back just as soon as I've taken care of this customer."

Moments later, Primus stormed into the empty common room, frustration etched across his face, his ghostly brothers hovering silently behind him before turning their attention to Gray. "Oh, this one certainly looks interesting. Maybe he was sent by Septimus," one of the ghosts, who looked like he died freezing, said as Gray looked at him. "I have no clue who this Septimus is," Gray replied, shocking the ghost brothers and the living one who asked, "You… you can see them?" Gray looked at him weirdly. "Of course, they are in my personal space," he said, before ignoring Primus completely. "Hello? Hello?" Primus called out, his voice echoing in the stillness. His attention was quickly drawn to a steaming bath in the corner. Unable to resist, he stripped off his sodden clothes and sank into the warm water, sighing in relief.

The ghosts turned away in disgust at the sight. As Primus relaxed, a woman named Yvaine hobbled down the stairs, her eyes widening in shock at the unexpected sight. She quickly turned away, muttering something under her breath. Oblivious, Primus smirked. "I'm accustomed to better service. But you're awake now, and that's what counts. A hot meal would be in order. What can you offer me?" he said before Yvaine noticed Gray looking around. When their eyes met, he noticed something immediately. "She's glowing, and she feels close for some reason," Gray thought. Yvaine approached him suddenly, scrutinizing him. "You… you wield our powers—the powers of a star. How?" she asked. Gray thought, "Is she a star?" Her glow intensified, confirming his guess. "Once upon a time, I made a wish on a shooting star, and she granted me powers," he replied, causing Yvaine to scoff. "We don't grant humans powers."

Before Yvaine could continue, Lamia reappeared, carrying two glasses of wine, her smile forced. "I'll thank you not to bother my guests, sir. I am the lady of this inn. I've a pot of stew on the stove. A drink while you wait?" she offered smoothly to Primus and Gray, who took the glass. Primus waved her off. "Until my brother is dead, I've vowed to drink only my own wine. But my friend in the stables would be glad of a drop, I'm sure." With a flicker of irritation, Lamia nodded and left the room. Meanwhile, Gray experimented on the wine, which, as expected, was poisonous. "Wise call," he said to Primus, who turned towards him, watching Gray pour the wine out. The liquid sizzled against the table. "Bah, I should have known not to trust strangers," Primus muttered. He turned to Yvaine, asking, "Traveling alone, young lady?" A suggestive tone crept into his voice. "I might say that you—" He stopped mid-sentence, locking his gaze onto a glimmering stone tucked into Yvaine's belt.

Primus's ghostly brothers gasped in silent excitement, nudging one another with urgency. "That stone!" Primus's voice trembled with awe. "It can't be… Come here, let me see it." Yvaine rolled her eyes, clearly unwilling to approach a naked man in a bath. Desperate, Primus leaned forward. "Please… I believe it to be mine." Yvaine's defiance was evident. "If you wish to touch it, you're going to have to get out of that bath. And put some clothes on," she replied. Annoyed, Primus retorted, "I am a Prince, and I command you to come over here." Their exchange was interrupted by a loud noise from the stables. Lamia, armed with knives, froze on the staircase. In the stables, a unicorn burst through a broken door, knocking wine from Tristan's hands. The spilled liquid sizzled on the hay like acid. Moments later, Tristan burst into the inn, shouting, "Prince Primus! Don't touch anything they give you!" But his warning came too late; Primus lay slumped in the bath, his throat marked by a vivid slash of blue blood. Lamia stood behind him, knife in hand, her intent unmistakable.