Chapter 9: The Enchanting Creatures

As Perek led Amphisbaena through the magical animal sanctuary, they arrived at a glass house adorned with flourishing trees and grass. Perek paused, gesturing toward the enchanting scene, "Dragons may not reside here, but some magical animals are just as formidable, if not more so."

With those words, Perek guided Amphisbaena into the glass enclosure. He blew a whistle, and a magnificent white horse emerged from the shadows, its sky-blue eyes and silvery-white mane identifying it as a unicorn.

Unicorns, magical beings at the 4X level, are considered gentle creatures. In the taxonomy of magical animals, they fall within the range of 1X to 5X, but their ranking doesn't necessarily denote their strength compared to higher-tiered magical creatures.

Despite being classified as 4X magical beings, unicorns possess a potent magic that rivals even that of massive dragons. Other magical animals with similar qualities include phoenixes and feather snakes.

The unicorn lowered its head, allowing Perek to stroke its mane. Perek smiled warmly and introduced the unicorn, "This is Amphisbaena. He's..."

Before Perek could finish, Amphisbaena interjected, "I'm a new intern. Pleased to meet you."

Amphisbaena believed that the wise unicorn could understand the implications and promptly assumed his desired identity.

Observing Amphisbaena's outstretched hand, the unicorn contemplated for a moment before extending its tongue to give it a gentle lick, confirming Amphisbaena's chosen persona.

"Perik, it seems this Mr. Unicorn has taken a liking to you," Amphisbaena remarked, expressing his surprise. Unicorns are typically drawn to children and pure-hearted girls, not wizards like Perik.

From the spiral pattern on the unicorn's horn, Amphisbaena deduced it was a male unicorn.

"Naturally," Perik replied with pride. "Murpheus was nearly on the brink of death when it arrived here. Cruel dark wizards had been draining its blood for profit."

"But thanks to my care and nurturing, Murpheus has made a remarkable recovery. I plan to release it into the dense forests of Hogwarts next year, where it can thrive."

Amphisbaena sensed Perik's genuine love for magical animals, but he couldn't help but disagree with his idea. If he were to prevent the unicorns from reaching the Hogwarts forest then it would disrupt the carefully crafted world of Harry Potter, with unforeseen consequences and significant deviations from the original plot.

Amphisbaena pondered for a moment, considering the potential ramifications, and decided to withhold his objections. Saving the unicorn could wait; his priority was to face the Dark Lord. He knew that adhering to the plot was his greatest advantage, and he mustn't meddle with it.

"Perik, I've heard that those who harm unicorns will be cursed," Amphisbaena mentioned, seeking confirmation.

Perik nodded in affirmation. "It's the unicorn's safeguard. Legend has it that unicorns are the steeds of the moon goddess Artemis. This powerful deity has bestowed upon them special protection. Anyone who harms a unicorn will suffer severe and unavoidable misfortune."

"While the legend might seem distant, it holds true that those who harm unicorns face terrible luck. Especially in the forest, where the entire woodland turns hostile, as Artemis is also the goddess of the forests."

Amphisbaena contemplated the irresistible misfortune and the negative state of forest hostility, equating it to a -5 penalty on luck if represented in an attribute panel.

Few individuals visited this magical animal sanctuary. Not all wizards held an affinity for magical creatures, and caring for them was an incredibly demanding task that only those who genuinely loved them were willing to undertake.

Aside from the unicorns, Amphisbaena encountered magical creatures with formidable magical abilities such as water monsters, invisible beasts, sphinxes, and even a legendary thunderbird. However, the thunderbird displayed an aloof indifference even in the presence of its caretaker, Perik.

The morning's tour transformed Amphisbaena's perception of Mr. Perik. Witnessing his ability to communicate and befriend such a variety of magical creatures, Amphisbaena recognized it as more than mere education—it showcased an unmatched talent.

Throughout the Harry Potter series, Amphisbaena only knew of two individuals with this extraordinary gift. The first was Newt from "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," and the second was Hagrid, the Keeper of the Forbidden Forest.

Initially, Amphisbaena assumed that Hagrid's role was solely to drive the plot forward. However, after watching "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," he realized that Hagrid and the Forbidden Forest were a hidden card Dumbledore placed directly under the enemy's nose—a formidable asset capable of countering even Voldemort at the peak of his power. This confidence stemmed from Dumbledore's stature as the greatest white wizard of the 20th century.

Even when Voldemort ravaged the wizarding world, he was merely a pawn in Dumbledore's hands. In fact, Dumbledore achieved what two generations of Dark Lords could not. After Voldemort's demise, the new Minister of Magic was appointed from the ranks of the Order of the Phoenix. The core British wizards in influential positions all hailed from the Order of the Phoenix.

Despite Voldemort's infiltration of the Ministry of Magic, the most potent white wizard, Dumbledore, managed to purge the institution entirely.

The fact that Hermione eventually became the Minister of Magic demonstrated that Voldemort's strength and cunning were no match for the white wizard. The evidence spoke for itself, leaving Amphisbaena in awe and even sympathizing with Voldemort.

"Perik, could you teach me how to bond with these magical creatures?" Amphisbaena asked earnestly, looking at him with anticipation.

Perik was taken aback, not expecting Amphisbaena's interest in such a demanding task. After all, apart from a few house elves who assisted, adult wizards rarely spent time with magical creatures. Caring for them was an arduous job.

During their earlier visit, Perik had noticed that the young wizard possessed an impressively extensive knowledge of magical creatures and showed utmost caution to avoid any behaviors that might anger them.

If Amphisbaena were an adult wizard, he might genuinely assist and share the workload. Perik pondered silently.

"You should consult your father about it. Taking care of these creatures is no easy task," Perik responded, recognizing the fleeting enthusiasm often displayed by young wizards.

"Let's hope for a harmonious future," Amphisbaena said, extending his right hand towards Perik.

Finally, there was another opportunity for Amphisbaena to learn and explore, and the coveted title of Master Alchemist seemed within his reach.