34. Healing Bonds

Arthur stirred awake in his room, the familiar hum of Avalon's energy gently nudging him from his dreams. He blinked at the faint glow of the room, stretched, and glanced at the golden display hovering in his vision.

[System Notification: Level Up Achieved – Level 16]

He stared at the notification, his brows furrowing. "Only one level?" he muttered, sitting up. "But we raided a whole camp of poachers yesterday! Shouldn't that have been a great way to farm experience?"

As if responding to his thoughts, Avalon's smooth, amused voice echoed in the room. "Farm experience? Arthur, remind me—what is your role here in Avalon?"

Arthur rolled his eyes, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm the concierge for the guests and the manager of Avalon."

"Exactly," Avalon replied, its tone laced with gentle amusement. "Your experience is tied to the satisfaction of our guests, not how many battles you win. You're not a mercenary, Arthur. Avalon thrives on harmony, not chaos."

Arthur huffed, though a small smile tugged at his lips. "So, helping Newt with his mission... that might actually gain me some experience points?"

Avalon chuckled faintly. "We'll see. It all depends on how satisfied our guests are."

Arthur sighed, shaking his head. "Great. No pressure."

With a renewed determination to make the most of the day, Arthur swung his legs over the side of the bed and headed to the bathroom. The hot water cleared the last remnants of sleep from his mind, and he found himself mulling over Avalon's words.

After drying off, he slipped into his uniform, the tailored fabric fitting comfortably—a symbol of his responsibility and growing connection to the sanctuary. He straightened his tie in the mirror, took a deep breath, and nodded to himself.

"Alright," he said quietly. "Let's get to work."

Arthur strolled into the dining area, the smell of tea and pastries wafting through the air. At the table, Hecate and Taliesin sat, leisurely enjoying their morning tea and nibbling on colorful macaroons.

"Morning," Arthur greeted with a smile as he approached.

"Morning, Arthur," Hecate replied, her voice calm as she placed a delicate macaroon on her saucer.

Taliesin lifted his teacup with a playful grin. "Morning, lad. Sleep well?"

Arthur chuckled, pulling out a chair. "I did, though judging by the two of you, sleep isn't on the menu here."

Hecate glanced at him, a faint smirk on her lips. "We can sleep if we choose to, but we don't need it."

Taliesin leaned back, balancing his teacup precariously on two fingers. "But you need it, lad. You're still growing—unlike us. We're at the peak of our bodies and lives here in Avalon."

Hecate nodded, her tone thoughtful. "That's true, though we're still in a weakened state. The stronger you grow, the stronger Avalon grows."

"And the stronger Avalon grows..."

Arthur turned toward the voice just as Musashi entered the room, flanked by Guan Yu and Mulan. Musashi smirked as he finished the thought: "…the more we return to our prime."

Arthur greeted them with a cheerful wave. "Morning! Looks like everyone's up and about. Oh, and speaking of growing," he added with a grin, looking at Mulan, "how did your brothers like their gifts?"

At his question, Guan Yu and Musashi exchanged a glance, their expressions both stoic and resigned. Then, as if perfectly synchronized, they let out a deep, unified sigh.

The Night Before…

In the quiet glow of the dining area, Mulan carefully unwrapped her gifts and presented them to her brothers.

"This," she said, holding up the complete tea set, "is my gift to you both."

She handed Musashi the blue cup, Guan Yu the green cup, and kept the red one for herself. The three of them shared a rare, quiet moment of camaraderie as they sipped tea together, enjoying the beautifully crafted set Mulan had chosen for them.

As the conversation wound down, Mulan reached for another set of packages, her eyes gleaming mischievously.

"And these," she said, handing them each a box, "are… an extra surprise. Open them later, in your own quarters."

Musashi and Guan Yu, accustomed to their sister's occasional whims, nodded and set the boxes aside. They continued their tea and conversation before bidding her goodnight.

Later that night, Musashi and Guan Yu returned to their respective quarters. Curiosity got the better of them, and they opened the packages Mulan had given them.

The results were instant chaos.

In Musashi's room, the Zonko's Nose-Biting Teacup sprang to life, lunging at his face with a snap of its porcelain handle. With a practiced motion, Musashi drew his katana, slicing the cup mid-air. Unfortunately, the cup landed directly on his nose before shattering, leaving a faint bite mark.

In Guan Yu's quarters, the teacup lunged similarly, and his response was equally swift. With a mighty swing of his Green Dragon Crescent Blade, he slashed through the air, obliterating not only the cup but also most of the furniture in his room.

Back in the dining area, Mulan sipped her tea calmly, listening as muffled booms and shouts echoed through Avalon. She chuckled quietly to herself, satisfied. 'So this is what those wizards felt when they laughed at me.'

But her amusement didn't last long.

"SISTER!!" the unified roar of Musashi and Guan Yu reverberated through the halls.

Moments later, the brothers confronted her, their weapons drawn, their expressions torn between irritation and grudging admiration for her audacity. Mulan only smiled, setting down her tea and drawing her own blade.

The three of them clashed in a heated sparring session, their weapons ringing through the halls. Outsiders might have mistaken it for a real battle, but the warriors reveled in the fight, their bond expressed through each perfectly timed strike and counter.

By the time dawn broke, Guan Yu's quarters were in shambles, Musashi's nose bore a faint bite mark, and Mulan's laughter echoed in their ears.

…

As Arthur listened to the tale, pieced together from the brothers' reactions and Mulan's knowing smile, he couldn't help but laugh.

"So you're saying…" Arthur began, struggling to hold back his laughter, "you sliced up your own quarters, and you're walking around with a teacup bite on your nose?"

Musashi grumbled, rubbing the faint mark. "It's not funny."

Guan Yu shook his head. "It was a well-executed prank," he admitted grudgingly. "But she will pay for this."

Mulan sipped her tea, her expression serene but her eyes glinting with satisfaction. "You both needed the practice."

The group erupted into laughter, even Hecate cracking a rare smile.

Arthur wiped a tear from his eye. "Remind me never to prank a prankster. But seriously, I'm glad you all enjoyed your gifts—both of them."

As the warriors settled into their morning routine, Arthur felt a sense of comfort. These moments of camaraderie, though laced with chaos, were what made Avalon feel like home.

…

The soft glow of morning light filtered into the Sanctuary Spa and Healing Room, the tranquil energy of the space amplifying the soothing hum of Avalon's magic. Amid the warm and serene ambiance, Eir and Medea worked diligently at a long counter filled with herbs, pestles, and vials of shimmering liquid.

They stood side by side, focused on their task, creating a pill infused with the finest magical herbs to aid Carol's recovery.

Eir glanced over at the bed where Carol lay, her breathing steady but her expression still unmoving. "Her vitals are stabilizing," Eir noted, her tone calm but laced with a hint of concern. "Her body's healing, but her energy hasn't begun to recover. She likely won't wake for several weeks."

Medea nodded, her hands moving deftly as she ground dried leaves into a fine powder. "Which means we'll need to sustain her body until then." She picked up a vial of glowing golden liquid and poured a precise amount into the mixture. "This pill will ensure she gets the nutrients she needs. Her resilience is remarkable, but even a body this strong needs the right support."

As they worked, Medea broke the silence with a thoughtful question. "Have you noticed something strange about your magic here?"

Eir raised an eyebrow, her hands pausing briefly over a bundle of herbs. "Strange how?"

Medea gestured toward the bowl in front of her. "It feels… restricted. Normally, I could conjure a sprite of myself to handle these kinds of menial tasks."

Eir's lips quirked into a small smile as she resumed chopping herbs. "Conjure a sprite, hmm? For what purpose, exactly?"

Medea returned her smile with a playful one of her own. "To give me a massage while another one does the actual work."

Eir let out a quiet chuckle, shaking her head. "Lazy as ever, I see."

The two laughed softly, their camaraderie easing the weight of their duties.

"You're not wrong, though," Eir admitted after a moment. "My magic feels muted as well. Lífbrunnr is vast, but it seems we're only allowed to access certain aspects of it—at least for now."

Medea hummed in agreement, carefully forming the mixture into small, rounded pills. "Perhaps as Aegis Hygieia grows, so will our abilities. Until then, we'll have to rely on more… traditional methods."

Eir glanced at her, a hint of amusement in her calm gaze. "And no sprites."

Medea sighed dramatically. "Alas, no sprites. What a cruel world."

Their shared laughter echoed through the healing sanctuary, the bond between them as soothing as the magic of Avalon itself.

…

Meanwhile, Newt Scamander sat in his small office, a phone held to his ear. The space was filled with the gentle sounds of magical creatures stirring in the enclosures around him.

"Newt, are you sure it's that serious?" his wife's voice came through the receiver, warm and concerned.

"I wouldn't have called otherwise," Newt replied, his tone earnest. "This poaching network is far larger than I anticipated. It's not just Europe—they're operating globally. I'm certain of it."

He paused, glancing at a stack of notes on his desk. "I need your help, Tina. Could you investigate the American front? See if MACUSA has any leads or records tied to the Malmorin family or their dealings with poachers?"

Tina was silent for a moment before she answered. "I'll see what I can do. If this network is as widespread as you think, it's only a matter of time before it reaches us too."

Newt sighed, relief evident in his voice. "Thank you. I'll keep you updated on what we find here."

"You'd better," Tina said, her tone softening into a teasing lilt. "And Newt… be careful."

"I always am," he replied, though they both knew it wasn't entirely true.

As the call ended, Newt leaned back in his chair, his mind churning with possibilities. With Tina's help and the bonds he'd formed in Avalon, he felt a flicker of hope that they could unravel the poaching network's secrets before more creatures were harmed.

While Avalon's halls thrummed with the bonds of its residents, Tina's determination burned just as brightly across the Atlantic. Each connection, whether in the sanctuary or beyond, strengthened their collective resolve against the growing shadows of their mission.

In his modest home in London, Newt Scamander sat at his cluttered desk, a stack of letters spread before him. Some of the envelopes were already opened, their contents revealing promises of help from his old friends. A few had even mentioned bringing their own connections to assist with the investigation.

But many letters remained unanswered. Newt sighed, running a hand through his tousled hair. "This will have to do for now," he murmured, his gaze flicking to the few promising replies.

Deciding he needed to move forward, Newt pushed back his chair and headed to his basement.

The basement, enchanted with an Undetectable Extension Charm, was alive with movement. Magical creatures roamed freely in their carefully crafted habitats. Near the far end of the room, Frank, the majestic thunderbird, perched on a tall stone pillar, his golden feathers shimmering faintly in the dim light.

Newt approached slowly, his expression soft. "Frank," he said, his voice gentle but resolute, "I need you to go to America."

Frank tilted his head, his intelligent eyes fixed on Newt.

"Tina's going to need help," Newt continued. "She and her crew will be investigating the poachers on that side of the world. You'll be able to assist her—and keep an eye on things for me."

The thunderbird let out a low trill, stepping forward on his perch. Newt extended his hand, and Frank nuzzled it gently, a gesture of farewell.

"Take care, old friend," Newt said, his voice heavy with emotion. "And you can come back when it's done."

Frank spread his massive wings, his golden plumage glowing faintly with stored energy. With a soft, almost sorrowful cry, he lifted off, disappearing through an enchanted portal at the far end of the room.

Newt turned his attention to the other creatures—the ones rescued from the poachers' camp. They had settled in over the past few days, regaining their strength in the safety of his sanctuary.

"Alright, now," Newt said, addressing them gently. "Arthur's going to come for you soon. Who wants to join him?"

Several of the creatures responded, stepping forward or chirping in their own ways. Among them were a majestic griffin, an elegant occamy with shimmering scales, and a few smaller beasts, including bowtruckles and diricawls.

Newt smiled warmly, crouching to meet their eyes. "Good. You'll be safe with him, and I'm sure he'll take excellent care of you."

He prepared their morning meal, setting out food and ensuring each creature had enough to eat. "Arthur will pick you up around noon," he said reassuringly.

As the creatures settled down to eat, Newt left the basement, returning to his desk.

Newt sat once again at his desk, sorting through the letters. No new responses had arrived, and he stared at the small pile of promising replies, his expression thoughtful.

"It seems this is all the help we'll get," he said softly, running his fingers over the envelopes. His tone was tinged with disappointment but also resolve. 'It's not about how many help—it's about how much we can do with those who do.'

With a determined breath, Newt picked up his quill and began drafting a response to one of his old friends, ensuring everything was in place for the next stage of their investigation. The battle against the poachers was far from over, but step by step, they were building the alliances they needed.