CHAPTER 56

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CHAPTER 56 

(LAST WEEK'S CHAPTER 1/2)

After a minute or so, the pixies started to fly again, but from their faces, it was evident that this was a torturous experience. This spell was more powerful than other stunning spells because it was a directing cast spell, so there was no way of dodging it other than having a mental shield.

But Elmi would still use normal stunning spells against non-aggressive targets since this spell caused so much fear, and it was a traumatizing experience.

In the fight against Voldemort, Elmi realizes he can overcast his spells. So this time, he cast a Tenebrae Trepidatio with both hands and then slapped them together, combining the spells. A more dense pack of apparitions appeared around a pixie. It fell to the ground and started to squirm in terror, but it also seemed to be squealing in pain.

After a few more seconds, the beast stopped moving. Elmi picked up the beast to shake its dust off, but it was not making fearful sounds like the other. At first, he fought it had passed out, but its small chest was not moving. At that moment, he realized the pixie was dead. Because. of the great terror it experienced, its heart had given out. This spell was more dangerous than he had ever thought.

...

After gathering a sufficient amount of pixie dust, Elmi set out to locate the area in the Forbidden Forest that Hagrid had mentioned to him. His goal was to collect the necessary components for crafting a Pyroguard Potion—a magical concoction renowned for providing high resistance to fire and, in its finest form, even granting temporary immunity to flames.

The potion, as its name suggested, held great significance for individuals dealing with fiery creatures or magical craftsmen working with high-temperature metals. However, its protective effects did not extend to cursed fires such as Fiendfyre. 

For his next ingredient, Elmi sought the leaves of a Venomous Tentacula. This perilous plant was reserved for advanced Herbology classes, typically explored by students in their sixth year. The nature of this plant was so hazardous that even the strict rules of Hogwarts allowed a sixth-year student to swear in class if the Tentacula attempted to strangle them—an indication of the plant's formidable threat.

You could deal with its vines using a severing curse, but Elmi's wand casting was, at best, at the level of a 3rd year, and he was still not proficient enough to use a severing curse. He couldn't use fire or anything else that could kill the creature since he wanted a constant flow of ingredients.

Elmi had a new spell that proved perfect for acquiring the next ingredient. Known as Animus Absorben(spirit leech), it was a weakening curse with a distinctive twist—it didn't directly impact the body but rather the magic within. When cast, Animus Absorben created an ethereal link between the wizard and the victim, tapping into the essence of the target. This spell acted as a magical leech, siphoning the spirit of the chosen foe, thereby draining their magical energy and temporarily weakening their magical abilities.

The clearing in the Forbidden Forest was a tangled mess of writhing vines, a haunting spectacle of Venomous Tentacula. The air was thick with the pungent scent of decomposing flesh, and the ominous slithering sound of the plants echoed through the eerie silence. The vines, adorned with wickedly sharp thorns, snaked in every direction.

Elmi stood at the edge of the clearing, eyeing one of the smaller Venomous Tentacula cautiously. His task was clear—to harvest the leaves of the dangerous plant for his potion. However, he knew that the slightest misstep could lead to poisoning or strangulation. At that moment, he couldn't care about ingredients and had to use fire spells. 

Elmi extended his hand, and a radiant amethyst glow enveloped it as he directed the spell toward the nearest Venomous Tentacula. A shimmering, purple link formed between Elmi and the plant as if tapping into the very essence of its magical energy. The effect was immediate; the fast-moving vines began to slow down, revealing the magical nature of their movement. 

As Elmi continued to drain the plant's magical energy, its once squirming vines transformed into a sluggish crawl, allowing him to approach cautiously without the imminent threat of being ensnared. Elmi also realized another aspect of this spell. Thanks to the link they shared, some of the magic absorbed from the plant was replenishing his magic; it was not much; less than 10% of what was leaving the plant's body was coming into him.

Carefully navigating the slowed vines, Elmi reached the heart of the Venomous Tentacula. His steady hands plucked the leaves he needed, mindful not to harvest too much for his potion.

Elmi couldn't stop the plant's movement with a normal cast. To stop it, he needed to overcast it, but this would also kill the plant since he would be absorbing everything.

Even with its movements reduced to a crawl, the plant remained a formidable threat since it could still ensnare him if he was not careful. Elmi had to stay vigilant to avoid the remaining tendrils that still possessed some residual magic. He successfully harvested enough leaves.

....

Elmi hunted for the fire salamander, the main ingredient crucial for his potion. The creature, with its scales ablaze and eyes flickering with elemental intensity, proved to be a formidable adversary. The beast lived in the rocky parts of the Dark Forest close to the mountains. 

After he stunned it with a Petrificus Totalus, he faced the challenge of holding the creature long enough to extract the necessary component—the tail. Even fire-resistant gloves were not enough to help it for long enough since they would catch fire because of the high heat the beast released as a defense mechanism.

Elmi remembered how Venomous Tentacula reacted to Animus Absorben. Since the salamander's heat came from magic, it should have the same effect on the beast, so he decided to try it on the beast. Directing its ethereal link towards the fire salamander. The amethyst glow enveloped the creature as Elmi drained its magical energy, weakening its intense heat.

Seizing the opportunity, Elmi swiftly equipped a new pair of gloves and moved in to cut the tail, careful not to be scorched by the residual heat. As soon as the tail was severed, Elmi applied an anti-infection salve to the wound, ensuring the creature's well-being. Though temporarily immobilized, it retained its innate magical regeneration ability, and in several days, it would regrow its tail.

...

Navigating through the eerie part of the Forbidden Forest, Elmi found himself surrounded by bogs right between the forest and the Dark Lake, a habitat perfect for the elusive Hinkypunks. The damp air hung heavy with an otherworldly stillness as he tread cautiously. The Hinkypunk, a mischievous magical creature, manifested in wisps of blue, grey, or white smoke. With only one leg, it had a peculiar appearance that matched its deceptive nature.

Spotting a Hinkypunk, Elmi recognized the creature's signature lantern, fashioned from reshaped bones found in the bogs. Hinkypunks were known for their cunning ability to lure travelers off their paths, guiding them into treacherous wetlands under the guise of friendly, lamp-bearing beings. 

Hinkypunk posed a unique challenge compared to the fire salamander and Venomous Tentacula. When threatened, it could unleash fireballs from its lantern, adding an element of danger to the encounter. On the other hand, salamanders and Venomous Tentacula were only dangerous when in close range.