Oddball

(Arthur POV)

I made sure the Hayes family would keep quiet about me healing Landon - they agreed pretty easily, which wasn't surprising.

Now that we had our Harry Potter, the team and I focused on finding the rest of the cast. The Hermione role attracted quite a crowd - mostly unknown kids and some young actresses trying their luck.

I hadn't been in Wales long before the media caught on. Once they reported about Hellfire Studio holding auditions, even more people started showing up. That's what happens when you get a bit of fame, I suppose.

Even though people here in Wales aren't too friendly toward demons, they couldn't really ignore Hellfire Studio. The success of "Demonfather" and "Lord of the Rings" made sure of that.

We found someone good for Dumbledore pretty quickly. I'd wanted the actor who played Gandalf in Lord of the Rings, but he was tied up with other projects.

The cast list kept growing day by day. We even found a promising girl for Hermione - pretty enough for the role and didn't mind working with demons, which was a nice bonus.

It's been about a week in Wales now. Funny thing is, I actually miss that Cursed Chicken back home - it made a better alarm clock than the local clock tower with its morning bells.

Between auditions, we've been checking out different spots around the city for filming. Need to find the right places for those early Harry Potter scenes.

***

(3rd Person POV)

Arthur's return to filmmaking sparked immediate media attention when he was spotted in Wales' capital. The news spread like wildfire across television networks, drawing both excitement and skepticism from different quarters.

Headlines blazed across newspapers and television broadcasts, each vying to capture the significance of his return:

"Arthur Pendragon Returns to Film - Will the Industry Crown Him King Once Again?"

"Demon Director's Comeback: Can Arthur Navigate Today's Competitive Film Landscape?"

Industry veterans had assumed Arthur would remain focused on television, where he'd built an undisputed empire. His dominance of TV programming was complete - from gripping telenovelas to cutting-edge news coverage to the phenomenon of Hellfire Got Talent. Other networks found themselves constantly playing catch-up to his innovations.

He could have easily rested on his television success. The industry consensus was that Arthur had found his true calling in TV media, where his creative control was absolute and profits steady.

Yet Arthur hadn't forgotten his roots in film. His planned return commanded attention, especially given how the industry had evolved in his absence.

The Lava Brothers had risen to prominence in Morningstar, while Mouse Entertainment and the Bryan Brothers dominated the United States of Empirica. Enchanted Pictures and Landscape Studio controlled the Ethiopia Nation market, and several major studios in the dwarven kingdoms had established themselves as consistent hit-makers.

These studios had fully embraced VFX technology, producing blockbusters that regularly pulled in tens of millions at the box office. A select few had even broken the two-hundred-million barrier, a feat that would have seemed impossible just a few years earlier.

Arthur's consistent success in the film industry had set a high bar for his return. The anticipation of his next project divided audiences – some eagerly awaiting another masterpiece from Hellfire Studio, while others silently hoped for his downfall.

***

King's Cross station stretched before Arthur, its Victorian architecture perfect for Harry Potter's early scenes. He planned to capture the outdoor sequences here before moving to Hellfire's VFX Studio in Horn Kingdom for the rest of production.

Despite Arthur's tensions with the Solarus faith, city authorities had granted filming permits readily enough. The decision made sense – Arthur's films had a proven track record of boosting tourism wherever they filmed, and the city stood to benefit if their locations made the final cut.

Curious onlookers gathered around the Hellfire production crew, their whispered conversations carrying across the platform.

"That's him – the one who made Lord of the Rings?" A woman whispered to her companion. "He's actually quite handsome in person."

Her friend nodded, unconsciously biting her lower lip. "More than handsome – he's gorgeous!"

"I heard he's single," another woman chimed in. "Perhaps you should try your luck?"

The first woman snorted derisively. "Are you mad? Handsome or not, I wouldn't mate with a demon." She lowered her voice. "Besides, everyone knows he's so weak he can't even manage a simple fireball!"

"Such a waste," her friend shook her head pityingly. "As a mage, I couldn't risk having children with such a magically stunted demon, prince or not..."

The crowd's chatter continued, their attention split between the filming process and Arthur himself. While they claimed interest in the production, their true fascination clearly centered on the demon director who'd captured the industry's imagination.

Arthur spotted them in the growing crowd – the masked operatives trying to blend in among the onlookers. Their presence wasn't surprising; they'd been shadowing him since Wales, either hunting for Sylwen or coveting his ring.

He felt no fear at their presence, just mild irritation. In such a public space, they wouldn't risk making a move. Still, he'd prefer to avoid drawing their organization's attention if possible.

"Arthur Morningstar! At last we meet face-to-face!"

The booming voice cut through the station's ambient noise, drawing every eye. Arthur turned to find a young man in an impeccably tailored suit, his smile carrying the easy confidence of nobility.

"I've been quite eager to test my skills against yours!" the man announced.

The crowd's reaction was immediate. "Genesis Whitlock – the Whitlock family's prodigy!" The whispers spread like wildfire.

"The same Genesis who's been challenging every genius at Royal Academy?"

"What could he want with a mere film director?"

"But Arthur has no combat skills or magic!" a dwarf in the crowd protested.

Someone spotted the camera crew trailing Genesis. "Look – Whitlock Network! This must be for his show!"

Understanding dawned among the onlookers. Genesis had recently launched "Duel with a Prodigy" on his family's fledgling network.

The program featured him challenging prominent figures to impromptu battles, from renowned directors to fellow noble heirs. His victories and occasional hard-fought draws had quickly built the show's reputation.

Now he stood before Arthur, clearly hoping to add another notable name to his list of conquests.

Arthur's smile held no warmth. "Test your skills? Are we comparing directing abilities here?"

"Tsk, tsk." Genesis waggled his finger with theatrical flair. "We both know I couldn't match your directorial talent." He shifted into a fighting stance, cameras tracking his every movement. "No, I want to test my martial arts against you."

Arthur stared at him, bemused. Wales seemed to breed its own special brand of eccentric.

"Don't worry," Genesis's tone dripped condescension. "I know you're not particularly strong. I'll make sure to hold back."

"You want to fight right here?" Arthur pointed to the station floor, voice flat. "Right now?"

"Exactly!" Genesis's giggle echoed through the station. "Show me what you're capable of!"

Arthur crossed his arms, casting a subtle glance toward the masked figures in the crowd. "Sorry. I'm busy."

Genesis's expression darkened. "You don't have a choice in this matter." His voice turned sharp. "Remember where you are – this isn't your demon realm!"

Before Arthur could respond, Genesis lunged forward, fist aimed at his face. 'Foolish kid,' Arthur thought.

A year ago, such an attack might have posed a threat. But now? Arthur sidestepped the punch with casual ease, pivoted behind Genesis, and delivered a precise chop to the side of his neck.

Genesis crumpled to the ground like a puppet with cut strings.

The silence that followed was absolute. You could have heard a pin drop in the station.

The Whitlock Network camera crew stood frozen, jaws hanging open, their expensive equipment temporarily forgotten.

Reality snapped back into focus seconds later. The camera crew scrambled to Genesis's side, abandoning their equipment. "Young lord! Young lord!"

They shook him frantically, relief washing over their faces when they realized he was merely unconscious.

"Go on now. Shoo." Arthur dismissed them with a casual wave. They didn't need to be told twice, scooping up Genesis and fleeing the scene.

The crowd erupted in excited whispers, especially among the women who had dismissed him earlier. "Did that really just happen? He took down Genesis like it was nothing!" one woman gasped.

"He made it look effortless!" her friend gushed.

"I might have been too hasty judging him," another woman murmured, eyeing Arthur with newfound interest. "Perhaps I should reconsider that whole mating possibility..."

Several women stepped forward, clearly hoping to catch Arthur's attention, but he remained focused on the film crew as they prepared for the next shot. Their attempts at flirtation fell flat against his professional demeanor.