Chapter 15: A Journey for Knowledge

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while, but I would like to tell you that I do post on Wattpad. I post more frequently on there and this same story is on there and it has more chapters there.

The quiet solitude of **Howler Manor** gave Saber plenty of time to think. It had been weeks since he had left Britain and severed ties with the manipulations of his past. Hogwarts, the place that had once been a beacon of magic and mystery for him, was no longer a part of his life. Instead, he was here, in the United States, living in his family's old manor with only **Tempest** and **Patch** for company. The thought of returning to the wizarding world felt distant and uncertain.

But there was one thing he knew for sure: **he wasn't going to stop learning magic**.

Saber sat at his desk, surrounded by old tomes and magical books he had found in the manor's library. They were ancient, filled with spells and incantations passed down through his **Pendragon lineage**, but they were only a fraction of what he needed. He didn't have access to the full resources of a magical school like Hogwarts, and there were no wizards or witches nearby to teach him.

"If I'm going to do this," Saber muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair, "I'll have to do it on my own."

The thought wasn't discouraging—if anything, it motivated him. He had already broken free from the lies of his past, and now it was time to **forge his own path**. If Hogwarts couldn't provide him with the education he needed, then he would find another way. He would **homeschool himself**.

The question was, where to start?

Saber opened a large map of the United States, spreading it across his desk. There weren't any magical communities nearby that he knew of, but he was certain there had to be one within driving distance. After all, the wizarding world didn't just exist in Britain. There were magical communities all over the world.

His finger traced a route along the east coast, finally landing on a name that caught his attention: **Salem**.

Of course. **Salem**, Massachusetts—the site of the infamous Salem Witch Trials and the hub of magical history in the United States. If there was a place where he could find what he needed, it was there.

"Salem," Saber whispered to himself. "That's where I'll start."

He stood up, feeling a surge of excitement. He would need to gather supplies, books, potions ingredients, and magical tools. And he wouldn't just rely on Tempest for transportation. This was a chance to immerse himself in the magical world of the United States and explore the possibilities that lay beyond Hogwarts.

Saber grabbed his jacket and called to Tempest, who was waiting in the garage. The sleek muscle car purred to life as soon as Saber approached.

"We're going on a road trip," Saber said with a grin. "Let's go see what the magical world here has to offer."

---

The drive to **Salem** took most of the day, but the journey was peaceful. The rolling hills and dense forests of New England stretched out around them, and Tempest's engine hummed smoothly as they sped along the open highway. Saber felt a sense of freedom—like he was finally charting his own course, away from the burdens of his past.

By the time they reached Salem, the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows over the historic streets. The town had a distinctly old-world charm, with cobblestone paths and colonial-style buildings that looked like they had been frozen in time. Saber could feel the faint hum of **magic** in the air, though it was subtle, hidden beneath layers of history.

After finding a small inn to stay for the night, Saber parked Tempest and stepped out into the cool evening air. The magical shops in Salem weren't like **Diagon Alley**—they were hidden in plain sight, woven seamlessly into the fabric of the town. Ordinary Muggles passed by without a second glance, unaware of the powerful spells and artifacts that lay behind enchanted doors.

As Saber wandered the streets, he found his way to a small, dimly lit shop tucked between two ordinary buildings. The sign above the door read **"The Arcane Vault"** in swirling gold letters.

"This looks promising," Saber muttered as he pushed open the door.

The inside of the shop was cluttered with all manner of magical items—shelves lined with potion ingredients, ancient scrolls, and dusty tomes that looked as if they hadn't been touched in years. A soft chime rang as Saber entered, and a voice called from the back of the store.

"Ah, a new face! Welcome to The Arcane Vault. Looking for something specific?"

Saber glanced around the shop, taking in the rows of enchanted objects. "I'm here for magical supplies," he said. "Books, potions ingredients—anything I'll need to study magic on my own."

The shopkeeper, a wizened old wizard with a long gray beard, emerged from behind the counter. His sharp eyes seemed to study Saber for a moment before he smiled. "Ah, you've got the look of a student of magic, alright. Not many your age come through here with that kind of determination. What school are you with?"

"I'm... homeschooling," Saber replied carefully, not wanting to get into the details of his past.

The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. "Very well. You'll find everything you need here. Take your time."

Saber spent the next few hours browsing the shop, gathering books on advanced magical theory, potions ingredients, and tools for crafting spells. But it wasn't just the supplies that caught his attention—there was something else in the air. A strange, almost magnetic pull that led him to a back corner of the shop.

It was there that he found them.

Coiled inside a glass terrarium was an **obsidian black snake**—but not just any snake. This creature had **two heads**, each moving independently but in perfect synchronization. The snake's dark scales gleamed under the soft light, and its eyes—four of them—glowed with an eerie intelligence. Each head seemed to study Saber, as if recognizing something in him.

The sign beside the terrarium read **"Serpens Atrum"**, and beneath it, the words **"Two-Headed Variant"** were scrawled in elegant script. Saber's breath caught in his throat. He had never seen anything like it.

The shopkeeper appeared beside him, his voice low and reverent. "Ah, the two-headed Serpens Atrum. Extremely rare. Most wouldn't even believe it exists."

Saber's magic hummed in response to the snake's presence. There was something deeply magical about the creature, a power that seemed to resonate with his own core. He reached out, letting his hand hover over the glass, and the snake—both heads—lifted toward him, recognizing the connection.

"He's bonded to you," the shopkeeper said softly. "A creature like this only chooses its master once in a lifetime. They sense magic, power, and intention. The Serpens Atrum—especially this rare two-headed variant—will only serve a wizard of great strength. If you take him, you'll have a companion unlike any other."

Saber's gaze locked onto the two-headed snake, and he knew that the shopkeeper was right. The pull he felt was undeniable. This creature wasn't just a pet—it was something more, something tied to the depths of his magic, almost like an extension of his own power. Both heads of the snake looked at him with an eerie intelligence, their dark eyes glowing faintly.

Without hesitation, Saber nodded. "I'll take him."

The shopkeeper smiled, pleased. "I thought you might say that. A bond with a Serpens Atrum is for life, young wizard. Care for him, and he will protect you as fiercely as you protect him."

As the shopkeeper prepared the terrarium for transport, Saber placed his hand gently against the glass, feeling the warmth of the creature within. Both heads of the snake responded by moving toward his hand, their forked tongues flicking out as if testing the air between them. Saber felt a spark of understanding pass between them—an unspoken connection, deep and ancient.

The Serpens Atrum was his now. Both heads of the snake curled slightly, settling down as if content in the knowledge that they had found their master.

With the terrarium safely packed and waiting for him, the shopkeeper motioned for Saber to follow him to another part of the shop.

"There's one more companion that might interest you," the shopkeeper said, leading him through a small door into a quieter section of the store.

On a wooden perch, bathed in the soft glow of magical lanterns, sat a giant Cuban owl—a strikingly large bird with mottled brown and gray feathers, its wingspan easily reaching several feet when fully extended. The owl's eyes—large, golden, and intelligent—were fixed directly on Saber the moment he entered the room.

"She's a powerful one," the shopkeeper said, his voice almost a whisper. "Not many wizards are suited to a companion like her. Owls like this are rare—they've been used by powerful families for centuries. They are incredibly loyal and have a unique ability to traverse both magical and non-magical realms with ease."

Saber stepped closer, his heart racing as the owl tilted its head slightly, watching him with intense focus. Like with the snake, he could feel something—some bond that had yet to be forged, but was waiting in the air between them. The owl's eyes seemed to glow faintly as if recognizing something in Saber that others could not see.

The shopkeeper smiled, stepping back slightly. "She likes you, boy. That's no small thing."

Saber reached out slowly, his hand steady, and the owl responded by extending her head forward, brushing her beak against his fingertips. There was a sense of weight to the gesture, a kind of approval from the majestic creature.

"I'll take her, too," Saber said, his voice full of certainty.

The shopkeeper nodded, clearly impressed. "You're building quite the team, young wizard. A two-headed Serpens Atrum and a Cuban giant owl—two rare creatures that will serve you well on your journey."

As the evening wore on, Saber loaded the terrarium containing the Serpens Atrum into Tempest's trunk and carefully secured the giant owl in a specialized perch in the backseat, ensuring both of his new companions were comfortable for the journey home. The owl ruffled her feathers as if testing her new surroundings, while the snake remained coiled in its glass enclosure, the two heads resting peacefully on the warm stones.

Saber couldn't help but feel a sense of fulfillment. Not only had he gathered all the magical supplies he would need to continue his studies, but he had also gained two remarkable companions. As he drove back to Howler Manor, the landscape of Salem fading into the rearview mirror, Saber's mind raced with excitement and anticipation.

The road stretched out before them, illuminated only by the dim glow of Tempest's headlights. The gentle hum of the engine and the soft rustling of feathers from the owl filled the car with a sense of quiet peace.

But Saber knew that this peace was fleeting.

The magical world was vast, and the revelations about his true heritage still weighed heavily on his shoulders. There were so many unanswered questions, so many mysteries yet to unravel. But for now, Saber was content to focus on the road ahead—one step at a time.

As they neared the manor, Saber's thoughts drifted to his new companions. He would need to name the two-headed Serpens Atrum, something that fit the creature's rare nature. And the owl, with her fierce, golden gaze, deserved a name that reflected her power and grace.

A smile tugged at Saber's lips as he pulled into the driveway of Howler Manor. He wasn't just building a new life—he was building something greater, something stronger. And with his new companions by his side, he knew that he wouldn't face the future alone.

The world was waiting for him. And Saber Howler was ready.