Since the attack on the professors, the atmosphere in the castle had grown extremely tense.
The professors divided their duties, constantly patrolling and keeping watch over the students.
The students were strictly forbidden to leave their dormitories or the Great Hall except for classes, and even then they had to move in groups.
The portraits were fully mobilized; every frame had at least one occupant watching the corridors outside and reporting any suspicious activity to nearby professors or other portraits.
Even the armored suits, normally silent decorations, had begun marching through the halls, patrolling every floor.
"Are the students from each house doing alright? No panic or negative emotions, I hope?" Vice-Principal Edward asked Professor Luke as they patrolled together.
Although Professor Luke had been attacked a few days earlier, he had recovered quickly and returned to helping with patrols and student protection.
Hearing Edward's question, Professor Luke smiled. "Everything's fine. Other than complaining about Quidditch being cancelled, there's no negative sentiment. They all trust the Headmaster deeply, especially the young wizards from our territory. They believe he'll catch the culprit soon."
Edward nodded, a look of respect and confidence on his face. "It seems the children believe in the Headmaster just as much as we do."
Professor Luke agreed wholeheartedly. "I've never doubted him. He's the one who turned us from ordinary mortals into people who wield magic. And he's been in seclusion preparing. Once he comes out, I'm sure he'll catch the culprit and restore peace to the school."
"I think so too," Edward replied.
"Alright, Professor Luke, let's split up here. You patrol everything above the fourth floor; I'll cover the floors below. Be careful, whoever is hiding has been quiet these last few days. They might be planning something. Signal immediately if anything feels off."
Professor Luke nodded. "Understood. Don't worry, I learned my lesson the hard way. I'll be extra cautious."
They separated, one going upstairs and the other downward.
Edward patrolled from the fourth floor down, checking portraits along the halls for anything unusual.
After finishing his patrol, he didn't rest. Instead, he went to Sylas' private tower and knocked gently.
"Come in," Sylas' voice answered from within.
Edward entered the private living room. Inside, he approached a portrait of Sylas hanging above the fireplace and bowed respectfully.
"My lord, the school currently lacks enough professors. Besides teaching, they must manage and protect students and continue patrolling. We are short-handed.
"Could we awaken the sleeping dragon Smaug and the basilisk Herpo, so they can help protect the castle as well?"
The Sylas in the portrait nodded thoughtfully. He had already considered this problem.
At present, the castle only had eleven staff: eight course professors, along with Sylas, Lady Amanda, and Elrond, who had only recently arrived.
Sylas and Elrond were occupied crafting the Marauder's Map, while the other eight professors had to teach during the day and protect students, and at night station themselves in each house dormitory while still patrolling the castle.
They had been relying on energizing potions from the Potions professor just to stay awake.
The portrait of Sylas finally nodded.
"My portrait is inside Herpo's secret chamber. Herpo obeys only my command, I will wake him to patrol the pipes. As for Smaug, you're familiar with him by now. Go wake him and put him to work."
"Yes, my lord. I'll go immediately," Edward said respectfully.
The portrait turned and vanished from the frame.
Edward took the key, left the tower, and made his way down to the cellar.
He arrived at a mithril door carved with the words Sleeping Dragon, Do Not Disturb. He inserted the key and spoke the password.
The door unlocked and opened.
As Sylas' steward, Edward was the third person, after Sylas and Arwen, to have access to the dragon's vault.
Because of frequent dealings involving spider silk and gold transfers, he and Smaug had actually built a good rapport. After all, Edward regularly brought gold into the vault, whereas Sylas only ever took gold out.
Naturally, Smaug was always fond of Edward, especially when Edward arrived with new treasure.
Now, as Edward opened the vault door and stepped inside, the slumbering Smaug immediately sensed the familiar scent and opened his eyes.
Having devoured the Frost Dragon's dragon crystal, Smaug was now a full five hundred meters long.
Although Smaug hadn't inherited the Frost Dragon's ice magic and become an ice-fire dragon, his dragonfire had grown even more intense, already comparable to that of the ancient dragons.
Seeing Edward arrive empty-handed, a flash of disappointment crossed Smaug's eyes, but it quickly vanished as he became alert. He lifted his massive head from the mountain of gold, his gaze locking sharply onto Edward.
"Butler Edward… what brings you here? You're not here to take money, are you?"
Edward, still awestruck by Smaug's enormous form, quickly shook his head.
"No, no. Master sent me to wake you. There's an enemy lurking in the castle, hiding among the students and causing chaos. The professors are short-handed, so they need your help protecting the castle."
"An enemy?" Smaug sounded puzzled. "With Master's cunning and intelligence, he shouldn't need help catching a single enemy. Why call for me?"
"That enemy is very cunning, ghost-like. It can possess people. Even Master, Gandalf, and Lady Galadriel together haven't been able to see through it," Edward explained.
"Oh? That strong?" Smaug's eyes widened. As far as he knew, Gandalf and Galadriel were stronger than Sylas, and even they couldn't detect the enemy.
This foe had to be extremely dangerous.
Smaug narrowed his eyes and leaned down until his enormous head was inches from Edward.
"Since this enemy can possess people without being discovered by my masters… you're not possessed, are you? Trying to lure me away so someone can steal my treasure?"
Edward froze for a moment, then let out a helpless laugh.
"Lord Smaug, please… who in their right mind would possess someone just to come provoke you? That would be suicide."
"That's true!" Smaug raised his head proudly. "I, Smaug, am the most powerful dragon in Middle-earth! Anyone who dares steal even a single gold coin from me will taste my dragonfire!"
"Alright, Lord Smaug, I've delivered the message. I need to continue patrolling, so I'll take my leave." Edward turned toward the exit, then stopped.
In the corner of the vault, the Vanishing Cabinets were stacked haphazardly like discarded junk.
Edward rubbed his forehead. "Lord Smaug… these Vanishing Cabinets are priceless magical artifacts. How could you just toss them in a corner? If they get damaged, it'll be a disaster."
Smaug glanced over dismissively. "It's just a pile of wooden boxes. They aren't as shiny as gold, and they break easily, you'd panic if I even rolled over them. And if I sneeze, they'll catch fire. Where else am I supposed to put such useless things?"
Edward could only sigh. Persuading a dragon was pointless.
He bowed slightly.
"Then I'll be on my way. Please be ready to assist the castle, Lord Smaug."
With that, he left the vault, returning to the tower to put the key away again.