Ethan examined the mark on his palm.
It was shaped like a sun—a simple circle encircled by a ring of tiny triangles.
Though its design was straightforward, it pulsed with an intensely fiery vitality.
As blood flowed through it, the mark grew scorching hot and alive with energy.
Its golden glow, reminiscent of a rippling wheat field under the sun, brought to mind the shimmering allure of Felix Felicis.
[While the Sun Brand exists, it will provide magic containing powerful light energy]
Could it alter the very nature of his magic?
Ethan pondered this thoughtfully.
With a casual wave of his hand, his light brown wand shifted seamlessly into a paintbrush.
As he channeled his magic into it, a golden pigment began to ooze from the brush's tip—more radiant than pure gold, haloed with a soft, ethereal light.
It worked!
Joy surged through Ethan's heart.
The golden sheen reflected in his cobalt-blue eyes as he murmured, "Such a sacred color... it truly suits me!"
At his feet, the Goblin Leader—still clinging to life—thought to himself: Humans really are a species utterly lacking in self-awareness.
"The Ancient Magic has been reclaimed," Ethan said lightly as he straightened up. "Now all that's left is to find a suitable vessel for it."
He glanced skyward at the two enormous, pitch-black wolves hovering above.
With a wave, he smiled and called out, "You've worked hard."
[Grrr…]
The wolves emitted deep, rumbling growls from their throats, laced with impatience and raw ferocity—like boulders tumbling down a mountainside.
Their blood-red eyes fixed on Ethan from on high, radiating an oppressive aura that could chill the blood in one's veins.
"Be good," Ethan coaxed softly, a smile curling his lips.
Gradually, the wolves' menacing presence ebbed away.
At last, they closed their destructive eyes.
With a wet, squelching sound of flesh knitting together, their bodies merged once more, retreating as if into an embryonic state.
They shrank back into the blood-red canvas, transforming into a dripping, crimson card that floated back into Ethan's hand.
He slipped it into his pocket.
The darkness blanketing the sky began to dissipate, revealing a faint, resolute sun once again.
The sun's true essence could never be extinguished.
What the Split Wolves had devoured was merely its reflection.
Thus, their rage and hatred would endure eternally—until the day that fiery orb burned out.
It was only then that Ethan noticed: within his field of vision, plants had withered, and the world had fallen eerily silent.
His magic had been replenished substantially.
Suddenly, a clear, melodious shout echoed from above.
Luna, astride a sleek, pitch-black Hippogriff, soared toward him.
Before the creature could even touch down, she leaped off and hurled herself into his arms like a tiny cannonball.
"Haha."
Ethan wrapped his arms around her tightly, unable to suppress his laughter.
Her pale golden hair felt as smooth as silk, and her entire being radiated a warm, sunny fragrance—warmer even than the glow of Ancient Runes.
"So cool! So cool! So cool!"
Luna exclaimed repeatedly, her cheeks flushing with an adorable blush.
She tilted her head up, her blue eyes sparkling as she gazed at him, reminding Ethan of twinkling stars scattered across the night sky.
"How did you do that just now? It was absolutely amazing!"
Luna whispered in awe.
She bounced with excitement, flinging her arms wide.
In that moment, her eyes held nothing but him.
"With a whoosh! The whole world went dark! We could try that back in the wizarding village at home—it'd be so much fun!"
"I'll teach you when we get back," Ethan promised with a grin.
Suddenly, he hissed, his brow furrowing.
He lifted his hand and saw a ring of charred skin encircling the Sun Brand on his palm.
Hmm.
The human body really is fragile!
"Oh, you got burned," Luna said.
As she spoke, she cradled his palm in both of her hands.
Her fair, slender fingers pressed gently against the Sun Brand.
"Oh—!"
Ethan's eyes widened slightly.
A cool, lunar magic flowed into his palm, soothing like moonlight.
In an instant, the pain vanished.
"Phew, phew~"
Luna pursed her lips and blew on it earnestly.
Then, her eyes crinkled as she smiled brightly. "All better now—the ouchie has flown away~"
Ethan suddenly thought that maybe the human body wasn't entirely useless after all.
Just then,
[…]
Heavy, labored gasps rose from the ground at his feet.
Ethan and Luna glanced down.
There lay the dying Goblin Leader.
He resembled a crumpled, 2.5-dimensional mascot costume now—red scales flaking off, flesh melting and sagging, with his original form embedded grotesquely within.
A foul, rotten stench wafted from him, like a reeking compost heap.
Ethan took two silent steps back, pondering whether to finish him off but feeling too repulsed to bother.
"I lost..." Ranrok rasped slowly.
His mangled eyes fixed unblinkingly on Ethan.
If not for that sudden burst of [Light], he would have won...
After a long pause, Ranrok averted his gaze.
He stared at the blue sky emerging through the parting dark clouds and released a hoarse, relieved sigh. "To be defeated by a strong wizard like you... I suppose I died where I was meant to. Finally, to perish as a glorious warrior—it's no disgrace to this magnificent life."
"Roar!!!"
A sudden bellow erupted!
A shadowy, horse-like figure vaulted over Ethan and Luna's heads!
In Ranrok's vision, a savage wolf's head materialized out of nowhere!
?!
Ranrok's eyes bulged in shock.
He could only watch helplessly as the beast bared its fangs and lunged to rip him apart!
'No—I don't want to be killed by a beast—'
"Get away, you barbaric monster—Ahhh!"
Screams echoed without end.
They faded gradually until they cut off abruptly.
"Thud."
An eyeball sailed through the air and landed near Ethan's foot.
He glanced at it indifferently.
The bloodshot pupil captured the deceased's utter unwillingness and hatred.
And fear.
Ethan looked away without a shred of pity for the savagely slain Goblin Leader.
His attention turned to the werewolf tearing wildly at the remains.
At first, he assumed it was Professor Lupin.
But upon closer inspection, Ethan exclaimed, "Miss Eve Black?"
At the same time, he raised a hand to shield Luna behind him.
At the sound of her name, the werewolf's furry ears twitched, and she turned slowly.
Her blood-smeared face stared back at him.
Green eyes.
It was indeed Miss Eve Black.
She had fully transformed into a werewolf.
She bounded forward, landing nimbly and swiftly before Ethan.
Her damp muzzle sniffed insistently at his scent.
Ethan held back Luna, who tried to approach.
He extended his hand slowly toward Miss Black.
"Don't be afraid—it's me, Lyte."
"Howl."
The bloodied werewolf let out a surprisingly joyful cry.
She lifted her furry head and nuzzled it against Ethan's palm.
"So that's it," Ethan murmured.
In his mind, the clues snapped into place.
"The one who sealed the Necronomicon for note-taking and researched Ancient Magic to cure werewolves... it was your father..."
As his words trailed off, as if triggered, Miss Black's eyes sharpened abruptly!
"Roar!"
She raised a claw and slashed toward Ethan—
"Stupefy."
A pleasant voice chimed in.
A deep blue spell streaked from beside Ethan.
It struck the werewolf, who appeared bathed in moonlight.
Her claw halted mid-air.
Then, she collapsed softly, unconscious.
Ethan arched an eyebrow, glancing in surprise at Luna, wand in hand.
An ordinary Stunning Spell wouldn't fell a werewolf.
But this was Luna.
She couldn't be judged by ordinary standards.
Ethan's lips curved into a smile. "Well done, Luna."
Luna beamed back sweetly.
Just then, the students and professors arrived.
Professor Lupin stared wide-eyed at the werewolf on the ground.
A flicker of heartache crossed his gaze.
If only there were a way to cure lycanthropy completely... then so many fewer people would suffer in this world.
But Lupin knew it was impossible.
Even Ethan could only suppress the transformation—a miracle in itself.
Ethan, meanwhile, was musing: If he could cure werewolves, he'd amass tremendous influence.
In the original tales, most of them, driven by despair and manipulation, had aligned with Lord Voldemort.
His own reputation would skyrocket!
The Ministry of Magic would never dare move against him then.
On top of that, he hadn't finished studying the Necronomicon.
Ethan had a hunch: If he succeeded in curing Miss Eve Black, the spectral father bound to the book would reveal even more secrets of the world!
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