This stitched-together world, too, lay under a fog-choked morning.
Leaving the initial workbench behind, they were already standing on the edge of a cliff.
Below them, a sea of clouds churned endlessly.
Far away, snowcapped mountains drifted in and out of the dawn mist. A river wound through a vast grassland, and in the sky, woven firefly-light floated like a net of stars.
Newt led Sean onto a rugged path. Sean felt the ground underfoot—damp, solid. Wind swept in from the stone-pillared sand flats where the Thunderbird lived, tugging up the hem of his robe—and tugging up his hunger to master Undetectable Extension spaces.
"My footsteps have crossed all five continents," Newt said, shy as ever, voice gentle. "I've visited the lairs of beasts, burrows of creatures underground, nests of birds… I've watched magical creatures' strange habits in more than a hundred countries, felt their gifts for myself, earned their trust… and now and then, I've had to shoo them off with a travel kettle…"
He paused, then went on, still calm.
"This place is only one corner of the magical creatures' world. The stories scattered across the wizarding world… I still know so little.
Every species touched by magic is a miracle that's managed to remain in the world.
So—"
Newt seemed happy to say a little more, even to a twelve-year-old. He treated Sean with the respect he'd give any equal, never once speaking down to him.
He was like a kind friend, not a man whose name carried weight.
"So—be one link in maintaining balance. That means a responsible witch or wizard ought to shoulder the duty of hiding, caring for, and controlling every magical creature and ghost within their territory."
Sean had memorized Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. When Newt quoted it, the lines came back easily.
On the path ahead, Whitey nuzzled Sean's knuckles. Tila had already climbed up his sleeve, asserting dominance over another Bowtruckle that tried to climb up too.
"A wizard isn't a magical creature's master," Sean said softly, "but a companion who breathes the same air."
Hearing that youthful voice, Newt stopped.
His clear eyes met that small face, and he smiled—shy, and quietly, deeply delighted.
By then they'd reached the mountainside, where a magical creature that looked a bit like a common cougar was playing in the dawn sunlight.
"Wampus cats are born with Legilimency," Newt said. "They can sense a wizard's malice very easily—and more importantly, they run faster than arrows.
When I was at Ilvermorny, I cared for an injured, abandoned Wampus cat. I always meant to bring her back, but… over the years, the creatures in my case have only grown more numerous."
He handed Sean a strip of raw meat, streaked with blood. "Delilah hasn't eaten yet today. I'll stay here. Go on, Mr. Green—try it. The first step is always the hardest."
Sean's heart thudded.
It had been a long time since the day he first decided he needed a Wampus cat. And crossing mountains and seas to reach Ilvermorny had largely been for this—contact with these cougar-like magical creatures.
Arrow-speed. Hypnosis. Legilimency—
If Sean could transform into a Wampus cat, he'd effectively "learn" Legilimency, Confundus, even Obliviate by nature alone.
And magical creatures' magic didn't work the same way wizard spells did.
A spell's power might take Sean years of study. But if he could become a full-grown Wampus cat, then with a little practice, he could simply have it.
More than that, Sean suspected his abilities could stack.
With soul-transfiguration alone, he could form cat paws and whiskers—so when he formed whiskers, he could naturally use them to feel changes in the world.
Which meant: if he could form Wampus eyes alone, he'd likely gain Wampus Legilimency.
There were precedents. In the Triwizard Tournament, when Krum transfigured a shark head, he could breathe underwater.
Likewise, when Harry used gillyweed and grew gills, he could breathe underwater.
Take it one step further—could that ability stack on top of Legilimency, Confundus, Obliviate?
And even if not, it could still function as a unique form of silent, wandless "casting."
Halfway up the slope stood towering ancient trees and a huge gray boulder. The Wampus cat was there, batting at her own tail beside the rock.
Sean softened his steps and edged closer.
The Wampus cat noticed immediately and looked over.
Sean couldn't help it—he met her eyes.
And the Wampus cat rolled over and showed her belly.
Sean froze, then turned his head toward Newt in confusion.
Newt smiled—like he found it endearing, but also a little exasperating—and flicked his gaze forward.
Sean followed the cue and stepped up beside her, carefully remembering the technique described in Fantastic Beasts—
Offer the raw meat first, then scratch under the Wampus cat's chin, rub behind the ears, and smooth the fur along her back—
By that standard, Sean decided Wampus cats were more "cat" than "panther."
When she finished eating, she started purring—loudly.
Sean jumped and immediately looked back at Newt.
"She—likes you," Newt said, coming closer. He still wouldn't quite look Sean in the eye, only watched the loudly purring Wampus cat, his gaze full of quiet amusement. "She likes you a lot."
[You have gained the closeness of the magical creature Wampus cat (Delilah) to a master's standard. Closeness +300]
[Magical Creature Wampus Cat (Delilah): Slightly Close (Apprentice) (270/300)]
The panel chimed.
Sean looked down. Delilah was sprawled flat on her back, paws in the air, tail flicking without pause toward him.
On the panel, closeness was divided into: Slightly Close (Apprentice), Fairly Close (Beginner), Close (Skilled).
And once a creature reached "Close," Sean's understanding and connection would deepen to a whole different level.
Usually, that meant he'd met the first prerequisite to begin the alchemical ritual.
As for going even farther… Sean opened the panel:
[Magical Creature Owl (Whitey): Companion (Expert) (5700/9000)]
[Magical Creature Bowtruckle (Tila): Companion (Expert) (6700/9000)]
Somewhere deep in the forest, a young Bird-Snake let out a soft cry.
Sean was already thinking how to "pocket" Newt's Wampus cat—three days was too tight, and it would be hard to grind her closeness all the way to Skilled in time.
"Professor Scamander… may I ask about Delilah…?"
Sean chose his words carefully.
"Delilah?" Newt said, rubbing the Wampus cat's head. "She's followed at my heels since she was three months old… Back then her wounds were severe. It took a long time to heal. Go on, Mr. Green."
Newt's fingers stayed gentle.
"More people wanting to understand magical creatures—that's exactly what I've always wanted."
Sean couldn't speak for a moment.
"So… you said Delilah came with you from Ilvermorny. Ilvermorny…"