The chamber still smelled faintly of scorched stone and spent magic.
Months of work—gone.
I stood at the edge of the now-empty containment circle, arms crossed, staring at the faint outlines where our runes used to be. The Obscurus fragment was gone. The notes, the diagrams, the layered theories—all confiscated.
Across the room, Salazar paced like a caged serpent, his expression dark and sharp.
"They had no right," he muttered, voice low but seething. "No understanding of what we were achieving."
"They had every right," I said calmly, though there was a hint of irritation beneath my tone. "We were working with unstable magic. Of course Godric would intervene."
Salazar stopped, turning to me. "You're not angry?"
I let out a slow breath. "I am. Just not surprised."
My mind replayed the scene from earlier.
Godric bursting into the chamber, sword drawn, eyes blazing with that infuriating sense of righteousness. Helga behind him, worried but firm. Rowena—quiet, disappointed.
Salazar didn't hesitate. Of course he didn't. Spells flew almost immediately, green and gold clashing violently in the confined space.
Godric fought like a storm—raw power, instinct, overwhelming force.
Salazar fought like a serpent—precise, calculated, lethal.
Neither gained the upper hand.
A draw.
I had stood at the edge of it all, Elder Wand already in my grip, magic coiling at my fingertips. For a moment—a brief, dangerous moment—I considered joining in. Ending it quickly.
But I didn't.
Because I'd already gotten what I needed.
And because escalating that fight… would've changed things in a way I wasn't ready for.
"They destroyed months of progress," Salazar snapped.
"No," I corrected, finally turning to face him. "They took the materials. Not the knowledge."
I tapped my temple lightly.
"It's all still here."
He paused.
Then, slowly, his expression shifted—anger cooling into something more focused. More dangerous.
"…Of course it is," he said.
I allowed myself a small, sharp smile.
"Besides," I continued, "that lab was compromised the moment they found it. Which means…"
"We build another," Salazar finished.
"More hidden. More secure. Wards layered beyond anything they expect."
"And no interruptions," he added.
"Exactly."
The frustration was still there, simmering beneath the surface. But it had already transformed into something more useful.
Resolve.
I glanced once more at the empty containment circle, then turned away.
"Let them think they stopped us," I said calmly. "It'll make things easier."
Salazar smirked. "You're colder than I thought."
I didn't deny it.
"Experience," I replied simply.
As we left the ruined chamber behind, I could already feel my mind shifting gears—planning, designing, improving. My private lab was still untouched. Still hidden.
And far more secure.
If I wanted to continue my research…
I would.
Just smarter this time.
Behind us, the remnants of the Obscurus project faded into silence.
But this wasn't the end.
Not even close.