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Everything stayed the same.
But this time, Hofa ignored the church sounds. Didn't care about the scenery. Three deaths had sharpened his focus to a razor's edge.
Just knowing the spell wasn't enough. He had to cast it completely to escape this memory realm.
Hofa replayed every casting detail. The Disillusionment Charm was clearly advancedâotherwise the library would have records.
High-level spells demanded total concentration.
He activated Milarepa's meditation technique. Goodâit still worked here.
The meditation swept away distractions. His will hardened like steel.
The memory looped. The black wizard climbed up, entered the room, opened the passage.
Hofa prepared. The instant he seized control, the wizard's eyes sharpened.
A low growl. Red tongue shot forward.
Hofa whipped out his wand, pressed it to his side. Spoke calmly.
"Disillusionment."
Ice-cold liquid poured over him. This time, the massive lizard tongue passed straight through his torso, smashing the marble globe behind him.
Didn't touch Hofa.
Transparent holes appeared across his body. Expanded. Like ice melting under sun, Hofa vanished completely.
The lizard crawled from the passage. Eight meters long, grotesquely fat, three bulging eyes scanningâbut couldn't find the wizard against the wall.
Success!
He'd cast the Disillusionment Charm!
Adrenaline flooded him. Dancing with death brought a rush straight to his brain. Under the charm, Hofa didn't dare move. Bit his lip hard, forced himself not to shout.
Then a piercing shriek.
"A ghost! There's a ghost!"
The blonde mistress clutched her robe and screamed. Hurled wine bottles wildly at Hofa, kicking backward in panic.
A bottle hit invisible Hofa. Clattered to the floor.
His heart sank. Damn. He'd forgotten about her.
The lizard's eyes snapped to the broken bottle.
Its barbed tongue whipped through the air, slicing horizontally.
Crack.
Clean cut.
When Hofa returned to the start, he'd achieved complete calm. Even decapitation couldn't shake him. He ran the meditation continuously. Mind sharp as a blade.
Just casting successfully wasn't enough. He still hadn't met the conditions.
Try again.
One minute later, he stood at the tunnel entrance.
This time, he split his attentionâone eye on the woman in the corner.
The roar. Woman woke.
Saw "Hofa." Started screaming.
Hofa stepped aside. Woman, tunnel, himâstraight line.
Tongue shot forward. Hofa bent sharply.
Crimson wind passed over him, heading for the screaming woman.
Hofa rolled. Screaming stopped.
The tongue pierced the woman's throat, wrapped around her body.
"Disillusionment!" In that one-second gap, Hofa spoke.
Tongue dragged the corpse back. Hofa turned transparent, vanished.
The three-eyed lizard chewed the woman, slowly emerging. Eyes rolled frantically, puzzled. Two people just now. Now nothing.
Watching scales pass within inches of his face, Hofa's concentration intensified. Couldn't stay long. Discovery meant piercing pain again.
He wanted to leave. But reconsideredâleaving wouldn't meet the conditions.
Someone stationed this lizard to guard something. Whatever the black wizard wanted to steal. Hofa grew curious.
He slipped through a gap in the lizard's forked tail, crept along the wall into the passage. Just a memory. No consequences.
In the dark chamber's center, he saw it.
A square stone pillar. Hanging from itâa silver necklace.
Strange shape. Almost like... a key.
Before Hofa could examine closer, force struck from behind. He lost control, floated upward.
Final glimpse: the black wizard reached out, grasped the necklace.
Hiss!
Like waking from deep sleep.
Hofa jerked up. He sat in a dim basement, rear on solid ground, hands on a crude platform. Fire basins burned around him.
These cold objects gave Hofa welcome reality. He looked at his hands. No lag.
Back at Hogwarts. Back in the Violet Group's chamber.
Hard to believeâhe'd just died four times. Never wanted to repeat that.
Only good news? He now knew how to cast the Disillusionment Charm.
The joy of finally getting the spell he'd craved for months was indescribable. Even overshadowed dying four times.
Experiencing that pain in the illusion, Hofa had wanted to curse. But now he felt he should thank the masked woman. She'd given him the chance.
Of course, in his excitement, he also wanted to vent about his painful experiences.
But when Hofa stood, the masked woman was gone. Basement empty except for crackling fire.
No one to thank. No one to complain to.
Frustrating.
Had she left? What did that mean? Gone visiting while he was out?
Hofa tried to find her. Couldn't. Room was maybe 100 square metersâjust bricks, stones, fire basins. Plus scrolls in the corner. Everything the same as when he'd entered. Just missing one person.
When Hofa circled back, he found a small hourglass beside the platform.
In his rush, he'd missed it.
Picked it up. Sand had run out.
Beneath itâa note with few words:
[Don't come looking for me again.]
Don't come again... Hofa's expression turned strange.
What? Had he done something wrong? Why tell him not to return?
He'd learned the charm, hadn't he?
Unless she thought he'd died too many times. Failed the test.
Damn...
Looking at the empty hourglass, Hofa couldn't figure it out. Passed or not? Couldn't she give a straight answer?
Completely baffled.
Made him more curious about the Violet Wizarding Group. Entire society with one personâmasked member with tools that let people learn spells this way.
What kind of organization?
He circled the walls slowly. Looked at member portraits beneath crackling fire, felt the quiet, lonely atmosphere.
Noticed the scrolls in the corner.
The tools he'd used to learn the charm. Hofa swallowed, walked over. Examined them carefully.
Blackened scrolls in glass cases looked unremarkable. But Hofa sensed ancient magic permeating the area.
He instinctively reached for a glass case.
In that instant, hair stood on end. Sensation of being watched.
Spun around. Every eye in every painting now stared at him. Definitely hadn't been moving before.
Hofa yanked his hand back, retreated to the door in three steps.
Painted eyes didn't move. Gazes followed him.
This society had problems...
Hofa swallowed, quickly pushed through the portrait. Left.
Sensation of being watched vanished.
Hofa wiped cold sweat. Gained new respectâand warinessâfor this place.
Outside, Hofa closed his eyes, ran meditation for a while. Spirit settled.
Whatever secrets this society hid had nothing to do with him. Failed or not, he'd achieved his goal.
He'd learned the Disillusionment Charm.
Hofa couldn't resist tapping his arm with his wand.
"Disillusionment!"
Cold liquid flowed from where wand touched, spreading across his body. Like someone cracked a dozen cold egg whites over him.
Magic happened. His body took on the same patterns as the school's wall. Like a human chameleon. Hofa vanished into air.
He covered his eyesâpointless. Through his arm, he could see two wizards chatting fifty meters ahead.
Rush of thrilling sensation. He wanted to cheer.
Tucked away wand, strutted through school.
Exaggerated, arrogant postureâHofa would never normally do this. But now? Thrilled.
Passing two older students, caught their conversation.
"President changed the password today?"
"Yeah. 'Bloody Underwear.'"
"Wow, heavy tastes..."
Hofa covered his mouth, but pig-like snorts escaped.
The two were sharp. Turned around.
"Huh, someone's there..."
"You're seeing things. Nobody there."
They climbed into a portrait of two men.
Hofa thought his deaths hadn't been in vain. Now he could enter any club room. Protections useless.
Felt like the world had opened its doors.
Few more steps. Around corner.
Well!
Old acquaintance.
Aglaia. In the club tower area too.
She strode forward confidently. Bunch of older students trailing behind.
Older students wore pleading expressions.
"Miss Deraseth, please stay. Our Calvin Transfiguration Society has great benefits."
"Right, we can make you vice president."
"If you're old enough, even president..."
Aglaia spun around, hands on hips, furious. "Get lost! Can't even do basic transfiguration. Your skills are pathetic!"
Turned, marched forward.
Muttering, "Thirteen clubs, all useless. Hogwarts is garbage..."
Thenâ"Ow!"
Under everyone's gaze, Aglaia face-planted. Like she'd tripped over invisible rock.
Sprawled out, undignified.
Everyone froze, rushed forward.
"You okay?"
"Miss Deraseth!"
Aglaia sprang up like lightning, expression dark. "What did you see?"
Group exchanged glances.
"Uh..."
"Nothing..."
"Nothing at all."
"Say one word and you're dead."
After that icy threat, she hurried away. Around corner, wailed and ran off covering her face.
In the corner, invisible Hofa nearly died laughing. Had to lean against wall to stay standing.
So satisfying!
So damn satisfying!
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