"This happened because Eris, the Goddess of Misfortune, lost the bet, and in her boundless anger and humiliation, she cast a devastating curse upon our unicorn race: we would never be able to fly again.
Furthermore, once wounded, our injuries would become incredibly difficult to heal magically. As a result, our race—originally so magically powerful, resilient, and utterly impossible to hunt—has gradually dwindled in both numbers and strength," Gesilis explained, his voice heavy with unconcealable grief.
"Fortunately, the kind-hearted Goddess of Fortune, Fortuna, took pity on our plight and performed a complex ritual to build this settlement for us. This makes it extremely difficult for any other creature to accidentally stumble into our territory without a unicorn leading the way."
"Why didn't the Goddess of Fortune simply break the Goddess of Misfortune's curse?" The pure-hearted Gaia asked the question that had been silently troubling her.
"There is no mention of the reason in the lore passed down by my ancestors. But I believe the two goddesses must have had a pact not to personally interfere with each other's magic once a major bet was finalized," Allen hypothesized, noticing a flicker of shame pass over Gesilis's face, perhaps for the dishonourable nature of the curse's origin.
"Ahem, ahem." Gesilis cleared his throat twice. "Even though the Goddess of Misfortune's curse is eternal, the Goddess of Fortune intervened and left a single glimmer of hope for our race. Thus, as long as we successfully pass the Sphinx's test, we can eventually return to our former glory."
"We have lived here in complete seclusion for generations. If it were not for the agreement we hold with Hogwarts, which supplies us with healing potions in exchange for allowing them to use us as teaching examples, our living space would be even more constrained and dangerous," added Vina, the Unicorn Queen, with a worried sigh.
"However, a terrible creature recently managed to infiltrate the school grounds, and we have already lost two of our kind within the Forbidden Forest. It's truly terrifying to imagine what would happen to us if we lost Gaia as well," Queen Vina finished, looking visibly horrified.
"Have you ever attempted the Sphinx challenge?" Allen cut straight to the core issue.
"No, because the primary requirement for initiating the Sphinx Exam is the possession of the magical orb of the Goddess of Fortune, Fortuna," Gesilis confessed, his eyes now fixed on Allen with unconcealed hope.
"If there is anything within my power that I can do to assist, please do not hesitate to tell me, and I will give it my best effort," Allen assured them, understanding the magnitude of their request.
"Of course, we desperately require your assistance. But first, we must make some urgent preparations," Gesilis stated, motioning for Queen Vina to bring forth a basket overflowing with ripe fruit.
As Gesilis summoned his people to gather and discuss the immediate future, several little golden unicorn foals approached Allen. They gazed innocently at the dark red fruits in Allen's hand. They were undeniably adorable!
Allen slowly extended his hand, holding out a few pieces of the fruit. The little unicorns looked at them longingly but were still too cautious to approach him directly. Allen offered them a patient, warm smile.
After a moment, a creature even smaller than the others hesitantly crept forward, snatching a fruit from Allen's open palm. Allen placed another piece in his hand and watched them, still smiling.
When Gesilis and the others concluded their hasty discussion and turned to rejoin him, they saw the foals jumping happily around Allen, some even daring to use their tiny, pink tongues to gently touch Allen's hand.
"Alan, until this threat is resolved, we have decided to send some of the older, weaker, and the newly stronger members of our herd to stay temporarily within the protective borders of the Hogwarts Forbidden Forest. Then, we will confront the trials of the Sphinx together. We cannot allow our friend to fight for us while we merely await the rewards," Gesilis announced. The purity and goodness of the unicorn race were clear in his every word.
Allen readily agreed. After seeing off the departing, slightly reluctant unicorn tribesmen, Gesilis was surprised to see Gaia willingly join the departing group. A sudden, booming clap of thunder echoed briefly across the sky before vanishing without a trace; Gaia had apparently convinced her father, who was still deeply troubled by her near-death experience.
Gesilis and Queen Vina arrived first, followed closely by Gaia, her head lowered in solemn respect. Behind them, heads held high and moving in perfect formation, marched fifty magnificent silver-white unicorn warriors. Their powerful, muscled limbs, noble features, and imposing size commanded awe, yet no one could deny the breathtaking beauty of these utterly pure creatures.
Allen held the magical orb of the Goddess of Fortune, Fortuna, out toward the looming statue of the Sphinx. Amidst the anxious anticipation of the assembled unicorns, the resounding echo of ancient magic filled the air.
The white Sphinx statue began to emit a brilliant silvery-white light, the colour identical to a unicorn's coat. The Sphinx appeared to come alive, leaping sideways with a lightness Allen could barely comprehend, though the ground beneath them seemed to tremble slightly from the movement. The statue's massive bronze base now resembled a gaping mouth, dark and mysterious.
One by one, the group entered this subterranean place, which had been untouched for millennia. Although there was no sun, moon, or stars to nourish it, the area was still bursting with life, covered in dense flowers and bushes. A few strange, luminous white flowers, their pale petals stretching a foot wide, were scattered among the colourful undergrowth.
They walked straight down the cobblestone path at the centre, and soon an intricately carved archway materialized before them. The patterns etched onto the arch resembled ancient Phoenician ornamentation, and a shimmering, water-like light pulsed within the archway.
As they approached, a faint, yet clearly otherworldly female voice resonated through the space: "Welcome to the Illusion of Eris. If you pass all challenges, the unicorns' wish will be granted; if you fail, your bones shall remain here for all eternity."
These were ancient runes. Allen recognized them; in the Ravenclaw common room library, two shelves were dedicated solely to this subject, which Allen had studied in his spare time. He translated the runes for the unicorns, none of whom showed any sign of fear. On the contrary, they seemed eager to join the fray, fulfil their clan's ancient wish, and restore the unicorns' glory.
The unicorn warriors, as if to demonstrate their collective bravery, were the first to gallop into the shimmering light barrier without the slightest hesitation. Seeing their resolve, Allen followed the majestic creatures and entered the magical archway as well.
Allen had never seen trees so tall. They must have reached ten stories high, and it wasn't just one—it was an entire grove. The dense, deep-green foliage of these imposing giants completely obscured the sky, creating a bleak, hazy landscape below. Looking deeper into the heavy forest, it was pitch black. The massive branches swayed and danced ominously, taking on a ghostly, unsettling appearance.
Having made their choice, they had no path but to move forward. Cautiously, alertly, and with the utmost care, they began to penetrate the vast woodland. Allen drew his wand, just in case.
Gaia gently nudged Allen's cheek with her horn. "Allen, are you… afraid?"
"Afraid of what?" Allen asked in genuine surprise.
"This place is so gloomy and terrifying. Don't you regret coming here?" Without waiting for Allen's response, Gaia quickly added, as if afraid he would change his mind: "Don't worry, our horns have the ability to purify poisons, and the warriors are immensely strong. We will definitely be safe."