Man of Archives

I greeted the morning with a sense of lightness in my body. It’s difficult to describe my emotions, but they were strong and intriguing. Sunlight filtered through the closed curtains, but it wasn’t bothersome since it fell around my waist rather than directly on my face. Though it was still morning for me, it had long been lunchtime for the locals. The clock had just passed noon.

 

Stepping out onto the balcony, which offered incredible views, I took a deep breath of the cool, fresh air. The sun had already reached its highest point, spreading warmth and calm. Silence reigned, broken only occasionally by the distant cries of birds, shattering the quiet into thousands of pieces.

 

When I returned inside, I headed straight to the shower to freshen up. Once my hygiene routine was complete, I made my way to the hotel restaurant for a light breakfast. I was noticed immediately.

 

“Would you like to have breakfast, sir?” a petite, slender waitress asked. She was dressed in a white uniform with a small black apron embroidered with the hotel’s symbol and name.

 

“Yes, I wouldn’t mind,” I nodded. “What’s interesting on the menu today?”

 

“The breakfast is simple: a light seafood salad, tea, toast, cereal, and much more,” she listed. “But if you’re craving something specific, you can order it for a small fee. The chefs would be happy to accommodate.”

 

“No specific cravings for now,” I replied.

 

We arrived at a large hall with a dozen round tables. The room was empty since everyone had already finished breakfast. The only clue that food was still available was the self-service table.

 

“If you have any questions or requests, feel free to ask.”

 

“Thank you,” I nodded.

 

Breakfast went smoothly, as this was the first time in four months that I could truly relax. No need to rush anywhere, no battles to fight, no need to defend myself. Still, I won’t tempt fate… who knows what could happen on this island.

 

As I was finishing breakfast, a familiar manager approached me.

 

“Good morning, sir,” he greeted.

 

“Well… it’s not really morning anymore,” I chuckled. “But for me, yes, good morning.”

 

“May I sit?”

 

I nodded.

 

The manager closed his eyes for a moment, trying to relax while preparing for what seemed like an important conversation. He already knew I was a wizard, so the matter was likely related to magic. I wondered what he was going to ask.

 

“Tell me, sir,” he began. “If, for instance, a well-paying contract came up during your stay, would you be interested?”

 

“Hm,” I mused. “And would you?”

 

The manager wasn’t expecting that and paused for a few seconds to think.

 

“I’d agree,” he finally answered. It made sense, especially coming from him.

 

“I probably wouldn’t say no either,” I smirked.

 

“Then perhaps the owner of this hotel has a proposal for you,” he said calmly, watching my reaction. I wasn’t opposed—after all, I could always refuse if the task didn’t suit me or if I simply didn’t want to do it. “Would you like to meet him?”

 

“Why not,” I shrugged.

 

“The owner has also expressed interest in meeting you,” he said. “Do you have any plans?”

 

“None for now,” I replied.

 

“How about meeting him over dinner?”

 

“Sounds good.”

 

Returning to my room, I quickly grabbed a change of clothes and headed to the pool, which the hotel also had. The water treatments—spa, jacuzzi, sauna, and pool—gave my body a sense of lightness and relaxation, though not entirely. Afterward, I had lunch and went back to resting. For now, I had nothing to do.

 

In the evening, I returned to the dining hall and was surprised to see a few other guests lounging around. They didn’t pay much attention to me, absorbed in their own affairs.

 

“Sir,” a girl with light chestnut hair cascading over her shoulders addressed me. Her minimal makeup enhanced her natural beauty. “The owner is expecting you in the VIP room.”

 

“Then lead the way, dear,” I said, glancing at her name tag—Lovely Aphrodite.

 

She smiled and adjusted her hair.

 

“Follow me, sir,” she said and turned, walking with a sway that was quite the sight… definitely earned ten thousand points for Gryffindor. Heh.

 

She led me to a small room guarded by a tall, broad-shouldered man and a golden-haired woman, whose beauty was nearly equal to the waitress’s, though she wore an unusual headdress.

 

Inside, I immediately noticed a commanding, somewhat older man observing the room intently. The first thing that caught my eye was his gray hair, tinged with a slight bluish hue. Next were his pale blue eyes and stern expression.

 

“Ah, finally, I get to meet you, Timothy Jody,” the man said, rising. “My name is Zeus Keravn, and I am the owner of this hotel and the eternal Director of the Pantheon.”

 

“Pantheon?” I couldn’t help but ask.

 

“It’s something like your Ministry of Magic,” he explained easily, extending his hand for a handshake. “Pleasure to meet you.”

 

“Likewise,” I nodded. “So, Mr. Zeus, does that make you our equivalent of the Minister of Magic?”

 

“Exactly,” he smirked.

 

We sat down, and a young waiter named Dionysus promptly brought us menus before stepping back, awaiting our orders.

 

“So, what would you recommend?” I asked.

 

“Oh, I suggest you try the ambrosia and nectar,” Zeus replied.

 

There was something fascinating about Zeus’s demeanor. He was a powerful wizard, though not quite at my level. That struck me as odd. Carrying a name like his must come with certain expectations—without that power, what’s the point? But no matter.

 

“Alright, I’ll have that,” I nodded, signaling to Dionysus. He acknowledged my order with a nod.

 

“I’ll have the same,” Zeus said, closing his menu.

 

The nectar arrived first. We each received a personal pitcher and a tall, chilled glass. It tasted sweet and tangy, with an incredible freshness that revitalized both body and mind. The drink seemed to possess magical properties. Intriguing.

 

“An excellent drink,” I nodded.

 

“Yes, the plants used to make it grow only on Crete,” Zeus explained. “Once they leave the island, they turn to poison.”

 

“Amazing,” I said, shaking my head in disbelief.

 

“How are you enjoying the hotel?” Zeus continued.

 

“It’s quite good,” I nodded.

 

We chatted about a variety of topics while waiting for the food—weather, life in England, the state of the world, and many other things. Overall, Zeus proved to be a pleasant conversationalist. Occasionally, he used a few archaic words, likely from learning the language from some old wizard-traveler.

 

The food eventually arrived, and I immediately noticed its magical resemblance to the Philosopher’s Stone.

 

“Interesting,” I mused.

 

“It works on the same principle,” Zeus chuckled.

 

“This recipe only works on the island, doesn’t it?” I asked.

 

“That’s right.”

 

I can say this: it wasn’t just food—it was a culinary masterpiece. In terms of taste, only unicorn milk ice cream could compare. I even felt changes in my body and a boost in the power of the Archive. I’m not sure how yet, but something definitely happened.

 

“That was incredibly delicious,” I nodded. “Thanks for the recommendation.”

 

“Oh, it was nothing,” Zeus waved it off. “I’m always happy to help with advice if needed.”

 

“I heard you might have a request for me,” I said, deciding to get to the point.

 

“Correct,” Zeus replied, leaning slightly toward me. “I won’t beat around the bush. Alien cockroaches have appeared in one of the anomalies on the island. We need them exterminated. The reward is a thousand Galleons.”

 

“Why not,” I nodded. “Tell me more about what’s going on.”

 

“It’s one of the anomalies that appeared a few years ago,” Zeus sighed, pulling out a map of the island from his bag. He unfolded it and pointed to the northern part of the island, marked with a small red dot. “At first, it didn’t concern us too much since these anomalies usually come and go. But this one is different. The cockroaches have developed magical abilities that keep the anomaly stable and allow them to feed off the island's energy.”

 

“So, no need to search for them?” I asked.

 

“No,” Zeus shook his head. “Ares, whom you met outside, and Hades have already cleared out all the nests on the island. All that’s left is to destroy the anomaly itself, but we don’t have the means to do so.”

 

“Why not?” I asked. I needed to understand why they couldn’t destroy it. Maybe I wouldn’t be able to either.

 

“The cockroaches are immune to our magic,” Zeus exhaled. “All the wizards on this island belong to a unique magical race. Some spells are simply beyond our reach.”

 

“I see,” I said slowly. Well, if they are indeed a magical race, things start to make more sense. Could they somehow be connected to the deities of ancient Greece? Perhaps… but I don’t feel like asking right now. Honestly, the idea of being around people who bear the names of ancient gods makes me uneasy. “When do we head out?”

 

“Tomorrow morning,” Zeus replied, almost anticipating my question. “But if you want more information, you can speak with Athena and Ares.”

 

“Athena and Ares, huh?” I sighed. “That’s what I was talking about.”

 

As if on cue, the two wizards I had seen at the entrance earlier walked in. Zeus stood up.

 

“Well, I’ll be off then,” he said. A golden scepter with a lightning-shaped head appeared in his hand. The head glowed, and then he simply vanished. It wasn’t a method of teleportation I recognized. It wasn’t Apparition, but something else… The space around him didn’t warp like a tunnel; it seemed to break under the pressure of magic, allowing him to step through.

 

Ares and Athena sat down in two chairs against the opposite wall. Dionysus quickly ran off to fetch them food and drinks. Athena intrigued me more, as she was a strikingly beautiful woman. Ares, though less interesting, seemed quite fascinated by me. I could sense it from his emotions.

 

“My name is Athena,” the woman introduced herself in a clear voice. “And this is my partner, Ares. We are the primary strike force of the Pantheon.”

 

“Greetings,” I nodded. “As you probably already know, I’ll be helping you with the cockroach extermination.”

 

“Don’t overthink it,” Ares interrupted gruffly. “Your job is to unleash Hellfire and make sure it consumes everything. That’s all.”

 

“Is that so,” I drawled. That makes things easier. I’ve trained with Hellfire, so why not use it to clear out this cockroach nest? Then I’ll leave the island immediately. “Well, if you’ve already studied the situation and know what to use, I’ll follow orders.”

 

“And after that, you can be on your way,” Ares added bluntly.

 

Honestly, I don’t understand why he’s being so rude to me. Maybe Athena’s interest in me bothers him? Or something else? Who knows. Either way, I’ll be glad to leave this island. They’re not exactly the most welcoming people to my taste.

 

That night, I spent in calm tranquility, untroubled by anything. Even loud noises didn’t bother me, as I simply used magic to suppress them. My morning began with preparations for the upcoming confrontation, as things might not go as planned. It’s important to consider that first and foremost, because so much could potentially go wrong.

 

I dressed in simple clothes, meant to avoid attracting attention from non-magical folks. Ares and Athena were dressed modestly as well, not drawing much attention, though their mere presence commanded notice.

 

We climbed into a black car waiting in the parking lot and headed out. Ares sat in the driver’s seat, Athena in the front passenger seat, while I sat in the back. Watching the scenery was entertaining. The people didn’t seem much different from those I’d seen in England or other countries, though their fashion had a local flair.

 

We drove along the coast before turning onto a larger road and speeding up. At one point, the car slowed, and we turned onto a gravel path. There, we were stopped by two more wizards. But as soon as they saw who was sitting in the front seat, they immediately let us through.

 

“From here, we walk,” Ares said, stopping the car near several others.

 

The space here felt completely different. It’s hard to describe… as if the space had shattered into tiny pieces trying to fuse together, but some force was preventing it. The manifestation in the real world was barely noticeable. A non-magical person wouldn’t sense anything, and even most wizards would probably not realize what was happening—losing their lives in the process. The danger here was no joke.

 

My hand rested on my wand, ready to spring into action at any moment. Two more witches appeared ahead, observing me with interest. They said something to Ares and Athena in their language. Unfortunately, I didn’t understand a word. Their emotions carried a hint of nervousness, making me more cautious and alert. I didn’t want to walk into a trap.

 

We arrived at a small trail winding through the trees. With each step, the realization grew stronger that this abomination shouldn’t exist on the planet’s surface. The trees ranged from healthy to diseased, gnawed, and even dead. The ground around them felt equally defiled—an unnatural, corrupted presence that was hard to put into words.

 

“Be cautious now,” Athena exhaled. A large spear appeared in her hand, glowing with a strange light. In her other hand was a shield, and a helmet materialized on her head. The same transformation occurred with Ares. His torso was bare, revealing powerful muscles, and he wore a full helmet that concealed his face, leaving only small slits for vision. He held a shield, ready to strike, but what drew my attention most was his sword. At first glance, it seemed plain. On second glance, it still seemed plain. But when I sensed its magical essence, everything became clear—this was a unique artifact of immense power.

 

We stepped into a wide clearing, riddled with large holes. I could sense a strange intelligence lurking below, like a swarm. Honestly, I’d never encountered anything like it before.

 

“They’re underground,” Ares said, pointing his sword at the earth. “Do your job.”

 

As I took a step forward, something crunched under my foot. Looking down, I saw a small, child-sized skull. I pushed aside my emotions and raised my wand. Hellfire is one of the greatest magical feats, developed during the fiercest wars against goblins. It was used to burn out goblin tunnels, along with their artifacts. The destructive potential of this spell is immense.

 

A blood-red flame began to ignite at the tip of my wand. Of course, I could release the spell right now, but controlling it would be difficult. After a few moments of concentration, I directed the stream of fire into the first hole. Then the real fun began.

 

Giving Hellfire the freedom to spread, I let it fill the cavities, destroying everything in its path. I was certain the tunnels were turning into a true Hell within seconds, as I began to feel the first deaths of these creatures.

 

Five minutes later, black smoke billowed from all the holes, followed by an eruption of intense, searing flames.

 

“Can you control the fire for another twenty minutes?” Ares asked.

 

“Yes,” I nodded. Though, to be honest, the fire didn’t need control, just a steady supply of magical power.

 

The fiery spectacle continued for another twenty minutes until the ground began to steam, a sign that more had been burned away than one might have expected. Suddenly, I felt a strong tension in the space around us, as if someone had passed through it. Then, my Hellfire started to wane.

 

“Someone’s in there,” I said to Ares and Athena. The atmosphere shifted slightly. To prevent the fire from dying out completely, I fed it more magic, causing the flames to flare up again. Geysers of fire shot from the tunnels, reaching impressive heights, visible from afar.

 

The space trembled once more, and I sensed that someone had passed through again—this time, it felt like they were leaving rather than entering.

 

“Seems everything’s fine now,” I said to them. “That guest is gone.”

 

“Interesting… what could they have wanted down there?” Athena mused, letting her helmet vanish. “But no matter, we’ll deal with that later.”

 

I began slowly suppressing the Hellfire, drawing it back into my wand. In a moment, everything went quiet, and a warm breeze blew from the scorched tunnels.

 

With a flick of my wand, I holstered it and waited to see what Ares and Athena would do next. They both stood still, seemingly waiting for something—probably for the ground to cool before they checked the tunnels themselves.

 

A small artifact, a dark detector, appeared in my hand. It sat calmly on my palm, indicating no significant threat remained. That’s why I transfigured a table with three chairs and sat down in one of them.

 

“Feel free to sit if you’d like,” I offered to Athena and Ares, noticing their questioning expressions.

 

They chose not to sit, so I simply shrugged and relaxed, waiting to see what they’d do next.

 

“How long will it take to cool down?” Athena finally asked.

 

“A while,” I replied calmly. “Maybe by evening.”

 

“And you can’t use magic to speed it up?” Ares asked.

 

“There are a few options,” I shrugged. “But it would further damage the tunnels.”

 

“Let it be,” Ares nodded.

 

“As you wish,” I exhaled and stood up. The next moment, a stream of frost shot from my wand, diving into the first tunnel and spreading through it before emerging from other exits. The ground trembled for a second, a cracking sound followed, and part of the surface sank. “See… that’s what I was talking about.”

 

“Hm,” Ares grunted and waved his hand dismissively.

 

An hour later, we descended into the tunnel, searching for anything of interest. But there wasn’t much to see—Hellfire leaves no witnesses.

 

“I don’t think you’ll find anything here,” I said with a shrug. Many areas were not just difficult to access; they were impossible to reach. Not all the tunnels were wide enough, even for dwarves.

 

“We’ll see,” Athena nodded, then sharply struck the ground with her spear. A powerful magical wave spread in all directions, bouncing off every surface. I assume she was using something akin to echolocation, like how bats create an image of their surroundings.

 

When all parts of the magical wave returned to her, Athena shook her head in disappointment. It seemed I was right; there was nothing left to find here. We returned to the surface, where Athena collapsed the tunnels, erasing the last traces of what had been there.

 

“Let’s go,” Ares said, dispelling his armor and weapons. Athena did the same.

 

The journey back was much quieter. This time, I wasn’t paying much attention to the surroundings, as my only desire was to leave as soon as possible. I’d collect my payment and leave. Though I had originally intended to stay here longer, that was a decision made a long time ago. Not anymore.

 

The hotel greeted us with a small celebration. Apparently, a couple had chosen the restaurant as the venue for their celebration, and local, traditional music played in the background.

 

To avoid disturbing the guests, we slipped through one of the side exits. It led us to the kitchen, where the chefs were hard at work on their orders, likely hoping to showcase their skills. Besides that, they were probably hoping their efforts would be noticed and rewarded. Whether that happens or not, I sincerely wished them luck.

 

The office we entered closely resembled the one where I had first met Zeus, though this time it was decorated in dark green tones with tree designs on the walls. The room felt cozy, not too oppressive. Zeus sat at the desk, and as we entered, he rose calmly.

 

“Mr. Timothy Jody,” he began, extending his hand for a handshake. “I want to thank you for completing my request so quickly. I’ve already been informed that you did an excellent job.”

 

“Thank you,” I nodded. “It was an honor to help with this problem.”

 

“Oh no, I should be the one thanking the Fates for bringing you to us,” he replied. “So please accept my gratitude in the form of this fruit, as well as your agreed-upon payment.”

 

A small chest with gold engravings and an envelope appeared on the table.

 

“Thank you,” I nodded. “I assume the fruit is inside the chest?”

 

“Correct,” he answered with a smirk. “This fruit does not belong to this world.”

 

“Really?” I said, surprised.

 

“Indeed,” Zeus grinned. “My brother Poseidon’s son went on an incredible journey to another world, where most of the planet is covered in water. There, he met some fascinating people.”

 

“Hm,” I hummed in response.

 

In the next moment, the chest and envelope were safely stored in my bag. I’d deal with them later. Of course, I wasn’t planning to eat some unknown fruit, especially one from another world. Who knows what could be living inside it.

 

“What’s next for you?” Zeus asked. “Perhaps you’d like to stay with us a little longer.”

 

Ares radiated displeasure. Clearly, he didn’t want me to stick around. Honestly, I wasn’t too keen on it either.

 

“I’ll probably continue my journey,” I exhaled with a hint of sadness, as if he understood my feelings. “But maybe you’ll stay a little longer?”

 

Ares was on the verge of exploding but remained silent.

 

“Aphrodite was curious to learn more about other countries,” Zeus said, ignoring Ares. “Perhaps you’ll stay for a few more days?”

 

A scoff could be heard from Athena, who was also in the room. I could almost picture her rolling her eyes.

 

“Athena,” Zeus drawled, tilting his head slightly. His eyes flashed dangerously with lightning.

 

“No,” I shook my head. “To be honest, I’d rather leave now.”

 

I smiled. Feeling like prey being stalked isn’t the most pleasant sensation, even if it’s from a beautiful woman who could challenge many standards of beauty. Maybe I wouldn’t mind a little fun on the island, but my instincts were screaming that I shouldn’t. I’d rather trust my gut and leave ahead of time.

 

“Well, alright,” Zeus exhaled, accepting my decision without a hint of disappointment. “Then we won’t hold you back. But remember, you’ll always be welcome in our lands.”

 

“Thank you,” I nodded, extending my hand for a handshake. “I hope we meet again.”

 

Zeus gave me a firm handshake in return.

 

“Take care,” I nodded to Athena and Ares before quickly heading out.

 

On my way, I nearly bumped into Aphrodite, but my reflexes allowed me to sidestep her without making contact, though she clearly wanted otherwise.

 

“Oops,” I said to her. “My apologies. Take care.”

 

Calmly and without drawing much attention, I exited the building. The stars were already shining in the sky, but they didn’t bring peace—instead, they stirred an uneasy feeling. Placing my hand on my wand, I mentally prepared for trouble. As soon as my broom appeared in my hand, I shot into the sky.

 

But the feeling of unease didn’t leave me. Holding my wand close, I flew straight ahead. I knew the best course of action was to get as far away from the island as possible before figuring out my next steps.

 

“Craaaw!” A woman’s screech pierced the air. Instinctively, I made a sharp turn. A foul, rotten-smelling creature flew past me. “Craaaw!”

 

My wand was already in my hand. With a quick flick, magical sparks flew in all directions, lighting up the area like miniature suns. In that light, I spotted five hideous, winged female creatures with bird-like features. Harpies.

 

What do I know about harpies? First, they are dangerous magical creatures that love to capture wizards and non-wizards alike to feast on their bodies. They are considered creations of the Greek gods... And here’s where I start to have doubts. There have been too many coincidences lately. Could it be that the beings I’ve met truly are gods? Who knows, but it’s safer to assume so. Better to be cautious than careless.

 

Harpies have excellent protection against magic, which is why they are considered tough opponents for any wizard. But… I know how to deal with them.

 

“Craaaw!” the harpies shrieked in unison, trying to intimidate me. It wasn’t just a vocal attack—it was a mental assault as well. My Occlumency shields withstood the combined blow. Next, they dove toward me, but I wasn’t about to stay in one place.

 

I tilted my broom and began descending rapidly toward the sea. The harpies chased after me. Just before reaching the surface, I leveled out my broom and picked up speed. The magical creatures didn’t have time to react, so when I ascended again, they were only just starting to adjust their course.

 

A silver lightning bolt shot from my wand, connecting the harpies in a chain and leaving them little time to react. This wouldn’t kill them, but it would buy me some time. A few seconds is all I needed.

 

One harpy broke free first and tried to catch up to me. The others lagged behind. I paused for a second, caught the harpy with my wand, and delivered a powerful mental blow.

 

The creature hadn’t expected that. My attack wiped out its mind entirely, and the harpy plummeted into the sea like a stone. Without waiting to see the result, I pushed my broom harder, executing another tight turn. A flick of my wand sent another wave of sparks, illuminating the sky.

 

That was enough to catch another harpy and crush its mind with a mental hammer. The remaining ones, now terrified, began to retreat. I gained altitude and speed again, preparing for another possible attack.

 

Suddenly, a surge of danger flared in my mind. I yanked my broom upward and accelerated. For a moment, I felt nauseous, but it passed quickly when I saw a figure appear on a large white horse in the distance. A young man, with literally burning eyes, sat astride the horse. He was dressed in light armor with steel pauldrons. In his hand was a spear, and a sword hung at his hip. His horse walked on air.

 

“And who are you supposed to be?” I asked, weighing my options. Taking him down wouldn’t be easy. His mental defenses were much stronger than the harpies’. Either I’d have to kill him in combat or find a way to escape. The latter seemed more feasible.

 

“I am Arcad,” he replied, gripping his spear more firmly. “You insulted my lady, Aphrodite. And insults are washed away with blood.”

 

I inhaled deeply and exhaled.

 

“And when did that happen?”

 

“I will cleanse your insult with your blood,” he declared theatrically. “For I am the great hero Arcad, king of Arcadia, founder of the Arcadian dynasty, and loyal servant of Lady Aphrodite, may her days be eternal and beautiful.”

 

“Arcadia has been dead for thousands of years,” I replied. What the hell this dude is on… Gosh…

 

“Arcadia lives and will live!” he shouted angrily. “And you will die and remain dead!”

 

He spurred his horse forward, charging at me. I dodged and circled around to his rear. Arcad turned his horse sharply and almost instantly charged again. His spear gleamed with mystical energy. I had to admit, the spear concerned me more than the horse or the man himself.

 

As if performing for an audience, Arcad dramatically unleashed a bluish-turquoise beam from his spear. Since the attack seemed weak, I decided to test something. Confident that I was safe, I cast Protego in the beam's path. My shield held up well and even deflected the beam away. Perfect—Protego offers solid protection against that.

 

“Your peasant tricks won’t help you!” Arcad declared loudly. “They are nothing against the true, divine magic I wield, honed over hundreds—no, thousands—of years.”

 

I remained silent. Some wizards like to talk during battles, using it as a strategy to gain an advantage. Arcad charged at me again, attempting to strike with his spear, but missed once more. When your opponent can move not just forward and back or left and right, but also up, down, and diagonally, everything becomes much more complicated. He would be better off dismounting if his horse couldn’t reach the necessary speed.

 

Then, a sudden thought flickered in my mind, shifting my musings in a different direction. I have a weapon against beings like this.

 

“So, you’re a god?” I asked. “Or related to them?”

 

“I am a demigod, a hero,” Arcad immediately answered. “But these are empty words. I will return either with my shield or with your head on it.”

 

I had no further intention of speaking. With a burst of speed, I closed the distance. Arcad reared his horse and charged at me again. Dodging his spear, I hit him with a curse, but it didn’t harm him. The curse slid off him, dissipating in the air. I made another quick turn, this time faster, and struck him in the back with a physical-impact spell. This time, it had an effect, nearly knocking him out of the saddle.

 

“You snake!” he yelled in rage. “I’ll show you!”

 

There was no time for words. I sped toward him again, dodged the spear as usual, and launched another curse from my witch’s arsenal. It didn’t hurt him much either, though it did dull his skin slightly. This curse was terrifying because it eats away at all tissues, leaving only bones while keeping the victim conscious a little longer. Based on what I saw, the spell I had in mind should work. I’d never used it before, though I knew how. Perhaps now was the time to get acquainted with it.

 

The spear vanished from his hand, followed by the disappearance of his horse. Instead, Arcad now held a naked blade.

 

“I will defeat you with honest steel,” he declared.

 

The next clash happened much faster. Evading his attack, I hurled an air bomb at him. It exploded, causing Arcad to stumble. That was enough for me to hit him with another curse, though this time it was a weak one.

 

“You are dishonorable!” he shouted. “I will correct that!”

 

His blade ignited. With a sharp swing, a massive wave of magical energy surged toward me. I had no desire to meet it head-on, so I darted into the sky. The wave passed beneath me, missing its mark—though not by much.

 

“Alright, let’s wrap this up,” I said.

 

“I think so too,” Arcad nodded, taking up a stance. One hand extended toward me, while the other, holding the sword, was drawn back. His stance resembled that of a scorpion. “My signature move!”

 

Arcad charged at me. That was all I needed.

 

“Avada Kedavra,” I whispered.

 

A green, deathly beam shot from my wand. The intoxicating feeling of omnipotence hit my brain, but I pushed it aside. Arcad didn’t know what spell I was casting and decided to take it head-on. Rookie mistake.

 

The killing curse struck him, killing him instantly and throwing him back several meters. His body vanished into the dark blue night. In the spot where the curse had killed him, a familiar orb of energy appeared. I’d seen something like this before during the Olympic duel.

 

Flying up to it, I absorbed the energy orb. A storm of power surged through me, altering something within, with the remaining energy affecting my physical body. The sensation was so intense I nearly experienced an orgasm right there on my broom. With enormous effort, I suppressed the feeling and kept flying forward. Stopping, even for a moment, wasn’t an option.