Chapter 110: The Glailin Farm
Chapter 110: The Glailin Farm
"Oh, I almost forgot about this!"
Seeing Wade's pen case, Steven patted his head, quickly walked out of the bedroom, and soon returned with a brown bag, saying:
"Thestrals are very sensitive to the scent of their own kind. You'll need to put your pen case into this bag, or you might be attacked by the Thestrals on the farm."
"Alright." Wade took the bag and instinctively examined the magical text and spell combinations on it.
"Is this Professor Mori's work?"
"Yes... How did you know?" Steven asked in surprise.
"Everyone's alchemical creations carry their unique style. It's easy to recognize once you're familiar with it." Wade explained.
Steven: "..."
Was there any noticeable difference between this brown deerskin bag and the ones sold in stores?
He didn't quite understand, but he had also gotten used to not obsessing over things outside his expertise.
...
One could fly directly from the Alsophila Manor to the Glailin Farm—Steven had named his farm after the Glailin, a breed of winged horses, and his yearning for them was evident.
In the morning, Wade stretched leisurely in the sunlight, hearing his bones crackle.
He strolled along the path between the red-brick cottages, loosening his muscles.
It had been dark by the time they arrived at the farm the previous night, and after freshening up, Wade had retired directly to the guest room. It was only now that he had the opportunity to take a good look at the farm.
Unlike the grand castle of Alsophila Manor, there were only about a dozen red-brick cottages on the farm, giving it the appearance of an ancient, remote village at first glance.
The farm was nestled amidst mountains and waters, boasting breathtaking scenery and incredibly fresh air.
Simple fences, shrubs, and cedar trees divided the farm into areas of various sizes, with wildflowers and colorful blooms adding a touch of tranquility and beauty.
Like all wizarding residences, the Glailin Farm was warded with Disillusion and Repelling Charms, rendering it invisible on Muggle maps.
Thus, it remained untouched by the steel and gasoline of modern, rapidly developing technology. This rarely trodden land by humans was a veritable sanctuary for animals.
Amidst the leaves, little blue birds flitted about merrily, yet they made no sound;
hidden within the thorn bushes was a teardrop-shaped nest, from which poked the head of a bird resembling a vulture. Its greenish-black wings were folded, and it wore a perpetually grumpy expression.
Perched on branches or concealed beneath leaves were green creatures that resembled both frogs and lizards. They sported devilish grins and had a red pustule on their heads, their mouths filled with sharp teeth, giving them an unfriendly appearance.
"These are Tree Monkey Frogs,"
Steven said, approaching from behind Wade.
He extended his hand, and one of the initially ill-tempered Tree Monkey Frogs leaped onto it, its lizard-like tail gently coiling around his thumb.
Steven patted its head and said, "If they sense danger, the pustules on their heads will flash red. That's why their pus is one of the ingredients used in making Spectrespecs."
He brought his palm close to the branch and gently shook his arm, prompting the Tree Monkey Frog to leap back into the foliage, soon disappearing from view.
A Bowtruckle, disturbed by the Tree Monkey Frog, slowly moved its body, causing the leaves on its head to tremble slightly.
"This place is fascinating." Wade said, "I'm starting to understand why you wanted to become a Magizoologist."
"Mhm. The world is vibrant because of their existence."
Steven sighed softly and said, "But suitable habitats for magical creatures are dwindling, and protecting them is becoming increasingly difficult. Even Fire Dragons would find it hard to escape if they were discovered by Muggles."
"So, I want to do my best to protect them and provide them with an undisturbed space to survive. I also hope that more people will realize that protecting magical creatures is important and interesting."
"That's an admirable ideal." Wade said, "If there's anything I can help with, just let me know."
Steven smiled happily, "When I need it, I'll definitely ask for help without hesitation! Considering—”
He suddenly stopped, his eyes fixed on something behind Wade.
A strange cracking sound came from the foliage, and flocks of little birds chirped and fluttered their wings, taking flight all at once.
Wade turned around and saw a massive creature, bluish-gray in color, with a diameter of at least three meters, slowly gliding through the forest.
Upon closer inspection, its body wasn't even touching the ground; it was actually flying.
"Don't be afraid, that's a Snidget, you know, it doesn't eat people."
Steven patted Wade's shoulder and whispered, "It's a bit skittish, just don't startle it."
The Snidget suddenly lunged forward, its eagle-like beak clamping down on a small blue bird.
It stretched its neck to swallow the bird, and its body soon shrunk to the size of a regular python. Then, it slithered through the gaps in the trees and eventually coiled itself around a tall pine tree.
Its body shrunk even smaller, finally hiding itself under a leaf, almost invisible.
"Let's go." said Steven, "It'll take a while for it to digest its meal!"
After walking for a while, Wade asked, "I thought you would stop it from hunting the Diricawl."
Steven shook his head, "Protecting magical creatures doesn't mean keeping them well-fed in captivity. I just want to prevent them from being harmed by humans, but their predatory relationships shouldn't be forcibly changed."
Wade nodded in agreement and asked, "It must be expensive to maintain a farm like this. If you need funding, I can provide some."
The number of Galleons in his vault was increasing every second, and it would be pointless to let them sit idle. It would be better to use them for something meaningful.
"That's alright, actually." Steven laughed, "The house-elves collect the feathers, scales, shed skin, and horns that the magical creatures naturally shed, and selling those brings in a lot of money, which is enough to maintain the farm."
He flashed a childlike proud smile, "Don't underestimate me... I'm actually a big shot!! I only needed financial support from my father for the first two years after establishing the farm, and after that, I became self-sufficient."
"How many different kinds of magical creatures do you have here?" Wade asked curiously.
"Well..."
Steven was stumped for a moment, and after thinking for a while, he replied,
"There should be at least two or three dozen species... But I can't really say for sure. Because sometimes, some creatures move in secretly when I'm not looking."
"Newly arrived creatures are usually more cautious. Sometimes, I only discover their hidden traces when they start bringing their families along. As long as they don't cause any trouble, I generally leave them alone."
However, the magical creatures that had been living there for a longer period, like the Tree Monkey Frogs, had come to view Steven as a companion or even a protector, and they were very affectionate towards him.
Wade imagined what it would be like to live like Steven, and even though he didn't share the same deep passion for magical creatures, he couldn't help but feel a sense of longing.
Steven checked the time and said, "Your friends should be arriving soon. Let's go and greet them."
(End of Chapter)
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