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Chapter 420: Fluffy and the Manticore
Chapter 420: Fluffy and the Manticore
Although Kyle had mentioned that he knew where Fluffy was, he had only been there once before, led by Hagrid through an alternative route, so he wasn't entirely sure of the exact location in this unfamiliar area.
However, he had other means to locate the beast.
Kyle opened the box and first persuaded the reluctant Norberta back inside before sticking his head in and shouting.
Soon enough, a Billywig came wobbling out.
Billywigs had a keen sense of smell, able to detect herbs from miles away, and having spent a significant amount of time with Fluffy, it was already familiar with the beast's scent.
This was also the reason Kyle had refused Aragog's offer to guide them—those giant spiders were not to be trusted, who knew what tricks they might pull along the way.
As soon as it emerged, the little creature started buzzing about excitedly, even flying over to Newt, its shiny black eyes curiously examining him.
Newt gave it a comfortable feeling, like a warm sun-kissed flower, and it quite enjoyed that sensation. Even when Newt raised his hand towards it, it didn't flinch but instead naturally landed on his open palm.
"What a well-behaved little one..."
Newt gently rubbed its belly with his fingers and smiled, "I once knew another Billywig, but it was too naughty, always wanting to escape outside, and never listened when called back..."
As he spoke, Newt's face softened with a fond smile.
He remembered that Jacob had particularly loved that Billywig.
After being stung by it, people would lose control and float in the air, an experience Jacob enjoyed as it made him feel like a wizard.
It was a shame he was just a No-Maj... well, the most fearsome No-Maj ever, officially recognized by the American Ministry of Magic.
At this thought, Newt chuckled again.
Seeing Newt lost in his memories, Kyle didn't disturb him but instead silently held out his hand.
The Billywig immediately flew back to him.
"We're going to see Fluffy," Kyle whispered. "Can you lead the way for us?"
The little creature nodded and wobbled around in the vicinity before flying towards a narrow path on the left.
Kyle and Newt quickly followed.
The location of Fluffy wasn't far from the nest of the eight-eyed giant spiders.
After walking for about ten minutes, Kyle suddenly heard a thrilled roar.
The ground began to vibrate, and Fluffy came running from a short distance away, breaking countless tree branches along the way.
Fluffy finally stopped in front of Kyle, lowering his head excitedly, and his three tongues lashed out simultaneously towards Kyle.
Kyle quickly jumped back to dodge.
Fluffy's tongue slapped the tree next to him, stripping off a layer of bark.
Seeing Kyle's reaction, Fluffy's three heads tilted, looking a bit confused as to why he had dodged.
After all, Hagrid had always enjoyed this display of affection.
Should I try again?
As Fluffy's tongues shot out once more, Kyle quickly waved his hands to stop this enthusiastic greeting.
Fluffy had grown even larger, looking like a small mountain, and his strength was now quite formidable.
Unlike Hagrid, Kyle couldn't take such powerful licks, and one slap of the tongue would surely knock him out.
He held out his hand, and Fluffy immediately lay down, his three heads eagerly pushing forward to enjoy Kyle's skilled petting.
That is, until Fluffy noticed Newt standing behind them.
In an instant, Fluffy's expression turned fierce again, but with Kyle's soothing words, he remained still.
"Don't be nervous, boy, we've met before, remember?"
Newt slowly walked forward, his hands open and palms facing Fluffy.
He gently placed his hand on Graves' nose and scratched each of his three chins.
With a few deft moves, Graves soon relaxed, his eyes half-closed in pleasure, and a soft purring sound emanated from his throat.
At that moment, there was a rustling noise from the bushes on the right.
Kyle initially thought it was the eight-eyed giant spiders coming their way, but when he turned to look, he realized it was something else entirely.
A pair of azure blue eyes gazed at them warily from the shadows, and in the moonlight, they could make out the lion-like body and the long, venomous tail with its stinger.
It was a Manticore.
Seeming to notice their presence, it stepped forward.
When Kyle looked its way, the Manticore immediately let out a deep, rumbling voice, "Humans, leave this place at once!"
However, before Kyle could respond, Graves took offense and leaped to his feet, all three heads roaring in unison at the Manticore.
Unfazed, the Manticore returned the roar with equal fervor.
"Manticores are renowned for their exceptional linguistic abilities," Newt explained. "When they were first discovered, due to their human-like heads and ability to speak, they were categorized as 'beings,' alongside centaurs, witches, and vampires."
"But over time, people realized that Manticores were too aggressive and difficult to communicate with, so in 1269, they were removed from the 'being' classification."
As Newt spoke, the argument between the Manticore and Graves escalated, and it became clear that they were not going to reach an agreement.
And so, the two hot-tempered creatures resorted to violence.
The surrounding trees suffered as they crashed into them, uprooting a large number and causing a deafening crash as they fell to the ground, momentarily drowning out their roars.
Normally, the Manticore would have had the advantage with its superior speed and venomous stinger, but due to its injured hind leg, it couldn't run fast. Within minutes, Graves had pinned it to the ground, its tail trapped under his massive paw.
"I concede, human!" the Manticore said, looking at Kyle and Newt. "I promise I won't harm you, now make this fool let me go."
Kyle raised an eyebrow, "This is what you call difficult to communicate with?"
"There are always exceptions," Newt said with a smile. "Not everyone has a three-headed dog by their side."
"That's true," Kyle agreed.
He walked over and patted Graves' tail, and the dog reluctantly released his hold.
The Manticore quickly scrambled to its feet and took a large step backward, keeping a safe distance from Graves as it glared at him.
"Fool..." it muttered, then addressed Kyle, "Human, you shouldn't be here."
"We mean you no harm," Newt said, stepping forward and raising his arms in a strange, almost comical manner, one arm higher than the other, one leg lifted slightly, and his body leaning forward. "Relax, we only wish to help you..."
Following Newt's lead, Kyle began to mimic the odd gestures.
Although it was a bit embarrassing, it seemed to work, as the Manticore's wariness diminished, and it made no move to stop them from approaching.
In truth, this wasn't the first time Kyle had found himself in such a situation, and yet he still found it quite extraordinary.
He couldn't fathom how Newt had managed to discover these peculiar gestures.
...
(End of Chapter)
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