Chapter 465: Fire
Chapter 465: Fire
"You all have the ability to draw Runic Script without the constraints of the Runic Script cards... but this is just the first step. You need to grasp the magical imagery of Ancient Runes, and that is no easy task. Unless—" Felix Hep gazed at the twenty or so people in front of him, "we take a more radical approach."
"Mr. Hep, what you mean is—" Kingsley Shacklebolt spoke up on behalf of the others.
"Take a risk, show courage... you need to deeply feel it", Felix said solemnly. From a dozen feet away, the wand in his hand sliced through the air like a sword, accompanied by a soft "whoosh." A vivid, orange-red fire rose from behind him, twisting into a long fire serpent.
Kingsley Shacklebolt's eyes widened, and he quickly took two steps back. The other Aurors and Strikers also drew their wands, pointing them at the towering fire serpent and Felix Hep, who stood calmly to the side. His wand had vanished into his sleeve.
The crowd gradually calmed down. Tonks looked in amazement at the Basilisk made of fire before her. It was about a hundred feet tall, its long, fiery body burning intensely with each scale.
She took two steps forward, and Kingsley Shacklebolt called out from behind, "Tonks!" The fire serpent hissed silently and then plunged downward with a loud "thud", its shape dissipating and leaving a straight path of fire on the ground. The path was about six or seven feet wide, and the snake's head had fallen right in front of Tonks. Its tail extended backward, enveloping Felix, making his figure appear and disappear in the flames.
"Ladies and gentlemen, cross the fire and feel the power of the fire Runic Script with me."
Felix stood in the fire and spoke.
The Aurors were stunned. Kingsley Shacklebolt frowned and slowly asked, "Mr. Hep, is this some kind of illusion?" Felix didn't respond, perhaps not wanting to explain, or perhaps his mere presence there was enough to convey the answer.
Tonks took a step forward.
"Wait, Tonks—" Kingsley Shacklebolt immediately said, feeling the situation becoming tricky. Neither he, Scrimgeour, nor the Minister of Magic could control everything, especially when dealing with individuals who had already demonstrated immense power. Their actions were unpredictable.
His role was to handle these "incidents."
Tonks glanced back at Kingsley Shacklebolt, then at Felix, who stood silently in the fire. He was slightly tilted to one side, quietly observing her and the others with a curious, investigative gaze, as if deeply interested in their choices.
She began to feel excited.
"I won't be harmed", Tonks said with certainty. She took another step, now just a foot away from the fire. The intense heat of the Incendio burned, creating waves of hot air, and she could smell the scent of singed hair. She hesitated, her resolve wavering, and she couldn't help but look at the man in the fire.
"I won't harm anyone unless provoked", he told her.
Her heart raced as she felt everyone's eyes on her. Tonks closed her eyes and stepped into the fire. There was no searing pain as she had expected. Instead, she felt a warm, comforting sensation. Around her, people gasped in surprise. She opened her eyes, and the fire looked different to her.
She saw the fire Runic Script. They were like spirits, burning and dancing, transforming between the fiery red Runic Script symbols and the flames. Felix's right hand glowed faintly, and tendrils of fire emerged from his arm, each Runic Script symbol merging with them...
Tonks stood there, mesmerized. Felix gently reminded her, "Feel the emotion of the fire, feel the power of the Runic Script."
Tonks extended her palm, and a bright, vibrant fire leaped onto her hand. Her arm trembled slightly, but she didn't pull away. The fire clung to her hand, dancing in her palm before transforming into a shimmering Runic Script.
A wave of joy surged through her, and she immediately knew what to do next. She called for more Runic Scripts in her mind, and soon, tendrils of fire surrounded her, forming a tightly sealed fire cocoon.
"This is—" Kingsley Shacklebolt widened his eyes. Trusting Dumbledore, he had been the second to step in. The fire did not harm him; it gently brushed past his robes. More people stepped into the fire, and they remained unharmed, now curiously observing the bright flames around them.
Their faces were filled with disbelief.
Is this an illusion? Kingsley Shacklebolt thought. Suddenly, a scream came from behind him. "Yaxley!" someone shouted. Kingsley Shacklebolt turned around sharply. Yaxley had stepped back from the fire, seemingly suffering great pain. Although there was no sign of burning on his skin, his clothes were smoldering heavily.
Yaxley sat on the ground, his face twisted with fear and anger. "What did you do!" he shouted.
"This only proves that you haven't been screened", Felix said calmly. "Did you really think I would hand over the power without any restrictions?"
"Mr. Hep", Kingsley Shacklebolt said with a headache, "our agreement didn't mention this. You should have told us if you had any requirements."
"I didn't think it would be an obstacle", Felix said lightly. "Those who harbor malice toward Ancient Runes naturally won't be recognized by Runic Scripts. You should have been prepared for this."
"You mean Yaxley—"
Kingsley Shacklebolt hesitated, looking at Yaxley, who was sitting on the ground in pain. A wave of turmoil surged within him.
"Perhaps I should have a chat with Mr. Yaxley. There might be a misunderstanding", Felix said with a slight smile, remembering Yaxley's name.
"There is no misunderstanding", Yaxley said through gritted teeth as he stood up. "I simply don't like Ancient Runes! Sorry, Kingsley Shacklebolt—looks like I shouldn't be here." He limped away.
Kingsley Shacklebolt hesitated for a moment. "Sorry, Mr. Hep, I need to check on him—"
"He won't have any physical issues."
"I don't doubt that", Kingsley Shacklebolt said in a serious tone, "but—" He paused and turned to the others. "Don't let Yaxley affect you. I'll go check on him." He walked out of the fire corridor, heading toward the door.
Felix spoke calmly, reassuring the puzzled Aurors and Strikers. "The principle of this magic is simple... I amplified the emotional resonance of the fire Runic Script, allowing you to better feel the magical imagery of the Runic Scripts. However, inevitably, the Runic Scripts were infused with my own will, and anyone whose emotions conflict with this will be repelled..."
A few moments later, Kingsley Shacklebolt returned with a light step.
"The Healer said there's nothing serious, just a shock. Scrimgeour has given him two days off", he told the group. They breathed a sigh of relief, feeling sorry for Yaxley. More fire cocoons appeared, with tendrils of fire merging into them.
Felix nodded, looking at the hesitant Kingsley Shacklebolt. "Is there anything else?"
"Scrimgeour wants to invite you to lunch."
(End of Chapter)
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