Chapter 545: The Hippocampus Knight
Chapter 545: The Hippocampus Knight
"We've lost over a dozen warriors since we found it," the Merpeople chief said gravely. "If you can help us get rid of this monster, you will be a friend to our tribe."
"No problem, leave it to me," Kyle said as he swam towards the hippocampus.
Under constant attack from the merpeople, the hippocampus was indeed driven mad. It struggled violently, trying to transform into different shapes to break free from the ropes.
The hippocampus was like a Magizoological Chimerabeast, able to change its form at will.
However, the merpeople seemed to have learned from past encounters, always ready to add another rope the instant it transformed.
Kyle had intended to try and calm the hippocampus, but it was currently too agitated to listen. As soon as it saw Kyle, it snapped at him.
Kyle was not surprised by this reaction, and he had several solutions in mind.
However, they all required time, and the one-hour deadline was fast approaching. He did not want to waste any more time here.
So, Kyle chose the simplest and most direct approach.
He extended his wand, and a small, golden-red fish made of flames drilled out from its tip.
In an instant, the once-cold lake water began to heat up rapidly, causing the merpeople to scream and flee. Kyle waved his wand again, and the fiery fish disappeared.
The Blasting Curse—Kyle had become quite proficient at it. As he was also in the lake, he deliberately minimized the power of the curse to avoid any unintended consequences.
Even so, the effect was evident.
First, the frigid lake water became noticeably warmer, like a soothing hot spring.
Additionally, the hippocampus calmed down, standing still and gazing at Kyle with eyes that had lost their crazed gleam, now clear and bright.
"It would have been better if you'd done this earlier," Kyle said softly as he swam next to the hippocampus. "Don't be alarmed; I'm here to rescue you... Come with me; those merpeople won't attack you again."
He untied the ropes binding the hippocampus and climbed onto its back.
The hippocampus remained quiet throughout.
Kyle naturally grabbed onto the broad-leaved cattails on its body and pointed forward.
"Go that way, and make it quick. I'm in a bit of a hurry."
Upon realizing that the ropes binding it were gone, the hippocampus looked back at the approaching merpeople, neighed, and then surged forward.
Compared to swimming on his own, the hippocampus's speed was on a whole other level... Kyle felt like he was riding an underwater broomstick, the stream warping the bubbles above his head.
Whether it was Grindylows or other creatures, they were all left far behind. All Kyle had to do was hold on tight to the hippocampus to avoid falling off.
In less than five minutes, Kyle faintly heard singing.
"The hour is almost up...
How much longer will you delay...
Come and reclaim what we took from you."
Kyle patted the hippocampus and swam in the direction of the singing.
Soon, he arrived at a rock pillar with a depiction of a mermaid in the middle of the Black Lake.
This seemed to be the tribe of the merpeople, as there were stone cottages surrounded by gardens and some with Grindylows tied to their doors.
Upon seeing Kyle, the merpeople excitedly surged forward from all directions, slapping the water with their sturdy silver fishtails as if to intimidate him.
And then... they saw the hippocampus beneath him.
The melodious singing turned into ear-piercing screams. Those closest to him scattered, screaming for their weapons.
"How did this monster get back here...?"
"Run! The chief has been eaten..."
"Get the weapons, quick!"
Chaos ensued, and it was clear that the merpeople, as water creatures, had a natural fear of the hippocampus.
However, this turned out to be convenient for Kyle, and he didn't bother to explain. Instead, he made his way to a stone statue of a mermaid.
Tied to the statue's tail were three people.
He didn't recognize the one on the far left, but from the clothes he wore, he seemed to be from Durmstrang.
On the far right was Connor, who had not been seen since Professor McGonagall had called her away last night.
The three of them seemed to be sleeping soundly, their heads lolling helplessly on their shoulders as bubbles continuously escaped from their mouths.
They were bound to the statue by three large circular locks, positioned in such a way that they could only be freed if all the locks were opened.
Kyle didn't have the keys, but his wand would suffice.
As he extended his wand-wielding hand, the hippocampus beneath him suddenly fidgeted anxiously, as if it recognized the wand and wanted to flee.
Kyle quickly reassured it, "Don't worry... it's alright..."
Though still a bit uneasy, the hippocampus calmed down significantly.
Kyle raised his hand once more.
"Sectumsempra."
An invisible gust of wind seemed to slice through the lake water and the locks, cutting them cleanly in half.
Kyle lifted Connor onto the hippocampus and then used the same method to rescue Gabrielle.
Alright, that should do it...
Kyle turned to look behind him, where a large group of merpeople were charging towards them with spears in hand. He patted the hippocampus' neck.
...
On the stands by the shore of the Black Lake, everyone was quietly grumbling.
An hour ago, they had been excited, anticipating an intriguing competition. Now, they were left standing in the cold wind by the lake, having witnessed nothing.
"Who even came up with this second task?" Fred complained as he idly fiddled with the threads of the flag, muttering, "First the Forbidden Forest, now the lake bottom. We can't see anything from here."
"Why didn't Dumbledore just remove the ceiling from the Great Hall and bring it here?"
George chimed in, "That ceiling is enchanted to display the weather outside, so it should be able to show what's happening in the lake, right?"
"Who knows," Fred sighed. "The headmaster is being stingy. I really want to know how Kyle is doing right now."
"He should be close," Cedric said, checking the time. "There are just a few minutes left until the hour is up. I believe in Kyle; he'll complete the task within the time limit."
"I believe in him, too, but what's the point if we can't..."
George's sentence trailed off as he rubbed his eyes, unable to believe what he was seeing. He turned toward the lake.
Merlin's beard, he thought he saw a horse surging out of the Black Lake, but this was the lake, not the grounds outside the Forbidden Forest...
Even more astonishing was the sight of Kyle sitting atop the horse, like a valiant knight, having leaped onto the lake's surface.
George felt his brain short-circuit, but he still reflexively joined the surrounding crowd in applauding.
"That's a hippocampus!" Cedric exclaimed beside him. "Their speed underwater is comparable to that of a Flying Broom. I never expected to find such a magical creature in the Black Lake."
The stands erupted in a cacophony of voices as people stood up, shouting and cheering. Even the judges were clapping, though it was uncertain if one of them was being sincere or not.
On the other side, as soon as Kyle left the lake, the unconscious Connor woke up, blinking in the bright sunlight.
"I knew you could do it," she said, looking at Kyle.
"I admit, your insight is impressive," Kyle smiled. "And we're the first ones out, too."
Connor smiled back, but her expression soon turned serious as she asked, "What about Fleur? And Gabrielle? She's so young; the professors shouldn't have arranged for her to go into the lake."
"I don't know about Fleur, but Gabrielle is fine..." Kyle sidestepped, allowing Connor to see Gabrielle lying on the hippocampus' back.
The little girl woke up, spitting out a mouthful of lake water as she dazedly took in her surroundings, clearly not yet comprehending what had transpired.
At that moment, Connor also noticed something amiss. She seemed to be sitting on a large bundle of moving seaweed.
"What is this?"
"It's a hippocampus that I rescued from the Black Lake," Kyle explained. "In return, it kindly offered to give us a ride."
...
(End of Chapter)
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