Chapter 592: Aren't You Departing?
Cold stone walls wept droplets of water. Plip. One fell onto Viktor Krum’s shoulder, a sudden chill against his skin. He turned his head sharply, glancing back—just a single drop from the ceiling. He dismissed it.
Silent, he moved through the dark underground tunnel. His wand tip glowed faintly, casting a narrow beam that illuminated the narrow passage ahead.
Many assumed Durmstrang students were exactly as their reputation suggested—cunning, ruthless, willing to sacrifice lives, corrupt to the bone. Gellert Grindelwald’s crimes had only deepened that image.
And Viktor Krum’s appearance fit that stereotype perfectly: a pronounced eagle’s beak nose, sallow skin that gave him a weary, haggard look, and eyes that radiated cynicism—hardly the kind of face anyone would find likable.
Though he now had countless fans, a year ago, before Quidditch fame had made him a global name, Krum had endured relentless scorn simply for being from Durmstrang and for his cold, impassive expression. To others, he seemed like a madman ready to cast a Dark Curse and torment someone just for fun.
But beneath the surface, Viktor Krum was far more honest and upright than anyone gave him credit for.
He understood the Tournament’s implied message—that they were meant to compete against one another. Yet he chose to ignore it. His sole focus was clear: complete the goal. Find the Golden Egg and return with it.
He couldn’t steal from others. And he couldn’t let others take it from him.
So once inside the tunnel, he pressed forward without hesitation. Along the way, he encountered numerous carefully arranged magical traps. He even spotted chances to claim a Golden Egg—twice—but he didn’t act.
He was, frankly, a student with a narrow focus. Astronomy, Herbology, History of Magic, Prophecy, even Ancient Runes—none were his strengths. And the referees had specifically chosen questions based on British History of Magic and the International Confederation of Wizards. How could he possibly know these?
So he wisely skipped the ones he couldn’t handle. He defeated two attacking statues, a red-hatted one, and finally reached a test of Transfiguration.
Krum glanced down. Etched faintly into the ground beneath him were runes, glowing faintly red. A triggered binding spell. Step forward, and magic chains would wrap around his legs. Behind it, more danger likely waited—Potions, Stunning Spells, or worse.
Ahead, on the stone wall, dozens of fist-sized beetles scurried about. Their wings were dark gold—so vivid they looked like a swarm of Golden Eggs rolling across the wall.
The distance was just right. With his wand extended, he could almost touch one.
Krum knew the Golden Egg wasn’t necessarily hidden. It was protected by clever obstacles. Solving the puzzle was the key.
This time, it meant identifying the one beetle that had been magically transformed—then reversing the charm to reveal the real egg.
Or… even simpler: cast the deciphering spell on all of them. The true Golden Egg would stand out.
…
After some time, Krum held the Golden Egg in his palm. A deep breath of relief escaped him.
His luck hadn’t been good. He’d narrowed it down to just seven or eight beetles before finally finding the real one.
On the egg’s surface, a small inscription remained from the transformation: “Eyes that see beyond illusion are more precious than powerful magic.”
Ah…
Well…
Krum’s face flushed slightly. He’d failed to see through the illusion. Like a thief, he quickly stuffed the egg into his pocket.
As he turned, a voice echoed through the tunnel—
“Important announcement! Important announcement! All champions, please listen! At the end of the Tournament, each champion may hold only one Golden Egg! Those who possess more than one will be disqualified!”
The message was delivered in a serious tone. Then Bagman’s voice brightened again.
“Ah-ha! Remember, children—one Golden Egg is just right. Two? That’s trouble. More than that? Disaster! The Champion Trophy might just run away! Clever champions, give others a chance too!”
His words were met with laughter from the stands. Many wizards watching the live mirror exhaled quietly in relief.
But in the Chamber of Secrets, Krum couldn’t hear the crowd. He touched the egg in his pocket, frowning deeply.
He’d barely claimed his prize—only to hear a Ministry update. Of course, he understood. The rule was a warning. Don’t try to hoard them all.
Krum’s frown deepened. Again, he felt the sting of prejudice—this time, the same old bias against Durmstrang students. His expression darkened further. He dragged his feet toward the exit.
…
On the other side of the tunnel, Wade had also heard the announcement. He swayed his wand idly in one hand, a faint smile playing at the corner of his mouth.
At his feet, the scorpion puppet held out a pale yellow nut, trying to hand it to him.
There were countless nuts hidden in the tunnel. But for a magical construct like this—one with weak magic but far greater intelligence than most animals—it could sense the subtlest traces of magic. It had easily identified the true Golden Egg.
Nearby, three fallen champions lay unconscious: Yuri Ivanov of Kodostoriz, Le Pull Ben Pull Hid of Akatim, and Amina Jabri of Wagadoo.
Only Amina had been sent into the trap by Wade—using a Repelling Charm. Yuri had been wounded earlier, attacked by a cheetah form Amina had transformed into. Le Pull had fallen into a circular bog and was pulled out by an Auror, covered head to toe in mud.
The injured Yuri and Le Pull had been taken for treatment. Only Amina remained—left behind as a “decorative failure.”
But the other champions still had a chance. As long as they could escape their current predicament, they could still claim a Golden Egg.
Amina sat slumped against the wall, bound by thorn vines. The thorns carried a powerful paralyzing toxin. A single prick, and the poison would spread through the bloodstream, freezing the body in seconds.
She was conscious. But she couldn’t move a single finger. Only her eyes could roll, watching as Wade took the nut from the puppet, raised his wand, and whispered a spell.
In an instant, the nut transformed into a Golden Egg.
Amina’s eyes widened. Her paralyzed tongue struggled to form words.
“G-golden… egg?”
“Yep.” Wade held up the prize, showing it off casually. “That’s the Golden Egg.”
Amina stared at his relaxed demeanor, and with great effort, whispered:
“You… aren’t… departing?”
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
