Chapter 659: Tree Guardian
Tonight, Luna wore a pair of earrings crafted from thornblossom flowers—pale yellow petals curled gently, clustering beneath her earlobes. The faint scent drew a nightlight firefly, which settled silently on a petal. Its tail pulsed with a soft, warm glow, like a tiny lantern lit in the dark.
In the dim light, the girl’s profile appeared delicate and gentle—almost as if she had stepped out of a fairy tale, a woodland sprite made real.
Rolf was instantly captivated. Dazed, he murmured, “Yes… you’re absolutely right.”
Only then did he realize Luna hadn’t been speaking to him.
He blinked, turning his gaze just a beat too late—and there, emerging from behind a haystack, was Wade, his disguise charm lifted.
“What are you two doing out here at this hour?” Wade asked, taking the initiative.
“We’re looking for Citzzi Beetles,” Luna said cheerfully. She held up a glass jar, showing a slender twig inside, where several golden beetles lay motionless.
“Citzzi Beetles?” Wade had never seen such small insects before. What struck him even more was the faint trace of magic shimmering across their tiny bodies—so weak it was barely detectable, like the faintest hint of flavor from a bit-bit flavor bean.
“Citzzi Beetles usually hang around the habitats of Sigil Horses,” Rolf said, suddenly animated. “Sometimes you’ll find them in ancient cemeteries or abandoned castles.”
He launched into a detailed explanation: “They feed on the oils and impurities secreted by Sigil Horses, and they’re preyed upon by even smaller insects. But more importantly, they’re one of the Tree Guardians’ favorite snacks.”
Wade understood. “You’re helping the Tree Guardians find food?”
“Exactly,” Luna said, frowning slightly. “My friend Aelo hasn’t been feeling well lately. I think he needs a change in diet—something to cheer him up.”
“I said we could come out at night,” Rolf added. “Ajel’s been sluggish too.”
“Sigil Horses aren’t exactly friendly,” Wade warned. “And if Beauxbatons students catch you, you’ll be in trouble.”
He raised his wand. “I’ll help. Once we’ve gathered enough beetles, you two get back to the castle.”
Rolf nodded eagerly, pulling Luna toward Wade. His amber eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Wade flicked his wand.
“Citzzi Beetles, come!”
Though the Accio charm typically worked only on inanimate objects, magical creatures like beetles, frogs, and nosedogs rarely resisted a summoning.
Instantly, dozens of golden beetles burst from the corners of the stable, from beneath the hay, even from the back of the Sigil Horse itself—plummeting down in a shower of fluttering wings, as if a beetle storm had fallen.
“Enough, enough!” Luna waved her hands, busy. “We don’t need that many.”
She and Rolf knelt, scooping up a few beetles each and slipping them into the jar. The rest, dazed, scurried away in a flash, drawn back by scent toward the stable.
“Let’s go,” Luna said, smiling at Rolf. “We’ll feed them to Aelo, then head back.”
“Good!” Rolf grinned. “I promise—once he eats, he’ll perk right up.”
…
Tree Guardians lived in the maze’s hedges, serving as companions to students during the Maze Game. Theoretically, a student’s Tree Guardian was chosen at random. But despite their small size, these creatures had strong personalities—distinct and fierce.
They’d cling to a student they liked, refusing to let go. But if they disliked someone? They’d ignore them entirely.
Aelo and Ajel were two such guardians. As the group approached the hedge wall, a small Tree Guardian appeared as if waiting—its slender fingers darting out to hook onto Rolf’s scarf and pull it onto his shoulder.
“Ajel!” Rolf beamed. “Guess what I brought?”
He pulled out the jar. The green guardian leapt forward, yanking off the cork with surprising strength, then tossed it aside. With one long, twig-like arm, it plunged into the jar, grabbing a beetle and pressing it to its mouth, sucking greedily at its juices.
Rolf held his arm out, offering the jar as a convenient platform for his friend’s meal.
But when they found Aelo, the little guardian showed no sign of improvement.
It huddled on a brittle, yellowed branch, its green skin dull and dry—like bark stripped of moisture. Only the occasional twitch of its tiny claw proved it was still alive. The golden beetles lay beside it, untouched. It shifted slightly, letting out a long, weary sigh.
“It’s worse than last time,” Luna said quietly to Wade. Then, gently cradling the guardian in her hands, she whispered, “Oh, my dear love… did you eat something you shouldn’t have? Were you drained by a Bendy-Necked Snorebeast? Or are you ill? Rolf… can Madam Pomfrey help Aelo?”
“Unlikely,” Rolf said, peering closely. He lifted one of Aelo’s claws—it drooped limply back into Luna’s palm. “This kind of condition… I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ll have to send it to my grandfather. He might know what to do.”
“Wait,” Wade said. “Let me see it.”
Luna carefully placed the Tree Guardian in Wade’s open palm. He studied it intently, muttering an obscure incantation under his breath.
Rolf watched him—his eyes gleamed with the same quiet intensity Wade had worn when casting a spell before Dumbledore.
After a moment, Wade looked up.
“It’s been touched by dark magic.”
“Dark magic?” Luna and Rolf said in unison.
Wade didn’t explain. Instead, he pointed his wand at the creature’s palm and whispered a universal dispelling charm.
The little guardian wasn’t cursed—only tainted by a bad aura, a victim caught in the crossfire.
Minutes passed. The creature stirred slightly, lifting its head. Its leaves trembled, and a soft, muffled sound escaped its mouth.
Luna leaned in. “Are you trying to tell us something?”
Aelo: “Gurgle… gurgle… kikikikik… gurgle.”
Luna stared, unblinking, trying to decipher. But Wade, watching her expressionless face, had a sinking feeling.
Fortunately, another creature could understand.
Ajel, who had been crunching on beetle wings like a snack, suddenly froze. It lifted its head, ears perked, utterly still—only its leaf trembling slightly.
Then, with a burst of excitement, it lunged forward, gripping Rolf’s collar with its slender claw. Its eyes widened, and it chattered urgently—“Kikikikik!”—as if desperate to convey something.
“Wait, wait—calm down!” Rolf said, flustered. “I’m not my grandfather. I can’t understand you instantly!”
Ajel released him, leapt onto the nearby hedge, and turned, waving a claw toward the others.
The message was clear.
They followed, walking along the maze’s outer wall for several minutes, until Ajel pointed sharply at a dense thicket of bushes, letting out a sharp hiss.
“What’s there?” Luna asked, stepping forward.
“Wait!” Wade held her back. “Don’t go rushing in. You don’t know what’s in there.”
“Be careful,” Rolf said, translating Ajel’s frantic signals. “It says… danger… stinks… something nasty…”
As he spoke, Wade waved his wand and murmured, “Portkey Charm.”
The bush trembled. Roots loosened. An invisible force gently pulled it aside.
To his surprise, it was far easier than expected—like the bush had only recently been moved, its roots never fully settled into the soil.
The moment the earth was exposed, a chill crept up Wade’s spine. The air grew thick with decay. The stench was overwhelming—so strong that Rolf’s Tree Guardian bolted, fleeing into the night.
The clouds parted slowly. Moonlight poured down from the sky, illuminating the hollow beneath.
And there, in the dirt, lay a skeleton—pale and still, bones gleaming under the silver light.
(End of Chapter)
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