Chapter 685: Reflections in the Mirror, Moon in the Water
Chapter 685: Reflections in the Mirror, Moon in the Water
After causing a bit of a commotion in the Flower Sea, Luna ran over to the Zongxian Tree, tilting her head back to gaze up at it, muttering to herself.
"Zongxian really does exist... and so does the Zongxian Tree. If I told them, they wouldn't believe it!"
"How did you find this place, Ivan? This is amazing!" Luna turned her head, her usual cold and dazed demeanor replaced by a visible excitement.
"I often come here; I found it by chance..." Ivan fibbed, feeling a bit uneasy. He knew that Luna's joy was far more intense than he had anticipated, and the young witch seemed to be fully immersed in this fantastical world.
However, Ivan was all too aware that this fairy-tale scene was nothing but an illusion.
When the happiness brought by lies is shattered by cold reality, the disappointment can be even greater.
Luna didn't doubt Ivan's words for a moment. She then turned her attention to the dark, deep hole at the base of the Zongxian Tree, where only a few Lumos faintly glowed.
"This must be the home of the Crumple-Horned Snorkack, right?" Luna asked curiously.
Ivan nodded. Although it was originally intended for spiders and Basilisks, he had tidied it up a bit, making it the only place spacious and quiet enough.
They stood at the entrance of the cave, waiting. Soon, a tall, robust creature with a pair of large, curved horns slowly emerged from the darkness. Its silver fur shimmered under the moonlight, creating a striking image.
It stood over two meters tall, with a peculiar appearance that was part deer and part cow, its hooves resembling those of a bull. Its amber eyes carefully examined the two figures before it.
"Wow, it really is a Crumple-Horned Snorkack!" Luna exclaimed, cautiously approaching the creature. She reached out and gently wrapped her arms around its neck, rubbing the soft silver fur.
The large creature didn't shy away from her affection, standing still and allowing her to pet it.
"Do you want to try riding it?" Ivan asked with a smile.
"Can I?" Luna asked excitedly.
"Of course!" Ivan stepped forward to help Luna mount the Crumple-Horned Snorkack. Initially, he was worried she might fall off and considered riding with her, but Luna quickly adapted, gripping the creature's horns and sitting securely.
With that, Ivan decided to let her enjoy the ride, watching as she happily guided the silver giant around the Flower Sea.
As the waning moon hung high in the sky and the Transfiguration Spell's magic began to fade, Ivan called out to the playful Luna.
"It's very late; we should head back!"
Luna looked reluctant but nodded, jumping down from the Crumple-Horned Snorkack and saying her goodbyes to the creature and the Zongxians.
The two of them retraced their steps out of the Forbidden Forest. Along the way, Luna hummed a mysterious tune, her mood light and cheerful. Ivan, however, hesitated, wanting to say something but holding back. Before he knew it, they were approaching the castle gates.
As they passed through the entrance hall, Ivan stopped and turned to the young witch beside him, speaking with a hint of regret.
"I'm sorry, Luna..."
Although it was cruel, Ivan decided to reveal the truth. He couldn't maintain the Transfiguration Spell for much longer; one night was his limit.
"Why are you apologizing to me?" Luna looked at Ivan in confusion, then gazed toward the Forbidden Forest, saying softly, "The Zongxian Tree is beautiful, and the Crumple-Horned Snorkack is wonderful..."
"Yes, but they..." Ivan began to explain, but Luna cut him off.
"They only stay in the Forbidden Forest for one night, right?" the young witch said lightly.
"You figured it out?" Ivan was a bit surprised. He thought his Transfiguration skills were quite advanced and shouldn't have been so easily discerned.
Luna blinked but didn't answer Ivan's question.
Ivan didn't plan to press further. Since he had been discovered, there was no point in hiding it. He immediately took a transparent jar from his pocket and showed it to the young witch.
Luna could clearly see a Crumple-Horned Snorkack inside, no bigger than half a palm, looking like a miniature version of the one in the Forbidden Forest.
"Is it a baby Crumple-Horned Snorkack?" Luna asked curiously.
"No, it's a real Crumple-Horned Snorkack!" Ivan shook his head and said solemnly.
To help Luna understand the meaning of "real", Ivan unscrewed the jar and used his fingers to lift the Crumple-Horned Snorkack out.
The poor little creature was probably terrified, thinking another demon was about to torment it, and let out a series of pitiful wails.
But this time, Ivan wasn't there to conduct an experiment. He simply waved his wand.
"Finite Incantatem~ (Finite Incantatum)"
A bright white light flashed, and the Crumple-Horned Snorkack remained the same, looking at the two with its pitiful, innocent eyes.
Luna, of course, understood the significance of the spell Ivan had cast. It meant that the creature in front of her was a real, living Crumple-Horned Snorkack!
The young witch's eyes sparkled as she stared at the strange creature, entranced. It wasn't until Ivan handed the Crumple-Horned Snorkack to her that she snapped out of her reverie and took the little creature into her hands.
"You really found it!" Luna exclaimed, delighted.
In her palm, the restless Crumple-Horned Snorkack was using its curved horns to struggle against Luna's fingers. Unlike the docile one in the Forbidden Forest, this one was quite temperamental.
But Luna didn't mind. She tried her best to soothe the Crumple-Horned Snorkack, then looked up at Ivan with misty blue eyes, her voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you for finding the Crumple-Horned Snorkack for me, and for showing me the Zongxian Tree and the Zongxian... They are exactly as I imagined..."
"We are friends, aren't we?" Ivan said earnestly. "And to be honest, I should be the one thanking you..."
He had heard from Hermione about what had happened that day. If not for Luna's help, he and Hermione might have taken much longer to resolve their issues.
Not to mention, over the years, the young witch had helped him many times. Solving the mystery of the Chamber and cracking the Parseltongue clue, Luna had played a significant role in those achievements.
Ivan remembered all the help she had given him, and he had long wanted to prepare a gift for her. He just hadn't found the right opportunity until today...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
