Ex-Auror Manannán and the Tear of Ra

-Chapter Fourteen- Defence Against, The Dark Arts

Oliver's feet touched the soft, damp grass. He was eager to remove his shoes, he wanted to feel the ground directly. He saw nothing but tress in the distance. Standing alone, barefooted, in the middle of a large field, Oliver held his two wands in his hands. The sun had set a few hours ago and he was entirely alone in this remote field on the outskirts of the Bergmane estate. It had been nearly a week since they had obtained the Tear of Ra, and he was nowhere near deciphering the failings of Radoslav. He sensed Finikis was becoming impatient, and Jynx was constantly watching his work. Oliver needed more than anything to be away from it tonight. To be alone in the field. To be able to try and focus his mind and spirit.

Moonlight illuminated the night and Oliver could make out his surroundings. He held his two wands in his hands. His arms at his sides. The tips of the wands pointed outwards. His eyes were closed, his thoughts silenced, ultimate focus achieved. Then his inner voice spoke, Ignis Feritas.

A burning bright flame instantly ignited at the tip of the right-handed wand that contained the dragon heart string core. The flame spiralled and rumbled into a globe of fire. He lifted his right arm and threw the fiery ball into the air above him as he raised his left arm as well. The ball was the size of a bludger and rested still in the air as though it was caught in an invisible net projected from the wand in the left hand. Oliver tilted his head upwards and opened his eyes, taking in the blazing globe, the heat from it was intense and made his forehead tingle. He could start to feel the sensation of it burning him. The light was deep orange with hints of red, a concentrated magical fire that was resistant to many spells. The flames within desired heavily to take form, to scorch the ground around him, to race to the treeline and consume the lumber. Its craving was strong, it was more than a mere want to set a blaze to everything, it was an undeniable need. However, it was a will that Oliver hand contended with before, one that he could overcome. With his clarity and focus, it was a will he could dominate and control.

He moved his arms out from above him and held them straight, his posture that of a cross. The ball instantly split into two streams of fire that raced out in the directions of his arms. He then waved his hands as the fire stopped before it could reach the treeline. Moving his hands and arms with beautiful glides and graceful motions, the flames of the Fiendfyre began to take elegant strides in differing directions. The two streams gave form to other flows of fire that swirled from it, taking all manner of stunning and intricate shapes and patterns.

Oliver stood in the middles of the field, turning on the spot, continuing his sophisticated movements, like a display of a ballet routine. The fire around him continued to whirl within the night sky. Some flames desired so much to take a corporeal form, but Oliver was in complete control. He willed the flames to take the shape of small birds, that of swifts and swallows, as they flew around the incredibly ornate flaming pattern above him.

The Fiendfyre display spread out for nearly forty meters in the sky. The strands of fire rolled and burned within their design, not spreading, just ablaze. It was a truly splendid sight to behold. The fiery bird forms continued to soar above the design, swerving in and out of each other's flight path. They rose and looped in the air until the gently collided and formed a ball of fire directly above Oliver floating high at the centre of the design.

Sweat began to from at Oliver's brow, and a droplet formed the traced down his check and off his chin. The heat was intense and was the only feeling that was slightly distracting. However, the ex-Auror's focus remained steadfast. The spell and the control over that spell, wasn't just for a demonstration, it was a form of exercise, a form of meditation. The technique had been shown and taught to Oliver whilst at Mahoutokoro. He was taught how to exact such control, over what many believed to be a solely dark magic. It was designed to bring focus, and once obtained, could and should be conducted for hours. However, an image popped into his mind's eye. His enchanted eye within his golden snitch circled the tree line, and it had caught the glimpse of a silhouette of a man. Someone was watching him, and their presence had triggered his snitch.