SHADOWS OF SORROW [S.S]

23 - In the Shadow of her Beauty

This chapter requires for you to be aware of the last Keeper trial and how the story with Isidora ended. My words won't go into depth but only scratch the surface of San Bakar's trial and some added quests around it.

"Merlin, this is crazy..." Amaya whispered out of breath, her eyes fixed upon the Graphorn on the opposite side of the dark beach. It turned with a whack of its big tail that would knock anyone off their feet. The Lord of the Shore... The key to the last Pensieve of the Keepers, containing San Bakar's memories of Isidora. As the beast came to a halt, focusing on the witch, she knew she was faced with a choice. She could keep attacking him and hope for him to get weak enough to surrender but that was a rather unsafe bet. He was the Lord of the Shore after all, and thinking about how Hippogriffs required a certain etiquette in order to earn their trust, it might just be the same for this Graphorn. Just as much of an unsafe bet but Amaya was tired... Her magic felt like it was used up, drained from her body. So she fell upon her knees, hands raised in defense as the Graphorn charged for the witch, her wand tumbling upon the sand and palms facing the Beast to show him she was no threat. Her head lowered, eyes closed, tired of even hoping she wouldn't be run over. But the audible flare of nostrils made her look up, the Lord inspecting her up close with a spark of curiosity in his eyes that made Amaya stand up again, her upraised palms slowly lowering on the bridge of his nose as the Graphorn closed its eyes.

"I need your help..." A cue for the Beast to get down on his knees, motioning for the witch to get onto his back. She smiled, crawling up and grabbing onto the Lord of the Shore for support as he stood up, suddenly breaking out into a run with such a force it could probably knock down barriers and walls. The salty air of the eastern coast tinged with the smell of blood each time her and her guardian Graphorn passed through a Bandit Camp, stomping Loyalists, Poachers or Dark Wizards into the ground. The witch showed the beast the way back to Professor Fig and the entrance to San Bakar's trial, the old man impressed as they reached him. "I didn't expect that..." He whispered as the Lord stood upon the marked spot on the ground, a magical light surrounding them and shooting at the huge stone-doors within the cliff to open them. Carefully sliding off the Beast, Amaya took out her Beast-Bag, the magical device sucking in the Graphorn as if it was a butterfly. "Astounding... Sadly I can't accompany you inside, but I will meet you at the Map Chamber once you get back to Hogwarts." His hand found its way to her shoulder, a soft smile upon his lips. "I put a lot of faith in you Amaya. We already are so far ahead of Ranrok. But please don't put your life on the line in order to save others. Stay safe and come back to me in one piece."

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The memory of San Bakar killing Isidora still replayed vividly behind her eyes. That evil smile upon her lips and how she almost took down Rackham and Rookwood without even using all of her magic... She was truly powerful. At least it explained why the witch wasn't able to appear in her own portrait. Knowing the last spot of Ancient Magic Ranrok would try to get to was under this very school shocked Amaya as well as Professor Fig, the danger the students would be faced with probably beyond imagination. Tomorrow she would start sorting out a plan with Fig to secure the ancient magic beneath the castle before Ranrok could get to it. Considering how far ahead of the evil goblin they were, there was enough time to find a solution. When she went to the goblin mines with Amit and Lodgok they found out about the giant drill Ranrok and the Loyalists were trying to build, sabotaging the process. If they were lucky, they might have until the end of winter... But for now, she was going to enjoy the day, banishing the memories from that Pensieve.

The familiar screech of an owl echoed through the Great Hall as the Slytherins were tending to their lunch. "Gwendolyn!" Amaya exclaimed, smiling at the black owl that dropped onto her outstretched arm, a rather heavy bundle of letters as its luggage. Two weeks ago, she asked Professor Fig for some kind of Report Card about how she was doing in classes, without mentioning the wizards and witches and anything magical in particular. Fig just smiled at her back then, a three-page report in his hands the next day, ready to be sent to the Winchester's in the eastern outskirts of London. Amaya demanded for Gwendolyn to stay with the muggle family until they'd written back to her, almost able to see the shock on Peter's and Yvonne's face as the owl flew through their living room. Gwen brought her three letters, meaning each of them actually wrote back to her, forcing a smile upon her lips as she took the bundle from the owl. "Thank you Gwinny. Go rest at the owlery now. You deserve it." Her hand caressed the dark feathers on the owl's back as it flapped its wings in satisfaction.