Hogwarts: Lacus doesn't want to be a witch who destroys nations.

Chapter 95 A Visitor from Afar (9 chapters released since release)

In the morning, Lux, who had been fixing the fireplace for several days, wanted to contact Hogwarts through the Floo Network. As soon as she sprinkled Floo Powder into the fireplace, the flames went out with a "whoosh" and a plume of black smoke came out, making her cough.

Lux then tried using "Restore to Normal," but the fireplace only shook symbolically and then remained still.

Lux then believed that the Floo Network was not a simple physical structure, but a magical network system that required authorization and maintenance from the Ministry of Magic.

Forcibly connecting a fireplace to a suspected unregistered person in this desolate Soviet border village is no less difficult than getting Grindelwald to surrender.

"It's over, the FlooNet is unusable." Lux wailed, sitting on the ground looking at the fireplace with worry.

Lumi, squatting beside him munching on a biscuit, said, "Hey sis, how about we use Apparition to go back? Didn't you learn that?"

"You think I don't want to?" Lux rolled her eyes. This kind of intercontinental teleportation, which can easily span thousands of kilometers, is a huge challenge even for the most elite wizards. If she dared to try, the worst outcome would be that she would split into two parts somewhere.

"Door key?" That was also rejected. Making unauthorized door keys is a serious violation of the law, and she had no idea how to do it.

"Riding a broom?" Lux imagined herself riding a broken broom, braving the Siberian winds, flying across the entire European continent. Just thinking about it made her butt start to hurt.

"No way, not to mention where I'd find a broom that can travel long distances, by the time I get to London, I'll probably be a human popsicle."

"So—I'm trapped here?" Lux looked at the pile of useless wood in her hands and, for the first time in this world, felt truly physically unable to move an inch.

As Lux stared at the charred remains of the fireplace, now completely extinguished and emitting ominous black smoke, she felt as if her life itself had come to a standstill. She waved her wand in vain and cast "Restore" a few more times, but not a single spark flew from the fireplace.

"It's over, Lumi," she said, her face contorted with despair, plopping down on the cold stone floor. "We're probably going to be growing potatoes in Siberia until we're old and gray—do you think if I write to Dumbledore for help now, the owls will just fly over here and freeze into ice sculptures?"

Lumi poked her head out of the wicker basket and licked her paws: "Pop-pop—little sister, look on the bright side, at least there are plenty of potatoes here, we won't starve, and isn't this great, just like my hometown?"

Just as Lux was pondering whether she should have Lumi perform a "poro fire-making" demonstration to garner some warmth and hope,

The system minimap, which had been barely noticeable in the corner of her field of vision, suddenly flickered.

A yellow dot, representing a neutral unit, which had never appeared before, appeared without warning at the edge of the map and was moving steadily toward the cabin where she was.

"Huh?" Lux instantly became alert, sprang up from the ground, and went to the window, carefully peeking out through the frost-covered window frame.

The wind and snow continued, everything was white and there was no one in sight, but the system map didn't lie. She focused her mind, locked onto the point of light, and tried to check the information.

【Karl (Neutral Unit)】

[Level: 28]

Health Points: ???

[Magic Power: ???]

Status: Unknown

Lux's eyes widened instantly, and the Floo Powder bag in her hand fell to the ground with a "thud".

Level 28? What does that mean? Dumbledore's level in the system is also 28, which is on par with the most powerful wizards of our time.

Most Hogwarts professors are only between level 12 and 18, and very few wizards can break through the level 18 barrier. How could a monster comparable to Dumbledore suddenly appear in this desolate Siberian outskirts?!

Her heart pounded, and she almost held her breath as she watched the point of light representing "Karl" stop precisely at the doorway of her dilapidated wooden hut.

"Thump, thump, thump."

The knocking sounded, steady and rhythmic, even with a touch of polite restraint, completely out of place in the howling wind.

She tensed instantly, grabbing her wand with one hand and shoving Lumi into the wicker basket in her arms with the other, whispering, "Don't make a sound!"

Lumi immediately covered her mouth, revealing only her round blue eyes, which were nervously staring at the door panel.

Lux took a deep breath, quietly walked behind the door, and aimed her wand at the crack in the door. Although she knew it might not be useful in front of a level 28 archmage, it would at least buy her some time to react.

She cleared her throat, trying to make her voice sound calm: "Who is it?"

"No offense intended. Is Mr. Anthony here? I came here following the information he left behind." A deep, magnetic male voice came from outside the door, with a touch of nonchalant laziness.

"I've heard there's a Mr. Anthony here who organized a Fire? I've come to join him."

Lux was utterly skeptical; why would she turn to Anthony?

With Anthony's level of education, having only graduated from magic school, he couldn't even teach a decent suit of armor, yet he managed to attract a level 28 expert?

What's even more strange is that the other person speaks fluent English, which is bizarrely out of place in this frozen land where Russian is the dominant language.

She hesitated for a moment, then released the illusion spell and flung open the door.

He wore a well-tailored, exquisitely crafted dark gray travel cloak, the hood slightly raised to reveal the lower half of his face. His eyes were now scrutinizing her and the fireplace behind her with just the right amount of curiosity.

"Good day," he nodded slightly, his gaze lingering for a moment on Lux's blonde hair, a fleeting, elusive smile seeming to flash in his eyes. "It seems I've come to the wrong place, or—at a bad time? I am Karl, a traveler, invited by Mr. Anthony. Has he left?"

Lux gripped her wand tightly, forcing a smile: "Anthony—he left long ago with the people of the Fireseer, heading to Finland, saying he wanted to find a more suitable place to develop."

As Lux spoke, she deliberately pointed in the opposite direction from where Vova and the others had left.

Carl raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes, but he didn't call it out: "Oh? You're gone? What a pity, I went out of my way to come here."

He paused, his gaze falling on the wand in Lux's hand. "You look nervous. I don't look like a good person."

""

"No, no!" Lux quickly waved her hand, trying to make her tone sound more natural.

"The main problem is that things haven't been peaceful lately."

Karl listened quietly, the faint smile on his face seeming to deepen slightly.

He nodded, as if accepting the explanation: "I see. It seems I've come at an inopportune time. Thank you for letting me know, young lady."

As he spoke, he seemed about to turn and leave.

Lak had just breathed a sigh of relief—

Just as Karl turned to his fullest extent, without warning, Lux felt a cold and immense will, like an invisible giant wave, crashing into her brain.

Capture the mind and seize thoughts!