Chapter 140. The Unicorn's Magical Ability
"I didn't expect you lot to be so resilient."
Duncan looked at the wizards who had survived the lightning strikes and spoke as if in praise.
"What, is that all you can do?" Olais panted, his hand trembling as he spoke.
"Of course not," Duncan said evenly. "Otherwise, how would I dare stand here, facing so many of you alone?"
At that, Olais's face changed drastically. Fear flashed in his eyes as he hastily raised his wand; the magic Duncan had just used had terrified him.
But before the incantation left his mouth, a dark shape flashed out from behind Duncan. Cold light gleamed, and his arm was severed.
A towering stone statue stood before Olais, its longsword held level. Blood slid slowly down the blade.
Olais came back to himself, clutched his mangled arm, and fell to his knees with a howl of pain.
Irritated by the noise, Duncan waved his hand. "Finish them quickly."
"Yes," the swordsman statue rumbled, and its blade swept out again.
Olais was utterly terrified. "Bob, aren't you going to do something? Are you really going to watch him kill me?"
"Got it." Bob's eyes turned icy as he looked at Duncan. He was clearly in far better condition than Olais.
"Don't worry," Duncan said. "I know you're stronger than he is, so I've prepared you a stronger opponent."
At the same time, a stone statue with a stern face and a massive build stepped out from behind Duncan. Armoured and cloaked, its red cloak was darkened by the rain to an even more chilling crimson. A dreadful aura poured off it, making the wizards present quake in their boots.
A bad premonition surged up in Bob's heart. He whipped his wand, intent on killing Duncan quickly so he could turn his full attention to the statue.
But the hero statue moved faster than he expected. Its right foot slammed into the ground, muddy water spraying skyward, and its whole body leapt up. In an instant it was in front of Bob. A stewpot-sized fist punched forward, shattering the oncoming spell, and a second blow smashed into Bob's skull.
It was like hitting a block of tofu; the hero statue barely slowed, and in the blink of an eye Bob's head was pulped.
Then the Erumpent and the Kelpie charged in from the flanks. Chased all over by these wizards earlier, they had been stewing in anger. Now that it was their turn to take revenge, they naturally held nothing back, bellowing as they ran flat-out, terrified of being a step slower than the others and having their prey snatched away.
Terror was written across the wizards' faces. They completely lost the will to fight and turned to flee in panic.
But how could their speed compare to four-legged beasts? Even wizards attempting Apparition failed to get away.
All were skewered by the Erumpent's horn or torn apart by the Kelpie's clawed strikes, then crushed underfoot until wizard and mud were indistinguishable.
Once nearly all the wizards on the field had been slaughtered, Duncan hurried to check Olivia's condition.
Olivia was lying quietly within the protective shell Duncan had formed for her. Her face was deathly pale, and even her eyes seemed unfocused.
"Hold on. I haven't rescued your sister yet." Duncan took out several healing potions and held them to Olivia's lips.
At his words, a hint of colour returned to Olivia's eyes. She swallowed the potion that trickled down, albeit very slowly.
By the time Duncan had emptied two vials, a touch of colour had returned to Olivia's face, and her life was no longer in immediate danger.
Duncan let out a breath, sank the earth around Olivia back into the ground, and gently levitated her into the case.
To be honest, she had given him quite a fright when he first saw her; he had thought she was going to die.
Fortunately, Olivia had held on through sheer stubborn will, refusing to follow in Death's footsteps.
With his heart finally settling, Duncan looked up. The wizards were all dealt with, and the three beasts came trotting back, light-footed.
"We've finished off those nasty wizards, Duncan!" the three vied to report.
"I took down four!"
"I got five!"
"Enough—neither of you has as many as me. I've got eight!"
Mori the Kelpie shouldered aside Ari and Charlie the Erumpents, lifting his head with great pride and confidence.
Duncan rolled his eyes. Even counting the wizards cut down by the two statues, to reach the numbers the trio were boasting, they'd have to chop the bodies into several pieces.
"You three stand guard out here for a bit. I'm going in to check on Olivia." With that, Duncan flipped into the case.
Olivia lay on the worktable, a soft mattress beneath her. She looked much better than before.
Pro the Niffler and Pickett the Bowtruckle crouched nearby, craning their necks to peer, worry written across their faces.
"How do you feel?" Duncan bent down and asked with concern, sweeping his wand to clean the grime from Olivia's body.
Then he wrapped those vicious-looking wounds with bandages infused with potion.
"Much better." Olivia managed a strained smile. "Those potions of yours really work. Where did you buy them?"
"I've no idea," Duncan said lightly. "I nicked them from my granddad ages ago. When we leave, I can give you some. He's rich—he won't miss it."
"Deal. Don't go back on your word," Olivia said with a smile, coughing twice with difficulty.
"Of course not." Duncan nodded. "Rest here for a bit. I'll go check how things are in the ravine."
"Alright," Olivia answered softly. She wanted very much to get up and help Duncan, but her body simply wouldn't allow it.
Duncan told Pro to look after Olivia, then turned to leave—only for someone to call his name from behind.
The Unicorn Bonnie and her foal, Gale, came in one after the other. Gale's big eyes blinked as it looked around the workshop, then locked onto Duncan. It skipped over to him in delight and rubbed against his leg.
Bonnie gave a discreet cough, reining Gale in a little, then said, "Duncan, I hear your friend is badly injured?"
"Mm. Her—she was hit by several wizards' spells."
Duncan nodded, puzzled as to why Bonnie had suddenly asked.
"Perhaps I can help," Bonnie said seriously. "But you—and your friend—must keep it secret for me."
"Of course. We keep our mouths shut. What do you want to do?" Duncan replied.
Bonnie nodded, then turned to the little Unicorn still capering by Duncan. "Gale, come here. Help her."
"Oh!" Gale chimed, hopping to the table. Facing Olivia, it closed its eyes.
Moments later, under Duncan's astonished gaze, a milky-white radiance like moonlight spilled from Gale's body and flowed slowly into Olivia. The wounds on her body began to knit with astonishing speed.
"In our herd, some gifted Unicorns can awaken this marvellous healing ability," Bonnie explained to Duncan. "It's one reason so many creatures of the forest rally to us. But we have never used it before humans, because humans are too greedy. If they knew we could work healing magic, our situation would be far more dangerous. You are an exception, Duncan. We trust you."
Duncan nodded gravely. "You have my word. I will not betray your trust. Only Olivia and I will know of this."
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