Chapter 148. Newt, Furious
"Serves you right.
You brought this on yourself!"
Duncan tossed Pro to his two little underlings, squeezed out from the herd, and walked towards Olivia.
"I've got good news for you.
Those rotten wizards in the gorge have all been driven off!"
"And Professor Dumbledore is here too.
He and my grandad have already headed for that cavern!"
"I believe you'll be able to see your sister very soon.
Have you thought about what gift to give her when you reunite?"
"If you've no idea, my workshop's got lots of interesting gadgets.
I can lend you two later!"
Olivia's eyes widened bit by bit.
Her eyelids grew wet, and a delighted smile spread across her face.
After a brief moment, she bent at the waist and bowed deeply to Duncan, her long hair trailing to the ground.
Solemnly, she said, "Thank you.
Thank you!"
"If not for your help, I might never see my sister again in this life…"
"No need for that."
Duncan hurried to help Olivia up.
"I only did what I was able to do.
If you really want to give thanks, save it for my grandad.
If not for him, I wouldn't have come here either."
"Mm!"
Olivia nodded lightly, lifted a hand to wipe away the tears at the corners of her eyes, and answered with a little sob.
"For now, help me watch these animal balloons up there.
And calm yourself a bit while you're at it, then wait to meet your sister."
Duncan smiled and pointed at the sky, then said, "I need to go prepare some food.
With so many magical creatures, they're bound to eat a lot later."
"Mm-hm, all right!"
Olivia answered again and again, a smile blooming at her lips.
In her mind she was already picturing the scene of meeting her sister.
Duncan turned and headed for the workshop.
Pro came yelling after him, clawing frantically at Duncan's clothes to hook on and follow.
"Duncan, wait for me!
Kray's gone mad too—hurry and turn him into a balloon as well, let him float up there!"
"One Galleon and I'll help you."
Duncan held out his hand to Pro with a broad smile.
Pro pulled a look of utter disbelief and flatly said, "Absolutely not!
You might as well let Kray finish me off!"
"Right then!"
Duncan nodded quickly in agreement.
Before Pro could react, Duncan grabbed him and pitched him away.
"Kray, catch!"
Terror flashed in Pro's eyes as his limbs flailed in the air.
"Duncan, you heartless fellow—you're no friend of mine!"
"Thanks, Duncan, my good brother!"
Kray praised with satisfaction, catching Pro and taking him off to experience a roller coaster in the clouds.
Listening to the piercing screams behind him, Duncan stepped lightly back into the workshop, looked around, and found Newt's case.
He opened the case, jumped in, began hauling food from the cold store, and mixed it with potions that had a calming effect.
Once everything was ready, Duncan dragged his tired body out of the case and returned to the grassland where the animal balloons floated.
He glanced left and right and didn't see Olivia.
She'd left at some point without him noticing.
But Newt and Professor Kettleburn were there.
They were craning their necks to observe the condition of those creatures and discussing things with fervour.
"Grandad, Professor Kettleburn."
Duncan went up to greet them, then asked, "Is everything in the cavern settled?"
"Mm."
Newt nodded.
"By the time we got there, Dumbledore and the others had nearly finished dealing with it."
"And Olivia's sister?"
"Don't worry, she's fine—just a bit injured.
But with Snape there, he's helping regulate her condition."
"Oh, that's good."
Duncan nodded, though he faintly felt there was anger lurking in Newt's tone.
Newt was usually gentle and rarely showed such a volatile mood, so Duncan couldn't help wondering who had provoked him.
When Duncan asked, Newt sighed and said indignantly, "It's what those people did to Olivia's sister—far too much.
They're barely human!
They all ought to be sent to Azkaban to live with Dementors every day and never be let out!"
At the side, Professor Kettleburn's face also showed fury, as if he wanted to dash off that instant to drag those escaped wizards back.
"What exactly happened?"
Duncan frowned and asked.
"Go out and have a look."
Newt said, "Then you'll understand just how vile those wizards who walk in darkness are."
Duncan inclined his head slightly and turned to leave—but suddenly realised something.
It seemed two magical creatures were missing from the case.
He asked Newt about the Sphinx and the Occamy.
"Grandad, where have Mist and Sessi gone?"
"Blast it, I actually forgot them!"
Newt patted his forehead.
"They're probably still in the forest.
They helped us lure away some of the wizards at the time and got separated from us.
Duncan, go bring them back."
Newt took a feather from his pocket and handed it to Duncan.
"You can use this to find them.
Have you learnt that spell?"
"Mm-hm.
It was in the notes you gave me before.
You carry on—I'll head off first."
After saying goodbye to Newt and Professor Kettleburn, Duncan returned to the workshop and climbed the stairs out of the case.
They were still in the gorge at the moment.
He looked around and saw only Tina and a few younger wizards checking the area.
There was no sign of Dumbledore, Snape, the other professors, Olivia, or her sister.
"Grandma!"
Duncan used the Amplifying Charm to call to Tina in the distance.
"Where have Professor Dumbledore and the others gone?"
"They took the captives back to the town first.
You wait a bit—we'll head back together when we've finished here!" Tina called back.
"All right!
I'm going into the forest to look for Mist and Sessi first!"
Duncan finished speaking, drew his wand, and flicked it.
"Track to the source!"
The feather wobbled up from Duncan's palm as if caught by a breeze, drifted out of the gorge, and into the depths of the forest.
"Mist, can you still hold on?"
A faint voice came from the dense canopy.
"Wait—someone's coming again!"
"Mm… looks like it's only one person.
Don't worry.
I'll handle him!"
With those words, there was no further sound.
"Sessi?"
Duncan halted, raised his hand to hold the drifting feather, and carefully swept his gaze around.
Not knowing Mist and Sessi's situation for the moment, he kept silent so as not to alert any enemies lurking in the dark.
Suddenly, there was a rustle from branches swaying above to the side.
A black shadow flickered past, and Duncan looked over on instinct.
Right then, a serpentine Occamy like a giant dragon swept out across the sky, its beak bigger than Duncan's head, diving straight at him.
But as it was about to reach him, the Occamy, Sessi, recognised Duncan.
Its body shrank rapidly, and it landed atop Duncan's head, coiling into a ball.
"Duncan, what are you doing here?
Mist, don't worry—it's Duncan!"
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