After a long and exhausting journey, the family finally arrived in Abisko on Christmas afternoon.
Although they had spent most of the trip comfortably seated in their train compartment, the nearly nineteen-hour journey still left everyone feeling tired.
After checking into the hotel, James asked,
“Do you want to go see the Northern Lights tonight? I asked the front desk, and they’ve been visible over the past few days.”
“I do! I do!” Anna shouted excitedly.
The thought of seeing the aurora still thrilled her.
“Let’s rest in our rooms for a while, have dinner, and then head out. I asked the locals about the best viewing spot. It’s wide open and perfect for watching the aurora.”
As night fell, the stars gradually lit up the sky.
“Come on, we’re almost there,” James said.
“It’s just up ahead.”
Luke carried Anna on his back while Helen walked beside them.
“Dad, are we there yet?” Luke asked.
“It feels like we’ve been walking forever.”
“We’re here,” James replied.
“A local recommended this place.”
Sure enough, they soon arrived at a wide-open area with almost no light pollution.
“Anna, stay close to your brother and don’t run around,” Helen reminded her.
“The aurora should appear soon.”
“It usually shows up between ten at night and two in the morning,” James explained as he took out his camera.
“But since we’ve only just arrived today, we won’t stay out that late. If we don’t see it tonight, we’ll come back tomorrow.”
It was only the third night of the lunar month.
With almost no moonlight, the sky was exceptionally clear.
Countless stars glittered like diamonds against the deep blue night.
“Wow!”
“Daddy, I see it!”
Anna pointed excitedly toward the sky.
A pale green ribbon of light slowly appeared overhead, gently flowing across the heavens.
As time passed, more colors emerged.
Green…
Blue…
Purple…
Even streaks of crimson.
The dancing lights painted the night sky with breathtaking beauty.
“It’s incredible,” Helen whispered in amazement.
“Awooo—”
A sudden wolf howl shattered the peaceful atmosphere.
Helen immediately became nervous.
“Are there wolves nearby?”
Anna had seen wolves at the zoo before.
Frightened, she instinctively snuggled closer to Luke and gripped his hand tightly.
Luke, however, remained calm.
Thanks to his Natural Affinity, he knew wild animals instinctively felt goodwill toward him.
He had even tested it before by deliberately visiting the predator enclosures at the zoo with Anna.
“Mom, don’t worry.”
“I’m here.”
To reassure both Helen and Anna, Luke casually summoned three small fireballs.
They floated around the family, illuminating the snowy ground.
Since there was no one else nearby, they didn’t have to worry about exposing magic.
Seeing her son’s abilities, Helen finally relaxed a little.
Luke had only intended to comfort everyone.
Unfortunately…
He had forgotten about Anna.
“Wow!”
“Luke!”
“How did you do that?”
“Is this magic?”
“Can you teach me too?”
She excitedly reached toward one of the floating fireballs.
Luke immediately realized his mistake.
Oh no…
“You can’t touch it.”
“I’ll explain everything when we get home.”
Only then did he notice James giving him a meaningful glare.
Just then—
“Help!”
“Somebody help!”
“Help!”
A desperate cry echoed through the snowy wilderness.
“Dad,” Luke said immediately, “someone’s in trouble. I’ll go take a look.”
James hesitated.
His first instinct was to go himself.
“No.”
“I’ll go.”
“You stay here and protect your mother and Anna.”
Luke shook his head.
“Dad, let me handle it.”
“We don’t know what’s happening.”
“If it’s something ordinary, you’ll be fine.”
“But if it isn’t…”
“I’ll have a much better chance of dealing with it.”
James remained silent for several seconds.
He knew perfectly well that Luke was already far stronger than any ordinary person.
Finally, he nodded.
“Be careful.”
“And come back as soon as you can.”
“We’ll head back immediately afterward.”
“I will.”
Luke dashed toward the source of the cries.
“Luke, be careful!” Helen called after him anxiously.
Luke sprinted across the snow until he spotted three figures in the distance.
A burly man was confronting a frightened couple.
There were no wolves nearby.
Luke extended his senses but couldn’t detect any.
Instead, the burly man’s aura felt…
strange.
Just then, the system notification appeared.
[Mission Triggered.]
[“Battle Is Everywhere”: Defeat your opponent.]
[Reward: One Lottery Draw.]
Luke ignored the notification.
The frightened couple noticed him running over.
“Kid!”
“Don’t come any closer!”
The man shouted urgently.
“That guy isn’t normal!”
“He looks like he has rabies!”
“Go back and get your parents!”
Rabies?
Luke frowned.
Then what was that wolf howl?
Suddenly, realization struck him.
A werewolf.
There were werewolves in the Wizarding World.
Since tonight wasn’t a full moon, this man hadn’t transformed completely.
“Kid, it’s dangerous here!” the woman shouted anxiously.
“Leave while you—”
Before she could finish, Luke stepped forward and looked directly at the burly man.
“What country are you from?”
“You’re a werewolf, aren’t you?”
“You attacked Muggles without following the Werewolf Code of Conduct.”
“Aren’t you afraid the Ministry of Magic will send someone to hunt you down?”
The burly man slowly turned his gaze toward Luke.
“You’re a little wizard?”
A cruel smile spread across his face.
“Excellent.”
“I, Fenrir Greyback, love little wizards.”
“I’ve never cared about any so-called ‘Werewolf Code of Conduct.'”
With that, he began walking toward Luke.
Fenrir Greyback…
The name sounded familiar.
Luke quickly searched through his memories.
Then his expression changed.
I remember now.
The werewolf who attacked Remus Lupin.
“Kid, watch out!” the young man shouted.
“He’s coming!”
Luke immediately became vigilant.
Fenrir Greyback was infamous for targeting children.
Luke had no idea whether he was strong enough to defeat him.
When Luke rushed over earlier, he had already dismissed his Flame Spell.
Now that he knew who his opponent was, he instantly summoned seven small fireballs around himself—the maximum number he could control at his current level.
“Wandless…”
“Silent casting?”
Even Fenrir froze for a moment in surprise.
Luke didn’t hesitate.
This was the perfect opportunity.
The instant Fenrir’s attention wavered, Luke thrust both hands forward.
The seven fireballs shot toward him simultaneously.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Fenrir had clearly not expected such a decisive attack.
The fireballs struck him head-on, and flames instantly engulfed his body.
“Argh!”
Fenrir roared in pain as he rolled frantically across the snow.
Fortunately for him, the thick snow quickly smothered the flames.
When he climbed back to his feet, he glared at Luke with bloodshot eyes.
Luke calmly summoned another seven fireballs.
Fenrir’s expression immediately changed.
Too fast…
Without another word, he turned and fled into the forest.
As he disappeared into the darkness, his furious voice echoed back.
“I’ll be back for you!”
[Mission Completed: “Battle Is Everywhere.”]
[Reward: One Lottery Draw.]
[Would you like to begin the lottery?]
Luke ignored the system for the moment and turned to the frightened couple.
“Are either of you hurt?”
The young man stared at him in disbelief.
“You’re… the boy who played the piano at Stockholm Central Station.”
“We’re fine.”
“But… what were those fireballs?”
“I’m glad you’re all right.”
Luke glanced toward the forest.
“You should leave immediately.”
“I don’t know whether Fenrir will come back.”
“I’m leaving too.”
Having exposed his abilities, Luke had no intention of staying any longer.
He turned and quickly headed back.
“Wait!”
“Thank you, kid!”
“What’s your name?”
Luke didn’t answer.
Watching him disappear into the snow, the young man turned to the woman beside him.
“Catherine…”
“Did you see those fireballs just now?”
She shook her head slowly.
“They appeared so suddenly that I could barely see them.”
“What a mysterious boy.”
He took a deep breath.
“Let’s get out of here.”
“When we get back, I’ll find out who he is.”
As Luke hurried back toward his family, countless thoughts ran through his mind.
I never expected to run into Fenrir Greyback here.
This world is becoming more dangerous by the day.
I need to find a way to better protect Mom, Dad, and Anna.
Hermione is in central London, which should be relatively safer, but I still need to prepare for her as well.
It’s time to visit Diagon Alley.
Relying on the system alone is no longer enough.
Although his Mental Training Method had greatly improved his control over the Flame Spell, Luke had discovered one limitation.
Changing the shape of the flames didn’t actually increase their power.
For example, turning a fireball into the shape of a spear or an arrow looked impressive, but its destructive force remained virtually unchanged.
“It really is difficult to make progress by working alone.”
Luke sighed softly.
He had visited the London Sanctum many times over the past year and had become quite familiar with the old sorcerer there.
Yet he had never once met the Ancient One.
I wonder…
Is she deliberately avoiding me?