Quest of the Seekers: A New Haven
Year Three at Hogwarts
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Chapter 18: Silent Scope
Reggie still clenched the spot where it was like he had the punch along with Brad. 'This is great. Every hit that Brad takes, I take as well. I don't think I can handle much after that fight with Shimroe. My arm is still sore and my body aches from flying so much. I never had to stay in my bird form that long and fight on top of that,' he thought with a lack of energy. "Brad, you have to watch for him. I don't think I can keep myself conscious for long."
"That's a big duh," Brad said shaking off the feeling that Rams's punch left. It really hurt but he couldn't stay still to nurse his wound with Rams there ready to make more.
Rams was smiling in pleasure, which was most likely to the thought of Reggie being scared for himself and Brad. Jacke and Tyler stood there with wishing that they could help but they knew that if they did then Brad would automatically lose since it's his test and not theirs. Also, they were wrinkling their noses because of the foul stench that Rams was giving off.
'Suddenly, my idea to let only me and Reggie keep going to keep Tyler and Jacke fresh doesn't seem to be a good one anymore," Brad said and he ran to dodge a punch coming at him. "
Rams extended his hand and a stick, which looked like it belonged to a broom, appeared in front of it and he gripped it and sent it straight into Brad's stomach. Brad fell back and Reggie clutched his stomach that now had pain. Brad was wincing at the force of the blow. He dropped his wand and put both his hands over Rams' face and released a gush of water that caused Rams to choke back on the water that went into his mouth and nose.
'He hit me close to where he got me the first time. I've had enough of this nonsense. It's time I show him the moves that I could do,' he thought with rage at the oversized boar warrior.
Brad sent out a stunning spell at Rams but he blocked it with the stick he conjured up. He launched the stick at Brad like a spear but Brad did a flip and avoided it, which astounded Tyler and Jacke at his move. Reggie wasn't that surprised Brad could do that since he used moves like that when he had trained with him and told him that he learned them from the lessons with his grandpa. Rams then charged at him like a bull but Brad pushed down on Rams' shoulders and flipped over him and Rams hit the wall leaving a big hole there where he pulled his head out leaving a gash of blood flowing through but he didn't seem to notice. When Brad had landed on his feet from the flip, he winced as he felt more pain from his stomach. He saw the pieces of golden rock chipped off the wall from where Rams hit it right underneath his feet and quickly transfigured them to bars of soap. Then he sent off a wave of water to make them slippery and Rams looked somewhat foolish slipping off them but still staying on his feet. This bought Brad time to clutch his stomach to make it easier to will the pain away.
However, the situation was getting critical. Brad relied on his martial arts knowledge to try and keep getting hit but Rams seemed to be getting more momentum as the match went on. Every time Brad tried launching a spell at him, Rams would deflect or dodge it. Brad was still taking hits and Reggie kept suffering along with him. "Giaranshi!" he aimed at Rams planning to immobilize him but he sidestepped it. "Pungrespera!" Brad shouted but Rams dodged the jinx easily.
'Damn. Rams is too fast. I can barely dodge his physical attacks. It's like trying to avoid a car that keeps doubling back trying to ram you. 'Brad looked at Reggie wincing in the pain and knew that he was trying his hardest to stay in it for him. 'If only there was a way to slow this walking pork chop down. He's so big and bulky but so fast and strong. You think with even that armor on he would be weighed down but…that's it,' he said looking at the armor Rams was sporting. 'I just hope that Reggie and I could stand a little more pain. I hate to put Reggie through more but my plan will no doubt have more pain.'
He let out his left hand and let out spouts of water that were impacting like water balloons. Rams was hit with a few of them and started to drip a little. Brad kept up the attack, trying to wet Rams as much as he could and wasn't applying the force needed for it to be painful, just annoying.
'What's Brad doing?' Jacke thought. 'Those attacks look like they wouldn't hurt a puffskein. I know Brad water powers are unshackled so now the water he conjures are real water now but how is getting Rams wet going to help? He can't fool around, Reggie can't take much more and keep himself in this for him.'
Tyler was as confused as Jacke. 'Brad's just soaking Rams with his attacks. If it were me, I would try shocking him and throwing spells at the same time. He's just making Rams all soggy and…wait…now I see,' he thought as he noticed the armor that Rams was wearing was starting to get darker with the under garment beneath the metal.
Rams, however, didn't stay still to play in the water. He ran at Brad snarling and had made a fist and charged through Brad's oncoming assault of water balls intent on doing serious and painful damage. Brad stopped launching water and tried to flip away but Rams' fist slammed into Brad's right arm causing him to do an incomplete flip.
Reggie let out a deafening scream at the pain that went through his right arm. It was the arm that was still injured from before. Reggie felt like his arm was burning his blood and making the hot blood run all over his upper body. He fell to his knees but was still conscious. He was trying to get himself to say through the pain, "Keep it together, Keep it together."
Brad didn't waste any time after he got hit. He ignored the pain in his wand arm to the best he could and waved his wand with an "Averte Stature!" following it knocking Rams back. He was knocked back but it looked more like he was pulled with his feet dragging 15 feet back before he stopped. When Brad got to his feet, he instantly had his face mirror that fact that he had started to concentrate as hard as he could. About three seconds later, an orb of eerie water blue and half his size appeared before him, which he immediately let loose on Rams like a jet of water released by a fire hydrant.
Rams was standing there amazed at the orb conjured by the boy and didn't have the time to dodge the rush of water that struck him from the chest up making him spit and sputter like when Brad's water went up his nose and mouth. He snarled when he regained himself and ran out at Brad. However, as he ran there were wet squeaks escaping him and it was noticed that he was moving slower than before.
Brad dodged his charge and smiled in the knowledge that his idea had just started to work. With all the water soaked up by Ram's armor, it was now higher in weight and was bringing his speed and agility down. "Reducto!"
His spell hit Ram's back and made a big dent on the armor there and forced Rams to taste the floor. He angrily got up and went out for Brad again conjuring a stick for both hands and moved in a fashion to behead Brad with one arm and strike his chest if he avoided the first. Brad knew he couldn't flip out of the way from both sticks so he quickly made himself a badger and easily saw the figure of Rams step over him. He transformed back and shouted a spell that he recently started practicing a week ago since he remembered how handy Arnold seemed to think it was. "Manticulias!" Rams dropped his two battle sticks when Manticules came and got his hands. However, unlike Arnold's spell, the Manticules he fired out didn't force him back or anything, they just were put on since Brad only had a week's practice with it.
"You bratty human! Get these things off me!"
"I happen to think they bring out your eyes better," Tyler said from the sidelines causing Jacke to start laughing and hide it behind a cough.
Rams snarled and focused his strength on shattering off the manticules. Brad didn't stand by to see if he could. He pointed his wand at Rams and said, "Locomotor Mortis!" Rams had his feet come together making him unable to charge any longer. But Brad was starting to wonder if his he had nerves like steel since he quickly shook it off to break his manticules.
'At least I made him helpless," he thought in desperately. That was before Rams pulled his arms apart and the manticules became scrap metal on the floor before disappearing. Rams put his body down and greatly leapt at Brad catching him completely by surprise and gave him a good kick in the chest with his bonded feet making him fly back a few feet just missing the wall while Reggie let out another scream and clutched his chest. Brad felt that his chest had disentragrated from that last attack.
Tyler saw Reggie was hurting and that Brad was starting to get worn down too. "Brad, get up!" Brad looked at Tyler and with great effort, rose to his feet while Rams tried to get up without the use of his feet with his arms. Tyler then changed his tone to a forcing one. "Good, now, Brad listen to me carefully. You're not going to defeat Rams unless you go to desperate measures. You have to use some of the more painful curses that I told you about. That armor that Rams has is strong so you have to break through it if you're going to beat him. Use them and quickly before both you and Reggie are grounded to dust!"
Brad didn't dare question Tyler when he used that tone of voice. He searched his mind, as Rams was getting up, on which of the spells that Tyler taught them was the most effective. Then the image of Tyler's fire whip curse came into flourishion. He remembered the incantation and readied himself and his wand. "Inferro Cracke!"
Brad's wand produced a shiny whip of yellow flame, which he cracked at the floor when it was done. Rams was now completely immobilized thanks to the Leg Locker Curse so Brad launched the whip out at Rams. The whip moved at Rams like a curvy wave and connected with his mid section of his stomach. Brad saw that his whip pierced the armor and cut into Rams skin because he started to scream. Brad can only imagine the pain of a strong force like a strong punch and burning feeling can be like together.
As Tyler saw Rams scream in pain, he remembered when he tried to use it against Jacke. He suddenly felt a little sick with himself that he tried to hurt his best friend. His whip's strength would've only made the spot he hit Jacke throb for a few days but still. He guessed that he wasn't thinking when he said that but he wasn't going to make excuses and would apologize to him after this.
Rams eyes fell back and he collapsed on the floor. His collapse triggered a squeaking sound and they saw that the bars came down to let them go on. Brad willed the whip to go away and fell to his two knees and started to breathe hard.
"Are you two okay?" Jacke said as he and Tyler ran to them.
"I feel like rhinos just stampeded right through me a hundred times and I think I have a busted rib but I'll live," Brad said coughing a little from the pain of those physical attacks that he started to really feel now that he didn't have the distraction of a battle to ignore them. "How's Reggie?"
"I'll live too," Reggie said holding his arm and wincing from the pain also in his chest.
Tyler went and lifted Brad up and helped him walk while Jacke did the same for Reggie. They went on for a while saying nothing until Tyler broke the silence. "Jacke?"
"What?" he said still helping Reggie.
"I'm sorry I tried to use the fire whip on you. You know, back in the chamber that day when we practiced with Basil? You could've been really sore for days if I hit you with it."
"Ah, forget about it mate. I didn't get hit so there's nothing to apologize for but thanks anyway."
"Yeah. You know Brad, I have to say, that was a good Fire Whip Curse you had."
"Thanks, that was really the first time I ever really tried it."
"Really? It looked pretty good for a first try. You're outdoing yourself."
"Ah, I had a good teacher with that spell," Brad said making Tyler a little embarrassed. "Tyler," he just said suddenly. "I know it might not be the best time to ask you this but, my parents and grandfather got tickets to go to New York City, in America, and I was wondering if you would like to come with us? Jacke and Reggie already know and asked permission and I'm bringing an old friend of mine back home too."
Tyler was very surprised and excited at this. He never had gone off to stay friends, let alone a trip with them. "Really? I've never traveled before. I would love to."
"Great. I've told them a lot about you three and I'm sure they'll love to meet you."
Tyler couldn't believe it. Actually spending time with his friends in a normal way without secrecy or distrust, just, a normal way friends usually did. But Tyler wondered exactly how much of himself did Brad tell his parents about. He and Reggie had already told a little too close to home and he was already nervous at that as it was. But his mind flashed to how he felt when he learned that the trial members here in the temple knew his last name and addressed him like a normal person. It made him feel…good with the fact that he didn't need to be on constant guard in this environment. What could it hurt if Brad's parents did know? They were muggles after all so it would be unlikely that they would immediately mark him as an evil wizard as soon as they knew his true surname.
'What the bloody hell," he thought shrugging his shoulders almost losing his grip on Brad. 'I'll try it out.'
Later on, they arrived in what seemed to be another room but it was different. The place was as big as the Great Hall back at the school. For a wild second, they thought they'd come outside. There was a sunny, blue sky above them where the roof should be. There was grass on the floor, which wasn't dirt but regular stone, and there were stone walls surrounding them, which was very strange to see. It looked like a meadow was brought indoors. The odd thing was that it was abnormally quiet compared to real meadows with birds, sounds of the wind and other noises; it was phenomenally quiet.
"Greetings young wizards," a strong sounding voice suddenly said. "I've been expecting the four of you."
From the far side of the room, a figure appeared before them. He looked more human then anything they've seen so far. He was the outline of a human except for the fact that his gray feet looked like they were a wolf's and he had the ears to match. Other than that he resembled a normal 18 year old. He had blue hair in big strands that was shoulder length, had deep yellow eyes, and was dressed in combat robes that were unlike Tyler's except they were red instead of green and also unlike his, had no hood. Over the robes was a metal plate for armor and metal shoulder pads. It was like seeing a wizard knight.
Tyler and Jacke let down Brad and Reggie down by the wall and stepped closer to the figure. Tyler was the first to talk. "And you are?"
"I'm known as Yalcone. I am the one who is assigned to give out the sixth task. I must say, you all look younger than I pictured."
"Is that a good or bad thing?" Jacke asked smiling a little.
"Nevertheless, I am the one to get past in order to get to the holy creation power."
He raised his hand and out of the middle of nowhere, the ground started to shake a little and a big white line started to spring out and make a perimeter on the floor. It made a large rectangle right behind Yalcone and when the white line finished it work and connected the whole thing together, it glowed for a second. Brad saw that it looked the size of a full basketball court.
"Wow, that was brilliant," Jacke said with awe.
"That was nothing, could do it in my sleep really," Yalcone said really sounding like a typical 18 year old guy who just happened to have wolf feet and ears. "The task is that one of you must fight me in this dome. We must keep fighting unless we are knocked out or are forced out of the ring. You won't have to worry about death because this room is what you would call a Room of Life itself. Nothing that is within this room could die. I'll explain the twist after you've chosen who will be my opponent," he said in a manner like this would be a friendly man-to-man duel.
Tyler and Jacke kneeled down to talk with Reggie and Brad.
"Well, who's going to duel with Yalcone?" Brad asked.
"Obviously, it can't be you or I Brad," Reggie said with sarcasm. "Tyler or Jacke? One of you are going to have to fight but it's going to be hard to choose because we don't know how this duel will be like and you two have different styles. Not to mention that since this is the sixth trial, he's going to be a hard one."
"Yeah, but we'll deal with anything as it comes right Tyler?" Jacke said patting his back hard almost making him fall.
"That's right mate. Anything that Yalcone may do, we'll just find a way to beat him back, though, I'd probably do a better job."
Jacke narrowed his eyes at that while Brad clapped his hands. "Okay guys enough. How are we supposed to choose between you two?"
Tyler and Jacke just shrugged it off while Tyler picked a strand of grass from the floor and put his back to Jacke. "Jacke, he said while mixing the grass into one hand. I'm going to hold out my hands. Pick the hand that has the grass in it then you go, pick the empty one and I'll go. Deal?"
"Fine with me," he said shrugging.
"Must you decide that way?" Reggie said disapproving of their method. "We should think about this rationally."
"Honestly Reggie," Jacke said shaking his head. "How do you expect us to choose when you said yourself that we don't know how this duel will be fought so how could we possibly choose right?"
Reggie was sullied that Jacke had a real good point over him so he just breathed hard in frustration and didn't say anything else, leaving Brad smiling at Reggie's defeat. Tyler turned around and extended out his closed palms. Jacke looked from each one for about a minute until he pointed to the left hand. Tyler opened the left hand and sure enough, the grass was there.
"Not to worry mates," Jacke said walking towards Yalcone who had been waiting very patiently all this time, "I'll get us to the next trial."
Yalcone smiled when Jacke stood in front of him and announced that he would be his opponent. "Well Mr. Walker, it should be an interesting match. The others have only come up against Misters Falkner and Carter so this should be a treat. Now for the actual rules for this match. You already know how to win as I just said it earlier but here's the rules for the actual fight. You could fight to the best of you abilities here," Jacke smiled at this since he would be able to use his best dueling charms, fire power, and animagus form, "but there is a catch." Yalcone finished making his face fall a bit. "This arena named "Silent Scope" is what most would call a mute ring. Once inside, there is no way to make a sound. You could still hear sound from the outside but nothing within these lines can make a sound. That sure to make it a difficult but exciting twist since one of the five senses will be useless in fighting your enemy. And for you three," he said pointing to Tyler, Reggie and Brad. "You could cheer for your friend but no direct help in our fight or it's a direct lose and you'll all be sent back to the entrance to the temple."
They nodded their heads and Yalcone stepped past the white line to their fighting space. When he stepped through, it was like a wave of light appeared from the line and went up to his body making him glow from the feet up until it disappeared at the top of his head. Jacke followed his example and stepped in where he had a glow to him as well before it disappeared.
Jacke felt that everything he knew was out of place in this arena. When he stepped past the line, he couldn't hear himself make sounds that came with his footsteps. He coughed but saw that he didn't make any sound when he coughed. It was downright creepy and weird. He then heard his friends' voices.
"Good luck Jacke," Brad yelled over to him.
"Think before you do something foolish alright," Reggie said after him.
"Show Yalcone how you work your magic mate," Tyler said giving him a thumbs up.
"Thanks," Jacke tried to say and the keyword was try. He opened his mouth but no sound came from it. It was very strange. Since he couldn't talk back, he simply gave them a thumbs up before he turned his attention back to Yalcone.
Yalcone released three lights in front of him with a wave of his hand. Jacke saw him get into a ready stance and he took that as a signal to get ready as he saw one of the lights flicker out. Then the middle one flicked off and then the third one disappeared and Yalcone started rushing toward Jacke with an arm extended out and his other behind him.
Jacke pulled out his wand, intending to use an Incendio Flame Charm but no voice came out of his mouth and there was no spell. Yalcone took this opportunity to get to Jacke and lunged his pulled back hand into a very strong, forceful, hit with his hand flat right to the chest sending Jacke flying back a few feet. Jacke got up and tried yelling Stupefy! to stun him but like before, nothing. Yalcone however, let out his hand and started to glow a crystal white. Then it disappeared everywhere after a few seconds but in his extended hand where a second more a ball of energy the size of his hand shot out and collided with Jacke flipping him more back and he landed face down.
Reggie's eyes could've popped as he was seeing this. "He has the same kind of magic attacks like Shimroe did during our fight as animals."
"That's not all," Brad said. "Jacke doesn't have a voice in that arena which means that he can't use his best charms or any other spell meaning that his wand is as useful as a regular thin stick of wood now."
Jacke got to his feet as best as he could. That hit reminded him of being whacked by Basil's tail or behind a strong Force Hex so he felt that if he could take those from Tyler, Brad or Reggie in their practice duels then he should be able to here. Jacke transformed into a lion and went right for Yalcone. He lashed at him with his claws in a jump but Yalcone jumped and rolled out of the way. Jacke immediately turned when he landed and charged after him. Yalcone pushed at his feet and stopped Jacke in his tracks. Jacke tried hard to force him back and at least bite him as he tried to get his head closer but it was getting harder. He saw Yalcone glowing again and soon felt force blasts coming from the two hands holding him back and it sent him flying. In mid-air, Jacke transformed back into his human self and hit the ground. Jacke quickly got back to his feet and to his astonishment, Yalcone vanished in front of him. He started turning his body like a maniac until about ten seconds later; he saw a glow at the corner of his eye where Yalcone's became visible again just before he sent another blast of energy.
Tyler, Brad and Reggie were watching on and their expressions reflected on how it looked like Jacke's chance of victory was getting smaller and smaller. They kept mumbling pleas of good luck as they saw Jacke get to his feet again.
Yalcone charged after him again but Jacke ran to avoid him. He pointed his wand behind him and sent green and gold sparks behind him that caused Yalcone to stop and wave them away with his hands. Jacke used that time to conjure a ball of fire in his hand taking almost three seconds, which he launched at Yalcone. He was hit on the arm making him forced back just like Jacke was a moments ago from Yalcone's attack but he just shrugged it off.
'Damn,' Jacke thought. 'If only I had my powers accepted or unshackled or whatever by the Earth's spirit then that fire could've been real fire instead of force and stronger. What am I supposed to do now?'
Tyler looked on in despair. 'If only Jacke could use spells with incantations then he would win easily against this bloke. The only thing that he's done wordlessly with his wand were those sparks but that won't be enough.' Then his mind went into something of a realization. 'There is one thing that doesn't require an incantation to work and even though it won't be as strong, it will still be very effective,' he thought with joy until it was drained. 'The only problem is…Jacke doesn't like using spells that are too dark and the Fire Whip Spell is a highly dark one that Jacke said he wouldn't use ever when I taught it to him.'
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End of Chapter 18Dark672: Thanks for your review.
Ellar Shadow Raven: Glad to have your opinion and I hope you'll review on my story again. Saw your second story that you posted and I loved it. However, I couldn't give a review because my computer wouldn't allow it for some reason.
Author Notes:
Well, Jacke seems to be in a real pickle. Tyler knows a way for Jacke to counterattack but he knows that Jacke would never use it because he doesn't like using dark spells like Tyler does. What will they do? You'll have to wait for the next chapter. I hope you all had a happy Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanzaa and will have a Happy New Year. Please Review.
High Serpent King