Chapter 43: Centaur and Ruin

Allen hid behind a large rock inside the cave, observing for a long time without spotting any signs of life...

He cautiously leaned forward to peer into the depths of the cave, where faint glows could barely be seen...

Just as Allen was absorbed in watching, a strange voice suddenly came from behind him: “If I were you, I wouldn’t ignore what’s behind me!”

Allen spun around instantly to see what was happening, while reaching for his wand...

“Ping!” An arrow struck the rock just behind his arm as he reached for his wand, its feathered end still trembling...

Allen opened his hands and slowly raised them above his head; only then, by the cave’s dim light, did he see the creature behind him...

It was a being with a human upper body, silver-white hair, but below the waist, a luminous silver-white horse’s body, trailing a long white tail...

He was drawing his bow, arrow nocked, aiming directly at Allen...

“Centaur!” Allen stared in shock at this strange, beautiful, and powerful creature—the word suddenly popped into his mind.

Seeing Allen cooperate, the centaur relaxed slightly. “Why are you here? Turtle-man!”

Allen remembered what Hagrid had said before.

“Hagrid! Hagrid! I know Hagrid!” Allen cried out urgently.

The centaur instantly drew his bow taut again; Allen lowered his voice at once. “Hagrid brought me into the Forbidden Forest—I’m his new assistant!”

The centaur approached Allen cautiously; only then did Allen notice how muscular the centaur was—and he dared not move an inch.

The centaur found a bundle of vines, tied Allen up, dragged him out of the cave, and threw him onto a patch of grass outside, then lit a torch.

“What exactly are you? How did you become Hagrid’s assistant?” The centaur’s voice had softened.

“My name is Allen Finis. I’m a first-year student at Hogwarts, sent to help Hagrid with some tasks!” Allen said quickly.

“Hogwarts? Now Hogwarts is taking students as strange as you?” The centaur’s voice turned surprised.

He searched Allen thoroughly, indeed finding his wand, and spotted the Gryffindor emblem on his robes.

His expression grew gentler. “Why did you come so deep into the Forbidden Forest? Even Hagrid hasn’t come this far!”

“That unicorn pulled me here!” Allen nodded his chin toward the unconscious unicorn.

The centaur’s gaze swept over Allen’s carapace, covered in deep scratches from being dragged...

“Why are you like this?” He still found it hard to believe Allen.

Allen explained his situation again.

“I’m Ferenc!” The centaur lowered his bow, untied Allen, and returned his wand.

Allen politely thanked him.

Suddenly, a red spark exploded in the sky far away...

“That’s Hagrid!” Ferenc gazed at the spark in the sky.

“Hagrid? How did he shoot a red spark?” Allen asked, then suddenly remembered the red light Hagrid had fired from his umbrella when the unicorn fled—he understood.

He drew his own wand and fired a red spark into the sky; immediately, another red spark answered from afar.

Then silence fell between the boy and the centaur.

Finally, curiosity got the better of Allen. “What’s inside that cave? Have you been in there?” Allen asked cautiously, pointing at the cave.

“It’s an ancient ruin. Legend says your wizards’ power comes from these ruins. Our ancestors have always taught us never to enter that cave.” Ferenc gazed at the stars, speaking softly.

Allen froze. He suddenly recalled the history of ancient runes in “Origins of Ancient Runes”—could this be the very first ancient rune ruin mentioned in the book?

A surge of excitement rose in him; he took a few steps toward the cave, wanting to go back inside...

“If I were you, I wouldn’t go in. Our ancestral teachings still hold value.” Ferenc kept his eyes on the bright stars above.

Allen snapped back to his senses and stopped in his tracks...

Then, faint barking echoed from the distant trees; Allen quickly fired another red spark...

The barking grew louder, and Allen heard Hagrid’s heavy footsteps approaching...

Finally, Hagrid burst out of the trees, disheveled and frantic; he rushed to Allen and scooped him up in a tight embrace.

“Are you hurt?” Hagrid asked anxiously.

Allen once again appreciated the advantage of his carapace—despite being crushed in Hagrid’s arms, he could still breathe easily.

“I’m fine! Ferenc took good care of me!” Allen mumbled into Hagrid’s chest.

Only then did Hagrid notice Ferenc beside him...

“Good evening, Hagrid! The stars are bright tonight!” Ferenc smiled at Hagrid.

Hagrid suddenly plopped onto the grass and wept like a giant dog. “Thank you, Ferenc! I thought Allen was dead! I didn’t know how to explain this to Professor McGonagall!”

Watching Hagrid sob, Allen walked over and gently patted his hair.

Hagrid wept for a long while before calming down...

“How did you escape the unicorn?” Hagrid’s voice was hoarse from crying.

“It crashed into that tree and passed out!” Allen pointed to the tree the unicorn had hit.

Hagrid, not forgetting his duties, walked over to the unicorn and examined it carefully.

“Several of its horns are broken—two seem to have been broken for a while,” Hagrid reported his observations.

“Have any unfamiliar creatures entered the Forbidden Forest lately? Creatures capable of harming unicorns are rare.”

“Darkness has invaded the forest,” Ferenc whispered.

Hagrid opened his mouth to ask more, but Ferenc already knew what he was going to say. “I haven’t encountered it yet. The planets haven’t revealed the answer.”

Ferenc began to prepare to leave. “I must go. You should return too.”

Allen watched Ferenc’s figure until he vanished into the depths of the Forbidden Forest.

He turned his head—and the cave was gone. He shouted after Ferenc: “Where did the cave go?”

“It appears only for a time on the last night of each month!” Ferenc’s voice echoed from deep within the forest, then faded.

“What were you talking about? What cave?” Hagrid asked, puzzled.

“Nothing!” Allen murmured, staring at the spot where Ferenc had disappeared.

“Then let’s get back quickly. Too much happened today.” Hagrid looked at Allen.

“Okay!” Allen suddenly felt utterly exhausted.