In just a few seconds, Hermione cautiously opened her eyes, doing her best not to look at the floating black ash in the air and on the ground—the remains of the Werewolves. Instead, her wide amber eyes stayed fixed on Kai Adler.
"You killed again… won't your Obscurus riot?"
Kai ruffled her hair gently, a faint smile on his lips. "It's alright. I know what I'm doing."
"You better," Hermione pouted, crossing her arms, clearly unconvinced but too worried to argue further.
Her gaze softened after a moment. "Then… do you know why those Werewolves wanted to catch you?"
Kai shook his head, eyes darkening in thought. "Their leader came from America. He was stationed in this slum, waiting for the heir of this house to appear… to take them back to their territory."
"But he was just a pawn," Kai continued, voice calm but sharp beneath the surface. "He only understood the mission, not the reason behind it."
Hermione's shoulders slumped slightly. "So… the clue about your parents' identity is broken again?"
Kai's faint smile returned, though his eyes remained deep and unreadable. "Not exactly. I know they're connected to the Werewolves now."
A darker thought curled at the edges of his mind. If necessary, he'd find his way into the Werewolves' den himself. Or, if they proved too elusive… asking their sworn enemies might be more effective.
A slender figure formed in his thoughts—the image of a woman clad in tight, dark leather, her glacial blue eyes gleaming in the shadows.
Vampires… They always had information on Werewolves, especially in Europe's hidden circles.
Hermione caught the distant smile creeping onto Kai's face, and immediately, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. Though still young, her instincts—a girl's sixth sense—had developed alarmingly fast.
She glanced deliberately at the ash on the ground.
"You're thinking about that female Vampire again, aren't you?"
Kai blinked, expression blankly innocent. "What? Of course not."
Hermione narrowed her eyes further, unimpressed. "It's understandable if you want to find her," she declared, voice dripping with mock logic. "She is a Dark Creature after all… she might know secrets about the Werewolves."
Kai nodded thoughtfully. "Exactly, that's what I was thinking."
Hermione's eyes flashed triumphantly. "Ah-ha! So you were thinking about her!"
Kai's expression froze. For the first time, he realized he'd been played—by a twelve-year-old no less.
Before either of them could press further, a sharp crack split the air beside them—a sound like tearing silk. Kai reacted instantly, pulling Hermione behind him.
A golden light flickered, and from within it, a tall young man stepped forward.
The stranger looked no older than his mid-twenties, dressed in a formal blue uniform resembling an office clerk's attire—neat, understated. But no ordinary office worker arrived through a shimmering portal, clutching a slender silver sword at his side.
Kai's eyes narrowed slightly. Runes etched into the blade… European make… but modified for magical combat.
The stranger's eyes landed on them, frowning faintly.
"Two children?"
But his expression shifted the moment he noticed Hermione's distinctly British features. A flicker of unease—bordering on hostility—crossed his face. But seeing they were just kids, his attention drifted back to the surroundings.
Kai watched quietly.
He's mistaking us for ordinary children… His eyes gleamed with hidden amusement.
The man crouched, fingertips brushing the ash on the ground. He sniffed it, and his eyes widened in disbelief.
"You two… were you just here?" The man asked abruptly, switching to crisp English.
"Yes," Kai replied smoothly, his accent precise—though, for good measure, he answered in flawless German.
The man's eyes flicked to him, cautious now.
"Did you see anything unusual? Anyone suspicious?"
Kai's lips curved faintly. "Nothing unusual for me. But I did see something suspicious—a group of Werewolves."
The stranger visibly tensed, shooting upright, eyes sharp.
His hand lifted, forming a practiced gesture—two fingers raised in front of his chest, as if preparing for a spell or ward.
"Who are you?!" His gaze swept the area, body angled defensively. "There's no way it's just you two here—where's the rest of your group?"
Hermione instinctively raised her wand, ready for another duel, but Kai's hand settled over hers, guiding it down gently.
"We're students from Hogwarts," Kai stated clearly. "Here on holiday… we stumbled into this mess by accident."
The man's face darkened at the mention of Hogwarts.
"British?"
Kai's brow lifted faintly at the unwelcome tone, noting the tension creeping into the man's posture. So much for Hogwarts' grand reputation.
"Two underage British wizards… appearing here of all times, and coincidentally encountering Werewolves?" His skepticism was thick. "Where are your guardians? Tell them to show themselves."
"There are no guardians," Kai replied evenly. "It's just us."
The man's expression twisted into disbelief, his gaze sweeping the desolate scene again—the scorched earth, the drifting ash.
"You're saying you two reduced a pack of Werewolves to ashes?"
His tone was incredulous, but uncertainty gnawed at his words. If there were other Wizards nearby, why hadn't they revealed themselves? And if it was the children… well, that presented other problems entirely.
His eyes fixed on Kai, wary.
"Regardless of your story, you're coming with me for questioning."
As he reached for Kai, the young wizard stepped smoothly back, voice cool.
"My family taught me never to follow strangers. Perhaps you should tell us who you are first?"
The man's frown deepened, but after a pause, he produced a slim, leather-bound identification booklet.
"Otto Weiss," he stated crisply, tapping the badge within. "Magical Enforcement Division, Munich Branch. You're now required to cooperate with an investigation concerning illegal magical activity on German soil."
Kai studied the ID. Weiss's official photo stared back sternly. A proper agent, by the look of him.
Kai's head tilted, smile faint. "No."
Hermione tugged his sleeve nervously. "Kai…"
His hand patted hers reassuringly, his expression unchanged.
"It's alright," he murmured softly. Then, to Otto, "I doubt you'd harm children, Agent Weiss. Right?"
Weiss snorted, clearly unamused. "If you're innocent."
His arm extended. "Apparition's faster. Hold on tight, try not to vomit."
Kai grasped his arm. The agent's fingers formed a precise wandless gesture.
"Appello!"
A rush of energy condensed around them—like being yanked through a collapsing tunnel. In a heartbeat, the alleyway vanished.
They reappeared in a small, sterile room.
Kai immediately turned, steadying Hermione, who looked queasy and pale.
"It's normal," Weiss remarked offhandedly. "First time's always rough. You'll be fine after some milk."
Opening the door, they stepped into a bustling hall beyond.
Cubicles filled the space, agents in navy uniforms moving swiftly between desks. Enchanted quills scribbled reports, documents floated mid-air, spells crackled softly in the background.
"Bastian! That werewolf corpse from Dresden wasn't theirs—release the suspect, and next time check the tracking charm first!"
"And that fortune-teller's a Muggle—hex him out, don't waste a holding cell!"
The office buzzed with efficient chaos.
Kai's sharp eyes took it all in—the operational style reminded him more of a Muggle police station than the pompous, rigid institutions back home. Frankly, it was refreshing. British Wizards adored tradition and hierarchy—this was all business.
"Well, well, look who's back," a young man at the registration desk greeted Otto, then eyed the newcomers. "What've you got? Lost kids?"
"Hogwarts students," Otto explained, voice clipped. "British. Say they're tourists."
The moment British left his mouth, the clerk's demeanor shifted—curiosity mingling with a guarded edge.
"That's… unexpected," the clerk muttered, scribbling notes with his quill. "And at their age…"
Kai's brow furrowed.
Since Otto first mentioned they were British Wizards, he'd noticed the sidelong glances—some wary, others downright unfriendly.
What exactly… was going on?