Ryan suspected that the parchment treasure map might have originated from a mysterious organization, a secret order, or even a group of adventurers. Perhaps they had discovered it through an ancient text or an arduous exploration.
Only after relentless searching and overcoming great dangers would such a treasure map be worthy of the perilous journey it entailed—along with the valuable knowledge that would be inherited upon its discovery.
His suspicions strengthened when he realized that the thief who had stolen it was a vampire. After all, in the anime he had watched in his past life, vampires were often depicted as having extensive knowledge of history, possessing secrets about ancient treasures, and engaging in extensive research on the past.
However, when the thief boldly claimed that he had made the map himself, Ryan was dumbfounded. The idea seemed absurd, but the life magic he used confirmed that the vampire was telling the truth.
Still skeptical, Ryan pressed further. "If you created this, why does the parchment look so aged?"
"I used old ink and aged parchment," the vampire responded casually.
Ryan froze. Why hadn't he thought of such a simple trick? In the antique market, sellers frequently used similar techniques to make items appear ancient. He silently reflected on his own oversight. But before he could delve too deeply into self-reflection, another question popped into his mind.
"Why did you keep the map on you?" he asked.
At this, the vampire hesitated. His soul's aura fluctuated slightly—an indication that his memories were beginning to resurface.
Noticing the shift, Ryan didn't hesitate. He picked up the crowbar and delivered another blow. Despite being a pacifist at heart and generally disliking violence, Ryan couldn't ignore the fact that this creature had nearly cost him his life. Seeing the thief suffer under the weight of his own actions was oddly satisfying.
It turned out that even legendary vampires couldn't withstand Ryan's method of "persuasion." This also confirmed something Ryan had always suspected—vampires weren't mindless undead, as some legends claimed. They were closer to humans than they appeared, except for their predatory nature and physical resilience.
After another round of magical intervention to stabilize the vampire's mind, he finally revealed the truth.
The vampire, named Williams, had created the map as bait to lure solo travelers. His plan was simple: entice unsuspecting tourists with the promise of treasure, then ambush them with his fellow criminals and rob them.
As for why he had chosen that specific altar, it was because the location was a known tourist attraction. It appeared in various travel guides, making it seem like a legitimate place of interest. However, it was also isolated, with treacherous terrain—an ideal spot for an ambush.
Ryan was speechless. He had risked his life chasing a fabricated treasure map, only to discover that it had coincidentally led to a real adventure. The sheer improbability of it all left him in disbelief. But then again, history had seen its fair share of coincidences. In that sense, this wasn't entirely impossible.
After extracting the full truth, Ryan searched the vampire's belongings, took seven Galleons, and left Williams bound in the same spot. The two dirty wallets he found were placed in the Lost and Found Office on Saga Street before he begrudgingly returned to his lodging.
For the remainder of his time in Iceland, Ryan refrained from further explorations. Instead, he stayed in a cozy homestay with his parents, dividing his time between homework and absorbing the knowledge gained from his adventure.
Before long, the vacation ended. The family packed their bags and boarded a flight from Reykjavík International Airport back to London.
After a brief day of rest, Ryan was summoned by Hermione for a library meeting.
"Thanks for the gift," Hermione said as they greeted each other. "Those rune talismans were fascinating! I've seen similar ones in some books. But my parents confiscated the candy you gave me." She sighed. "You know how they are—they're dentists. They never let me eat too much sugar."
Ryan chuckled.
They soon settled at a table, pulling out their homework. Hermione was thoroughly impressed by Ryan's ability to complete his assignments while traveling.
"That's incredible," she said, admiration in her voice. "Finishing your homework while on vacation? That level of dedication is inspiring."
Ryan smirked. If only she knew that he had rushed through his work just to free up time to relax.
After wrapping up their discussion on schoolwork, they left the library and sat on a bench outside, enjoying the fresh air while catching up on recent events.
Ryan deliberately avoided mentioning his adventure in Iceland. He felt Hermione wasn't ready to hear about something so dangerous—especially considering her strong sense of justice. Given that she would eventually go on to establish the House Elf Rights Promotion Association, Ryan was certain she wouldn't approve of the brutal way Viking wizards had eradicated magical creatures from the island.
Instead, he pulled out a photo album from his bag, flipping through pages filled with scenic snapshots—wetlands, glaciers, and the magnificent Black Pool Sand. He showed her images of silent birds perched in treetops, the massive Kraken glimpsed from a special underwater boat, and the vibrant cultural hub of Tim Hortans Street.
Hermione sighed wistfully. "That sounds amazing. Meanwhile, I've been stuck at home reading every day. I can't even use my wand! I'm worried I'll lose my touch if I go too long without practicing."
Then, as if remembering something, she turned to Ryan with a more serious expression. "Have you written to Harry lately?"
Ryan nodded. "More than once. But he hasn't replied."
Hermione frowned. "I know. Ron said he'd try to find a way to reach him. I hope he manages something—Harry's silence is concerning."
Changing the subject, Ryan reached into his bag and pulled out a stack of books—Durmstrang's textbooks from first to fifth year. As part of an agreement they had made earlier, Ryan and Hermione had promised to share any interesting books they found.
However, Hermione's expression darkened when she saw the covers.
"Ryan, I don't think we should be reading these," she said, her tone firm. "These are books on dark magic."
Ryan shook his head. "They're Durmstrang textbooks, Hermione, not illicit dark magic manuals. Durmstrang is one of the most prestigious wizarding schools in Europe. Their curriculum isn't just about dark magic—it includes advanced combat spells and magical theory. There's valuable knowledge in these pages."
"That doesn't mean we should study them," she argued.
Ryan sighed, sitting up straight. He didn't want to argue, but he needed her to understand.
"Listen, Hermione. Pure-blood families often teach their children these spells in secret. Meanwhile, Muggle-born wizards rarely have access to this knowledge. The Weasley twins told me that many Ministry of Magic employees can't even cast a full Shield Charm. Do you know why? Because a lot of Muggle-born wizards never get experience with real combat spells.
"Think about what we faced last year. If we had known more defensive magic, we would have been better prepared. I'm not saying we should use dark magic—I'm saying we should understand it. If we know how it works, we can protect ourselves against it."
Hermione still looked unconvinced.
"Ryan, learning about dark magic is a slippery slope. Even if you don't use it, studying it can change you."
Ryan held her gaze, determined to explain his reasoning carefully. He wasn't trying to justify practicing dark magic—he was trying to ensure they weren't defenseless in the future.
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