59 Chapter 59 "New Enemy"
Skyler's reaction took an unexpected turn.
The wand had been knocked from his grasp, and in an instant, Gemma, the senior prefect, and an elite student, seized her opportunity, outsmarting Skyler with her mental agility and determination.
The first spell from Gemma sent Skyler flying into a massive tree trunk, causing him to cough up blood, his ribs presumably shattered.
Skyler managed a sardonic smile despite the pain. "I've always considered myself a cunning planner. I didn't expect to be outwitted by you, Gemma... What do you plan to do with me? If you intend to end my life, be prepared to face the wrath of the Malfoy family and seek revenge!" He spat out another mouthful of blood after uttering the ominous words, appearing visibly weakened.
Gemma, however, shook her head, her intentions different. "I won't kill you. We only want to cast a memory modification spell on you, rewrite your memories, and then you can join us and become one of us... You're the most gifted sorcerer I've ever seen. Your talents are enough to have my full allegiance. I believe that if you join us, the Ghost Society will gladly mold you into the next Dark Lord. Once Dumbledore is defeated, this world will be ours..."
Skyler's expression shifted, his composure returning as he sneered, "Impressive calculations, but I, Skyler Malfoy, have always maintained that the only one who can rule over me is none other than myself, Skyler Malfoy!"
In a moment of silence and without his wand, Skyler unleashed a spell—a blinding flash. It was a Flash Charm, and in the dark surroundings, it had a profound impact.
Gemma had indeed been on guard against Skyler, but his sudden loss of the wand and the apparent injuries made her lower her defenses. She was now left blinded, unable to open her eyes.
Simultaneously, a small, bright red stone slipped into Skyler's left-hand pocket, infusing him with a surge of vitality that miraculously healed his recent injuries.
Meanwhile, his right hand, now free, made a swift motion through the air. His wand, which had been disarmed earlier, flew back into his grasp instantly.
Aware that he was facing potential threats from an unknown assailant, Skyler decided not to engage Gemma any further. He was intent on escaping with his life, knowing that even if he could contend with Gemma, additional assistance from Gemma's allies could tip the scales against him.
Skyler cast an invisibility and silence spell upon himself and enhanced the Supreme Wizard's robe, effectively masking his breath, scent, and body temperature.
With haste, he ventured deeper into the Forbidden Forest, pausing after nearly half an hour of walking to catch his breath.
He was confident that even with assistance, it would be an insurmountable task to search the expansive Forbidden Forest.
As long as he could wait until dawn, he could make a clean getaway.
While his escapade had almost ended in capture, it had not been without gains.
Skyler may have been caught off guard initially due to Gemma's involvement, but he had put great effort into crafting the Supreme Wizard's robe.
During the attack, he had chosen to forego its magical protection, with the wand at his disposal. Even his momentary lapse would have kept him from suffering such severe injuries.
Skyler had taken the risk with his own body to uncover the enemy behind the scenes and discern their motivations.
Knowing the existence of the Ghost Society and its mysterious nature was a substantial achievement. Skyler was ready to face their machinations head-on, however, shrouded in secrecy they might be.
Many years had passed since Tom Riddle's graduation, and Skyler couldn't believe that Dumbledore, with his astute cunning, hadn't discovered the existence of this underground organization. He suspected that Dumbledore had chosen to turn a blind eye.
Moreover, as long as the organization needed to recruit new members to sustain its operations, it would inevitably leave behind traces.
Regarding the individual who had enlisted the Ghost Society to deal with him, Skyler was quite certain it must be a devoted pure-blood loyalist, perhaps even someone connected to the Gallup Lestrange family.
It might not be Gallup himself, but he was undeniably entangled with them.
Although the Philosopher's Stone had left him without physical damage, the pain of being sent flying and experiencing broken ribs was all too real. Skyler had no intentions of letting the matter slide.
There's a Muggle saying that "revenge is a dish best-served cold," - implying that avenging wrongs can take time. Whether it was the Ghost Society or the Lestrange family, they would face their retribution.
It was unfortunate for Skyler to consider that Gemma, a close friend, was now an adversary.
Their next encounter would be colored by enmity, not friendship.
The next morning, Skyler casually appeared in the auditorium. Gemma sat at one end of the long table, eating breakfast with a blank expression as if nothing had occurred.
Skyler occupied a seat at the long table, and the observant Meredith couldn't help but notice his strange demeanor. She asked softly, "Is something wrong? You look a bit off..."
With a wry smile, Skyler replied, "I sneaked into the Forbidden Forest last night and nearly didn't make it back."
After reflecting on the events of the previous night, Skyler decided it was not yet time to involve those around him.
Based on his experience, the Ghost Society appeared to be a small group, mostly comprised of elite prefects and senior students.
They also had a mysterious leader responsible for teaching dark magic. With the addition of malevolent intent, dark magic held considerable power over regular magic.
While Meredith's magical prowess was impressive, it still paled in comparison.
(Note: "Elite level" refers to the top five students in academic performance, unrelated to magical abilities or records)
Concerned, Daphne inquired, "Are you okay?"
Skyler smiled faintly, "Of course, I'm fine. Fortunately, I made some preparations in advance. However, I suspect someone won't be fine soon!"
During breakfast, owls arrived with various letters, including one for Skyler.
Early in the morning, as he departed the Forbidden Forest, he had already sent Lucius a letter through the school's owl, informing him of the previous night's events and his suspicions about the Lestrange family. This letter was evidently a response from Lucius.
Upon reading the letter, Skyler frowned.
Lucius had advised him to refrain from taking action and abandon the notion of seeking revenge against the Lestrange family.
The letter included an explanation that the Lestrange family had denied involvement in Skyler's attack, and various other pure-blood families had come forward in solidarity.
Among them, the Avery family, Carlo family, and Norman family had distanced themselves from the situation, while the especially implicated Lestrange family fervently denied any connection.
Lucius's heart burned with anger when his beloved baby son was attacked. What kept Lucius from acting on this fiery rage was the unanticipated intervention of the usually discreet, pure-blood families. Key figures among them emerged as mediators – Cobain Yaxley, a high-ranking Ministry of Magic official who had the power to use the Imperius Curse to control Pius Sinknis, thus enabling close ties with the Ministry of Magic. The mysterious Lady Selwyn and Dorphan Rolle, who had strong connections to the werewolves in Knockturn Alley, also played crucial roles.
No matter how furious Lucius felt, he recognized that the Malfoy family stood no chance of victory by confronting the united forces of the seven families.
Furthermore, in this internecine feud among pure-blood family scions, Lucius couldn't be certain of unwavering support from his allies, the Bok family and the Parkinson family.
The primary instigator of this incident was Gemma Farley, and Skyler couldn't provide any concrete evidence implicating Lestrange.
Many times, this was the nature of such disputes – you might know, I might know, and they might know, yet without hard evidence, the Malfoy family's accusations would remain baseless and unjust.
Skyler clenched his teeth, realizing that he couldn't directly confront Gallup, but he could focus on the Ghost Society.
He would need to seize an opportunity to glean information from Snape.
For the time being, Skyler decided to maintain distance from Gemma.
Her sharp mind and the meticulous organization of the Ghost Society meant she was undoubtedly prepared for any potential confrontation.
The feeling of anger without an outlet was undeniably frustrating, yet Skyler, as a human, quickly adjusted his mood and dove back into his daily routine.
The monotonous days continued to pass, and soon it was April.
Skyler immersed himself in the study of advanced magic, three months since he'd ingested the magic potion at the end of the Christmas holiday.
After tireless research and practice, he successfully completed the esoteric "Abatel Volume I."
His understanding of spiritual magic had reached new heights, and he was proficient in casting spells without a wand in an instant.
Confident that he was no longer inferior to anyone in the realm of spiritual magic, including Snape, who excelled in mental magic, Skyler's only possible rival was Professor Dumbledore, a man whose depths remained inscrutable.
During this period, Skyler dedicated himself to training Daphne and Meredith.
He had come to appreciate the disadvantages of weakness.
Though Daphne and Meredith possessed impressive magical skills, a lifetime of pampering left them lacking in practical experience.
Had they not faced professors in their first year, their combat performance might not have even rivaled Harry's.
One day, inside Skyler's magical suitcase space, he retrieved two skeleton models and cast an expansion spell to transform them into full-sized adult figures.
He then instructed Daphne and Meredith to practice combat against these magically animated figures.
Under the spell cast, the skeleton men were unable to use magic but could wield weapons like swords and bows. At the same time, Skyler's formidable mental power allowed him to micromanage their attacks, defenses, and evasive maneuvers with agility and flexibility.
For Daphne and Meredith, this combat training posed a significant challenge, given their limited practical experience.
Following several duels, despite the majority of their attacks being evaded by the skeleton man, a few sporadic spells did manage to find their mark.
However, these strikes did not actually harm the skeleton man, and true injuries were sustained during the mock battle.
Daphne, disheveled and perspiring heavily, was struck by an arrow in her right shoulder and a knife in her left leg.
These weapons were, in reality, illusions, and Meredith fared little better, having been jabbed twice in the back with a sword, injuring her wand-holding hands.
Skyler promptly intervened, his expression grave as he addressed the two women. "Your performance leaves much to be desired. In a real battle, you would have been defeated. Now, do you understand the difference between actual combat and daily spell practice?"
As Daphne and Meredith nodded in agreement, Skyler proceeded, "You've mastered numerous attack spells, your spellcasting speed is impressive, and your accuracy is commendable. However, the problem lies in your 'can't hit the skeleton man.' Do you know why?"
Skyler encouraged them to contemplate the question briefly before providing an answer, "It's because your attacks lack strategic planning. You rely excessively on combat instinct, directing each spell at the skeleton man without considering what to do when your opponent's dodging ability surpasses your hitting accuracy. A proficient combat wizard strategizes and coordinates their next move during battle. For example—"
Skyler demonstrated his point by using his wand to cast a spell. "Flock of birds!" he incanted, conjuring a multitude of flying birds that filled the air. He then lowered his wand and continued, "A lot of bullets!" The birds transformed into a barrage of bullets aimed at the skeleton man.
Confronted with this extensive aerial assault, the skeleton man tried to evade while blocking, yet Skyler gradually herded it into a corner.
To maintain the upper hand, Skyler also cast several Flame Spells around the corner, sealing the skeleton man's escape.
With its mobility restricted, the skeleton man ultimately succumbed to Skyler's Smashing Curse, crumbling into dust.
Skyler emphasized the importance of combination spells, explaining, "As you observed, the flying bird and ten thousand bullets spells can be employed together in what's known as a 'combination spell.' Using this technique, I created a dense, high-speed offensive with flying birds, and in order to withstand the onslaught, I funneled the skeleton man into a corner. I continued to restrict its movements with the flame curse until it had no room to dodge, at which point a single Smashing Curse easily defeated it."
