After entering the Forbidden Forest, Hagrid's massive figure naturally took the lead, shielding Ryze from much of the biting wind and falling snow. His broad back acted like a moving wall, making the harsh environment slightly more tolerable.
As for Fang, the moment he stepped into the forest, he immediately tucked his tail tightly between his legs. The large dog, who usually appeared fierce and intimidating, now stayed obediently between Hagrid and Ryze, not daring to stray even a step from their side.
Ryze couldn't help but find it amusing. Although Fang looked like a ferocious hound on the outside, he was, in truth, extremely timid—and quite adept at avoiding trouble whenever possible. Now that he sensed no need to prove himself, he had no intention of acting brave.
It was honestly difficult to imagine how someone as rough and imposing as Hagrid had managed to raise such a cautious and somewhat lazy dog.
The trio followed a trail through the forest, pushing past thorny undergrowth and weaving between ancient trees. Snow crunched beneath their boots as they ventured deeper into the woods. Nearly half an hour passed as they advanced steadily.
During this time, Hagrid spoke continuously, pointing out various signs along the way. He explained the tracks left by different magical creatures, describing their habits and the areas they preferred to inhabit.
"Not far ahead is where the centaur tribe lives," Hagrid said in a low voice, glancing cautiously toward the deeper forest. "They're not exactly easy to talk to. I don't deal with them much, so we'll need to be careful."
At the mention of centaurs, Ryze's interest was immediately piqued.
Centaurs were a truly remarkable race within the magical world. While the ability of divination was extremely rare among wizards, it was almost commonplace among centaurs.
Over the centuries, wizarding divination had evolved into many different forms—crystal balls, tarot cards, rune casting, and even obscure methods like reading tea leaves or shells. Each system attempted to interpret fate through symbols and patterns.
Centaurs, however, had remained steadfast in their traditions. To this day, they relied almost exclusively on astrology, observing the movement of celestial bodies to interpret the future. Their methods were ancient, precise, and deeply respected—even if not fully understood by wizards.
Because of this unique ability, centaurs had always maintained a neutral stance within the wizarding world. They refused to serve any faction or authority, choosing instead to remain independent observers of fate.
This neutrality had allowed them to avoid many of the conflicts and disasters that plagued wizarding history.
In modern times, as human civilization expanded, most centaur tribes either withdrew deeper into hidden lands or accepted arrangements made by magical governments. Protective enchantments ensured that Muggles would never stumble upon them.
Even so, many centaurs preferred to remain completely separate, relying on their own abilities to stay hidden.
The centaur tribe in Britain had voluntarily settled in the Forbidden Forest near Hogwarts over a century ago. Their relationship with the school was distant—neither hostile nor friendly, but always cautious.
If the opportunity ever arose, Ryze thought, it might be worthwhile to observe their astrological divination firsthand. There could be much to learn from such an ancient and specialized practice.
As he was immersed in thought, his attention was suddenly caught by a faint but distinct flash of red light.
A Raven Task.
Perched quietly on a tree branch ahead was a raven, its presence subtle yet unmistakable to Ryze.
His eyes lit up immediately.
Earlier that morning, he had searched the castle thoroughly but had found no trace of a raven. He had even planned to explore the surrounding grounds later in the day. Unexpectedly, the task had appeared here instead.
So there really was a chance for Raven Tasks to spawn within the Forbidden Forest.
Without hesitation, Ryze casually reached out and touched the raven as he passed beneath it.
A prompt appeared instantly in his mind.
[Special Raven Task Activated]
Task Requirement: Observe and make close contact with 10 magical creatures of XX rank or above, and record their characteristics.
Progress: 0/10
Reward: Random Attribute Forger (Gold)
Duration: One week
Ryze felt a surge of pleasant surprise.
This was likely the only Special Raven Task he would receive in November. Although it didn't reward a rune, a Gold-tier attribute forger was still highly valuable.
More importantly, the task itself wasn't particularly difficult.
Magical creatures of XX rank were generally harmless, while those of XXX rank were only mildly dangerous—well within the capabilities of a competent wizard to handle.
Over the past half hour alone, under Hagrid's guidance, Ryze had already encountered six or seven different magical creatures.
And considering that Hagrid had once trusted him to deal with Fluffy, interacting with a few "gentler" creatures should pose no problem at all.
Moreover, they were now approaching the location where the injured Demiguise was hiding.
"Right there, Hagrid," Ryze said, focusing his thoughts and pointing toward a concealed tree hollow beneath a cluster of thick roots. The opening was partially hidden by snow and debris, making it easy to miss.
After keeping his tail tucked for so long, Fang suddenly sprang into action.
It was as if he had remembered his role as a guard dog. He dashed forward, barked twice at the tree hollow as if to assert his presence, and began scratching energetically at the snow near the entrance.
However, his enthusiasm didn't last long.
Hagrid gave him an annoyed kick on the backside, and Fang immediately retreated, wagging his tail happily as though he had accomplished something important.
Kneeling beside the tree hollow, Hagrid brushed away the snow and leaned closer.
From within the hollow, faint sounds of movement could be heard.
Ryze raised his wand and cast a gentle Lumos Charm, directing the soft light into the hollow. For a brief moment, something shimmered—like strands of silver silk—before vanishing completely.
The creature had turned invisible.
"Oh, poor little thing… don't be afraid," Hagrid said softly, his voice filled with genuine concern. "I'm here to help you."
He carefully reached into the hollow, ignoring the scratches he received as the unseen creature resisted. After some effort, he managed to pull it out.
Although still invisible at first, the Demiguise soon gave up struggling. Perhaps it realized it could not escape, or perhaps it sensed Hagrid's lack of hostility.
Slowly, it reappeared.
For the first time, Ryze saw it clearly.
The Demiguise was exactly as described in books—its body covered in long, flowing silver fur that shimmered faintly even in the dim light. The fur around its face was thinner, revealing expressive eyes filled with caution and quiet sadness.
What stood out most, however, was the injury on its right leg.
The wound had stopped bleeding, but it was still severe. Without proper treatment, it would take at least a week to heal—and even longer if complications arose.
"It must've been caught in a trap set by the centaurs," Hagrid muttered after examining it briefly. "Probably meant for something bigger—like a troll. This little one just got unlucky."
He quickly retrieved a healing potion and bandages from his coat.
Working with surprising gentleness for someone of his size, Hagrid began treating the wound. Ryze assisted smoothly, cleaning the injury and applying the potion with careful precision.
At first, the Demiguise struggled slightly, clearly distressed by the contact.
But as the treatment continued, it gradually calmed down. It seemed to understand that they meant no harm.
Once the bandaging was complete, the creature relaxed completely. When it looked at Hagrid and Ryze again, there was a noticeable change in its gaze—a hint of gratitude replacing its earlier fear.
"This isn't a safe place for you to recover," Hagrid said softly. "If anything else happens, that wound could open up again."
He removed his coat and gently wrapped the Demiguise inside, cradling it securely.
"I'll take you back with me. Don't worry—once you're healed, I'll bring you back here."
With that, Hagrid stood up, preparing to leave the forest.
However, just as they turned to go, a new sound echoed through the trees.
A steady, rhythmic clatter—like hooves striking the ground.
Hagrid froze instantly.
His expression grew serious as he stepped in front of Ryze, shielding him protectively.
"It's a centaur," he said in a low voice. "Stay behind me. I'll handle this."
The atmosphere shifted in an instant, tension settling heavily over the snowy forest as the unseen presence approached.
For more chapters
patreon.com/Liamlivingstone