Chapter 10 - 10: Return to the World of Mysteries

Dumbledore smiled gently. "It's alright, Miss Hall. Although you failed just now, you clearly have an exceptional talent for Apparition. Once you've learned more magic and mastered your internal magic flow, you'll be able to Apparate naturally." Audrey beamed and thanked him sweetly. "Thank you, Professor." Over the next two days, Edward took every opportunity to practice Apparition—even when going to the bathroom. His progress was evident, and he quickly became more proficient. By the third day, he was Apparating frequently between the Hufflepuff common room and Hogsmeade. By the fifth day, he had ventured to Diagon Alley, Knockturn Alley, and other locations. By then, he had fully mastered Apparition. During this time, he had a private conversation with Dumbledore, selectively sharing some information about the Mysteries World. Dumbledore simply asked a few questions about potions, then nodded thoughtfully before dropping the topic. ——— [The Night Before Returning to the Mysteries World] As the day of their return approached, both Edward and Audrey found themselves strangely disinterested in their studies. It was as if they had made a silent agreement to slack off. The two of them sat in the Quidditch stands, gazing at the Forbidden Forest in the distance. Edward was teasing Lilith with a small dried fish. The little cat leapt and pounced but could never quite catch it, growing so frustrated that she grabbed Edward's hand and started gnawing on it. (´灬`) "We will make it back safely…right?" Audrey inhaled deeply, her face filled with uncertainty. Edward tossed the dried fish into the air. Lilith sprang forward and caught it mid-air. He chuckled and asked, "You're only thinking about this now?" "It's not that," she admitted. "Before, I could only reassure myself by believing it. But now that it's actually happening tomorrow…I feel scared." "There's a saying for that—near-home fear." Edward recalled a phrase he read in a Chinese book, then translated into Loenese. She tilted her head slightly. "Was that the same language as the handwriting in Emperor Roselle's manuscripts?" "Uh…how did you even guess that? Your sixth sense is way too sharp." "It wasn't a guess," she smirked. "I looked through all the books in your Undetectable Extension Pouch. Aside from books in English and Ancient Latin, there were few in that language too" "You can read Ancient Latin?" "If you want to understand more magical texts, Ancient Latin is basic knowledge, isn't it? Also, don't change the subject!" Edward shrugged helplessly. "Alright, alright, you got me. Yes, it's the same language from Roselle's manuscripts." Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "I want to learn it!" Edward flicked her raised hand down with a sigh. "Weren't you just having a 'near-home fear' moment? What happened to that?" "The thought of being able to read the Emperor's manuscripts made my fear disappear," she said enthusiastically. "Now, I'm actually looking forward to it." "We'll talk about it next time," Edward muttered to himself. When she sees all of Roselle's 'romantic affairs' and his 'taste of a demoness ain't bad' comments, her worldview is going to shatter. "Oh, right!" Edward suddenly smacked his forehead. "About my potions—do you have any suggestions?" "Well, I've only recently started exploring the path of the Mystical…if it weren't for—" Audrey's heart skipped a beat. Audrey, you almost blurted out the Tarot Club! But…Edward has shared an entire world's worth of secrets with me. Would it really be right to keep the Tarot Club a secret from him? But I also promised Mr. Fool… Maybe…I could ask Mr. Fool for permission in the next Tarot gathering? Maybe I could introduce Edward to the club too…? Wait…it's already been two weeks since my last meeting! I've missed two gatherings in a row! Did they kick me out?! A whirlwind of thoughts flooded her mind before she took a deep breath and forced herself to focus. "I only became a Beyonder because of a friend's help," she finally said. "Speaking of which, that friend planned to take me to a gathering of Beyonders. There might be potion formulas available there." At that, her face darkened. "But…that was two weeks ago." Edward blinked in surprise. "Huh? Didn't I tell you?" he asked. "While we're in this world, time is practically frozen in yours. In other words, when we go back, it'll still be the same time as when you left." "Really?!" Audrey's eyes widened in joy. A powerful wave of relief washed over her—Yes! I didn't miss the Tarot meeting! I wasn't kicked out! Edward continued, "But that reminds me…how am I supposed to leave your house after we return? I've mastered Apparition, sure, but I can't Apparate to places I've never been." "That's easy," Audrey said. "I'll have Susie stand guard outside. You can hide inside your Extension Pouch, then I'll switch places with you and sneak you out." She thought about it for a moment before adding, "Oh, and you don't have to worry too much about my father hunting you down." Edward raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "I'll just convince him that you're an extraordinary friend I met. It was all just a misunderstanding—besides, you didn't do anything that outrageous." Edward cleared his throat and raised a hand. "Actually…I did." "…What do you mean?" "I…kind of…blew up your room." "???" Audrey's emerald-green eyes were filled with confusion and shock. Edward briefly explained what had happened after she entered the Extension Pouch. "…You really do think of everything," she said, though even she wasn't sure if it was genuine praise or sarcasm. "Can it be restored with a Repairing Charm?" "If the damage isn't too severe, it should be possible," Edward said, his expression turning serious. "But even though Reparo is just a basic spell, its effects are almost like reversing time. I wouldn't recommend using it so openly." "Then I guess I'll just have to say goodbye to all my dresses," she said with a sudden laugh. "Honestly, I've had enough of those cumbersome, restrictive gowns anyway." "But I'm sure your parents will more than compensate for the loss by buying you even more dresses. That's the world of rich, after all." Audrey pursed her lips slightly. "Thank you for reminding me." Edward burst into laughter. "Hahahaha!" After two weeks in another world, Audrey's personality had undergone noticeable changes. Here, she didn't have to worry about how others perceived her or deal with the complexities of noble society. At the end of the day, she was still just a seventeen-year-old girl. However, the years of education and etiquette ingrained in her would likely resurface the moment she returned to her usual environment—restoring her as the "Brightest Gem of Backlund." ——— [The Next Day – Room of Requirement, Hogwarts] Edward took out a small vial of Polyjuice Potion and sipped a bit, waiting for the transformation to take effect. Audrey watched curiously. "The books say that the taste of Polyjuice Potion is different for everyone. What does mine taste like?" "Why don't you try it yourself?" "Eww! No way! It's definitely disgusting." "Well…to be honest, the texture isn't great, but the taste isn't too weird. It's much better than the ones I've had before." As they spoke, Edward's body began to change. Soon, he had taken on Audrey's appearance, though his clothes now hung loosely on him. "Even though I've seen this before, it's still amazing—like looking into a mirror." She reached out and poked his cheek with a finger. "Huh, so my skin is this good?" Edward pointed his wand at his clothes. "Vestis Mutatio." His wizard robes quickly transformed into a dress identical to Audrey's. She froze for a moment before puffing out her cheeks in protest. "So you do know that spell!" Edward immediately realized she was referring to the time when he made her change clothes. He quickly defended himself, "The transfiguration effect of Vestis Mutatio only lasts for half a day. I had no idea if I'd even be coming back, so changing manually was the safer option." Audrey narrowed her green eyes and locked onto his gaze. Her expression seemed to say: Are you really going to lie in front of a spectator? Edward coughed awkwardly and quickly averted his gaze, pretending to check their supplies. "Ahem. We've got less than thirty minutes left. Did you bring everything?" "Just my wand, a few magic books, and two bags of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans." Edward raised an eyebrow. "You actually like those?" "Of course not," she smirked. "I'm bringing them for my friends." Her eyes gleamed mischievously as she thought of Annie, Hibbert, and Viscount Glaint—imagining their reactions when they tasted some of the special flavours. Edward chuckled. "Well…best of luck to them." Audrey suddenly hesitated before asking, "Are you sure you don't want to bring Lilith with us? It'll be fifteen days before we can come back." "Your world is too dangerous. I can't even guarantee my own safety, so it's better not to take any risks. Don't worry—I've already entrusted her to Professor McGonagall." Audrey sighed regretfully. "I really wanted to introduce Lilith to Susie." After chatting for a bit longer, Audrey finally climbed into the Extension Pouch. Now, the vast Room of Requirement was empty, leaving Edward standing alone. He fixed his gaze on the clock on the wall, watching as the seconds ticked away. "Merlin, please let everything go smoothly," he murmured. When the clock's hands struck five, Edward's figure vanished into thin air. ——— [Note]: Don't forget to VOTE. It keeps me motivated.