The sun had barely set, but the forest near Elderfield was already drowning in shadow.
Harris Wells walked carefully between the tall pine trees, his feet crunching over old leaves and twigs. He was only eight, but he moved like someone older, alert, watchful. This forest had become his secret training ground. A place where he could test small spells, practice with runes, and train without being seen.
But tonight felt... different.
There was no wind.
No birdsong.
Even the bugs were silent.
He swallowed hard and tightened his grip on the stick he used as a mock wand, smooth, light, carved with simple shapes. It wasn't a real wand, but it helped him focus his magic.
I just need to try the light stone one more time, he thought, reaching into his pouch to check the rune-carved stone he'd made a smooth pebble engraved with the rune for "light." He'd spent days charging it.
Then he heard it.
From the trees, a creature stepped forward, long and thin, like a starving wolf with twisted limbs and black fur that shimmered like smoke. Its claws were too long, and its mouth was full of sharp, crooked teeth.
It growled.
Not a normal creature. Not from this forest. This thing is magical... and dangerous.
His heart raced. His palms grew sweaty.
The beast crept forward.
"I-I don't want to fight!" Harris shouted.
The creature didn't care.
It leapt.
Harris dove to the side, rolled across the dirt, and aimed his stick.
"Lumos!" he shouted. Light burst from the tip, bright and blinding.
The creature hissed and twisted away, smoke rising from its eyes.
It didn't stop.
"Ventus!" Harris shouted, remembering the wind spell from a book.
A burst of air slammed into the beast, pushing it back, just a few feet, but enough to buy time. His head throbbed. He'd used too much magic already today.
The beast crouched low. Ready to pounce again.
Harris looked down at the glowing stone in his pouch. Could I use it? Maybe… if I charge it with magic now... it might burst.
He pulled it out.
Held it tight.
Focused everything.
He thought of home. Of his foster parents. Of the warm fire. Of everything he didn't want to lose.
"Luxflare!" he shouted, not a real spell, just a name he made up.
The stone flashed, a brilliant, blinding light explosion lit up the entire grove.
The beast screamed, a horrible, high-pitched sound and vanished into the trees.
Smoke. Silence. Then… nothing.
Harris fell to his knees, gasping for breath.
His nose bled again. His hands shook. His vision spun.
But he was alive.
He stayed there for a while, until his heartbeat slowed. Until the sky started to darken with the coming night.
Then he stood up, holding the now-cracked stone in one hand.
"Not ready," he whispered to himself. "Not yet. That thing… it almost killed me."
He looked toward the forest, where the beast had vanished.
It was watching me. Like it knew I was here. Like it was drawn to me.
A chill ran down his spine.
The magical world… was watching.
That night, Harris sat by the window, a blanket wrapped around his shoulders. The glowing stone, now cracked, lay on the desk nearby.
He didn't tell Mara or Thom about the beast. They were kind, loving… but they wouldn't understand.
They were Muggles, non-magical. And Harris was starting to see just how different his world had become.
That creature hadn't just been dangerous , it had watched him.
It was drawn to me, he thought. Something is changing. The magical world... it's coming closer.
He looked up at the moon and whispered:
"I need to get stronger."