The spider cave had become a spider purgatory—burning spiders everywhere, and ashes where the flames had passed.
The Acromantulas were terrified.
Yes, they were vicious by nature, but that didn't mean they were incapable of fear.
Between life and death lies great terror; humans cannot escape it, and neither could the Acromantulas.
The giant spiders kept retreating, but the blue flames turned from defense to offense—leaping onto those that moved too slowly. The spiders in the cave were packed tightly together; when one caught fire, a whole cluster would ignite in an instant.
In just a short while, the ground was covered with a thick layer of ash. The Acromantulas, once rulers of the Forbidden Forest, might very well face total annihilation today.
Terror spread among the swarm. They no longer wanted to devour the three young wizards—they only wished for the deadly flames to stop.
This merciless fire was a defensive type of Dark Magic. Depending on the caster, it could appear either blue or black. The fire automatically protected the spellcaster, consuming any living being that was disloyal or harbored malice toward them.
Gellert Grindelwald had once used this very spell in Paris to test the loyalty of new followers—and had nearly burned the entire city down.
However, the flames Eda cast in the cave were far less powerful than Grindelwald's inferno and not nearly as intelligent. She didn't yet have Grindelwald's magical strength, nor his elegance or composure.
The first Dark Lord truly had style—summoning his followers with silken smoothness, black satin swirling above Paris; testing their loyalty in a manner both graceful and cruel. And on top of that, he even had a boyfriend…
Tell me that doesn't make you jealous.
During that month in Nurmengard, Eda wasn't there for a vacation. Though Grindelwald hadn't taught her any specific spells, he had influenced her more deeply than anyone else. He shattered her preconceived notions about Dark Magic and made her far more resolute.
If it had been before, Eda would never have used a Dark spell like the Fire Shield. She would probably have fought her way out with Stunners and Barrier Charms, and if escape was impossible, she'd have gone for a massive Incendio Maxima, choosing mutual destruction—burning herself and her enemies alike.
But now, she handled the situation effortlessly with Dark Magic, casually burning entire swarms of Acromantulas to ash. This was why she dared to bring the twins along instead of coming alone—because she had the confidence to lead them out of the Forbidden Forest without a scratch.
Though Eda wasn't a follower of Grindelwald, having received his personal guidance made her, in essence, a disciple of the First Dark Lord. If her identity as Grindelwald's student were ever made public, she wouldn't even need to rally people herself—she'd instantly gain a legion of loyal followers.
Of course, she'd also be hunted by half of Europe's wizards. Those were Grindelwald's blood debts, and as his pupil, she would naturally inherit them.
That was why Dumbledore told no one where she had gone—and why Eda kept it secret from the twins. Hogwarts might not be the safest place, but at least the dangers there weren't all aimed solely at her.
Eda's power had not yet reached the level of Albus Dumbledore, Gellert Grindelwald, or Tom Riddle (listed alphabetically, not by strength), but she could already be counted among the elite of the wizarding world. There were many who could defeat her—but very few who could kill her.
A brilliant mind, extraordinary talent, her mysterious "cheat," tireless effort, and the guidance of both Dumbledore and Grindelwald—if Eda were still mediocre after all that, she might as well slit her own throat and save herself the embarrassment.
Between life and death lies great terror. Eda had faced death before—endured partings, and the boundless darkness that followed. Those were the trials the heavens had set for her, and now, the only one who could stand in her way was herself.
Now, Eda could finally face her own heart—what stood between her and becoming stronger was nothing but time itself.
Standing in the center of the blazing flames, the three of them reacted very differently. Eda wore a faint smile, as though she were admiring a beautiful scene. Behind her, however, the twins frowned deeply, their faces full of worry as they looked at her.
The sight of the burning spiders made Fred and George feel nauseous. They hadn't seen as much as Eda had—it was only natural that they couldn't stomach such horror.
Eda's wand tapped lightly against the palm of her left hand, and if one listened closely, one could even make out a melody hidden within the rhythm—The Blue Danube.
The blue fire reflected in her golden-framed glasses, and behind the flames gleamed her eyes—green as emeralds—concealing whatever thoughts lay within.
"Stop it—please, stop!" Aragog raised his massive pincers as though raising a white flag. "You can leave now! My children will not stop you!"
Fred and George said nothing. From the moment the fire began to burn, their eyes had been fixed on Eda. There was something unfamiliar about her now—something they couldn't quite name. At that moment, both of them wondered what she would choose to do—would she finish the slaughter, or spare the Acromantulas?
"It was you and your children who wouldn't let us leave," Eda said coldly, her tone like frost. "You wanted to make us your winter feast. And now you tell us to go? What do you take us for—creatures you can summon and dismiss at will, hm? Crawling insects to be ordered about?"
Whatever Aragog felt, the twins didn't know—but they could sense a chilling aura radiating from Eda. She was demanding retribution from the spiders.
And if Aragog failed to give her an answer that satisfied her… the twins were certain Eda wouldn't hesitate to burn the entire nest to ashes.
" What do you want?" Outmatched, Aragog could only relent. Every second he stalled increased the chance his kin would be consumed by the flames; he could not watch his family vanish.
The Acromantulas had chosen the wrong prey and could only submit, complying with the demand. If it weren't Eda standing there, there might not even be bodies left by now.
"I do not like your tone, Aragog," Eda said slowly, returning his own words back to him.
Although Eda and the twins were intruders, she had spoken gently to the spiders at first, showing them respect and soft words.
But the spider had been ungrateful—one moment it cried "Kill them," the next it complained "I don't like your tone," and then wanted the three of them as supper. Who did Aragog think he was? Did he expect Hagrid to protect him again like decades ago?
Might makes right. The monster in the Chamber had terrified the Acromantulas into fleeing the castle, yet the spiders had not so much as fart in response; now, encountering three young wizards, these hideous bugs had the nerve to act superior—pathetic!
"Speak. What do you want from me?" Aragog's tone softened; helplessness was written across his drooping pincers. "Just don't force me to speak that creature's name."
The blue flames did not spread further. Eda had achieved her purpose and saw no need to press the spiders more. She produced ten pint bottles from her robe and, with magic, sent them to the spot before Aragog.
Eda flashed a cunning smile. "Fill these pint bottles with your venom. If yours is not enough, have your descendants fill them. Fill these bottles, and I will spare you and pass by your offspring."
Acromantula venom was extremely rare. Extracting it from a living Acromantula was nearly impossible—these vicious spiders could never be tamed.
A single pint of Acromantula venom could sell for a hundred Galleons. Tonight, Eda had struck gold. Those pint bottles, of course, weren't something she carried around normally; she had prepared them specifically for this night.
If they had managed to have a pleasant conversation with Aragog, those bottles would have never been needed. But once Aragog and his offspring tried to attack Eda and the twins, the bottles had found their purpose.
The sound of skittering filled the cave once more. Before long, the ten pint bottles were filled. How they were filled, Eda didn't see—nor did she care to. She had no interest in watching a group of ugly spiders work.
Eda retrieved the full bottles and slipped them into the bag she had prepared in advance. The bag had been enchanted with an Extension Charm; even ten more bottles would fit easily inside.
"I've done as you asked. Now, put away your flames and leave this place!" said Aragog, its voice trembling. It no longer had the courage to risk its clan. The moment it had allowed its brood to attack Eda and the twins, it had already lost.
The wall of blue fire began to shrink, finally forming a small barrier just large enough to shield Eda and the twins.
But even then, the terrified Acromantulas stayed frozen in place. Not a single spider dared take advantage of the moment to strike or even move a step closer—they had been completely broken by this infernal flame.
"Also…"
"What more do you want? Don't go too far, young one!" Aragog roared in anger.
"I really don't like your tone of voice—and I also don't like spiders," Eda said coolly, completely ignoring the Acromantula's anger. "So, I don't ever want to see any of your offspring anywhere near me or my friends again."
That request wasn't unreasonable, and Aragog could accept it. "Fine," it said. "My children and I will stay away from you. But you must never come here again, either!"
"Of course. I don't like this place anyway, Aragog," Eda replied. "But I'm a rather superstitious person. If anything unfortunate happens to my two friends—say, they die in their beds, drown in a lake, or suffer any kind of 'accident'—then I'll hold every single creature in this cave responsible."
Her words struck the ground like a curse, and the spider cave fell into absolute silence.
The Acromantulas were intelligent, nearly as much as humans; they understood perfectly the warning and threat hidden in her calm tone.
"I like things to be clear from the start, so we don't have to argue later. You understand me, don't you, Aragog?"
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