"Mabel…"
A boy tugged at the girl's sleeve and said, "Hayley… Hayley might already be…"
The girl didn't speak, but stubbornly looked at Vid with determined eyes, her fists clenched tightly, her frail body like a volcano ready to erupt.
Vid asked, "Is Hayley also your companion?"
"Yes," Rita Skeeter said, "She's only nine… She was taken away about an hour ago."
Vid observed their expressions and knew they weren't lying, so he asked, "Do you know where she was taken?"
"I know." Mabel nodded vigorously, her voice trembling slightly as she said, "I know the route."
"Mikhail."
Vid waved his hand, and the Firebird suddenly appeared, circling above before tilting its head to look at Vid, letting out a friendly chirp.
"You protect Rita and these kids, don't let anyone hurt them," Vid said.
Mikhail nodded and then perched between the railings above, watching the children below carefully.
Vid looked at Mabel and said, "Lead the way, we're going to find that child."
"Follow me."
Mabel ran without hesitation, her long brown hair flying behind her.
Rita Skeeter watched them leave with longing eyes, wanting to call after them, but ultimately said nothing.
Hearing the sound of the iron gate closing automatically, she suddenly felt very insecure.
Rita Skeeter's Magic Ability was focused solely on becoming an excellent gossip reporter; when it came to combat, she wasn't even as good as some third-year students.
— Vid left, but surely Dumbledore would come soon, right? He should, right?
After all, there are so many children here; the headmaster certainly wouldn't ignore this.
But with so many people to bring along, how could they escape safely? No matter how skilled Dumbledore is, he can't summon a ship out of thin air, right?
If it were just the three of them, escaping should be easy…
Rita Skeeter couldn't help having such thoughts, while also deeply realizing her own pettiness.
At the same time, she couldn't admit to herself one thing—
In Rita Skeeter's heart, she considered herself, Vid, and Dumbledore to be Wizards, supposed to be "on the same side."
But in their hearts, it might not be the same…
Though they came to rescue her, if they had to make a choice, they'd probably prioritize saving those younger kids...
Thinking of the horribly cunning Muggles on this island, and remembering the help she received from the children these past few days, Rita Skeeter anxiously bit her nails, chewing them into ragged edges.
Suddenly, she heard a strange noise from behind, and the recently paranoid Rita Skeeter feared it was the guards waking up, quickly turning her head—
"Bang!"
Blood splattered.
"Ah———"
Rita Skeeter couldn't help but scream.
A red-haired boy around ten, emotionless, had taken the club from the guard and smashed it against the guard's head before turning to glance at Rita Skeeter.
Rita fearfully covered her mouth.
Luke stood in front of her, speaking in his usual timid voice, "She's a Wizard… she's different from those people."
The children from the same cell stood in front of Rita, their small bodies forming a frail wall.
Rita Skeeter couldn't help but weep, softly sobbing.
She had just been hesitating whether to rid herself of these "burdens," yet they protected her once again.
The red-haired boy wordlessly turned his gaze, raising the club high again, smashing down with all his might!
"Thud!"
Rita confirmed she heard the sound of bones cracking; she dared not look, turning her head away, helplessly looking towards the brilliant and fiery Firebird for help.
Mikhail combed his "feathers" with his beak.
Vid's command was only to protect the children and Rita Skeeter, not the guards.
Though Mikhail was not human, it could discern who its enemies really were.
This Firebird was born from a special environment, unlike the divine Phoenix, it reveled in destruction, with a disregard for life ingrained in its nature.
Rita's plea for help was in vain, she could only shrink quietly at the Firebird's feet, tightly pressed to the railing, helplessly watching the scene unfold.
With the red-haired boy leading, even the children who had stayed in the cell emerged, swarming together, and starting in on the other guards as well.
They clubbed, stabbed with small knives, punched, and kicked…
Some even crouched on the ground like wild dogs, biting with hate-filled teeth.
The scene turned bloody and unbearable.
Rita Skeeter held herself back from vomiting, unable to look, yet not daring to close her eyes, feeling an indescribable fear of these children.
Muggles… are these Muggles too…
Aren't Muggles supposed to be clumsy, foolish, easily tricked, unable to understand anything?
What is going on with this island?
Why are these Muggles so terrifying?
…
Though Mabel always acted brave and strong, her stamina was actually poor. She climbed two flights from the dungeon and was already panting heavily.
But she didn't dare stop even for a moment—maybe a second of delay could mean the difference between life and death for Hayley.