Lucas sits on his bed, the soft mattress sinking slightly under his weight. The room around him is quiet, save for the gentle rustling of Nyx's scales as she coils around his arm. The walls are mostly bare, the only splashes of color coming from the magical objects scattered about, their blood-infused surfaces glinting in the dim light. He takes a deep breath, the scent of his sweat filling his nostrils as he prepares to test his abilities.
I need to make sure everything still works after destroying that Horcrux, he thinks to himself, his brow furrowing slightly as he focuses on the task at hand. He looks down at Nyx, her dark eyes meeting his own. "Nyx, can you understand me?" he asks, the sibilant hisses of Parseltongue rolling off his tongue with ease.
The grass snake tightens her grip on his arm, her forked tongue flicking out to taste the air. "Of course I can," she responds, her voice a soft whisper in his mind. "What's going on, Lucas? You seem different."
Relief floods through him, his shoulders sagging slightly as he realizes the Horcrux's destruction hasn't affected his ability to speak Parseltongue. It must have imprinted on my soul, he pondered, his fingers absently tracing the winding patterns of Nyx's scales. "I had a parasite in my mind, Nyx," he explains, his voice low and serious. "It made me act stupid sometimes, but I got rid of it."
Nyx's eyes widen, her body tensing as she processes his words. "Are you okay now?" she asks, concern evident in her tone. "Are you sure it's gone?"
"I think so," Lucas reassures her, his hand stroking her head gently. "But I need to do some more tests to be certain." He looks around his room, taking in the cluttered shelves and piles of books. His gaze falls on the magical objects he created using his own blood, their presence now a stark reminder of his recklessness. I can't believe I was so careless, he thinks, shaking his head in disbelief. That Horcrux really messed with my head.
He rises from the bed, his bare feet padding softly on the worn carpet as he grabs his pouch from the nearby desk. The leather is soft and supple beneath his fingers as he sweeps the magical objects inside, their weight barely noticeable thanks to the pouch's enchantments. Voldemort was brilliant, but he was also unstable, Lucas thought, his mind wandering to the dark wizard's history. No wonder the Horcrux made me act so illogically at times.
With a burst of intent, he conjures water, the clear liquid swirling around his fingertips as he manipulates it to clean the blood-lines from the walls. The water moves with a fluid grace, erasing the evidence of his experiments as if they never existed. I need to find better ways to protect my mind and soul, he thinks, his shoulders tense. Occlumency and the Revitalization Spell aren't enough against something that deeply rooted…
Lucas picks up a pen from his desk, the smooth plastic cool against his skin. He focuses on it, his mind reaching out to the object as he levitates it, banishing it forward and summoning it back with ease. Okay, that still works, he thinks, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He moves on to testing his elemental abilities, summoning small amounts of each element and manipulating them with practiced precision. Fire dances across his palm, its heat warming his skin as he shapes it into a small sphere. Water coalesces around his other hand, its surface rippling gently as he molds it into various shapes. Earth and air respond to his commands, swirling around him in a controlled vortex. No issues there either, he notes, satisfaction evident in his thoughts.
Closing his eyes, Lucas delves into his Vast Sea Visualization. The waves are a bit choppy, their crests foaming and crashing against each other in a chaotic dance. He knows they'll calm down with time, but the sight still unsettles him slightly. My Visualization techniques are still intact, he reassures himself, focusing on each one in turn. Thermal Currents of the Vast Sea, Glow of the Depths, Misty Breeze—he summons them all, their familiar sensations washing over him like a comforting blanket.
Turning his attention back to Nyx, Lucas sends a Legilimency Probe her way. Her surface thoughts are a jumble of emotions—concern, curiosity, and a hint of fear. Legilimency is fine too, he notes, withdrawing the probe gently. He reaches for his Divination Orb, the smooth crystal cool against his fingertips as he focuses on a familiar location in London. The orb clouds over for a moment before revealing the bustling streets, people hurrying about their daily lives, unaware of the magical eyes watching them from afar. Divination is working as well, Lucas thinks, his tight shoulders relaxing. Thank goodness the Horcrux wasn't the source of my magical abilities.
But even as he celebrates this small victory, a nagging doubt creeps into his mind. What about my personality? he wonders, his brow furrowing once more. How much of Voldemort's influence is still there? He looks at Nyx, her dark eyes watching him intently. An idea forms in his mind, and he leans closer to her, his voice serious. "Nyx, I need you to keep an eye on my behavior from now on," he says, his tone leaving no room for argument. "If I ever do something that seems hasty or illogical, tell me right away."
The snake nods, her tongue flicking out to taste the air. She understands the importance of her new role, and Lucas knows he can count on her to keep him in check.
His mind wanders to Dudley, his cousin's face flashing before his eyes. I can't just cut him off from the calming spell cold turkey, he thinks, sighing loudly. He's grown up with it, and he might not know how to handle strong negative emotions without it. He decides to gradually weaken the spell over time, allowing Dudley to slowly learn to regulate his own emotions. It won't be easy, but it's the right thing to do.
And those refineries... Lucas shakes his head, his fists clenching at his sides. What was I thinking, attacking them so openly? He curses Voldemort's influence once more, his anger burning hot in his veins. I need to invent a new spell to hide my magical traces, he thinks. The global Wizarding World is probably after me, even if they don't know my identity yet.
He sighs, the weight of his actions settling heavily on his shoulders. The innocent people caught in the crossfire of his attacks, their lives forever changed by his recklessness. I can't change what I've done, he thinks, his heart heavy with regret. But I can try to protect myself moving forward.
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His thoughts turn to his university studies, the countless hours he's spent attending lectures. Luckily people think I'm a unprecedented genius, not a reincarnated soul or something else, he laughed sarcastically, a wry smile tugging at his lips. But I will have to keep up the pace and finish my degree. He knows he can't just disappear, not after displaying his knowledge at such a young age. It would raise too many questions, draw too much attention to himself.
I can still profit from my investments in renewables, but I need to be more subtle. The last thing he wants is to trigger a global economic collapse or a nuclear war. The consequences would be catastrophic, and he refuses to be responsible for such devastation.
He knows he can't disappear entirely, as it would only arouse suspicion and make matters worse. His eyes wander around the room, searching for inspiration, when they fall upon the wand he acquired from the assassin he killed. A gasp escapes his lips as realization dawns on him. I need to get rid of that wand, and fast, he thinks, his heart pounding in his chest. What if they can track me through it?
But as he reaches for the wand, another thought crosses his mind. If he gets rid of it, he'll lose his ability to Apparate. I need to get another wand first, he concludes, his brow furrowing in concentration.
Wasting no time, Lucas casts his concealment spells, the familiar tingle of magic washing over him as he becomes invisible to the naked eye. He grabs his pouch, the leather soft against his fingers, and turns to Nyx. "Coil around my neck," he instructs, his voice barely above a whisper. The snake complies, her scales cool against his skin as she settles into place.
"Remember, Nyx," Lucas says, his tone serious, "you can ask me what I'm planning to do whenever you want. Even if you don't suspect anything is wrong, do it sometimes, just to keep me in check."
Nyx nods, her tongue flicking out in understanding. Lucas takes a deep breath, his plan forming in his mind. "We're going to use the flying carpet to head to Cambridge Airport," he explains, his voice steady. "From there, we'll head to Eastern Europe. I want to steal a random wand from a wizard in Чарівний Прохід, in Kyiv, Ukraine. I don't want to link myself to Britain or even Western Europe if possible."
He looks at Nyx, his eyes searching hers for any sign of doubt or hesitation. "What do you think, Nyx?"
The snake is silent for a moment, her dark eyes unreadable. Finally, she speaks, her voice a soft hiss in his ears. "I see nothing hasty or illogical in this plan," she says, her words filling Lucas with relief.
With a smile, Lucas heads out, his flying carpet waiting for him just outside the window. He places a small vial of spell-infused blood under a floorboard, ensuring that the Dursleys will stay out of his room and not wonder where he is. No more stupid mistakes, he thinks, shaking his head in frustration. I won't put anything in the open again, that's for sure.
Hours later, Lucas arrives in Kyiv, Ukraine. He lands his flying carpet far from the airport, then Apparates to the entrance of Чарівний Прохід, the Ukrainian equivalent of Diagon Alley.
Чарівний Прохід is hidden not by walls or gates but by a clever illusion that blends in with the nearby buildings. To get in, you have to tap a specific pattern on an old stone carved with ancient runes from the Kievan Rus' era. The stone, which looks like part of an old monument, only reacts to a witch or wizard's touch. It hums gently with magic before making the illusion disappear, revealing the cobblestone street of Чарівний Прохід.
As Lucas steps inside, it feels like he's left the noisy city behind and entered a calmer, more peaceful world. The change is smooth, with old cobblestones under his feet guiding him further into the passage. Each footstep echoes softly against the background noise of quiet enchantments and rustling leaves.
The buildings on either side look old and lean in close. Their wooden fronts glow in the golden light of the setting sun. The windows are decorated with flowers that attract magical pollinators. Flutterby bushes and whispering willows line the path, proof of the ecosystem thriving in this hidden corner of Kyiv.
Lucas glances up and sees how the rooftops frame the sky perfectly. The sun makes patterns of light and shadow that dance across the cobblestones. As evening comes, lanterns charmed to glow like trapped stars flicker to life, making the alley shine with a soft, dreamlike light.
The air is filled with the scent of herbs and flowers - that Lucas breathes in deeply. In the middle of Чарівний Прохід, there's a square with a fountain made of stone and crystal at its center. Water bubbles out, making prisms of light in the air. Around the square, there are benches made of carved wood and stone where people can rest in the shade of trees.
Lucas scans the area, grateful for the knowledge he gained from reading a book in Diagon Alley about the main streets of various magical countries. He spots a family of five and follows them for some time, until they start to enter a small building that resembles a potion ingredients shop. Seizing the opportunity, he snatches the adult man's wand from his pocket, which turns invisible the moment he touches it. He feels for its affinity to him, finding it average. The assassin's wand was more compatible, probably because of its serpent-related materials and my Parseltongue, he thought. But this one should work fine.
He glances at the family once more, searching for any hint of guilt for stealing the man's wand, but finds none. This isn't because of Voldemort's influence, he reassures himself. I'm focused on my own power by nature. I'm just not cruel, hasty, or stupid in how I gain that power.
With the wand securely in his possession, Lucas turns and leaves immediately. He now has a wand he can use for Apparition, so he makes his way to a secluded part of Чарівний Прохід and disappears with a soft pop, ready to head to Saudi Arabia once more.
As he travels, he goes over his plan. I need to find a way to frame the Ebon Hand, he thinks, his brow furrowing in concentration. But how? He knows he killed the oil magnate long ago, not long after he killed the Ebon Hand, so that route is closed to him. But he does know that he needs to use the assassin's wand in some way.
An idea begins to form in his mind. Maybe I could find another assassin organization in the Middle East and go through that route, he ponders, sighing at the complexity of the situation. But he does have a plan, one that will require him to thoroughly abuse someone's mind.
He could find an assassin organization, locate a skilled wizard, subdue him, and use his Legilimency to slowly twist his mind, making him want to attack an oil refinery. He would need to stay near the wizard for a little while, casting his concealment spells on him. Then, when the oil refinery is empty of people, he would destroy a few of the oil tanks using earth spikes.
Next, he would have the mind-broken assassin sit on one of his flying carpets, and attack with the Serpentwood wand, using a fire spell to ignite the oil. Hopefully, the ICW wizards would show up very quickly, and the assassin would drop his wand and any identifying tokens to the ground. The moment any magic was cast at the scapegoat, a vial of spell-infused blood on his person would immediately explode with great amounts of earth spikes in every direction while also burning the mind-broken assassin's body and itself with Frostfire, reducing him to ashes. Meanwhile, he would have long left on his flying carpet.
It's a decent plan, if a little bit obvious, that would divert attention somewhat to some assassin organization, Lucas thinks, but it depends on the ICW arriving quickly. He knows he'll need to ponder this further as he continues Apparating, the world blurring around him as he moves from one location to the next, his mind focused on the task at hand.