"One of the seriously injured wizards' conditions has worsened. It doesn't look promising. The others are stable but will need at least two days of rest here."
"We can't stay here longer," Augurey said firmly. "Some Pure Land Society members have escaped and will regroup soon. We can't afford another fight."
"Then what do we do? It's not easy to shake them off on our own, and if we act rashly, the wizards here will definitely take offense. That could cause more trouble," Sound Bird said with a troubled expression.
"If you have a better idea, say it. This isn't a joke anymore. Hesitating will only cost us more. I can't keep holding everyone back. Forget about those who aren't useful, what good is it if we lose the supplies?" Thunderbird snapped coldly.
"But..." Sound Bird hesitated, uncomfortable with Thunderbird's ruthless attitude toward their own people.
"It's for the greater good," Augurey said wearily, trying to comfort Sound Bird. "You know well the ties between those Pure Land Society members and the local Ministry of Magic."
If they were to encounter those enemies again under these circumstances, it wouldn't just be a small group at risk, they could face complete annihilation.
Augurey also felt uneasy about leaving the seriously wounded behind; it seemed too harsh.
So, he proposed giving everyone an extra three hours to rest before setting off.
As for the seriously injured, they would have to be carried along the journey.
He promised to allow more rest after crossing the border, but during the urgent escape, the fate of the wounded would be uncertain.
"Well, that's the only option we have right now," Sound Bird said with a helpless nod.
He then turned and headed toward the group in the distance.
When the collaborators learned they had to leave within three hours, they were hesitant at first, but they recognized how unsafe their current location was and agreed to move when their lives were at stake.
Another reason for their quick agreement was knowing that Thunderbird would accompany them.
They had seen this force before, one that didn't hesitate to eliminate anyone who crossed them.
If Thunderbird got displeased, it was not unlikely they would make an example out of someone.
Once the plan was set, the wizards used the time to eat and rest.
Life in the far north was harsh, and after the intense battle they had just endured, everyone was drained both physically and mentally.
Their injuries only made things worse, especially for those seriously hurt.
Even though Augurey generously provided plenty of potions, the cold climate weakened their effects, leaving some barely hanging on.
When the three hours were up, Augurey gathered everyone and they set off without delay.
The seriously injured had to be carried along, while the bodies of fallen Pure Land Society wizards were left behind with simple precautions.
They had no intention of desecrating the dead, it would only provoke their enemies and bring no real benefit.
Because half their group was lost and everyone was still weak, their progress was slow.
What should have been a half-day journey stretched into a full day and night.
It seemed that Thunderbirds had put so much pressure on the wizards of the Pure Land Society that they either lost too many of their elite members or couldn't gather enough manpower.
The journey ahead appeared calm, and they didn't
They didn't encounter any enemies again. In the end, they crossed the border without any trouble, not even an Auror showed up.
This was definitely a stroke of luck for the group. The moment they crossed the border, many wizards in the transport team couldn't help but cheer quietly, relieved after all the stress of their earlier battles.
Unfortunately, two seriously injured wizards died on the spot as their conditions worsened, and several others remained seriously wounded.
By this point, the transport team had reached the northernmost tip of Europe. A little further north, they would enter the Arctic Circle, where the polar night lasts long and the sky glows with beautiful auroras.
Afraid that any light might give away their position, they had to limit the use of any light sources and could only rely on the moonlight and the aurora's glow to move forward.
To them, all the stars except the aurora shone clearly, like a map of clouds in the sky, a surreal, dreamlike scene. But none of them had the energy or heart to enjoy it.
All they wanted now was to find a warm place to rest. In this cold, dark, and exhausting situation, the most realistic wish was probably just to see a fire, eat hot food, and lie down in a bed.
"We can't keep going like this," Sound Bird said, shivering as he trudged through the deep snow, reporting to the leader with a sad expression. "The accompanying wizards are at their physical limits. If we push any further, more injuries will worsen. We need to find a place to rest."
"We have to keep going east," Augurey replied, their face red from the cold but voice firm against the biting wind. "Only when we're far from the Norwegian border will we be truly safe. Everyone, hold on for one more hour, I promise this is the last stretch."
"Alright, but I'm afraid by then there will be over ten seriously injured. That means the transport team won't be able to operate again anytime soon after resting." Sound Bird knew Augurey was right, but he still urged caution as they pressed on.
"If we can just make it to the safe zone, we can rest a bit longer. But this time, our supplies might not be enough," Augurey said anxiously, then glanced hopefully at Thunderbird beside him.
"I understand," Thunderbird replied with a nod. "Once you're settled, I'll head back to headquarters to arrange for supplies and reinforcements. If that still isn't enough, the rest of the journey will be up to you. After returning to Germany, I won't be able to continue accompanying you."
"Don't worry," Augurey said with a confident smile. "The rest of the trip isn't too dangerous, and I'll recover when the time comes. As long as we stick to the original plan, I promise there won't be any mistakes."
Thunderbird smiled back, reassured by his student's determination.
"Good. I'm counting on you. Make sure the supplies are kept safe."
With that, the group pushed forward through harsh weather, eventually finding a clearing in a forest in northwestern Russia where they set up camp.
But as the accompanying wizards began to relax, their bodies gave in to exhaustion. Many collapsed and lost consciousness.