A satisfied smile immediately appeared on Cassandra's face after Liam agreed.
Seeing how much she cared about him, Liam would have been lying if he claimed he wasn't touched.
At that moment, he quietly made a decision.
No matter how difficult it became, he would eventually create a complete set of dragon-scale armor for Cassandra.
The materials were simply too valuable.
She deserved at least that much.
After classes ended, Liam and Cassandra headed into the Forbidden Forest once again for their usual duel practice.
As they walked, Cassandra glanced at the bandage still wrapped around his hand.
"Your hand is injured today."
Her tone carried obvious concern.
"Are we still dueling?"
Liam nodded.
"It doesn't matter."
He flexed his fingers experimentally.
"I've fought through much worse injuries before."
The wound caused by removing dragon scales wasn't particularly serious.
Compared to the dangers he'd faced in the past, it barely qualified as an inconvenience.
Cassandra looked unconvinced.
Then another thought occurred to her.
"By the way."
She adjusted her grip on her wand.
"I've always heard Animagus training takes at least a month. My tutor said it's one of the most difficult forms of magic."
Liam shrugged.
"I improved it."
Cassandra paused.
"Of course you did."
The answer somehow felt entirely predictable.
"So what form is your Animagus?"
"Dragon."
Her eyes widened.
"A magical creature?"
"Yes."
"And that's also because you improved it?"
"Correct."
For several seconds, Cassandra simply stared at him.
Then her eyes began sparkling.
"Show me."
Liam immediately sensed trouble.
"No."
"Show me."
"Cassandra—"
"I want to see it."
Her excitement was rapidly becoming unstoppable.
"I want to be a dragon knight."
Liam rubbed his forehead.
"My dragon isn't the same type as ordinary dragons."
"I don't care."
She grabbed his sleeve.
"Show me first."
Liam sighed dramatically.
Then surrendered.
"Fine."
He slipped his wand back into his sleeve.
Silver light immediately erupted around his body.
Moments later, a silver dragon nearly five meters long stood before Cassandra.
The dragon's size was deliberately restrained.
If Liam wished, he could grow far larger.
Potentially as large as the colossal Patronus Dragon that had appeared above Hogwarts.
That would only create unnecessary attention.
Five meters was more than enough.
Cassandra froze.
Her mouth slowly opened.
"That's..."
The dragon lowered its head slightly.
"...amazing."
The next thing Liam knew, Cassandra had thrown her arms around his neck.
"I want to fly."
Her eyes practically glowed.
"Take me into the sky."
Unfortunately, Liam immediately returned to human form.
The sudden transformation left Cassandra awkwardly hugging his neck.
Neither moved.
For several seconds.
Then Cassandra's face began turning red.
Liam looked equally amused.
"My lady."
He raised an eyebrow.
"If I fly around Hogwarts as a dragon carrying you on my back, neither of us will have any peace for the next month."
Cassandra reluctantly admitted that was true.
The giant Patronus Dragon alone had caused a school-wide investigation.
A real dragon carrying a student through the sky would create complete chaos.
Liam continued.
"You remember what happened last time."
She groaned.
Unfortunately, she did.
Half of Hogwarts had spent days trying to identify the mysterious dragon caster.
"Fine."
She pouted.
"Then after the holidays."
"After the holidays?"
"You'll take me flying."
Liam laughed.
"So that's non-negotiable?"
"Absolutely."
She pointed at him.
"I am becoming a dragon knight."
"Fine."
Liam surrendered.
"I'll take you flying."
A victorious smile immediately appeared on Cassandra's face.
"Good."
Then she pulled out her wand.
"Now."
Her expression became serious.
"Let's duel."
Liam smiled and drew his own wand.
Both stepped backward.
Five paces.
Then they saluted.
A familiar ritual.
"Just because you're injured doesn't mean I'll hold back."
Cassandra's eyes gleamed with determination.
"If I win today, don't complain."
Liam shrugged.
"I've never complained before."
"Fair."
The duel began instantly.
"Ventus!"
A powerful cutting wind exploded from Cassandra's wand.
The invisible blade tore across the clearing.
Liam vanished.
A gray vortex swallowed him.
Apparition.
The attack sliced harmlessly through empty air.
Cassandra wasn't surprised.
She immediately spun.
"Incendio!"
A ring of flames erupted outward.
The fire spread in all directions, covering nearly five meters around her.
The timing was perfect.
Liam had just emerged from Apparition.
Before the flames reached him, a thick stone wall erupted from the earth.
Fire crashed against stone.
"Reducto!"
Without hesitation, Cassandra blasted the barrier apart.
The wall exploded.
Fragments scattered everywhere.
Months of training against Liam had taught her an important lesson.
Passive defense didn't work.
If she waited, Liam would eventually find an opening.
The only way to survive longer was to seize the initiative and attack aggressively.
That was exactly what she did.
Then Liam's voice sounded behind her.
"Seeing isn't always believing."
Without even turning around, Cassandra flicked her wand backward.
A shield charm erupted behind her.
Three magical bolts smashed against the barrier and dissolved harmlessly.
Liam smiled.
Her instincts were improving.
Then Cassandra noticed something strange.
The sky was darkening.
Fast.
Heavy gray clouds gathered overhead.
Thunder rumbled.
Across the clearing, Liam stood motionless with his wand raised toward the heavens.
Magical power poured upward.
His silver eyes reflected the growing storm.
Then he spoke.
"Lightning Spear."
The world flashed white.
A gigantic spear made entirely of lightning descended from the clouds.
The pressure alone was terrifying.
Cassandra's expression changed immediately.
Too fast.
There was no time to dodge.
She could only raise her wand and pour every ounce of magical power into her shield.
The lightning struck.
The impact forced her backward.
The ground beneath her feet cracked.
Before she could recover—
Another spear descended.
Then another.
Then another.
The attacks arrived relentlessly.
Each one stronger than the last.
Cassandra's shield trembled.
Cracks spread across its surface.
She gritted her teeth.
More magical power.
More resistance.
More defense.
It wasn't enough.
Eventually, her reserves ran dry.
The shield shattered.
The final Lightning Spear pierced through the fading barrier and stopped mere centimeters from her nose.
Electricity crackled across the tip.
For a brief moment, genuine fear flashed through her heart.
Even knowing Liam would never intentionally hurt her, the sight was intimidating.
Then the spear vanished.
The storm above dissipated.
Sunlight returned.
Cassandra collapsed onto the grass.
"Ha..."
A helpless laugh escaped her.
"I lost again."
Liam walked over and offered his hand.
As he helped her stand, he began explaining.
"When dealing with lightning magic, resisting directly isn't always the best option."
Cassandra listened carefully.
"You should redirect it."
Liam pointed toward the ground.
"Create a conductive path through the earth."
Understanding slowly appeared.
"The ground disperses electrical energy."
"Exactly."
Liam nodded.
"If you channel the attack into the earth, you'll save a tremendous amount of magical power."
Cassandra mentally recorded the advice.
Then another question occurred to her.
"Does that spell track its target automatically?"
"It does not."
Liam shook his head.
"I need to maintain a mental lock on the target."
"Then why cast into the sky first?"
She looked puzzled.
"Wouldn't it be simpler to create the attack directly?"
Liam smiled.
"Because that would cost far more magic."
He pointed upward.
"Clouds already contain enormous amounts of electrical energy."
Understanding dawned immediately.
"My magic only acts as a guide."
He spread his hands.
"The actual lightning comes from the atmosphere."
Cassandra's eyes widened.
"So you're borrowing power from nature."
"Exactly."
Liam nodded.
"If I generated the entire attack myself, it would consume at least ten times more magical power."
That alone was impressive.
But there was another advantage.
"The increased distance also makes the attack harder to defend against."
Liam looked toward the fading clouds.
"Most people can't visually track a lightning strike."
Which was exactly why the spell was so dangerous.
....
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