Man of Archives

The morning started with me going over the results of the first stage of the Olympiad, and I wasn't all that surprised. I was in first place, which was already great. Chen Wu came in second, followed by Batuhan Kaya, then Nikol Grakhr, and Lucia de Mendoza. The next three names belonged to those who were eliminated: Mari Charmacken, Baowei Liu, and Miloneg Bolshanov. I'm certain Mari will cause a stir, as she sees herself as the top candidate for the title of Transfiguration Apprentice.

"How did the results turn out?" Alastor Moody asked when he noticed me reading the results sheet.

"Here," I said, handing him the sheet so he could see for himself.

He quickly skimmed through it and nodded approvingly.

"Well, what can I say... You're doing exceptionally well. I'm sure McGonagall and the headmaster will be pleased."

"I'm pleased too," I chuckled, "but that doesn't mean I'll let my guard down. The last thing I can afford is to relax."

"Absolutely," the old Auror agreed. "So, what's your plan for today? It's your day off, right?"

"Yes, a day off," I confirmed. "I thought about exploring the Institute and the city, but I think I'll pass."

"Why's that?" Moody asked, curious.

"Those who were eliminated aren't bound by the Olympiad's rules anymore," I sighed, referring to Mari and Miloneg. "They could attack me and cause trouble. Why risk it if there's nothing to gain?"

"So, you're not too worried?" Moody asked.

"Not really," I nodded.

"Well, alright," he nodded. "So, what will you do instead?"

"I'll prepare for the next stage."

I did spend some time preparing, but not for long. Until lunchtime, I focused on downloading books I found in the local information system. I'll analyze them later, either back at Hogwarts or during the holidays.

My sleep was calm but light. Nothing happened that could have disturbed me. Early in the morning, I got ready, had breakfast, and headed to the examination room with Moody.

There were many more people there now, eager to see who had made it to the second stage so they could place bets. I ignored the curious gazes from wizards and witches, though the latter's stares felt more predatory.

Once the door closed behind me, shutting out the crowd, I relaxed a bit. Only I could go through the next door. Moody would have to wait here until I returned. The escorts of others were already there. Since I was in first place, I got interested looks that seemed to almost undress me.

Keeping my composure, I entered the room. The other participants were also watching me—some with envy, some neutrally, and some with anger. Lucia nodded and smiled at me, clearly in a good mood today, likely because her rival was eliminated. I'd be happy too since a victory is a victory, no matter how small.

"It looks like everyone's here," said the witch who led the previous stage. "As you already know, we'll now begin the second stage. This stage is the practical portion. Each of you will have the undivided attention of the referees, who will tally your points. The practice itself will take about four hours per person. As you've likely guessed, some will take the test today, some tomorrow, and some the day after."

She paused for a moment, carefully studying our faces. Then she nodded slightly.

"Who wants to go first?" she asked.

I raised my hand almost immediately. It turned out I was the only one. None of the other participants were eager to be the first to be tested. They likely thought they could use the extra time to prepare. But... I don't think that would help. The referees know exactly what they're doing, and you can't trick them with such tactics.

"Mr. Jody," the witch nodded, "I'm glad you volunteered. Let me explain to all of you how the second stage will proceed. We'll take each participant to one of the Institute's training halls. After completing the test, the participant must go into isolation until everyone else has been tested. It's strictly forbidden to reveal any details about the tests. Is that clear?"

I answered her with a nod. Yes everything is clear.

"Now for the next question," she continued, as the swan's head on her hat woke up and shook itself. "Who wants to go second?"

Silence followed. None of the participants were eager to raise their hands.

"Alright then," the witch sighed, clearly hoping for volunteers. "We'll go from bottom to top. Lucia de Mendoza will be next. After that, you'll know the order... or you can decide among yourselves. Any questions?"

There were no questions. The Olympiad participants seemed a bit dull and even downcast. Honestly, I didn't understand... Lucia looked as if she was heading to the gallows. I don't get it. Sure, they'll push us to our limits... but so what? We all trained hard to reach this level. I'm missing something here.

"So, no questions," she said with a satisfied nod. "You're all dismissed, except for Mr. Jody. And Miss de Mendoza, you're expected back at three o'clock this afternoon."

The participants left the room, leaving me alone with the referees. They watched me intently, as if calculating something.

"Let's go," one of them said.

The woman drew her wand and tapped it against the wall behind her. The wall slowly parted, reminding me a lot of the one between Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron. A long corridor appeared, sloping downward at a steep angle. It stretched for about a hundred meters.

I followed the referee, keeping my hand on my wand. The chances of something unusual happening were slim, but never zero. I wasn't sure if I could take on these experienced adult wizards, but I wasn't about to surrender easily if attacked.

We walked through the corridor, emerging into a fairly large hall lit by several artificial lights on the ceiling that illuminated the entire space. The light was white, but not too harsh, making it an ideal training area.

"Mr. Jody," the woman said, addressing me. "The second stage of the Olympiad is about to begin. Are you ready, or do you need a few minutes to prepare yourself mentally?"

"I think I'm ready," I nodded. "As they say, what must be, will be."

"A good saying," she agreed. "Then let's begin."

And so we began. The first practical tasks were fairly easy, about on par with OWL-level exams. While they were simple for me, they wouldn't be for an average OWL student, as it's not the easiest exam. I completed them without any issues. But then the tasks gradually became more challenging, eventually exceeding the standard school curriculum.

After almost two hours of nonstop spellcasting, I was given a fifteen-minute break. I used the time wisely, engaging in light meditation to relax my mind and body. Then, it was back to work, like a pack mule.

This time, the tasks had more hidden traps and subtle challenges that I had to identify and solve. In Transfiguration, beyond the formulas, having a clear image of the object to be transfigured is crucial. Sometimes, if you have enough power, the image alone is sufficient. When that's not enough, the formulas come into play. My task was to transfigure a large dog that would behave like a dog. Part of it had to be made of a transparent material. Inside the dog, there had to be a cat that behaved like a cat, also with a transparent body. Inside the cat, there had to be a mouse that would transform into three different objects every minute while maintaining its color scheme. The color scheme was even more complicated because the mouse had to be covered in a shiny, transparent material, with stone, wood, and fabric mixed underneath.

In short, the task was complex and required some serious brainpower to figure out. But I managed, although it took some time to calculate the formula and verify it. After that, there was another task, even more challenging. I had to create a creature capable of executing a set number of commands. It sounded simpler, but it was actually more difficult because I had to program behavior, give it the ability to remember commands, and make it responsive.

After I completed that task, the challenges became both simpler and harder at the same time. Simpler because there was no need to calculate formulas, but harder because this transfiguration had to cover a larger area.

When the last spell was dispelled, I let out a deep breath. Sweat trickled down my forehead, and my heart was racing. I took a moment to breathe deeply and calm down. Honestly, those four hours had really worn me out.

"Well," said the witch who had been pushing me to my limits. "I can congratulate you. Your practical stage is almost complete. The final task is to create a path from here to that passage."

She pointed to the passage we had entered through.

"The path should be beautiful and attractive," she added. "The rest is up to you."

I let my imagination take over. A stone path extended from where I stood. Some of the stones were transfigured into crystal and other interesting minerals. Every meter, a statue of magical creatures I knew appeared, each making sounds. The statues were connected by thick, colorful silk threads. After adding a few final touches, I nodded in satisfaction.

"Done."

The witch nodded and made a note in her notebook. The other referees were also present, silently observing and making their own notes.

"Excellent," she said with a nod. "Now you're truly done. Let's go."

We walked along the path I had created. Then, with a wave of her wand, the hall returned to its original state. It was impressive. I'm not sure if she cast a spell or if the room itself was an artifact, but it was a powerful display of magic.

Back in the room, they repeated the rules to me once more and then let me go.

Moody was the only one waiting in the corridor. As soon as I stepped out, he slipped the book he'd been reading into his bag and stood up from the small chair, which then crumbled into dust. It seemed he had transfigured it for himself.

"So, how was it?" he asked immediately.

"I feel like I've been unloading train cars by hand," I replied.

"Hah," Moody chuckled. "Don't worry, it's only this tough for the Apprentice title. It gets easier after that."

"I'll keep that in mind," I nodded. "Right now, I just want to go back to the room and crash into bed."

We headed back to the hotel. After taking care of some hygiene, I quickly had lunch and then went straight to bed. I slept almost until evening.

Over the next few days, while the other participants went through their stages, I kept busy downloading books and information, and I also got back into some physical exercise. I'd been slacking off lately, which affected my fitness. Of course, there are potions and spells to help you get back in shape quickly, but I enjoy the process itself, though I have nothing against a little magical boost.

***

The wizards who served as referees for the Transfiguration Olympiad were now gathered in the familiar room, carefully reviewing their final notes and comparisons.

"Alright then," the head witch said, adjusting her hat. "I think we're ready to announce the final results."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"So, first place goes to Timothy Jody," she announced. "Does anyone have any objections?"

There were none. The wizards had already discussed his performance multiple times, comparing it with all the others. His results were clearly the most impressive, so first place was his.

"Second place, Chen Wu," she continued. "Any objections?"

Again, there were no objections. Chen Wu had performed excellently in both the first and second stages, but his results still didn't quite match Timothy Jody's. So, second place was reserved for him.

"Third place goes to Lucia de Mendoza," the witch announced. "I know we debated this at length since she and Nikol Grakhr performed almost equally, but her practical work was just a bit stronger."

The wizards had indeed argued fiercely but ultimately agreed that she was slightly better than the next participant.

"Fourth place goes to Nikol Grakhr, that's clear."

With Lucia's position settled, it was obvious that Nikol would take the next spot.

"And Batuhan Kaya takes the last place," the witch said. "If anyone has any questions or suggestions, now's the time to speak up."

She paused briefly, then snapped her paper binder shut.

"Well then... since there are no suggestions or questions, I consider the results finalized."

She tucked the results into her bag, then leaned back in her chair, finally relaxing a bit. This Olympiad had been grueling for the participants, and everyone sympathized with them, but many overlooked the fact that the referees had worked just as hard, if not harder.

"It's time to announce the results and send out invitations for the ceremony."

"Let's hope no one gets killed before then," the old wizard remarked. "I remember ten years ago, the first and second place winners were just buried somewhere. The killers were never caught."

"I don't think that will happen," the witch sighed. The others nodded in agreement, though a slight unease lingered. "Alright then. I'll send out the announcement."

***

The announcement of the results came unexpectedly. When I opened it and read the news, I couldn't help but grin as wide as possible. Yes! First place! Incredible!

"I see the results are in," Moody said, eyeing my expression. "And judging by that smile, things went very well."

"Yes," I replied, struggling to keep the grin off my face. "First place."

I handed him the paper with the results. Moody skimmed it quickly and nodded.

"Congratulations," he said. "This is a big step and a significant advantage for you."

I was already thinking about my reward: five thousand Galleons, a month's access to the library, and a month of training with a master. And, of course, the official title. Let's just say… I'm already drooling at the thought.

Money is an excellent thing that will instantly improve my quality of life. Even if I don't get a scholarship next year, I'll be able to cover my expenses easily with this money and still have plenty left over. Besides that, I should make some smart investments. I clearly remember that in Fiore, wizards tend to spend money quickly... they don't value it much, and end up living in dormitories or shacks. So... I'll be getting some private property. We'll see what I can buy with this.

Next is a month's access to the Institute's library! This is incredibly valuable. I'll bury myself there, downloading as many books as I can. The more I gather, the better. I'll analyze them later.

And finally, what excites me the most is the training with a master. A master is a rank just below archmage, so I'm sure I'll learn a lot. Plus, they're bound to have interesting books that I wouldn't mind getting my hands on. I hope to spend that month of training at their place.

The official title also allows me to work and take on Guild orders. Additionally, the title serves as proof of my level and knowledge. This is highly valued in the world since guilds care deeply about their reputation. No one would allow a mediocre person to practice under the guise of a title. They would be kicked out, and their reputation would be dragged through the mud.

The light euphoria didn't fade all day. I wanted to jump for joy and even dance, but with great effort, I kept myself composed. Besides, I wasn't in a hurry to go outside. I have formal attire, so there's no need to worry about that. And I'm not planning on going out because I'd definitely end up in some sort of trouble. I'll worry about it later.

To calm myself down, I immersed myself in meditation.

The next day, Dumbledore and McGonagall arrived.

"Mr. Jody," Dumbledore addressed me. "Congratulations on successfully completing the Olympiad and earning your title."

"Thank you, Headmaster," I replied with a nod.

"I also want to congratulate you," McGonagall said. "This is a great achievement at your age. I'm proud of you and glad that you are a student of my house."

"Thank you, Professor," I replied with a smile.

Now, the slight tension that had replaced my joy earlier seemed to disappear. No one would attack me now; it would be suicidal.

"By the way, you know that by becoming an Apprentice, you automatically get an Outstanding in your OWLs and on all exams," the head of the house said with a smirk.

"What does that mean?" I asked. I had a guess, but it was better to clarify.

"It means that you are exempt from attending Transfiguration classes, doing homework, and taking exams until you graduate," Professor McGonagall said with a faint, sad smile. "You can be happy. I'll have a proposal for you, but that will be after the winter holidays."

"Alright, Professor," I nodded to her.

At that moment, the headmaster was talking to the Auror about something. They were gesturing actively, but I didn't pay much attention to the conversation. Although I don't think they were discussing anything particularly important.

To celebrate in a small circle, the headmaster invited us all to a cozy little restaurant. It was located in a quiet corner of the city. There were hardly any people there, just a few older wizards playing cards at one table.

"Order anything you like," Dumbledore said. "Today, we're celebrating."

The elderly woman who worked as a waitress brought us menus. Of course, it wasn't in German, so I didn't understand anything. I had to set it aside and ask the older wizards for help.

"Sorry, but I don't know this language," I said. "So I don't think I can order anything myself."

"I'll help you, Timothy," McGonagall offered.

And she did help. She described the menu items to me, and based on her descriptions, I made my choice. I didn't go for the most expensive dish—I think it's a bit rude to order the priciest item on someone else's tab. Something slightly above average felt more appropriate. McGonagall and Moody seemed to share the same sentiment, as they also chose dishes that were a bit pricier than average but not the most expensive or elite options.

"Phew," Moody sighed, relaxing a bit. His magical eye kept swiveling around, catching every detail that an ordinary person might miss. "Thank you."

"Thank you, Headmaster Dumbledore," I added. "The food was really delicious."

After lunch, we went for a walk around the city. It was winter, cold, and snowy, but there was a festive atmosphere in the air. People were preparing for the holiday—Saturnalia. In other countries, it goes by different names and traditions, like Yule or the more popular Christmas. But there's a common thread: in each celebration, someone or something supernatural, even by wizarding standards, plays a role.

Overall, the wizards were getting ready for the holiday. Trees were being decorated, small wooden gazebos with tables were being set up, and many other unique traditions specific to Zurich were on display.

Without leaving the magical part of the city, we visited several interesting places, and the headmaster even treated us to a few stories from his past. It was fascinating to hear about the fun he had with his friends after Hogwarts and the connections he had to Zurich.

As we turned a corner and entered a somewhat dark and narrow passage, several wizards suddenly appeared in front of us, and more behind us. Their faces were hidden by masks, making them impossible to identify. Wands appeared in everyone's hands, even the headmaster's, but no one had made the first move.

"We only want the boy," said a mechanical voice. It seemed the mask was enchanted to disguise the speaker's voice. "Step aside."

"Boy," Moody said, starting to get fired up, "don't be stupid."

"Young men," McGonagall addressed them calmly, "I would advise you to take this foolishness elsewhere and at another time."

Dumbledore simply stood there with his hands down, quietly observing the wizards who were threatening us. He didn't seem afraid at all—maybe he really wasn't.

The silence stretched on, and the tension kept building. The air was thick with the scent of magic, the kind you only notice in places where powerful spells might be cast. It was invigorating and hinted that we were on the brink of something intense. I wasn't too worried, though. Facing experienced battle wizards would be tough, but with the headmaster on our side, it didn't seem as daunting. Better to have him with us than against us.

"***," one of the wizards muttered something under his breath, and in the next instant, the group surrounding us vanished.

"Right," Moody sighed, tucking his wand away.

McGonagall did the same, though she looked like she was holding back a curse. The headmaster adjusted his glasses and calmly remarked:

"A regrettable situation. But I think we should continue our tour of the city."

After that, the walk wasn't as enjoyable since we had to stay on high alert. We quickly assessed any suspicious actions and had to react accordingly, whether it meant stepping aside or squeezing through a crowd. But, surprisingly, there were no further incidents.

In the evening, we returned to the hotel. I quickly changed clothes, as did Moody. Dumbledore twirled around magically, and his formal attire appeared. McGonagall also quickly changed her clothes. Of course, wizards don't worry much about having formal attire, as it can always be created with magic. But there are etiquette rules, and it's considered rude to create formal clothes with magic.

I was wearing Hogwarts formal robes, as well as fairly expensive but comfortable boots from the Muggle company "Guess." Many wizards aren't ashamed to buy non-wizard clothing because it's cheap and high quality. Enchanting them isn't difficult since they're treated with special potions. Even battle wizards aren't ashamed to buy Muggle footwear and enchant it to their liking.

"Ready?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes," I nodded. Neither McGonagall nor Moody said anything, just nodded.

"Then come to me," the headmaster said, raising his arms. We grabbed his sleeves. A phoenix flared above Dumbledore's head. It landed on his shoulder, and in the next second, we were whisked away through the fire.

A moment later, we found ourselves in a small room. At the entrance stood a wizard who immediately made a few notes on a piece of paper.

"Names?" he asked.

"Timothy Jody," I said since Dumbledore gave me a certain look.

"Excellent, Timothy Jody with an escort," the man said. "Go on in."

He stepped aside, and we walked down a long, wide corridor filled with wizards of all kinds. There were adults, old folks, and even a few children.

"Oh! Mr. Dumbledore!" A short man suddenly jumped out like a demon. "Glad to see you here."

"Mr. Cornwall," the headmaster responded. "I didn't expect to see you here."

"Oh, come on," he waved his hand. "I couldn't miss such an event!"

"How's your family?" the headmaster inquired.

"Thank you, they're doing well," the man replied cheerfully. "My daughter has started exploring Charms. She's really enjoying it."

"Wonderful," the headmaster nodded. "We need to keep moving. We'll talk more later."

"Of course, of course," the wizard said.

On our way, we were stopped by many wizards of various ages and levels of influence. But they didn't stop us to congratulate me; they just wanted to talk to Dumbledore. With some, he talked a bit longer, with others, a bit shorter. We all had to stay in the background.

Someone else might have felt offended in my place. But I didn't pay much attention to it. There's no point in wasting energy and emotions on feeling slighted. Although, there were still a few congratulations from senior wizards.

The main event was taking place in a large hall of the Institute. High ceilings with beautiful craftsmanship from past masters. A clean, shiny floor trodden by thousands of wizards. Candelabras with candles, windows with moving images, columns with living sculptures, and much more.

The walls had small niches with golden statues of the greatest wizards of all time. Sometimes these statues moved, changing poses and drawing attention. Ahead was a modest stage with the inscription "Transfiguration Olympiad 1991." In front of the stage were several rows of chairs. The first row was reserved for Olympiad participants and invited guests. The second row was for escorts. Behind that were tables with chairs for other people.

"Congratulations on your victory," said Lucia, who was the first to approach me.

"Thank you," I replied. "You must be pleased with your performance as well."

"Ah," she waved her hand. "I achieved what I wanted. So I consider this Olympiad a success for me."

"That's good."

"By the way," she said. "I saw Mari and Miloneg here. So be careful."

"Could they do something?" I asked.

"Yes, they could," she said. "I'm not sure what, but they could."

"Thanks for the warning," I nodded to her.

Looks like I'll need to be more cautious. Of course, this warning might just be an attempt to scare me, but I don't believe that. It seems too stupid. But on the other hand, the danger is real. I don't know how vengeful Miloneg Bolshanov is, but I shouldn't dismiss it.

I didn't get much time to talk to anyone else because the ceremony began.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," said a tall wizard, the master of ceremonies. "We welcome you all to this closing ceremony and awards presentation for the Transfiguration Olympiad. We met last year to award the best participants, as we did the year before and many times before that. As you all know, the tradition of the Olympiad dates back to ancient times, before most modern countries even existed. Wizards can showcase and prove their skills in a controlled environment, which is very good."

The wizard paced slowly across the stage, continuing to speak. He read the names of famous wizards who had won this Olympiad and what they were known for. He also didn't forget to include various jokes of all sorts.

Finally, after thirty minutes, he got to the actual awards.

"And now, I believe it's time to move on to the awards," he said. "I would like to invite Master Trofaldo, Master Amelie, Master Zhdanov, and Master Fjerdson to the stage."

The named wizards came onto the stage. None of them were referees during the Olympiad, but I can say that they were impressive people. For example, a giant bearded man with a completely bald head and dark blue vertical lines above and below his eyes, or a plump man with shrewd eyes. Or a witch in a simple white dress with skin as white as paper. Or a man with a hat on his head. In general, they were all interesting personalities. Their rank only added to their importance and aura of power. A master is already an important guild member with a certain level of power, influence, and connections.

"First, I would like to invite to the stage a student of the Galata Tower School, who took third place, Batuhan Kaya."

A boy with a turban on his head stood up from his seat. His face bore a smile that seemed impossible to erase. He gracefully climbed the steps and approached the awarding committee. The camera flashed, and the boy left the stage.

He received thunderous applause, especially from the representatives of Turkey. Galata Tower, as I already know, is a Turkish school of magic located in Istanbul. It's quite an old building, but it doesn't compare to Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, or some other schools.

"Second place goes to a representative of Shenmi Pubu, Chen Wu," the wizard announced.

Now, I know nothing about this school. If its representative took second place, it must be somewhat well-known. I'll have to ask the Hogwarts professors or look it up.

Chen Wu had a lot of support. Among the Asians present, the leader was an elderly man. He nodded approvingly. Other Chinese, I think that's who they were, also supported their comrade.

The boy accepted the award. The camera flashed again, and only after that did he descend to join us.

"And now, the winner of our Olympiad, who took first place. He was a dark horse at the beginning but quickly proved himself to be a strong and competent young wizard. Let me present to you, Timothy Jody, a student of Hogwarts."

I stood up and made my way to the stage. Feeling dozens of eyes on me was a bit unusual, but I didn't let it show. My back was straight, my steps were measured, and my head was held high.

When I approached and turned to face the hall, I calmed down a bit. The light was a bit blinding, preventing me from seeing the people clearly. But over time, my vision adjusted. I shook hands with all four wizards and accepted several envelopes. The others invited to the stage also received similar envelopes.

"Additionally, I invite young Mr. Jody to say a few words," the master of ceremonies announced.

For a moment, my heart sank. My mouth went dry, but I still stepped forward. Standing in front of the microphone, I calmed down a bit. A second felt like an eternity. My mind raced to find the right words because I wasn't sure what to say.

"Good evening, friends," I began. "I want to thank everyone who took part in organizing this Olympiad and this event. For me, it was a wonderful experience that I will never forget. Of course, there were both easy and difficult moments during the stages, moments for laughter and tears, but we all became a little wiser. Thank you to everyone, and a huge thank you to Professor Minerva McGonagall, Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, and the wonderful Alastor Moody for all their support and everything they've done for me. Thank you."

There was loud applause from all the spectators. What caught my attention the most was the old Asian man, who even stood up. Most of the Asians in the hall followed his lead. Unexpected but pleasant.

I didn't even notice the camera flash. I just descended and took my seat.

"Those were excellent words, Timothy," the wizard said.

After that, nothing particularly interesting happened. Some wizards and witches came onto the stage and talked about something. In general, it was a lot of empty words and curtsies to powerful wizards and guild representatives.

"Let's congratulate our winners again and invite everyone to the tables," the master of ceremonies said. "And tonight, we'll be entertained by the Munich Orchestra, Troll's Hue."

I slowly moved to the table reserved for the Olympiad participants. On one side of me sat Chen Wu, and on the other, Batuhan Kaya. Then came Lucia and Nikol Grakhr. Also at the table were Mari and Miloneg. The girl who was eliminated along with them was absent. Perhaps she had already left the city, not wanting to be shamed.

"Congratulations on your victory," Chen Wu said. "As they say, the strongest always wins in such competitions. But reality can be different."

"Thank you," I nodded to him. "And yes, that does happen. But this Olympiad is also reality."

"Agreed," the boy agreed with me.

"How much time did you spend preparing?" the Turkish boy asked me.

"Oh, a lot," I replied. "It's hard to count the hours."

"That's because you have no real talent," Miloneg suddenly butted in. "In the future, without talent, even hard work won't help."

That was a direct attack. The participants began glancing around, as well as at me. I slowly took a sip from my glass and smirked.

"My friend, truly talented people don't come in last place," I said. "And don't forget the saying, 'Time and effort can grind down anything.' Even if a person has no talent, with time and hard work, they can achieve a lot."

"Not in magic," Miloneg replied. "Only a fool would believe that everything in this world can be overcome by effort. Only Mudbloods and Muggle-lovers talk like that."

"Sometimes those Mudbloods are better than those who open their mouths about them," I said, continuing to look him straight in the eye.

"Pureblood wizards are far superior to Mudbloods," Mari interjected. "You defend them so much; maybe you have dirty blood yourself?"

"And what if I do?" I smirked. "What if my parents aren't wizards? What are you going to do about it? Huh?"

I was starting to get riled up.

"Or maybe you'll do something to me? Huh?"

This was directed at Miloneg.

"I'll show you what I'll do," Miloneg said, moving away from the table. My wand was already in my hand, but I mentally hoped I wouldn't have to use it. "As a pureblood wizard, I can just kill you. And no one will do anything to me."

"Hold your horses, hothead," I said, the last word dripping with sarcasm. I wanted to nip this trouble in the bud. Of course, it might cause more problems later, but I'd deal with those as they came. "I'm not even sure you can hold a wand properly. And killing… that sounds too pompous. I don't believe you. You're probably lying, just like your mother tells your father you're his."

"You!" he hissed, standing up suddenly. This attracted attention.

I felt disapproving looks from some of the participants.

"Gentlemen, is everything alright?" asked one of the waiters who appeared out of nowhere.

"No," Miloneg said. "I challenge Timothy Jody to a duel to the death. Here and now. You'll pay for insulting my mother and father."

He said it loudly, so the whole hall heard. As soon as the last words were spoken, the orchestra stopped playing on a dissonant note. Headmaster Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Moody were already heading toward our table, as were many other wizards.

I was boiling inside, which was unusual for me. I inhaled and exhaled, trying to calm down, and it was working. Overall, the situation wasn't that bad. The worst thing that could happen to me was getting cursed.

"Before he says anything, I'd like to talk to the student," Dumbledore said.

And indeed, the headmaster pulled me aside, along with the head of the house and the old Auror.

"What happened?" he asked in a somewhat stern tone.

"A clash of ideas," I replied. "Mr. Bolshanov decided to insult my parents. I responded in kind."

"You couldn't hold your tongue?" McGonagall asked, adjusting her glasses.

"Not in this situation," I replied. "In fact, this was inevitable. The incident with my parents' insult and my response was just the logical outcome."

"Why?" Dumbledore asked.

"They had a conflict during the first stage," Moody said. "Young Bolshanov thought he could assert himself at Timothy's expense. And let's not forget the sabotage during the stage itself. So, I support Timothy. This result was inevitable."

"Hmm," Dumbledore murmured. "Refusing isn't an option either. The reputational damage would be great. It would become a laughingstock across Europe. How confident are you, Mr. Jody?"

"I'll manage," I replied.

"Good," the headmaster nodded. "Then good luck. You'll need it."

"Thank you."

We returned to the table, where Miloneg was talking to his elders. They shot me warning glances, promising tons of punishment. Other wizards were also gathering because this was a tense situation. At a time like this, it's better to stick with your own.

"I agree," I nodded to him. "To a duel here and now. To the death."

The hall fell silent. It seemed they thought I would apologize and take a step back. But that wasn't going to happen. Bolshanov pursed his lips. His uncle, with whom I'd already clashed at the opening ceremony, immediately began whispering something in his ear.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the master of ceremonies said. "Wouldn't you both like to step back and settle this peacefully?"

"No," Miloneg quickly dismissed the idea.

I just shook my head.

"Alright," the master of ceremonies sighed. "The Institute has a dueling hall. I invite you to settle the dispute there."

We followed him to this dueling hall. Most of the wizards also went there. For some, this was a continuation of the entertainment and an opportunity to assess the combat potential of the younger generation. Of course, the sample size of two wizards doesn't give a reliable assessment, but it's something.

The dueling hall was large. The arena was surrounded by walls with seating. Some Institute staff were already preparing the place for the duel. Inside, I felt calm, a calm that couldn't be shaken.

I found myself in a small stone room with two doors. One led to a corridor that allowed you to leave the hall, and the other to the arena itself. A few wooden benches stood desolately against the walls.

Sitting on the floor, I slowly meditated, thinking through my moves during the fight, as well as the spells I would use. Of course, the five spells I practiced over the summer were in my arsenal, but I also had Transfiguration and other combat magic spells. In general, a large and excellent set. According to the rules, duelists are not allowed to wear artifacts or enchanted clothing. This room serves that purpose. The door leading to the arena simply informs you if a participant has any artifacts.

When everything was planned out, I warmed up and stretched. I had to stretch and cut my pants a bit because they restricted my movement. Do I feel ashamed? Not at all. They're just pants, and they can be fixed. Besides, I was wearing a robe, which hid everything inappropriate.

At one point, the door began to open, allowing me to step out into the arena. I immediately felt that the arena was hard and even slightly slippery. This would be a problem for movement at the start. Then I saw my opponent, who had already changed into some sort of outfit. He had his wand in hand, already aimed at me.

The master of ceremonies stood in the center. He called us both over.

"Alright, last chance to back out," the wizard said calmly.

"No, I'm going to bury this bastard," Miloneg said. It was clear he'd been talked to. He was itching to jump into the fight.

"You'll answer for calling me a bastard," I said calmly.

"Alright. No rules. You can use any spells," the master of ceremonies exhaled. "Begin. Wands at the ready."

We both drew our wands.

"Bow," the master of ceremonies said again.

We bowed, but continued to stare into each other's eyes.

"Turn," he said.

We quickly turned to face each other.

"Twenty paces."

I counted twenty steps.

"Begin!"

In the next moment, I dashed to the side, avoiding the first spell. And the first spell was already of a large caliber.

"Avada Kedavra!"

The green spell hit the spot where I should have been. A silent spell shot from my wand. It was a simple push, a weak spell that looked dangerous. A decoy, in general.

"***!" Miloneg shouted something in his language. An orange, translucent shield appeared around him. My decoy shattered against this shield. Interesting, what kind of spell is this? I wouldn't mind finding out.

"Scared?" I asked him. "Maybe you should surrender before it's too late!"

My words only angered the boy further. His shield dissipated, and a barrage of spells rained down on me. I can't say they were weak. Oh no, but I was still deflecting his onslaught, and what I couldn't deflect, I dodged. It wasn't easy, but I kept moving. The spells were varied, some familiar, some not.

When he faltered, a bluish lightning bolt shot from my wand. Miloneg dodged and tried to counterattack, but he had already lost his advantage. My next spell was already in motion. To avoid it, Miloneg dropped to the ground and rolled. During this movement, he extended his hand, and a powerful wave of fire surged toward me. A quick spell, and water appeared in the fire's path.

But that was enough to restore parity in initiative. At the moment, the spells stopped flying, and we slowly circled each other, changing positions. I was calculating his next moves as well as my own.

My goal isn't just to win. My goal is to kill him. His goal is the same. So we'll proceed from that. Enchantments on my clothes, fortunately, I know them like the back of my hand. It will take a second or two. At that moment, Miloneg will attack, thinking I'm preparing to attack. I'll Apparate. If he manages to react, there will be a flash of light to blind him. The spell is simple, and its strength depends on the amount of magic used. Then another Apparation and the final blow. What if he somehow dodges my flash and counterattacks? I'll block his spell and respond with heavy artillery. I have such spells, fortunately, I studied several from the Combat Magic book.

Time to act.

A quick flick of the wand and a cascade of spells was cast on my clothes. They slightly blended me with the surroundings, protected me from minor curses, and much more. As I expected, Bolshanov interpreted this as an attack and decided to strike first, changing his position.

Taking a risk, I didn't Apparate immediately but gave it a few moments. A triumphant look flashed on the boy's face. Too bad I'll take it away. A very quick and nimble Apparation. It's good that I studied the book on Spatial Magic and can apply what I learned to practice.

My Apparation was incredibly fast and unexpected for the boy. He didn't have time to react, which was more than just a good outcome for me. No, it was a gift.

"Aer Ram Maxima!" I cast the spell with a thrusting motion.

Miloneg Bolshanov had just started to turn for his Apparation, but it was too late.

A powerful air ram hit the boy. The impact was so strong that I heard his bones break. But that wasn't the end. With great force, he slammed into the opposite wall of the arena and slowly slid down, leaving a bloody trail behind him.

Without hesitating, I Apparated to him, my wand in a high combat position. Miloneg was already dead. A small silver spark formed above his chest. As soon as I noticed it, it flew into me. I felt something change in the Archive. I'll check it out later.

At that moment, the master of ceremonies appeared. He cast a few spells and then exhaled. Then he waved his wand again, and red smoke appeared in the air. The arena's protective barrier immediately dissipated, allowing the noise of conversations and shouts to engulf me.

In an instant, Bolshanov's uncle appeared before me. He was already casting a spell. I didn't have time to react. But fortunately, Dumbledore was there. He stood slightly to the side and shielded me. The spell hit the headmaster's robe, and nothing happened. In the next moment, Moody struck Bolshanov's uncle, forcing him to take a few steps back. McGonagall appeared next, with her wand in a high position, ready to attack. Moody was also prepared for battle.

On Bolshanov's side, other wizards and witches appeared, but no one was in a hurry to start a fight.

"Stop this nonsense," the master of ceremonies said. "The duel ended with Timothy Jody's victory. If you want to settle scores, do it outside the Institute."

"We're leaving," the headmaster said.

McGonagall and Moody quickly joined him. In the next moment, we were whisked away through the fire and ended up in the hotel room.

Dumbledore sighed and adjusted his robe. McGonagall looked grim, as did Moody. But I was happy because I had won.

"Pack your things, and let's go," the headmaster said. "We'll discuss the situation at Hogwarts. For now, Europe isn't safe for you, Mr. Jody."

"Understood."

It didn't take me long to pack since I hadn't unpacked much. Within fifteen minutes, I was standing before the headmaster. He nodded, and we grabbed his robe again. Once more, the phoenix appeared and transported us to a seaside.

Stars dotted the sky. A cool wind pushed scattered clouds. Dumbledore whistled, and four brooms appeared before us. We had to cross the channel by broom. I mounted one and followed the headmaster, who led the way. I cast a few warming and anti-moisture spells on myself. I didn't want to freeze to the broom during the flight or get sick.

We flew without stopping. I was starting to feel drowsy but kept pulling myself together. When we finally set foot on English soil, I exhaled a bit. The headmaster called us over again, and we were once again transported through fire.

This time, the final destination was the headmaster's office at Hogwarts. Once there, I immediately headed for a soft chair and collapsed into it. I was truly exhausted. Moody just chuckled at this and leaned against the wall. McGonagall stood with her arms crossed in front of her. It was clear she wasn't too happy about what had happened.

"Grinny, four cups of hot chocolate and some chocolate," the headmaster clapped his hands.

A few seconds later, four cups and a plate of chocolate appeared on the headmaster's desk. Each of us took a cup to warm up. I didn't hesitate to take some chocolate either, which turned out to be delicious.

"Well," Dumbledore began. "The situation is quite unusual. Mr. Jody, I can congratulate you on winning the Olympiad and on your victory in a deadly duel. You've made a name for yourself on the continent, but you've also gained powerful enemies. I won't criticize you, but I'll offer some advice. Next time, be more cautious… the relatives of the defeated may have very fragile nerves."

"I'll keep that in mind," I nodded at the headmaster's advice. It was indeed valuable.

"You shouldn't have let it come to a fight," McGonagall said with a sigh. "But now, nothing can be undone."

"I enjoyed the duel," Moody chuckled. "I think we should analyze it and work on the mistakes."

"You just want to fight," McGonagall exhaled. "Tomorrow, all the newspapers will be buzzing about this duel."

"Mr. Jody," the headmaster addressed me. "How do you feel about all this?"

The headmaster looked completely disinterested, but Moody… He was staring at me with both eyes. Even his magical eye had stopped swiveling and was focused directly on me. It looked a bit creepy.

"I'm not sure yet," I exhaled. "I understand that I won a deadly duel… But if it weren't for me, it would have been him. Afterward, he would have probably danced on my still-warm corpse and even spit on it. If I look at it from that angle, I don't see anything wrong with my victory."

"Good," Dumbledore said, closing his eyes. "Then go rest in your room. Come see me tomorrow at six in the evening. Agreed?"

"Of course, Headmaster," I said, already getting up. "I'll definitely come."

"The password will be 'Golden Rain.'"

"I've memorized it," I nodded. "Thank you for covering for me today, Headmaster. And good night, everyone."

"Good night," McGonagall sighed.

"I bet you'll crash as soon as you lie down," Moody chuckled and waved his hand.

I left the office and headed for the common room. There was no one there, so I easily made it to my dormitory. I enlarged my suitcase, stashed it under the bed, quickly changed clothes, and lay down, passing out almost immediately.

***

The conversation in the headmaster's office continued, discussing what had happened.

"What do you think of this?" Dumbledore asked. He was curious to hear what his closest allies had to say.

"I'm very pleased that Timothy took first place in the Olympiad," McGonagall said, sharing her thoughts. "But the duel… it was so unexpected. I'm concerned about the student's state after all this."

"He's as tough as boiled eggs," Moody chuckled. "I've been watching him the whole time, and I can say nothing will happen."

"Hmm," the headmaster murmured. The situation was both simple and not. "Alright, Minerva, keep an eye on him. I'll ask the other heads of houses to do the same, to make sure nothing happens."

"Alright, Headmaster," McGonagall nodded. She had nothing more to say.

McGonagall wasn't against the killing of an enemy. Anyone who thought otherwise would be deeply mistaken. She was against students participating in such events because it was the business of adult wizards. Other professors shared her view, but they expressed it differently.