Edward took the box taining the memory vials, ope briefly, then closed it and stored it away in his .

  He nodded reassuringly, meeting Maverick's gaze, and asked, "What's your pn?"

  "My... pn?" Maverick asked, a little fused. Just as he spoke, Aisha cut in, exg,

  "Aren't you a speaker...? You've seeerrible things... arrest him—"

  Before she could say anything else, Maverick silenced her with a quick wandless spell. He didn't bme her for being rude in front of his teacher; he uood she wasn't in her right mind. No one would be, after seeing all of that.

  He g Edward apologetically, then asked, "Don't mind my friend, teacher..."

  Edward raised his hand to dismiss the interruption. He didn't even look at Aisha, but kept his gaze on Maverick, waiting for him to answer.

  Maverick paused for a moment, thinking. He realized that his teacher was asking him to e up with a pn to take the enemy down, and that Edward would assist acc to the arras he made.

  Moreover, he realized this would be the perfect opportunity for his alternative self to make arand establish his presen the world.

  After taking some time to sider, he spoke. "We'll go and i his main base in Turkey. If there are any children there, our first priority will be to rescue them." He paused, then, seeing that his teacher didn't object, tinued.

  "We gather more evidehere. The advantage is ours because he doesn't know we're onto him. If he's there, we take him down quickly and duct a seard rescue. If not, focus on finding any surviving children, collect all the evidence, and..." He paused, his voice turning colder. "Eliminate anyone who stands in the way or was involved in the deeds."

  Edward still didn't respond, his expression unreadable. Ali and Aisha, now a little calmer, listened in silence.

  Maverick tinued, gng at Edward. "Teacher, if you spread some of the memories to the neers, and, with your authority, un iigation simultaneously, it should be enough to make him go into hiding... If it's you, he wouldn't meddle in the case right?"

  Edward huffed. "I dare him..."

  Maverick's tone grew fident at that. "Then he'll go into hiding. I'll set the ambush... take him down myself."

  Edward stood with his arms crossed, never breaking eye tact as his student made his pn clear. After a brief silence, he spoke, his tone a little uain. "That old fool is at the peak of Marquis... turies of experience..." He narrowed his eyes and asked, "You think you take him?"

  Maverick subtly pulsed his suppressed magic at his teacher, causing his pupil to flinentarily. "How... when?" he asked, surprise evident on his face.

  "Few months back..." Maverick replied, giving a fident look before adding, "I take him!"

  Edward let out a sigh. He didn't have the words to ent on his pupil's growth rate, so he simply accepted it. This wasn't the first time Maverick had left him speechless.

  After a moment of thought, Edward nodded. "I'll pce a trag spell on him, leak some of the memories to the press, and, as you suggested, un iigation simultaneously." He fixed Maverick with a steady gaze. "You'll ambush him once he's clear of civilian areas..." He paused, sidering the details. "And make sure to take space-blog tools when you set the trap."

  Maverick looked at him appreciatively. "Thank you, teacher."

  He fixed Maverick with a steady gaze, his tone heavy. "Around this time, he'll be at the ICW HQ. I'll hold him off, keep him busy... and you hahe raid... collect everything you ..."

  Maveriodded, his resolve clear.

  Edward left without another word. her of them lingered, knowing that every moment of dey increased the suffering of any children, if there were even a alive.

  As soon as Edward left, Aisha spoke, her tone apologetic. "Boss... I—"

  Maverick cut her off. "Don't mention it. I don't bme you," he reassured her, then g both of them. "Are you ready?"

  Both of them heir expressioermined as they answered, "Yes."

  ...

  Half an hour and a fearitiohe three of them arrived iern Turkey. The first thing that struck them was the icy wind, sharp aless, as though it aimed to carve through flesh and bone. For ordinary humans, it would have been unbearable.

  They stood silently, heavy camoufge spells cloaking their forms, as they took in the desote ruins of Ani. The jagged outlines of broken churches and crumbled towers loomed against the darkening sky. Shadows danced unnervingly across the ndscape, giving the abandoned city an eerie, malevolent presehat felt almost alive.

  "This is the pce?" Aisha asked, her voice barely audible.

  Maveriodded, extending his Magical-Sense while sing the eerie surroundings with his eyes. "The old witch's memories were clear..."

  His gaze sharpened as he focused on a distant structure. "Don't panic," he murmured, gng at the two beside him. "This is just my magic."

  As he spoke, a circur magical struct materialized beh their feet, lifting them gently off the ground.

  Ali and Aisha wobbled briefly but quickly steadied themselves as Maverick guided them forward.

  "It feels like... the pce itself is watg us," Aisha murmured uneasily, her wand already drawn and gripped tightly.

  Maverick shot her a sidelong ghat's not just your imagination. Stay sharp, both of you," he said in a low voice, leading them deeper into the ruins.

  The only sounds apanying their advance were the mournful howls of the wind and the occasional screech of a distant bird. Maverick relied on his Magical-Seo guide them, trag faint trails of lingering magic ging to the a stones.

  Mier, they came to an abrupt stop as Maverick's heightened senses detected a ward ahead. Its faint outline shimmered in his vision, just barely perceptible to the untrained eye. He maneuvered the magical struct closer, reag out to study the barrier's intricate patterns.

  "Old... but still operational," he muttered, his voice thoughtful. "Basic defensive wards, with a few nasty surprises built in. Smart, but not smart enough."

  fident in his alchemical expertise, Maverick crouched to work. From his ste ring, he retrieved a set of alchemical vials and a ruched rod. With deliberate precisioraced an opening in the barrier. A se of the ward flickered briefly before dimming, leaving a silent gap just wide enough for them to slip through.

  "Let's move," he said, urging the struct forward as they passed through the breadetected.

  As they moved carefully through the ruins, Ali whispered, "This pce feels wrong," his voice teh unease.

  "It's supposed to," Maverick replied without turning. "The wards are desigo rattle intruders. Don't let it mess with your head."

  They soon arrived in front of peared to be little more than dismantled ruins. However, it was anything but that. To ahout advanced profi Magical-Sehe true structure would remain hidden—a castle-like fortress cealed behind yers of heavy wards.

  The wards were intricate, designed both for offense and fusion. Maverick studied them with a critical eye. He wasn't certain he could dismahem without triggering an arm, but he was fident he could create a path inside.

  After half an hour of meticulous effort, the wards flickered briefly before colpsing. The moment they fell, figures emerged from the shadows—six robed men, wands drawn, moving in coordinated formation.

  Maverick's Magical-Sense remaiended, sing the area. There were no threats above Magus level. His expression didn't waver as one of the grunts stepped forward, a sneer curling on his face.

  "Well, well, look who we have—"

  Before he could finish, Maveriterrupted him with a cold, calm tone. "Hahem," he said, addressing Ali and Aisha, before stepping back. His expression remained focused as he trated oending his Magical-Sense further into the castle, searg for any signs of children.

  Ali moved first, his wand sshing through the air as he cast a wide Expulso, f two grunts to dive for cover. He followed up with a rapid Stupefy, dropping one instantly.

  Aisha's style was more precise. She sidestepped a barrage of Reducto curses with practiced ease, her wand movements fluid as she retaliated with a well-aimed Petrificus Totalus, freezing one of the attackers mid-motion.

  One of the remaining grunts aimed at Ali with a dangerous green fre—Avada Kedavra. Maveritervened with a casual flick of his finger, an instant transfigured sheild of metal appeared between Ali and the spell. It shattered the curse mid-flight.

  "Focus," Maverick advised, his toeady, before sending a fringo that scattered the remaining grunts, giving Ali and Aisha the space to finish them off.

  Their fight wasn't quiet, drawing more enemies as they advanced. By the time they reached the castle courtyard, eight wizards blocked their path.

  Aisha raised a shimmering shield, defleg a curse, aaliated with a fringo, f a wizard back with a cry of pain.

  Ali charged forward, binding one oppo with Incarcerous before bsting another with Expulso.

  Maverick stayed back, casting precise spells to protect them. When a wizard targeted Aisha from behind, Maverick's Impedimenta stopped the attack, givihe ce to finish the enemy with Bombarda.

  Suddenly, Maverick spoke, his tone decisive. "Three children inside," he announced. "Hidden chamber deeper in the castle. Small, fined space. They're alive."

  Ali and Aisha nodded, pushing harder to clear the path. Resistancreased as they moved, but Maverick decided it was time to step in. With a sharp wave of his hand, he unleashed a powerful surge of magic, a collective Incarcerous that smmed the entire group against the walls. s ed tightly around their bodies, rendering them immobile.

  Ali and Aisha paused for a moment, gng ba awe. The effortless way Maverick subdued the group left them both lost for words.

  "Let's go," Maverick said, ign their stares. He was calm, focused on the kids as he led the way.

  They entered more wizards as they advanced, but Ali and Aisha worked quickly, clearing the way with precise teamwork.

  Finally, they reached the chamber Maverick had sensed earlier. He stepped forward, raising a hand as his magic pulsed outward. With an effortless gesture, akin to telekinesis, the metal door screeched before being ripped off its hinges.

  Ihe small, dark space were two boys and a girl, barely ten years old. Though not malnourished and seemingly well-fed, their wide, frightened eyes told a story of terror. Maverick stepped aside, letting Ali and Aisha move forward to che them.

  He kept his Magical-Seended, sing for any threats while also searg fns of more children.

  —————————

  Author's Note:

  Just a quick update — up to Chapter 81 is already avaible on P AT r30n!

  PAT r30n [.] / RyanFic