SWNOVELXO Chapter 16: Chapter 14 : Shadow’s Claim.
If you want to read more about my works or just to support me then here is my patreon:
_ _
Patreon.com/Doflamingo4
_______________________________
Adam's Third Quest:
The castle slept. Moonlight bled through arched windows, painting silver streaks across the worn stone floors of Hogwarts' upper corridors. A cold wind howled through the winding passageways, carrying whispers of centuries-old magic that clung to the walls like cobwebs.
Adam moved like a shadow, his emerald robes billowing softly around his ankles as he slipped from the darkness of the Slytherin common room. His breath misted in the chill air, each exhale sharp and controlled. At every turn, he paused, listening—not just with his ears, but with every fiber of his magic-heightened awareness. The castle groaned around him, its ancient stones settling with sounds that could have been sighs or warnings.
Tapestries stirred as he passed, their embroidered figures seeming to track his progress with suspicious eyes. The suits of armor lining the halls creaked, their hollow helmets turning just slightly, as if drawn by his presence. Adam ignored them, his focus locked ahead.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of silent movement, he reached his destination: the entrance to the Forbidden Tower Sector.
The door loomed before him—a solid slab of enchanted oak, its surface etched with silvery runes that pulsed like a slow, steady heartbeat. The magic here was old, thick in the air, tasting of iron and something faintly herbal on his tongue.
[ System Notification ]
→ Entering Quest Zone: Forbidden Tower Sector (Top Floor).
→ Time Remaining: 25 minutes.
→ Objective: Use magic under mental pressure while evading magical surveillance.
Adam licked his lips, his throat dry. The weight of the task settled over him, a tangible pressure against his ribs.
No direct spells on creatures, he reminded himself. Just me… my brain… and whatever lunatic security Hogwarts cooked up in here.
With a slow exhale, he pushed the heavy door inward.
_ _ _
A rush of frigid air swept over him as he stepped inside, the temperature dropping sharply enough to make his skin prickle. The tower's interior was a study in eerie beauty—narrow, circular walls winding upward in a tight spiral, their stones embedded with glowing runes that shifted like liquid silver. Every few steps, torch sconces flickered to life without flame, casting ghostly blue light that illuminated swirling eddies of dust.
The sounds were worse.
Somewhere deep in the walls, ancient clockwork mechanisms ticked with metronomic precision, their rhythm just slightly off, like a heartbeat out of sync. Occasional metallic clangs echoed through the space, as if invisible gears were snapping into place, rearranging the very structure of the tower around him.
Twenty-five minutes, he thought, flexing his fingers around his wand. Evade surveillance. Use magic… but carefully.
He took a step forward.
_ _
First Obstacle: The Floating Runes
Ten paces in, the corridor narrowed sharply, and Adam froze.
Stretched across the passageway like a spider's web of light, hundreds of silver runes floated in midair, rotating slowly in an intricate, ever-changing dance. Every few seconds, they rearranged themselves, forming a shimmering wall of magical script that hummed with restrained power.
[ System Prompt ]
→ Warning: Floating Runes detect physical movement and react with Stupefy hexes.
Adam's brows shot upward.
Because walking down a hallway wasn't terrifying enough, he thought, a faint grin tugging at his lips despite the tension coiling in his gut.
He crouched low, studying the runes with narrowed eyes. Tiny currents of magic pulsed between them, arcing like miniature lightning strikes in the gaps between rotations.
Then, unbidden, Hermione's voice echoed in his mind—"Observe patterns. Everything magical has a rhythm."
Adam exhaled slowly, forcing himself to focus.
He counted.
Waited.
Watched.
The runes shifted every seven seconds, their outermost rings spiraling outward to create a brief, narrow gap just wide enough for a person to slip through. The hex triggers pulsed a fraction of a second before the rearrangement—a vulnerability, if timed perfectly.
Adam's fingers tightened around his wand.
When the moment came, he didn't hesitate.
"Finite Incantatem," he whispered, canceling the flicker of magical energy binding the runes for the barest instant.
He dove forward, rolling beneath the shimmering barrier just as the runes snapped back into place behind him. A soft whoosh of released magic filled the air as half a dozen Stupefy hexes fired off—but struck only empty stone where he'd been standing moments before.
Adam exhaled a ragged laugh, his pulse hammering in his throat.
One down. Who knows how many to go…
_ _
Second Obstacle: The Magical Mirrors
The tower wound upward, the stairs growing steeper, the air thicker with magic that prickled against Adam's skin like static.
Then, abruptly, the corridor opened into a circular chamber lined with tall, slender mirrors. Each stood at least eight feet high, their surfaces shimmering with distortions that made Adam's stomach lurch.
In one, his reflection was invisible—just empty air where his body should have been. In another, he appeared as Professor McGonagall, her stern gaze judging him. A third showed Dumbledore's twinkling eyes staring back at him.
[ System Prompt ]
→ Magical Mirrors detect unauthorized presence. If reflections fail to match reality, an alarm triggers.
Adam glared at the nearest mirror, where his reflection currently sported Snape's hooked nose and greasy hair.
So… don't look like a lunatic. Great.
Gritting his teeth, he cast the Disillusionment Charm, feeling the magic wash over him like cool water. His outline shimmered, blurring at the edges until he was little more than a heat haze in the air.
Slowly, carefully, he began creeping sideways along the wall, avoiding the mirrors' gilded frames by inches.
Halfway through the chamber, disaster struck.
One mirror—slightly larger than the others, its frame carved with serpents—flashed bright gold. Adam's true face snapped into focus within it, his wide-eyed panic unmistakable.
A low buzzing noise filled the air, rising in pitch.
No, no, no—
Adam's wand snapped up. "Finite Incantatem!"
The spell struck the mirror just as a crimson warning rune began to glow at its base. For a heart-stopping moment, the gold light pulsed—then blinked out, the alarm dying mid-squeal.
Adam slumped against the wall, his chest heaving.
Too close.
Then, absurdly, a quote floated to the surface of his mind: "You cannot create experience. You must undergo it."
Camus would be proud.
_ _
Final Challenge: The Clockwork Sentinels
The topmost level was the worst.
Two floating bronze spheres hovered in the stairwell, each the size of a Quaffle, with whirring metal wings and glowing crystal eyes that swept the area in methodical arcs. Every time their searchlights hit a surface, golden runes flared to life, recording magical signatures.
[ System Prompt ]
→ Clockwork Sentinels detect magical presence. Must evade detection until countdown ends.
Adam crouched low, sweat trickling down his spine despite the chill. His muscles trembled with the effort of holding perfectly still as he studied the sentinels' patterns.
Their movements were precise—five seconds scanning left, five seconds right, then a two-second gap as they drifted apart to reset.
Fourteen minutes left…
When the gap came, Adam whispered the Disillusionment Charm again and crawled forward, hugging the inner wall so tightly the rough stone scraped his shoulder through his robes. A searchlight beam passed inches over his head, the heat of it singeing the air.
He froze, breath caught in his throat.
The sentinels whirred suspiciously but drifted apart again.
Adam didn't hesitate—he bolted for a shadowed alcove behind a pillar, his heart hammering so loudly he was certain the mechanical guardians would hear it.
For three agonizing minutes, he waited, counting each second as the sentinels completed their cycles. Then, with one final synchronized sweep, they powered down, their crystal eyes dimming to a dull glow.
[ System Notification ]
→ Quest Complete.
→ You evaded magical surveillance for 25 minutes.
→ Rewards Gained:
- Intelligence +3
- Endurance +2
- New Spell Unlocked: Silencio
Adam laughed softly, the sound ragged with relief as he leaned against the stone wall.
Silencio, he thought, grinning. Perfect. Now I can finally shut people up without getting detention.
For now...
---
Adam leaned against the cold stone wall of the Forbidden Tower's top floor, his wand still gripped tightly in his hand. His pulse was slowing, sweat cooling on his forehead as the System's gentle chime echoed in his mind like a clear silver bell.
He straightened up and whispered:
---
Adam (softly):
> "All right. Show me how far I've come."
---
A translucent, shimmering System Screen flickered into existence before his eyes, glowing blue and silver in the dimness.
---
[ System Status – Adam ]
Current Level: 4
---
Attributes:
Strength: 8
Endurance: 11 (+2)
Agility: 9
Intelligence: 15 (+3)
Magic Power: 13
Observation: 12 (+2)
---
Skills & Magic:
Basic Spells:
Lumos / Nox
Wingardium Leviosa
Finite Incantatem
Unlocked Spells:
Disillusionment Charm
> Allows user to blend invisibly into surroundings.
Silencio
> Silences target completely for a set duration.
---
Quests Completed:
Daily Quests: 3
Special Quests: 0
Trials: 0[ Unlocked until Level 20.]
---
Rewards Earned:
Bonus Stat Points Gained: +10 (distributed)
System Currency Earned: 20 Units
Items Unlocked: None yet
Titles: None yet
---
Current Health: 98%
Current Magic Energy: 87%
---
System Notes:
> Congratulations, User Adam, on reaching Level 4. Your progress has exceeded system projections by 12.8%. New quests will become available after your next rest cycle. Prepare accordingly.
---
Adam scanned the glowing numbers, a grin slowly spreading across his face.
---
Adam (thinking):
> Intelligence fifteen… Endurance eleven… Silencio unlocked…
---
He chuckled under his breath, shaking his head.
---
Adam (quietly):
> "Hermione's going to have a heart attack when she figures out I'm actually… not an idiot."
---
He flicked the screen away with his fingers, the blue glow dissolving into motes of light.
---
Adam (determined):
> "All right. Let's see what tomorrow has in store."
---
He turned, robes sweeping behind him, and began his descent from the Forbidden Tower, the chill night wind swirling around him like the quiet promise of secrets yet to come.
---
Adam was halfway down the spiral stairs of the Forbidden Tower when he paused, suddenly troubled. The stone walls around him hummed faintly with residual magic, their ancient runes pulsing like veins of silver light.
He frowned, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
---
Adam (thinking):
> Wait… I've done daily quests . But… I've never had an actual Special Quest.
> What exactly counts as "special," anyway?
---
He slowed, drawing up the System screen with a flick of his fingers. He opened his mouth to ask—
But before a single word left his lips, a new chime rang out—sharper, deeper than any notification before. The glowing blue screen abruptly flashed crimson, filling the stairwell with blood-colored light.
Adam flinched backward, shielding his eyes.
---
[ SYSTEM – SPECIAL QUEST ACTIVATED ]
→ Quest Classification: Special (E )
→ Quest Title: Shadow's Claim
→ Objective:
Investigate a recent incident wherein a Shadow has stolen the soul of one Hogwarts student.
Identify the student.
Eliminate the Shadow and reclaim the soul.
→ Time Limit: 12 hours
→ Rewards if Successful:
Instant Level Advancement to Level 7
+10 Magic Power
+8 Intelligence
New Skill Unlock: Shadow Command (Ability to summon and control lesser shadows temporarily)
Unique Title: Seeker of the Abyss
→ Punishment if Failed:
-10 Magic Power permanently
Severe Magic Instability (random spell misfires for one week)
Shadow Mark applied (Shadow Entities will seek you perpetually)
→ Note:
The existence of Shadows is beyond the knowledge of common wizardry. The System deems this a matter of divine judgment.
Proceed with caution. Death is a possibility.
---
The crimson glow slowly faded, reverting to the usual silver-blue. Adam stood frozen on the steps, reading the screen three times as though convinced he'd misunderstood.
He finally blurted out aloud:
---
Adam (staring wide-eyed):
> "What the hell is this Shadow?? And what does it mean, stealing someone's soul?"
---
He swallowed hard, fingers gripping his wand until his knuckles turned white.
---
Adam (quietly):
> "This… this is the stuff out of nightmare stories…"
---
The System answered, its voice cool and neutral, flickering across the screen letter by letter.
---
[ SYSTEM RESPONSE ]
→ A Shadow is a creature formed of pure darkness and corrupted magic, capable of possessing or devouring the soul of living beings. It is an agent of imbalance, acting against the world's natural order. Such entities should not exist in the mortal plane.
→ Eliminating the Shadow will prevent further corruption. Saving the stolen soul is critical for restoring cosmic equilibrium. No further details can be disclosed.
---
Adam felt a cold sweat break out across his shoulders. He ran a trembling hand through his hair.
---
Adam (breathless):
> "Brilliant. So now I'm hunting soul-eating demons. Wonderful."
He tilted his head back and gave a humorless chuckle.
---
Adam:
> "Seeker of the Abyss. Yeah… just what I wanted to be when I grew up."
---
The screen blinked one more time, revealing the countdown clock already ticking down from 47:59:47.
Adam stared at it, his jaw setting with quiet resolve.
---
Adam (firmly):
> "All right… let's figure out who's missing first."
He turned and began descending the stairs at a run, the distant echoes of his footsteps swallowed by the towering silence of Hogwarts.
---
[ End of Chapter. ]
_____________________
SUPPORT ME FOR EXTRA CHAPTERS IN MY PATREON:
Patreon.com/Doflamingo4