Chapter 8: Magical Acknowledgement and Beedle the Bard
It was high noon; the sun enjoying the leisure of the cloudless sky.
London’s streets were overcrowded by watchmen. Mixed among the watchmen were strange men, wearing stranger hats and holding wooden sticks.
Rickon Piery’s Shop of Hundred Wonders was the center of attention.
The talk among the officials was that they had found three bodies there, all badly mangled. The work of a beast.
A huge venomous Boa Constrictor, who had escaped the glass cage and had attacked the three thieves.
Close to this shop was an ordinary hut. Inside, Arlen was sitting with a heavy frown on his face. Sonia and Shae were sitting near the columns of books, but it was Sonia whose face was blank.
Another Contestant had joined them in the vast hall. The Contestant from the 1st floor, Simon. He was around the same age as Desmond but looked older. He was lean, but his back was slightly hunched. His face was full of freckles, and he only had one eye.
The moment a rhythmic knock rattled the door, Simon’s right eye was the first to react.
Arlen was the second to jump up to his feet, his face gaining an ugly expression. Sonia had almost made a run for it if Arlen hadn’t stopped her by the gesture of his hand.
"No one moves," Arlen commanded, taking out the wand. "Simon, stand back."
Simon was quick, his feet moving like a pheasant darting around. Arlen flicked the wand at the door, and it swung open with a bam. The two figures didn’t linger outside more than they needed to.