Chapter 128: Newt, Danger!
No one knew better than Kyle what it was like to face an adult Wampus Cat without a wand or any other form of magic. He had been in Dorset for a week now, and apart from eating and sleeping, he spent nearly every moment getting thoroughly pummeled by Natali.
The Wampus Cat's piercing blue eyes could see directly into Kyle's thoughts. No matter how he tried to hide, her paw would appear right in front of him—softly if he managed to block her Legilimency, or with enough force to send him flying if he failed. If she saw only blurs in his mind, he'd get a gentle tap, but if his mind was an open book, she'd mercilessly knock him into the lake.
The first few days, Kyle took more dives than he cared to count, his clothes perpetually soaked. But gradually, as he focused and improved, the incidents lessened, and after a week, when Natali's paw struck him, it was light enough that he only stumbled before regaining his footing.
"Very good, Kyle," Tina called encouragingly from the sidelines. She held a small Niffler in her arms, her tone firm. "Keep your mind free of those wandering thoughts. Don't think about what's coming next; just stay in the moment!"
Unlike Chris and Newt, who mostly left him to his own devices, Tina visited regularly. When she sensed Kyle's focus wavering or his anxiety rising, she'd offer him gentle reminders. Hearing her now, Kyle turned and gave her a thumbs-up.
Natali, watching him from across the clearing, tilted her head, surprised. It seemed she hadn't "seen" his reaction; otherwise, she'd have given him a sharp tap for letting his guard down.
Tina raised an eyebrow, noticing this subtle change. Later, when she returned to the house, she found Newt working over a bubbling cauldron.
"I think you can go ahead and write to Chris," she said with a slight smile.
"So soon?" Newt looked up, clearly surprised. "It's only been a week. Has he already managed to resist Natali's Legilimency?"