Aseria returned home exhausted in the evening. Since yesterday, she had been occupied at the smuggling site on the coast, and after accompanying Director Bianca to transport the magical creatures to the Scamanders, she still had to return to the Ministry of Magic to handle official business.
The scale of the smuggling case was simply too vast. Dealing with registrations, writing reports, and other tedious tasks consumed an immense amount of energy; she had been busy until late at night before she could finally leave. Moreover, her heart was heavy with unease. Now that Thunderbird had disappeared without a trace, what was to become of her undercover mission?
Thunderbird had not sent her any messages. Was the mission to continue? Was it suspended, or completely abandoned? Should she return to headquarters? She didn't dare send a message to her superiors—the Spears in other branches—lest Thunderbird find out and turn his wrath on her. But staying like this was not an option either; if the Ministry discovered her identity, it would be an utter disaster.
Aseria sighed helplessly after emerging from her fireplace, casually stretching her fatigued body. But before she could even turn on the lights, she noticed something was wrong. Her senses told her there was someone in her house. They were in the exact same spot where Thunderbird had appeared last time.
Upon discovering a stranger in her home, Aseria's first emotion was neither anger nor panic, but relief. She assumed the person appearing this late must be Thunderbird; he knew her true identity and had a record of doing this before. He had always detested protocol, appearing for no reason, but now his presence meant she hadn't been abandoned. He hadn't forgotten her.
Aseria immediately turned her head toward the shadow.
"How many times have I told you not to appear in my house randomly? Why don't you just send me a direct message? What exactly happened on the coast today, and who forced you to run away?" Although his appearance was a relief, she wouldn't give him a warm welcome.
Aseria spoke without turning on the lights; she didn't want anyone to see that a guest had arrived. She walked quickly toward the shadows. However, as she drew closer, she realized the figure was not Thunderbird at all. It was Alan, the young man she had been with at the Scamander residence only that morning.
Alan was sitting quietly on the sofa, smiling as he watched her.
"It seems you don't really like strangers appearing in your home, Aseria. I'm very sorry for calling on you so late." Alan chuckled softly, then slowly stood up.
Realizing it was someone else, Aseria was startled and involuntarily staggered back.
"You! Alan, why are you in my house? What did you just hear?" Her face was grim. She couldn't fathom how he was here, and she feared she had said too much in her carelessness.
"Why I am here, Aseria, you know best. But judging from your reaction, you probably don't know the whereabouts of that Thunderbird either, which is a bit of a shame." Alan shook his head with regret.
"Thunderbird? I'm sorry, Mr. Wilson, I don't understand. Do you mean the one we rescued this morning? It's safely staying at the Scamanders right now." Aseria's expression hardened. She suspected he knew her identity, but since she couldn't be sure if he was bluffing, she played the fool. "Also, this is my private property. I don't know how you got in, but leave immediately."
"Aseria." Alan softly repeated her name, then sighed. "Although it's hurtful to say, your acting is truly worrying. I've made it so obvious, yet you still don't realize what is happening?"
"Do you want me to lay everything out on the table? Where should I start? Perhaps with the fact that you are a spy for the Silver Spears embedded within the Ministry? Or the fact that you snuck into my shop at night to steal from me?"
As Alan spoke, he stepped out of the shadows, his face illuminated by the faint moonlight.
"You!" Aseria had hoped he was bluffing, but he knew everything. Her mind raced as she calculated her next move. He must have come alone; she sensed no one else nearby.
A secret ruthlessness took hold of her. She assumed Alan knew her background but had come alone to take her down himself and claim all the credit from the Ministry. It was a naive move. Did he not know that every Silver Spear was a proficient combatant? This was her best opportunity to take him down, erase his memory with Obliviate, and secure her identity—or at least buy time to escape.
Aseria calmed herself and looked at Alan.
"What exactly do you want?" she asked indifferently, focusing entirely on his every movement.
The moment Alan opened his mouth to speak, Aseria attacked.
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