A Heartbreaking War

Xenophilius swallowed hard. "Could such a thing really happen? Could it be... an Unforgivable Curse?"
"In times of war, whether it's an Unforgivable Curse or other Dark Arts, they amount to nothing." Anne Salou's voice turned cold.
"Once war continues, people's moral sense will decrease accordingly. Chaos often means disorder, meaning they can amplify the evil in their hearts."
"Those who die on the Muggle battlefield are even utilized by wizards, turned into Inferi to die once more on the wizarding battlefield."
"Ah..." Xenophilius tilted his neck, glancing at Luna and Wizette beside him. "Why don't you children go back to your room first?"
"Let's talk about the beast circus again, shall we?" Anne Salou leaned forward, her hands clasped under her chin, her tone softening significantly.
"Those wizards understood the weakness of the Maledictus—it's when the Maledictus transforms into a beast and performs with all their might that the Muggle artillery rains down."
"The wizards, naturally not needing to be too afraid, cast spells simultaneously to leave the small island. But those Maledictuses who didn't have time to recover their human form were covered in artillery fire."
Xenophilius asked questioningly, "Did they... all die?"
"Perhaps they all died?" Anne Salou shook her head. "At least those Maledictuses surely did not survive."
"The wizards returned to the village, and to avoid a similar situation happening again, they sought out more powerful wizards, entreating them to create more protective spells."
"Regarding this matter, most people choose to forget, while a minority choose to remember. I happen to be one who chooses to remember."
"So that's why you appeared on the lake..." Xenophilius had a sudden realization. "What a heartbreaking story; that era was too terrible!"
He quickly adjusted his emotions and inquired, "By the way... do you know how many people were in the circus in total? Just a few more details to enrich the specifics of this story."
"Let me think..." Anne Salou closed her eyes in thought for a moment. "I remember there were four people in total back then: three Maledictuses and a child."
"The performances were mainly completed by the three Maledictuses, while that child was responsible for collecting the tips... In such an era, wanting to enter a magic school to learn magic was also a difficult thing."
"That lovely child was named Ze Gu Er De. Every time someone tossed a tip into his hat, he would flash a radiant smile and say, 'Thank you, sir, I wish you happiness and health'."
"They must have been a family; their beast forms were all reindeer. In addition, there were quite a few other magical animals participating in the performance, similar to dragon hatchlings, winged horses, and so on."
"These things weren't very special; in an ordinary magical circus, you can actually see quite a few magical animals. The greatest feature of that beast circus was still the Maledictus..."
...
After returning to the guest room, Wizette and his friends were all somewhat distressed.
What was clearly a beast circus that brought laughter and joy ended up suffering destruction because of being pointlessly caught in the crossfire.
Xenophilius held the manuscript and looked at it twice, then immediately left the guest room, seemingly wanting to verify something.
Wizette saw the wanted poster on the table again and couldn't help but associate it with the eccentric person he met in the afternoon.
Luna sat opposite him and asked softly, "Do you feel that person is the one who attacked the Swedish Ministry of Magic?"
Wizette sighed softly and said, "I just feel it's better to be a bit careful. After all, until now, the Swedish Ministry of Magic hasn't caught him."
"I support your thinking." Luna took her sketchbook and drawing pens from her suitcase.
Not long after, she had redrawn the scene of the person in black encountered in the afternoon on paper.
"At least it can add... a bit of credibility like this."
"Of course!"
Seeing Luna pass the drawing over, Wizette solidified the idea in his heart, filled in the corresponding information on the wanted poster, and asked a village owl to help send it.
...
At the Federat Hotel, Anne Salou and Wu Mi Ni Si were still sitting in the lobby, watching Wizette go out the main door.
"What do you guess that child is going to do?" Anne Salou asked, looking out the window.
"Likely going to send a letter to the Ministry of Magic." Wu Mi Ni Si gently waved his wand, touched his teacup, and took a sip. "Perhaps because we met that person in the afternoon."
"He must be reaching his limit soon." An air of helplessness appeared in Anne Salou's eyes. "Can that child really succeed? I find it a bit hard to believe, after all, he is so young."
"For someone to have the Obscurial Protector, such impossible things have already happened." Wu Mi Ni Si put down his cup. "I feel we shouldn't harbor doubts."
"Wasn't Serena also just a fifth-year student back then? Even if you don't believe the prophecy, you should believe Serena. That notebook contains unique mysteries belonging to the Protector."
"True, at least we should believe Serena." Anne Salou nodded.
Just then, an owl flew past the window.
Wu Mi Ni Si raised his wand and waved it gently, and a letter appeared in his hand.
Anne Salou received the correspondence; inside was a wanted poster filled with information, along with a drawing. "Wu Mi, you were right. That boy indeed sent word to the Ministry of Magic, suspecting that person."
"But that's still not enough." Wu Mi Ni Si interlaced his ten fingers, his thumbs twirling back and forth. "That boy needs to be a bit more keen, to notice the impropriety of the story."
Anne Salou asked with great interest, "Do you feel that boy can do it?"
"If the prophecy isn't wrong, then that boy is the most special Protector... second to none." Wu Mi Ni Si shook his head. "So we can only rely on tomorrow night..."
"I actually don't like testing." Anne Salou sighed softly. "Especially those tests without any preparation."
Wu Mi Ni Si said, "But this is crucial; that boy is our hope."
-------------------------------------
At noon the next day, Wizette and his friends finally walked out of the guest room.
When they entered the lobby, Wu Mi Ni Si was sitting by the window, blowing air into a cup of hot black tea.
Seemingly noticing the footsteps of the three, he smiled faintly and said, "Did you not sleep well last night?"
"That story was indeed a bit heavy. I hope it didn't affect your mood; after all, you came here to travel."
Wizette and his friends were indeed affected by the story last night; Xenophilius had waited until midnight to return to the guest room.
Wizette had searched for knowledge related to the Maledictus and hadn't slept much all night.
...
Behind the village was a small forest path that could lead directly to the wizard ruins.
Wizette and his friends walked on the small path, the rustling of small animals frequently coming from around them, along with the snapping sound of treading on dry branches and fallen leaves.
The characteristic silence of the dense forest set in.
The trees on the small island were particularly massive. Passing a large boulder, one could vaguely see a tall building looming through the gaps in the ancient trees...