Even though he had experienced it once, Kael still felt uncomfortable after the Time Turner started operating.
It was as if all sounds disappeared, leaving only a buzzing in his ears, and everything before him turned into a blurred image composed of various colors. He could barely see Dumbledore beside him and the Time Turner he held tightly.
As the hands turned, the attached red light grew increasingly faint, indicating the Philosopher’s Stone’s magic power was quickly being consumed.
Moreover, perhaps due to the presence of an additional person, the consumption rate was much faster than when Kael came here.
Kael didn’t know whether the Philosopher’s Stone would be exhausted before they returned to the correct time, nor did he know what would happen if it did.
Perhaps they would randomly appear in a certain year, or maybe return to a hundred years ago again. In any case, neither outcome was what Kael wanted to see.
He didn’t know how much time had passed, but everything around them started to gradually become clearer.
Kael could clearly see buildings rising swiftly from the ground and being completed in the blink of an eye. He also saw small saplings grow into towering trees at an incredible rate.
Everything around them seemed to move ten times faster than normal, perhaps even more.
Kael knew that the process of crossing through time was nearing its end.
Finally, the Philosopher’s Stone within the Time Turner dimmed completely, the red light disappeared, and everything around them returned to normal speed.
The buzzing in his ears was replaced by a cacophony of singing, with no discernible melody, relying solely on the highs and lows of the sounds, devoid of skill and purely driven by emotion.
“Is this… a bar?” Kael surveyed his surroundings.
A burly man with sun-darkened skin sat at the worn-out bar, singing. It was this sound that Kael had heard earlier. They all held large mugs, and the air was thick with the smell of strong liquor.
Kael felt he had been here before.
Oh, right, the Oak Barrel Bar. He recognized the Fire Dragon emblem above the bar… the very bar located near the Fire Dragon Reserve. Charlie had taken him here during his last visit to Romania.
Just like how he previously appeared in the Hogwarts Headmaster’s office, the Time Turner changes only time, not location.
Since they returned from Romania, naturally, they appeared in Romania.
Yet Kael hadn’t expected the iconic beech tree to be right beside the Oak Barrel Bar.
Oddly enough, no one seemed to notice them until Dumbledore, too weak, accidentally knocked over a bottle of liquor on a nearby table.
“Hey, what are you doing!”
The people at the table seemed only then to realize there were two additional people nearby. Angrily, they stood up, rolling up their sleeves, ready to teach the two clumsy fellows a lesson.
Yet when they saw who had knocked over the bottle, they quickly put their arms down even faster.
“Oh, Mr. Dumbledore, I can’t believe I’m seeing you here.”
Kael felt slightly relieved.
Knowing Dumbledore and not finding his appearance strange, it seemed that Kael’s previous worries were unfounded; they had returned to the correct time.
But now was not the time to relax, for Dumbledore’s condition was not good. His body swayed, looking as if he could faint at any moment.
Moreover, with the shout from that man, more and more people were glancing over.
Due to its proximity to the Fire Dragon Reserve, the Oak Barrel Bar attracted a mixed crowd — tourists, dragon tamers, along with those with ulterior motives.
If people realized Dumbledore’s poor condition at this moment, who could guarantee they wouldn’t harbor ill intentions?
Although Dumbledore’s reputation might reduce the likelihood, it’s not entirely impossible. Researchers of Dark Magic often have some peculiar ideas, and it’s wise to be cautious.
As Kael pondered what excuse to use to appease these people, a sudden burst of bright flames appeared in the bar.
A Phoenix swooped down, grabbing Dumbledore by the shoulder, then vanished in another flash of flames.
Not only were those around dumbfounded, but Kael too was left confused.
Wait… what’s going on?
Was that… Fawkes?
Under normal circumstances, it must have been Fawkes. After all, the known Phoenix in the Magic Realm is just this one.
But wasn’t Fawkes supposed to have undergone Nirvana to provide materials for repairing the Philosopher’s Stone? It shouldn’t have grown this large so soon, right?
And most importantly… even if Fawkes came to fetch someone, he should have taken him too. What does only taking one mean?
Kael was slightly speechless.
He was somewhat bothered by Fawkes’ preferential treatment, but only a bit.
Given Dumbledore’s condition, it was indeed unsuitable for him to be seen outside, but it was not a problem for Kael, and some matters were easier for him to handle alone.
As for where Fawkes would take Dumbledore… that’s not hard to guess.
Hogwarts, Hog’s Head Pub, Nicolas Flamel’s estate—these are the few places Dumbledore would trust.