41. Need a New Wand 2

After his brief encounter with the group of climbers, Tom Riddle moved deeper into the forest. He felt that what he was looking for was here, in this old and ancient land. The air had grown cooler, and the damp mist on the leaves began to glisten on the trees. But for Tom, the darkness was not a disturbing element; on the contrary, it was like a guide. He would not stop until he found the core.

After a while, he noticed that the nature of the forest had changed again. The trees grew denser and taller, their branches reaching up to the dark sky, forming a closed dome as if they were intertwined. The ground was covered in dense roots and rotting leaves, a crunching texture underfoot with every step.

The further Riddle traveled, the more he examined the nature around him. This was no ordinary forest; there was a strange energy about it. Some ancient symbols were carved into the bark of the trees. These signs could have belonged to an ancient wizard tradition or an ancient community. Riddle was a master at detecting such things, but even what he saw this time surprised him. These symbols indicated the presence of some ancient wisdom or power.

Suddenly, something caught his eye: Up ahead, he saw a shadow moving through the trees. It was gone in seconds, but Riddle didn't miss these things easily. This creature was certainly no ordinary animal. He moved silently in that direction, his mind cautious and alert.

After a few more steps, he came upon an old, dilapidated stone structure. It was in the middle of the forest, out of reach of anyone. The structure had collapsed over time, but parts of it were still standing. As he wandered among the old stone stairs and fallen columns, Tom instinctively felt that this place was the home of a hidden power. There were ruins that gave the impression of a long-abandoned temple or ancient place of worship.

Just then, Riddle noticed movement again. A whisper rose from the depths of the structure, like a call echoing through the stones. The sound drew him in. The silence of the forest was made heavier by this mysterious sound. Tom's gaze hardened, he could not remain indifferent to this voice. His destination had become clearer: There was something deep inside the temple, and perhaps it was the source of the Core he was seeking.

The wind howled softly around him as he stepped into the dark passageway inside the stone structure. The cave was cool and damp. His every step echoed off the stone floor, untouched for centuries. There were some ancient carvings on the walls, symbols of the worship of the mountain, the moon, and perhaps ancient powers. But what caught Riddle's attention was a strange energy emanating from these symbols. In his mind, a calling flowed toward him.

Going deeper, he came to the door of a room. The door was half open, but covered with huge stone slabs. Tom whispered a spell and the stones slid aside with a slight shudder, opening the door fully. Inside, on an old altar, something was glowing. He didn't know exactly what it was yet, but the power within it was strong enough to be the essence of the Core, and as he approached, he felt a wave of energy pulsing gently over the altar. This place was protected by ancient magic. Riddle stared at the shimmering light, wondering what to do with this power.

Riddle took slow steps toward the glowing object on the altar. The glowing stone emitted a pale white light, creating an energy that rippled through the air around it. This stone was no ordinary object; it was clearly protected by ancient magic. The search for the staff core continued, but when he felt the power in this stone, he thought it would be foolish to ignore it.

The stone was small enough to fit in the palm of his hand, but the energy emanating from it was powerful enough to almost create a storm. The air around him seemed to be compressed and twisted by the stone's gravity. There were thin, almost invisible cracks in the stone, through which light seeped, filling the dark room with a flickering glow.

As Riddle felt the power trapped within the stone, he knew it was the stuff of legend. It was an ancient focal point used by great magicians. In ancient times, such stones were the objects where wizards gathered their powers and concentrated their spells. But this stone was no ordinary magic stone. There was a disturbance, an imbalance in the energy inside the stone. It was as if the stone was trying to contain some entity or power trapped within.

Riddle slowly reached out his hand to take it. The closer he got to the stone, the more intensely he felt the power within. As soon as he touched the surface of the stone, a powerful wave of energy passed through his body. His eyes flashed for a moment, but he recovered quickly. He knew how to use that power.

He had the wisdom and determination to control it. He grabbed the stone and lifted it into the air. With a gleam of triumph in his eyes, he felt the power in the stone. This stone was not the Core he sought, but it could give him an even greater advantage.

Riddle had heard legends of such a stone before, but he had never believed them to be true. If the legends were true, this could be a great gain. Riddle could meditate on the magical power in this stone and transform it into his own magical power.

This stone must have been created by a great wizard of old to pass on his magical power before he died.

He was now looking at the stone in a hypnotized state. He did not want to use this stone in a hurry. His biggest problem now is that he does not have a permanent staff.

If he used this stone, it would be of no use to him and might even harm him. Although he is now able to control his power, he still needs to train to control his sudden increase in power. Tom does not have a permanent staff for such training.

Even though he has found a great treasure, it bothers Tom that he can't use it. Even if he didn't pursue power like he used to, he wouldn't turn down an opportunity.

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