Magical circuit
As he descended the stairs, Drusilla, the maid, was already waiting by the door. She opened it with a flourish, her violet eyes meeting Jasper's for a brief moment before darting away.
"Do be careful, Young Master," she murmured, her pointed ears twitching with concern.
Jasper stepped out into the misty night, the air heavy with the promise of rain. Vernon's car, a sleek black sedan with subtle magical modifications, had just pulled up to the house's front yard. The vehicle's headlights cut through the gathering gloom, illuminating the path before him.
With long, purposeful strides, Jasper approached the car. The door opened of its own accord as he neared, a testament to the vehicle's enchantments. He slid into the back seat, the leather cooling against his palms.
Inside, Vernon sat behind the wheel, his grizzled face set in grim determination. Beside him was Priscilla, her auburn hair tied back in a severe bun, a stack of papers clutched in her hands. As soon as Jasper was settled, the car pulled away from the curb with a soft purr.
Priscilla turned in her seat, her green eyes bright with excitement despite the late hour. "We have found the trails of those creatures," she announced without preamble.
Jasper leaned forward, intrigued. "Where?" he asked, as the first heavy droplets of rain began to patter against the windshield. The car moved smoothly through the streets, wipers keeping the glass clear without a sound.
"From the last incident, we were able to trace the creatures' trail," Priscilla explained, shuffling through her papers. "They were coming from the sewers."
Jasper frowned, his brow furrowing in thought. "How could creatures of that size fit in the sewer, though?" he mused aloud. "Surely there would have been some wreckage along the path they moved. If so, we would have known."
Priscilla nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Yes, that's precisely why we're going there to check. There's more to this than meets the eye, I'm certain of it."
As they talked, the car wound its way through the city streets, and the rain was now coming down in sheets. The downtown area loomed before them, its buildings a mix of Victorian architecture and more modern, magically reinforced structures. Vernon expertly maneuvered the car to the side of the road, parking with practiced ease.
They exited the vehicle, umbrellas springing to life as they stepped out. The umbrellas not only kept the rain at bay but also shimmered with protective wards, guarding against any unfriendly eyes or ears.
The trio made their way to a cordoned-off area where the ground was visibly cracked and disturbed. It was one of the sites where the mysterious creatures had emerged, leaving destruction in their wake. Yellow tape flickered around the perimeter, warning off any curious passersby with mild repulsion charms.
Jasper, Vernon, and Priscilla exchanged glances, a silent understanding passing between them. With a collective deep breath, they ducked under the tape and approached the gaping maw of the sewer entrance. The opening seemed to yawn before them, dark and foreboding.
Priscilla muttered an incantation, and three orbs of soft, blue light sprang into existence, hovering over their shoulders.
The soft blue light from Priscilla's magical orbs cast eerie shadows on the slimy brick walls as they made their way through the sewer. The stench was overpowering - a noxious blend of decay and waste that clung to their nostrils. Despite the foul atmosphere, the trio pressed on without complaint, their faces set in grim determination.
After what seemed like an eternity of sloshing through the murky water, they reached a fork in the tunnel. Jasper's keen eyes, honed by years of magical investigation, caught sight of something unusual. On the wall between the two passageways, a red circle gleamed faintly in the magical light.
"There," Jasper said, pointing to the curious marking. As they drew closer, the circle revealed itself to be a complex array of intricate symbols, etched with precision into the grimy brickwork.
Jasper's eyes widened in recognition. "It's a magic circuit," he declared, his voice echoing slightly in the confined space.
Priscilla frowned, her brow furrowing in disbelief. "Circuit?! No, it can't be." She leaned in, examining the symbols closely. After a moment, she straightened up, her face pale. "You're right. It is a circuit."
Vernon, who had been keeping watch, turned to them. "Care to explain for those of us who didn't major in Advanced Magical Theory?"
Jasper nodded, his eyes never leaving the circuit. "A magic circuit is like a conduit for magical energy. It's a layout that allows magic to flow more efficiently, enabling the caster to extend their reach and power far beyond normal limits."
Priscilla's eyes widened as the implications sank in. "So, whoever's behind this has been using these circuits to control the creatures all across the city."
"Precisely," Jasper confirmed. "And judging by the complexity of this circuit, we're dealing with someone of considerable skill and resources."
Priscilla's expression hardened. "When the hell did they manage to do all this? I don't think whoever did this is working alone."
Jasper nodded grimly. "I agree. But I might be able to trace the origin of these circuits. Give me some time."
Surprise flickered across Priscilla's face. "You can do that?"
"Yes," Jasper replied simply. He placed his hand on the circle, closing his eyes in concentration.
To the others, the sewer remained silent, but Jasper could hear the faint hum of magic coursing through the circuit, an ethereal melody audible only to those attuned to such energies.
Following Jasper's lead, they navigated the labyrinthine sewers, discovering several more circuits along the way. Each one hummed with the same magical frequency, leading them deeper into the underbelly of the city.
Eventually, they reached a junction where a much larger circle dominated the wall, easily twice the size of the others they'd encountered. The magical energy emanating from it was palpable, causing the hair on their arms to stand on end.
Tracing the energy, they found themselves climbing out of the sewer through a manhole, emerging into the crisp night air of the city's slum district. The rain had eased to a light drizzle, and the streets were eerily quiet.
Adjacent to the manhole cover stood an old, dilapidated building, its windows dark and uninviting.
They cautiously entered, their wands at the ready, magical light illuminating the decrepit interior.
After a thorough search, they discovered a room that stood in stark contrast to the rest of the building. It appeared to be a makeshift laboratory, run-down, but clearly still in use. Strange apparatus lined the walls, bubbling potions cast an otherworldly glow, and complex diagrams covered every available surface.
As they were taking in the scene, a gravelly voice broke the silence from behind them. "Who are you?"
They whirled around, wands raised, to find themselves face-to-face with an old man in tattered clothes. His weather-beaten face was a map of wrinkles, but his eyes gleamed with an unsettling intensity. Despite his shabby appearance, there was an aura of barely contained power about him that put the trio instantly on edge.