The Animagus: From Hunter to Monster

If Buji was going to forfeit anything at the current moment, it was not going to be this book which he has found most interesting. Even though he hadn't opened the pages, it just intrigued his curiosity. Plus, it was one of the few things his father had left for him.

Buji ascended the stairs in a hurry, his steps were quick and showed determination. Of course, the stairs were long enough.

The morning light streamed through the narrow openings of the windows along the staircase, casting dim shadows on the walls.

'It was still morning. So, I still have a whole day to achieve a lot.'

Halfway up the stairs, Buji came to a halt. He suddenly had the strange sensation to change his path and visit Emra's room instead. He got confused and tightened his grip on the handrails of the stairs, trying to understand why he felt that way.

'Why Emra's room?'

The urge to do as he felt was strong, but Buji quickly shook the feelings off his head. There was less time, maybe. So, no time for any kind of distraction.

He had planned to secure the book first. Then, any other thing can come after. He softly hit his head and muttered.

"Buji, focus. The book is what we're talking about."

That might be a mistake he was about to make. Whenever he disobeyed his feelings, something was down to happen. But, he had no other choice. For some other reasons, he still had to disobey this feeling.

"Calm down," he patted his chest and muttered, "First things first."

On reaching his room, he pushed the door open and walked inside. His eyes fell on the bed since that was where he remembered leaving it last.

It was not there.

He shifted his gaze, scanning the stool beside his standing mirror to know if he had left it there unknowingly, but it was not there either.

'Anyways…'

He thought and lastly, decided to check the drawers beside his bed but it was neither there. He was not at ease. The book was gone in the meantime.

Yes, for the meantime because he was kind of sure it was not out of sight. Just that moment, his stomach churned, and a name immediately echoed in his mind.

'Emra!'

She could have taken it, right? The possibility of Emra taking the book left Buji uneasy. There was no reason for her to take the book, or did she actually know anything about the book?

The feeling he had earlier. Maybe that was when Emra had collected it. If he had known, he would have headed for Emra's room, but it was now late.

He stood frozen for a moment, not knowing what to do. His mind joggled different thoughts at the same time making him look more confused. Confronting Emra immediately was tempting, but it was not the best idea. He had to freshen up first.

His sportswear clung to his skin as it was soaked with sweat from their morning jogging. It made him uncomfortable and at the same time, it's going to be uncalled for to face Emra like that.

He really had to freshen up and change his clothes. 'The faster the better, the earlier the best.'

Stripping off his clothes, he stepped into his small bathroom which was on the adjacent side of his room. He turned the shower on, letting the cool water running from it cascade over his skin.

"Relief," he said calmly and exhaled as he tried to breathe out of the water already gushing down his nose.

After spending some time in the bathroom, he stepped out, drying his wet body with the towel which was hung on the hanger by the wall of the bathroom. The thought of the book returned almost immediately. He couldn't condone his delay anymore.

He rushed to his wardrobe and drew out fresh clothes, which he later dressed in his room, and left his room, heading down the corridor towards Emra's quarter.

Before he approaches Emra's room, he is bound to pass across Mr. Zin's room, Emra's father. In that case, he slowed his steps to avoid the man noticing he was crossing over to his daughter's room.

As he walked, his steps were brisk. He approached the grand door that led to Mr. Zin's chamber.

The double doors were made of polished metal wood, affixed to the walls on adjacent sides, standing tall as a testament to his wealth and authority. Familiar and foreign symbols alike were carved in a sort of decoration on the surface of the door. The materials shimmered since they were made of golden inlays.

'Well, if I must say. He was prepared to be rich.'

Just then Buji noticed that the corridor passage was delicately designed. His eyes lingered on the grandeur for a moment before his gaze shifted further, straight forward to Emra's room.

Buji suddenly remembered he was out on this passage for a cause – he wanted to find his book. Therefore, he neglected his thoughts and made to move but something stopped him.

A voice stopped him—Emra's voice.

He listened to be sure he was not consciously hallucinating and it turned out he was not.

"What is Emra doing there?" he said in a hushed tone.

'Why am I asking this question? After all, they are father and daughter. Buji just mind your business for one.'

'In that case, I will just go in and wait for me. Wait, I can use the opportunity and check for the book instead, in her absence.' His thoughts which conflicted against one another were abruptly distracted by Emra's voice behind the grand doors of Mr. Zin.

"He agreed," came Emra's voice.

"Is that so? Therefore I will recommend him right away so he could get a good place," Mr. Zin responded with a resolute voice.

Buji found himself pinned to the stop, listening to kill his curiosity. He heard what Mr. Zin had said and put a smile on his face.

'A good place. Wonderful!'

But the voice suddenly became dim, he couldn't grab all they were saying again. As a result, he stepped closer, straining his ear to catch all fragments of the conversation, but he was shocked after hearing Emra's voice.

"I'm happy the plan is working accordingly. And, daddy, I also have the book now, and I won't be returning it anytime soon," Emra stated.

Buji still stood affixed at a point. The smile on his face vanished immediately. He wanted to be sure he had digested what he just heard, and yes. He heard what he just heard.

'Fuck! They had a plan. Just turns out my doubts were right.'

"..."