Shadowing Practice: A Mysterious Visitor DESTROYS Zann’s Home! | Red Magic Chapter. 5-6 | Little Fox - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
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Little Pops Whoa!
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Little Pops Whoa!
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Zan cried as he and Darb ran.
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What are those things?
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I don't know.
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Darb flapped his hands, trying to ward off the angry little creatures.
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They kept diving at the boys,
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stinging any exposed skin they could reach.
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Let's go to the hollow!
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It's close, and they probably won't follow us there.
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Zan glanced in the direction of the hollow.
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The place made him nervous.
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It was a vacuum, and magic didn't work in a vacuum.
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Most magical creatures feared and avoided such places.
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In fact, it was probably the only place Zan would never dare to go.
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In the Hollow, he'd have no way at all to protect himself.
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I've got a better idea, Zan said.
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He grabbed Darb's arm and then zapped them both away.
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They landed in another part of the swamp,
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far from the tiny dragons.
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Phew!
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Darb grimaced.
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Can you do anything about these stings?
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Hold still.
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Zan rubbed his hands together and touched the red marks on Darb's arms and face.
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The marks faded away.
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Thanks, Darb said.
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Zan healed his own stings.
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So you don't know what those were?
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He asked.
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I thought you were an expert in that stuff.
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Darb shook his head.
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They looked like dragons, but the only dragons that small are mini flower sippers.
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And you know what they're like?
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They don't sting.
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Maybe they're not from Magicka, Zan said.
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Maybe there's a wormhole near here.
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You mean a portal to another world?
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Darb looked doubtful.
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I thought those were really rare and really dangerous.
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They are.
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Most people think my parents got lost in one.
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Or maybe went through an unstable one that closed behind them.
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Xan started to feel excited.
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Let's go back and...
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Oh!
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Xan was nearly knocked off his feet.
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He grabbed a tree to steady himself.
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What's wrong?
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Darb asked.
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The feeling had already passed.
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It's Boz, Zan said.
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I just felt him.
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He's not happy.
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Was it a red share?
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Zan nodded.
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A red share happened when a red felt an especially strong emotion.
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Any red with a connection to the other red would feel it, too.
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Boz probably just realized I sneaked out, Zan said.
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It was a strong share,
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which means he must be really mad.
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We're really scared.
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He seemed pretty worried about that warning.
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Either way, I'd better get home.
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Okay.
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Darb tucked an escaping panic bug back into his pocket.
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See you tomorrow.
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Yeah, if Boz doesn't lock me in the house with a super shield spell, that is.
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Zan rubbed his hands together.
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Focus, he thought.
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The last thing he needed was to miss his mark and land on the roof or in Zing's food dish.
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Zap.
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He landed in the house's main room.
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right on target he murmured he glanced around but Boz was nowhere in sight.
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Instead, Zan saw a man looking at the family pictures on the wall.
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Who are you?
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Zan blurted out.
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Where's my grandfather?
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The stranger spun around.
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He was tall and gaunt, with glittering amber eyes.
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An odd expression flickered across his narrow face.
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Another red, the man said.
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He pointed at one of the blink images.
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Are these your parents, young man?
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Zan noticed his grandfather's diary on the floor under the table.
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That was strange.
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Boz never went anywhere without his diary.
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And he'd never leave it lying around on the floor.
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That's none of your business,
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Zan told the stranger, suddenly nervous.
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Where's Boz?
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Is that any way to speak to a guest in your home?
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The corners of the man's thin lips twisted into a half-smile.
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I happen to be an old friend of your grandfather's.
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Zan wasn't sure what to say.
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Buzz!
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He yelled.
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Where are you?
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The stranger smirked.
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You can call as loudly as you like.
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He won't hear you.
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But I can take you to him if you wish.
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Who are you?
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What are you doing here?
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Zan clenched his fists at his sides.
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And what have you done with Buzz?
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Just then, he heard scratching at the door.
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Zing!
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Zang quickly rubbed his hands together and pointed at the door.
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Open!
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It flew open.
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Zing leaped into the room,
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shooting a stream of flame toward the stranger.
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Good boy!
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Zang cried.
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That'll teach him to...
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But quick as a wink,
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the stranger lifted his hand.
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No!
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shouted Zang.
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Freeze!
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said the stranger, pointing at the dragon.
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Zing instantly crashed to the floor, not moving.
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Zing!
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Zang fell to his knees.
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Zing was breathing very slowly.
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Realizing what the man had done,
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Zang turned to face him.
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You used a flash freeze on him, he accused.
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That's illegal!
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He's a tame dragon!
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Magicka had few laws aside from the important one taught to everyone from birth.
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Do no harm to others.
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But everyone knew that a flash freeze should only be used in emergencies such as immobilizing a large,
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rampaging wild dragon.
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It was never supposed to be used on people or pets.
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I never did like dragons,
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the man said, examining the sparks that still ran across his hand.
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Or reds, for that matter.
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He rubbed his fingers together.
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Sparks leapt from his hand now,
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much more strongly than Zan would have expected from such a small amount of friction.
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Freeze, the man said, pointing toward Zan.
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Acting on instinct, Xan quickly grabbed Zing and rubbed his hands together.
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He felt the flash freeze sizzle within a hair breath of his face as he zapped himself and Zing away.
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Within half a second they landed in the front yard
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and half a second after that Zan's house exploded into a million pieces
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Zan stared in shock as bits
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and pieces of his house went flying everywhere then a huge
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plank flew out of the cloud of thick smoke almost hitting him in the head.
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Xan snapped out of his stupor.
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He nudged Zing with his foot.
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The dragon was groggy but already beginning to emerge from the flash freeze.
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That was one especially good thing about fire whistlers.
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Even the strongest magic couldn't keep them down for long.
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They were too stubborn.
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Wake up, boy, Xan urged the dragon.
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We've got to get out of here.
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He doubted the stranger could have survived that explosion.
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But then Xan remembered the strong energy crackling between the man's fingers.
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He'd better not take any chances.
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I'll go find Darb, he murmured.
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Darb might be a void,
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but he was smart and practical.
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Maybe he could help Xan figure out what to do.
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Xan took off running.
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Zing shook off the last of the spell and flew after him,
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chattering irritably and breathing out small puffs of smoke.
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They found Darb in the same part of the swamp where Xan had left him.
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He looked startled when he saw Xan coming with Zing.
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What happened to you two? he asked.
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Xan glanced down at himself.
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His clothes were disheveled, debris stuck to his sleeves,
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and he was covered in dust.
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Something crazy, he began.
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He told Darb the whole story as quickly as he could.
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By the end, Darb looked alarmed.
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That guy used a flash freeze on Zing?
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He exclaimed hurrying over to the dragon come here little buddy.
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Let's make sure you're okay
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He tried to use one on me too
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Xan exclaimed what kind of crazy person does that I don't know Darb looked at him
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Do you think Boz was still in the house when it you know?
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exploded Xan shook his head that guy said something about taking me to boss I'd better try to contact my grandfather
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Xan conjured up a message moth
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and quickly inscribed a simple message on its wings where are
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you find boss he said waving the message moth off the message moth started to flap away
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but within a few seconds it came back fluttering in helpless
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circles darb frowned as he watched it can't locate him he
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said softly do you think Xan's heart flip-flopped in his chest
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it had It's been difficult enough to deal with his parents' disappearance.
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What would he do if he lost his grandfather as well?
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No!
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Zan blurted out, not letting himself think any more about that.
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I'm sure he's okay.
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We just need to figure out where he is.
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The stranger stepped out of the ruins of Zan's house he
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barely had time to throw up a strong shield spell before the place had exploded
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that explosion had been an unlucky break the red boy had
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been especially quick the energy from his emergency zap had collided with the flash freaks causing the blast
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and now the explosion was likely to draw unwanted attention.
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Never mind, the man muttered.
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I just need to find the boy before he tells anyone about me.
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But how?
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He could return to the fortress and check the secret eye,
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but the secret eye merely showed the presence and location of Magicka's reds.
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It didn't show their identities.
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The boy would be one red dot among many.
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Or would he?
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Glancing down at the debris,
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the man happened to spot the charred remains of one of those happy family blink images.
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Grabbing it, he stared at the red boy's grinning face.
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The man smiled.
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The image should do the trick.
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Yes, it should do nicely.
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There.
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Zan rubbed his hands together and pointed at the cave entrance.
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A dark curtain instantly fell over it.
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That will keep out anyone we don't want in here.
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He looked around the cave.
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He and his friends had gathered here many times,
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and no adults knew about it.
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It was the perfect hiding place.
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The entrance was already well hidden by thick brush.
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Xan's simple visual blocking spell meant nobody could see in even from a few inches away.
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Xan had used the same type of spell many times to trick Zing during their games.
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Okay, Darb said.
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Now what?
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He was patting Zing, who still looked tired and uneasy.
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Xan realized he was exhausted too.
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He'd used up most of his energy creating their hideout.
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First, he'd had to run a quick life force locator to make sure the cave was clear of any dangerous creatures.
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Then, he'd conjured up a few lights so he could see what he was doing.
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And finally, there was the curtain.
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Being a red gave Zan more power than most kids his age,
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but after all that, he'd hit his limit.
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He flopped down against the wall.
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I need to figure out where Boz went, he said.
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That guy at my house said he knew him.
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I have no idea if he was telling the truth.
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Darb shrugged.
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Why would someone lie about something like that?
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Zan sighed.
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Darb was much too trusting.
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He always wanted to believe the best about people.
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Zan had been the same way himself once,
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but his parents' disappearance had changed that.
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Think about it, he said.
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Reds have been disappearing all over Magicka.
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Then this weirdo shows up at my house and suddenly Boz is missing.
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The guy has to be involved with whatever the palace was...
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He stopped talking with a gasp as the magic curtain shattered and a fast-moving figure burst into the cave.
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Why practice speaking with this video?
Practicing speaking with the video "A Mysterious Visitor DESTROYS Zann’s Home!" from the Red Magic series provides an engaging context for learners. The excitement of the storyline—featuring characters like Zan and Darb facing unexpected challenges—makes it easier for learners to connect with the material. By imitating the dialogue and expressing emotions, you enhance your English speaking practice skills, which is crucial for fluency.
Moreover, the narrative encourages you to think on your feet, as the characters encounter various dilemmas that require quick thinking and responses. This scenario is an excellent opportunity for IELT speaking practice, as it mirrors real-life conversations where you must articulate thoughts clearly and creatively under pressure.
Grammar & Expressions in Context
The video contains several key expressions and grammatical structures that are beneficial for learners:
- “What are those things?” - This type of question showcases how to express confusion and seek clarification, which is an essential communication skill.
- “I thought you were an expert in that stuff.” - This structure is useful for discussing expectations and capabilities, often seen in casual conversations.
- “Maybe there’s a wormhole near here.” - Using modal verbs like "maybe" illustrates how to speculate about possibilities, a common element in flexible English speaking.
- “They looked like dragons.” - The past simple tense is prominently used here, perfect for learners to describe situations, experiences, or observations.
Common Pronunciation Traps
While watching and practicing with the video, pay attention to a few tricky words and expressions that may pose challenges:
- “Zan” and “Darb” - Ensure you pronounce names consistently. These names can be influenced by local accents and dialects, so focus on clarity when introducing characters.
- “Hollow” - The 'h' sound at the beginning is sometimes overlooked. Make sure to articulate this word clearly, as it is crucial in setting the context of the scene.
- “Wormhole” - This word has two distinct syllables that may be mispronounced due to its complex nature. Breaking it down as "worm-hole" can help ensure proper pronunciation.
- “Stinging” - Pay attention to the “-ing” ending, as it often sounds different depending on the speaker's accent. Practicing this word in isolation before using it in sentences can help with accuracy.
By focusing on these aspects while engaging with the video, you’ll improve your shadow speak techniques effectively, enhancing your overall confidence in English speaking practice.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.
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