Mithril Corridor and Blooming Radiance (Part 1)

The mine cart hurtled through the dark tunnel, the wheels grinding against the rails in a monotonous, reassuring clatter-clatter. Torches planted in the rocky walls on either side formed two leaping ribbons of light, stretching into blurred streaks at this high speed. The unique chilling aura of the deep earth, mixed with the smell of rust, rushed toward them.

Hermione sat close to Lynn, her initial fright long replaced by wonder. Her eyes wide, she strained to make out the scenes flashing past on either side of the tunnel. At intervals, massive metal doors set into the rough rock appeared, engraved with complex symbols and numbers that gleamed with a cold luster in the torchlight. Some doors were tightly shut, seamless; before others, guards in scarlet-and-gold-trimmed uniforms could be seen, aiming a peculiar short staff tipped with a multifaceted crystal at a recess in the door. With a faint hum, the heavy door slid silently inward, revealing the impenetrable darkness beyond, or a glimpse of piled treasures glittering with all colors of light—gold, silver, even the radiance of strange gems—a fleeting sight swallowed again by the dark as the door closed.

"Those... are the vaults?" Hermione whispered, her voice filled with awe and disbelief. She imagined the wealth and secrets that might lie behind those sealed doors.

"Mm," Lynn replied, his gaze also following those fleeting flashes of treasure, but his focus was more on how the guards opened the vaults—that short staff and crystal seemed to be some kind of energy key. "The deeper the number, the older it might be, or the more... special the contents." He deliberately used vague terms, avoiding any mention of specific families or items.

The cart took a sharp turn at a fork, the centrifugal force pressing Hermione involuntarily against Lynn. His arm naturally steadied her at her side. The moment their bodies touched, the Star Stone and Moon White Stone at their chests once again pulsed with a distinct warmth, like tiny heaters driving away the underground chill. Hermione instinctively pressed a hand to her chest, feeling the warmth, and her heart settled. Even Lynn's touch no longer embarrassed her as it had in the plummeting compartment; instead, it brought a sense of reliant comfort. She didn't pull away immediately, only murmuring with a slight blush, "Thanks."

"Sit tight." Lynn's voice was calm, but he didn't withdraw his arm, keeping it loosely protective until the cart entered a narrower, dimmer branch tunnel. The vault doors here were noticeably older, their metal surfaces etched with age, the symbols more intricate and eerie.

Finally, the cart came to a slow stop before a bronze door that looked extremely plain. It was smaller than the others, its color dull, with no ornate decoration—only a shallow, keyhole-shaped depression in the center.

Professor McGonagall got off first and walked to the door. She didn't produce the bronze piece used to open the Diagon Alley wall; instead, she took a strangely shaped key from her handbag. The key itself was bronze, but its tip was set with an irregular piece of deep blue ore, its color like frozen starry sky—Lynn recognized it at once: the material was identical to the cover of the deep blue Starry Book in his chest! The key's teeth were unusually complex, twisted and spiraling.

Professor McGonagall inserted the key into the door's recess. No guard's staff or crystal—just a gentle turn.

Click... hum...

A dull mechanical sound, followed by a low hum like a sigh from deep within the earth, and the heavy bronze door slid silently inward. Inside, there were no mountains of gold or dazzling jewels, only deep darkness and a rush of cold, dusty air.

Lynn's heart beat a little faster. This was "his" vault? The inheritance of the original Lynn Li?

Professor McGonagall took a small lantern from her bag and gave it a gentle shake. A soft, steady white light bloomed inside the transparent crystal ball at its top. Holding it up, she stepped inside first.

Lynn and Hermione followed closely into the darkness. The lantern's light only illuminated a few meters ahead; underfoot was cold, smooth stone. As they advanced, the light outlined the vault's interior—a narrow, rectangular space with polished rock walls. It was empty, except for three boxes of varying sizes placed against the far wall.

The first box was made of dark brown hardwood, covered in a thin layer of dust, unlatched, and looked the most ordinary. The second was of some dark metal, its surface etched with fine, vine-like silver patterns, with a small circular recess in the center of its lid. The third was the smallest and most striking, crafted from a translucent deep blue crystal with what seemed like slowly rotating nebulae inside, emitting a faint glow, with no visible opening or lock.

Professor McGonagall hung the lantern on a wall hook, illuminating the entire vault. She walked to the first wooden box and lifted its lid directly.

Inside wasn't the expected Gold Galleons, but neatly arranged items: several folded sets of good-quality clothes (clearly a boy's size), a few pairs of shoes, some toiletries, and several thick hardcover books with no titles on their covers. On top lay a bulging canvas money pouch and a simple, deep blue hardcover notebook.

"This is Mr. Lynn Li's personal effects storage box and the liquid assets of his vault," Professor McGonagall's voice rang clear in the vault. "The pouch contains exchanged Gold Galleons, Silver Sickles, and Bronze Knuts—enough to cover your seven years of study and living expenses at Hogwarts, including textbooks, wand, robes, and other necessities." She handed the pouch and notebook to Lynn.

Lynn took the heavy pouch and notebook. The notebook's cover had the familiar deep blue star pattern, cool to the touch. He understood—this was likely the original owner's record or diary. He didn't open it immediately but put it away carefully.

Professor McGonagall's gaze shifted to the second metal box. "This box requires a matching energy imprint to open." Her eyes fell on Lynn's chest. "Mr. Li, please place the stone around your neck into the recess on the lid."

Lynn complied, pulling the Star Stone pendant from under his collar. The cool stone shimmered with deep blue light in the lantern's glow. He carefully pressed the Star Stone into the circular recess.

Hum...

The silver vine patterns on the metal box suddenly lit up, as if infused with life, flowing along the lines and spreading across the entire surface. Then, a series of crisp, pleasant mechanical clicks came from inside. Seconds later, with a soft click, the lid silently popped open a crack.

Lynn lifted the lid. Inside, lined with soft dark velvet, lay three items: a quill with a long, wood-and-jade-like shaft, tipped with a rice-grain-sized deep blue gem that constantly shifted with faint starlight; a palm-sized compass made of warm, dark jade, its surface etched with precise star-track patterns; and a ring with a simple silver-gray metal band, its face a perfect octahedron of deep, night-sky blue sapphire, with what seemed like slowly rotating stars within.

"The Pen of Stars, the Astrology Compass, and... the Star Core Ring." Professor McGonagall looked at the three items, a faint, unreadable emotion flickering in her eyes. "They belong to you. Keep them safe." She offered no further explanation, but Lynn could sense their extraordinary nature—they seemed mysteriously connected to the Star Stone and the deep blue Starry Book.

Lynn carefully put the three items away. Finally, his gaze, like Hermione's, fell on the third, most mysterious deep blue crystal box.

Professor McGonagall made no move this time, only saying calmly, "This box requires a specific time and... a key. The key is not with me, nor is it here. The time is not yet right; it cannot be opened."

Lynn and Hermione were both a little disappointed but could only nod. The crystal box glowed faintly, a silent riddle awaiting a future answer.

Leaving the vault was much faster than entering. As they rode the cart back through the long tunnels and emerged into the cold, grand hall, Hermione couldn't help but let out a long breath. The oppressive underground feeling was dispelled by the high, distant ceiling above, and though the guards' emerald-green eyes remained cold, at least they were back in the "human world."

"Next," Professor McGonagall led them out of the Mithril Ring's massive bronze doors, back into the noisy, colorful light and mixed smells of Diagon Alley, "buy your necessities. The list." She handed two pieces of parchment to Lynn and Hermione. "Flourish and Blotts for textbooks, Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions for school robes, and finally, the wand. One hour from now, meet at the entrance of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour." She pointed across the street at a colorful shop with a giant ice cream cone sign, then, without waiting for a reply, her dark green cloak swirled as she merged into the crowd and vanished in an instant.

Lynn and Hermione stood on the magical street, lists in hand, watching the bustling crowd and lined-up shops, finally feeling the reality of truly stepping into this world.

"Should we buy books first?" Lynn suggested, scanning the long list of titles.

"Yes!" Hermione nodded eagerly, her big eyes sparkling with anticipation. Knowledge was always what she craved most.

Flourish and Blotts was crowded and noisy, the air thick with the unique fragrance of ink and old paper. Tall bookshelves nearly reached the ceiling, crammed with books of all thicknesses and colors. Some sat quietly on the shelves; others were chained with magical locks and still squirmed restlessly. One enormous book with a snarling monster on its cover suddenly snapped open as Lynn approached, letting out a low roar and spraying a small jet of ink, which a prepared shop assistant deftly caught in a net.

Hermione was in her element, her small face glowing with pure joy. She checked the list and navigated the maze-like shelves with precision, hunting down her targets: Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1, A History of Magic, Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration, Magical Drafts and Potions... Each time she found one, she carefully dusted off the cover and cradled it in her arms as if it were a fragile treasure. Lynn, meanwhile, handled the growing stack of books, watching the enchanted volumes with interest.

"This One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi is so thick!" Hermione stood on tiptoe, trying to reach a large tome on a higher shelf.

"Let me." Lynn easily retrieved it for her. Hermione took the book, its weight making her cheeks flush slightly, but she was more than satisfied.

"Thanks!" She looked up, her smile bright, her eyes curving into crescents. The pile of books in her arms half-hid her face, leaving only those sparkling, knowledge-hungry eyes visible.

At the counter, watching Lynn pour clinking Gold Galleons from the deep blue canvas pouch, Hermione hugged her own equally expensive stack of textbooks and whispered, "Lynn... these books must be expensive, right?" She thought of her parents working hard.

"Knowledge is an investment without price," Lynn said, counting out the right coins and pushing them to the clerk, then turning to her with a smile. "And my 'investment' looks very worthwhile." He nodded meaningfully at the mountain of books she could barely hold.

Hermione's face reddened even more. She mumbled something like "I'll study hard," but her heart felt warm.