A sudden wave of drowsiness and fatigue washed over me.
Ian couldn't help but rub his eyes and yawn several times. Nick LeMay turned to look at him, as if he had also noticed the little Wizard's sudden listlessness.
"How many days has it been since you last slept?" Nick LeMay noticed that Ian's dark circles had gotten even bigger, though he wasn't sure if it was just his old eyesight failing him.
"No, I slept really well last night. I make sure I get at least a few hours of sleep every day, and I only stay up late occasionally. I know how harmful staying up late is to growing taller."
Ian felt his head was heavy, and his vision was becoming blurry. This feeling was not only like playing games all night, but also somewhat like low blood sugar.
The activity of Magic Power also decreased significantly.
He didn't know the reason for this situation, only that it must be related to the Legendary Shadow in his mind. However, the Legendary Shadow, which had absorbed Magic Power, had now fallen into silence. No matter how Ian tried to inject Magic Power into it on his own, the Legendary Shadow remained unresponsive, like a stagnant pool.
"You're right, he's still growing, so he really should stay up less at night." Despite saying this, Nick LeMay still opened his drawer to get Ian some energy drinks.
However.
"Coo coo coo~"
The Bowtruckle, which had previously hidden in the drawer, had just finished drinking Nick LeMay's last bottle of stock. It Nick the empty bottle and quickly climbed up LeMay 'LeMay arm to Nick head. It leaped, landed, hopped around a few times, and then ran off towards the door.
Ian wanted to catch it.
Perhaps it was because Nick LeMay's potion was too good, because the little feet of the Bowtruckle were so fast that they left afterimages and quickly disappeared around the corner of the corridor outside the gate.
" The Bowtruckle shouldn't be considered dangerous?"
Ian hesitated about whether he should pursue the Bowtruckle. The Ministry of Magic's Class XX Fantastic Beasts weren't considered dangerous, and he wasn't worried about the possibility of a [ Bowtruckle murder case].
This Fantastic Beasts is actually quite timid. The Bowtruckle is a peaceful and extremely shy animal that has primarily fed on insects for many years.
Only when the tree they inhabit is threatened will they muster their limited courage to pounce on loggers or outsiders who try to destroy their home.
The largest victims of the Bowtruckle's claws are usually woodpeckers. When their territory is violated or disturbed, the Bowtruckle will use its long, sharp fingers to gouge out the woodpecker's eyes.
"I think that little guy just doesn't want to stay near you. Don't worry, Bowtruckle don't usually attack humans. It probably just wants to run back to its home." Nick LeMay paid no attention to the fleeing Bowtruckle and continued to focus his attention on the rubbings on the table.
"Um?"
Nick LeMay wasn't sure if he was imagining things, or if it was just the excitement of having a new research target, but he found that his eyesight seemed to have improved.
So much so that the glasses he was wearing now didn't fit quite right— Nick LeMay, slightly puzzled, took off his glasses and adjusted the prescription by rotating the dial on them.
"It seems my passion for alchemy has rekindled my life; I just hope this isn't a final burst of energy before death." Nick LeMay was astonished to find that his hands weren't trembling as much as before.
In the past.
He clearly only stopped shaking when he was performing Alchemy work. Nick LeMay, slightly perplexed, put his glasses back on and, as he continued flipping through the rubbings, glanced at the young Wizard several times with a strange look.
"I was counting on it to plant trees for me, but it ate so many snacks for free in my Money Bag." Ian, who had been standing at the door for a while, walked back to his office somewhat resentfully.
"You can't tame this thing. My Fantastic Beasts affinity has always been pretty good, hasn't it?" He seemed very concerned about the fact that the Bowtruckle had given him several days' worth of free snacks.
"You can't expect all Fantastic Beasts to enjoy being with you, just as you can't expect everyone to trust you."
"Even Merlin couldn't do that." Nick LeMay chuckled reassuringly to Ian, handing Ian a small box of pills that hadn't been ruined in the drawer.
Something to uplift your spirits?
Ian took the small pill with some surprise, put it under his nose and sniffed it intensely. He could identify a few ingredients, but most of the ingredients were completely unfamiliar.
He couldn't even smell the complete formula, let alone discern its effects; he could only make inferences based on the few Potion Ingredients he could smell.
He didn't suspect that Nick might Ollie Give to it; only LeMay would do something like that. He put the pill in his mouth Ian, smacked his lips, and tried to use his tongue to try and identify it.
However.
The pill didn't give him a chance to taste it at all; it went down his throat almost the instant it entered his mouth, fully demonstrating what it meant to be instantly refined after entering the mouth.
"Smack smack~"
Ian pursed his lips but still couldn't taste anything. However, the pill's effects were indeed very fast, and he immediately felt his spirits lift considerably.
That's not all.
The problem of weakened Magic Power caused by the sudden activity of the Legendary Shadow was instantly resolved, and his Magic Power even became more active than usual.
"Professor, what kind of medicine is this? Can I learn it?" The little Wizard's eyes lit up immediately. This little pill seemed even more effective than his Unlimited Firepower Potion.
Nick LeMay chuckled, picked up his teacup, and took a sip of water.
"Then you'll need a Philosopher's Stone first, and perhaps you'll have your chance in a few years." The old Master Alchemist was perhaps Prophecy he was no mediocre figure in this field either.
" Philosopher's Stone?"
Ian looked at the huge pile of Philosopher's Stone he had poured out.
"I'm talking about a truly intact Philosopher's Stone, one that still possesses life energy." Nick LeMay's words startled the young Wizard for a moment, then his eyes widened immediately.
"You gave me an elixir of immortality?! I always thought it was some kind of potion!"
Ian looked at the small wooden box, still placed on the table by Nick LeMay, with a tone of surprise and uncertainty. The alchemical runes engraved on it were often used to store Potions.
Perhaps it can be seen as a magical version of the "refrigerator" manufacturing process.
"Hahaha, you should have felt it by now, the vibrant Life Force it contains." Nick LeMay's lack of a direct answer was, in effect, an admission.
Ian swallowed hard.
"I remember you didn't have many elixirs of immortality left, and you just casually gave me one. You might lose several months of your life because of this."
He actually regretted taking Nick LeMay's pills without asking first.
To be honest, he would rather see Nick LeMay live a little longer than feel a sense of vindication. After all, the departure of an Alchemy of this caliber to the Misty Illusion would be a loss for Wizard all over the world, and the young Wizard at Hogwarts who could take Alchemy Class would lose an invaluable and precious professor prematurely.
"The development of the field of Alchemy may be set back by ten years as a result!" Ian's words were not an exaggeration at all. Many people may have experienced the irreplaceable value of a good teacher.
"It's not as exaggerated as you make it out to be." Nick LeMay shook his head with a chuckle. "It's just an elixir of immortality. For me, it's actually a profit."
He gave the young Wizard a deep look, then flipped through the rubbings again. Ian had copied quite a few High Tower Magic Text from memory.
It was a very, very thick stack.
"I actually have my own selfish motives; I'd like to use your knowledge to decipher these Ancient Runes."
Ian thought that Nick LeMay's words were probably because LeMay had found these High Tower Magic Text for Nick, Nick LeMay felt he could settle one regret before he died.
Nick LeMay smiled again but did not respond.
"Do you know what era this Ancient Runes comes from?" Ian, now full of energy, curiously leaned closer and saw Nick LeMay place the rubbing of the text under a small floating light source.
Regarding this question...
Nick LeMay also had his own judgment.
"It comes from before Merlin's time. Perhaps some of this kind of Ancient Runes was still in use during Merlin's time. The fragment I obtained is from Merlin's manuscript."
Nick LeMay's answer did not disappoint the young Wizard; he was indeed able to determine the era in which the Ancient Runes were used. However, Ian still could not determine the age of the tower based on this information.
to be honest.
After returning to the World of the Living, Ian also did a lot of research.
However.
The catastrophe that Ian witnessed, the destruction of a nation, is not recorded in the slightest, even in the most detailed books of A History of Magic; it is as if it never happened in history.
"Hmm, this should be something from around the time of Merlin." Ian thought of the relief he saw in the tower, which clearly recorded the story caused by his Cheap Senior Sister.
only.
Since Ian didn't know exactly how many years Teacher Morgan had lived, he couldn't accurately determine the era in which the tower was located within Teacher Morgan's life.
Perhaps I can ask Teacher Morgan for details when I go to the Misty Illusion Misty Illusion, but since I've only been there once, there's still a considerable cooldown period before I can enter again. The cooldown is still there; the expectation of being able to enter whenever I want once my Magic Power reaches its limit hasn't materialized.
"Didn't you find any information about the tomb's occupant in that grave? I think someone who could place so many Philosopher's Stone in a tomb must have been an indelible figure in history."
Nick LeMay, somewhat puzzled, responded with a question.
He didn't ask where Ian's grave was, nor did he consider having Ian take him there; he understood the proper boundaries and limits in conversation.
It is extremely rude and offensive for Wizard to share their opportunities with others.
"Perhaps?"
The image of the Black-Robed Skeleton flashed through Ian's mind, but he didn't think the Black-Robed Skeleton was the true master of the tower; the skeleton seemed more like some creature imprisoned within it.
Yes, living things.
It wasn't the kind of sinister undead that Ian discovered not long after bringing the Black-Robed Skeleton back; the Black-Robed Skeleton even possessed Life Force more vigorous than that of a living person.
"Why did they come up with a 'maybe' theory?"
Nick LeMay was somewhat puzzled by Ian's choice of words.
"I found a guy inside who was chained up... but he told me he had amnesia, so I probably won't find many clues from him."
Ian gave a truthful answer.
His remarks took Nick LeMay completely by surprise.
"A guy still alive? He's lived for at least several thousand years?" Nick LeMay's gaze returned to the Philosopher's Stone. He probably thought that the guy Ian had encountered was surviving only because of the Philosopher's Stone's power.
"It should still be considered alive? I've placed it in the Room of Requirement; perhaps you could go and see it when you have time? I don't dare take it around, and I can't put it in here."
Ian then took out his Money Bag, and if you looked closely, you could see that the edges of his Money Bag had been torn and then repaired.
The reason for this was that Ian tried to stuff the Black-Robed Skeleton inside, but the Money Bag cracked as soon as he pressed the Black-Robed Skeleton's head in.
If Ian hadn't pulled out the Black-Robed Skeleton quickly enough, the Money Bag, which had Hard Work so long to expand to more than half the size of Hogwarts, would have been completely destroyed.
"You even brought that old stuff back to the school..." Nick LeMay's throat bobbed a few times, and he couldn't help but feel the same doubts that many school professors had.
With such audacity, why didn't this guy go to Gryffindor?!
"That's one of the reasons I came to see you." Ian finally seized the opportunity, rolled up his sleeves, and revealed the contract inscriptions hidden on his arm.
"This..."
Nick LeMay leaned closer for a look, and the inscriptions, completely different from the ancient tower Ancient Runes, made him instinctively cover his eyes and grab Ian's arm.
His grip was tight, but not very strong. After all, as a man over six hundred years old, his physical functions were severely impaired, and no matter how excited he was, he couldn't possibly unleash much force.
"It should be a magical oath, somewhat similar to our Wizard ' Unbreakable Vow, but more complex and intricate, and its binding force and effectiveness are much greater." After staring at the hidden inscription on Ian's hand for a long time, Nick LeMay finally spoke slowly in a hoarse voice.
"Many Ancient Priest ' remains have similar marks, but yours is different from all the examples I've seen; it's more like a..."
Nick LeMay abruptly stopped speaking, his eyes flickering, his withered hands gripping Ian's arm tightly for a long time without any intention of letting go.
"What kind?"
More than ten minutes passed.
Ian finally couldn't resist his curiosity.
However, his question still went unanswered by Nick LeMay. This super Alchemy, who had lived for over six hundred years, merely touched the inscription on Ian's arm cautiously.
"No, actually I don't understand either." He let go of Ian's hand, smiling somewhat embarrassedly, and even scratched his head like a child.
"Ah?"
Ian never expected that after waiting for so long, he would only receive this answer.
He looked up carefully at the top of Nick LeMay's head, but didn't notice Nick LeMay's head had become pointed. He was puzzled as to LeMay Nick to have dementia.
"I'm just a mortal after all, I've only lived long enough. Albus as much as Albus. You can't expect me to know the answers to everything."
Nick LeMay spread his hands, looking quite helpless.
That is indeed the case.
"Alright, could you help me study this thing a little?" Ian said, pulling out another piece of paper with the mysterious contract inscriptions that he had copied beforehand.
"Of course, no problem." Nick LeMay didn't take the Parchment Ian offered, but pushed it back, his tone carrying a hint of dissatisfaction.
"Are you doubting my memory as an Alchemy?" Clearly, he meant that he had memorized the inscription on Ian's arm perfectly.
"No, no, of course I wouldn't doubt your memory." Ian decisively took back the Parchment, but who knows if he truly had confidence in Nick LeMay's memory.
After all, he's an old man over six hundred years old...
"Don't worry, I know what you're worried about. In my opinion, this Oath Contract won't do you any harm, because you are the one in control."
Nick LeMay gave the young Wizard a meaningful look, his cloudy pupils flickering slightly. He glanced at the office clock, which reminded Ian of something else.
"I also found this inside." To help Nick LeMay better determine the age of the tower, Ian also brought out Great Clock he had previously packed up inside the tower.
The Great Clock, larger than several Ian combined, looked incredibly old and made a dull thud when placed on the ground. Its dial, missing hands, looked weathered and worn.
"?????"
Nick LeMay was stunned once again.
What's going on lately?! Why are people always coming to him with broken Time-Turner? And they're all ancient artifacts? Wasn't it said that the Ancient Time-Turner were all collected and destroyed by the Department of Mysteries long ago?!
Where did this huge lump of stuff come from?! Nick LeMay leaned over and touched the inscriptions on it. The crafting system, which was exactly the same as the High Tower Magic Text that Ian had taken out, made him sigh.
"There's a reason why Albus likes you so much; you two are so alike, both of you are the kind of guys who always manage to find this kind of lousy work to dump on me."
Nick LeMay shook his head helplessly, turned around and walked shakily to a cabinet. After rummaging through it for a while, he finally pulled out an instrument from the bottomless cabinet.
"What's this?"
Ian was drawn to the strange device's appearance. It was as big as a computer, its casing made of a rare magical alloy, and its surface covered with intricate openwork carvings that shimmered with a mysterious light in the dim light, as if each line contained an ancient Magic Spells.
Its entire structure is filled with alchemical formulas that Ian cannot decipher. A multifaceted crystal is embedded in one corner of the instrument, sparkling like a gem that condenses the Starlight Radiance. The only judgment Ian can make is that the gem is not only the core of the instrument, but also the key to activating its functions.
"I named it the Secret-Gazing Prism Box." Nick LeMay struggled to carry the device, Ian tried to help, but Nick dodged LeMay.
He clearly seems unwilling to accept his age.
" Sickle be used to analyze Alchemical Creation with unclear effects?" Ian pondered the name of the instrument and asked somewhat uncertainly.
"Yes, that's right. We may not know the individual meanings of these Ancient Runes, but we can use the methods of our time to analyze the operating principles of these ancient creations."
"After all, most things in this world have commonalities, Ancient Runes are no exception. The Creator did not hide any completely different or contradictory rules in our world."
Nick LeMay began pulling out a series of long tubes from the [ Secret-Gazing Prism Box ], clearly referencing Muggle technology; a skilled Alchemy would not refuse any knowledge that could provide convenience. With Nick 'LeMay leisurely movements, one tube after another was connected to the damaged Great Clock.
"Can even a broken creation be analyzed?" Ian admitted that his alchemical skills might still be insufficient, and he was very surprised by the principles of creation as explained by Nick LeMay.
"You underestimate me too much, little guy." Nick LeMay chuckled softly, the meaning of which was self-evident. It took him more than ten minutes to connect all the pipes to Great Clock.
"Step back a little."
As he bent over, supporting his back with one hand to start the machine, Nick LeMay gave Ian a reminder, causing the young Wizard to swallow hard and feel a little nervous.
"Analyzing creations can be dangerous?" Ian quickly retreated to the edge of the bridge, pulled out his wand, and conjured a riot shield for himself.
However.
Nick LeMay's reply left him utterly speechless.
"No, I'm afraid you'll be too quick and steal the core of this instrument... I seriously suspect you've practically emptied the tomb you found."
Nick LeMay's cautious approach left the young Wizard completely unsure how to respond.
"..."
Ian was about to say that he didn't like things that already belonged to someone else, but before he could say anything, he saw Nick LeMay move the prism, and the next moment the [ Secret-Gazing Prism Box ] began to flash with a rainbow of colors.
Red like flames, blue like the deep sea, green like a forest, yellow like sunlight, purple like the void, silver like moonlight, black like shadows... Suddenly, the gemstones became dazzling and were fixed on a seemingly invisible axis in an incredible way, rotating slowly and steadily, occasionally bursting out with brilliant light that converged in the instrument.
Ian still couldn't figure out how the device worked, but he was beginning to understand Nick LeMay's wariness; the radiant gem did indeed look dazzling.
Extremely precious.
The seven-colored light instantly converged into a dazzling beam of light, shining directly at the Great Clock placed in the center of the office, as if it were exploring the essence of the Great Clock.
Time passed little by little.
Some unintelligible characters began to appear on the [ Secret-Gazing Prism Box ]. They were not Ancient Runes, but rather a strange script that even Ian, a master of languages, could not decipher.
"Well, you can't understand it, can you? This is a language I created myself, and only I can understand it." Nick LeMay proudly showed off to the young Wizard as he stepped forward to identify it.
Often, people like him who have lived for a long time like to tinker with things that ordinary people can't understand. Ian had only ever seen the idea of creating a language in the American sitcom " The Big Bang Theory " before he time-traveled. It mentioned that the creators and fans of a spin-off show had created their own language by referencing other languages.
certainly.
Nick LeMay appears to have a clear advantage; his self-created language doesn't reference any existing scripts, a fact Ian, who is fluent in most languages on Earth, is quite certain of.
[ Language Mastery (Level 7): 534/6400]
Just look at Ian's Skills level to see how many languages he has learned. He dedicates time every day to learning various languages, so he definitely has a lot to say on this matter.
"What has your instrument detected?" Ian couldn't understand the self-created language appearing on the [ Secret-Gazing Prism Box ], so he could only lean closer to the instrument and ask Nick LeMay.
"That's a little strange..."
Nick LeMay, however, did not continue to guard against Ian.
He was carefully interpreting the text.
His expression gradually became somewhat confused and surprised.
"What's strange about this?" Ian observed the structure of the entire instrument. Beneath the glowing prism was a very intricate mechanical device. It resembled a huge vortex, woven together by countless tiny gears, levers, and pipes, like a miniature mechanical maze.
"I initially thought it was Time-Turner, but now it seems... something's not right." Nick LeMay's expression grew increasingly suspicious and uncertain.
He looked up at the enormous Great Clock, his cloudy but bright eyes filled with disbelief. "If my instruments and my judgment are correct, it's not a Time-Turner, but a time-capturing device... It can capture a period of time and make that period repeat endlessly."
Upon hearing this statement...
The first thing that came to Ian's mind was the Time Loop that Slytherin had trapped him in, but there was also a part of the power of Destiny in Slytherin's Time Loop.
"Repeating the same Time Loop over and over again? Like... repeating the same day?" Ian was also somewhat surprised, while Nick LeMay was clearly more confused than him.
"No, no, no, it's not the form you described. The function of this device is to capture a certain span of time and stitch the beginning and end of that time together."
"You've heard of Möbius strip, right? It's roughly like this: before the instrument breaks down, it might only be a few months, or even just a few days, before there's no beginning or end... It's like time keeps flowing; it doesn't reset, and people caught in this cycle don't experience a reset either."
"One year, two years, ten years, a hundred years—as long as this instrument continues to function, there will be no difference between life within its influence and our perception of time."
"I don't quite understand why this kind of recycling is necessary for a period of time. You know, maintaining the operation of this kind of instrument is by no means a simple matter."
Nick LeMay meticulously corrected Ian's misconceptions, explaining that his instruments and his mind were absolutely brilliant, enabling him to grasp the essence of Great Clock in such a short time.
"Perhaps... it was to escape some kind of disaster?"
Ian thought Nick LeMay was right. After hearing Nick 'LeMay words, he immediately thought of the catastrophic vision he had seen before the tower appeared.
"Hmm... it's certainly possible to avert disaster before it arrives... but has any major event in history ever affected a Wizard community?"
" Ancient Babylon? Atlantis? Lemuria? You shouldn't have left United Kingdom during your holidays, should you?" Nick LeMay's brows furrowed so deeply they almost formed a deep ravine.
"Um... I don't think so?" Ian was a little unsure how to answer. He couldn't even point to the location of the Misty Illusion when he took out his globe.
"..."
Nick LeMay was speechless at Ian's answer.
He could only turn his attention back to the damaged Great Clock.
"Perhaps we should repair this thing... If we can repair it, we can know how long a period of time it captured, and maybe even discover which era it came from."
Nick LeMay was clearly intrigued by the effects of Great Clock; he was eager to know what kind of brilliant Wizard civilization possessed the resources to support the operation of such an Alchemical Creation.
"These Philosopher's Stone of yours are probably also used as the energy source to keep this thing running." Nick LeMay's judgment did indeed have a degree of rationality.
but.
Ian, however, felt that things might not be as simple as Nick LeMay thought. In the illusion he saw, the Philosopher's Stone's role was to maintain the operation of the entire Mysterious High Tower.
Great Clock is just one part of the Mysterious High Tower.
"Anyway, little guy, you've really given me one surprise after another tonight. I think I genuinely want to figure out the tomb you dug up, just like you do."
Nick LeMay used a tool to break open the surface of Great Clock, and after seeing the intricate structure behind the dial, his gaze lingered on the empty hourglass.
"As expected, it's even more damaged than the Time-Turner Albus repaired for me; not a single grain of Time Sand remains." Nick LeMay's tone couldn't help but carry a hint of disappointment.
"Is this the Time Sand?" Ian walked back to the desk, looked at the broken pendant that had been set aside, picked it up and gently shook the sand inside.
The color is wrong.
But the texture and that strange "gravity" really do feel very similar...
"Be careful. Even the Department of Mysteries probably doesn't have much of the Sands Time Sand Time Sand left. If you lose it, we'll have to send Albus and his friends to the Department of Mysteries for funding."
"It's also filled with my personal collection." Nick LeMay began dismantling the pipes from Great Clock, glancing up at Ian before whispering a reminder.
Is this enough?
Ian looked at the Time Sand inside with great curiosity, as he had not yet reached this stage in his Alchemy training, which he had received from his Teacher Morgan.
"Of course it's not enough. Not only for Albus, but it's even more lacking for your great clock. The amount of the Time Sand determines the extent to which we can influence time."
Nick LeMay returned after putting away the equipment, taking the damaged Time-Turner from Ian. "However, the Time Sand aren't the problem right now. The real issue is the materials needed to repair this Time-Turner, many of which have completely disappeared from our time."
"Including your clock too." Nick LeMay's tone was heavy with unspoken weight; he had felt the limitations imposed by the times more than once.
"I do know an alternative formula for crafting this kind of magical metal... it can create an alloy called Uru." Ian pointed to the missing corner of the Time-Turner.
"Um?"
Nick LeMay looked at the young Wizard with some suspicion.
All I saw was...
Under his gaze.
The young Wizard took out a Parchment and wrote down an alchemical formula. It wasn't particularly complicated, but it filled six Parchment with dense writing. He wrote one Nick at a time, and LeMay picked it up to look at it. When Ian handed over the last sheet, Nick LeMay's expression had completely changed from bewilderment to incredulous horror.
"This... you dug up this grave too?"
Having gained a detailed understanding of Ian's Alchemy skills, the only plausible explanation Nick LeMay could come up with for this alchemical formula was that it was the spoils of tomb raiding.
"More or less."
Ian thought for a moment and then nodded.
Teacher Morgan lived in Misty Illusion, which was inhabited Misty Illusion the dead, much like a graveyard. So, to be fair, he could indeed be considered someone who had been unearthed from a grave.
"Hiss~~~"
Nick LeMay gasped for breath more than ten times. If Ian hadn't caught him and patted his back, he might have collapsed stiffly, still gasping for air.
Is it too late for me to learn how to dig graves now?
Even with Nick LeMay's composure and indifference to worldly desires, he was still somewhat regretful for having matured too late, shocked by the things Ian kept bringing out.
"That was hard work..." Ian recalled the exhaustion he felt when he dug up Senior Tom's entire family, and his heartfelt sigh left Nick LeMay speechless.
It's remarkable that we've achieved this.
Let alone physical labor.
He'd be happy to work 24 hours a day!
"By the way, speaking of this Time-Turner... could you take a look and tell me what its connection is to the Time Sand?" Ian then pulled out a handful of mysterious black sand from his Money Bag.
He really only took out a small handful.
However.
When Nick LeMay saw the black sand still slipping from his small hands and falling to the ground, he finally couldn't hold back anymore. He clutched his chest and fell straight backward abruptly.
Older people sleep quite well; they can fall asleep as soon as their heads hit the Nick... Fortunately Ian reacted quickly and ran behind Nick LeMay, supporting him with his hands to prevent the Alchemy Master LeMay falling into a baby-like sleep.
" The Time Sand are an Alchemical Creation, and the black sand you threw on the ground is the raw material. Their origin is a mystery; my teacher only showed me a few grains once."
Once Nick LeMay caught his breath, he immediately crouched down and carefully began to pick up the black sand that had slipped from Ian's hand. Ian's still-developing little hand continued to let sand leak out onto the ground like an hourglass.
He leaked.
He picked it up.
Seeing a 600-year-old man handled with the same care as those picking up grains of rice during a famine, Ian simply threw the handful of black sand he was holding onto the office floor.
He still had a lot, a lot, a lot... a lot in his Money Bag.
What are you doing?
After Ian helped Nick LeMay pick up the black sand from the ground, he noticed Nick LeMay didn't bother with it but went straight to the table where he was making things and started working on it.
Nick LeMay slowly took out seemingly random yet mysterious items from a weathered wooden box beside him: Scabbers iron blocks, gem fragments shimmering with strange light—they began to move nimbly in Nick 'LeMay hands.
The room was gradually enveloped by the clanging sounds and intense heat characteristic of metal smelting. It was an absolutely artistic alchemical scene, and soon Nick LeMay could be seen forging several prototypes.
These molds came in various shapes; some resembled sharp shovels, while others looked like delicate crowbars. He looked up and answered Ian's question as he drew Ancient Runes on them.
"You must have dug up Merlin's grave, right? You must, you absolutely must... You dug up Merlin's grave, and I'll dig up Arthur Pendragon's. I happen to know exactly where Arthur Pendragon's grave is."
"He used to have many Wizard followers, so there must be good stuff in the tomb." Nick LeMay's voice was firm and resolute; he was clearly deeply shocked.
"Ah!!?"
Ian then realized what Nick LeMay was crafting—tools for tomb raiding! As the Ancient Runes were continuously drawn, one tomb raiding tool after another gradually took shape. Their surfaces gleamed with a cold metallic luster under the dim light, and they were even automated tomb raiding tools that could move on their own without being used by anyone else!
"No, no, no! You're too old for tomb raiding! It's too dangerous! There's poisonous gas! Traps! Quicksand! And incredibly dangerous curses!"
"And there are Mummy, ghosts and spirits, gargoyles and hellhounds, mirror mazes, elemental storms, Big-Headed Corpse Fetus, Blue-Eyed Fox Corpse, and Sea Monkey and Jinpo!"
This can be seen from Ian 'LeMay words, which were intended to intimidate Nick.
He was genuinely panicked.
no way.
If Nick LeMay were to actually dig up King Arthur's grave, how would he have the face to meet the people of the Misty Illusion? Teacher Morgan might very well hang him up and give him a good whipping.
"If you can do it, why can't I?"
Nick LeMay showed no signs of stopping.
One automated tomb-raiding tool after another was created in his hands.
Exceptional craftsmanship.
Moreover, its speed is comparable to that of a ruthless alchemical machine.
"I'm different! Different! My family has been in this business for generations! We have unique skills! I know Eastern magic! Feng shui, dragon vein searching, and Gold Dividing and Acupoint Fixing!"
"There are also the Mountain-Moving Armor-Separating Technique, the Kui Star Kicking the Dipper, the Twin-Finger Cave-Probing Technique, and the Mound-Seeking Finger. It doesn't matter if you don't understand the meaning of the names; just feel the awe-inspiring power they convey."
Ian had no idea that he would cause Nick LeMay such a stir.
"Huh? Isn't your family Potions for generations?" Nick LeMay clearly didn't believe Ian's nonsense; he had never heard of the magic the little Wizard was talking about.
"Starting from my generation, my descendants will all learn my skills, so wouldn't that be generation after generation..." Ian offered a somewhat guilty explanation.
He quickly stopped Nick LeMay, who was still planning to create some other props, LeMay Nick made for the crime.
It was all a coincidence.
It wasn't that the young Wizard deliberately waited until Nick LeMay finished drawing the last strand of Ancient Runes before rushing up.
"Ha, eating alone! And guarding your food!"
Nick LeMay, seemingly losing interest, tossed the last tool in his hand to Ian. The young Wizard had no idea how to respond to the old man's unpredictable words.
"Look, I've already shared all my hard-earned results with you, so why should you suffer any more? We young people can handle the hardship."
Ian was genuinely worried that Nick LeMay would abandon his position as Alchemy Professor and become a tomb raider.
"What kind of hardship are you talking about? Is this what you call hardship?"
" Destiny is a very loyal thing. If it makes you suffer when you're young, you'll definitely suffer even more when you're old... Look at Albus."
"When I met him, he was just a twenty-year-old kid, while I had already been famous for centuries. I can say I watched him rise and fall step by step."
"To be honest, I have very few close friends who are much older than me, Albus is one of those rare individuals. Together, we captured an Ironbelly and discovered the Twelve Uses of Dragon's Blood."
"He was so incredibly talented, he surprised and delighted me. Unfortunately, Destiny wasn't as kind to him as it was to me, and dealt him blows that were heavier and heavier with each passing day."
"He's the one who really suffers." Nick LeMay thankfully didn't insist and returned to his desk. Ian didn't dare to respond to Headmaster Dumbledore's assessment.
" Headmaster Dumbledore certainly works very hard."
His only response could be a blatant attempt to mislead and feign ignorance.
"Why."
Nick LeMay sighed heavily, his gaze returning to the "First Sand" of the Time Sand that Ian had taken out, as well as the alchemical formula that Ian had recorded.
"However, Destiny does have a certain fairness; in the end, it did favor Albus, allowing solutions to many crucial problems."
"Perhaps he really can..." Nick LeMay stopped abruptly, as if he didn't want the young Wizard to know anything earth-shattering so early.
He'd already figured it out.
This little guy is incredibly audacious. If he's exposed to such crazy ideas at such a young age, who knows what even crazier ideas Ian will come up with when he grows up.
Everyone else is fine.
This little guy is not only incredibly talented, but he also seems to have an unsolvable problem when it comes to luck... That's a bit scary, and once he decides to do something, probably no one will be able to stop him.
That's not all.
And then there was the inscription on the little Wizard's arm, and what he felt... Nick LeMay suddenly understood completely why Grindelwald was also at this school.
"Leave your things with me. I'll fix your clock, decipher these Ancient Runes, and your contract... You've really dumped a lot of work on me all at once."
"But what can I do? I'm just someone destined to be caught up in the mundane lives of you trendsetters of our time." Nick LeMay seemed a little sentimental, perhaps because he was reminiscing about his past friendship with Albus Dumbledore. He sat back down in his chair and looked rather melancholy.
"Thank you for your help, Professor!"
Seeing that Nick LeMay wanted to be alone for a while, Ian immediately bowed slightly to express his gratitude, then turned and walked towards the front door.
"No need for thanks. After all, I'm quite interested in these things myself, and... your reward is already quite generous, more so than most recorded gifts in history." Nick LeMay waved to Ian, as if he were burying himself back in studying what Ian had left behind.
And then the little Wizard left.
After the gate closed.
He raised his head and looked towards the door Ian had left through.
"I'm really curious, what other strange and wonderful things he might dig up..." Nick LeMay seemed to have suddenly become a different person; his previous sighs and melancholy vanished without a trace.
His tone even carried a hint of anticipation—clearly, the older a person gets, the better their Acting Skill becomes. Nick LeMay's seemingly impulsive creation of a bunch of tools—perhaps only he himself knows the purpose. Those who enjoy entertainment rarely do anything themselves; they mostly just enjoy the spectacle.
"Could he have actually dug up Merlin's grave?" After turning his gaze away, Nick LeMay's shock at the large handful of black sand on the table was genuine.
He was genuinely astonished several times by the things the little Wizard pulled out one after another.
"Swish swish swish~"
After carefully filling a bottle with the black sand, Nick LeMay did not immediately begin his research. Instead, he took out a piece of paper and sketched a few lines on it.
[Hurry! Quickly!!!]
Nick LeMay wrote only one sentence, but used a lot of punctuation. After he finished writing, he sealed the letter and handed it to the House-elf happened to appear in the office at that time.
" Prolo! Go back and hand her over to our mistress. If she's still angry, just tie her up and bring her here. I've discovered a huge secret that even Dumbledore didn't find!"
Nick LeMay gave the House-elf instructions.
"Yes, Master, Prolo will faithfully carry out your orders! However, Prolo cannot kidnap the Mistress, but can only offer her suggestions on how to punish you. This has always been effective, and she will surely be eager to come to Hogwarts." It can only be said that this House-elf is perhaps not yet at the level of Dobby from the Malfoy family.
but.
It still had a rebellious streak to some extent—before giving Nick LeMay a chance to refute, the House-elf disappeared into the office once again.
"Why!"
Nick LeMay lowered his raised hand.
His apprehension and frustration didn't last long. Soon, after adjusting his mindset, he immediately focused his attention on the Ancient Runes on the table.
"Tsk tsk, I never thought I'd actually end up working." Despite saying this, Nick LeMay's tone was light, and his analysis was more serious than ever before.
This is truly inspiring.
It wasn't just because of his own love for Alchemy.
More importantly, because he saw a certain possibility.
A thousand years later.
He and his wife... perhaps they can see this world one more time.
(End of this chapter)