For Silan, money is not the goal, but a means.
To a certain extent, the more money you have, the more things you can do.
So for my own sake, I'll just have to endure the hardships at Hogwarts.
As dawn broke, Silan left the castle through a secret passage, bypassed Hagrid's Hut, and slipped alone into the Forbidden Forest, intending to find the Unicorn Clop.
Practice makes perfect.
Although Silan had never been deep into the Forbidden Forest, the outer and central parts felt like home to him.
However, this time was different. In order to find Clop as soon as possible, Silan activated the Wizard's Eye.
In his eyes, the Forbidden Forest has undergone earth-shattering changes.
Ordinary trees and grasses became blurred, leaving only outlines, while those trees imbued with magic emitted a faint glow.
"Sophora... holly... and fir..."
"These are all decent wand-making woods..."
Silan's gaze lingered on the trees that were emitting a faint glow, wondering if she could transplant a few into her box.
Let's get started.
After approaching the trees, Silan searched carefully and found two low holly saplings and a fir sapling in a sunny clearing.
He cast a few Spells with his wand, carefully dug up the two holly saplings, roots and all, and stuffed them into his box.
As for the fir tree, it was too small, so Silan decided to leave it for the time being.
Silan found several Bowtruckle on some mature holly trees nearby and took them with her.
Before leaving, Silan carefully filled the hole he had dug out by digging the tree with Spells and then covered it with another layer of leaves.
Pretend nothing happened.
After finishing up, Silan continued on her way, carrying the suitcase in her hand as if it were a shopping bag.
Continuing forward, Silan saw a nimble shadow dart past him.
"Are there Cat Leopard in the Forbidden Forest?"
Watching the figure weaving through the branches, Silan quickened her pace a few steps in its direction.
Magical Creatures: Cat Leopard (The little guy is quite handsome)
The Cat Leopard is similar in size and appearance to a regular jaguar, except it has six legs and is extremely fast.
Moreover, these Magical Creatures, such as Cat Leopard, are naturally gifted at Legilimency, and are also extremely fast, making them almost impossible for humans to catch.
Just like now, as Silan takes a step forward, the Cat Leopard takes a step back.
When Silan wanted to go left, the Cat Leopard went right, and the distance between them remained constant.
It's obvious they're toying with him.
Seeing the Cat Leopard perched on a tree branch, its tail dangling like a fishhook, Silan stopped, tossed it a few pieces of jerky, and then turned and left.
"It's a pity summer vacation is coming soon, otherwise I could practice my Occlumency with the Cat Leopard," Silan thought to herself.
The method for practicing Occlumency is always relatively simple and direct: after learning the basic theory, it's all about continuous practice.
The simplest way to practice is to find a shaman Legilimency to create pressure, and improve Occlumency level through constant stress resistance.
Cat Leopard are natural Legilimency.
If one can block the Legilimency of Cat Leopard, then one is considered exceptional in the art of Occlumency.
As Silan walked, he picked up unwanted herbs and animal materials from the Forbidden Forest to prevent environmental pollution.
However, he didn't dare take too much.
Hagrid frequently patrols the Forbidden Forest; taking too much would easily expose him, which would be counterproductive.
Chives, you have to harvest them one crop after another.
Draining the pond to catch all the fish is not a good solution.
When Silan crossed the edge of the Forbidden Forest and entered the central part, he spotted Clop by a stream.
As the sun rose, its thin rays were broken into beams by the branches, scattering in twos and threes through the forest. Moisture from the forest rose slowly in the beams, creating a hazy, damp atmosphere. In this interplay of light and shadow, a Unicorn strolled along the stream.
"Hi, friend." Clop was pleasantly surprised to see Silan, curtsied, and bowed his head in greeting. "Thank you for your help. My people and I are safe now."
Silan returned his greeting. "You're welcome, my friend. I just came to say hello; summer vacation is coming up soon... ahem..."
At the end, Silan coughed violently twice.
He came to ask Clop for some Tail Hair, but it wasn't appropriate to ask directly.
"Are you injured? Because of what happened last time?"
Hearing Silan's dry cough, Clop asked with some concern.
"It's alright, don't worry."
Despite saying this, Silan couldn't help but cough violently.
A hoarse cough echoed through the woods, seemingly dispersing some of the mist.
Clop paced anxiously, stamping his horse's hooves. "My friend, you really should rest. You'd better get some treatment."
"Thank you for your kindness." Silan shook her head with a wry smile, "But I have no money, I can't even afford the Potions Ingredients."
"My God, how could they treat you like this?"
"You are the hero who stopped the dark wizard!"
Clop snorted angrily and pawed the ground restlessly with his front hooves.
[Silver Tongue: Proficiency +1]
Clop didn't actually know what the concept of "money" was.
But it understood: Silan needed some help.
"My friend, if I could, I would like to help you." Clop walked up to Silan with a serious expression. "Just say the word."
"This..." Silan hesitated, unable to finish her sentence.
Clop nudged his shoulder and urged, "Go ahead, my friend. I'll help with anything I can."
"This..." Silan tentatively asked, "As far as I know, Unicorn Tail Hair is very rare and can be exchanged for a lot of money..."
He stopped there and didn't continue.
Clop looked up, snorted, and circled Silan.
"I see, I understand now."
It walked lightly to a tree, leaned against it and rubbed against it, a few Tail Hair falling down.
Unicorn cherish their Tail Hair and would never pluck them on their own initiative. But now, facing Silan, the friend who saved him and his kind, Clop is going all out.
"If these can help you, please take them." Clop looked away with a hint of heartache.
Silan glanced at them; there were about a dozen.
Although not many, these Tail Hair, freshly plucked from Unicorn, are extremely valuable and can be used to make wand cores.
Shearing this, Silan made a remorseful expression and patted Clop on the neck.
"My friend, I will forever remember your sacrifice. I will bring you some Potions later."
"That's not important. I just hope your injuries heal."
"Of course, my friend, of course."
Silan carefully picked up the Tail Hair from the ground, sealed them neatly in a small Crystal, and was satisfied.
This trip to the Forbidden Forest for procurement was very fruitful.
"Dumbledore gave me a chest that can hold Magical Creatures. It's a bit small, but it's safe. My friend, if you'd like, you and your kind can live there," Silan suddenly suggested before leaving.
If we kidnap the Unicorn, won't we have an endless supply of Tail Hair?
But Clop still hesitated. "I'll think about it, my friend."
This was originally Silan's idea on a whim, so he didn't expect Clop to agree immediately.
However, since Clop is still in the Forbidden Forest, there's still a chance.
Cast a long line to catch a big fish. Silan can afford to wait.
Back at Hogwarts Castle, Silan was about to take stock of what she had found in the Forbidden Forest when she saw Neville hurrying towards her as she passed through the courtyard.
"Silan, thank God, I've finally found you!"
"Professor Sprout asked us to go to the greenhouse to help her harvest herbs."
Silan immediately agreed.
It seems the procurement will have to continue.