"Is there something you need to tell me?"
Silan was taken aback by Snape's inexplicable remark.
But Snape had already turned around and begun demonstrating to him the steps for making Baruffio's Brain Elixir.
"The current mainstream method for making Baruffio's Brain Elixir is to grind the main ingredient Brain-Sharpening Bitterleaf, into powder," Snape explained with particular care when discussing Potions. "This method enhances the stability of the Potions during the brewing process."
But if you ask me...
Snape gave a smug smile. "That's the work of a mediocre person."
"My lesson..." Snape stammered, then slammed on the brakes, "My friend... in the Half-Blood Prince's textbook, he proposed another method."
"After Brain-Sharpening Bitterleaf to extract the juice, add the juice along with the residue into a crucible."
"Now, do as I say."
Following Snape's instructions, Silan crushed the Brain-Sharpening Bitterleaf and added the juice and residue to the crucible.
After adding the Brain-Sharpening Bitterleaf, the crucible immediately began to boil.
The bubbling water was almost overflowing.
Steam rose from the edge of the pot, forming smoke rings, and the medicinal liquid inside the crucible changed colors in a mesmerizing way.
It must be said that Snape was indeed a Potion Prodigy, and he certainly had the right to be arrogant.
Even before graduating, he was able to improve the formula for the Baruffio's Brain Elixir agent, which had already undergone two iterations, and the results were quite good.
His approach can effectively enhance the effects of the Baruffio's Brain Elixir.
The downside is that the Potions is extremely unstable during the making process and can easily explode.
Just like now.
Silan stared intently at the bubbling cauldron, recalling the Half-Blood Prince's annotations on the phenomenon.
[After the Brain-Sharpening Bitterleaf Juice is added to the cauldron, the potion will undergo a dramatic change. Afterward, the Potions's color will stabilize at a green.]
Silan stared at the crucible.
Snape, however, was staring at Silan.
Seeing that Silan remained calm and composed despite the drastic changes and the boiling, smoking cauldron, Snape nodded to himself.
Throughout his teaching career, he has seen many idiots.
When faced with unexpected situations, they panicked and ultimately caused the Potions accident.
Not only would it waste materials, but it could also hurt you.
With this mindset, Prewett already surpasses many mediocre talents.
This pleased him greatly.
Snape said curtly, "Stir."
The instant he spoke, Silan immediately began stirring as instructed.
"Heating."
"Cool down."
"Cold extraction."
Snape's instructions were simple and clear, without much explanation, and Silan and he were almost perfectly synchronized.
This made Snape's lips curl into a smile, and he felt even more satisfied with him.
The more I look at Silan, the more she reminds me of myself back then.
This talent for Potions, this calm demeanor when facing the cauldron...
That's totally me.
It's a pity I didn't have a good professor to teach me one-on-one back then, otherwise...
Snape, lost in thought for a moment, recalled the past.
Several hours later, the Baruffio's Brain Elixir was ready, and Snape gave his final instructions.
"Encapsulation."
Silan took several glass bottles and sealed the cooled Potions in the crucible.
This pot used three portions of ingredients and produced three bottles of Baruffio's Brain Elixir.
That's considered standard production.
Snape returned to his chair and used his wand to deliver one of the bottles of Baruffio's Brain Elixir to Silan.
"Drink it and see the effects."
It makes sense for someone to drink the Potions they made themselves.
Furthermore, Silan did indeed want to try out the effects of the Baruffio's Brain Elixir.
"This Potions can enhance mental abilities. Could it also be used in conjunction with the Wizard 'Wizard's Eye to temporarily boost its power?"
With that thought in mind, Silan drank it all in one gulp.
The taste of Baruffio's Brain Elixir is hard to describe.
It felt like swallowing pieces of fish bones stuck together in your throat.
As it slides down the esophagus, you can clearly feel a sharp, stinging pain.
After swallowing it all, there is a burning sensation in the stomach, but the brain feels as if a hole has been opened, cool and ventilated, and unusually calm.
After drinking the Baruffio's Brain Elixir, Silan had a very strange feeling.
My mind is calm, but my brain is excited.
Countless thoughts kept popping into my head, and the details I saw were instantly imprinted in my brain.
While it was still effective, Silan quickly activated the Wizard's Eye.
The world blurred before his eyes once more.
Snape's office was transformed into an outline drawn with dotted lines, while Snape himself emitted a faint glow.
Silan glanced at Snape, but still couldn't discern the magical circuits within him.
"Tsk, it seems that exploring the magic circuits within a wizard is still quite difficult."
Silan settling for second best, looked at her wand.
Strictly speaking, wands also fall under the category of Alchemy, but they are a very special kind.
Prior to this, Silan had also tried using the Wizard's Eye to analyze the magic circuitry of the wand, but all attempts failed.
But this time it was a success.
His Ebony, the Dragon Heartstring wand, displayed a dense array of magical circuits in his eyes.
Silan had studied the Suitcase made by Nicolas Flamel; the magical circuits on them were quite complex.
But compared to what's on the wand, it's nothing.
It's not that Nicolas Flamel's abilities are inferior to Ollivander's; it's just that the upper limits of these two things are different.
After glancing at it briefly, Silan looked away.
It's too complicated; I can't figure it out in a short time.
"How are you feeling?" Snape asked.
"Just like the book says, it clears the mind and enhances mental abilities after drinking it," Silan said. "This feeling is truly captivating."
"While this Potions is remarkably effective, we must not become addicted to wisdom that is not our own," Snape said.
Silan listened quietly.
Snape then steered the conversation back to Baruffio's Brain Elixir.
"My method produces better results, but very few people can achieve this effect."
"So all along, people have been coming to me wanting to buy Baruffio's Brain Elixir."
"Does this count as taking on a side job?" Silan wondered.
"I mentioned earlier that I had something to tell you, and it's related to Baruffio's Brain Elixir," Snape finally got back to the point.
Silan was slightly touched and listened obediently.
"You just mentioned Tonguefire Grass ..." Snape glanced at his private storeroom, "I do have a jar of seeds here."
Silan was touched.
The Tonguefire Grass seeds were exactly what he desperately needed, and getting them from Snape would be ideal.
"However..." Snape changed the subject, "I can't give it to you."
Silan remained silent.
After going through all that trouble and saying all that, all we get is this?
Snape stood up from his chair and looked at the Slytherin crest hanging on the wall.
"It is pathetic for a Slytherin student to crave the charity of others."
"So, if you want the seeds of the Tonguefire Grass, you must prove your worth to me."
I see.
Silan thought it made perfect sense.
His gaze was calm as he followed Snape's eyes to the Slytherin house crest.
"Professor, how can I prove myself?"