Four Legendary Wands

"Is that so?" Elios murmured distractedly. "You never thought of stealing my research?"

Nightingale told him calmly, "We were only looking for materials. Someone would help us make the wands..."

"Who? When it comes to wandmaking, who could possibly surpass me?" His nervous fit began again.

"Wandmaking is an ancient and profound craft. Only I can create something comparable to the Elder Wand. Only I can do it... only I!"

A crazed expression appeared on his aged face. "Who did you find to make your wands?"

Without waiting for either of them to answer, he continued with scorn and contempt, "The traditional European faction represented by the Ollivander Family only knows how to cling to the old ways. They cannot innovate. If you sought them out, then you made a grave mistake."

Seeing that neither spoke, he went on, "That fool Gregorovitch has shown a little creativity, but his thirst for fame and profit has already surpassed his devotion to wands themselves!

"The wands made by Hicoba Wolf of North America's fusion faction have tremendous advantages in natural elemental magic, but their limitations are far too severe!

"The Adebayo Family of West Africa excels at combining magic with alchemy, but they rely too heavily on nature and have forgotten the essence of magic!

"Only I—I am the greatest wandmaker in this world..."

With trembling hands, the old man pulled open his robes and took several wands of different shapes from a swaying leather pouch at his waist. "Aren't you looking for wands? Then let me show you what true legendary creations are..."

He carefully took out the first wand and held it up reverently for them to see. "An ancient cypress body, a Thunderbird tail feather core, and amber set into the handle containing the remains of insects from antiquity. When used to cast natural magic, its effects far surpass those of other wands."

"It only lacks the final step... inject the user's blood into its channels, and it will be complete."

"The second wand: a spine-shaped body carved from self-healing yew, with a universal core made from the heart sinew of a Mountain Tyrannosaur. It still needs to be soaked in Mooncalf blood for a year before completion, but even as a half-finished product, its defensive magic is already extraordinarily effective."

"The third wand: a body of twin cherrywood—exceptionally rare! Its core requires the fetal hair of twin Unicorns that died in a difficult birth. Absolutely unique!

"An unquestionably world-shaking masterpiece. The offensive magic cast with it is unmatched... Believe me, I tried countless combinations. This is the most perfect one...

"It had originally lacked only one final step—a Norwegian Sea Monster's heart. But now it is complete. Add a single tear from its user, and it can be used at once..."

Elios lifted the final wand, wrapped in velvet cloth, his voice tinged with emotion. "Its body is made from Immortal Flowerwood. Its core consists of three materials—a Thestral tail feather from one killed by the Killing Curse, Snow Demon hair from one driven mad by the Cruciatus Curse, and an Occamy spinal cord from one whose will was ravaged by the Imperius Curse. The three are intertwined to form its core, giving it limitless potential...

"The spiral thorn patterns wound around the body can store residual magical power from multiple castings. The stronger the user's magic, the greater the spell's power.

"It can perfectly adapt to every kind of magic. It is the pinnacle of my life's work..."

"What it lacks is a master who can control it absolutely!" The old man's pride gradually faded. "No one can wield it, at least not so far..."

Looking at the two young people before him, he said something that surprised them both. "If you can control it perfectly, I am willing to offer all my achievements with both hands."

Sagreles picked up the translucent Immortal Flowerwood wand and immediately sensed how extraordinary it was. He casually cast several spells, and their immense power secretly startled him.

Nightingale asked the old wizard, "What counts as perfect control?"

Old Elios stared blankly, then suddenly laughed. "Ha, he's already done it..." A lonely expression appeared on the old wizard's face. "Ordinary wizards would go mad the moment they picked it up, because it amplifies the desires in their hearts until they cannot even cast the simplest spells..."

"Heh... yes... how ridiculous... I made a legendary wand that even I cannot use..."

Black veins had already spread to his throat, and the powerful curse rapidly eroded his aged body.

He fumbled out a crystal vial and collected a drop of his own cloudy tear before the two of them.

"Take it... all my skills and research... they are yours..."

Sagreles and Nightingale watched him calmly without moving.

"Consider it a favor... help me... even if you just find anyone... as long as it can be passed on..."

At last, Sagreles nodded. He reached out and accepted the vial, saying with rare approval, "It truly is a brilliant craft. It should not vanish with you in these sunless ruins."

"Ha... right..."

Black veins had appeared on his face. Enduring the pain, he pointed at the Immortal Flowerwood wand in Sagreles's hand. "One final request... kill me with that wand... with that beautiful fire spell..."

Sagreles did not respond. Seeing this, the old man pleaded earnestly, "I have lived for one hundred and thirty-one years... Countless people have died by my wand... Without a doubt... I am a complete bastard... But for the sake of these wands... please grant this insignificant request..."

At last, Sagreles slowly pointed his wand at the old man's chest. A flicker of white flame ignited at its tip and instantly consumed the old man completely.

Then he silently waved his wand, and a small pit appeared in the ground. Nightingale tossed a few tiny ashes into it, along with the wand Elios had used, and buried them. Sagreles also summoned a floorboard to serve as a gravestone.

Nightingale carved words into the floorboard with her wand:

The grave of an evil man,

The end of a legendary wandmaker,

Those who come after,

Never take Philk Elios's Bone-and-Blood Wand out of greed,

Or you will suffer retribution!

After finishing all this, she stood and exchanged a glance with Sagreles. "So, have we completed our objective now?"

"I think so..." Sagreles surveyed their surroundings. In truth, he had noticed it long ago.

This was the place from the prophecy. Behind the hidden door to the north lay the objective of their journey: several rare materials for making wands. But clearly, they no longer needed them.

Sagreles put away the Immortal Flowerwood wand, then handed the Twin Cherrywood Wand to Nightingale. The other two unfinished wands already had owners reserved for them as well.

With this matter settled, it was time to return to Hogwarts...