[Note: Read up to Chapter - 171 on P patron at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]
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"Nicolas, what's the matter? Did something go wrong with the experiment?"
Dumbledore stepped up to the workbench, gave the device upon it a brief glance, then looked away.
He knew a fair bit of alchemy himself, but compared to Nicolas, the gap was far too wide. There was no way of knowing exactly what the legendary alchemist was fiddling with. From the array of equipment and ingredients scattered across the bench, though, it looked suspiciously like he was brewing up some kind of potion.
"It's the oddest thing," Nicolas muttered, half to Dumbledore and half to himself. "All the steps should've been correct, yet this draught of rejuvenation water still failed. It feels as though one crucial step's gone missing. Where did it all go wrong? It simply shouldn't be possible…"
At that moment, Aris also stepped up to the bench.
Dumbledore cast him a glance and asked lightly, "Why do you see a problem?"
He hadn't meant much by it—just a casual question—but Nicolas Flamel suddenly lifted his head, shot Dumbledore a look, then turned his sharp gaze on Aris.
"Albus, are you going soft in the head?" he said in a strange tone.
"This potion of revitalising water blends expert knowledge of both potions and alchemy. How could a first-year wizard possibly grasp it?"
"You can belittle yourself if you like, but don't drag me down with you!"
The message couldn't have been clearer. If even Dumbledore couldn't make sense of it, how could anyone expect a boy barely out of nappies to understand? To Flamel, such a notion was nothing short of an insult to the craft of alchemy.
"Yes, yes, fair enough…" Dumbledore chuckled softly and shook his head. He hadn't seriously expected Aris to understand—he'd asked almost on a whim, without thinking much of it.
Aris's clear eyes were fixed on a device sitting atop the workbench.
Then his calm, questioning voice broke the silence:
"Senior Nicolas Flamel, this device appears to be a blend of potions and alchemy, isn't it? I can see it trembling ever so slightly. Could there be an error in one of the alchemical runes?"
"No. When I crafted these devices, I checked every rune half a dozen times. There's no chance of a mistake. As for this supposed tremor—why is it that I can't feel a thing?" Flamel dismissed Aris's words with a wave of his hand.
Just then, Dumbledore cut in:
"Nicolas… could it be that you can't sense the slight vibration because your body itself is shaking more than the device?"
"Old Albus, what's that supposed to mean?!" Flamel snapped, glaring at him.
"No, what I mean is—this contraption really is shaking." Dumbledore pointed squarely at the device Aris had mentioned.
"And if you don't stop the test right now, it may very well blow!"
Ever since coming into contact with elemental energy, Dumbledore's mental perception had sharpened immensely. At this moment, he could feel it plainly: the energy inside the device was spiralling into instability.
If nothing was done, an explosion was inevitable.
"Impossible!" Nicolas Flamel hobbled over to the device, leaning in close to inspect it.
"Too late!" Aris suddenly whipped out his wand.
At the very same moment, Dumbledore thrust out his hand, and two surges of magical power burst forth simultaneously.
The devices on the workbench froze as though time itself had stopped, before collapsing into a paralysed state.
Puffs of white vapour hissed softly from several vents.
"What on earth are you doing?!" Flamel cried, storming over to the machines with a look of utter anguish. He began fussing over them, eyes full of distress.
"This apparatus took me years to construct! If it breaks, I might not have enough time left to remake it. Old Albus, are you trying to finish me off?!"
His fury then shifted to Aris. "And you, boy—you dare flaunt your alchemical 'knowledge' in front of me? Do you even know what that's called?"
"Showing off one's sword before a master?" Aris offered tentatively.
"What?" Flamel froze, momentarily dumbfounded.
Even Dumbledore turned to regard the boy with interest.
Well, it was clear these two old codgers hadn't the faintest idea who Guan Gong was…
Aris gave a light cough before speaking seriously.
"Senior Flamel, I never meant to disrupt your experiment, nor to flaunt alchemical knowledge in front of you. Anyone with an ounce of sense wouldn't dare make such a fool of themselves.
"I simply noticed something odd. Perhaps this tiny, overlooked irregularity is the very reason your experiment failed. And as for why I drew my wand just now—Professor Dumbledore can give you the proper explanation…"
"If we hadn't acted, your house would've been blown to smithereens!" Dumbledore cut in sharply, glaring at Flamel.
"How could it possibly explode?" Flamel scoffed, clearly unconvinced.
But Aris was already prepared. He stepped up to the malfunctioning device, gave his wand a smooth flick, and lifted it into the air. One by one, its components began to separate, each piece hovering neatly apart.
"Flawless magical control—you've improved yet again," Dumbledore said, openly admiring Aris's precision as though he were watching a master craftsman at work.
Aris gave a faint smile, then turned his eyes back on Nicolas.
"Senior Flamel, please take a look at this rune…"
Aris guided one of the pieces to float before Nicolas, then pointed to a tiny, easily overlooked marking.
"The stroke here is wrong," he explained. "And because of that, the rune's effect changes completely.
"Judging from its meaning, this rune ought to serve as a secondary connection point in the energy cycle. But with the stroke drawn incorrectly, the connection's been lost—turning it into a circulation point instead. That twist has thrown off the entire flow of energy in the experiment."
He paused before adding, "Luckily, this circulation point wasn't in a critical position. Otherwise, your experiment wouldn't have lasted this long—it would've blown sky-high from the energy conflict."
As Aris spoke, Nicolas Flamel's expression slowly shifted, doubt giving way to unease.
Dumbledore gave a small, knowing nod. "I can't claim to follow every step of your experiment, Nicolas, but Aris's reasoning sounds solid. And… even to me, that rune looks slightly off. Wouldn't you agree?"
"Albus… are you quite certain this lad's just a first-year at your school?" Nicolas Flamel stared at Aris with a strange look, as though he were gazing at some sort of prodigy—or monster. Six centuries of carefully cultivated composure now rippled with shock.
"You heard correctly, Nicolas," Dumbledore replied smoothly. "He truly is a Hogwarts first-year. Well, strictly speaking, he's finished one term already. So perhaps not a full-fledged fresher anymore—call him half a freshman." He corrected the detail with his usual pedantic care.
"This isn't right… This is astonishing!" Nicolas's eyes widened in disbelief.
"He actually recognises such an obscure ancient magical symbol? And more than that, he seems to understand the experimental sequence and the key device nodes behind the Vitality Restorative Water?"
"At the very least, that's the knowledge of a master-level potioneer and alchemist!"
His face twisted with incredulity. "Albus, you've dragged him here to me—are you having a laugh at my expense?"
"Senior Flamel, you've misunderstood," Aris said quickly, a touch embarrassed. "I only spotted the rune's error by sheer luck. As for the exact steps and the full effect of your experiment—I couldn't claim to know."
"Still… I am rather intrigued by this Vitality Revitaliser. Would I be permitted the honour of observing your next experiment?"
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Drop Power Stonessssssssss!
[Note: Read up to Chapter - 171 on P patron at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]