"Steel Heart... Sunset Red... and the Full Moon, right?"
Antoine stroked his chin. "What exactly do these images refer to? Some kind of alchemical creation? This is your strong suit!"
"I have some ideas, but I'm not quite sure yet." Wade leaned back in the carved wooden chair, the warm light of the setting sun casting dappled shadows on his face through the windowpanes.
After leaving the Room of Requirement, Wade received a message from Antoine, and they agreed to meet in an empty classroom on the third floor.
"Ha, well, take your time thinking about it! We still have three months!"
Antoine laughed. "The clues for the hidden items are pretty clear, though... Hmm, besides the 'dark place' in the first line, you should have some idea about the other two, right?"
Wade nodded slightly. "The Giant Squid in the Black Lake is an obvious clue. While no one knows exactly where its lair is, its sheer size..."
He looked out the window. In the distance, the lake water was dark and deep, and Durmstrang's "Ghost Ship" was docked by the shore.
"As long as it's active, it should be easy to spot."
"The 'ancient stone gate' must be related to Mermaids. I've heard Michael say that some Slytherin students occasionally see Mermaids swimming past quickly from outside their bedroom windows."
Antoine nodded with satisfaction. "Then it's just the Steel Heart left."
"The Steel Heart... it might be hidden near those two." Wade guessed, "Squids can spray ink. Is there anything darker than that in the Black Lake? And Mermaids generally live in the deepest parts of the water, where light is scarce."
"That makes sense!" Antoine agreed. "The vague wording in the lyrics might be hinting that we should consider this line in connection with the next two... That explains it."
Wade nodded. Although he had some other thoughts, those fragmented inspirations hadn't fully formed yet, so there was no need to voice them.
"Speaking of which, since you've passed the first challenge and achieved such a crushing victory, I can start putting some of my plans into action now." Antoine's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
Wade was a little surprised. "Plans?"
"That's right." Antoine said with a smile, "You should remember that Dumbledore's Chocolate Frog card had a line on it—'Discovered the Twelve Uses for Dragon's Blood'?"
"Of course..." Wade frowned slightly, hesitating. "What does that have to do with your plan?"
"You see, Wade, even a powerful Wizard like Dumbledore needs his contributions to be written down and publicized to gain widespread recognition."
Antoine leaned forward, his voice seemingly laced with a hint of persuasion:
"Ivan Dillonsby always claimed that he had already discovered eight uses for Dragon's Blood when Dumbledore 'borrowed' his thesis! But who would believe that? Everyone thought he was a shameless person trying to steal Dumbledore's glory."
"Why?"
"Because before that, he had no commendable achievements, nor had he published many valuable papers."
"If he had published two or three research papers on Dragons in magazines before then, wouldn't that lie be much more credible?"
"Think about our leader again—no offense, Mr. Grindelwald—he almost ruled the entire Wizarding World of Europe, but what about now?"
"If he hadn't broken out of prison again, kids your age might not even know who Gellert Grindelwald is."
Wade said speechlessly, "You'd better not let Mr. Grindelwald know you're talking about him like that behind his back."
After a pause, he asked, "So? What exactly are you trying to say?"
"Still don't understand?"
Antoine waved his Wand, forming a crown in the air. It glowed with golden light, dazzlingly bright.
He said, "The whole world is watching the Magic School League now, and the Champion will be world-famous."
"But what about the second, third... twenty or thirty years from now? Who will remember the name of the Champion from this competition?"
The crown in the air suddenly shattered, turning into countless scattered starlight. Before it could fall, it completely dissolved into the air and disappeared.
"Just like the former Triwizard Tournament, the Champion will surely be forgotten, but knowledge will not."
"Similarly, years from now, great, omnipotent Dark Wizards will be treated as villains in stories, as names to be memorized for exams, with no one truly caring;"
"But people will always respect Bathilda Bagshot, because she is the author of A History of Magic—even if Mr. Grindelwald could defeat that woman with just one finger!"
Wade: "..."
This Antoine guy is really getting bolder...
But did he know that Bathilda Bagshot was actually Grindelwald's great-aunt?
He scoffed inwardly, but he already understood Antoine's meaning.
As expected, Antoine then said:
"I've asked many people about your teaching in that Spell Study Group. Originally, I thought you were just acting as a second Charms Class professor for them in your spare time, but then I found out that you've actually developed a very effective method for learning Spells!"
"You break down those Spells that many find difficult into several basic elements. Each part is simple and easy to understand, so even the dullest student can master them step by step!"
His voice faintly trembled with excitement:
"So I plan to organize and compile these Spells into a book under the names of certain Hogwarts students. Your name will be listed as the primary author, and then we'll just add a few names of students who assisted with the book."
"You might not fully grasp the significance of your method yet..."
Antoine excitedly spread his arms wide and declared loudly:
"Wade, if this method spreads, it will quickly replace the current haphazard teaching methods in various Magic Schools, which rely on students' intelligence and talent to learn Spells!"
"But you've made Spell learning more standardized, more concrete, and more concise! This isn't just about teaching a few Spells; it's a systematic methodology that can be applied to various subjects!"
"Of course, this will sacrifice some artistic flair and creativity, but if students diligently study this method, those who consistently fail certain Spells will pass, and good students will more easily achieve 'Outstanding'—do you know how crazy that will make people?"
Antoine's eyes gleamed:
"Just think, with the momentum from the Magic School League, when this book hits the shelves, everyone will be talking about these revolutionary spellcasting techniques, and about Wade Grey, who discovered and selflessly shared them!"
"Respect, adoration, trust, fame, status... everything will come flooding to you! This isn't just a book, Wade; it's proof of your existence."
"It's different from the things you invent with Alchemy—people eat an egg without asking which hen it came from—I apologize, I know that's a crude analogy."
"But this book will enter every school, becoming a textbook for children. Fifty years from now, five hundred years from now... when new students enter the school, they will still be able to touch your thoughts across time and space!"
"Wade, you will leave an indelible ripple in the long river of Wizarding World history."
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