Enjoying a French gourmet meal in one of Beauxbatons' side halls, Lucien began checking the loan information for the Earth Element Magic Pattern.
[Loan: Advanced Earth Element Magic Pattern]
[Repayment Period: 30 Days]
[Loan Content: Obtain the Advanced Earth Element Magic Pattern, increasing the host's affinity for the earth element, increasing the speed of learning Earth-system magic, and increasing the power of Earth-system magic by 50%.]
[Loan Task: Improve the Fountain of Beauty at Beauxbatons]
He communicated with the system through his consciousness.
"Are there any specific standards for the improvement?"
[None. The design is entirely up to the host's preference. The system will be responsible for judging whether the final improvement effect meets the loan requirements.]
After receiving the system's reply, Lucien immediately felt a sense of foreboding.
Now the system had become the client, and the kind of client who didn't give clear requirements.
An Earth Element Magic Pattern, was it?
Why did he feel more and more like a civil engineering student working on a project? Whenever he presented a plan, the client would be dissatisfied and tell him to tear it down and start over, only to discover in the end that the first version had been the best...
In addition, although there was a thirty-day repayment period, Lucien would only be staying at Beauxbatons for half a month, effectively cutting his available time in half.
Still, after taking this loan, he would possess two advanced Magic Patterns, Water and Earth, increasing his affinity for two basic elements. His Alchemy should also become even smoother.
He could also write to Professor Nicolas for advice and directly ask about the core principles behind the Fountain of Beauty, which would save him a great deal of effort.
Combined with his SS+ Alchemy talent, it should be enough.
Lucien finally asked the system one more question.
"System, we've been together for so many years. You won't deliberately make things difficult when judging the engineering plan, right?"
[Hehe ( ͡°з ͡°)]
"..."
[This system aims to help the host learn more knowledge. Please do not worry about the system acting in bad faith (๑•́ ω •̀๑)]
Lucien thought that had better be true, then applied for the loan.
[Ding! Loan application successful!]
[Evaluation: By improving the Fountain of Beauty, many girls will be grateful to you.]
Another one of the system's occasionally unreliable evaluations.
The corner of Lucien's mouth twitched slightly.
He also thought of the requests from some female classmates before he left Hogwarts. They had all asked him to bring back some water from the Fountain of Beauty. Although their reasons varied, their true intentions were self-evident.
Lucien felt that he could take the opportunity of improving the Fountain of Beauty to develop some Potions and Alchemical items for beauty and skincare.
Well, he had promised several people that he would bring back some spring water. Since he was going to try modifying the Fountain of Beauty anyway, once he mastered the principles and structure of this magical fountain, he might as well replicate one after returning to Hogwarts...
After the meal, Maxime informed them that during this half-month exchange, Lucien, Riemann, and the others could choose to attend classes at Beauxbatons.
Lucien was naturally very pleased about this. He was genuinely curious about the teaching standards of other magical schools.
However, a problem immediately occurred to him.
Beauxbatons' Alchemy classes started earlier, and third-year students were allowed to attend.
Should he discuss with Madame Maxime whether he could attend classes with the higher years?
Unsurprisingly, among all the courses at Beauxbatons, Lucien was still most interested in their Alchemy class.
In fact, among the students qualified to participate in this Alchemy Exchange Competition, most should normally have been fifth or sixth years at minimum. Lucien, who was only in his second year, was indeed an exception.
Lucien thought that since he still had to try improving the Fountain of Beauty, and since that matter required the consent of Maxime, the Headmistress of Beauxbatons, he might as well ask about both things at the same time.
The Headmistress's office at Beauxbatons was dominated by ivory-white and pale-gold tones. Exquisite magical paintings floated slightly on the walls, and a faint floral scent lingered in the air.
Rather than an office, it felt more like the elegant parlour of a noble lady.
The tall Madame Maxime sat behind a wide carved desk, looking perfectly at ease.
"Madame, I am very interested in the Alchemy classes at Beauxbatons. If I were to follow your school's curriculum..."
Maxime listened as Lucien explained his purpose. When she heard of his interest in Beauxbatons' Alchemy courses, a flicker of almost imperceptible satisfaction crossed her large, dark eyes.
"No problem," she said with almost no hesitation. "The classrooms of Beauxbatons will naturally be open to you."
In her view, it was a good thing that the last disciple of Nicolas Flamel, an already emerging young genius, had taken an interest in Beauxbatons.
In calling for this Alchemical Tournament, she had not been without the thought of using the opportunity to observe Lucien, or even try to keep him at Beauxbatons.
Lucien's future achievements were immeasurable.
No, there was no need to wait for the future.
Having received the Order of Merlin, First Class, and pioneered a brand-new field of Transfiguration, the young man's brilliance was already apparent.
Among the three major magical schools in Europe, the reason Hogwarts held such a transcendent position in Europe and even the world came down to one thing: it had Dumbledore.
Judging by Lucien's current performance, perhaps in a few decades, the Magical World would have another Dumbledore.
If Lucien were truly willing to transfer to Beauxbatons, the significance would be beyond words.
Maxime waved her hand gently, and a journal silently appeared on the polished tabletop.
On the cover was the title Transfiguration Today, along with the abstract of Lucien's groundbreaking paper.
"Actually, with your level, Lucien," Maxime said with a smile, lightly tapping the journal cover with her fingertip, "you can attend classes of any year. How about starting from fifth year? The Alchemy classes before that are mostly about laying foundations..."
Seeing that his paper had already spread abroad, Lucien was not particularly surprised. Two or three months had already passed.
He had heard that Beauxbatons' O.W.L. examinations were scheduled for sixth year, so the overall teaching progress was slightly slower than Hogwarts, making the fifth-year curriculum just right.
Lucien replied politely, "Thank you for making the arrangements."
After a short pause, he brought up his true purpose.
"Madame, I also have a bold request. I am very curious about the principles behind the Fountain of Beauty created by Teacher Nicolas. I wonder if I might study it and perhaps modify it slightly?"
Before Lucien came to Beauxbatons, Nicolas Flamel had mentioned him in a letter, so Madame Maxime could roughly guess his identity.
Thus, Lucien now directly acknowledged this teacher-student relationship.
As expected, no surprise appeared on Maxime's face. She pondered for a moment, the corners of her lips curving slightly into an understanding and elegant smile.
"A student studying his teacher's work," she said slowly, her tone gentle, "is naturally nothing improper."
In her eyes, as Nicolas Flamel's student, Lucien had already received the recognition of that legendary Alchemist in the field of Alchemy. He certainly would not do something like break the Fountain of Beauty.
Having received Maxime's approval, Lucien understood that the status of Nicolas's student was indeed very useful at Beauxbatons.
Otherwise, it would be quite difficult for an outsider to suddenly suggest tampering with the Fountain of Beauty, the school's landmark asset and a highly prestigious magical creation.
The loan mission was looking promising.
Next, he had to consider how to improve it, whether by adding new functions or strengthening its original effects...
"Madame, thank you for your generosity."
________
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