Chapter 235: A Stroll of the Mind
Chapter 235: A Stroll of the Mind
As he spoke, Dagworth handed the test tube containing the Befuddlement Draught to Albert. After accepting it, Albert wiped the rim and took a small sip, just like Dagworth. As the potion slid down his throat, Albert felt his mind relax and his thoughts became more active than ever before.
Noticing Albert's changing expression, Dagworth asked with a smile, "How do you feel?"
With his eyes closed, Albert responded, "My mind feels very active. It's somewhat similar to a Wit-Sharpening Potion."
"Wit-Sharpening Potion?" Dagworth shook his head. "That potion only clarifies one's thoughts, but it doesn't invigorate the mind or enhance memory in a short period. You'll find that this draught makes your brain incredibly nimble."
Dagworth's words rang true as Albert could clearly feel that thinking had become easier, and his memory had improved.
The magical potion was indeed remarkable. Albert took out his notebook from his pocket and meticulously recorded every step of brewing the Befuddlement Draught.
However, what puzzled him was that the "Broaden Your Mind" task on the panel had not been completed, apparently requiring the use of an undiluted Befuddlement Draught.
"Can I try that one?" Albert asked, pointing at the undiluted Befuddlement Draught.
"You're playing with fire. This is no trivial matter." Dagworth suddenly grew irritated. "Even if I have absolute confidence in the potions I brew, I would not recommend you take such a risk. It's not worth endangering yourself over."
"It is worth it, and I have faith in you," Albert said, flashing a wink at Dagworth, his expression earnest.
Dagworth fell silent for a moment, pleased by Albert's trust, but... With a deep breath, he nodded. "Just this once. If I catch you taking such risks again, I won't offer any more assistance."
"Thanks. So, what's the dosage?" Albert asked, grinning.
"Just a sip, about a third of the liquid in the test tube. Don't get greedy," Dagworth said, giving Albert a stern look. He truly disliked the idea of Albert taking chances like this.
It would be a tremendous loss if something happened to this genius, even if consuming an undiluted Befuddlement Draught could potentially enhance one's brain. It simply wasn't worth the risk.
"I promise there won't be a next time," Albert assured him, thumping his chest. As for the credibility of this promise, that was another matter.
"Wait for the effects to wear off before drinking again. You didn't take much just now, so the effects will likely start fading within half an hour. In the meantime, let's discuss the recipe for the Befuddlement Draught."
"Dagworth began his lecture, and to be honest, his teaching skills were worse than Snape's. A barrage of professional jargon left one feeling dizzy.
However, Albert was able to understand, after all, with the help of the panel, he had a solid foundation in potion-making, and with the upgraded Brain-Enhancing Elixir skill, he had some insight into such potions. He even proposed some potentially useful improvements, which made Dagworth even more inclined to back out of their arrangement.
If Albert were to be poisoned by a potion, that would be one thing, but as long as Dagworth was here, he was confident he could concoct an antidote in a short amount of time.
But the Befuddlement Draught was different. This stuff, if ingested undiluted, could injure the brain, and if a person's brain were to be affected, even if they recovered later, there might be other unforeseen issues. He was truly worried about Albert's decision.
However, Dagworth could understand why Albert wanted to take the risk with the Befuddlement Draught. Smart people rarely passed up opportunities to become even smarter, even if, in his opinion, it wasn't worth the risk.
'Well?' Dagworth asked anxiously as he watched Albert drink the undiluted Befuddlement Draught.
"Are there any side effects?"
"None that I can tell. Let me think." Albert sat in the armchair, his fingers steepled, ready to take advantage of the potion's effects to ponder some questions, especially parts that he hadn't fully understood before.
Back then, when he had asked Professor Flitwick about spell incantations and the key to the Ravenclaw Common Room, he realized that there was a flaw in his question, and Professor Flitwick had likely noticed it too.
As Dagworth watched Albert sitting in the armchair with his hands folded, he was taken aback, not understanding what was going on. But even as Dagworth stood there bewildered, Albert's thoughts had already raced down several paths.
He realized that there was an inherent mistake in the question he had posed to Professor Flitwick, and the professor had probably already spotted it.
Although Albert could speak other languages, he had never actually cast spells in those languages. Moreover, wizarding incantations had nothing to do with English; the vast majority of spells originated from Latin, an ancient language used by the Romans.
However, Latin was no longer in common use, and while many European languages had evolved from it, the ancient tongue had undergone changes over time.
Of course, wizarding incantations were not limited to Latin; other languages could be used as well, as Professor Flitwick had mentioned—the essence of magic was in the wand movements.
Runic, as Albert believed, held a certain magical power, and these runes originated from Norse mythology. Undoubtedly, Runic, Latin, and even Fairy languages had been used for incantations.
Was it due to differences in magical systems, or were there other reasons? Perhaps, the key to unlocking the next door lay in truly mastering these ancient magical scripts.
...
Taking full advantage of the Brain-Enhancing Elixir's effects, Albert suddenly gained clarity and figured out many things. When he opened his eyes again, he immediately took out his pen and frantically jotted down his newfound insights in his notebook.
"All done?"
Albert closed his notebook and saw Dagworth sipping his milk tea nearby.
"Hmm, the effects are amazing, but relying too much on it might make one dull," Albert remarked as he took a sip from his own cup. The milk tea had gone cold.
"It's still important to exercise the brain independently."
"I'm glad to hear you say that." Dagworth nodded in satisfaction. "There's one more thing I should remind you of. After the effects of the undiluted Befuddlement Draught wear off, you'll feel extremely exhausted. However, that's a normal reaction, and I suggest you return to the castle to rest. Alternatively, you can rest here, and I'll ask Jera to send you back to the castle once you wake up."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
