Chapter 249: Inscriptions on the Wall
Chapter 249: Inscriptions on the Wall
Now that he had upgraded his Ancient Runes grade to Level 3, Albert was naturally eager to explore the treasures within the Ravenclaw Repository of Knowledge. Even if these so-called treasures were likely intangible knowledge, he didn't want to miss out on any potential gains.
The method to open the hidden entrance differed little from what he had initially expected—it simply required the use of a Runic charm to open the door.
Of course, a small blood sacrifice was also necessary.
The wall that originally bore Ravenclaw's famous saying automatically revealed a stone door, leading to a similar hidden chamber.
Albert's gaze swept across the room, pausing briefly on the platform likely used for storing items, and he furrowed his brows slightly.
The platform was empty, suggesting that whatever had been there had probably been taken by a wizard who had entered before him.
To be honest, such an act was highly unethical.
Albert believed that whatever Ravenclaw had left behind was definitely related to the knowledge of Ancient Runes, and when someone took that knowledge away, it meant that later visitors would have great difficulty acquiring it.
However, Albert's efforts weren't entirely in vain.
There were still some ancient runes left on the surrounding walls, and the authors of these inscriptions were not Ravenclaw, but other wizards who had come here and left messages.
The text in front of him mainly consisted of curses directed at the jerk who had taken away the Bronze Book.
According to the messages on the walls, there had been a book made of bronze placed on the platform, containing Ravenclaw's understanding and application of Runic magic.
However, the book had been taken by someone who had come here a long time ago.
This act had left later visitors disappointed and disdainful, and to make up for it, they had recorded their own understanding of Ancient Runes, along with their achievements and questions, on the walls so that those who came after them wouldn't leave empty-handed.
Subsequently, every wizard who came here followed this tradition, and they were all outstanding individuals in the magical world, each with their unique insights. Albert even recognized several familiar names among them.
However, it wasn't difficult to discern from the questions left behind that the understanding of Ancient Runes seemed to deteriorate as time went on. It was as if time were running in reverse, with later wizards displaying more mediocre abilities in this area, at least in comparison to those who had come before and left messages.
There were also several unknown spells inscribed on the walls, which Albert intended to try out when he had the time. After spending nearly an hour recording the ancient runes on the walls, Albert picked up his wand, preparing to leave his name and achievements here, along with the spell and Runic charm for creating the Protection Ring.
It was a pity that some jerk had taken away that book.
It would be a lie to say he wasn't disappointed, as it did feel a bit like a letdown. However, considering that the reward from the Ravenclaw Repository of Knowledge was unknown, it wasn't entirely unexpected.
Following the instructions on the wall, Albert walked up to the blank wall, raised his hand, and knocked lightly twice before reciting an opening spell. The wall trembled, and after a moment, the door opened automatically.
As he stepped through the doorway, Albert found himself standing at an incline on the wall; at least, that was how it appeared from his perspective. There were several moving stone slabs around him, which seemed to be... moving stairs.
The space within was surprisingly three-dimensional.
Albert withdrew his foot from the stone slab and returned to the original hidden chamber, where his senses returned to normal. He stood outside the door, gazing into the peculiar space beyond, lost in a brief moment of silence.
What was Ravenclaw trying to convey with this?
Most of the wizards who came here had stopped at this point, unable to find any relevant clues within the sensory illusion room.
In truth, Albert didn't quite understand what Ravenclaw was trying to express with this challenge.
He temporarily gave up on entering the sensory illusion room and continued to study the legacy left behind by those who had come before him.
What surprised Albert was that he found Dumbledore's name here. Did the headmaster also know about this place?
The legacy he left behind was a primitive prototype of the Deluminator. Nonetheless, this information provided Albert with some inspiration.
"Hmm, this person is... Will De Smith," Albert murmured as he read the name. He was one of the first few wizards to enter this place, and instead of leaving a question, he expressed his admiration for Ravenclaw's knowledge and indicated that the bronze book had benefited him greatly.
Was there really a trace of the Smith family here as well?
Albert glanced at the content on the wall and didn't delve further into researching these things, leaving with a slight sense of disappointment and the notes he had taken.
As he returned to the Great Hall for his meal, he suddenly heard an angry roar in the distance—it was Filch.
"What's going on?" Albert quickened his pace as he entered the Great Hall and saw Fred and George struggling to hold back their laughter.
"It's Peeves," Fred explained, a smile breaking through his serious expression. "He was dropping Dungbombs on everyone's heads just now. You know how much Peeves and Filch dislike each other. One of the Dungbombs accidentally landed on Filch's head."
There was no doubt that Fred and George had provided Peeves with the Dungbombs. It was already close to Christmas, and they had managed to use one on Filch.
"What a disaster," Albert muttered.
"By the way, where were you just now?" George asked suddenly. "I couldn't find you on the map."
"I was in the Room of Requirement, practicing the Patronus Charm. I feel like I'm almost able to conjure a corporeal Patronus!" Albert replied casually, changing the subject. "I'm suddenly curious about what form my Patronus will take."
Lee Jordan suddenly remembered something amusing. "If your Patronus turns out to be an eagle, that would be embarrassing! After all, the eagle is the symbol of Ravenclaw, but you're clearly a Gryffindor."
"Don't worry," Albert assured them, rolling his eyes at Lee Jordan's teasing. In truth, it didn't matter what form his Patronus took, as he could always choose to hide it if he wasn't satisfied.
What truly caught people's attention was the fact that Albert had quietly mastered the ability to summon a corporeal Patronus at such a young age. After all, he was only thirteen.
Of course, most people tended to overlook the word "almost," and in their eyes, it wouldn't be long before Albert gained the ability to summon a corporeal Patronus—a matter of one or two months at most.
However, this distinction made no difference to Albert.
(End of Chapter)
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