Chapter 261: A Request
Chapter 261: A Request
After the banquet, the guests gradually bid their farewells and departed.
"Thank you for your invitation, Professor Broad," Albert expressed his gratitude to Professor Broad after he had seen off all the guests.
"It seems you've had quite a fruitful evening," Professor Broad said with a smile, gesturing for Albert to come inside and chat further.
"Yes, indeed."
Albert sat down in an armchair across from Professor Broad and remarked, "Alchemy is even more profound and captivating than I had imagined."
"Alchemy is a complex and profound field of study," Professor Broad said gently. "It encompasses a vast array of knowledge, as you may have noticed, and this knowledge can limit one's potential."
"Yes, I've realized that," Albert replied with a sense of helplessness, having only recently entered the magical world.
"There's no need to rush," Professor Broad assured him. "For most witches and wizards, their exploration of alchemy truly begins after they come of age. However, it is unfortunate that very few can delve deeper into this field." He shook his head. "Once they leave school, how many can truly dedicate themselves to the study of magic and alchemy?"
Indeed, while many witches and wizards continued to improve their magical skills after graduating, that was often the extent of their pursuit.
"What about the Unspeakables?" Albert raised an eyebrow.
"I'm surprised you know about them," Professor Broad said, clearly astonished.
"After receiving that warning letter, I specifically looked into the Ministry of Magic," Albert revealed with a mischievous smile. "It's always good to know your surroundings."
"The matters of the Department of Mysteries are top-secret; no one truly knows what they are up to," Professor Broad said, his gaze fixed on Albert. "Are you disappointed?"
"I can't say I'm disappointed since I never had any expectations to begin with," Albert replied nonchalantly.
"That's good," Professor Broad said, revealing his disapproval of the Department of Mysteries. Though it was the largest research institute in British wizarding history, it had produced little of substance. While they studied lofty concepts, their work had little impact on the magical community.
"You can familiarize yourself with it briefly, but I advise against investing too much time and energy into it. It will only waste your time and squander your talent."
Noticing the confusion on Albert's face, Professor Broad explained, "Dumbledore himself spent a brief stint there. With your talent and abilities, you will inevitably come into contact with that realm sooner or later; it's only a matter of time."
"Oh," Albert responded ambiguously, already well aware of the contents of the Department of Mysteries and holding little interest in them. He was no research fanatic, and his creation of magical artifacts was solely for his own benefit.
Indeed, Albert had always been a selfish individual.
Selflessness?
That was a foreign concept, long discarded in the corner of his previous life's worldview.
"I know you aspire to be a jack-of-all-trades, but that can be a significant problem," Professor Broad felt compelled to give Albert a word of caution. "Nicolas is an exceptional example; his extraordinarily long life has afforded him the time to learn and master numerous things."
He continued, "Most witches and wizards, like myself or the others who attended tonight, excel in just one field. Our energy is finite, and I hope you understand this. It will help you navigate your path more smoothly in the future."
"I'll keep that in mind," Albert nodded, not overly concerned about these issues. After all, he had the system to learn skills, allowing him to acquire knowledge faster than others.
"Actually, Professor Ravenclaw also had quite a talent for alchemy," Professor Broad sighed softly. "Unfortunately, due to certain circumstances, her talents were wasted."
Albert was puzzled as to why Professor Broad had brought up Professor Flitwick, and he sensed that the elderly professor had something he wanted to convey but was hesitant to say directly, so he resorted to hinting and beating around the bush.
Was it because of that incident?
Albert thought it best to feign ignorance; sometimes, it was better to leave things unspoken.
"Do you remember those ancient runes I asked you to translate last time?" Professor Broad changed the subject again. "There is a magical room within Hogwarts Castle, located opposite the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy on the eighth floor. Some call it the Room of Requirement, or the Come and Go Room... It was designed and built by Rowena Ravenclaw, and it holds her...treasure."
Professor Broad proceeded to inform Albert about the location of the Room of Requirement and how to enter it, while the latter listened quietly, his expression growing stranger by the minute.
"It seems you already know about it," Professor Broad deduced from Albert's lack of reaction. Though he was not surprised, he continued, "This is also one of the reasons why Professor Flitwick chose to teach at Hogwarts. If you manage to uncover its secrets one day, remember to share them with me."
"Is there something inside?" Albert asked curiously. "And considering Mr. McDougall's proficiency in ancient runes, he should have been able to unravel its secrets, no?"
"He failed," Professor Broad stated.
"Failed?" Albert was taken aback. He was well aware of Mr. McDougall's expertise, perhaps even more so than Professor Broad.
"I hope you can help me with something," Professor Broad continued, unfazed by Albert's reaction.
"Is that also why Professor Smith is here?" Albert retorted.
"He doesn't know, and it's best if you don't tell him," Professor Broad sighed. "Rowena is the type of person with a rather aggressive personality."
Quest:
Professor Broad seems to have a request for you. Before that, you need to unlock the second level of the Ravenclaw Knowledge Treasury.
Reward: 3000 experience points.
"Prerequisite quest?"
Albert glanced at the quest panel, surprised to see that it was already marked as completed.
"Should I accept it now?"
After much consideration, Albert decided to put it on hold for the time being.
After all, this wasn't a game, and from the way Professor Broad spoke about Professor Smith, it didn't seem like he had a favorable opinion of him.
"Is it something important?" Albert inquired further.
"Let's keep it confidential for now," Professor Broad said mysteriously, breaking into a smile. "You'll find out in due time. Just remember not to tell anyone else, especially not Professor Flitwick."
Albert was perplexed by this instruction. Was he being asked to be cautious of Professor Smith?
"I understand!" Albert nodded, assuring Professor Broad that he wouldn't divulge the information to anyone.
"By the way, do you plan to stay here until the end of the Christmas break, or should I have someone send you home?" Professor Broad brought up another matter.
"Please arrange for someone to send me home," Albert decided after a moment's thought. He preferred to spend the remainder of the Christmas break with his family.
"You can borrow a few books from here, and return them after you're done reading," Professor Broad suggested. "I'll have someone send you back first thing tomorrow morning."
For the rest of the Christmas break, Albert remained at home. While it was a shame that he couldn't use magic, he relished the leisurely atmosphere. He occasionally teased Fat Cat Tom, snuggled with his family on the sofa, munched on snacks, and watched television, cherishing the newfound warmth and comfort.
That was the feeling of home.
(End of Chapter)
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