Chapter 430: The Possibility of Potion Secularization
Chapter 430: The Possibility of Potion Secularization
The list continued with a long string of examples.
Felix guessed that any normal person would likely be intrigued by at least one or two of the items mentioned, provided they were truly achievable.
At the bottom of the leaflet was a crude map.
Felix's curiosity grew even more. The person who handed him the leaflet was clearly an ordinary person, but had approached him directly. Was it a coincidence, or something more deliberate? He suspected that it was more likely some kind of secret scheme under the guise of magic. Whatever it was, he decided to investigate.
Felix followed the instructions on the leaflet through a series of secluded streets. The hand-drawn map was quite "distinctive", with hidden marks at every street corner, requiring some careful observation.
Felix stood in front of a wall, staring at the graffiti, examining it for a while under the dim streetlights. Then, following the guidance of a large rat holding a sign, he turned left.
There was no more light here. The shops on both sides of the street were dilapidated, and the street corners were piled with abandoned garbage. The only light that remained flickered incessantly, accompanied by the mournful howling of the cold wind, creating a scene straight out of a horror movie.
However, if Felix wanted to, he could create the most realistic horror, and the opposite as well.
"Three people were watching me from the shadows on the way here. No traces of magic, and the negative emotions weren't too strong... Just for money?" Felix walked slowly, his interest in the destination at the end of the road quickly waning since it had nothing to do with magic and wasn't a trap set by a Dark Wizard. He occasionally stopped to admire the graffiti on the walls along the way.
If he had to describe it, this part of London was like the necrotic tissue of the city, forgotten by the town hall and neglected in several urban planning efforts. It had become a haven for stray cats and dogs, as well as a favorite spot for "rebellious youth."
A few minutes later.
Felix pushed open a dilapidated door and walked in. The crude map on the leaflet had long lost its usefulness. He found this place because there were signs of activity, and there was a relatively intricate magic array drawn at the entrance.
Judging by the display window and the weathered sign, this place had once been a clothing store. However, the sign was now graffitied with the words "House of Magic."
Felix had a bad feeling. No Wizard organization would do something like this. It more closely resembled the kind of thing street mysticism enthusiasts might dream up and create.
Am I getting scammed...
At that moment, two burly men approached him, clearly the type who preferred to communicate with their fists. Felix sighed, and silver light flashed in his eyes. "Bang!" "Bang!" The two men hit the ground without a sound.
A few minutes later, the few people who came to help didn't fare any better.
Felix searched the abandoned small house. The thick layer of dust covering everything indicated that the original owner had left a long time ago. His expression was one of disappointment.
"A gang of robbers... and maybe kidnappers and extortionists?"
This was the information Felix extracted from their minds, which left him deeply disappointed, especially when he learned that the leaflets had come from a nearby trash bin. It was a double blow.
The truth was absurd—
This place had once been the secret base of a mysticism enthusiasts' club. It might have disbanded due to the onset of winter or other reasons, and the leaflets were casually discarded in a nearby trash bin. The robbers, passing by, had found the leaflets and noticed familiar phrases ("dazed, floating, waking up in an unknown place..."). They agreed that this description matched the effects of certain "painkillers" and decided to use it as a covert signal to attract potential customers.
Even Felix's conversation with the addict had given him this hint, but he hadn't noticed it. Instead, he was drawn to the "magic" mentioned on the leaflet, leading to the gang's misfortune.
"I was actually excited when I saw those mysticism symbols at the entrance", Felix said, feeling that he had wasted his time. He should have been in his warm office at Hogwarts.
"What was the emergency number again... 999?"
Felix suddenly heard footsteps approaching from a distance, stopping outside the door.
"Is anyone there?" a young voice asked.
Felix blinked, opened the door a narrow crack, and looked down, meeting a pair of gray eyes. The eyes' owner held a leaflet in one hand and a wooden stick in the other, looking at him with apprehension.
Just by looking at the person's attire, Felix guessed that this individual wasn't part of the previous gang of bandits—perhaps to the visitor, Felix looked even more intimidating, as evidenced by the trembling hand.
"Is there something you need?" Felix grumbled from the back of his throat.
He wanted to get rid of this person as quickly as possible and then make an anonymous call to the police... or maybe he could delay it until the morning. He had heard that sleeping on the floor was good for the back.
"Hello, is this the House of Magic?" the visitor asked cautiously, the trembling hand raising a leaflet. When Felix's gaze shifted from the leaflet to the wooden stick, the hand holding the stick immediately disappeared from view, unless Felix leaned out, he wouldn't be able to see it through the wall.
The visitor smiled awkwardly.
"What do you want?" Felix asked again, his face darkening and his voice raising.
"I, uh... I saw the leaflet, it says that members can have one wish granted..."
Felix was taken aback, turning to look at the wreckage inside the house and the fugitive sleeping like a dead pig on the floor. He then turned back and said sincerely, "You are indeed lucky."
"So, it's true?" the visitor's voice perked up.
Felix saw a pair of hopeful eyes. He smacked his lips and adopted a more serious tone, "So, what is it? I suggest you get to the point..."
A trembling hand was extended in front of him. "I... I play the piano, but my hands were injured in an accident. I wish to play the piano again."
Felix sized up the unexpected visitor. This person must have been given a death sentence by science and was now turning to, or rather, hoping for, mysticism?
To be honest, Felix didn't think this was a smart move. Most Wizards adhered to the Secrecy Act and rarely interacted with ordinary people. Among the few exceptions, Dark Wizards made up the majority.
However, this sudden visitor made things interesting. It might turn out to be a memorable day, Felix thought.
He said, "Your wish isn't impossible... but you should know that magic comes at a steep price..." He deliberately used a tone that sounded overly mercenary.
"I have money", the person hurriedly said, adding cautiously to avoid appearing too gullible, "I only brought a third of it. If you can really grant my... wish, I'll pay the rest."
"Money is of no use to me. For Wizards, many things are more important than money. Do you have—"
"You want my eyes!?"
Felix rolled his eyes, "I hate these horror stories, filled with baseless fantasies... I have my own, and even an extra one." He suddenly grinned, pointing to his forehead. A blue light burst forth from the center, and within the layers of blue light, an eye slowly opened.
"Ah—!"
To Felix's surprise, after the scream, the visitor's eyes widened even more, showing no intention of fleeing. Instead, the person excitedly asked, "What do I need to pay? My soul? My health? My appearance? My lifespan?"
"I'm not familiar with demons", Felix muttered, hesitating for a moment before saying, "Come in."
He turned around, and a faint silver light silently covered the entire room. The debris disappeared, the fugitive on the floor turned into a pile of green plants in the corner. The dusty floor transformed into a red carpet, and the broken glass and stones flew to the ceiling, turning into orange lights. The rickety chair seemed to be repainted, its back stretching and rising, and pieces of fabric quickly wrapped around it, forming armrests. Several fabric supports created dark, semi-circular arches...
When the visitor entered, they saw a small concert hall with a piano in the center. Opposite the piano was a single-seat audience area, occupying the best position.
"Is this... do Wizards enjoy music?"
"Ha!" Felix laughed, sitting in the chair—suddenly, he was wearing a black cloak, and though the room was brightly lit, his face remained obscured. Two silver beams of light shone from under his hood. In a deep, raspy voice, Felix said, "Are you ready to make a deal with a Wizard?"
"What do you need, Mr. Wizard?"
"A memory, your most beautiful memory."
The man was taken aback, hesitating, "I don't even know what my most beautiful memory is. The past six months have been nothing but pain..."
"It doesn't matter, your heart will tell me the answer. So... do we have a deal?" Felix said, feeling that he should have prepared a pair of bat wings and a tail shaped like an arrow in advance.
But thinking about wings...
Felix suddenly drifted off, coming up with a good idea. Perhaps he could create a new flying magical artifact, a set of flying wings. He always thought that sitting on a broom looked a bit silly. Well, no rush, he would think it through and tell Lupin when he got back.
"... Mr. Wizard? Do I need to sign anything?"
"What do you mean?"
"Like a contract, the kind demons... I mean, Wizards and ordinary people sign."
"No need, I'm not worried about you reneging on the deal", Felix said casually, leaning back in his chair.
...
The crisp sound of a piano began, the initial notes somewhat stiff due to the injured hand, but soon the melody became smooth and melodious. Felix half-closed his eyes, gently tapping his fingers to the beat. Before long, his brow furrowed as the melody suddenly changed, like a cold, mournful moonlight turning into a high-spirited battle hymn. After just a couple of lines, it turned into the gentle flow of a stream, then a solemn, deep forest horn...
This was no longer music, but noise.
But the 'contractee' played with great joy, especially after realizing what the happiest memory was. The person poured all of their heart into the music, knowing that this happiness would be lost forever after tonight...
Felix felt the pure, radiant joy, a power granted by the Dementor, which allowed him to easily detect and distinguish such emotions. It seemed as if a golden vortex had formed in the courtyard, expanding outward. Felix drew his wand, gently twirling it to collect some of the overflowing emotions.
When magic mixed with these precious emotions, it formed a drop of golden liquid.
His fingers danced with the rhythm of the piano keys, until the moon was obscured by clouds and the wind's mournful howl interrupted the music.
"Have a cup of tea, your hands are shaking from the cold", Felix said, a cup floating unsteadily to the piano, the liquid inside shimmering with golden ripples.
"It's not the cold, it's always like this... What kind of tea is this? It tastes strange?"
Felix stood up, stretching his back, "Your music is unforgettable. I hope to see your formal performance one day. Well... the House of Magic says goodbye to you. Have a pleasant day." He waved his hand, and the person seemed weightless, floating out of the house.
The door closed with a thud.
"Oh, Mr. Wizard, you know that's impossible... Mr. Wizard? You haven't taken your payment yet. Where can I find you... Oh my, the house is gone! Did you do this, Mr. Wizard..."
The next morning.
The small house, which had been filled with miracles the previous night, was surrounded by a crowd. Two police officers led out a string of fugitives, who had lain on the cold ground all night, their faces pale and sickly.
In the crowd, a head kept bouncing up and down, trying to see inside.
"What's going on? Were you caught, Mr. Wizard—Hey? Who are they!"
Someone who had arrived early said, "They're said to be a very cunning group of fugitives, previously committing crimes in Surrey. They were discovered by a young man who came early in the morning to graffiti and secretly called the police."
"Oh, I see..." The person fell silent for a moment, then suddenly raised their hand, showing it off, "Uncle, look at my hand, is it still shaking?"
"Are you trying to make fun of me?"
"Oh, sorry, I'm just so happy!"
...
In the Ancient Runes Office at Hogwarts, Felix was talking to Lupin through the communication mirror.
"Two things: one, the flying wings, or flight wings, call them what you like. I'll create a prototype soon, and you can suggest improvements and simplifications."
"The second thing is to research the secularization of potions. This isn't urgent, but for now, just compile a usable list."
"Secularization?"
"Potions that can be used by ordinary people."
(End of Chapter)
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