Chapter 599: New Equipment
Chapter 599: New Equipment
Liam and Hermione didn't stay in China for very long, even shorter than they had planned. After spending half a month reading the books they wanted and visiting their relatives, they boarded a flight back to Britain.
"Don't be sad. At least our parents are safe here", Liam consoled Hermione, who felt a bit melancholic about having to say goodbye to her parents again. "Britain is in a mess right now, and I'm glad our parents were able to move to China in advance."
Liam wasn't just saying this to comfort Hermione. Even in China, they could see news of building collapses and train derailments in Britain. The good news was that, thanks to Dumbledore's presence, these Death Eater attacks were less frequent than in the original timeline. However, Voldemort had appeared at two of these attacks, openly challenging the Ministry of Magic and Professor Dumbledore, which only added to the turmoil in the British Wizarding World and the European magical community.
Especially during the train derailment, Voldemort appeared on the scene and directly confronted an elite Auror squad, defeating them in a brutal battle. He then Apparated away before Dumbledore could arrive. This incident brought back terrifying memories for those who survived the last war, and the morale of British wizards plummeted.
Liam and Hermione could clearly feel this when they returned to London. The Muggle world in Britain was also shrouded in a somber atmosphere due to the Death Eater attacks. Everyone walked quickly, and even though the Dementors, who had suffered heavy losses during the puppet attacks, were still in hiding, the city felt as if all its happiness had been sucked away.
"Let's go home first", Hermione suggested, shivering involuntarily as she felt the oppressive atmosphere on the streets. Even in the summer, London felt bone-chillingly cold.
"Aren't we going to see Sirius Black and the others first?" Liam guessed why Hermione didn't want to stick to their original plan to visit Sirius Black. "Okay, we'll see him at his wedding anyway."
After returning to their manor, they spent a few days organizing the knowledge they had gained in China. Then, they started thinking about the wedding gifts for the three couples. Unlike the Chinese custom of giving red envelopes and keeping the value of the gift confidential, Liam and Hermione had received wedding invitations from the three couples, along with a "Gift List."
This list detailed the gifts the couples wanted. Since Liam and Hermione were close to all three couples and the weddings were happening at the same time and place, they needed to ensure that the value of the gifts they gave to each couple was roughly the same.
"Given our relationship with them, we can't give anything too shabby, especially since I'm now an Alchemical Master. Even a mediocre gift would seem like we didn't put in any effort", Liam said, scratching his head in frustration. In Britain, as in China, the type of gift you give reflects your relationship with the recipient, and giving a gift that is either too lavish or too modest can be equally inappropriate.
However, this wasn't what was most troubling him. Liam could put the wedding gifts on hold for now because the current situation was dire. His top priority was to create an alchemical item that could harness the power of the Rose Madonna.
While most magical artifacts in the Harry Potter world, like the toys sold by the Weasley twins, had little impact on the course of a war, and most wizards relied on their wands for everything, not all magical artifacts were the same. For example, the historical struggles over the Elder Wand, and the conflicts between Grindelwald, Dumbledore, and Voldemort, highlighted the importance of a top-tier alchemical item. Liam chose to create such an item now for two reasons: the impending war required a powerful magical item for his own protection, and the Rose Madonna, created when Liam mastered the alchemical rules, had the potential to become a top-tier alchemical item.
Creating an Alchemy Item of this caliber is extremely difficult, but fortunately, the Rose Madonna in his possession is akin to a companion treasure for Liam. Therefore, for him, the Alchemy Item he is about to create is similar to a Soulbound Artifact in the world of cultivation, significantly reducing the complexity of the process.
Initially, the Alchemy Item created from the Rose Madonna may not possess great power, but it will grow alongside Liam. He believes that one day it will reach the level of the Elder Wand.
“Are you going to start working on your new Magic Artifact now?” Hermione looked up from an Owl Order goods list. Shopping outside had become increasingly dangerous, so the convenience of Owl deliveries had become increasingly popular. Hermione was currently browsing the list to see if there was anything she needed.
“Yeah, I’m heading to Teacher Luo Zhen’s place now.” Liam said as he put on his robe.
“By the way,” Hermione put down the Owl Order catalog and asked seriously, “have you decided what kind of Magic Item you want to make with the Rose Madonna?”
“Um, not yet.” Liam scratched his head, a bit embarrassed. “At first, I thought about making a wand, but then I felt that just a wand wasn’t enough. I wanted something that could cast spells like a wand but also be used for melee combat like my sword. Later, I realized that wizards are often too vulnerable and lack defensive capabilities, so I wanted the new item to have strong defensive properties as well. With all these requirements piling up, I ended up not knowing what to create, so I’m going to Teacher Luo Zhen for help.”
“Sounds like a bit of a frustrating story.” Hermione shrugged. “Well, good luck. See you in an hour.”
“See you in an hour.” Liam leaned forward and kissed Hermione, who was sitting on the sofa, then opened a portal and stepped into the World of the Rose Maidens. After finishing her browsing, Hermione got up from the sofa, took a shower, and went to the kitchen to prepare lunch. An hour later, when Hermione had laid out homemade cold meat and pickled cucumber sandwiches and a pot of hot tea on the table, Liam emerged from the portal, looking exhausted, into the living room.
“How long were you there this time? You look utterly drained.” Hermione took Liam’s robe and hung it on the coat rack.
“Just about two weeks. Most of the time was spent on design, and the actual creation process only took about three days.” Liam smiled. “Actually, all my previous ideas were completely misguided. The Rose Madonna doesn’t need to be paired with anything else.”
“Why doesn’t it need to be paired with anything?” Hermione asked, curious.
“Because the Rose Madonna is the Fifth Element, beyond Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind. It is a microcosm that corresponds to the macrocosm, containing the essence of all things, and can influence matter, the body, and even the soul.” Liam summoned the Rose Madonna, and Hermione saw a pink light shoot out from Liam’s heart, forming a pink gem the size of an infant’s fist, floating above his head. “While it resembles the Philosopher’s Stone, the principles and power it contains are far more potent.”
“Because of these properties, the Rose Madonna can transform into anything I need.” As Liam explained, the Rose Madonna vanished from above his head and reappeared in his right hand, taking on various forms of weapons. “So, during this time, I was actually learning how to use the Rose Madonna and integrate it with my soul, making it an extension of myself. I don’t need to fix it into any particular form.”
“It sounds very powerful. Even though I don’t fully understand it, I can tell it will be a great help to you.” Hermione nodded. “But you should probably take a shower and have lunch now. I’ve already prepared it.”
(End of Chapter)
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