https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-607-The-Song-from-the-Golden-Egg/13685782/
Chapter 608: Out, Books, Wade
“Heart of Steel… Red of the Sunset… and Full Moon, is that it?” Antoine’s fingers brushed his chin. “What exactly do these Imaginations point to? Some kind of Alchemy creation? That’s your forte, isn’t it?”
“I’ve got some thoughts—just not quite certain yet,” Wade said, leaning back into the ornate wooden chair. The warm light of the setting sun slanted through the window bars, casting dappled shadows across his face.
Since leaving the Room of Requirement, Wade had received a message from Antoine. They’d arranged to meet in an empty classroom on the third floor.
“Ha! Then go ahead and think it through—there’s still three months!” Antoine chuckled. “Though I must say, the clues about where the item’s hidden are surprisingly clear… except for that first line’s ominous tone. The other two, though—you’ve already got a lead, right?”
Wade gave a slight nod. “The giant squid in the Black Lake is a pretty obvious clue. No one knows exactly where its nest is, but with a creature that size… it’s hard to miss.”
His gaze drifted to the window. Beyond, the lake water stretched dark and deep, the ghost ship of Durmstrang moored at the shore.
“Once it stirs, it’ll be impossible to miss.”
“An ancient stone door—must be connected to the Merpeople,” Antoine mused. “Michael mentioned that some Slytherin students have occasionally seen Merpeople darting past their bedroom windows from outside.”
Antoine nodded approvingly. “So now it’s just the Heart of Steel left.”
“The Heart of Steel,” Wade speculated, “probably lies near those two locations. The squid can emit ink, but is there anything darker than the depths of the Black Lake? And Merpeople usually dwell at the very bottom, where light is scarce.”
“Makes sense!” Antoine exclaimed. “That vague phrasing in the lyrics—it’s likely hinting that you should connect this line with the next two. Now it clicks.”
Wade nodded. Though he still harbored other half-formed thoughts, they weren’t solid enough to voice yet.
“By the way, since you’ve cleared the first challenge and even delivered a crushing victory, I can finally begin my plan,” Antoine said, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Wade blinked. “A plan?”
“Indeed,” Antoine smiled. “You remember the quote on Dumbledore’s Chocolate Frog card—‘Twelve Uses of Dragon Blood’?”
“Of course…” Wade frowned slightly, hesitating. “What’s the connection?”
“Listen, Wade,” Antoine leaned forward, his voice low and almost hypnotic. “Even someone as brilliant as Dumbledore had to publish his work, spread it far and wide, to gain real recognition.”
“Take Ivan Dillonsby—he still claims he discovered eight uses of Dragon Blood before Dumbledore ‘borrowed’ his essay! But who believes him? Everyone just thinks he’s a fraud trying to steal Dumbledore’s glory.”
“Why?” Wade asked.
“Because before that, he had nothing to show. No notable achievements. No valuable essays published.”
“Suppose he’d already published two or three solid papers on Fire Dragons,” Antoine continued, “wouldn’t the lie have seemed more believable?”
“Now think of our leader—forgive me, Gellert Grindelwald, I mean no offense—but he once nearly ruled the entire magical world. What’s his legacy now?”
“If he hadn’t escaped again, kids your age might not even know who Gellert Grindelwald was.”
Wade sighed. “You’d better hope Gellert Grindelwald never hears you say that.”
After a pause, he asked, “So what are you really getting at?”
“Still don’t get it?” Antoine waved his wand, conjuring a glowing golden crown in midair—its light dazzling and radiant.
“Right now, the whole world watches the Magic School League. The Champion becomes a legend.”
“But what about the second, third, even the twentieth tournament? After a few decades… who’ll remember the name of the Champion?”
The crown dissolved in the air, shattering into countless fragments of starlight that vanished before they could fall.
“Just like the Triwizard Tournament—Champions fade into obscurity. But knowledge endures.”
“Same with great Dark Wizards,” Antoine continued. “Years from now, people will only see them as villains in stories, names to memorize for exams—no one truly cares. But Bathilda Bagshot? People will still respect her. She wrote the History of Magic.”
“Even if Gellert Grindelwald could crush her with a single finger.”
Wade stared, silent.
This guy’s getting bolder by the day…
Still, he knew—Bathilda Bagshot was actually Gellert Grindelwald’s aunt. He rolled his eyes inwardly, but he understood Antoine’s point perfectly.
Sure enough, Antoine pressed on:
“I’ve spoken to several people about your teaching in that Spell Study Society. I thought you were just a part-time Charms professor during free hours. But I discovered something far more significant—you’ve developed a truly effective, systematic method for learning spells!”
“You break down spells that confuse so many students into simple, basic components—each part clear and easy to grasp. Even the slowest student can master them step by step.”
His voice trembled with excitement.
“So I’m planning to publish a book,” Antoine declared, arms outstretched. “Under the names of a few Hogwarts students—anonymous, really—but the first author will be you. I’ll add a few names as co-authors.”
“You might not realize the full weight of what you’ve created,” he said, eyes blazing. “Once this method spreads, it’ll replace the current chaotic, arbitrary way magic schools teach. No more relying on raw talent or intelligence to learn a spell.”
“But you’ve made spell-learning structured, concrete, and accessible. This isn’t just about a few spells—it’s a universal learning system, applicable across all magical disciplines!”
“Sure, it might lose some of the artistry and creativity. But if students use your method, those who’ve struggled before can finally succeed. Those who were already good can become truly excellent.”
“Can you imagine how wild that would be?”
Antoine’s eyes sparkled with fervor.
“Think of it—riding the wave of the Magic School League’s popularity, when this book hits the shelves, everyone will be talking about these revolutionary spellcasting techniques. They’ll be amazed by the discovery—and by the man who shared it freely: Wade Gray!”
“Respect. Admiration. Trust. Fame. Status. All of it will come rushing toward you.”
“Wade, this isn’t just a book. It’s proof of your existence.”
“Unlike your Alchemy inventions—people eat chicken eggs without wondering which hen laid them. Sorry, that metaphor’s crude.”
“But this book? It’ll be in every school. It’ll become the textbook for every child.”
“Fifty years from now. Five hundred years. When new students step into the halls, they’ll still feel your thoughts, your mind, reaching across time.”
“Wade,” Antoine whispered, “you’ll leave a ripple in the river of magical history—one that can never be erased.”
(End of Chapter)
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