"Ding-dong—"
The familiar chime rang out again as the elevator doors silently opened.
Light spilled in from outside, and Wade instinctively squinted, then saw a magnificent, gilded hall.
Long, crimson curtains hung down, and the walls were adorned with portraits of various sizes. Strange magical creature sculptures periodically opened their mouths, yawned, or wagged their tails, as if they were real animals.
Shelves and bookcases displayed various magical items, such as crystal balls, Sneakoscopes, or enchanted teacups. In a transparent glass jar, a ribbon slowly twirled and danced.
The long tables were laden with desserts and drinks for anyone to take, many of which Wade had never seen before; some even glowed.
However, there weren't many people in the hall, perhaps only twenty or thirty. About a third of them, like Wade, had been brought by an elder or a teacher.
But he was the only one so young.
Wade knew that everyone present today was an Alchemist.
Alchemists might not seem particularly special on a normal day, but when they gathered, their unique aura became strikingly apparent.
Unlike ordinary Wizards, and different from common Muggles, they possessed the qualities of both mystics and scientists. Even amidst a bustling crowd, they seemed immersed in their own worlds.
Compared to them, Professor Murray was quite "down-to-earth."
After they entered, someone quickly approached to greet Professor Murray.
"You're here too, Murray."
A brown-haired, burly Wizard walked over and said.
"Long time no see, Orlando." Professor Murray said, "Gull claimed he found ancient Wizard notes, so of course I had to come see."
"I want to see the Magic Mirror that's supposedly able to communicate with the dead," the brown-haired Wizard said. "Aside from the legendary Resurrection Stone, I've never seen a magical item that can break through the barrier of life and death!"
"Sounds like a scam."
"I know… but what if? Gull wouldn't just be making things up, would he?"
After the brown-haired Wizard finished speaking, his gaze turned to Wade.
"Murray, this child is—"
Wade bowed slightly in greeting.
"My student, Wade Grey." Professor Murray coughed lightly, feigning nonchalance. "You must have heard his name."
"Of course—of course—" Orlando's eyes widened in surprise. "I didn't expect… he's really so… so young… it's truly astonishing…"
He formally extended his hand. "Hello, young Mr. Grey."
"Hello, Mr. Orlando, I've read many of your papers," Wade replied respectfully.
Orlando's expression clearly pleased Professor Murray. He pressed his lips together, suppressing a smile, and said demurely:
"Yes, he's only in third year this year, but he's already invented the Book of Friends and Magic Golem pets. Oh, and the recently popular Streaming Mirror."
"I know, I bought all of them." Orlando looked thoughtfully at Wade, then suddenly said, "Dear Wade, have you thought about attending Beauxbatons? Our school has the most beautiful girls in all of France, and Nicolas Flamel is still one of our school governors."
Professor Murray's expression changed, and he said with an unpleasant tone, "Hey, Orlando! Did you forget I'm still here?"
"What does it matter? You can come too. You don't have many classes at Hogwarts anyway."
Orlando dismissed him casually, then turned back to Wade. "Of course, if you're tired of Murray's teaching style, I can also teach you different Alchemy."
"Thank you," Wade said, a wry smile on his face. "Hogwarts is great. I have no plans to transfer for now."
"Well, if you change your mind, you can contact me anytime. Even if you don't transfer, just a visit would be fine."
Orlando pulled out a Book of Friends and handed it to Wade.
Wade naturally accepted it.
The bell at the entrance rang again, and other Alchemists walked in. As the elevator doors opened and closed, Wade saw the girl who had been greeting guests in the foyer was inside.
He was a little surprised.
Just now, when he and Professor Murray came up, the girl had only helped press the button before waiting outside the elevator; she hadn't accompanied them up or down.
Soon, the elevator doors closed. Just before they shut, the girl raised her eyes and met Wade's gaze again.
This time, there was no shyness or curiosity in her eyes, only a profound stillness.
"Professor," Wade asked softly, "when you attended exhibitions in the past, were they always in this place?"
"Hm? Of course not. Gull always likes to randomly choose places he finds interesting," Professor Murray said. "Sometimes on a cruise ship, sometimes at an amusement park, and once in a graveyard."
"Then… that girl upstairs, have you seen her before?" Wade asked again.
"No, she's probably Gull's employee, I suppose?" Professor Murray said. "He likes to hire a few Squibs or Wizards with low magical power to act as servers."
Wade touched the pen case hanging from his waist and said nothing more.
Suddenly, a tinkling sound echoed through the hall, like raindrops splashing on bluestone.
Immediately after, all the sculptures simultaneously spewed golden sparks, which landed on the open ground and ignited a roaring fire. Then, a Wizard in a red robe emerged from the flames, leaning on a staff.
"It's just a Freezing Fire Charm!" Professor Murray said dismissively. "Gull is still so ostentatious."
Gull, the wizard in red robes, spread his arms wide and announced loudly, "Welcome! Welcome, everyone, to my exhibition. All the items displayed here are ancient and powerful magical artifacts, carefully selected by me. If anyone is interested in researching or collecting, please contact me after the exhibition ends!"
"Enough with the chatter!" a bald old wizard said impatiently. "Get to the point!"
The surrounding Alchemists all nodded in agreement.
"...Alright."
Gull silently put down his speech, which was at least two feet long, and slammed his staff heavily onto the ground.
*Thump!*
An invisible ripple spread outwards, and the floor beneath their feet seemed to undulate with it. Immediately after, seven stone pedestals rose from the ground, each displaying a magical item, encased in a transparent magical barrier.
Everyone chose the item they were interested in and gathered around it.
Wade also looked around—
There was a teapot with strange patterns, a wooden-framed bronze mirror, an old notebook, a stone tablet engraved with ancient writing, a sword without a scabbard, a gold necklace, and a wreath of thorns.
Wade's expression turned odd.
He had activated his second sight, expecting to see profound magical patterns, incomplete and mysterious spell formations, magic imbued with the passage of time, and the echoes of lost ancient power.
But there was nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
Those items, which appeared to be full of mystery, seemed so dull and pale in his vision.
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