"This child isn't right for you."
While Yake was still marveling at the rainbow he'd produced, Ollivander frowned and retrieved the wand from his hand.
"Though walnut wood suits intelligent wizards like yourself, a unicorn feather core is too sluggish—it clearly can't keep up with your rhythm."
Ollivander pulled another wand from the shelves and handed it to Yake.
"Try this one. Aspen wood with a dragon heartstring core, particularly suited for combat magic. Perhaps you'll be a future dueling master?"
Ignoring Ollivander's teasing, Yake took the wand and gave it a wave. This time, instead of a rainbow, a violent stream of flames erupted, nearly setting the nearby shelf ablaze and startling him badly.
"This one won't do either—too temperamental." Ollivander showed no concern as he retrieved the wand and selected another. "Let's try this one."
Over the next stretch, Yake tried no fewer than ten wands. Some sprayed water, others whipped up gales, some made flowers and grass sprout from the floor, while others levitated chairs, tables, and various furniture around the shop—but ultimately Ollivander reclaimed them all.
Though Yake felt nothing wrong with the wands in his hand, Ollivander could apparently see something with those silvery-white eyes that Yake couldn't, unhesitatingly declaring them unsuitable and continuing to match him with new wands.
In the end, the wand selection process alone took over half an hour, making Yake feel it was more troublesome than accompanying girlfriends clothes shopping in his previous life. If not for the magical phenomena each wand trial produced—phenomena he found fascinating—he might have grown bored.
By contrast, seeing that Yake still hadn't found his ideal wand, Ollivander showed no impatience. Instead, he grew increasingly cheerful.
"Marvelous! It's been ages since I've encountered such a discerning young wizard. Today promises to be both busy and exciting."
Ollivander made this comment after Yake had tried more than a dozen wands, darting about like an energetic old man, constantly selecting new wands for him to try.
Never mind Ollivander—even McGonagall, who had been silently observing from the side, began regarding Yake with a different expression.
After all, as the tool wizards use to cast magic, every wand is unique. Its power depends on the characteristics of both the wood used for the body and the magical creature that provides the core. Once it finds its ideal owner, it grows alongside them.
Under these circumstances, the more exceptional the wizard, the more unique the wand they require. In other words, the more selective a wizard is about their wand, the more extraordinary they'll likely become.
"It seems Hogwarts is about to welcome a rather special student."
McGonagall allowed herself a subtle smile.
Oblivious to this, Yake continued testing wands without a trace of impatience, approaching each trial seriously.
This was no joke—this was the weapon for casting magic, equivalent to a swordsman's blade or a gunner's firearm. Even adult wizards struggled to cast magic freely without a wand, let alone young wizards like himself just starting their magical journey.
Over the past year, aside from the magical outburst when he first arrived in this world, he hadn't felt any different from an ordinary person. Now that he finally had a path to wield supernatural power, any impatience or carelessness would be disrespectful to both magic and his future.
With this mindset, Yake lost count of how many wands he'd tried, eventually stopping his mental tally altogether.
Until much later, when he habitually accepted yet another wand from Ollivander, a sensation he'd never experienced before suddenly washed over him.
It was an unprecedented feeling of fluidity—as if what appeared in his hand wasn't another lively, playful pet like the previous ones, but rather an extension of his own body, like a third arm that responded to his will perfectly.
This sensation invigorated him, and he took a clear look at the wand in his hand.
It was a wand with a color between brown and gray, possessing a deep, captivating brown hue.
The wand emanated a natural warmth yet carried a certain steady presence. Though it appeared warm-toned at first glance, it also had a cool quality. One could immediately perceive its versatility and adaptability—it seemed capable of complementing any color, displaying different charms depending on its pairing.
The handle appeared polished with a matte finish that prevented slipping, while the body was carved with intricate patterns. Between them was a distinct bead-like structure. The whole thing exuded beauty.
This wand's appearance was completely different from McGonagall's stick-like wand—it resembled more a meticulously crafted conductor's baton, understated yet striking.
Yake immediately fell in love with this wand, and an inexplicable impulse surged through him.
Following this impulse, Yake raised the wand high and began to wave it.
The next moment, something astonishing occurred.
First, vibrations appeared in the air out of nowhere. Then phenomena of wind, fire, water, and electricity began manifesting around Yake, accompanied by wisps of hazy mist and strange fluctuations.
The mist filled the shabby wand shop, obscuring most of the view. Wherever the strange fluctuations passed—whether over McGonagall or Ollivander—they suddenly felt wonderful, experiencing a sense of refreshing pleasure.
Then flowers, grass, and trees of various colors sprouted from the ground. Various items in the shop suddenly transformed into small animals—cats, dogs, birds, and even piglets, calves, and donkey foals—all running and jumping about the shop.
The entire Ollivanders shop instantly became a chaotic wonderland.
"Oh! Merlin's beard! This is absolutely incredible!"
Ollivander cried out in alarm. Though clearly flustered, his face bore a delighted laugh, as if this weren't his own shop at all.
"Good heavens!"
Even McGonagall was shocked by the scene before her. She hastily drew her wand and frantically extinguished fires, dispersed electricity, blew away the mist, and restrained the scampering animals, restoring them to their original forms.
Only then did Yake realize what he'd done. He quickly lowered his wand, making the continuing phenomena disappear.
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Ollivander. I didn't mean to do that."
Looking at the now-chaotic wand shop, Yake apologized hastily.
However, Ollivander felt no anger—quite the opposite, he was extraordinarily pleased.
"No matter, no matter at all, child! This isn't your fault, nor is it the fault of the wand in your hand!" Ollivander patted Yake's shoulder with somewhat elevated excitement, his voice rising. "I should be thanking you instead—thanking you for letting me witness such a delightful sight, for showing me just how perfectly matched a wand can be with the master it chooses!"
"Hazel wood with a phoenix feather core, fourteen and a half inches—what an exceptional wand!"
Ollivander grew more excited as he spoke, his tone changing completely.
"Wands made of hazel wood are particularly sensitive, usually reflecting their owner's emotional state. They work best with masters who understand and can control their emotions, and can absorb and release emotional energy. In skilled hands, they can produce truly outstanding magic. They're also extremely devoted to their owners and will wither away when their master reaches the end of their life."
"Phoenix feather is the rarest core type. It can produce the widest range of magic, though it takes longer to reveal this characteristic and sometimes acts according to its own will—which many wizards dislike. But wands with phoenix feather cores are the most selective about potential masters, because phoenixes are highly independent and reclusive creatures. These wands are the hardest to tame or personalize, and their loyalty to the wand holder is the most difficult to earn. When paired with hazel wood, it's similarly drawn to masters who understand and control their emotions, offering them the most precious loyalty and obedience."
"Add to that the fourteen and a half inch length—this falls into the category of extraordinarily long wands."
Ollivander patted Yake's shoulder, laughing heartily.
"I can't wait to see what brilliant radiance this wand will display in your hands."