Chapter 219: The Start of the Symposium
Detention. That word stung Harry-kun's eyes.
To their surprise, however, Filch-kun did not make things difficult for them. He simply led them to the outer perimeter of the Castle. They strode across the pitch-black grounds, enduring the biting cold wind and heavy rain. Harry-kun still didn't know what punishment awaited them, which only made them feel more uneasy. Malfoy-kun was trembling with fear, and Harry-kun and the others were not faring much better.
Sean-kun had reportedly gone to the Headmaster's office to depart with Dumbledore-kun and an Alchemy professor. The realization that both Sean-kun and Dumbledore-kun were away from the Castle just as their detention began filled the group with a deep sense of panic.
They had grown accustomed to Sean-kun's presence. They knew that as long as he was in the Castle, no matter what happened, they wouldn't be in true danger. The arrival of the Troll had proven this, and the recent night excursion had only solidified that impression. Now, Sean-kun was leaving... yet Quirrell-kun remained, and he had become even more dangerous. He could strike at any moment and take Harry-kun's life.
The moonlight was bright, but clouds constantly drifted over to obscure it, plunging them into darkness. Harry-kun could see the light reflecting from the windows of Hagrid-kun's hut. Then, they heard a shout from the distance.
"Is that you, Filch? Hurry up, I'm ready to set off."
"It's me."
Filch-kun gave them a long, hard look, filled with a level of disdain that Harry-kun and the others couldn't quite fathom.
Hearing Hagrid-kun's voice allowed them to relax slightly. If they were with Hagrid-kun, surely nothing would go wrong?
"You didn't think you were going to have a grand old time with that oaf, did you? Think again, boy—you're going into the Forbidden Forest!" Filch-kun reminded them impatiently. "Stay close to that fool, or you'll be in real trouble!"
What he really wanted to say was that they shouldn't cause trouble for a certain young wizard.
"The Forbidden Forest?" Malfoy-kun stopped in his tracks, his voice far less calm than usual. "We can't go in there at night—anything could be in there—I heard there are werewolves."
"That's your own fault!" Filch-kun looked at Malfoy-kun with pure loathing. "Don't let me catch you trying to skip detention, especially you!" He glared fiercely at Malfoy-kun before departing.
Outside the Forbidden Forest, inside the Defense Against the Dark Arts office.
The turban-clad Quirrell-kun was huddled in a corner, shivering. He had been pushed to his absolute limit. He glanced, seemingly by accident, at a biscuit sitting among some clutter. His hungry stomach let out a loud growl. He slowly began to pull out some cookies. The firelight illuminated the corner before flickering away.
At the same time, inside the Headmaster's office.
Sean-kun looked at McGonagall-kun with curiosity. He hadn't heard that she was particularly skilled in Alchemy; he realized he still knew far too little.
"My apprentice, come to me."
Professor Terra-kun first exchanged a look with McGonagall-kun. Both women nodded politely to each other, and then Terra-kun took Sean-kun's hand. Dumbledore-kun's eyes crinkled into a smile.
"Time is a fascinating thing. In the blink of an eye, it takes those memories from me. I almost forgot..." Fawkes, perched on his arm, opened his eyes. Dumbledore-kun took a gentle sip of hot tea. "Minerva-kun, my brilliant student, I wonder how many times I've invited you to come and see, and it finally happened today... Truly—it makes me quite happy."
Sean-kun understood now. Just as Flora Olivia Terra-kun could bring her student, Sean-kun Green, along with her, Albus Dumbledore-kun could naturally bring his dear student, Minerva McGonagall-kun.
Few young wizards knew that the Headmaster and Deputy Headmaster of Hogwarts were actually a pair of teacher and student themselves.
Inside the Headmaster's office, the crackling of the fireplace mingled with the gurgling of various instruments and the chiming of silver silverwares. In Sean-kun's hand, the invitation to the International Alchemical Symposium flew out on its own, transforming shortly into a peculiar portal. It was engraved with various magical runes, and the Runes in the center translated to "Legend," "Era," and "Future."
"Hold onto me tight."
Professor Terra-kun led Sean-kun as they stepped through the gate on the left, which was burning with green flames. Sean-kun caught a glimpse; it looked like a variation of the Floo network.
So this is... an auto-follow fireplace door? It looks a lot like... a 'Anywhere Door'.
Sean-kun could no longer see Hogwarts Castle. Behind the door lay a long gallery. Above the gallery was a magical canopy, where a sea of stars surged. At the far end was a simple, crack-filled board where names were slowly appearing. Sean-kun saw his own name carved onto it.
There were twenty-four tablets in total. At the top, words glowed with a faint light:
"I know that I hung on a windy tree
nine long nights,
wounded with a spear, dedicated to Odin,
myself to myself,
on that tree of which no man knows
from where its roots run.
No bread did they give me nor a drink from a horn,
downwards I peered;
I took up the runes, screaming I took them,
then I fell back from there."
These were two very famous stanzas from the Hávamál, describing Odin's discovery of the Runes. At the bottom of the stone slabs was written:
"Awaiting the twenty-four Masters of an Era."
As Sean-kun stood in a daze, he heard Dumbledore-kun speak kindly. "Oh, quite a few statues of people... reminds me of that rather nice one on the third floor of Hogwarts..."
Sean-kun looked at the many statues in the gallery and then silently at Dumbledore-kun. He seemed to realize exactly who had single-handedly fostered the noisy Castle Kneazle Club.
"Please follow me."
A house-elf suddenly appeared before Sean-kun. It had arrived in an instant, completely unnoticed by him. It wore clothes that looked like rags, yet it held an exquisite board, standing respectfully before Sean-kun.
At the same time, Sean-kun noticed many doors burning with green flames opening, and a small number of wizards stepped out. Every time a wizard appeared, a house-elf would appear with them.
"Take your slab. You are about to witness the vast expanse of the alchemical domain," Professor Terra-kun said softly.
She was filled with joy and excitement. The mediocre apprentices of other alchemists would only be able to offer trivial opinions even if they attended the symposium. But she would bring her student to declare that the alchemical world would be great once again—to declare the arrival of an Era.
Some would feel joy, others panic; some would curse, others would be filled with greed. But no matter what, every alchemist would have to admit:
In this era, there is no competition between multiple powers. There is only Sean-kun Green.
☆☆☆
-> 30 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Inkshaper
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you