Chapter 233: Departing for Beauxbatons
The gates of Hogwarts stood shrouded in morning mist, pale strands curling around the stone pillars.
"Leonardo, that thing you mentioned last time — the compatibility derivation method for elemental rune arrays and composite materials. I went back and thought it over, but I'm still not sure I've fully grasped it..."
Two figures slowly emerged from the mist.
As they walked, Reiman kept asking Leonardo questions about Alchemy. Ever since the tournament spots had been confirmed, the two of them had met several times to discuss alchemical theory and technique. And the deeper those conversations went, the more Reiman realised that what Leonardo had shown during the qualifying round was only the tip of the iceberg.
Many of the principles and methods Leonardo brought up were things Reiman had never even heard of before. Yet the moment he tried applying them, their elegance and practicality became immediately apparent.
As he explained, Leonardo reached into his pocket and took out a composite piece of mithril and moonstone. With a casual flick of his wand, he traced a wind-element rune across its surface while walking Reiman through the problem.
By the end of the explanation, Reiman was nodding continuously, the confusion on his face long gone.
They reached the gate just as the last point clicked into place.
Leonardo looked toward the carriage waiting in the white mist. Two black Thestrals stood at its head.
In Reiman's view, the space before the carriage was completely empty.
Leonardo reached up and lightly patted one of the Thestrals on the cheek. Listening to its quiet whinny, he smiled.
"Getting up early really is hard, isn't it? Sorry to put you through it — we've got a long journey ahead today."
He pulled a jar of feed from his trunk and gave some to each of the two Thestrals in turn.
Today was the day they departed for Beauxbatons. The Thestral-drawn carriage before them would carry them there.
"You can see Thestrals, Leonardo?"
Watching him, Reiman understood at once. This younger student had already witnessed death, which was why he could perceive them.
Leonardo nodded. "Has Professor Shafiq not arrived yet?"
Reiman leaned against the side of the carriage and said with a resigned expression, "Our esteemed Alchemy professor has never once been early to anything in her life. Arriving fashionably late is simply her natural state…"
Clack.
A sharp sound. The carriage door swung open from the inside and caught Reiman squarely on the back of the head.
Thud.
"Mr Selwyn. Speaking ill of a professor behind her back — rather bold of you. I really ought to have a proper conversation with your mother."
Shafiq leaned out from behind the door, dark curls still hanging loose, her tone carrying an unmistakable warning that made Reiman's ears prick up at once.
His expression changed instantly. Turning around, he fixed her with his most conciliatory look.
"Auntie Angela, a woman as magnanimous as you surely didn't hear any of that. I'm practically graduating already — a home visit at this stage would be a bit..."
At the word "auntie," Leonardo's eyebrow lifted slightly. So Reiman and Professor Shafiq were related.
Though it made sense, really. One was from the Shafiq family, the other from the Selwyn family. Marriages between pureblood houses were common enough that connections of this kind were hardly unusual.
Professor Shafiq rapped Reiman on the forehead.
"You're at school. You call me Professor. Now get in, both of you — we're leaving."
They stepped inside the carriage and found themselves in an entirely different world.
The interior stretched across well over a hundred square metres, divided into a sitting room and bedroom, with a kitchen and washroom besides.
"Pick yourselves a room. I'm going back to sleep~."
With that, Professor Shafiq disappeared into the bedroom and shut the door behind her.
Leonardo glanced around the carriage, suddenly wondering if she had simply slept here the night before. She did not want to be late, but she was equally unwilling to wake up early, so she had just gone to sleep at the meeting point?
Through the carriage window, he watched the ground rapidly fall away beneath them as the clouds thickened outside. The journey to Beauxbatons had only just begun, and he found himself genuinely looking forward to it.