With a wave of his wand, five complete sets of permanent attribute elixirs appeared neatly arranged on the table.
Gianna looked over.
Sherry set down the cup in her hand.
Tonks immediately focused her attention on the bottles.
Even Aiwu and Onyxia stopped chasing each other and stared at the suddenly appearing potions in surprise.
"These are...?"
Tonks couldn't help asking.
"Permanent Attribute Elixirs."
"They permanently enhance the drinker's Strength, Constitution, Dexterity, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma."
Lewis picked up one crystal vial.
"For example, this is the Permanent Eagle's Majesty Elixir."
"It permanently improves one's bearing, charisma, persuasiveness, leadership ability, and physical attractiveness."
He picked up another bottle.
"This is the Permanent Bull's Strength Elixir."
"It permanently increases muscular strength and physical power."
Then another.
"And this is the Permanent Cat's Grace Elixir."
"It enhances hand-eye coordination, agility, reflexes, and balance."
Lewis enthusiastically introduced the fruits of his day's labor.
Not only the miraculous potions...
But also the newly completed Arcane Sword 3.0.
The pride hidden in his voice made him sound almost like an insurance salesman advertising his products.
The group stared at the delicate crystal bottles.
Then looked at one another.
None of them quite believed what they had just heard.
"So..."
"There are actually potions this incredible?"
Tonks covered her mouth in shock.
"I know the Witchers' Trial of the Grasses produces somewhat similar effects," Sherry recalled. "It can even awaken magical abilities in ordinary people."
"But the mortality rate is far too high."
Even Gianna, who came from the high-magic world of Azeroth, couldn't hide her admiration.
"Even in Dalaran..."
"These would be considered priceless treasures."
"I've certainly never used anything like them."
Onyxia, meanwhile, was curious about something else.
"Do they work on dragons too?"
"Of course."
Lewis nodded.
"But the higher your natural attributes already are, the smaller the improvement."
"If it's you..."
"The Strength Elixir probably won't have much effect."
"The Constitution Elixir won't improve you by much either."
As he spoke, he pushed the bottles toward everyone.
"Take one bottle of each."
"You can drink them whenever you're ready."
"Aiwu gets some too?"
The little dragon poked her head out from Lewis's arms hopefully.
"Of course."
"I said everyone."
"You and Onyxia each get a full set as well."
"...Even I get one."
Nestled comfortably in Lewis's arms in her black cat form, the Black Dragon Princess looked up at him with unusually complicated eyes.
Since being captured after arriving in this world...
Nearly half a year had passed.
She had worked under Lewis all that time.
She had countless opportunities to observe him.
Yet she still couldn't see through him.
The only conclusion she had reached...
Was that he was an extraordinarily complicated person.
On the surface...
He looked like an ordinary teenager.
But inside...
He was remarkably mature.
Exceptionally intelligent.
Always confident in his own judgment.
Among everyone present...
He was unquestionably the center.
The leader around whom everyone revolved.
Even Gianna, the oldest among them, often accepted his advice.
And yet...
For someone so mature...
He also displayed an unexpectedly childish side.
For example...
He constantly acted spoiled around Gianna and Tonks, insisting on being treated as the younger brother.
Both women were already adults.
Yet they always indulged him.
Then there were his mischievous habits.
The most obvious example...
Was turning her into a cat.
From Onyxia's perspective, countless far harsher and more effective punishments existed for an uncooperative prisoner.
She herself had used many of them in the past.
Compared to those...
Turning her into a cat was such an absurd punishment that it almost felt ridiculous.
There was another thing she couldn't understand.
Lewis's endless abilities.
So far...
She had witnessed magical talent far beyond his age.
Mysterious psionic powers.
Druidic techniques unlike anything she had expected.
Master-level alchemy.
And now...
Outstanding potion-making as well.
It almost seemed as though...
There was nothing he couldn't do.
No wonder...
Even when facing a Black Dragon Princess, the boy remained completely confident.
As for Lewis's obsession with collecting knowledge...
Or his tendency to surround himself with beautiful women...
Onyxia didn't consider either strange.
Dragons were naturally greedy.
And among dragons...
Having multiple partners was simply a privilege reserved for the strong.
But today...
She had witnessed yet another side of him.
He was genuinely generous to those he considered his own.
Even she...
A prisoner...
Had not been forgotten.
If it were me...
I certainly wouldn't hand out treasures this valuable...
she thought silently.
Yes...
She was still his captive.
She still worked at the Ministry of Magic every day for his benefit.
She still got turned into a cat whenever she annoyed him.
But...
Thinking about it carefully...
For a prisoner...
Her treatment was actually...
Pretty good.
Receiving something as precious as these potions meant...
Lewis considered her one of his own.
As a prisoner...
She enjoyed an astonishing amount of freedom.
She had never heard of another captive being allowed to openly work at the Ministry and build political influence.
In fact...
She rather enjoyed being a Ministry official...
And weaving connections among the British magical elite.
Even becoming a cat...
Wasn't actually that terrible.
At least...
Lewis was exceptionally good at petting cats.
Naturally...
Lewis had absolutely no idea that a simple Christmas gift had triggered such a complicated train of thought inside the Black Dragon Princess.
Had he known...
He would probably have sighed and remarked:
So this is what they call Stockholm Syndrome.
After Lewis distributed his Christmas presents...
Everyone else began exchanging gifts as well.
Gianna presented Lewis with a Ring of Water Elementals.
It could summon an enormous Water Elemental.
Sherry's gift was a large bottle of Waveblade Oil.
Applying it to a sword greatly increased its cutting power.
A classic Witcher specialty.
Onyxia handed Lewis a large crystal bottle containing two full liters of dragon blood.
"I heard..."
"You wanted dragon blood for potion-making."
She awkwardly looked away while speaking.
"I've been saving this over the past six months."
"It's far better than the blood of those inferior half-breed dragons."
"Don't underestimate those two liters."
Gianna smiled as she explained.
"Humanoid bodies don't contain that much blood to begin with."
"Saving this much wasn't easy for Onyxia."
Onyxia immediately glared at her.
"Stop talking so much!"
Among all the gifts...
Tonks' present was by far the most unusual.
It consisted of two signed cards.
Signed by Hamish MacFarlan.
"Hamish used to be captain of the Montrose Magpies."
"He was one of Britain's greatest Quidditch players."
"After retiring, he became Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports."
"I happened to work with him during a mission this year."
"That's when he gave me these autographs."
Tonks smiled.
"But that's not the important part."
"I know neither of you are fans of Quidditch celebrities."
"Hamish is the manager of Britain's national team for this year's Quidditch World Cup."
"He decides who gets selected."
"And..."
"He's extremely dissatisfied with Britain's current Chasers."
"So I strongly recommended several players from Hogwarts."
She winked at Lewis and Sherry.
"Hamish promised he'll make an exception after Christmas and come watch a few Hogwarts matches."
"So..."
"If you're interested..."
"Make sure you perform well."
"Don't embarrass me in front of my friend."
Lewis exchanged a glance with Sherry before nodding.
Joining the British National Quidditch Team...
And competing in the Quidditch World Cup...
That certainly wasn't a direction he had expected.
But since Tonks had secured this opportunity for them...
They absolutely had to seize it.
Sherry genuinely loved Quidditch.
And Lewis thoroughly enjoyed flying beside her, their seamless teamwork allowing them to overwhelm opposing teams with ease.
If they could stand together on the stage of the Quidditch World Cup...
That wouldn't be a bad future at all.
Besides...
It would also be the fastest way to make their names known to witches and wizards across the entire world.
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