novelhk Chapter 140 Ripples from Britain
Chapter 140 Ripples from Britain
Chapter 140 Ripples from Britain
Inside the alchemy workshop, Karen was intently staring at the alchemy materials in front of her.
He carefully manipulated the magic, not directly fusing the two, but rather integrating his newly grasped concept of "compression" into the energy harmonization process. His willpower transformed into countless fine "comb teeth," probing into the mithril. Under the microscopic vision of the Eye of Truth, he attempted to guide the energy particles within the mithril to arrange themselves more orderly and densely.
Just as he was fully focused, feeling that guiding the energy flow was about to enter a more stable phase, a ringtone sounded...
A strange, low, and rapid sound suddenly came from the direction of the porch connecting the workshop and the study.
Karen's mind wavered, and he instantly stopped combing through the mithril and guiding the dragon blood! With a soft "poof," the drop of dragon blood suddenly exploded into a small cloud of blood mist, and the violent life energy dissipated, stirring up the mithril that had been painstakingly combed through into chaos once again.
"Stabilize!" Nicolas Flamel's voice rang out just in time. He waved his wand, and a soft blue light enveloped the out-of-control mixture.
He forcibly stabilized it, averting a small energy spill. He frowned slightly, glanced in the direction the sound came from, and said to Karen, "Control it, keep it cooling down." Then he turned and strode quickly toward the study.
Karen quickly focused his mind, guiding the flames to slowly extinguish, allowing the failed but stabilized molten metal to gradually solidify within the cooling array into a flawed product filled with tangled red threads. He breathed a sigh of relief, wiped away his sweat, and felt a mix of regret and confusion about the strange ringing.
He tidied up his worktable, hesitated for a moment, and then walked towards his study.
Inside the study, Nicolas Flamel stood by the fireplace. Above the fireplace was not a typical animal head sculpture, but an ancient bronze mirror inlaid with several gemstones of various colors. At that moment, one of the deep red gemstones was flashing rapidly, emitting a low, continuous chirping sound.
Nico tapped his finger on the mirror, clearly receiving information. His expression then turned serious, but he remained calm.
Professor Castor appeared at the study doorway at some point, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, his eyes coldly fixed on the gleaming bronze mirror, waiting for Nico to finish.
A moment later, the brilliance of the gem subsided, and the chirping ceased. Nico withdrew his finger, and the mirror returned to its calm, bronze luster.
"Teacher, what happened?" Karen couldn't help but ask, a vague sense of foreboding creeping into her heart.
Nico turned around, the grave expression on his face gone, replaced by his usual calm, though a hint of understanding and faint worry lingered in his eyes. He looked at Karen, his tone even and undisguised: "Don't panic, Karen. It's just news from London. Gringotts has experienced a break-in."
"Gringotts? Broken in?" Karen's heart skipped a beat, almost blurting it out. It seemed to be late July. In the original story, this event marked... "Yes," Nico nodded, then commented, "a rather clumsy attempt. Quite a commotion, but the result—nothing but proving the intruders' stupidity and the goblins' overconfidence in their own security." He paused, adding meaningfully, "Most importantly, what the intruders might have had is no longer there."
Karen was certain! The Philosopher's Stone! Quirrell, or rather Voldemort, had finally made his move! The gears of the original story had finally made their first heavy meshing sound this summer after his first year! He instinctively looked at Castor.
"Hmph." Castor let out a cold laugh, breaking the silence of the study. His eyes swept over the bronze mirror as if he were looking at a huge joke. "Gringotts' 'safety'? It's nothing but a fairy tale boasted by goblins and a self-comforting dream of wizards."
A bunch of greedy burrowing creatures guarding a glittering treasure, do they really think they can stop the jackals who truly thirst for power? Utterly foolish.” His tone was full of disdain for the invaders’ crude methods and mockery of the shattered Gringotts myth.
Nico remained noncommittal to Castor's sharp comments, only glancing at Karen, his tone gentle yet carrying a heavy weight: "Karen,"
Remember what I said today, and remember the lesson of this incident. True security is never behind the strongest vault doors, nor within the most profound protective spells. It lies in wisdom, in foresight, and in placing what is most important under the most unexpected and trustworthy protection.
Then his gaze deepened, as if looking into the distance. "Vigilance doesn't stem from fear, but from a clear awareness of potential dangers. The wheels of history roll ever onward, and there will always be those who try to stop them, or—to seize what doesn't belong to them before the wheels have rolled over them. All we can do is fortify our own carriages and see the road ahead clearly."
Karen understood. Nico's words were both a comfort and a warning. Although the Philosopher's Stone had been moved, Voldemort's shadow had truly begun to shift. A strong sense of urgency rose within him. He needed to become stronger faster! For himself, and for those he wanted to protect.
"I understand, Professor Nico." Karen nodded solemnly. This sudden news was like a stone thrown into a lake, creating ripples and making him have a more urgent need for power and knowledge.
"Very good." Nico smiled with relief. "Then let this little incident pass. The failed experiments in the workshop are still waiting for you to analyze the reasons for their failures. Failure is the norm on the path of alchemy; learning from failure is the key. Let's go and continue our work."
The tense atmosphere in the study dissipated with Nico's words. Castor turned and left the doorway, seemingly having completely lost interest in this "farce." Karen glanced one last time at the now-calm bronze mirror, took a deep breath, suppressed her chaotic thoughts, rekindled her focus on alchemy, and followed Nico back to the workshop. The story had begun, but the path ahead of her had to be walked step by step.
Shortly after the Eagle's Nest team sent out their gifts, Karen began receiving replies.
Wesley's letter was written on a piece of parchment with a crookedly drawn Quidditch pitch, his handwriting so excited it almost flew: "Cullen!!! The model is amazing! I tried to simulate the last time we lost to Hufflepuff, and although there were some differences, it was undoubtedly a huge help in our tactical research. I've simulated twelve new formations to counter Slytherin's foul tactics! Look forward to it when school starts! Also, please give my regards to Master Nico and Professor Victor! PS: My mom said thank you for the magic candy, but my dad thinks the model is too noisy and wants to ask if there's a soccer ball model. Speaking of which, I also want to know if there's a soccer ball model."
Fabian's letter was much more neat and detailed: "Karen, I've received the moon lily seeds, thank you so much! I tested them using the method my mother taught me, and they're very viable. I've soaked them in diluted moon lily juice, hoping they'll germinate successfully. I've also saved some to try again after school starts. The description of the Paris Magic Botanical Garden is fascinating; I look forward to hearing more from you. Best wishes for your studies."
Ernesto's reply was the shortest and most "Ernesto-esque": "The crystal ball has been checked; the star chart projection calibration function is acceptable, and its portability is still practical. The Griffiths observatory is functioning well, don't worry. The discrepancies in the Paris star chart are recorded in the appendix. Learning alchemy is inevitably difficult. The gift—acceptable." But at the end of the letter, he added in tiny handwriting: "Thank you."
These greetings and messages from afar, like a warm stream, briefly nourished Karen's intense study time in the tranquil abode.
He carefully put the letters away, his anticipation for the new semester growing stronger. But right now, he had an even more important challenge ahead of him.