Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 145: Ritual Magic

Alchemy was more amazing and interesting than Sheen had imagined.

The professor said he would give him an afternoon, and he was so meticulous that he even included class time in it.

She led Sheen into the classroom, where the students had no time to pay attention to the extra little wizard, as they were already overwhelmed with their homework.

Sheen then had time to look around the place. It was a classroom filled with various instruments, but there weren't many people inside.

Most of them are Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, with the occasional Gryffindor and Slytherin.

As the professor lectured, he had Sheen watch over them from the moment they began processing the materials until they inscribed the runes and infused them with magic.

Throughout the entire class, only a few people managed to shout.

The professor's expression was no better than that of those who sent out shouting letters.

"To witness the complete process of alchemy before learning it is like setting the course for a sailboat."

Ignoring the departing senior wizard, the professor turned and spoke earnestly, his hands behind his back.

Compared to those older wizards who were only vaguely aware of what they were learning and whose skills were limited, Professor Terra had much stricter requirements for Sheen:

"Alchemy, as a noble and ancient art, has always kept its pursuit of endless wealth and a perfect soul a secret."

These secrets will eventually be revealed in those truly gifted wizards.

Professor Terra held a notebook, which was completely blank.

“You have a week to jot down the material selection for the shouting letters. Remember, Mr. Green, slow is fast.”

Along with the professor's mission came several books that had clearly been carefully selected, some of their contents even covered with confusion spells, leaving only the most accurate parts.

It seems that Professor Terra was well aware of the alchemists' rambling records.

"It's not that alchemists have to make the content obscure; just remember that. Just like you remember the three stages of alchemy: the selection and melting of materials, the transformation and sublimation of metals, and the engraving and metamorphosis of runes."

The professor seemed to have read his thoughts and then smiled and said.

"Throughout the history of the magical world, alchemists have always sought to transform base metals into glittering gold. To them, the world is alive and possesses spiritual power."

With the right knowledge and the right tools, these powers can be wielded. Through this noble and ancient art, metals can be brought to life, can die, and can even be resurrected.

So, while pondering, Sheen quietly left the classroom.

He roughly understood the three stages of alchemy in practice: selection, transformation, and the sublimation brought about by the engraving of magical runes.

The professor's task is currently in the "darkening" phase, which involves selecting materials and eliminating impurities.

The professor wouldn't allow him to look up the materials used in the shout letter, but simply told him:
"Think carefully before making a choice, Mr. Green, think carefully."

So Sheen focused all his attention on the books the professor had provided.

The text describes dozens of materials without mentioning the four elements, the seven planets, or the Philosopher's Stone. It simply and directly introduces the possible materials, but that's enough for Sheen to explore.

Alchemy is indeed vast, especially after the professor told him not to get superficial but to follow his intuition and feel the meaning of alchemy for wizards.

For several days, whenever the young wizards of Hope's Cottage saw Sheen, he was studying the differences between the various materials.

He read all of the professor's books and soon found the answer.

It's Monday again.

The cold wind howled as Professor Terra sat in her chair, gazing at Sheen, and asked him with a hint of curiosity.

"Five days have passed, Mr. Green. Have you gained any insights?" "The book 'The Development of Alchemy' mentions that wizards have been studying alchemy for almost as long as Muggles. So why were only wizards able to create the Philosopher's Stone?"

Sheen seemed to be talking to himself, or perhaps declaring something.

"Because alchemy, like potion brewing, shares a fundamental line. This fundamental line is destined to belong only to magic."

Correct knowledge and suitable tools are merely the essentials for a wizard to perform ritual magic. Ultimately, this ritual tests the wizard's spiritual strength—the metaphors of history, knowledge, and materials all serve to strengthen the wizard's spiritual will.

As mentioned in The Fifth Element: The Search, the success of alchemy is the success of wizarding magic.

It was the wizard who believed that the alchemical creations would have an effect, not the alchemical creations that came to life on their own.

Sheen's eyes gleamed. If these ideas were correct, then he could forge the same path as he had forged potions.

Professor Terra's expression changed slightly, and she quickly stood up:
“My child, I will see you in the alchemy office three days a week.”

……

In just five days, Sheehan understood why the professor found Muggle science so interesting.

Because alchemy inherently possesses a mysterious quality, it is difficult to succeed in alchemy if this mysterious quality is destroyed.

Think about it: if a wizard believes that the world is subject to gravity and is so sure that feathers cannot fly because of it, then can feathers still fly?
The professor's task seemed to be neither over nor over.

Because she taught Sheen a very magical spell that made finding materials incredibly easy—

Scarpin's Revela Spell.

It is a spell used to correctly identify the ingredients of a given potion, invented by Scarpin. Of course, it can also be used in alchemy.

Professor Slughorn introduced the spell in his sixth-year Potions class, though Hermione was the only student who truly understood it.

“Some small tools, Mr. Green, the necessary tools.”

Professor Terra looked at Sheen with barely suppressed admiration, naturally assuming that Sheen would soon master the spell.

Reality, however, made her frown.

Her student, a natural-born alchemist, was stumped by this little spell.

"At the same time tomorrow, Mr. Green, I have an afternoon for you."

After the professor finished speaking, he went into his office, looking puzzled.

Sheen was left standing there, stunned.

Tomorrow afternoon... he's going to the cellar to brew a magic potion...

With only ten more points of proficiency needed to reach the beginner level in the Joyful Potion, he could unlock a new potion talent and officially open the door to alchemy.

Now that the two doors have collided, he dares not imagine what might rush out of the other if he dares to open only one.

Just as Sheen was walking down the corridor in a daze, Michael and Terry, with his messy curly hair, happened to pass by.

"Oh—Sheen, I knew you'd be here. Perfect timing to return your Charms class notes—hmm? Scarpin's Reveal Charm? You're not going to count the windows too, are you?!"

Michael suddenly exclaimed.

"Windows are very important!"

Terry retorted, his face slightly flushed.

(End of this chapter)