Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 176: Wizard Chess
For several days in a row, Dumbledore wanted to see a young wizard in front of the Magic Mirror.

Unfortunately, as he said, the past was just a weightless ghost.

That night, Dumbledore stood beside the mirror, and in front of him was a reluctant Harry:
"The mirror will be moved to a new place tomorrow, Harry, so please don't look for it anymore. If you happen to see it again someday, be prepared. It's no good to indulge in illusory dreams and forget about real life, remember that. Now, why don't you put on that wonderful invisibility cloak and go to sleep?"

Harry stood up.

"Sir—Professor Dumbledore? May I ask you a question?"

"Of course, you just did that."

Dumbledore smiled.

"However, you can ask me one more question."

What do you see when you look in the mirror?

"Me? I see myself holding a pair of thick wool socks."

Harry's eyes widened.

"There are never enough socks to wear."

Dumbledore said,
"Christmas came and went, and I only received a few pairs of socks—thank you so much. But people always want to give me books."

Harry sensed something was wrong, but he didn't ask and went back to bed.

Five days had already passed since the Christmas holiday began.

Sheen found Professor Terra, who was very interested in his Transfiguration project.

Together they worked on many solutions and experiments, but the final result was unsatisfactory. However, Professor Terra showed no sign of disappointment and instead accompanied Sheen through many failures with great interest.

“You have put in a lot of effort in the deep realm, just like those alchemists of the past. Now you know they have no future, so I ask you to look at it from a different perspective.”

After Professor Terra finished speaking meaningfully, the floor of the alchemy office rippled like waves, and Sheen was quickly escorted out of the office.

The wavy ground resembled a conveyor belt without steps.

So, what would be another perspective?

Sheen was a little confused, but he wasn't in a hurry.

The problems with runes and materials were not difficult for Professor Terra, whose extensive knowledge allowed her to solve them in a short time.

But if the materials and runes are so easy for a master, then the difficulties that follow must be incredibly difficult.

It was these stubborn difficulties that prevented wizards from exploring magical creature transformations more deeply.

Without resolving this magical conflict, it would be impossible to create Fantastic Beasts cookies.

Back to Hope Hut.

The cold wind that had been pulling his scarf back finally stopped, leaving some water stains on his scarf, and the few snowflakes that had settled on his face gradually melted into water droplets.

Suddenly, a large head popped out of the fire.

It was Justin, who was cheerfully greeting Sheehan.

"You received my letter? Sheen, you promised to reply to me!"

He had barely finished speaking when Sheen heard him exclaim in surprise, as if the letter had arrived.

Handwritten letters have a unique feel to them. When you open a package and rub the parchment between your fingertips, you always feel a sense of time travel.

Several books with gold trim emerged from the bookshelf on the left. Sheen changed his scarf, which had just been damp with snowflakes, into a new one and began to ponder the five books the professor had left behind.

He only read the book "The Deeper Analysis of Alchemical Ritual" once.

So the letter was placed on a corner of the table, and some writing was revealed as the wind turned it over:

To Sheen:

The Christmas dinner was lively, and my mother wanted you to know—there was a seat for Green at the Finley's dinner.

she says:

There are all kinds of people in this world.

It just so happens that we became friends; this isn't fate.
It's because we were meant to be friends.

Winter is cold, so please make yourself a little warmer.

—Your loyal Justin

The magic lantern lit up, signaling the arrival of night in the cottage.

Sheehan vaguely sensed that the Fantastic Beasts Cookies seemed to be upset.

After all, even Professor Terra had clearly told him that there was no solution for the time being.

So he began to try to create a wizard chess set.

Transformation cookies are simply advanced transformations, from "living things" to "living things".

Wizard Chess is also a form of advanced transmutation, transforming "items" into "magic." But it has something else in common: each piece has its own thoughts and can communicate with the wizard.

This undoubtedly increases the difficulty of alchemy.

After taking a moderate amount of time, Sheen carried a chessboard into the alchemy office.

"What are you looking at! Heretic! I'll burn you alive!"

A white chess piece cried out; it was draped in a long robe, like a bishop from some church.

His shouting instantly angered the senior wizard who had just been reprimanded, but he glanced back and then calmed down.

Because Sheen has been apologizing repeatedly.

"Damn evil wizard, take this!"

The knight-like chess piece threw out its sword, but unfortunately, it was stopped by Sheen's silent levitation spell.

To prevent these unruly pawns from causing any more trouble, Sheen slipped into the alchemy office.

"Oh, child, you've come. How's the Wizard Chess game going?"

Professor Terra was busy writing something and didn't look up.

"What a beautiful lady, please come to my castle dinner..."

"The king-like chess piece in Sheen's hand spoke with deep emotion," he said. No sooner had he finished speaking than the "Queen" drew a sword from the knight and, in a fit of rage, stabbed the "King" to death.

Sheen was somewhat exasperated; these chess pieces seemed a bit too individualistic.

If the young wizards were to use this game of chess—the game would end before it even began, because their own king would fall first.

"Aren't these chess pieces quite interesting?"

Professor Terra's eyes were full of admiration.

"They are so illogical because your will is strong enough, child. When you create alchemical creations, your magic enters them."

Magic, in fact, is the embodiment of a wizard's will. A wizard with the powerful will that alchemists dream of is destined to unleash a storm.

But we must take it one step at a time, child.

Professor Terra took the chessboard. With a slight movement of her fingers, she cast some kind of spell, and the chess pieces stood still, unable to even speak.

Sheen knew what the professor was talking about, because it was clearly displayed on the panel:
Mrs. Lorice Cookies: Beginner Level (700/900)

【Owl Cookies: Beginner Level (10/900)】

【Reindeer Cookies: Beginner Level (10/900)】

【Rooster Cookies: Beginner Level (10/900)】

[Intermediate Wizard Chess: Apprentice Level (10/300)]

[Three intermediate-level alchemical creations at the expert level, and six beginner-level alchemical creations, can unlock the expert-level title in the field of alchemy]

The reason he can't make it isn't because his methods are wrong or he lacks talent.

It's simply because Fantastic Beasts Cookies are too difficult to make.

(End of this chapter)