Upon leaving the Room of Requirement with Obsidian, Amphisbaena glanced at his watch and realized it was nearly noon, signaling lunchtime.
The encounter in the Room of Requirement had not only heightened his wariness of Voldemort but also granted him profound insights into the fundamental laws governing this world.
The Law of Cause and Effect maintained order in the world, ensuring that events unfolded according to their destined outcomes. However, Amphisbaena's actions had disrupted the thread of fate, resulting in a shift in the world's destiny and gradually eroding the Law of Cause and Effect.
Amphisbaena sensed that the world had suspended its interference. By altering his own path, he had set in motion a series of changes that would ultimately lead to chaos in this timeline. Without the guidance of the Law of Cause and Effect, the world would face a significant threat. Amphisbaena realized that if he followed his destined path the world would slowly regain stability.
Furthermore, he recognized the urgency of mastering Runemancy and Formations. Amphisbaena pondered these objectives, fully comprehending their significance. Since he had already reached Level 5 in Occlumency, he temporarily set aside its improvement.
Ever since becoming a traverser, Amphisbaena had learned the paramount importance of Occlumency. This rare spell required no magic wand, making it accessible even to young wizards who had not yet entered school. While advanced Occlumency theories proved complex for ordinary young wizards and even many adults, But Amphisbaena easily understood it and mastered it.
As he entered the canteen, he noticed that his fellow students had already occupied the Ravenclaw table.
"Amphisbaena, where were you this morning?" inquired one of his Ravenclaw roommates.
Amphisbaena wore an expression of misfortune and replied, "Don't even ask, Forren. I got lost in the castle today because of those moving stairs, and it took me quite a while to find my way back."
Hearing about the moving stairs, the other students sympathetically nodded, well aware of how unfriendly they could be.
After lunch, Amphisbaena politely declined Forun's invitation to play wizard chess and made his way to the library. There, he meticulously recorded the acquired knowledge into his Artificial Intelligence, which served as an infinite repository of information.
The library had been expanded through a telescopic spell, featuring towering bookshelves that housed centuries' worth of accumulated knowledge. It acted as a bridge between Muggle-born and pure-blood students, offering a wealth of magical understanding. This explained why Hermione, despite her intelligence and aptitude for learning, couldn't access such extensive knowledge in the world of Harry Potter.
The forbidden section contained numerous dark magic books, accessible only to senior students with professor approval. However, Amphisbaena knew that Runemancy, Formations, and Alchemy knowledge weren't subject to such restrictions.
Finding specific niche knowledge proved challenging. Undeterred, Amphisbaena approached Mrs. Pince, the librarian, and obtained the desired books, attracting curious gazes from fellow patrons.
"Be careful! 'Aetherium Formation Advance knowledge,' 'Advanced Runic and Formation Knowledge,' and 'Advanced Alchemy Knowledge,'" Amphisbaena whispered the titles to himself, absorbing the information and storing it in his artificial intelligence for future access. He estimated that achieving Level 5 proficiency in both Runemancy and Formations would require at least a year.
During his time in the library, Amphisbaena recorded information from hundreds of books, assimilating the knowledge within his artificial intelligence. Onlookers assumed he was merely playing with the books, unaware that Amphisbaena possessed a virtual library within his mind. With tired eyes, he rubbed them and made his way back to the dormitory.
Upon his return, his roommates expressed surprise, exclaiming, "Amphisbaena, we heard you spent the entire afternoon in the library!"
Amphisbaena nonchalantly nodded, considering it a badge of honor rather than something to be ashamed of.
"I was captivated by some fascinating books," he replied, noticing the weariness reflected in his own eyes. Forman remarked, "You embody the true spirit of a Ravenclaw, constantly pursuing knowledge."
The following day, Amphisbaena arrived early outside the Room of Requirement. However, this time, he wasn't searching for treasure.
"I need an alchemy room," he stated, pacing back and forth three times before finally opening the door and stepping inside.
The alchemy room exceeded his expectations, radiating a luxurious ambiance. In addition to the standard alchemy stand and equipment, a grand ritual altarpiece adorned the space.
Alchemy, a complex scientific branch of magic, was not entirely unfamiliar to Amphisbaena, who possessed a Level 1 proficiency in the field.
Alchemy could be divided into two sub-disciplines: enchanting and refinement. Enchanting involved imbuing items with special spells using incantations or magical materials, transforming them into enchanted objects. Refinement, on the other hand, centered around altering the nature of things through rituals or processes.
For instance, refinement could yield a fire that burned at precisely 30 degrees Celsius, while alchemy's mysterious rituals were responsible for creating creatures like the basilisk from ordinary eggs.
In general, refinement proved more challenging than enchanting. The pinnacle of alchemical achievement was embodied by the Philosopher's Stone, a goal far beyond Amphisbaena's current abilities. At present, his immediate focus was on becoming proficient in enchanting and crafting magical equipment that could potentially save his life in the years to come.
Becoming a proficient alchemist required extensive knowledge, exceptional talent, and a substantial amount of gold coins. Alchemists were associated with great wealth, and the saying went, "Every alchemist carries the weight of Mithril." This highlighted the need for significant financial resources. Consequently, the number of alchemists in the British wizarding world had never exceeded double digits.
Amphisbaena understood that his family's resources alone were insufficient to fully support his alchemical pursuits. As a result, his grasp of alchemy remained confined to basic knowledge and preliminary stages. However, armed with the treasures from the Room of Requirement and the resources provided by his father Mr. Black from the Department of Fantastic Beast Management, Amphisbaena felt confident in making substantial progress in his enchanting endeavors.
He retrieved Obsidian from his pocket; the little creature was still drowsy in the morning light. Amphisbaena instructed Obsidian to present the treasures they had collected the previous day.
After a brief tidying up within the Room of Requirement, Amphisbaena discarded the worthless items, leaving a total of seven magical artifacts. Unfortunately, six of them were damaged, and only one remained intact. It was a testament to the challenge of withstanding the test of time—only magical artifacts on par with Ravenclaw's diadem could endure such passage.