Four months after the oath, one day in May 1986.
At midnight, inside the alchemy room of Nicholas Flamel's residence, Dumbledore and Maple had just completed the research on a certain spell phase.
"Clatter."
Dumbledore waved his wand and arranged the research notes on the table. Meanwhile, Maple busied himself returning the experimental equipment to their proper places.
"Then, old man, I will go back to rest."
Dumbledore nodded, noticing that Maple's unconscious release of spiritual power had ceased. He couldn't help but sigh.
"Maple, I still believe that without your guidance, any wizard would be lost in the midst of your Soul Sequence Potion. If you hadn't explained it, I'm afraid I wouldn't have realized that your sequence potion requires the so-called 'acting' and 'digestion' periods. These two terms are indeed very precise and to the point."
Towards this magical path of maintaining sanity in madness, while intoxicated by its charm, they still held utmost awe.
Both he and Flamel had found their own paths and would not change their careers, but they still respected pioneers of new paths.
"Just like your summary of [Sleepless] – 'It is the sleepless one, not the restless one.' I think if other wizards successfully promote, it will be very difficult to resist the temptation when they find that they are still full of energy even if they do not sleep for two days. At this point, it will be, as you said, a sign of getting out of control. If they squander their precious spirituality on this kind of soul talent, I am afraid that the next time we meet, they would have turned into a bunch of twisted and out-of-control monsters, right?"
Thinking of this, Dumbledore couldn't help but sigh in a chant-like tone.
"Soul is undoubtedly the most taboo of dark magic."
Before he finished speaking, Dumbledore keenly noticed that Maple suddenly trembled and a perfect temperament appeared on the boy.
It happened without any warning, or perhaps he was spiritually touched. Dumbledore suddenly remembered a phenomenon Maple had mentioned before.
"Has the potion been digested completely?"
Seeing Maple nod his head, Dumbledore's kind expression immediately became serious.
"Spiritual Protection."
Without Maple's reminder, Dumbledore immediately cast the panacea-type soul spell the boy had taught him previously.
"You meditate first, I will go get Flamel. He has collected all the ingredients required for your Sequence 8 Potion."
Finished speaking, Dumbledore was still worried. Before leaving, he cast "Salvio Hexia" and "Protego Totalum" on the room.
After a while, amidst the sound of approaching footsteps, Maple also opened his bright green eyes.
"Click."
With the mechanical snapping sound, the door was reopened, and Nicholas Flamel, who was still wearing his large nightgown and hadn't even changed his slippers, rushed in holding a delicate wooden box.
"Ah, my dear, I'm sorry! Trust me, it was an accident, it will not happen again! I promise!"
Nicholas Flamel explained loudly to his annoyed wife outside the door while opening the wooden box. He handed the well-preserved ingredients inside to Maple, who was standing in front of the alchemy table.
Fortunately, Perenelle only heard Flamel's sincere apology. If she had seen Nicholas's excited face without any trace of regret, Flamel would probably be sleeping in his alchemy room for the next week.
As the door closed, the spiritual blockade was reestablished. Maple signaled towards Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel, who were standing beside him and prepared to start brewing the potion.
The old man and master's side observation were actually the result of a discussion among the three of them.
Firstly, with Dumbledore and Nicholas observing by the side, they could obtain valuable research data by observing Maple's promotion, paving the way for their research.
Secondly, the promotional potion was never guaranteed, and Maple also needed the support of two masters who had started delving into the field of soul.
"[Sequence 8: Dark Priest]
Potion formula:
Main materials: Adult Fire Dragon's Heart Blood 7 drops, Adult Unicorn Tail Hair 3 strands, Adult Unicorn Horn 1 stick.
Auxiliary materials: Pure Water 70ml, Amphora Leaf Powder 7gr, Saltpeter, Mercury, and Iron Files each 3 gr, Thestral's Tears 1 drop."
Recalling the potion formula for [Dark Priest], Maple moved with calm elegance, like a perfect waltz. Soon, they felt their spirituality touched; the potion had been successfully prepared.
The potion that appeared in Maple's hand resembled a cup of hot magma. It was thick and blood-red, with a deep darkness within. Every so often, strands of lightning-like silvery-white streaks flashed, hinting at some mysterious meaning.
"It is so beautiful..."
Although Dumbledore and Flamel could not speak out loud, they were both filled with heartfelt admiration.
Looking at this cup of potion, which currently represented the highest achievement in soul magic, an amazing spirituality could be felt within it. The light in Dumbledore's and Nicholas Flamel's eyes contained not a trace of greed, but more of a seeker, a heartfelt admiration for the endless mysteries of magic.
Maple sensed his own soul cheering for the potion, and just like last time, he drank it without hesitation.
Hot, scorching hot, this was the first thing Maple felt after drinking the potion, but it was followed by a boiling surge of spirituality rushing towards a higher place.
The thorough digestion and understanding of [Sleepless] had turned into the most solid foundation required for the impact. The tempered and extremely solid spirituality allowed reason to control the constantly oscillating "Death" and "Despair" within the "Galan's Cave".
However, Maple, who was trying his best to control the spiritual turmoil, did not notice the ignorant emotion born with "despair" beginning to grow amidst the spiritual turmoil.
In the eyes of Dumbledore and Flamel, Maple's restless spirit attracted magic power, and a faint magic power radiated around him.
The dazzling light looked beautiful, but the two wizards did not ignore the possibility of loss of control; within their hands, the wands were tightly grasped, ready to take action at any moment.
In their view, Maple was currently playing "drifting" again before death.
However, the worst situation calculated by them did not occur. Once the spiritual fluctuations passed their peak, they began to calm down. It was only then the two old men breathed a sigh of relief – The overall situation had been stabilized.
Slowly pulling back his lost spirituality, the newly promoted Maple exuded an invisible charm due to the transformation of his soul. In the eyes of every wizard, Maple's green eyes gave them a sense of tranquility and indifference in the depths of their hearts.
This was not a Veela Bloodline, but an instinctive influence by high-level souls towards lower-level souls.
"How was it?"
Flamel looked at Maple who had adjusted his condition and impatiently asked.
"Yes, not bad. Physical fitness, spirit, and magical power have all increased."
While feeling the change in power, Maple concluded while waving his temporary second-hand wand, he cast a Fiendfyre spell.
Black fire flowed out from the tip of the wand, and under Maple's control, docilely turned into a palm-sized Thestral, jumping happily around him before finally stopping on the boy's right shoulder.
It snorted smartly. Even the jet-black sparks that spewed out did not ignite Maple's clothes.
But everyone present knew, no enemy would like to face this deadly beauty.
"It's a beautiful flame. Maple, this is the first time I have ever described Fiendfyre in this manner."
While Dumbledore was admiring it, his azure eyes were also carefully observing the changes.
"It is true, the magical power has increased a lot, it is definitely on the level of an Elite Auror. Although there is still a distance from Severus and McGonagall, if you consider the overall growth, if you confront Flitwick, at least you will not be defeated."
Summarizing the changes in Maple, Dumbledore took off his pair of half-moon glasses and wiped them lightly.
"Unexpected, but reasonable, this kind of high-risk soul transformation is naturally worth a high reward."
"You are right, Albus. Also, you need to consider, Maple, your soul talent should also change as well, right?"
Speaking of this, Nicholas was quite excited and turned around to ask Maple, although he did not forget to add,
"Of course, this is your core secret, Maple. It's alright if you don't want to share it. In fact, I just want to know if there's been a change. Knowing that would satisfy me."
"It's okay, Teacher Flamel. I can give you some general information. If you understand it, the next phase of research will proceed much more smoothly."
~~~
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