Chapter 29
To the moon-struck phial, Gray then added one of his own hairs, a silver teaspoon of dew taken from a place that had not seen sunlight or been touched by human feet for a full seven days, which was a lot harder to find, so Gray had to create one himself and make sure nobody entered it for an entire week, along with the chrysalis of a Death's-head Hawk Moth.
The resulting mixture had to be put in a quiet, dark place and could not be disturbed in any way. Since he had a potion system, he had his mana activated during that step, which made the entire solution a potion that was incomplete, something Gray hadn't seen before. Then he had to wait for a thunderstorm. Luckily, he lived in England, where the weather threw a tantrum every day—one day you think you're going to have a sunny day, and boom, you're drowning in a flooded street. While he waited, which took 14 days, he chanted the Animagus incantation with his cane pointed at his heart.
The cane vibrated shyly—yes, the cane was shy. In fact, this weird cane seemed to be able to express emotions, and the ones it expressed most were jealousy when Gray cast novice wandless magic or interacted with any woman. After the rainstorm finally arrived, he retrieved his Animagus potion, which of course had its own status window.
[Name: Animagus Potion]
[Grade: High grade]
[Description: The Animagus Potion is an essential element in the intricate process of transforming into an Animagus. Made with a Level 6 potion creation skill, this high-grade potion has 400% effectiveness, ensuring a more stable and smooth transformation. The brewing process involves a highly detailed and time-sensitive procedure, utilizing a single Mandrake leaf, personal hair, moon-struck dew, and the chrysalis of a Death's-head Hawk Moth. The potion allows witches and wizards to unlock their Animagus form, granting the ability to shift into an animal representation of their inner magic. This transformation is permanent once completed and requires incredible discipline and patience to achieve.]
[Deterioration Rate: 98%]
This was yesterday, which he consumed immediately after casting the Animagus incantation one more time. Due to the fourfold increase in effectiveness, Gray's transformation was less painful than the book described, and immediately Gray could transform into an animal that represented his innermost self. He hoped it was a dragon or a phoenix, or maybe a tiger—heck, even a wolf would have been great since the wolf was his favorite animal. But no, instead, Gray could now transform into a big white lion with golden pupils and dark eyes. Yes, he could transform into an albino lion, which wasn't the worst but not what he was hoping for.
"At least it's stronger than the average lion, plus it does kind of look majestic," Gray thought to himself as he returned to the Leaky Cauldron before entering his suitcase, where he began to bewitch his armor set. He placed a Disillusionment Charm on the mask, while on the armor he placed the levitation charm, Immobulus Charm, the Accio Charm, and the Bombarda Charm. "Finally, it's done," Gray smiled as he looked at his armor, which he was quite pleased with. Then he remembered something, "Right, since I'm done with the armor and the Animagus potion, it's time to visit that ruin."
While he was not to swallow the mandrake leaf, Gray had also been researching nearby ruins, where he was betting that some herbs were growing without being discovered. This led to discovering a ruin in the Emerald Isle of Scotland, which was where he was headed next. He had everything ready—the armor was ready, the Animagus form was ready, and the potions were ready. "Time to move again," which made him excited.
The night was still, save for the faint sound of Gray's armor as he moved. His armor was a marvel—a combination of rugged stone and elegant gold tracing. The massive gauntlets felt weighty yet powerful, each crack in the stone glowing faintly with the magic woven into it. His chest piece, layered with stone and accented with gleaming gold, hugged his form protectively, and the swirling designs on his dark metal mask gave him a mysterious, foreboding presence.
His suitcase hung on his back like a makeshift backpack, slightly clunky, but essential for the journey ahead. In his hand, Gray held a bewitching lantern, its flickering light casting long shadows that danced across the forest floor. He had enchanted it in haste, a last-minute ditch effort after forgetting a light source. "Times like this, you miss Lumos," he muttered. The simple spell that once lit his path was now a distant memory—potions had become his crutch. Yet, he was avoiding them tonight. Potion sickness, a condition he'd coined after suffering the effects of too many, loomed large in his mind, a painful reminder from the fight with the basilisk.
He looked around, the starlight twinkling high above. "Damn, that's beautiful," he thought, momentarily losing himself in the vast expanse of the night sky. The stars were his guide tonight, and he took out a map—a star chart. "Alright, it isn't that far," he muttered, eyes scanning the constellations as he navigated by their patterns.
After some time, he arrived at a strange circle of stones, weathered by time and standing solemn in the middle of nowhere. Gray groaned when he realized what lay ahead—a puzzle. "Fucking puzzles," he muttered under his breath, rolling his shoulders before he got to work. The stones were heavy, each one a piece of a larger celestial puzzle. After some effort, he noticed the stones could outline the brightest star above. With a reluctant chuckle, he muttered, "I take it back, it's brilliant."
The ground shifted, stone scraping against stone as the puzzle clicked into place. Beneath him, the earth opened up, sending him plummeting into the abyss. But Gray was prepared. The levitation spell woven into his armor activated, slowing his descent until his feet touched the cold stone below. His hand instantly moved to the hilt of his sword—a custom-made steel blade bewitched with Fiendfyre, a cursed flame that devoured everything in its path.
"Quiet down, would you?" he muttered, his cane strapped to his back grumbling in protest as he scanned the darkness. Suddenly, the torches lining the hall ignited one by one, casting a warm glow that revealed a grand, eerie space.
The hall was vast and foreboding. Its stone walls, cracked and worn, were adorned with grotesque gargoyles, each bearing four eyes that seemed to follow Gray as he moved. Dust clung to the air, and the floor was littered with debris from years of neglect. Ancient symbols were etched into the stone, barely visible under the layers of grime and darkness. The entire place had an oppressive, unsettling air about it—silent and still, as if waiting for something. Despite the flickering torchlight, shadows clung stubbornly to the corners of the room.
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A/N So yeah, a lion, and trust me, this was the best animal that suited gray, it will make sense in the future.