Ollivander, the master wandmaker, was deeply obsessed with his craft, having devoted nearly his entire life to it.
One of his greatest regrets was creating the powerful wand used by Voldemort, which led to the demise of many innocent lives.
He had spent years burdened by guilt, rarely leaving his workshop except to create wands.
Despite his self-reproach, no one blamed him; it was difficult to hold him accountable for the actions of others.
Most wizards born on this land chose wands crafted by Ollivander. In recent years, as his reputation soared, his wands became the preferred choice among wizards.
Many young witches and wizards would come to him to select their wands, while experienced wizards sought out Ollivander's renowned craftsmanship.
Currently, over ninety percent of wizards in this region possessed an Ollivander wand.
However, they did not consider his thoughts on the matter; if everyone held such beliefs, who would make their wands? Would the true villains run free?
Thus, the only one who bore the weight of guilt was Ollivander himself.
He would warn only a select few promising or powerful wizards. Zhao Lun, Potter, and Maria were among the few he took the time to counsel seriously. For others, he would merely remind them to take care of their wands.
Seeing Maria and Penelope's wands, he could tell they cared for their tools. This earned them Ollivander's goodwill. When he saw Zhao Lun's wand, he was almost moved to tears. Now, hearing Maria's words, his favor for Zhao Lun's group grew even stronger.
The three spent quite some time there, with Zhao Lun discussing wand-making with Ollivander, gaining valuable insights.
Penelope curiously examined the wands on display, and Maria followed suit, comparing every wand she saw with her own. The more she compared, the more she realized how much she loved her wand.
Her wand was beautiful, resembling a piece of art, adorned with mysterious patterns. When used, it emitted a dazzling magical light that thrilled her.
After about an hour, the trio finally emerged from the shop.
Ollivander accompanied them to the door, reluctantly bidding farewell.
"Mr. Allen, I didn't expect your knowledge to be so profound. Please take this book; I hope you enjoy it."
"Miss Maria, remember to control your power and not become lost in it."
"Ms. Clearwater, continue to take good care of your wand."
Before they left, he shared a few final words.
"Thank you! This is the best gift I've ever received."
Zhao Lun was delighted to receive a handwritten notebook on wand-making; it felt like his visit had been worthwhile.
"Don't worry, Mr. Ollivander. Maria will use her wand to protect her family and friends," Maria said earnestly.
Her cheeks flushed with excitement, and her jewel-like eyes sparkled as she twirled her wand, clearly eager to show it off.
Today was a momentous occasion for her, and even an hour later, she couldn't calm the thrill bubbling inside her.
"I will cherish it always."
Penelope lovingly stroked her wand, a gesture of affection.
Ollivander then bid them a heartfelt goodbye before returning to his shop, eager to experiment with his wand-making.
This time, he had gained much from Zhao Lun, including rare magical materials such as exquisite woods and pure white feathers. The woods were carefully selected, clearly of the highest quality, and the feathers radiated a holy light, making it seem as if he could hear angels singing. Unfortunately, the feathers were a bit damaged and in limited supply, which was a disappointment.
"I should be able to make five wands with these," he thought uncertainly.
He remembered Zhao Lun, reflecting on how the hour-long conversation had revealed the young man's vast knowledge; he could discuss any topic and provide unique insights, even in wand-making, which surprised Ollivander. Through their exchange, he sensed that Zhao Lun was a young man of great depth, destined to shine brighter than any wizard.
He felt a mix of excitement and concern: excited to witness the rise of a powerful wizard, yet worried that this young man might become a force of chaos reminiscent of Voldemort, unsettling the entire magical community.
Meanwhile, Zhao Lun left the shop with Maria and Penelope, blissfully unaware of Ollivander's thoughts. Even if he did know, it wouldn't matter much to him.
Ollivander was older and passionate about wand-making; he was not one to stir up trouble, and Zhao Lun had no reason to believe he would.
At that moment, the three were quite happy, and the earlier unpleasantness caused by Montague and his group had faded away.
With their objectives achieved and the shopping done, they didn't linger and made their way outside.
As they stepped out, they headed directly to the car, returning to the home they now called Allen's House. Monica had suggested the name, and it fit perfectly. While they had considered naming it after Zhao Lun or calling it "Zhao's House," he found those titles too ostentatious.
"Flower Fairy's Home" had become their brand name, and it felt just right.
On the way back, they encountered no further trouble from the rogue wizards, and they arrived home smoothly.
"Nicole! Nicole! Maria brought you gifts!"
"Angela, Monica, and Sister Mulan, I have gifts for you too!"
"So many gifts! Hurry up and come out!"
As soon as they entered, Maria couldn't contain her excitement and immediately opened the car door, revealing a large bag filled with gifts that Zhao Lun had retrieved.
"Ha ha, what gifts are these?"
A light chuckle came from several ladies as they emerged, smiling warmly as they accepted Maria's bundle and began inspecting the items.
Distributing the gifts created a joyful atmosphere, and Maria couldn't help but show off her wand, her expressions clearly conveying her desire for them to admire it.
"Is this your wand, Maria? It's so beautiful!"
Having lived together for so long, they understood the little girl's intentions perfectly. They were more than happy to compliment her on her wand.
As evening approached, dark clouds that had been brewing all afternoon finally began to change.
Whoosh!—
The wind picked up!
Raindrops began to fall rapidly, quickly intensifying into a downpour with a deafening roar.
Boom!—
A flash of lightning illuminated the night sky, and just three seconds later, a thunderous clap echoed through the air.
The thunder was close, loud enough to instill a sense of awe and trepidation.
In the living room, as they discussed plans for their upcoming appointments, the thunder interrupted their conversation. Zhao Lun quickly activated the satellite surveillance to check for any dangers outside.
The external monitors provided clear footage of the outside world.
The thunder rumbled ominously as a blinding bolt of lightning struck a towering fir tree. The nearly thirty-meter-tall tree snapped in half under the assault and immediately ignited.
The torrential rain poured down, but it couldn't extinguish the flames.