The way African wizards used magic was indeed very different.
They focused far more on the study of magical inscriptions.
In other words, their emphasis leaned heavily toward alchemy.
This approach might be somewhat inferior to European wands in terms of immediacy and versatility, but when it came to stability, endurance, and specialization in certain fields, it possessed unique advantages of its own.
Standing outside the shop, Ian watched with great interest.
This completely different magical system broadened his horizons and gave him a deeper understanding of the essence of magic.
Magic was not confined to a single path.
Different cultures and traditions had developed their own remarkable interpretations of it. He even began considering whether he should commission a "magic inscription short rod" for himself. Perhaps it might prove unexpectedly useful in certain situations.
Or at the very least, he could purchase several books on Africa's magical inscription systems and study them after returning home.
Of course,
That would all have to wait until after he spoke with the owner of the inscription workshop.
"As expected, the saying about traveling ten thousand miles truly holds weight. The world is vast, and anything can exist within it."
Ian had developed an intense interest in the unique African spellcasting system centered around magical inscriptions.
He observed the old craftsman working for quite some time, watching an ordinary-looking ebony rod gradually transform into a powerful magical artifact beneath the intricate carving of runes.
He couldn't help but admire it.
Finally, after the old craftsman finished his current work and set down his engraving needle to rest for a moment, Ian stepped forward and politely greeted him in English.
"Master, your craftsmanship is astonishing."
The old craftsman looked up, revealing a pair of deep and piercing eyes.
He carefully examined Ian,
The appearance of an obvious outsider, ordinary travel robes made from quality fabric, and a calm, composed temperament.
His gaze lingered briefly on Ian's empty hands.
Most likely because Ian had cautiously concealed his wand within his sleeve, while an Alchemist's sensitivity toward magical artifacts far surpassed that of ordinary wizards.
It was somewhat comparable to perfect pitch.
People with perfect pitch possessed hearing sensitivity far beyond ordinary individuals, and wizards gifted in alchemy possessed the same heightened sensitivity toward alchemical artifacts.
After observing Ian for quite some time, the old craftsman finally spoke slowly.
His voice was hoarse, yet clear.
"Outsider. What do you wish to buy? Custom magical tools require an appointment. Ordinary finished products are on the shelves over there."
One notable thing was that this Alchemist had actually identified Ian as someone from Britain.
His English carried a heavy accent, but it was sufficient for communication.
This itself was a display of keen perception,
Though it was also possible he simply defaulted to speaking English whenever he saw a white wizard.
Ian smiled faintly and shook his head.
"I am not here to purchase anything, Master. I'm simply very curious about your magical inscription techniques, as well as your method of wandless casting. I was wondering whether I might have the honor of exchanging knowledge with you."
He spoke carefully and tentatively.
"Exchange knowledge?"
The old craftsman raised his graying brows slightly and sized Ian up once again, his gaze carrying scrutiny and… a faint trace of disdain.
"You want to become an apprentice? To learn the path of magical inscriptions? You're already not that young, and you're an outsider. Starting from the beginning won't be easy."
Clearly, he had mistaken Ian for a young foreign wizard fascinated by mysterious African techniques and hoping to try his luck.
In recent years, as Muggles established the so-called "Earth Village," exchanges between wizarding nations had also become far more frequent.
Ian maintained his gentle smile.
"You misunderstand, Master. I'm not seeking an apprenticeship, merely an academic exchange. I also possess some accomplishments in alchemy, and I thought perhaps your path of magical inscriptions and my own studies might complement one another."
"Alchemy?"
The old craftsman snorted.
The dismissiveness in his tone became even more obvious.
"Young man, alchemy is a discipline that requires time, patience, and countless failures to accumulate knowledge in. It's not something where reading a few books lets you call yourself 'accomplished.'"
He raised his hands, covered in calluses and tiny carving scars.
"Judging by your age, you probably only graduated not long ago, right? Better to keep your feet on the ground."
It was advice,
And also contempt.
Talented people always carried some degree of pride, and in a place like Africa, true skill was even rarer and therefore something worthy of arrogance.
Ian was not angered by the remark.
He truly did look only in his twenties.
That was thanks to his human transfiguration skills. Otherwise, his real age would likely have earned even more contempt from the old man.
And precisely because he understood that traveling around as a teenager would make it difficult for others to take him seriously, Ian had deliberately transformed himself into the appearance of an adult before entering the shop.
Who would have thought…
Being in his twenties and still being looked down upon…
But thinking about it carefully, it was actually perfectly reasonable. After all, for most wizards, progress in alchemy could only be accumulated through time.
A monster like Ian was exceedingly rare even in history. No one at Hogwarts had ever seen someone like him, much less in a remote place like Africa.
Africa's history had never produced such a freakish genius before.
Because of that, being underestimated was perfectly normal.
Ian smiled faintly, his tone calm yet carrying unquestionable confidence.
"Master, the depth of one's knowledge is not always determined by age. If we don't verify it, how can we know? Perhaps we may both gain something from this exchange."
He still maintained a humble attitude.
It wasn't that he lacked pride, but rather that Ian believed a true master would forever possess the heart of an apprentice.
And wasn't that, in itself, another form of showing off?
"Oh?"
The old craftsman stared at Ian for several seconds, seemingly intrigued by his confidence.
He glanced toward the entrance. Since there were temporarily no new customers, he nodded.
"Very well. Since I'm idle anyway, this old man will test you a little and see just how much 'accomplishment' your so-called knowledge amounts to."
"If you can't answer, then obediently buy a finished product and leave. Don't interrupt my work."
Once again, he sized Ian up with a scrutinizing gaze.
"Of course. As you wish." Ian gave an elegant slight nod.
The old craftsman cleared his throat and began his "assessment," starting with basic alchemical material processing.
"When extracting the essence of Moonlight Flowers, at what exact moment is temperature control most critical?"
"The instant the edges of the petals begin glowing silver, before the moonlight has fully merged into the liquid. That is when the temperature must be lowered instantly to preserve the spiritual essence."
Ian answered without hesitation, even adding:
"If a Cypriot Frost Crystal container is used, the effect becomes even better. It preserves more than ninety-five percent of the activity."
A trace of surprise flashed through the old craftsman's eyes, and he nodded before deepening the questions.
"When fusing Mercury and Fine Gold, how do you overcome their natural repulsion?"
"You don't overcome it. You utilize it."
Ian answered calmly.
"Use the repulsive force to construct microscopic vortices, then introduce a thread of stable Earth Vein Energy as both a neutralizer and a bridge. The resulting alloy structure becomes even more stable, and magical conductivity increases by roughly thirty percent."
Once again, the answer was flawless.
The old craftsman straightened slightly in his seat, his expression growing much more serious.
"Then… when refining an imitation Philosopher's Stone, what are the three most critical pseudo-base material substitution methods, and what are their respective energy loss rates?"
This was an extremely specialized question involving the domain of advanced alchemy.
Of course, theory and practice were two different things. Many advanced Alchemists actually knew the theories involved.
Ian thought for roughly five seconds before answering fluently:
"First: use Scarlet Gem powder mixed with Phoenix ash to replace the Essence of Life. The loss rate is approximately forty percent.
Second: use Stellar Core fragments to replace the Philosopher's Base. The loss rate rises to sixty percent, but the stability is the highest.
Third, and also the least known method, use Sands of Time generated from the wear of a Time Turner as the catalytic medium, directly bypassing the base material reconstruction process. The loss rate is uncertain, and the risk is extremely high."
The old craftsman's breathing became slightly hurried.
These questions were already at the very core of his life's research, yet the other party answered them effortlessly, and had even provided a third method he had never heard of before!
Unable to restrain himself, he immediately asked several follow-up questions.
Ian answered each one clearly and deeply, even pointing out possible breakthrough directions for several bottlenecks the old craftsman himself had encountered in his research.
The old craftsman's gaze shifted from curiosity to utter shock.
Finally, he asked the last question, the pinnacle of alchemy as far as he could comprehend it.
"How can one safely separate soul fragments and infuse them into magical items without triggering a backlash from dark magic?"
Ian pondered for a moment.
Instead of answering directly, he countered with a question.
"Why separate them at all? Why not guide them into symbiosis?"
"Forcibly separating soul fragments inevitably damages the origin of the soul itself. That violates the core principles of alchemy: Equivalent Exchange and Harmonious Transformation."
"Perhaps one could instead construct a two-way energy circulation channel, temporarily merging part of the caster's consciousness with the spiritual nature of the object. The effect would be similar, yet without causing permanent damage…"
This was a subject Ian had long since fully researched.
And because of that,
He began elaborating in detail upon an entirely new approach based on Ancient Runes and soul magic.
The depth of knowledge and creative thinking involved had already completely surpassed the old craftsman's realm of understanding.
The old craftsman listened in a trance.
Many problems that had troubled him for years suddenly became clear at this moment. He even felt that his understanding of the path of magical inscriptions had risen to an entirely new level because of this conversation.
A long while later, Ian finished speaking.
The old craftsman sat there blankly, his eyes unfocused, as though still digesting the overwhelming amount of information.
There was no trace left of his earlier contempt.
In its place remained only overwhelming shock,
And an almost unbelievable confusion.
Ian even began wondering whether the old man was dissatisfied with his answer.
"Of course, if all you want is to survive in this world at any cost, then I have the simplest method, Horcruxes."
The reason Ian had researched the fusion of souls into alchemical items stemmed precisely from this.
He had conducted extensive research into Lord Voldemort's Horcrux methods.
"No, no, no. That is the choice of fools. I am quite intelligent, and I also look forward to the adventure that comes after death."
The old craftsman immediately waved his hands in rejection, displaying the mindset that a truly wise wizard ought to possess.
"Then you truly are a great wizard."
Ian spoke sincerely.
The old man's words perfectly aligned with the views of Albus Dumbledore, and it was obvious he was indeed an extraordinary wizard.
"Thank you for the compliment. However… your knowledge… why does it feel so ancient…"
The old craftsman suddenly seemed to realize something.
He abruptly lifted his head and stared fixedly at Ian's overly youthful face, his eyes trembling violently.
Suddenly, as though he had arrived at a terrifying guess, he reached beneath his workbench with shaking hands and pulled out a brass device covered in intricate runes. It looked like a hybrid between a compass and a crystal ball.
The old craftsman adjusted the device.
Muttering incantations under his breath, he pointed it toward Ian and cautiously infused it with magical power.
The needle on the device spun wildly several times. The runes upon its surface flickered chaotically. The crystal ball at its center first attempted to display something,
Then abruptly descended into complete chaos.
Finally, a faint cracking sound rang out.
A thin crack appeared across the crystal sphere.
At that sight, the old craftsman recoiled as if burned.
His face instantly turned deathly pale, cold sweat forming across his forehead.
The way he looked at Ian became filled with horror and reverence. His lips trembled so violently that he could barely form complete sentences.
"Y-Your Excellency…? F-Forgive me! My eyesight was limited, I was blind and ignorant! I… I never realized a Legendary stood before me… Please forgive my disrespect!"
"Forgive my ignorant ramblings!"
In panic, he hurriedly rose from behind the workbench and was just about to bow deeply before Ian.
Ian was briefly startled, then immediately understood.
He lightly raised his hand, and a gentle force supported the old craftsman, preventing him from bowing.
"There's no need for such formality, Master. I'm merely a traveler passing through."
"Your device… is very interesting. It can detect the presence of Legendary beings?"
Ian's response was effectively an admission of his identity.
He was not someone who enjoyed pretending to be weak.
Held in place by that irresistible force, the old craftsman found himself completely unable to bend forward. His heart became even more terrified.
Hearing Ian's question, he hurriedly answered respectfully, his voice still trembling.
"Y-Yes, Your Excellency. Th-this is merely a crude magical power composition analyzer… It was originally designed to analyze the activity strength and attributes of magical materials. Occasionally, it can also roughly sense the foundation of a wizard's magical power. B-but in truth, it cannot actually measure the precise strength of a Legendary existence."
He held the cracked brass device in both hands as though it were a holy relic.
"Its detection limit is far below the Legendary realm. Just now, its attempt to analyze you resulted only in chaos and overload. It was even damaged in the process."
"That can only mean that your existence itself has already far surpassed the scope of what it can comprehend. In fact, the very fact that it became 'undetectable' and 'overloaded' was itself the best possible answer."
The old craftsman's face was filled with lingering fear and shame.
Only now did he understand what kind of great existence had just been "exchanging knowledge" with him.
That youthful appearance of Ian's was obviously either the illusion maintained by powerful magic, or the natural state of someone whose life level had already transcended normal humanity.
"I see."
Ian nodded in understanding.
So the principle was that simple and direct,
If something could not be detected, it meant it was immeasurably profound.
Logically speaking, that made perfect sense.
"A very interesting little device," Ian commented calmly. "And your magical inscription techniques are indeed exquisite. I've benefited greatly from today's exchange. It has been a very enjoyable conversation."
His attitude still carried no sense of superiority or condescension.
And upon seeing this,
The old craftsman suddenly had a flash of realization as he recalled Ian's original question.
"This esteemed Legendary wished to learn about our magical inscription system?"
The old craftsman suddenly remembered why Ian had approached him in the first place,
Because he had been curious about magical inscriptions and wandless casting, even using the word "exchange."
Upon realizing this, the old man became both terrified and excited.
A Legendary wizard being interested in their techniques was simply a heaven-sent opportunity!
He quickly composed himself and spoke to Ian with incomparable respect, even carrying a trace of pleading in his tone.
"Our magical inscription system is actually an evolved branch of the ancient magical inscription tradition."
"If Your Excellency wishes to understand it more deeply, or rather, if you are willing to graciously offer guidance in this field, this old man would gladly present all the knowledge I have accumulated throughout my life without holding anything back."
(End of Chapter)
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