Peering through the door gap.
Even in a brightly lit room, the golden cup in Dumbledore's hand was extraordinarily dazzling, exuding an aura of masterpiece that only alchemists could truly appreciate.
"Hufflepuff's Golden Cup!"
Ian immediately recognized the object in Dumbledore's hand; it was Helga Hufflepuff's alchemical creation, one of the four founders' legacies at Hogwarts. Just like Gryffindor's Treasure Sword, Ravenclaw's Crown, and Slytherin's Pendant Box, Hufflepuff's Golden Cup was also a pinnacle of alchemy.
Perhaps it couldn't reach the heights of the Magic Stone created by Nicolas Flamel, but the artifacts of the four founders, with their profound significance, possessed extraordinarily strong magic power.
Wizards who reached such heights were versatile geniuses. The materials for creating these treasures might originate from elves, but most of the magic contained within certainly came from the founders themselves.
Except for the Slytherin Pendant Box, whose purpose remains unknown, Ian had knowledge of the other three founders' relics — Gryffindor's Treasure Sword has the property of repelling dust, becoming stronger the more battles it fights, absorbing and enhancing its own magic.
Ravenclaw's Crown could enhance the wearer's wisdom, but from a brief conversation with Lady Ravenclaw and analyzing reality, Ian felt it was more like an alchemic version of the Blessing Potion, or perhaps it could apply effects similar to Wisdom Enlightenment reminiscent of the Golden Apple?
Compared to the relics of these two founders, Helga Hufflepuff's artifact seemed more laid-back, just like Helga Hufflepuff herself, with no intention of competing for supremacy. It didn't possess any abilities to aid learning or combat, but it was the perfect companion for home and travel.
It contained magic that could almost freeze time, ensuring that any food stored within it wouldn't spoil and boasted an enormous storage space capable of holding a vast amount of food — from Hufflepuff's Golden House, it was clear that Helga Hufflepuff was very skilled at using the Space Expansion Spell.
Ian even learned that Hufflepuff's Golden Cup could turn water into wine. During his time in the library, he would occasionally browse through the history and records of ancient wizards, especially anything related to Hogwarts. Ever since meeting Lady Ravenclaw, Ian had been fascinated by such matters.
Of course.
Even so.
Ian still hadn't uncovered the secrets of Slytherin's Pendant Box; there wasn't even much literature mentioning it, perhaps only when Little Sirius was released would he have the chance to investigate.
It couldn't be helped; Salazar Slytherin was the only rebellious founder who left home among the four giants, and no one knew where he went after leaving Hogwarts.
Ian had once seen a legendary tale about Salazar Slytherin in a piece of unofficial history, stating that over a hundred years ago, someone claimed to have seen a person resembling Salazar Slytherin somewhere in Africa. The chronicler was an adventurer, who supposedly shared a wild meal with Salazar Slytherin during his time there.
The records were detailed, yet very fantastical. In the era after the extinction of the Golden Apple, unless Salazar Slytherin could produce a Magic Stone, how could he possibly have lived for centuries into the modern age? The adventurer's words were evidently not credible, and his book seemed no different from "Magical Me" in its tone.
The whole piece was filled with self-praise and exaggerated experiences; if Teacher Morgan's cycle of reincarnation concept were true, perhaps Gilderoy Lockhart had already logged off from a past account.
This was Ian's only thought after reading "I, the Witness of Legends." Naturally, he wasn't particularly concerned with Slytherin and cared more about the relics the four founders left in the world.
"It's a pity, the relics of the four founders were tainted by Noseless Tom with three of them, I must protect my Gryffindor's Treasure Sword so it won't be defiled by Noseless Tom as well." Ian watched through the door gap for a long time, and Dumbledore, despite being a Legilimency master, was none the wiser.
He seemed entirely absorbed in the golden cup in his hand — possibly using mental probing to sense the fragmented soul attached to it, so focused that even Dumbledore's bird appeared more observant than him.
"Clang clang~"
Phoenix Fox, originally preening its newly grown feathers on a golden branch, flew over to Ian immediately when his pointed head accidentally touched the main door.
His pointy hair was smoothed out.
The phoenix, as usual, built a nest on Ian's head — Ian had grown used to this; he even patted the phoenix on his head and cheerily reached under the phoenix's bottom. Fox, despite feeling slightly uncomfortable, still chose not to leave Ian's head.
"So warm! It's the warmth of a phoenix!" Ian excitedly took out a beautifully patterned red phoenix egg from his palm-sized money bag.