With hope for a fortune treasure in sight, Theodore left the common room without delay and headed straight for the Headmaster's Office.
His heart surged with excitement.
He had thought his first true artifact might be a further-upgraded Iron-Beaked Divine Eagle,
Or perhaps a partially formed Judge's Brush.
But if Nicolas Flamel worked out—
His first artifact might very well be a fortune treasure.
At the office entrance, the stone guardian looked at him.
"Password."
At the same time, system text appeared.
You approach the palace of the Southern Pole Immortal Elder in the Jade Void Palace.
A divine white deer guards the gate.
This deer is the mount of the Southern Pole Immortal Elder—benevolent in nature, near-immortal in cultivation, and a rare auspicious beast of the Primordial world.
Forming relations with it brings immense benefit.
Casual acquaintance reward — Talent: Treading Water and Fire.
Move freely through water and flame as if on flat ground. Greatly increases movement speed and negates most terrain restrictions.
Close friendship reward — Talent: Pure Spirit Protection.
Grants strong resistance against evil and corrupting energies.
Life-and-death bond reward — Talent: Immortal Favor.
Slightly increases fortune.
Theodore raised an eyebrow.
So the stone guardian… counted as an immortal deer?
Thinking about how often it appeared in the original story, it wasn't unreasonable.
And the rewards were excellent.
He smiled warmly at the stone guardian.
"Not in a hurry to go in."
"It's late—you've been guarding the door all night."
"Mind chatting for a bit?"
He crouched down, rummaged in his pocket, and handed over a piece of rock cake.
"Here. Midnight snack."
The stone guardian blinked, then instinctively bit into it.
Crunch.
"…Hey. That's pretty crisp."
Theodore laughed.
"Right? Shame so few can appreciate it."
He pulled out some energizing potion ingredients Snape had given him, rolled them in parchment, and flicked a small flame.
"Want a smoke?"
The guardian stared.
"Smoke?"
"I've never tried it."
"Let me see."
It took a long drag.
At first, it coughed violently.
Then—
Its eyes lit up.
"Ohhh!"
"No wonder the headmasters are always puffing away in there."
Once the ice broke, the guardian wouldn't stop talking.
"They never give me any!"
"I stand here all day, no pay, no snacks!"
"Dumbledore's the worst—eats sweets inside and uses them as passwords!"
The office door creaked open.
Dumbledore stepped out—only to freeze.
The stone guardian lounged happily, cigarette in mouth, tea in hand.
"This," it sighed, "is living."
"Dumbledore! From now on, if you want me guarding the door—cigarettes and tea are mandatory!"
Dumbledore's forehead veins twitched.
He remembered—
Theodore Ashbourne was a Gryffindor.
And the more talented a Gryffindor was…
The more catastrophic the trouble they caused.
He thought he was prepared.
After all, he'd seen plenty in his life.
But at this moment—
He realized, solemnly—
He was still too young.
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