Chapter 403: Magic Hand Mirror

Ten minutes remained until the alchemy class began; this was also the time when upper-year wizards had their final lesson.

“Lady Ravenclaw…”

Professor McGonagall had already known, but hearing Wizard Sean say it aloud still felt strange.

“Yes, Professor.”

Wizard Sean replied.

“Would you be willing to share…”

Professor McGonagall’s stern tone softened considerably.

“Of course, Professor—could you wait a moment?”

Wizard Sean thought for a moment and said.

“Yes, child.”

Professor McGonagall seemed to be imitating something.

So, just minutes later, when Wizard Sean returned to the armor, a peculiar basin now rested in his hands.

It was a shallow stone basin, its rim carved with runes and symbols, filled with a silvery substance that hovered between liquid and gas, like clouds.

Minerva McGonagall recognized it as a Pensieve.

“Headmaster Dumbledore taught me how to use memory silver threads—they’re peculiar.”

Wizard Sean held the basin and said.

They naturally moved to the Transfiguration office, leaning close together over the silvery substance rippling in the stone basin until their faces touched it.

They tumbled through darkness, falling into a tranquil lakeside.

There, a gentle stream flowed beside the Black Lake, stretching farther away.

By the stream stood a beautiful woman, her face serious, even slightly imposing.

She wore a robe woven with green and blue, and in her hands was an ancient-looking book.

“Ravenclaw…”

Minerva McGonagall was momentarily dazed.

Then, the woman and the cat began to speak; when she heard, “You may ask me many questions, but choose only the most important one,” Professor McGonagall grew curious.

In matters of surprise, young wizards never failed to surprise.

Minerva McGonagall froze.

The two figures in the memory paid no attention to Minerva McGonagall’s expression, continuing their conversation.

“Don’t you seek anything for yourself?”

Ravenclaw said.

“At Hogwarts, I have already received more than enough.”

Minerva saw the black cat’s ears twitch.

…

The mist slowly dispersed; Wizard Sean felt Professor McGonagall’s hand grasp his arm. After a moment, they stood in nearly the same spot—outside, snow had settled on the windowsill.

As Wizard Sean stepped out of the Transfiguration office, he noticed its fireplace was still the most fierce of all the offices.

Young wizards walked constantly through the corridors; members of the Castle Cat Club were leaving no stone unturned in their search of the entire castle.

At this rate, they would uncover more secret passages than the Castle Explorers Club—the Blind Alley Club.

For instance, they had already found the passage behind the hunchbacked witch.

Ignoring the club members, Wizard Sean entered the familiar alchemy classroom and took his seat on the tall, exclusive chair.

Unseen by him, Helena lingered on a tree branch just outside the window.

When she saw Wizard Sean carefully studying each material and slowly carving precise magical runes onto them, she nodded slightly;

when she saw upper-year wizards attempting shortcuts, randomly experimenting with materials, and hastily coupling alchemical components, her gray eyes revealed a barely perceptible look of disdain.

She departed. She drifted past the trophy display in the corridor, as if witnessing generations of Ravenclaw students striving for wisdom, points, and honor.

Back then, she always paid special attention to clever but anxious students, or gifted but solitary ones, watching silently as they learned magic and left the castle.

She drifted through the castle she had dwelled in for a thousand years—the prison she had confined herself to for a thousand years.

Suddenly, she looked again at the young wizard.

At that moment, Wizard Sean had finished class and was speaking with Professor Tera.

“I modified part of the two-way mirrors, Professor.”

Wizard Sean said.

“Excellent. I remember you’ve always tried replacing materials—what cheap alternatives did you find?”

Professor Tera took the two-way mirror and said with interest.

“The materials I used are still expensive.”

Wizard Sean’s eyes dimmed slightly.

This was indeed difficult.

“Oh?”

Professor Tera grew unexpectedly excited.

This was rare indeed.

“I only made partial modifications—adjusted some materials and altered the magical circuitry.

I managed to link one two-way mirror to seven others—but that’s already the limit…”

Wizard Sean pulled out his notebook, filled with principles and conjectures.

With this notebook, alchemy masters could surely replicate a similar alchemical artifact—this was precisely the “original manuscript” alchemists prized most.

“Only…?”

Professor Tera took the notebook, momentarily speechless.

“How much did the cost increase?”

She asked again.

“Increase?”

Wizard Sean didn’t understand.

“It decreased by thirty percent.”

“You’re destined to change the magical world!”

Professor Tera whispered in astonishment.

She flipped rapidly through the entire notebook, searching for the most precious materials listed.

The good news: she found none of the nearly extinct materials;

the bad news: she failed to immediately understand the final ritual at a glance.

“Where are those materials?”

She asked, her voice tinged with urgency.

“Optimized away.”

Wizard Sean knew what the professor meant—it was an unspoken understanding among alchemists.

“Optimized…”

Professor Tera blinked, then her smile could no longer be contained.

The value and rarity of two-way mirrors lay precisely in those nearly extinct materials.

Few dared boldly alter the crafting method, for it could ruin the entire magical ritual.

But for Wizard Sean, he knew none of these intricacies.

In alchemy, he always followed his instinct.

“What will you name it?”

Professor Tera asked, returning the two-way mirror to Wizard Sean.

“I made it smaller. As for the name—call it the Magic Hand Mirror.”

Wizard Sean pulled out the newly optimized version.

It was no larger than a palm; its surface slowly reflected the scene on the other side, appearing unremarkable.

But Wizard Sean heard the system prompt:

You practiced making a Magic Hand Mirror at a beginner level. Proficiency +3

【Advanced·Magic Hand Mirror: Unlocked (3/30)】

Wizard Sean’s breath caught.

It was an Advanced alchemical artifact!

Thus, all his alchemical creations for advancing to Master level had been uncovered.

From now on, the only thing he faced was time.

“How many did you make in total?”

Professor Tera suddenly asked.

“Two sets, seven mirrors each.”

Wizard Sean recalled.

“I understand.”

Professor Tera nodded in satisfaction.

That way, the possibility of widespread dissemination was eliminated, and she could have more time to... maximize the value of her alchemical creations.

"By the way, Professor, here's this for you."

Wizard Sean handed over a mirror.

Professor Terra took it and was even more satisfied.

There's an extra chapter today, and three tomorrow.