Hogwarts: Don't call me Wandmaker

Chapter 213 Another Prophecy
On Christmas morning, Garrick finally returned, looking travel-worn and covered in morning dew and fallen leaves, clearly having just come from a forest.

"Merry Christmas," he said with a smile, handing Xiren a round, brown stone.

"This is a gift, amber formed from the resin of the rosewood tree. I think you will like it."

The amber was only the size of a nut, and it was brown, but when placed in the sunlight, it turned into a dazzling golden yellow, and it shimmered inside, like the starry night sky.

But what Siren cared about was another sentence.

"The resin of the rosewood... So you found that rosewood forest?"

“It was on Halloween,” Garrick said with a laugh. “I have to say, this journey was truly eye-opening; we never imagined a forest could be so magical.”

Siren grew increasingly curious... What exactly was this magical forest that had taken Garrick and Gregorovich, two well-traveled old wand makers, over a year to find and that they genuinely found so magical?

But at this moment, Garrick displayed one of the most criticized bad habits of an adult wizard.

“Oh, Siren, these things are more meaningful to see for yourself, aren’t they?”

Garrick winked and said nothing more.

Siren felt as if he had returned to when he was six years old, when Garrick had tricked him into believing that Hogwarts Sorting House had to communicate with four different Bowtruckles, each representing a different house.

When he was eight years old, Garrick changed his mind again and said that the branch required the complete removal of the Dragon Heartstring.

When he turns ten, he will have to learn to identify one hundred different types of wood before he can be assigned to a house.

His words became more and more sincere each time, but they were all lies... This time, he didn't even bother to make them up anymore.

Xilun was extremely curious about the legendary Flower Forest, but he felt it was unlikely that he would spend more than a year finding a way to get there.

Even if he were willing, Hogwarts wouldn't allow it... He'd have to go back as soon as the Christmas holidays were over.

“Alright, I’ll go see for myself when I have time.” Xiren held out his hand. “Take the things out.”

"Didn't I already give you a gift?" Garrick asked, puzzled.

“No, it’s rosewood,” Xilun said. “Don’t tell me you didn’t bring it back.”

“I know you might not believe me, but it really isn’t,” Garrick said, spreading his hands. Before Siron could even ask, he explained, “There are no Bowtruckles there.”

The Ollivanders' method of obtaining the staff wood has been passed down through generations: by exchanging it with the Bowtruckle.

Ollivander believed that only wood approved by the Bowtruckle could truly become the shaft of a wand.

Without the Bowtruckle, there's no way to make a trade, and given Garrick's personality, he probably really won't take anything.

Xilun had just been wondering why Garrick, who had just returned from the legendary Flower Forest, had only brought him a piece of amber.

Of course, amber was also very beautiful, but he had never given such a decorative gift before.

"If I had known, I wouldn't have come for Christmas this year," Xiren sighed.

“Don’t say that,” Garrick smiled. “It’s a good thing to have expectations, and I swear, you won’t be disappointed.”

“But I’m only in third grade now, and all my holidays combined aren’t enough to find that place,” Celen said. “Besides, you certainly won’t tell me the exact address, will you?”

Garrick just smiled gently. "There's no real address there; you'll have to find it yourself."

"Oh, by the way, I remember you mentioned in your letter that you encountered some strange things. Tell me about them, maybe I can help you figure them out?" He abruptly changed the subject.
Xilun knew he was changing the subject, but there was nothing he could do, so he put the matter aside and started talking about how fast he could inscribe runes.

“That’s a good thing.” Garrick’s first reaction was exactly the same as Ron’s, until Siron made one on the spot.

As Garrick watched Siren rapidly inscribe the runes, his smile gradually faded, and his expression grew increasingly serious.

In just fifteen minutes, a wand was formed, a speed almost as fast as his usual efficiency.

“Could it be related to your ancient runes class? It might have given you a better understanding of runes,” Garrick said. “I remember you chose that class.”

“I don’t think so,” Xiren shook his head. “Third-year students using ancient runes are still learning how to use magic runes, so it won’t be of much help to me.” Runes is the official name for magic runes.

Xilun had taken a few of Professor Babling's classes. The content, well... it might be difficult for other students, but he had already mastered those basic texts by the age of ten.

If there hadn't been so few people in the class, he wouldn't have wanted to go anymore.

Garrick crossed his arms and paced back and forth in the cramped wand shop.

Suddenly, he stopped and asked, "Did you suddenly discover that you could inscribe magical runes so skillfully?"

“It wasn’t exactly sudden,” Xiren said after thinking for a moment. “I can feel myself becoming more and more familiar with runes.”

“What about other aspects?” Garrick continued, “like magic.”

“The magic power is definitely unchanged,” Xilun said.

Garrick said nothing, but simply instructed Siren to use a knockback spell on him with all her might.

“You have to go all out, there can be no hesitation.” Garrick also took out his wand and reminded him, “Just think of it as testing your wand.”

Hearing Garrick say that, Xiren no longer hesitated and took out Silver Mane, aiming it at him.

"Repel them immediately!"

Garrick swung his wand forcefully, deflecting the spell elsewhere, but he still took a small step back.

"Are you alright?" Xilun rushed over.

“Don’t worry, I’m fine.” Garrick waved his hand and looked at Siren as he spoke.

"I think I understand."

"what?"

“This comes from a very old legend,” Garrick said. “So old that I always thought it was just a legend.”

He led Xilen into the room where the books were stored, all the way to the back, and took out a book whose original color was completely unrecognizable.

Based on Xilun's understanding of this place, this book is at least a thousand years old.

“I should have known, ever since you showed such extraordinary talent,” Garrick said, opening the book and turning to a page.

"Legend has it that the great wizard Merlin made a special prophecy to thank Ollivander for making him a satisfactory wand."

"Merlin can also make prophecies?" Siren blurted out, then realized he had asked a very stupid question.

"Okay, what is the prophecy?"

“I don’t know the specifics, and nobody knows them,” Garrick said. “But one passage has been passed down.”

"...The wands he makes will become his inexhaustible source of fuel, and the power he recognizes will make his magic even stronger."

"What does this mean?" Xiren asked, frowning.

“What I mean is…” Garrick looked at Siron intently, “if the wand you make is genuinely appreciated and used by others, then that appreciation will help you become even stronger.”

“Acknowledgement… to make me stronger?” Xilun was stunned for a moment. “How is that possible? I mean, I don’t feel any change in my magic power, it’s just that the speed at which I inscribe runes has increased.”

“Inscribing magical runes requires magical power.”

"But……"

“Perhaps,” Garrick closed the book, “you can think about how Harry Potter defeated the Man of Darkness, and you’ll understand.”

(End of this chapter)