The Bard of Hogwarts

Chapter 402 An Unexpected Elixir of Immortality

Night fell, and the stars twinkled.

In the stillness, only the whisper of the breeze rustling the treetops remained.

This is the tranquility of the night.

……

In the tavern.

Hermione stared intently at each of the crucibles laid out on the table.

Her furrowed brows from time to time seemed to prove that she was not at peace inside.

Meanwhile, Ino leaned back silently in her chair.

The two appeared calm and collected, but if their thoughts were written down, they would likely cause a huge stir in the fields of alchemy and potions.

Looking at the dazzling magic stone before her, Ino felt genuinely fortunate.

After guessing that the Philosopher's Stone might be unique, he recalled Voldemort's words: "The world is incomplete."

In fact, this viewpoint is similar to that of Nicole.

However, compared to Nico's accurate description of the Philosopher's Stone's incompleteness, Voldemort's description appears to be a generalization based on limited information.

But by combining their perspectives, and considering what they had seen and heard, Ino also arrived at his own conclusion—

The Philosopher's Stone is not inherently flawed; it is only its environment that forces it to become incomplete.

And that is why he felt fortunate.

A tangible and unique ancient rune.

In Greek mythology, this would undoubtedly represent the authority of the gods.

……

Thinking of this, Ino pointed her finger at the table, and a glass of water appeared out of thin air.

Whether it's true or not, a simple experiment will tell.

Nestled in the valley, the world outside and here tell two different stories. Similarly, this represents two different worlds, meaning that no matter how imperfect the outside world may be, it can never affect the valley.

It's like how Grimm's story and Andersen's story were printed in the same book at the same time.

Although the two stories are in the same book, they are clearly distinct.

Looking at the water glass in front of her, Ino gently picked up the magic stone on the table.

A soft, thud.

In an instant, the entire glass of water visibly changed color.

The glass contained a vibrant and dazzling red.

This red transcends the darkness and heaviness of blood, displaying a striking beauty. Like the most magnificent clouds at dawn, it is crystal clear and pure.

The candlelight from the tavern pierced through the glass, weaving delicate halos with the water inside, as if each drop contained vibrant life and boundless energy, pulsating with the joyful song of life.

At this moment, even with just the naked eye, Ino could sense that the water in the cup was not just a color, but also a symbol.

"What is this?"

Standing inside the bar, Hermione asked curiously.

Her recent research into potions has made it easy for her to appreciate the difference in that cup of water, which is somewhat like a vitality tonic, but is essentially different.

"If I'm not mistaken, this is the elixir of immortality!" Ino stared at the bright, clear liquid in the glass.

In fact, when the water's color changed, he knew his guess had been confirmed. The Philosopher's Stone, or rather the ancient runes, was flawless; it was simply that its original power was rendered ineffective in its original world.

"The elixir of immortality!!!"

Hermione's voice suddenly rose several decibels, and then, ignoring the potion, she quickly opened the bar guard.

For an ordinary potion master, the focus might be solely on Felix Felicis. But a master potion master capable of brewing Felix Felicis sets his sights on the renowned elixir of immortality.

Just as all alchemists yearn to create a second Philosopher's Stone, all potion makers also yearn to forge a path to immortality using traditional methods, without relying on the Philosopher's Stone.

There's no way around it; humanity's obsession with immortality seems to be ingrained in its very bones, and this applies to both wizards and Muggles alike.

"How did you do that? It's unbelievable!"

Hermione gazed intently at the bright red liquid in the glass.

She didn't doubt what Ino said, because what she saw in front of her couldn't lie. She could even sense the immense vitality in the water glass without using the Scapin Reveal Charm.

As Hermione was marveling at the moment, another voice that shocked her reached her ears.

"How did you do that? I just put the magic stone in the cup."

Ino spoke calmly, not intending to hide the Philosopher's Stone, after all, he and Hermione shared too many secrets.

"The Philosopher's Stone? Nicolas Flamel? The one that was destroyed?"

Hermione felt like she wasn't fully awake, or maybe she had a hearing problem.

The things she had painstakingly protected six years ago, things that were supposedly destroyed, have somehow reappeared before her eyes.

Hearing the sigh in the voice, Ino chuckled softly:

"If nothing unexpected happens, we're talking about the same thing."

"How is this possible!" Hermione looked at the water glass in astonishment.

She was no longer the naive girl she once was. As a potion master who could improve and brew Felix Felicis, she knew very well how to make the elixir of immortality.

In this respect, we should also thank Nicolas Flamel for his generosity. Perhaps out of fear of trouble and spying, or for other reasons, Flamel not only made the creation of the Philosopher's Stone public, but also the creation of the Elixir of Immortality.

But it was precisely because of this action that the alchemists and potion makers stopped targeting Nico in the years that followed.

Therefore, Hermione was particularly surprised when she heard that the cup contained the elixir of immortality.

Although the magic stone is the main ingredient, I've never heard of anyone getting an elixir of immortality by soaking it in water...

Even if it's a mint candy, it still needs time to dissolve, plus constant stirring.

……

"Nothing is impossible." Ino's gaze also turned to the water glass.

Actually, he had more on his mind, the first thing being Dumbledore.

This time, he probably really owes a huge debt of gratitude.

Perhaps in Dumbledore's eyes, it was merely a Philosopher's Stone whose magic had been exhausted and could no longer be used.

But in the valley, this magic stone, which had been deemed broken and useless, began to perform miracles again.

Judging by actions, not intentions, I truly owe this debt of gratitude.

……

The night was hazy.

After the magic stone was dropped into the cup, the tavern was no longer as quiet as before.

"...So, the problem isn't with the Philosopher's Stone, but with the world?"

Hermione's expression was complicated after hearing Ino's explanation.

According to this theory, potion makers would never be able to create an eternal potion, because the Philosopher's Stone is always unique and nothing can replace it.

"The world is not wrong! Besides, not every story has magic."

Upon hearing Hermione's words, Ino decisively shook her head and said softly:

"The same goes for the magic stone! If we have to give an example, we can only say that one is a screw gear and the other is a planetary gear. The sizes are not compatible, and forcing them to activate will ultimately damage each other."

However, after he finished speaking, he did not hear Hermione's voice again.

……

half an hour.

Ino looked up in surprise. It was a serious conversation, but Hermione's cheeks were flushed, and no one knew what she was thinking.

But he was also well aware of what Hermione's condition meant, given their familiarity with each other.

An atmosphere of ambiguity seems to have quietly begun to spread.

Just as Ino was about to put his plan into action, the crucible beside him suddenly made a crisp cracking sound.

"My potion!"

Hermione snapped out of her daze and quickly switched into a new state, as if she had donned the Ravenclaw crown, becoming both holy and rational.

Ino didn't pay attention to Hermione's change of heart, and his gaze immediately fell on the Philosopher's Stone in the cup.

He remembered that there was a well in the valley.

Xiao Di's sharing today: Elixir of Life

The elixir of immortality is a magical potion made using magic stones to extend the lifespan of its user. However, its effects are not permanent; the user must drink it regularly and continuously to remain immortal. There is no evidence that those who take this potion will not die from accidents or illnesses.

Known ingredients: Philosopher's Stone.

(End of this chapter)