HP: Fairy Tale Wizard - 152

Chapter 152: Remember Her

Alchemy's soul is gold, and the Philosopher's Stone that can transform all things into gold is precisely why it sits atop alchemy's crown.

Beneath the crown, serving as alchemy's blood and connecting this vast system, is mercury. Quicksilver.

As a substance surpassing silver in magic-conducting ability, it naturally became alchemy's most universal material. Without gold's participation, creations can never touch the sky's limits. Without Mercury's participation, creations don't even qualify to fly.

But an alchemical creation composed only of mercury...

Sterling retreated several steps, distancing himself from Vitam, holding the mercury sphere.

Concepts extractable from mercury... "Eternity" seemed the only famous one, and it was also most fitting for her identity as "Nicolas's disciple."

But "Eternity," such a concept, seemed more suitable for defense or research than for offense.

"Autonomous mode, attack two."

Vitam spoke calmly. The mercury in her palm instantly expanded, flowing through the gaps in her fingers and pooling on the ground into a calm "water surface." It continuously approached Sterling's direction at visible speed.

Even fools wouldn't let unknown things approach. Moreover, alchemical creations with "Boil, my blood" as the activation phrase couldn't be good.

Sterling estimated Vitam had pulled out everything to deal with him.

Blood wasn't something casually mixed into creations.

"Wingardium Leviosa."

Sterling chose aerial combat. The Dragon Magic-enhanced spell gained brief levitation effects. Through continuous casting, he could achieve flight.

Speed would be slightly slow, but spell combinations would compensate for this shortcoming.

Lightening Charm, accelerating his "floating" speed by reducing his weight.

Vitam's eyes revealed satisfaction. This spell combination showed promise. Though she still couldn't understand how he could lift himself with the Levitation Charm. But never mind.

Combining Hogwarts-taught spells was good.

But not enough. This degree... as expected, his usual battles relied on overwhelming power.

Moreover, he seemed to have no defensive instincts. From the Halloween incident, she'd learned how critical battlefield positioning was.

Truly unwise.

After Sterling flew up and abandoned the ground, mercury completely covered the entire platform. Then Vitam, standing still, scattered a handful of gems.

Rubies, obsidian, sapphires, amethysts.

They refracted colorful light before being swallowed by mercury. The platform surface immediately showed complex patterns.

Was this alchemy?

Sterling discovered the entire dueling location was already under Vitam's control. He hurriedly manifested dense iron blocks mid-air and made them fall.

Iron was undoubtedly a base metal. Many alchemies strictly prohibited the use of iron. Though he'd already lost field advantage, he had confidence in destroying this alchemy!

Maybe even cause explosions?

However, the halfway-fallen iron blocks were pierced by the mercury surface's protruding spikes one by one. They were rapidly enveloped and assimilated by mercury, returning to nothing.

"Sterling, don't ignore information. What command did I say? Autonomous mode, attack two. It hasn't attacked you yet, but that doesn't mean it lacks this function."

Vitam shook her head and clenched her right fist.

Like porcupine quills, mercury shot an almost airtight arrow net. This degree, plus Sterling's mid-air without obstacles, made him a living target.

Sterling bit his teeth.

Was there a solution? Of course. With "Witness of the Author," he could win however he wanted. Turning these mercury arrows into chocolate was just a few words.

But he couldn't. And couldn't think of any ideas temporarily.

Initially, he'd thought that without "Witness of the Author," relying on "Hero's Heart" manifestation could still give him an edge. But as expected, it didn't work.

What could he manifest now to block so many mercury arrows?

"Wall"

No good. Just one contact instant, it fell apart. Alchemical creations' sharpness wasn't comparable to ordinary things. Even manifesting "silver walls" or "gold walls" would be useless.

Mercury with the purified "Eternity" concept. Even precious metals above it couldn't possibly withstand without alchemical purification.

He'd originally wanted to use life flames, but this mercury had appeared after devouring his fire serpent. Even Ron's brain knew flames couldn't handle it.

"Cough, cough. Ron, I'm dying."

Terry desperately pulled at Ron's hand, which was stuck on his neck. His already pale face became bloodless.

"Ah, sorry, Terry. I got too excited."

Ron embarrassedly released his hand, showing a sheepish smile.

"You're excited, so you choke me?!"

Terry glared viciously at him, then continued concentrating on the platform battle. Mercury arrows broke another wall.

Though walls delayed for a brief moment, time still existed. Sterling was thinking of countermeasures in this bit-by-bit squeezed time.

Terry didn't close his eyes.

No prophecy needed now. Moreover, he didn't want to miss the current duel.

Alchemy felt like a very suitable magic path for himself.

As for floating Professor Flitwick, he was wiping cold sweat.

He felt his initial decision had slight errors. This duel for students had no reference value.

Not only that, but a negative value!

Professor Flitwick had already decided that after this duel ended, he'd immediately emphasize "Levitation Charm can't affect wizards themselves" three times.

He didn't want to see a field of crashing students. Madam Pomfrey would go crazy and apply for closing Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts!

He gripped his wand, watching the mercury approach Sterling. This distance was no longer sufficient to manifest walls as before. Otherwise, broken wall fragments would immediately harm him.

Flitwick had confidence in saving Sterling.

Don't underestimate dueling champions!

When Flitwick's wand tip lit up, something unexpected happened. Sterling's hair instantly turned white. Then his whole person shattered like a reflection on water.

Mercury arrows shot straight through. The phantom shattered. Then, intact Sterling walked from the phantom, wand aiming at the ground.

"Glacius."

Instantly, frost-covered mercury also stopped the pattern drawing. Before the alchemical array formed, Sterling struck back forcefully.

"Animagus?"

Terry murmured. But this magic was essentially a burden for Sterling. He'd waver between deeply-rooted "human" and emerging "Incubus" identity recognitions. This was great mental oppression.

After returning from the Forbidden Forest, Sterling had also tested several times. Best record, just five minutes. But during these five minutes, he could achieve most things in that "Incubus Training Manual."

Including his currently-practiced dream-eating.

And accompanying it, dream-entering.

Sterling raised his head, looking at the somewhat surprised Vitam.

Bloodline power. Undoubtedly, his own power, a power that wouldn't bring terrifying prices.

As long as he followed proper steps in learning, this bloodline's stored power would eventually open doors. Now, he'd temporarily use keys to access some power.

Regardless, as expected, he still didn't want to lose. Especially not this badly.

Sterling raised his finger. A bubble appeared at his fingertip. Naturally, only he could see this bubble.

Vitam instantly felt threatened and took a step back.

"Autonomous mode, defense one."

Mercury violently fluctuated like stormy seas, breaking ice layers and gathering around Vitam, forming an airtight sphere.

This sphere undoubtedly had the same strength as mercury arrows. Meaning with Sterling's attack methods, penetration was almost impossible.

But it was just physically existing, right?

The bubble floated off Sterling's fingertip. Half the platform's distance passed instantly. Facing the high-speed-rotating sphere, it moved lightly, without ripples.

Mental level. No, dream-level attacks weren't something material-world things could block.

Give you some dream shock!

Then the rotating sphere suddenly stopped. It rigidly stood there. Sterling quickly rushed up. One Freezing Charm made it brittle, then one straight punch broke its defense.

Though called "autonomous mode," without Vitam's own magic, it was just a pool of mercury.

After mercury shattered, unconscious Vitam appeared before everyone.

She closed her eyes, both hands still vigilant. One holding a wand, one pulling an alchemical creation. But her body had already softly collapsed, falling in mercury.

Her lips showed peaceful smiles, as if seeing something beautiful.

"Um, let's cheer for Sterling Page! He achieved victory! In dueling with Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor Vitam, he achieved victory!"

Professor Flitwick didn't understand, but it didn't matter.

The contestant fell unconscious. Wasn't this a loss? Then Sterling won. Any doubts, ask him later. Now was cheering time victors should enjoy!

Have to say, this child truly brought honor to Ravenclaw!

People below immediately cheered. Ron nearly lifted Terry up, forcing Terry to press his wand against Ron's head before he obediently sat down properly and applauded.

"What do you think, Nicolas?"

"Undoubtedly. Incubi are like this. Already called this name. Not knowing dream-related things would be abnormal."

"He seemingly can only skillfully use Incubus talents when using Animagus. This differs from our estimates."

Dumbledore, hidden in darkness, pushed his glasses. The pocket watch beside him inserted its chain into red tea.

"We're not Avalon people. What do we know about Incubi? Forget special existences like Incubi."

"Except phoenixes still somewhat preserving ancient times' sparse glory when Avalon wasn't sealed, where else do you see magical races besides humans?"

"Those magical creatures. Degraded how many generations? Now they've even lost spellcasting abilities. Can only rely on bloodline miracles to be called 'magical creatures.'"

Nicolas's tone held contempt. Of course, regarding magical creatures, he and Snape might have a common language. Just experimental materials.

"That said..."

"Come on, this is actually good news. It shows his 'human' identity is dominating his 'Incubus' side. You should track down his missing guardian and ask them their secret."

"How did you raise a 'non-human' who became the next Dark Lord, while someone else raised an actual non-human into a good kid? Care to explain that one, Albus?"

Dumbledore's face darkened.

"About Mr. Andrew, I do have leads."

"Oh? I've been with you constantly. How come I don't know about this?"

"I investigated during Christmas. But I believe Sterling should discover this himself. I can only point him in the right direction."

"What's wrong? You rarely look this troubled."

"Nothing, Nicolas. We simply need to prepare. England won't be peaceful this summer."

"Did you forget I'm French?"

"Please, after all these years of friendship? Besides, you're the only one I can turn to for this."

"His guardian. Actually, Sterling himself. You already know there's something wrong with his 'book,' don't you?"

At this, Nicolas's expression became serious.

"So you need my Book of Abraham."

"Yes."

"Then I'll help. Not for you, Albus, but for the person who granted me that opportunity in Jerusalem years ago."

"Don't you want to check on your disciple? I'm worried Sterling can't control the intensity of this ability yet."

"Not necessary."

Nicolas waved dismissively. His clouded eyes suddenly gleamed with clarity.

"I don't understand why she's kept her magical abilities at an ordinary professor's level. But after this semester, she'll embark on her Avalon pilgrimage."

"She's reached wizard limits already? Then why has she been performing at..."

"Who knows? Perhaps she found inspiration from texts that came out of Avalon."

Nicolas closed his pocket watch, leaving one final thought.

"When she first came to me, she told me she had only one goal: to make Sterling Page remember her. Remember her before he reaches wizard limits."