Extimum and Harry appeared in a large hall after being teleported by the Portkey.
The place was spacious, with black walls adorned with fine carvings, imposing statues, and decorations of mythological creatures crafted in great detail.
Similar to the French embassy, there was also a section to formalize entry, along with attendants ready to guide new visitors.
The attendants' and reception staff's attire consisted of a white hanfu with red details for women, and black with red for men. In addition, they carried magical tools of various kinds: rings, pendants, hair accessories… All radiated a subtle, almost imperceptible magical wave that revealed their supernatural origin.
Harry: "Wow, such realistic figures." He commented, impressed by the lifelike statues and the grandeur of the place. The Chinese certainly didn't hold back when it came to flaunting their embassy.
Extimum: "Come on, this is just a reception." He replied, equally enthusiastic, though less expressive, as he already had an idea of what to expect.
Since Extimum went straight to line up at one of the counters, no attendant approached them to offer guidance. There were many more counters than in France, so despite the constant flow of foreign and local wizards, service was quick and efficient.
??? (Chinese): "Welcome to our nation, please fill out your information on the form to register your entry."
Harry: "Did you understand what he said?" He asked, completely lost. He had been so excited about the idea of traveling that he hadn't stopped to think that, in China, it was natural for them to speak Chinese.
Extimum nodded and filled out his own form as well as Harry's. He had already made some less-than-legal arrangements with Snaglok to obtain travel permission; since Harry couldn't change his appearance or age, he needed authority to enter another country without his guardians' consent. Otherwise, even if he managed to get the Dursleys' permission, Dumbledore would find out immediately.
Extimum (Chinese): "Thank you."
Once the registration was complete, they headed to a Floo network that would take them to the magical city. It was around six in the evening in China, although they had left London at about eleven in the morning. The seven-hour time difference made Extimum consider finding a hotel before touring the city.
According to the information leaflet, China had only three magical cities, located near the Muggle cities of Jixi and Nanchang, and in the Tibet region—the latter close to the Shēng shàng tiānkōng School of Magic, situated on a floating island.
(The official saga doesn't mention a magic school in China; in Asia, there's only one in Japan. I made it up, because given how vast China's territory is, it would be impossible for it not to have one. XD)
The city Extimum and Harry were headed to was in Nanchang and was called Xuézhě de xiūxí ("Scholar's Rest"), the one closest to the Chinese Ministry of Magic.
Upon reaching a fireplace, Extimum turned to Harry.
Extimum: "Alright, listen to me. Take a bit of that powder, say the name of the place, and throw it at your feet. We're going to the city called 'Scholar's Rest'. Luckily, the Floo network adapts the names into English, so you won't have to worry about the pronunciation. Go on, you first."
The Floo network was common in magical societies: it only worked within a country and between registered fireplaces. It was a fast and easy mode of transportation, though somewhat limited. Even so, it was ideal for cases like this.
Harry: "Got it. Scholar's Rest!" He shouted as he tossed the powder onto the fireplace floor. He vanished among green flames.
Extimum: "Scholar's Rest." Extimum repeated, following Harry after paying the attendant. Traveling by Floo was quite cheap: only 10 Knuts per person. It was a very profitable business.
He appeared in a huge fireplace inside an alley lit by red paper lanterns. Upon stepping out, he saw Harry eagerly watching the bustling crowd.
[Image]
Extimum: "Harry."
Harry: "You're here. For a moment, I thought I'd gotten lost."
Extimum: "I just stopped to pay for the trip. Come on, let's find a hotel first."
Extimum took in the sight of the magical city: ancient buildings, pagodas lit with floating lanterns, people flying on carpets, or even on swords.
Brooms were the most popular flying tool in the wizarding world, mainly due to the influence of Quidditch, but there were many other options, preferred depending on the region.
The streets were spacious, though the high flow of people made them seem narrower. The locals dressed in styles quite different from those seen at the Ministry. It was common to see people armed with magical weapons, as well as varied clothing: kāṣāya, qipao, hanfus, and kimonos; a minority wore typical wizarding robes or Western-style suits.
Although the clothing resembled ancient Muggle attire, it bore details that revealed its magical nature: rare materials, enchantments, floating or living accessories. There were hats that breathed, outfits with dragons that moved, floating Buddhist prayer beads, illusory flowers, or tiny ghosts hovering around their wearer.
And not all of them were human. Chinese magical cities seemed freer and more fantastical than their European counterparts, with a greater variety of special effects and races.
Or at least so it seemed.
Harry: "Does that woman have horns?" He asked, pointing to a tall, beautiful woman with ruby-red hair dressed in a pink kimono. If not for the two horns on her head, the slightly pointed fangs, and the faint reddish hue of her skin, she could have passed for human.
Extimum: "Hey, don't point at her." He quickly warned, lowering Harry's pointing hand.
With a glance, he recognized that the woman was probably a human–Oni hybrid.
Fortunately, the woman didn't notice. Racial discrimination was not unheard of, but it varied by country. Some nations imposed strict restrictions, while others accepted and coexisted peacefully with different races.
Many creatures lived isolated in their own territories, but some managed to integrate into more tolerant countries. As long as they had a certain intelligence and a mostly human appearance, they could live among wizards without too many problems. Hybrid creatures usually had greater acceptance than their purely bestial relatives.
Like goblins—a race that had had several historical conflicts with wizards, yet still controlled and managed almost all magical banks.
The Oni before them was another example: her human lineage dominated her appearance, allowing her to live more comfortably in wizard-inhabited environments.
Such a situation concerned Extimum regarding his own lineage, though his abilities made it unlikely anyone would discover his nature. Only very sensitive creatures could perceive something unusual in his magic, and even then, he could hide it under his human side.
It wasn't as if there was anything wrong with it—it was mostly about prejudice.
…
Extimum and Harry wandered through the city until late at night, trying all kinds of food and exploring numerous shops. Extimum had thought that, like in Paris or London, the magical area would cover only a few streets, but he was surprised to discover that this city was much larger; they had barely explored half of it.
Besides its vastness, communication was another factor that slowed them down a bit.
Harry couldn't understand most people, so Extimum had to act as translator. He couldn't complain—after all, he had been the one to invite him. On the other hand, he had obtained the address of a magical weapons shop he planned to visit later.
.
The next morning, Extimum woke up around eight. After getting ready, he left his room to look for Harry.
** Knock Knock **
Extimum: "Are you awake yet?"
Harry: "Extimum? Yeah, just a moment." He had woken up early out of habit from preparing breakfast for his uncles.
Minutes later, they went down to the hotel restaurant. The hotel had a pleasant style by magical standards: each room had its own bathroom and a small patio, with space for a stone table and chairs.
They sat in silence until Harry, visibly uncomfortable, spoke.
Harry: "Do you take trips like this on your own? Don't your parents or anyone else come with you?"
Extimum: "Well, this is only the second one I've taken. My parents are busy people, so I don't see them very often." 'Or almost never.'
Harry realized he had touched on a sensitive topic. He was about to say something else, but the arrival of the waitress spared him the awkwardness.
???: "Good morning, dear guests. What would you like to order?" asked a woman with Asian features and yellow eyes, speaking fluent English. Her feline ears, a cat's tail, and fur visible in some parts of her body revealed she was probably a kneazle–wizard hybrid.
It was a real mystery how such a hybrid had been born.
Harry: "It's good you speak English. It's exhausting to see so many characters everywhere and so few normal signs… I'll have a regular breakfast."
The waitress let out a slight laugh that sounded more like a purr.
???: "Then why did you come to China if you can't understand the local language?"
Harry: "The thrill of the moment, I suppose?"
???: "Not a bad reason."
Her floating notepad wrote down Harry's order, then she turned to Extimum. As she looked at him, her pupils suddenly narrowed, as if her senses had sharpened. However, after observing him closely, she found nothing out of the ordinary.
???: "And you, sir?"
Extimum: "I'll have the same." He replied, aware of her reaction but giving it no importance.
The waitress left shortly after taking both orders.
Harry: "Don't you think there are a lot of magical creatures and hybrids here? Just yesterday I saw more than I've ever seen in all of Hogwarts or in the Defence Against the Dark Arts books."
Extimum: "That's true. Regulations are much more relaxed in China; it almost feels like we've traveled to another world."
The freedom of movement even for species less pleasing to the eye was probably also due to the presence of heavily armed Aurors, who patrolled the city with enchanted swords and spears. A sight far more intimidating than simply knowing they also carried wands.
Speaking of magical weapons, they were common in many communities, valued for their immediate effectiveness and cultural background. They weren't as versatile as wands for casting spells, but they could be used similarly with enough skill. Like wands, they were the result of ancient techniques combining runes, enchantments, alchemy, and magical materials.
Their use was more symbolic than anything else.
Like the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures, which used enchanted weapons for the execution and hunting of magical creatures—though it might also be due to a certain perverse morbidity still lingering in wizarding blood, where they enjoyed seeing blood flow along the blade's metal.
…
After breakfast, Extimum and Harry headed to the magical weapons shop whose address he had obtained the previous night.
The shop building had a peculiar shape, similar to a boot, built entirely of black stone with white metal details. Despite its oddity, the design was pleasing to the eye. At that moment, there were only three other people browsing the products.
Extimum entered accompanied by Harry, who was busy looking around.
The interior wasn't very large. To the right, shelves held swords, daggers, spears, halberds, sabres, axes, hammers, crossbows, and even clubs, all organized by type and size.
At the front, a large counter displayed raw and refined magical metals, along with hilts and accessories. Behind the counter stood two men: a robust, Chinese-featured man, and a goblin sharpening the blade of a spear.
??? (Chinese): "Welcome, my name is Wang Shixou, how can I help you, young man?" greeted the wizard, a tall, muscular man with black hair and eyes, dressed in a grey cheongsam and a white apron.
The goblin briefly looked up, then returned to his task of sharpening the spear's blade.
Since arriving in China, Extimum had maintained the appearance of a young adult. This avoided drawing too much attention and made several processes easier. Though, from what he had seen, his real appearance here wouldn't have been too unusual. He had already seen people much more peculiar.
Extimum (Chinese): "Good morning. I'm looking for a sword. It's my first time buying one, so I'd appreciate some guidance."
Wang (Chinese): "It's good to see young people interested in weapons. Nowadays, apart from Aurors, the new generations no longer appreciate cold weapons.
To give you an introduction, here we sell different types of weapons:
The first option is simple magically enhanced weapons. Useful for practice, but with no special properties.
Then we have enchanted weapons. Adapted to the user's taste and with various applications. Ideal if you just want a good weapon.
Lastly, we have the mythical swords of our country. You won't find them anywhere else. Besides being enchanted, they can fly and be used as transportation—very popular among influential families for their versatility.
Though, I don't recommend playing Quidditch with one; some have tried, but it didn't end well."
"Well, dear customer, which one do you want?"
Extimum (Chinese): "The third type will do. I want a longsword."
They discussed the details. Flying swords had models and upgrades just like magical brooms and were bonded to the wizard through a blood ritual, allowing them to be controlled mentally. They could be custom ordered or bought directly from those available.
After the negotiation, the goblin—whose name was Roging—went to the back workshop and returned with a sword sheathed in black, decorated with a golden dragon.
Roging (Chinese): "This one is suitable for you. You just need to let a few drops of blood fall on the hilt; the ritual is already prepared." he explained slowly.
Extimum took the weapon, unsheathed it, and examined its platinum blade, which had no special features yet. From the explanation, he knew the sword would take on a form according to his preferences once the bond was complete.
Harry, who had been watching, couldn't help but be amazed at how Extimum had gone from hesitant Chinese to speaking it fluently after interacting with locals in such a short time.
Extimum pricked his thumb, pressed his blood against the hilt, and for two seconds, both he and the sword glowed faintly. He immediately felt the connection: he could summon it from any distance and command it to move at will, though it required concentration.
At that moment, the sword and scabbard transformed. The blade took on a crystalline tone with purple details; the scabbard replaced the dragon with a nine-tailed fox in bright silver with purple ornaments.
[Image of the sword's shape]
The metallic blade shone as if made of iridescent crystal.
Harry: "It looks amazing. Like it's made of crystal."
Roging (Chinese): "Tch, pretentious." Roging muttered, not seeming happy with such a dazzling design for a sword, even if he secretly admired the fine detail it had acquired.
Extimum (Chinese): "Thank you. Here you go."
Ignoring the comment, he paid 46 Galleons.
Being a bit childish, Extimum thought the sword looked really cool with its crystal design, even if he hadn't explicitly imagined it that way.
…
Upon leaving, they headed to a take-off area for flying magical tools. Although some wizards flew through the sky, it wasn't permitted to take off or land just anywhere for safety reasons.
Although he remained outwardly calm, Extimum was just as excited as Harry to fly on a sword, which is why they both ran toward the place as soon as they left the shop. No words were even needed—just stepping outside, they both already knew what they wanted to do.
Upon reaching the spot, Extimum unsheathed the sword and tossed it into the air; it floated horizontally and expanded in size. It had basic safety enchantments (anti-jinx, anti-theft, and anti-Muggle) and could adjust its size to carry up to four people.
He jumped onto the sword, which supported him perfectly. Harry climbed on behind him, a bit more cautiously. A slight magical pull on their feet kept them from falling.
With a simple thought, Extimum tilted the sword, and it shot upward at high speed. He didn't activate the enchantment that canceled air resistance; he wanted to feel the wind on his face.
** Swish **
** Yippee! **
Extimum shouted in excitement as they soared into the sky. His clothes flapped in the wind, and the city below blurred beneath the clouds.
Harry: "This is amazing! It's much faster than my broom." He made no effort to hide his excitement, as he was also an avid flyer.
Extimum nodded at his words, taking in the view from above.
Flying on a sword was truly different—especially since it was more comfortable for carrying people. With its size-adjustment spells, it could carry up to three more passengers, seated or standing, and could reach a top speed of 300 km/h.
…
They flew for an hour, trying impossible stunts without any risk of falling, until they landed in a less crowded area.
Harry: "I almost want to buy one myself, but I'm more into Quidditch, so I'll settle for just using my broom."
Extimum: "You could still consider getting a magical weapon. It never hurts to have a tool for self-defense, and in London they're not easy to come by—you'd have to deal with the goblins there."
Harry: "I'll think about it."
Extimum looked at his sword, and it returned to its scabbard at his hip on its own.
Having had enough excitement, and with lunchtime approaching, Extimum planned to visit a nearby restaurant. He had enjoyed some Chinese dishes—especially the spicy ones that literally made you spit fire; it was hard to get bored with dishes that had such entertaining effects, as long as you had a strong stomach.
After looking around, they noticed the area where they had landed was much less crowded than the rest of the city. The streets were quieter, and the people seemed withdrawn. Extimum supposed it might be a residential neighborhood or a place with little tourist appeal.
After walking for a while, Extimum saw a shop that caught his attention, mainly because the sign was in English—something rare among the places they had seen.
"Exotic Creatures."
The name wasn't flashy, but the building was: golden, shaped like a birdcage, with walls imitating bars, and the ground floor featuring a large window that didn't allow a view inside.
Of course, that alone wasn't what drew him in. No matter how peculiar, he had seen novel building designs before—even in London there were some. However, he felt an impulse, a premonition that there was something inside he couldn't pass up.
Harry: "Do you want to go into that place?" he asked, noticing his fixed gaze.
Extimum: "Yes… I think I might find something I want."
Harry: "And what's that?"
Extimum: "I don't know." Shrugging, he headed toward the shop.
Harry followed him, more out of curiosity than anything else. The language barrier limited his options, and he was seriously starting to consider studying other languages when he got home.
Extimum pushed the door open and stepped inside. The interior was larger than expected, but the atmosphere was far from what a magical creature shop should have. On closer inspection, it fit more the stereotype of a slave market…
The place was somewhat dark, with cages of all sizes; some creatures were chained. They weren't limited to magical beasts—there were also intelligent beings with vacant stares, perhaps drugged or weakened by long captivity.
???: "Oh, welcome, esteemed customer. Sorry for the delay in attending to you. I don't usually have many visitors at this hour, and even fewer Englishmen," greeted an elderly Chinese man emerging from behind the counter. He wore a black hanfu, his teeth were rotten, and he rubbed his hands with a nervous gesture.
Harry, surprised and uncomfortable, looked around at the cages. His reaction didn't go unnoticed by the man, who seemed to size him up with interest. Customers usually didn't bring children here.
Extimum: "Harold, why don't you go outside and wait for me?" He used the code name to make his intentions clear.
Harry understood the signal and stepped out.
Extimum: "Ah, forgive my nephew. He's still too young to understand certain things." He commented casually, without showing discomfort. He didn't want to give the man any reason to focus more on Harry—especially if he recognized his identity.
Besides, knowing Harry, he wasn't sure he could avoid doing something foolish.
???: "Yes, youth… Your nephew is quite special. Allow me to introduce myself—I am at your service, Li Xie. As you may have noticed, I trade in almost any creature you can imagine. Even if I don't have it, I can get it for you at a price…
Naturally, you'll have to sign certain confidentiality agreements before we do business; just to make sure, you understand, that the handling of many of these creatures requires 'special care' to keep them." The man felt Harry's appearance was familiar, though he couldn't recall why. He let it go for now, focusing his attention on Extimum.
Extimum then understood why this part of the city was so quiet: it was probably a tolerated area for illegal business, far from official surveillance.
Extimum: "Of course. Though my visit today is rather unplanned. Something in particular has drawn me here. If possible, I'd like to take a look at all your… 'products'."
Li Xie: "Of course. Feel free to explore my place. I will personally assist you if you find something of interest." He replied, evaluating Extimum's clothes and bearing as those of a wealthy customer willing to spend a lot if satisfied.
Extimum walked past the cages. He saw house-elves, dragon eggs, harpies, zombies, banshees, giant spiders and snakes—even a mermaid in a tank. Among the intelligent beings, he spotted vampires and werewolves, most sedated or apathetic.
Li Xie: "Don't worry about their appearance. They're like this only for the customers' convenience. It would be bothersome if they made too much noise. On the other hand, if you don't find what you're looking for here, we can go to the back room, where I keep the more dangerous ones…"
It was then that Extimum stopped in front of a particular cage. He felt—almost imperceptibly—that this was what he had come to find.