Anne was stunned when she looked at the small silver ball.
No... they actually found something?!
No! It shouldn't have anything to do with that kind of magical power!
Robert picked up the ball, examined it closely, and then handed it to Tom.
"If I'm not mistaken, this should be goblin metal! I read about this strange metal in a book on alchemy," Robert said slowly. "Goblins use this metal to craft weapons resistant to wizards..."
"Goblin metal… does that mean magic can't affect it?" Tom asked.
"You can try," Robert replied with a smile.
As Tom pulled out his wand, Anne moved forward impatiently.
"Whoosh!"
Anne cast a Levitation Charm on the ball.
However, the small ball remained still, making her spellcasting look rather foolish.
"No wonder I couldn't use magic on that stone slab earlier. It's because of the goblin metal," Robert said, realization dawning on him. "I've heard that goblin metal is resistant to magic and can block magical detection…"
His casual remark struck Anne like a bolt of lightning.
If this little ball contained that kind of magical power…
Even if the goblins had their own instruments, they wouldn't be able to detect it!
"How do we open this ball?" Anne hesitated, then added, "Ahem, we shouldn't celebrate too soon. What if it contains something dangerous?"
If the goblin metal sphere truly held that kind of magic… then Anne had just made an incredible discovery!
Robert and Tom exchanged glances, fully aware of Anne's excitement.
"Oh, there's a small button here," Robert noted. He placed the ball into a small indentation in the ground and stepped back.
Robert then used transfiguration to turn a fallen leaf into a thin vine, directing it toward the button.
As the vine approached the goblin metal, it trembled violently.
Goblin metal's resistance to magic was interfering.
However, Robert's transfiguration skills were impressive.
The vine struggled but managed to press the button before disintegrating.
"Click!"
With a crisp metallic sound, the sphere opened like a blooming flower.
Then, a cloud of black mist, tinged with red and gray, slowly emerged from within.
Tom's eyes widened in shock.
If Robert hadn't told him that this was fake, he would have been unable to resist his desire to claim this magic for himself!
Robert truly had a talent for deception.
Not only had he crafted a goblin metal sphere, but he had also managed to create something that looked exactly like the legendary magical power described in ancient manuscripts.
Clearly, Robert had been doing a lot of work behind the scenes.
On the other hand, Anne was speechless.
The magic they had searched so tirelessly for, but failed to find, had been discovered by Robert and Tom?
For a brief moment, she questioned her so-called "extensive" experience in outdoor adventures.
But more importantly—this was real magic!
Robert and Tom observed her reaction closely.
"Finally, my efforts have paid off," Robert said with a smile.
His words carried different meanings for Anne and Tom.
Tom assumed Robert meant that his efforts in fabricating the scene had succeeded.
Anne, however, believed Robert was referring to his research and careful calculations leading to this discovery.
"So… what do we do with this magic?" Tom asked, his eyes filled with barely concealed greed.
At this moment, he didn't even need to pretend—he truly wanted this power.
But unfortunately for him, Robert had insisted that it was fake…
Robert smiled. "Ladies first. Anne, this magic belongs to you."
"Me? This… isn't that unfair?" Anne hesitated.
Deep down, she felt Robert deserved it more.
After all, if they set aside their affiliations and only considered contributions, Robert had done the most.
Logically, this power should belong to him.
Robert, still smiling, said, "If you hadn't led the way tonight, we would've gotten lost in the Forbidden Forest. We wouldn't have found this place without you. So, this magic belongs to you. Besides, there are other places where we can find more. When that time comes, we'll need you to guide us again."
Tom looked at Robert in shock.
So that was why Robert had pretended not to understand the map tonight?
It had all been part of his plan to manipulate Anne into taking the first step!
Horrifying! Absolutely terrifying!
Anne, however, no longer hesitated.
Without her, Robert and Tom would have been lost.
And besides… she did want this power.
"Since you insist… then this magic is mine," Anne said.
She stepped forward, extended her wand, and gently touched the swirling mist.
Following the instructions from the manuscript, she raised her wand to her nose.
Immediately, the mist turned into wisps of black smoke and was absorbed into her body.
Moments later, Anne's eyes snapped open, a flicker of red light flashing within them.
Tom tensed. "How do you feel? Is it working?"
He was nervous. If Anne realized the magic was fake, their entire performance would fall apart.
But what Tom didn't know was—there was no fake.
The magic was real.
Robert just didn't want him to know yet.
As he had said before, people don't cherish things that come too easily.
He wanted Tom to struggle for this power first.
That way, when Tom finally obtained it, he would feel indebted to Robert.
Since ancient times, deep affection alone could not bind people, but carefully crafted schemes could.
Poor Tom had no idea he was being strung along.
"I feel incredible!" Anne exclaimed, overwhelmed by the newfound strength coursing through her.
Robert had only placed a small amount of magic in the goblin sphere—just enough for her to notice a clear improvement.
"Thunder Explosion!"
Anne raised her wand and aimed at a large tree nearby.
"Boom!"
The tree exploded into pieces.
"Unbelievable! I couldn't cast this spell before! And now, not only can I use it, but the power is beyond anything I expected!" Anne was ecstatic.
Tom was relieved that she didn't question the authenticity of the magic.
After all, Robert had preconditioned him to believe this was just a temporary enhancement.
"Alright," Robert said. "It's late. Let's search for more another time."
"Agreed," Anne said, still thrilled by her newfound abilities.
She didn't even notice when Robert discreetly picked up the goblin metal sphere before they left.
He had no choice—he only had a limited supply of goblin metal.
The little he had was scavenged from the collar of a giant he had previously fought. Digging it out had been a nauseating experience…
As they made their way back, Anne continued testing her transfiguration skills.
She transformed a leaf into various shapes, something she had been incapable of doing before tonight.
This only made her more excited.
Tonight had been a breakthrough for her.
She not only discovered a reliable way to locate this magic but also became significantly stronger in the process.
Anne decided she would report back to Nurmengard tonight.
But then, Robert spoke.
"It's best if only the three of us know about this power," he said. "The more of it you absorb, the stronger you become. The truth will come out eventually, but by then, we need to have gathered enough for ourselves."
His words planted a dangerous thought in Anne's mind.
Maybe… she didn't have to tell Nurmengard.
Maybe… she could keep it all to herself.
At that moment, her ambition began to take root.
In the face of absolute power, no one's loyalty could be trusted.
Especially not a Slytherin's.
And with that thought, Anne suddenly felt that the world was wide open before her.
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