[Note: Read up to Chapter - 179 on P patron at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]
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"So, if we stand on this circle, we can instantly jump thousands of miles away?" Nicolas Flamel asked, eyeing the glowing array before him with barely contained excitement.
"Of course—but before anyone tries it, I'll need to run a test first."
Aris stepped calmly into the circle and placed a small mouse inside a cage at its centre.
The poor creature blinked up at him in confusion, completely unaware that it was about to become the very first subject of the world's first teleportation array. History might remember it fondly—or it might vanish forever in the chaos of spatial turbulence.
Whether the circle worked or not would prove everything about Aris's design.
"Sir, best stand back a bit. I'm about to activate the array!"
From his robes, Aris pulled a gleaming magic crystal and slotted it neatly into the activation node.
"Teleportation array—activate!"
The circle flared to life at once, brilliant blue light bursting forth, lines and symbols igniting as the magic circle blazed into existence.
The air itself seemed to shiver. When Aris and Nicolas looked back at the circle, the little mouse had vanished—gone without a trace, as though it had never been there at all.
"Well? Did it work?" Nicolas Flamel asked, his voice tight with nerves.
He was more anxious now than he ever was with his own experiments.
Flamel knew better than anyone just how monumental this breakthrough was. If such a quick and convenient method of travel could be perfected and spread, Aris wouldn't just be a clever boy—he'd be etched into history. The way the entire wizarding world travelled would change forever.
Compared to this, broomsticks were sluggish, clumsy things.
As for travelling by Floo… well, it was passable for short hops, but the experience was dreadful. The spinning, the nausea, the stink of ash—it was hardly dignified. And long-distance? Forget it. The further you tried to go, the worse it became.
The Floo network was, at best, a kind of localised, community-based teleport system. Handy for nipping across town—but for crossing borders? It was slow, awkward, and downright miserable.
No witch or wizard in their right mind wanted to endure a cross-country journey through a fireplace.
That method of travel really wasn't pleasant at all.
If magical teleportation arrays could be popularised, though, the market would be massive. The Shafiq family alone would rake in a fortune.
More importantly, Aris's name would spread across the entire wizarding world—his talent and ability recognised far and wide.
"I'll nip back and check!"
Aris didn't answer Nicolas directly because he himself wasn't entirely sure of the outcome. From the circle's feedback, the transfer should have worked.
But to know whether the mouse had arrived safe and sound, he'd have to return to Shafiq Castle.
With that, he strode quickly towards the door.
"Master Nico, wait here for a moment—I'll be right back!"
Before the old man could reply, Aris stepped out of Flamel's safehouse. A sharp crack followed, and he vanished on the spot with Apparition.
Left alone, Nicolas Flamel returned to the teleportation circle, his gaze fixed steadily on its centre as the minutes ticked by.
If the test had worked, Aris ought to return through the teleportation array any moment now.
Nicolas Flamel, however, felt a rare unease stirring in his chest. He hadn't felt like this in centuries. Since passing three hundred, there had been very little in the world capable of moving him.
And yet, in just a few days, Aris had managed to surprise him again and again—making him feel inexplicably younger, as though life held fresh expectations each morning.
Suddenly, streams of light rippled across the long-silent circle. The glow spread outward from its centre, racing along the etched lines until every stroke was wrapped in shimmering blue.
Swish!
The light flared brightly—and in the next instant, Aris stood there in the room.
Flamel hurried forward at once, his face alight with excitement.
"Did it work?"
"It worked." Aris gave a small, confident nod. "There are still a few things I could polish, but the framework and the core diagram hold steady. The array teleports just fine."
"For now, there aren't many circles set up, so this one can only link back to the castle!"
"This is… incredible. Is such a thing really possible?" Nicolas Flamel muttered, pacing round the array again and again, peering closely at every etched line as though afraid to miss a detail.
"If you're that curious, you can give it a go," Aris said with a smile, stepping forward to tweak a few parts of the formation.
Thanks to two earlier tests, Moss had already gathered fresh data and refined the array's structure. With the improvements, it would now run more safely and burn through far less energy.
"Then may I try it?" Nicolas asked eagerly, his face lighting up as he moved to stand before the circle without the slightest hesitation.
"What are we waiting for? Let's do it now!"
He had been itching to experience teleportation for himself. From what he'd seen of Aris's jump just moments ago, it was nothing like Apparition, Portkeys, or even the Floo Network.
Apparition and Portkeys, in particular, always carried that dreadful wrenching sensation, leaving most travellers queasy or dizzy. Some couldn't stomach it at all and gave up on the method entirely.
"Just stand here," Aris said, pointing to the centre of the magic circle before stepping up beside Nicolas Flamel.
He repeated the activation process, and once again the circle flared with light.
In the blink of an eye, the two of them were gliding through what looked like a brilliant space tunnel woven from streams of light. Everything around them seemed to rush backwards, colours twisting and refracting in ways that made the view surreal yet breathtaking.
"I never imagined space travel could be this comfortable!" Nicolas exclaimed, unable to hold back. "And look at this scenery—it's stunning!"
"Eh? You can actually talk while teleporting?" He stopped short, suddenly realising he was speaking with ease, and turned to stare at Aris in surprise.
They were wrapped snugly within a magical bubble of pure energy, floating as though aboard a carriage in this endless tunnel. Inside it, their voices carried without issue—conversation, movement, even gestures, all unaffected by the storm of magic outside.
"Yes, Senior Nicolas," Aris replied with a knowing smile. "That's the brilliance of the teleportation array. This is one of the finest applications of magic—and the crowning achievement of elemental civilisation."
"Incredible…" Nicolas Flamel muttered, his face lit with shock and awe.
His eyes never left the dazzling space tunnel outside their bubble, drinking in every detail as though afraid to miss a moment.
"A marvel of elemental civilisation… truly extraordinary…"
Then, all at once, something seemed to click in his mind. He turned sharply to Aris, eyes narrowing in curiosity.
"You… you understand elemental magic? And from the look of it, you've studied it in depth?"
"Oh? Senior Nico, you know about it as well?" Aris blinked, surprised.
"Of course I do!" Flamel replied at once.
Before Aris could question further, the world around them shifted. The light tunnel collapsed, and in the next instant they were standing atop a broad, silent rooftop.
"Welcome to my home, Senior Nico," Aris said with a smile. "This is the Shafiq family castle, in England. It's been passed down for generations…"
Before he could finish, hurried footsteps echoed from the stairwell. Moments later, Harry and the others burst onto the rooftop.
"Aris—it really is you!"
"We thought something had happened—the strange blue light coming from up here could be seen all the way from the training ground!"
"What is this? Some kind of ancient magic array? Aris, have you gone and dug up another powerful spell?"
"And who's this old bloke? I swear I've seen him somewhere before…"
"Nic Flamel… he's Nicolas Flamel!!!" Hermione blurted, and at once the chatter died down.
"Nicolas Flamel? The legendary alchemist—the one who created the Philosopher's Stone?" Harry gasped.
"He's… the man we've been trying to find all term…" Ronald added, his eyes wide.
"What are you lot on about? Why've you been looking for Nicolas?" Cho and Luna exchanged baffled glances.
On the other side, Aris simply shook his head with a weary smile, raising a hand to settle them.
"Alright, that's enough shouting. Senior Nico is an honoured guest of mine."
Nicolas Flamel looked at the gathered youngsters and smiled warmly, trying his best to appear kindly in spite of his frail frame.
To the young wizards, though, Flamel's smile looked a touch unsettling. His skin clung so tightly to his bones that his face seemed almost bloodless, and when he smiled it carried an oddly eerie air.
"Aris, you'll have to tell me more about elemental magic later…" Nicolas Flamel murmured, clearly not having forgotten their earlier talk.
"No problem—if you're keen to hear it, I'll explain," Aris replied with a nod.
Soon enough, the old man found himself hemmed in by curious students. Harry and the others, especially, brimmed with questions. Their interest in the Philosopher's Stone hadn't faded one bit, and now that they had Flamel himself before them, they weren't about to waste the chance—most of their questions, subtle or not, circled back to the Stone.
Amidst the crowd, Luna glanced at Aris, then quietly padded over.
"Brother, is this a teleportation magic circle?" she asked softly.
She already knew he'd been researching such things, and seeing him here with Flamel confirmed her suspicions—though she asked it aloud as if seeking reassurance.
"Well, this circle links straight to Nicolas Flamel's residence… and maybe, in future, I'll link one to Hogwarts as well. Then, if you ever miss me, you could step through from there—or I could use it to pop back and see you."
Aris gave a soft smile and gently patted the little girl's head.
"Really?" Luna's eyes lit up at once.
She gazed down at the glowing array beneath her feet, murmuring as though to herself, though her words were clearly meant for Aris.
"It's like perfect art… travelling through space without needing a set path like the Floo Network…"
Then, her eyes flashed. "Can I try it? Just once—see what it feels like?"
"Of course," Aris chuckled, nodding. "There'll be plenty of chances in the future."
"Brother, you always manage to spring surprises on us… things that are so shocking they almost don't feel real."
Luna studied him closely, her silvery eyes full of admiration.
"Sometimes… I even wonder if you really belong to this world at all. Everything about you is so incredible—it's enough to make people a little scared."
"Why, Luna—are you scared of me as well?" Aris asked with a faint frown.
He was a little impressed by the girl's sharp instincts. How had she guessed so closely?
Then again, perhaps she was only using exaggerated words to describe him.
"'Course not…" Luna tapped her chin lightly, her tone a strange mix of playful and serious. "To me, even though you're mysterious, you always make people feel safe!"
"Only those with impure hearts see evil in others. That'll never go out of fashion—it'll always be true!"
"You're the clever one, eh?" Aris chuckled, shaking his head in amusement.
Meanwhile, poor Nicolas Flamel was looking rather overwhelmed, besieged by Harry and the others. Normally, he kept to himself in his laboratory and rarely had to deal with other wizards—let alone a pack of excitable students. No wonder he was struggling.
"Aris, I've just remembered something urgent in the lab—let's head back quickly!" the old alchemist muttered, practically fleeing under the kids' eager questioning.
Watching him retreat in such a fluster, Aris couldn't help but smile. He gave a neat half-bow and said, "Always a pleasure to be of service."
Then, turning to the young wizards, he added with a firm look, "We'll be back at school in a few days. Best make the most of this time—once term starts, you won't have such a chance to throw yourselves into elemental magic!"
"We get it!" Harry nodded, and the others quickly followed.
Aris caught Nicolas Flamel giving him a knowing wink and smiled faintly. Then, with a wave, he reactivated the magic circle.
The blue glow flared once more.
But this time, Luna stepped onto the array beside Aris and followed him in.
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Drop Power Stonessssssssss!
[Note: Read up to Chapter - 179 on P patron at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]