Chapter 44: The Philosopher's Stone
After leaving the Weasleys' home, Wes returned to Hogwarts, eager to focus on his goal: understanding the Philosopher's Stone.
The Philosopher's Stone, that legendary treasure of alchemists, is fabled to transmute base metals into gold and even grant its owner eternal life.
Wes carefully lifted a Philosopher's Stone, placing it in the warm sunlight.
It's not entirely accurate to describe the Philosopher's Stone as simply existing; its nature is quite unique. It's neither truly solid nor liquid, a characteristic so peculiar that it's often called the "fifth element."
In its radiant glow, Wes felt the pain and sorrow of the souls imprisoned within the stone.
"One must never use the Philosopher's Stone directly."
Wes knew that while the Stone could extend his life, its creation involved the sacrifice of human souls. These souls, once converted into the Stone, were filled with resentment and agony.
Direct use could cause their resentment to erupt at any moment, inflicting unpredictable harm on the user.
Unless one could speak to them individually, like Van Hohenheim, to resolve their grievances, a process that demanded immense time and energy—resources Wes currently lacked.
Wes was desperate to harness the Philosopher's Stone's power but didn't know how to mitigate the severe consequences of direct use.
"I need to gather all information related to the Philosopher's Stone," he murmured to himself.
The Philosopher's Stone isn't unique to one world; legends of it exist in many.
"Philosopher's Stone"
"Sky Stone"
These are just some of its other names.
Wes suspected that in the Harry Potter world, the "Sorcerer's Stone" created by Nicolas Flamel might be the Philosopher's Stone.
Unfortunately, the Sorcerer's Stone had been destroyed by Dumbledore. Otherwise, Wes could have made a comparison. Thinking of this, Wes felt a pang of regret.
He arranged Nicolas Flamel's alchemy notes, information he'd collected from the alchemical world, and the Philosopher's Stone's manufacturing method on his desk.
Then, he spread out a piece of parchment, gripped a quill, and focused, his expression intent.
"It's time to begin," he whispered, then buried his head in his research. His quill moved ceaselessly, recording every idea and discovery.
Every word and symbol represented a step in his quest for truth, bringing him closer to his goal.
For three days, Wes did not leave his office.
He was completely engrossed in his research, oblivious to the passage of time.
All his meals and drinks were brought to him by the loyal Jandy.
Jandy silently supported Wes without complaint.
The office floor was littered with countless papers, each filled with Wes's thoughts and explorations.
His hair became disheveled, his eyes red from prolonged study, his fingernails stained with ink, and his body gave off a distinct odor—the scent of focused work.
"The Philosopher's Stone from that alchemy world is too evil. It's made by sacrificing the lives of millions of people to create the Stone, essentially using others' lives to extend one's own. That's why so much resentment has been generated."
"What about the Sorcerer's Stone? What's its principle? Nicolas Flamel's alchemy notes don't say!"
Wes was frustrated. He crumpled the parchment in his hand into a ball, threw it casually on the floor, and sighed deeply, "This is annoying."
Wes wanted to use his wand to force Nicolas Flamel to reveal the Sorcerer's Stone's production method, but he knew it was impossible.
Nicolas Flamel had disappeared from public view after entrusting the Sorcerer's Stone to Dumbledore; even Dumbledore didn't know his whereabouts.
Moreover, Wes knew he couldn't threaten someone like Nicolas Flamel, who would likely choose death over coercion.
He rubbed his face, trying to clear his mind.
He knew he had to find another approach.
"The Philosopher's Stone does have the effect of extending life. The most important thing is how to deal with the grievances inside and transform the Stone into a pure energy body."
With this new idea, Wes was about to resume his research, but his head felt heavy, making it impossible to concentrate.
"What's that smell?" He suddenly noticed a sour odor and realized it was coming from himself. He immediately cast a cleansing charm, clearing the strange smell from his body.
He opened the window, letting the fresh air pour into the room. The cool air was like a clear spring, flowing into his heart and bringing him a sense of comfort.
At that moment, he saw the young wizards returning to school with their trunks.
"The holiday's over? No wonder my head feels so dizzy," Wes mumbled to himself.
Sleepiness hit him like a tide, wave after wave.
Wes couldn't fight it. He returned to his dormitory, took a hot bath, and then comfortably collapsed onto his bed.
His body felt drowned in exhaustion, and his head sank into his pillow, instantly falling asleep.
Meanwhile, Jandy arrived at Wes's office. Like a conductor, he drew a trajectory in the air with his fingers.
The parchment and papers in the room floated into the air, neatly stacked themselves, and gently settled onto the desk.
The messy books and materials seemed to sprout tiny feet, arranging themselves in order.
Quills and ink bottles returned to their proper places.
The stains on the table and floor were also cleaned away.
After completing everything, Jandy smiled with satisfaction and left the office.
Wes slept until noon the next day. A strong bloating sensation in his lower abdomen acted like an urgent alarm clock, pulling him from his deep sleep.
He groggily got up and hurried to the bathroom to relieve himself.
He intended to go back to sleep, but at that moment, his stomach rumbled.
Wes slowly got out of bed.
"Master," Jandy appeared at just the right moment, his voice respectful and gentle, "I'll prepare lunch for you."
Wes glanced at the time; it was almost lunchtime. He thought about it and decided to eat in the Great Hall with the students, hoping it might help relax his tense nerves.
"No, I'll go to the Great Hall to eat."
Wes said as he walked to the bathroom.
After washing, he tidied his clothes and walked to the Great Hall with steady steps.
In the Great Hall, the Weasley twins, along with Ron and Ginny, immediately waved to him excitedly upon seeing him.
When Wes saw them, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, and he nodded subtly in their direction.
Then, he turned and approached the professors' table.
He lightly tapped his plate with his knife, and with a crisp sound, a steaming steak instantly appeared on the empty plate.
The steak was an attractive color and exuded a rich aroma that wafted into Wes's nose, making his mouth water.
In less than three minutes, Wes devoured a steak like a whirlwind.
However, his stomach still felt empty.
He lightly tapped the table, and soon, another steak appeared.
He continued to wolf it down. After finishing three steaks in a row, Wes put down his knife and fork with satisfaction and carefully wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin.
"When did a giant monster sneak into the school?" Snape's mocking voice came from the left side of the table.
The other professors also looked at Wes in shock.
"I've been researching something recently and haven't had time to eat properly," Wes explained calmly.
Several professors nodded in understanding, showing both comprehension and sympathy.
"I was like this when I was young," Professor Flitwick reminisced, "That period was both painful and fulfilling."
"Were there any results?" someone asked curiously.
Wes shook his head helplessly.
Other professors comforted Wes, telling him not to worry.
Only Lockhart proudly declared that he would share his successful experience with Wes. He was brimming with confidence, as if he were the most successful person in the world.
However, when the professors saw he was about to speak, they all found reasons to leave.
Wes looked at Lockhart and sighed inwardly, thinking he had never seen such a shameless person.
After Lockhart's outburst, Wes lost his appetite and returned to his office.
The moment the door closed.
"Ding!"
The panel popped up automatically.
Host: Wes Elvin
Worlds: Marvel; Harry Potter; Labyrinth City; #@Alchemy%￥; Pirates of the Caribbean
Occupation: Wizard/Pharmacist/Alchemist
Level: 4
A new world has emerged.