"It's really a game theory problem. If you're curious, you could check out some Muggle books on it," Lucien said.
But no response came from Terry, only the soft sound of breathing. After a long, exhausting day, the young boy had fallen fast asleep.
Lucien closed his book and turned to the window. From this room, he had a clear view of the Forbidden Forest, a sprawling wilderness next to Hogwarts teeming with magical creatures. Thestrals, visible only to those who'd witnessed death. Massive Acromantulas. Unicorns, whose blood could sustain life. Centaurs, gifted in divination… The list went on.
If he was going to dive into Transfiguration's magical creature specialization, he'd need to study these beings up close. The Forbidden Forest was the perfect place to start. But first, he'd have to ensure his safety—mastering defensive spells, preparing potions, and figuring out how to move between the castle and the forest unnoticed.
He glanced back at Terry, sound asleep on his bed, then turned his attention back to the forest.
"Luster," Lucien whispered.
A faint golden figure materialized before him—a small Qilin, bouncing gleefully in the air. Poor thing had been cooped up in the System's pet space all day. According to the System, the space had mountains and rivers, but with only the Qilin there, it must've been bored out of its mind.
Lucien gently stroked its head, already scheming. Qilins could Apparate by nature—a perfect "transportation tool" for quick getaways. But was Apparition banned inside Hogwarts? He couldn't quite recall.
He sent a mental command to the Qilin: Try Apparating.
Thanks to their telepathic bond, the Qilin understood instantly. In a blink, it vanished, only to reappear before Lucien could even blink again.
"Master, it worked!" a childlike voice echoed in his mind.
Lucien grinned, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "Nice job! Where'd you go?"
"Home!" the Qilin chirped back mentally.
Lucien nodded, giving its head another pat. Hogwarts likely had anti-Apparition wards—otherwise, the school, home to Britain's future witches and wizards, would be vulnerable to anyone popping in. The four founders, legendary wizards themselves, wouldn't have overlooked such a basic security flaw.
The Qilin's ability must work differently, its innate magic distinct from wizarding spells. Magical creatures had their own racial talents, many of which wizards still couldn't fully unravel. And Luster wasn't just any Qilin—it was a true divine beast, likely exempt from Hogwarts' restrictions. Unlike the jarring, toilet-flush-like Disapparition of wizards, the Qilin's movement was seamless, almost like melting into space itself.
Looking down at the tiny creature, Lucien noted its gold-red eyes and the small bumps on its forehead where horns would eventually grow. Luster was still a juvenile, and even for a divine beast, its self-defense capabilities were… questionable. Sending it into the Forbidden Forest as is felt risky.
Connecting mentally with the System, Lucien asked, "Any way to boost Luster's strength?"
[Of course, Host! I've got nine methods for that! OvO]
Lucien paused. Was it just him, or had the System gotten chattier since entering the wizarding world?
"Uh, just tell me the best one," he said.
[Got it! The System recommends: Pet Growth Loan]
[Options: Rapid Growth to Adolescent Stage (Monthly Loan) or Rapid Growth to Mature Stage (Yearly Loan)]
[Note: Adolescent stage unlocks all racial talents at a basic level. Mature stage fully masters racial talents and awakens unique individual abilities.]
Lucien rubbed his chin, glancing at the Qilin. "What's the strength level of an adolescent Qilin? Any side effects from this rapid growth? And what are the tasks for the monthly and yearly loans?"
The System answered promptly:
[An adolescent Qilin is comparable to an elite Auror but far surpasses wizards of the same level in its innate magical abilities.]
[No side effects. The pet will sleep in the System's space for one week to complete the process.]
[It's a System product, after all! ~~]
[Monthly Loan Task: Observe and record the abilities, traits, and habits of 5 magical creatures within 30 days.]
[Yearly Loan Task: Observe and record the abilities, traits, and habits of all magical creatures (known and unknown) within 365 days.]
Ignoring the System's cutesy tone, Lucien frowned. "An adolescent divine beast is only equivalent to an elite Auror?"
He'd expected more, even if the System noted its superiority in innate magic.
[The adolescent stage is the most dynamic for divine beasts, with significant growth from start to finish. By the end of adolescence, a beast approaches the level of a legendary wizard.]
Lucien's frown eased. That made sense. An adolescent Qilin would have enough power to protect itself in the Forbidden Forest, as long as it avoided picking fights with the nastier creatures. Recording five magical creatures in a month was doable too—just stick to the less dangerous, easier-to-approach ones.
The yearly loan, though? Recording all magical creatures, known and unknown? That was impossible with his current skills. Unlike mastering Transfiguration or brewing a potion with the Philosopher's Stone—both of which he could work toward at Hogwarts—the forest didn't house every magical creature in existence. To repay that loan, he'd have to travel the world.
"Enroll at Hogwarts and Become a Magical Creatures Expert"? Yeah, no thanks.
The Qilin would need to sleep for a week, which gave Lucien time to brush up on spells and stockpile potions.
"System, I'll take the Pet Growth Monthly Loan."
[OK! Wishing the Host a happy repayment! (•ᴗ•)ﾉ♡]
[Loan: Pet Rapid Growth (Monthly)]
[Repayment Deadline: 30 Days]
[Loan Content: Advance pet to adolescent stage.]
[Loan Task: Observe and record the abilities, traits, and habits of 5 magical creatures.]
[Evaluation: Go for it! This is your first step to surpassing Newt Scamander!]
Lucien chuckled at the System's comment. Newt Scamander, huh? The shy magical creatures expert was a lofty comparison.
Glancing out at the starry sky, he decided it was time to rest. He patted the Qilin's head. "Goodnight, Luster."
---
Late that night, in the Hogwarts Headmaster's Office, Dumbledore approached the shelf where the Sorting Hat rested.
"Old friend," he said softly, "care to chat about that young man, Lucien?"
Support me by leaving a comment, voting, and visiting myPatr-eon at ilham20
Check out another story about Hogwarts in my profile original works