Hearing Newt's words, Lucien couldn't help but feel a pang of unease.
The concept of magical circuits was incredibly intricate and complex, not something every wizard studied.
Lately, Lucien had picked up bits and pieces about magical circuits.
For instance, the Weasley family's spellbook mentioned how understanding and refining a wizard's own circuits could boost spellcasting power, but it was mostly about enhancing combat abilities. It had little to do with the magical circuits of magical creatures.
Then there was Bloodlines and Talents by the Greengrasses, which delved deeper into magical circuits. It described methods—potions, charms, and more—to increase the chances of a fetus inheriting superior circuits during pregnancy. The odds were slim, but it ensured healthy development, which was impressive. Still, the little unicorn was already fully formed and about to be born, so the book's insights weren't much help.
Finally, there was the smattering of knowledge Lucien had gleaned from Quirrell, but time was short, and he hadn't grasped the core concepts.
Using his Eye of Magic, Lucien had observed the magical circuits of many wizards and creatures, amassing a wealth of data.
But these scattered fragments of knowledge didn't form a cohesive system.
There was no way to piece them together quickly, let alone attempt to repair the little unicorn's damaged circuits.
Frowning, Lucien prepared the potion Newt needed while racking his brain for solutions.
If all else fails, maybe I'll drag Dumbledore into this. Even if the greatest wizard of the century isn't all-knowing, he's bound to…
Ding!
[Loan Triggered: Mana Weaving Technique (Annual Loan)]
[Would you like to accept the loan?]
The system's voice jolted Lucien, though his hands kept working steadily.
An annual loan?
Another top-tier loan had been triggered.
Hearing the loan's name, Lucien instinctively felt it could help him now.
The potion was in its final brewing stage, so he split his focus to check the loan details while tending to it.
[Loan Name: Mana Weaving Technique]
[Repayment Deadline: 365 days]
[Loan Details: An extraordinary skill for modifying the magical circuits of magical creatures, encompassing transfiguration, alchemy, potions, dark magic, and more.]
[Loan Task: Train a dragon to become the king of its clan.]
Excitement surged in Lucien's chest.
Modifying magical circuits!
If he could modify them, surely he could repair the little unicorn's circuits to their original state.
The description was concise.
But this was an annual loan—its effects were bound to be astounding.
Lucien thought of Loki's Faceless and Qilin, two other annual loans whose impact spoke for themselves.
And extraordinary skill… that word alone carried weight.
But he quickly sobered up. Annual loans were powerful, but their tasks were complex, arduous, and time-consuming.
Take this task: train a dragon to become the king of its clan?
Train? King of a clan?
Lucien connected with the system: "How's the 'king of a dragon clan' defined? Does 'clan' refer to a specific dragon species?"
Dragons were the most diverse magical creatures, with at least ten distinct species, plus rare hybrids and even dracolisks born from crossbreeding with other creatures.
He needed clarity on what "clan" meant.
[Dragons only submit to the strongest. The most powerful in a clan is its king.]
[A single species counts as a clan.]
Lucien nodded. So, it's about fighting.
He'd need to raise a super-strong dragon to dominate its kind.
"And what counts as 'trained by me'?"
[The dragon must obey the host, who provides its habitat, food, and combat training, and bonds with it for over six months.]
In other words, he'd need to house, feed, and train the dragon to fight—and build a bond for half a year.
Like a Pokémon trainer, basically.
Sure, it sounded tough. Taming a dragon, especially a young one, was no small feat, since mature dragons were stubborn and resistant.
But…
Didn't Hagrid have a dragon egg on the way?
In the original story, that hatchling didn't stick around long before being sent away.
But Lucien could raise it in his Gourd Space, hidden from prying eyes.
And who'd snitch on Hagrid for raising a dragon? Malfoy.
The chances of that kid ratting him out?
Heh.
Plus, Lucien's natural affinity with animals, boosted by his little qilin, made taming a young dragon feasible.
As for making it the king of its clan?
Teaching was teaching, whether it was a person or a dragon.
His qilin, Luster, was learning just fine, wasn't it?
"System, I'll take the Mana Weaving Technique (Annual Loan)."
Beyond believing it could save the little unicorn and finding the task manageable, Lucien had another thought.
If he couldn't repay the loan by the deadline, the system would only reclaim the borrowed knowledge or item.
But any changes or impact he made with it? Those stayed.
So, worst case, he'd save the unicorn first and deal with the rest later.
Why have a system if you don't exploit its loopholes?
[Loan: Mana Weaving Technique (Annual Loan) successfully applied.]
[Note: A certain being fond of this technique once said, "I just wanted to make the world full of interesting creatures. Those idiots dared to spread rumors that I gave birth to them all—should've turned them into sheep…"]
Before Lucien could process the system's quirky note, a flood of knowledge poured into his mind.
The influx was overwhelming, his head pounding, veins pulsing, sweat beading.
Gritting his teeth to stay silent, Lucien shakily finished brewing the potion.
This was the most complex knowledge he'd ever received.
It covered so much—primarily transfiguration and potions, with intricate applications of alchemy, charms, and dark magic.
Sorting through it, Lucien pieced together what he needed to do.
First, he'd brew a potion to calm the creature, stabilize its soul, and lock its magical circuits in place for easier manipulation.
This potion required alchemical techniques, not just standard brewing.
Shaking off the lingering headache, Lucien had an idea.
He pulled a card from his pocket, signed by Albus Dumbledore.
"Luster," he called softly to his qilin, handing over the special permit. "Find this person. The location is…"
"They'll trust you with this."
"Go quickly."
After Luster darted off, Lucien grabbed the finished potion and crouched beside Newt.
"Mr. Scamander, here's the potion you needed."
Newt nodded, inspecting it briefly to confirm it was correct.
"Excellent work, and just in time. The female unicorn's condition is stable for now. We can start—"
"Are you okay? You look pale," Newt interrupted, frowning at Lucien's ashen face and bloodless lips, confused why brewing a potion would do this.
Lucien waved it off.
"I'm fine. What do you need me to do, Mr. Scamander?"
"Saving Selenia and her foal comes first."