A year had passed since Penny had given him the idea of finding a way to enlarge silver using the Occamy's ability.
During that year, Noah had practically lived inside the laboratory, studying creature blood and searching for traces of genetic abilities. His other studies hadn't come to a complete halt, but it felt as though there was no time for anything outside of magic—whether blood research or various magical practices.
No one treated him like a child anymore. Though sometimes, his parents and grandfather wished he acted more like one. They could feel that these three years with Nick had only made him mature faster.
Today, Noah was once again in the laboratory. But unlike usual, his eyes were bright with excitement and anticipation. Nick was by his side and, beneath his protective mask, the same anxious gleam was visible.
"You know," Nick said, "I don't think I've felt this nervous since I proposed to Penny."
Noah laughed. "I wonder how that went—dinosaurs and all."
Nick's chuckle lightened the tension in the room.
"Let's finish this and see," Noah said, stepping forward. He picked up a crystal vial of refined Occamy blood and poured it into the boiling tube where the silver was already purified.
The process that followed was slow and meticulous. He raised the temperature until both liquids reached a boiling state, their vapor condensing into a third container.
Long hours passed before the two substances condensed again, now united into a single liquid—silver in color, streaked with red.
"Did it work?" Nick asked, leaning closer.
Noah didn't answer immediately. Instead, he placed a hand on each side of the container and gave a simple command for the liquid to expand.
The strange fluid obeyed, spreading without resistance until it filled the crystal cylinder.
With his right eye activated, Noah could see it clearly, without doubt.
"It's a success." A wide smile broke across his face. "We did it, Nick. We really did it."
Nick raised his hand, and they shared a triumphant high five.
Of course, the process wasn't complete yet. A series of enchantments still needed to be placed upon the liquid before it was ready to serve the purpose Noah intended.
Once the shapeshifting property was stabilized, however, the rest wasn't difficult. A few days later, the laboratory buzzed with excitement. Even Penny had come to witness the result.
Noah and Nick had finished every spell and enchantment. All that remained was the demonstration.
Noah uncorked the vial, and the liquid floated at his command. A bond had been forged between him and the substance, which hovered now as a silver sphere.
He gave a mental order, and the connection made the liquid respond almost instantly.
The sphere reshaped into a small sword that floated by his side. Noah grinned and pointed forward. The blade shot like an arrow and struck a wooden crate in the corner.
"Incredible," Nick muttered, already imagining a dozen uses—some practical, some purely playful.
Penny, however, remained skeptical. To her, while undeniably impressive, the creation seemed redundant. Wasn't all of this already possible through regular magic, like Transfiguration?
She voiced her concern, and Noah smiled.
"Aunt Penny is right—it's true that Transfiguration can achieve the same shapes."
"Then why?" she asked. She could sense Noah had a deeper answer.
"What I've created already exists," he explained, "but without a fixed form, without an essence. And although it's imbued with many spells and charms, even if those enchantments were broken, its defensive and expansive properties would still remain. They're part of its very origin—its true essence."
Penny only frowned further, still unconvinced.
Nick intervened. "It's better to show her."
Noah nodded. "Aunt Penny, would you attack me?"
She instinctively shook her head.
"Oh, come on, woman—it's just a demonstration," Nick said, raising his wand himself.
He and Noah exchanged a quick glance, and then Nick cast: "Stupefy!"
The silver sphere had already shot forward, shifting shape in less than a second into a barrier that absorbed the spell.
The impact spread across it like ripples through water, dissipating harmlessly.
"Protego does the same," Penny pointed out.
Noah smirked. "Uncle Nick, how about a little sparring?"
"Try not to destroy my lab," Nick warned, but he was already ready.
Noah ignored the comment. "Bombarda!"
Nick deflected with a flick of his wand and countered: "Diffindo!"
Noah didn't bother with a defense. Instead, he fired back: "Expelliarmus!" His spell shot almost at the same time as Nick's.
Normally, Noah would have had to block Nick's attack as well—but not this time. He let it go and launched another: "Petrificus Totalus!"
Penny raised an eyebrow, half a thought from pulling her wand to shield him. But before she could, the silver liquid formed a barrier around Noah, absorbing the strike on its own.
Her eyes lit up. If this continued, Noah wouldn't need to defend at all. He could stay on the offensive, creating a relentless rhythm that would destabilize his opponent.
Nick blocked and, before Noah could unleash another spell, vanished—only to reappear behind him.
"Ha! I win!" he said, pressing his wand to Noah's neck.
Penny nearly threw a chair at him. "Nick! There wasn't supposed to be a winner—it was just sparring!"
The old man snorted. "A fight is a fight. I'm just showing that your liquid still has weaknesses."
Noah chuckled. "He's right, Aunt Penny. It's strong, but like anything else, it has its limits."
Nick lowered his wand. "So? Exhausting, isn't it?"
Noah nodded. "It is. This way, it's really only useful as a hidden ace—or something to catch an opponent off guard."
Penny approached, studying the silver liquid circling Noah. "Mental strain?" she asked.
"Yes," Noah said, rubbing his temple. "It's difficult to control while focusing on offensive magic. In a heated battle, I'd lose the rhythm within minutes."
That made sense to her. How could one brain actively focus on two separate tasks at once?
"Have you thought of a solution?" she asked, her fingers brushing the floating sphere, wondering how large it could grow.
"Nick suggested that if I learn mental arts, I could split part of my mind to focus solely on the sphere. That should help for a while. And mind arts are what I plan to study next anyway."
Penny nodded. "Good. Occlumency is something you'd learn sooner or later. No respectable pure-blood family leaves its members with an unguarded mind."
Noah agreed. For now, it would only make the liquid more practical for the coming months—or years.
Once he gained clearer control, though, he would always be ready. Ready to defend against that certain green spell… A curse unstoppable by magic, but not by matter. His hidden card. His absolute defense in his early years.
But the truth was, he had never created the liquid for that purpose alone. His goal was far more ambitious—too much so to share with anyone just yet.
To create life… How ambitious I am.