The fire crackled in the fireplace, deep under the Gray Mansion a room for potion making existed, it looked more like a dungeon you would find under a castle. There were many rooms built under the Mansion such as interrogation rooms, storage rooms, meditation rooms and of course potion rooms. Linus was standing before his cauldron of Nordic ice (S tier). The cauldron was black but there were spots that had a deep blue color that you would find where it's really cold, hence the name Nordic ice. The cauldron also had runes etched into it, the runes were old, not even Alaric who is pretty good at runes had no idea what they did. Luckly for me I had a trait that let me read ancient symbols (runes). The cauldron had really powerful heat resistance runes and also a run to self-repair, there was also a rune that seemed to make potions more forgiving to small mistakes. Which was guy because I sucked at making potions.
The Gray family book of potions (SS ties) was open beside the cauldron, it was time to try some potion making.
Linus adjusted the cuffs of his robe and leaned over the open pages of the book. The parchment shimmered faintly, as if the ink itself resisted being read by those unworthy. Even so, the runes whispered their meaning into his mind, aligning themselves for his eyes only.
The recipe was titled in jagged silver script Elixir of lunar clarity. Difficulty: A tier, effect: enhances metal focus and magical perception for one night. Warning: may cause permanent damage if brewed incorrectly.
He swallowed. Right no pressure at all.
The cauldron of Nordic ice seemed to hum faintly, as though recognizing the ancient recipe. The blue front like spots pulsed, giving the chamber an otherworldly glow. Linus gathered the ingredients laid neatly on the worktable: powdered moonstone, three drops of unicorn hair essence, dried frost blossom petals, and most importantly mandrake leaf, kind of ironic that I would need that after what happened.
"step one…" he muttered, reading from the book. "Heat the cauldron until frost marks glows. Add moonstone powder while chanting rune Nauthiz for stability"
He flicked his wand toward the fire, which roared to life under the cauldron. The rune marks along its base flared a cold blue, signaling the correct temperature. He sprinkled the glittering moonstone powder in, whispering the rune under his breath. For a moment, the mixture glowed a pale silver.
"Step two. Add three drops of unicorn essence."
The liquid thickened instantly, releasing a faint aroma like fresh snow. Encouraged, Linus smiled. Maybe I'm not as bad at this as I thought.
Then came the frostblossom petals. He hesitated – three or four? The scrips had smudged at the edge of the page. His stomach sand. This is why I fail.
The trait rune-sight pulsed within him and the ink rearranged itself before his eyes, revealing: three. Never four.
"Thanks," he whispered to no one, dropping the petals in. the cauldron hissed, frost spreading across the rim, then vanishing.
Now came the hardest part: mandrake leaf. He pulled the small packet closer, the instructions were explicit: add only once, when the potion's glow turns silver-blue. Too early, and it becomes poison. Too late and it becomes useless sludge.
The mixture swirled, colors shifting from grey to pale blue… then silver. His heart pounded. Linus quickly placed the leaf into the cauldron. There was a sharp hiss, the silence.
The potion settled into a shimmering, silvery-blue liquid that pulsed like moonlight on water. The book's page shifted, as if acknowledging his success.
[Potion crafted: elixir of lunar clarity (A-tier)]
Effect: increases perception and mental focus for 6 hours.
Note: Due to brewing in the cauldron of Nordic ice, effects are amplified.
Linus let out a shaky laugh. "I… actually did it"
From the shadows of the potions room, the cauldron gave a faint, almost approving hum. And yet, the runes along its side flickered strangely, one symbol glowing darker than the rest.
Linus frowned. He hadn't noticed that rune before. It wasn't in any book. Its meaning whispered faintly at the edge of his understanding: consumption.
Linus leaned in closer, squinting at the rune. It pulsed like a heartbeat, a dark blue against the cauldrons icy sheen.
Consumption
The word pressed into his thoughts, heavy and foreign. His trait allowed him to read it yes but it didn't tell him what it wanted.
"Consumption of what?" he whispered "the potion? Me?"
The elixir of lunar clarity shimmered invitingly, its glow throwing silver light across the walls. He could almost hear a faint hum, like a lullaby sung through ice.
Linus reached for the vial, careful hands ladling out the liquid. The runes along the cauldron shifted again, faintly rearranging, as if watching. He corked the vial quickly, chest tight.
The system's cold text flickered before his eyes
[Optional condition detected: offer potion to the cauldron of Nordic ice]
Reward: unknown
Waring: irreversible
Linus froze. It… can eat potions?
The rational part of him screamed to keep the elixir, it was his first success, proof he wasn't hopeless at brewing. But another part, the reckless whisper that always stirred when he touched something old and forbidden, urged him to test it. After all, wasn't that what the Gray family did? Thet pushed boundaries, peered past the veil.
"alright" Linus muttered, "just a little"
He uncorked the vial and let some drip into the cauldron. The reaction was instant. The runes flared blindingly blue, and the entire cauldron shuddered. The liquid inside vanished as if swallowed whole. Then silence.
[The cauldron of Nordic ice has consumed your potion.]
Reward granted: trait: Cauldron bonded (dormant),
Effect: future potions brewed in this cauldron will resonate with your magic. Potions may gain unique effects.
Linus stood dazed as he took it all in.
So my cauldron was hungry… interesting.
There was a knock to the chamber room. "enter" Linus said still thinking about how his cauldron had just consumed his potion.
Astrid stepped in. "so this is where you've spent all day" she looked at the cauldron and the at Linus
"Yes, I've been practicing my potion making… but something unexpected happened, but never mind that, did anything useful come out from the shopkeeper?"
"Well yes and no" Astrid described how the shop keeper was most likely not involved; he had only gotten randomly selected and the robber had just dumped the herbs to erase tracks.
So, this was just something to make me angry or to test me and see how I would react… this isn't good they are too careful and observing. The question is how can we lure them out of their little rat hole.
"You haven't forgotten that today is the day that lady Winterholm will visit" Astrid looked at Linus expression "so you did forget…"
"Indeed, I did… can you get Alaric to prepare my suit" Astrid nodded and left the chamber. Linus waved his wand and the clean up was done, magic really is a blessing.
****
An hour later in the quest meeting room
Linus was sitting waiting for his quest to arrive, the meeting room was built almost like a library wood dark wooden shelves holding books neatly placed. The room had three tall windows looking out over the lake behind the Gray mansion giving it a very cozy natural lighting, in the middle of the room were two comfy green chairs placed and between them a smaller tea table made from the same material as the shelves. The room had a very high celling that arced near the top. Paintings hang on the walls showing some of the ancestors of the family.
Monika Winterholm part of the Winterholm family was a semi-important family, they held some key positions in the ministry of magic. Nothing too important for the Gray family who had undercover agents in almost all sectors of the magical ministries. The Gray family had always worked more from the shadows, pulling strings instead of getting directly involved, this was just a way to get less dirt on out own hands. But having Winterholm as allies would be beneficial.
The door to the room opened and Astrid step in, behind her Monika Winterholm. She was old around 95 which wasn't old for a wizard or witch but still, she had short white hair, a gentle face with a warm smile. She wore a light blue dress, blue like ice, she walked with a decorated cane. Linus stood and met her halfway to the chairs in the middle of the room, she looked happy almost proud.
As I walked closer, I was suddenly pulled into a hug, it was warm. It's been a while since I had a hug like this. The last time I got a hug was from mother on that day. A tear started forming but was held back. I hugged her back, it felt good. She pulled back slightly from the hug and said in a soft voice. "Your father would be so proud of you" the words hit me like a hammer. The things I did when I was younger just to make him proud, learning to fight, studying day and night. And now here I am leader of the biggest house in Scandinavia and I won't be able to hear him say those words ever again, maybe it's because I still don't really feel like my family really is dead, I'm still just waiting for the to come back, but they won't come back… ever.
"Thank you…" I said trying to hide that I'm almost on the verge to crying.
We sat down in the chairs, she looked at me still with those proud eyes that she had when she came into the room. "I still remember when you were just a little baby… always so curious, the way you used to sit with your father in his study while he worked, or when your mother had meetings and always brought you along." Monika said with a slight chuckle, Monika had been close with my parents, she was the one who taught mother the dangers of pure-blood politics. She had often visited the Gray, even being baby sitter at times. She was more like a grandmother to Linus. They sat reminiscing about times when Linus were younger, Monika told stories about his father and mother the he had never heard of.
Then there was silence for a moment, Monika's expression turned serious. "Have you found those responsible?" her tone had gotten almost angry.
"Not yet, there have been some signs of them but nothing to pin point anyone yet" telling her this was a sign of trust, she was not involved in all this. I took a sip of the tea that had been prepared.
Monika looked at me as if she was analyzing me. "Do you want help finding them?" the question was weird, it was as if she was waiting for an expected answer, she knew that I was going to reject the offer. So, I just looked at her a shock my head a little. She let out a sigh." Just like your father".
" Linus if you ever need help with anything, please tell me." Monika wanted Linus to know that he had people he could trust even if he didn't want to trust anyone right now.
The two talked for another hour about what was happening in the world, and in Scandinavia. Monika also told Linus about the reactions she had seen from the other pure-blood families, both the reaction of the gray house being very quiet and the reaction of his return as head. Monika left the estate late in the night after hours of talking.
Linus now sat in this chair he was looking at his status window.
{status window}
{Title: Head of House Gray
{Linus Gray}
Age 10
Bloodline: Pure-blood (Gray), ???,
{Attributes}
*Magic power: 6
*Leadership: 7
*Potions: 4
*Herbology: 2
*Charms: 3
*Transfiguration: 3
{skills}
Wolfs eye (much easier to see other in the dark an in general will also highlight people friend or foe)
{trait}
Nordic cold (resilience against cold weather and magic, also help user keep a cool mind) Rune-sight (Ancient symbols are easier to read) Born leader (The people respect you, hold your head high) veilmark (grants resistance to illusion-based magic and mind magic) ice wolf (ice magic deal more damage and spells are cast faster) Cauldron bonded (dormant)
{items}
SS tier wizard/witch card, Gray family book of spells SS tier, Gray family book of potions SS tier, silver ward charm, Charmstone x1, cauldron of Nordic ice S tier.
{Rewards}
2
*Develop a trait on your own, 2 rewards granted*
Linus raised his brow when he read the notification but shrugged it off, he didn't say no to free rewards.
*Rewards received: Well-crafted quill (never dry), Dragon hide gloves*
Kinda underwhelming rewards, maybe I've become spoiled from the rewards I've gotten recently. There was a knock on his door and Alaric opened.
"My lord, tomorrow the quest from Blodfang family will come shall I prepare anything?"
Linus thought for a second, is she coming? "Prepare the greenhouse so that we can drink tea there"
"Of course, goodnight my lord" Alaric bowed
"Goodnight, Alaric"
Next day
The weather was night, winter had based as it was now early April. There was still some snow. Linus stood in front of the Mansions greenhouse, the greenhouse looked more like a house. The entrance or as it was seen the middle of the building was taller and had a dome on top, and branching of the middle was 3 building housing different plants. So, if you stand in the middle building, you could look down to the end of each branching building. In the end of the second building was a cozy area set up for tea meeting. Mom hade this made so that we could eat here and be taught about herbs. As Linus looked towards the mansion, he saw two people walking towards the greenhouse. Alaric and… the other person started running towards Linus. "What the…" before he could say more, he saw her, his childhood friend, Maya Blodfang.
Before I knew it she had her arms wrapped. A very steady grip is she trying to crush me. "Hi maya" I said patting her head as we hugged. I heard a sniff. "Are you crying?" she then looked at me, her eyes red and her face full of tears.
"You idiot" she said and sobbed.
Maya Blodfang, daughter of Erik Blodfang, heir to the Blodfang family. She also happens to be my childhood friend. The first time we met was at a meeting the Blodfang had with my mother, she had brought me along. Maya and Linus had played during the meeting and kept meeting to play.
Maya tighten her grip on me again, burying her face in my shoulder. For a second, I just stood there, not sure what to do.
"You disappeared for months Linus!" she said between sobs. "no letters, no owls, nothing! Do you have any idea how worried I was?"
I felt my throat tighten. "I didn't mean to… things have been complicated lately"
Maya pulled back, her faced flushed when she realized how long she had been hugging me for, her braids messy from running. "I know but why didn't you write to me I could have helped you…"
"I was in a coma maya, for almost 8 months. I haven't told anyone that so you have to keep it secret."
She looked at me, more tears forming in her eyes. "I really don't want to lose you…" he face flushed red and turned her face away to hide it.
She's so cute. "I'm not going anywhere Maya, you will never lose me."
For a moment we stood there in the greenhouse, the smell of herbs drifting in the air.
Her red eyes studied me, as if weighing the truth of my words. Then, slowly she nodded.
The two sat down inside the greenhouse, the conversations flowed as the two of the already knew each other very well. The laugh, shared story's, maya showed some of the magic she learnt. I could show of too but I didn't want her to feel like I was flexing, last time she saw my magic was before the system. If I showed the now she would think I had done a deal with the devil or something.
"So have you decided what school to go to?" maya asked as she stuffed her mouth with a piece of cake.
"School?" I had forgotten that part, I turn eleven this year.
"You forgot, I knew you would" she said with a smug expression. "Well now that I have reminded you what school are you going to go to?"
Scandinavia had two options for school, they could go to the obvious Durmstrang school that was located somewhere in northern Europe, no one really knew where it was exactly. Every student that attend the school is given a charm that makes in impossible to remember where the school is. Durmstrang isn't like a normal magical school, its rough training, discipline. They also openly teach dark arts instead of learning how to defend against it like most other schools do.
Then there was Beauxbatons in France. This academy took in people from across Europe so I could attend there as well. They where more for elegance training and such. I don't know if that's something I would like, I can't say it's a bad school, the students there are some of the best in the world. Durmstrang sounds better to me but I would have to think about it.
"What school are you going to maya?"
"Beauxbatons of course" she said proudly as it was obvious. "I'm going to learn how to dance and be elegant, and I bet I would look really good in that blue school uniform they have"
Linus just chuckled, the confidence in this girl… "don't tell me that you are going to Durmstrang, its cold and just awful"
"I haven't decided yet calm down" well it was the truth I haven't decided but probably will chose Durmstrang, same as dad. Mom had attended Hogwarts and Beauxbatons. I have been thinking of Hogwarts but I doesn't seem appealing, I also don't know if they will let me attend because I'm not even British.
Maya looked at me, she looked mad. "And here I was thinking we were going to dance together in the marble halls" she blushed after saying that.
"We can still dance even if I attend another school idiot"
The two spent 4 hours together just talking and using spells.