[Loan: Mechanical Transformation Pocket Watch (Monthly Loan)]
[Repayment Period: 30 days.]
[Loan Content: Mechanical Transformation Pocket Watch, a creation fusing Transfiguration and Alchemy, can record mastered Transfiguration spells in the watch, converting them into semi-permanent solidified transformations.]
[Note: This is not a weapon, but an educational tool. By analysing its structural principles, one can deepen understanding of Transfiguration and Alchemy.]
[Loan Task: Create a controllable mechanical animal OR learn to master semi-permanent solidified transformation – choose one of the two.]
Leo examined the loan description the system had generated. He hadn't expected touching his own magical creation would trigger a new loan opportunity.
A Mechanical Transformation Pocket Watch? Just from the description alone, it sounded fascinating.
Semi-permanent solidified transformation... Leo had read about this in advanced Transfiguration texts. This belonged to one of the field's absolute peaks.
Normally, Transfiguration wasn't permanent. Professor McGonagall's pre-class demonstration turned the podium into a pig—if she didn't continue applying magic to maintain it, that pig would eventually revert to wood after some time.
Semi-permanent solidified transformation occurred when wizards, through extensive preparation, repeatedly fine-tuned objects with Transfiguration magic, fixing the transformation as permanently as possible.
But it was called semi-permanent because this transformation still required wizards to intermittently supplement it with magical power. However, the wizard providing that power didn't need to master such advanced Transfiguration themselves—even newly awakened students could manage it.
Leo thought of another object he needed to obtain this year.
The Philosopher's Stone.
Sure, it could brew the Elixir of Life, which was fascinating. But its other function—turning stone to gold—interested him far more currently.
Converting substances into gold with permanent solidification! No maintenance of magical power required. Even after hundreds or thousands of years, it'd still be gold.
It wasn't pure alchemy, nor pure Transfiguration, but a fusion of both.
This loan's reminder sparked new ideas. Besides using the Philosopher's Stone to brew potions for repaying the Qilin loan, he might also use it to draw analogies in Transfiguration theory.
No wonder this pocket watch was described as a fusion creation. Not a weapon, but an educational tool—gaining knowledge by studying it? Quite challenging.
As for the task... this was his first encounter with choosing between two options. Was it because it covered both the Transfiguration and Alchemy fields?
With his extraordinary SSS-rank Transfiguration talent, mastering semi-permanent solidified transformation within a month wouldn't be particularly difficult.
But creating mechanical animals sounded equally interesting. He'd try both simultaneously.
With A+ level Alchemy talent, not learning more would be wasteful.
"System, I want this loan."
[Ding! Loan application successful; item delivered to system space and can be collected anytime.]
Returning his attention to reality, Leo picked up the miniature telescope he'd transformed, carefully observing its mechanical precision and beauty.
Pointing it toward the window, he adjusted it slightly. He could just make out Hagrid's small hut in the distance.
Shifting angles, he focused on the vegetable garden. Not bad at all—the Carnivorous Cabbage seeds had sprouted already. Quite quickly too.
While Leo was using his telescope to peek at his little vegetables, he didn't notice Professor McGonagall watching him with extremely complex eyes.
"Leonardo, your performance continues exceeding my expectations."
Hearing her words, Leo quickly lowered the telescope.
"I knew this basic transformation wouldn't challenge you, and creating patterns on the silver needle wouldn't be much trouble either."
"But..." McGonagall's gaze focused on the telescope Leo was holding. "Could I borrow this for examination?"
Leo handed it over. Professor McGonagall took it and studied it thoroughly. After confirming it actually functioned rather than being purely decorative, she murmured softly:
"Perhaps the classroom pace isn't suitable for you."
"Professor, what'd you say?"
Leo hadn't caught her murmur clearly, and she shook her head.
"Nothing important. Leonardo, your performance was exceptional. Come to my office after class."
"Of course, Professor."
"Grafton completed the transformation first—twenty points to Ravenclaw!"
How many points?!
Students who'd been struggling with their matches all looked up, wondering if they'd heard wrong or if the professor had misspoken.
When professors awarded points for classroom performance, wasn't it usually two or three points, maybe five at most?
"Professor, why does simply completing the match-to-needle transformation earn twenty points?"
A Slytherin student asked with obvious confusion and dissatisfaction. He glanced at his own match—almost completely transformed into a needle. He'd been close to taking first place and earning points for his house.
But now a Ravenclaw had beaten him, earning twenty points at once? Even their Head of House, Snape, who clearly favoured Slytherin students, wouldn't award twenty points total in one class!
"Oh, Mr Selwyn, I need to correct something important."
"Grafton didn't complete a simple match-to-needle transformation, but this."
Professor McGonagall held up the telescope, ensuring all students could clearly see Leo's work.
They looked at their own objects that resembled neither needles nor matches, then at that telescope with its complex precision.
Were we all attending the same first Transfiguration class?
"Um, Professor, could I take a look at this telescope?"
A young witch curiously raised her hand. She genuinely wanted to see what a telescope transformed from a match looked like up close.
Others looked at Professor McGonagall with similar expressions of curiosity.
McGonagall's lips curved upward. "That's entirely up to our student Leonardo."
Leo nodded, indicating they were welcome to examine it.
Soon several students boldly stepped forward. More and more joined them, producing a continuous stream of amazed exclamations.
Suddenly, someone tugged at Leo's sleeve.
"Leonardo, could you teach me Transfiguration?"