Julian had earned more points from forging Ohtar than from any other ring so far, a staggering total of one hundred and fifty two ring points.
He was fairly sure that was only because of the strict constraint he had woven into it. For all its potential strength, the ring would recognize and protect exactly one person in all existence: Harry.
Even if Ohtar eventually grew into the most powerful piece Julian ever forged, which he honestly doubted, no one else would ever be able to use it. Everyone besides Harry would just have to swallow their envy and accept that fact.
Julian had no doubt that if he ever managed to forge a growth-type ring that was not bound to a single bearer, its rating would leave Harry's ring in the dust.
Still, he was content. Harry loved the gift, and that alone made the ordeal worthwhile.
Later that night, after Harry had finally drifted off to sleep, Julian pulled out his wand and decided it was time to have a proper look at it through the system.
The information that appeared made his eyes widen further with each line he read.
[Wand: Primordial wood / Celestial bird feather
Grade: MYTHICAL
Abilities: Dominion over avians, unmatched transfiguration capability, affinity for fire, lightning, water, and air, progressive growth
MYTHICAL ABILITY: Heaven's Wrath: Calls down a bolt of celestial power upon those who attempt to steal the wand, harming their very soul.
Description: A wand with the potential to stand alongside any of the greatest ever crafted, formed through masterful methods from the wood of a Primordial tree and a tail feather taken from a Celestial bird. This wand will only accept wielders born from the fusion of two things that never should have been joined and grants its chosen bearer absolute authority over all birdkind.
System appraisal: A formidable wand whose fate of remaining forever unused has been shattered and which will etch its mark into history with every spell it casts.]
Julian swallowed hard and almost choked on his own saliva, staring at the wand lying in his hand.
Oh yes. I am absolutely, completely doomed, he thought, numb.
At least the reason it had chosen him made sense now. He was, quite literally, a soul from another version of Earth, grafted into a body in this world. A fusion of realities that were never meant to overlap.
Two things that were never supposed to be combined, blended anyway.
Might as well make the most of it, he thought with a weary sigh, letting go of his old fantasy of slipping through Hogwarts unnoticed. Between Sanar, Ohtar, and this wand, anonymity was a dream long past saving.
That night, for the first time in a while, his sleep carried him back to a familiar figure: a brown-haired elven ring-smith.
"So you have finally produced something worth talking about," the elf remarked, looking at Ohtar with a faintly amused expression. "Ohtar, is it? Your naming sense remains as dreadful as ever."
He lifted the ring, examining the tiny bird-shaped band. "I am not mocking you, mind. Protector is not a bad name, strictly speaking. But surely there were more inspired choices than something so... literal. Not that it matters now. Once named, a ring does not take well to being renamed."
He let the ring rest on his palm again, expression shifting from exasperation to seriousness in an instant.
"I was not called here over such trivialities, however," he continued. "An anomaly has appeared."
His gaze focused on Julian.
"It formed from the merging of my craft and your soul. Because of that, your spirit has begun to change, leaning toward becoming elven."
Julian blinked. "Would that not be a good thing?" he asked in his head, confused.
The elf gave a small, rueful smile. "I thought much the same, initially. And in many ways, it would be. However, this... system bound to you tells me that if you permit the process to continue unchecked, you will not remain human at all."
"It will not stop at your soul. Your body will slowly shift as well, reshaping itself until you are, in truth, one of my people. You will gain everything that comes with that, and everything that is taken by it."
His voice softened, tone almost regretful.
"You will reach physical maturity and then never age another day. Your life will stretch onward as the years fall away... but you will be alone. The only elf in this world."
"No other elf in our history has ever been truly solitary. We are raised among our own, taught from birth to live with our agelessness. You have not been. I cannot blame you if you choose to remain human."
He sighed.
"I wish you had more time to choose. It is not a decision to be made lightly. But the system insists you only have three days before the transformation becomes irreversible. I am sorry."
The dream dissolved, and Julian jolted awake.
...
Chaos. That was the only word that fit the state of his mind.
His wand sputtered and crackled beside him, reacting to the turmoil. Raw magic sparked at the edges of his control, the focus trying its best to channel and diffuse it harmlessly.
Normally, once a witch or wizard bonded with a wand, most accidental magic waned. The wood and core absorbed and redirected the extra energy, keeping random outbursts to a minimum.
Right now, though, the strain was too great.
Anyone who has ever seriously thought through what immortality truly means, in detail, could have summarized Julian's current state in a single word.
Lost.