Chapter 220: The Youngest Participant
The moment the stone slab touched his hand, it felt ice-cold. Within less than two seconds, Sean-kun felt the space around him distort. He instantly realized this must be a form of Apparition.
"Please take your seat, sir."
A familiar voice reached him as the slight dizziness faded, and Sean-kun began to take in his surroundings. The space was vast and magnificent, surrounded by deep stone walls that shimmered like a river of stars.
At the very front was a shattered mirror split into twenty-four facets; the largest facet stood nearly five meters high.
A house-elf bowed low at Sean-kun's feet. Sean-kun looked toward where it was pointing, where twenty-four chairs were arranged. Each chair seemed to occupy its own independent space. Sean-kun noticed the chairs appeared much smaller than normal, and a theory began to form in his mind.
When he stepped inside, his theory was confirmed. The area was enchanted with an Undetectable Extension Charm.
It was far more than just the space occupied by a chair; it was a cozy room nearly the size of an entire alchemy office. The central dining table was set with various exquisite delicacies; the fireplace roared with a fierce flame that was neither scorching nor stifling. There was even an alchemical workbench right next to the seat, featuring over a dozen different styles of carving tools.
There was even a bed.
Are they planning on having us sleep halfway through the exchange? Sean-kun thought. Wizards were truly far too casual.
"Please wait until after the symposium begins before you rest," the house-elf beside him said in a tiny, fawning tone, noticing Sean-kun staring at the bed.
Do some wizards actually do that? Sean-kun felt he still knew far too little about the wizarding world.
"After the symposium begins?"
As if sensing Sean-kun's confusion, the house-elf continued:
"When the symposium begins, the Multi-mirror will arrange the order and project your status. The previous occupant of the seventh seat, 'Miracle,' is currently resting, the one before him is dining, and the one before that and another lord are... It's starting—"
The house-elf let out a low cry and then fell silent, trembling.
Behind the elf, the giant mirror surface began to ripple. Before long, many figures appeared upon it.
Sean-kun saw the long, white-bearded Headmaster Dumbledore, the expressionless Professor McGonagall, the cold and stoic Professor Terra, and a strong, elegant witch nearly as tall as Hagrid...
On the largest mirror at the top, an elderly wizard appeared. He looked ancient, but his eyes were sharp and full of life. Sean-kun gazed at the mirror, slightly dazed. Communicating via projected images on a mirror surface... this looked like an advanced version of a two-way mirror.
It was likely a mirror that could connect to many wizards at once. No wonder it was called the Multi-mirror.
"Master Nicolas Flamel—"
A voice rang out. Sean-kun didn't know who was presiding, but he saw Master Flamel nod. The hall erupted in thunderous applause. Caught off guard, Sean-kun quickly followed suit and began clapping.
Suddenly, Sean-kun realized a very interesting phenomenon. If Master Flamel was facing the mirror just like them, then from his perspective, he was nodding to the people inside the mirror. Simultaneously, because he was also inside the mirror, everyone could see him nodding to the entire assembly.
"The discoverer of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, winner of the gold medal, and partner of Master Nicolas Flamel—Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore."
Headmaster Dumbledore smiled kindly and offered a round of applause. Sean-kun heard the applause in the hall grow even more fervent.
"The youngest participant in the history of the International Alchemical Symposium, sponsored by Flora Olivia Terra, Albus Dumbledore, and Olympe Maxime—Sean-kun Green—"
The host's voice wavered slightly.
An incredibly young face appeared in the very center. Those calm, deep, light-green eyes gazed at everyone. He didn't even make a move before he disappeared from the central mirror.
The hall fell into a dead silence, followed by a wave of whispers.
"Terra, after all these years, she finally has an apprentice? But this arrogance... it's a bit too much like Terra's..."
"So this is why Terra wrote to me for the first time in ten years? How disappointing. I was hoping she'd never find an apprentice until the day she died..."
"I'll trust Terra for now, but an eleven-year-old wizard... if he can even manage to regurgitate the wisdom of others, it would be considered decent."
Sean-kun only gradually processed the situation. For the first time in a long while, he felt a sense of annoyance. He hadn't expected to be introduced so early; he hadn't even heard the Professor's name yet.
Think about it: Master Nicolas was nodding, Dumbledore was clapping...
The introductory phase ended quickly. According to the house-elf, the purpose of this step was to prevent the arrogant alchemists from being unable to even name each other during the upcoming exchange.
The wizards stepped out from their seats. The house-elves snapped their fingers, and the wizards vanished from their spots.
"Let's go, my 'arrogant' apprentice," Professor Terra said with a smile as she walked over. Under the gaze of the other wizards, she took Sean-kun's hand, making no effort to hide her high hopes for her student.
"Terra, you wrote to me just for this farce? You and I both know that while honor is important, it is the most trivial thing at this alchemical symposium." A tall, elderly witch with brownish skin sighed as if helpless. Behind her stood another witch with similar skin.
"When you were young, it was understandable to value honor, but to force a claim on a meaningless title... please show some concern for your legacy. We old folks understand you, but we won't be around much longer," another white-haired wizard added in a tone of counsel.
"Truth does not care to notice," Professor Terra replied calmly.
The long-time friends she had written to all wore expressions that said, 'Damn, this woman hasn't changed a bit. I should have known.'
"Enough said." The white-haired wizard snapped his fingers and disappeared with his apprentice.
"I look forward to our exchange, little one," the brownish-skinned witch said, having subtly sensed something. She gave Sean-kun a curious look before also vanishing.
"Admission, receiving the inheritance, and then showing your future. That is the order of the symposium, my apprentice. Do you remember?" Professor Terra asked.
She watched as Sean-kun fell into thought, then snapped her own fingers. The symposium hall vanished before Sean-kun's eyes. To be precise, they had Apparated to another location.
This place was pitch black. In front of them was a giant tree carved into the stone wall. The trunk and the various cavities beneath the tree emitted light, and above them, Ancient Runes were inscribed:
"The fourfold world cycles, the fifth element manifests."
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