The handwriting on the note is neat and clear.
Neat like print.
There's absolutely no sign of personal handwriting characteristics—it definitely wasn't something Ian had forgotten in his robe, nor could it be a part of the runes Ian himself had copied down.
Although his handwriting wasn't ugly, it wasn't so neat that it could compare to print without any personal traces, let alone Ian being so young that he could forget copying down such a small section of runes due to amnesia.
"By Merlin's beard! I've encountered something eerie!"
Ian hesitantly picked up the note from the ground. Such an item seemingly appearing out of thin air from his pocket gave him an extremely eerie, spine-tingling feeling.
Who could slip a note into his pocket without him knowing? Ian stared at the small section of slightly flowing rune records on the note. He had a very strong hunch that this might be what he was trying to find—the part of the runes in the Resurrection Stone that could anchor the target.
"It's this part..."
Ian had already memorized the Resurrection Stone runes in his heart, but he still took out the Resurrection Stone to compare them. The segment of runes on the note indeed came from the Resurrection Stone, which was the most disturbing realization. After all, the only living person who knew Ian was studying the Resurrection Stone runes was Grindelwald.
"Did Aurora's grandfather already help me decipher what I wanted?" Ian quickly dismissed this guess, finding it unlikely that Grindelwald's efficiency could be this quick.
Moreover, there was no need for Grindelwald to hand Ian the answer in such a mysterious manner. Calling Ian to the office to deliver the results while asking Ian to praise him for half an hour would be more Grindelwald's style.
"Dumbledore doesn't know the Resurrection Stone is with me, and Abeeforth is unlikely either." Ian, holding the note, began to recall the people he encountered today.
Firstly, eliminate all the little wizards he interacted with today; they shuddered even when casting an Evil Curse, let alone delving into the secrets of the Deathly Hallows.
Quirrell possessed by Voldemort? Unlikely, if the Black Demon King knew Ian had the Resurrection Stone and its soul was gone, why would he exchange pleasantries with a smile?
Could it be Snape?
Even more impossible!
Snape's expertise in Alchemy is not particularly high; he only likes to fiddle with the liquids in the crucible. Even Uncle couldn't notice the intricacies within the Living Map.
"And there's that mysterious Professor of Alchemy... Arthur King." Ian knew there was some speculation about the professor's name, but no one could tell if it was a name Professor Arthur King adopted during his rebellious phase.
Just like how Tom Riddle changed his name to Voldemort. In Western lands, it's not uncommon for people to alter even their surnames for certain reasons.
Besides...
Professor Arthur King didn't know Ian was researching the Resurrection Stone, nor did Ian mention it to him in the library. Could this professor open his Heart Eye to see things he shouldn't? Although Hogwarts indeed houses many hidden talents, it shouldn't house a wizard powerful enough to accomplish such an exaggerated feat.
Of course, it's not to say the Professor of Alchemy has no suspicion; Ian just couldn't fathom how he would know what Ian wanted or how he could solve Ian's problem on a whim.
The most crucial point is that there is almost no reason for a person Ian barely knows to offer him such help, and do so anonymously after providing the assistance.
What would they gain?
Are they after Ian's featherweight and supple form?
That would be even more unsettling upon deeper thought!
"Truly bizarre and absurd..." Ian frowned thoughtfully for a long time without drawing any conclusions. He believed that behind this note must be a lurking, stealthy figure.
Conspiracy or assistance?
"I'll know once I try it!" Ian, skilled and courageous, grabbed the note and headed to his work desk. He took a counterfeit raw Resurrection Stone ring base from his money bag to experiment with.
Apart from the base from Abeeforth, Ian had six more bases to attempt with. Even if the remaining bases were ruined, he still had more stones from the Misty Illusion Realm in stock. Alchemy requires courage for trials and errors, as long as oneself and acquaintances are not used as test subjects.
"You come and assist me! Grind all these things for me!" Ian once again released his Dementor helper and began validation in the Room of Requirement.
Whether the information extracted from this mysterious note is correct or not, one can only know through trial. At worst, failure is the only outcome.
"During the next entry into the Misty Illusion Realm, I will first experiment with a small animal." Ian, keeping his cautious heart, planned to avoid falling into others' traps.
Not only did he intend to first experiment with runes on a small animal, but he also sketched directly from the Resurrection Stone body when replicating it, ignoring the note altogether.
This was to prevent subtle, imperceptible alterations in the runes on the note. Caution is the parent of safety, and Ian kept the note to see if he could trace its origin from it.