"The Mirror of Erised?"
Ollivander paused for a moment after hearing the name.
"That truly is an alchemical object with remarkable power," he said slowly. "But there's something I need to remind you of—the Mirror of Erised shows you what your heart desires most. The visions it presents shift according to your inner longing, and while much of what appears in the reflection often feels very real…"
He tapped the counter lightly.
"For example, you might see family members you've never met. You could glimpse places you've never visited. You might even see the past—or the future."
"But not everything it shows is real. It isn't an all-knowing prophetic mirror. It simply creates images that satisfy your inner desires. Its magic is powerful and mysterious, but it's not omnipotent."
"The mirror can reveal many secrets… but hidden among them are lies the viewer can't easily detect. That's exactly why the Mirror of Erised can enchant people—why it's so alluring, so intoxicating."
"What you see with your own eyes isn't necessarily the truth."
Ollivander's warning was sincere, and Lynn didn't take it lightly.
"Thank you for the reminder," Lynn replied. "But if the Mirror of Erised showed me a possibility, then there shouldn't be any harm in trying. Even if it doesn't work out, we might gain new insights from the experiment."
"Isn't the endless unknown the most captivating part of magic?"
"Indeed, indeed!"
Ollivander chuckled. "Even with wands—wizards from different parts of the world use entirely different wand designs. Beyond the usual magical woods and magical creature cores, magical gemstones are also materials many wandmakers consider."
"A few centuries ago, it was fashionable in Europe to embed gemstones into wands. Nearly every wizard from an old family was proud to own such a lavish wand… though mastering one wasn't easy."
He tapped the table, signaling he was getting to the main point.
"Magical gemstones are crystals with special properties. Magic flowing through them takes on the gemstone's elemental attribute—something we call elemental magic."
"When casting spells aligned with that element, the magic becomes stronger. But when using such magic for spells that clash with that element, the spell might fail—or even backlash."
"In Europe, although a few spells could be enhanced by elemental magic, the system was too limited. So, after a period of popularity, gemstone-embedded wands faded out. Even today, if someone embeds a stone in their wand, it's usually decorative—just a normal gemstone, not a magical one."
"Different spellcasting systems naturally create different magical traditions around the world. And wands—the medium for spellcasting—reflect that in their variety of designs and functions. Your ideas are good. I don't oppose these little experiments."
"So then…" Ollivander leaned forward with interest. "Tell me—what's the first thing you want to study?"
New minds, he believed, were always more creative than old ones like his. As someone who had once been full of strange, bold ideas himself, he welcomed such curiosity.
"I want to create a wand that can help me cast spells."
"My talent for charms is terrible. Even though I have plenty of magic and good control, spellcasting always feels like a struggle."
"Professor Flitwick recommended I study runic magic, but runic spellcasting has clear limitations—it was replaced by modern charms for good reason."
"I want to change that—or at least optimize it so it suits me better."
Lynn pulled out the magical notebook and flipped to a blank page.
"I want to find a more advanced casting method, something more fitting for our era—something that can compensate for what I lack."
"I want to break free from my stiff, inefficient spellcasting. I want runic magic to gain the same flexibility that charms have—something that responds to my intent."
"So I need a special wand—one made specifically for me. If my talent can't change, then I'll change the tool."
Lynn drew his white-walnut wand and tapped the rectangular block of wood on the table. It instantly shifted shape.
Even in the dim shop, the newly formed object gleamed with a sharp silver-white shine—its intricate engravings were beautifully detailed. Lynn had recreated, at full scale, what he saw in the Mirror of Erised:
A silver-engraved Colt M1873 revolver.
"A fine piece of craftsmanship," Ollivander murmured, picking up the silver, engraved revolver.
"But the carvings mean nothing." After glancing over it, he shook his head. "If this is what you saw in the Mirror of Erised, then I must say—it's a decent collector's item. But as an alchemical tool? It's less effective than a paperweight."
"This is the lie the Mirror of Erised showed you."
"I know," Lynn replied. "But it represents a new possibility, doesn't it?"
"Have wizards ever tried using Muggle weapons?"
"Of course."
Ollivander nodded. "Muggle firearms and cannons have both been used by wizards. When I was in school, dueling with pistols was quite trendy. After all, one simple Shield Charm and the thing becomes completely harmless to a wizard."
"The Iron-Skin Charm easily shrugs off these toys as well. And magical creatures… well, about ten years ago a Welsh Green Dragon went on a rampage in a Muggle city after a wizard illegally tried to keep it. The Muggle military fired everything they had at it. They only managed to knock off a few scales. A dragon's innate magic nullifies all Muggle attacks—and most magical creatures have similar resistance."
"Only magic can counter magic. The reason wizards were once driven into hiding wasn't Muggle weapons—it was because the Muggle Church captured magically gifted children and conditioned them into dangerous anti-wizard hunters. These hunters often lost control and transformed into Muggles' equivalent of Obscurials, making them incredibly dangerous."
"It was like the witch burnings of the Middle Ages all over again. Without magical interference, Muggles can almost never threaten a prepared wizard's life. Apparition doesn't require a wand, after all."
In Ollivander's view, Muggle weapons could kill—but only if a wizard was careless. With even the slightest preparation, those weapons were nothing more than toys. A single Muggle-Repelling Charm could scatter an entire military unit.
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