"No need, Grandpa Theseus—I think I've already got a better idea."
Rock waved his hand, turned around, picked up the candy box Queenie had given him, and flipped it open.
With a circle of adults watching, he opened the little pouch, pulled out the bright red Philosopher's Stone without hesitation, and casually tossed it into the candy box.
Click.
Rock snapped the lid shut and handed it to Theseus with a playful grin.
"Grandpa Theseus, you used to head the Auror Office. You know every kind of protection spell out there."
"Could you put a barrier on this candy box—something like, oh, I don't know… only people who don't want to use what's inside can open it?"
"By Merlin's beard…"
Theseus stared at Rock, his confusion quickly replaced by admiration and disbelief. He murmured under his breath:
"This idea… this is the kind of thing a seasoned tactician would come up with."
Uh—
Yeah, Rock definitely couldn't accept that compliment.
This was just something Dumbledore did with the Mirror of Erised in the original story—he was just borrowing the idea. And Theseus naturally looked at him through a very flattering filter.
But Newt and Tina didn't know that. They exchanged a glance, and in each other's eyes they saw the same emotion:
It feels like their grandson grew up overnight.
The calmness, the strategy, the composure he showed—it was far beyond what they expected.
"Hahaha, brilliant!" Jacob burst into laughter. "Honestly, it sounds more reliable than sticking it in a bank vault. I mean, which thief is gonna steal a kid's candy box?"
Considering his first meeting with Newt happened at the State Bank, the joke wasn't lost on him.
Newt chuckled as well, though now wasn't the time for nostalgia. He agreed that Rock's idea was workable.
Theseus took out his wand and stepped forward. "Of course I can."
"This spell is old, but I know the principles. It's a protection magic based on 'intent.'"
"Though… if Albus had cast it, it probably would've been easier."
Even as he said that, Theseus lifted his wand—no way he would look inferior in front of Rock.
Golden, threadlike strands of magic flowed from the wand tip as he chanted in a strange, ancient rhythm.
The glow wrapped around the candy box, settling over it like a thin veil before sinking into the surface and vanishing.
Clap clap clap—
Newt and the others applauded. Theseus had cast it with absolute ease, and the chant alone made it clear this was no ordinary protection spell.
Rock held the candy box out to Newt with a raised brow. "Grandpa, give it a try. What's the thing you most want to take out right now?"
Newt paused—instinctively thinking of the Philosopher's Stone—then reached to open the box.
Pop.
The lid opened on its own, and a lemon sherbet popped out into his hand.
Newt's eyes widened before he relaxed and smiled. Yes, this was indeed the safest approach.
Rock grinned too. This was perfect.
No more worrying about being watched once he got to Hogwarts.
As for how he would retrieve it later? Easy—he just had to think: This isn't mine. It's time to return it to Dumbledore.
Holding that thought, Rock tried it.
Sure enough…
The bright red stone jumped right into his hand. Magic could be mysterious, but it wasn't omnipotent; sometimes changing your mindset was enough to break a spell.
His earlier explanation with Theseus had basically been a word game.
Well… except for the Unforgivable Curses, of course—those were a whole different level.
Everyone exchanged a satisfied smile.
Demonstration complete, Rock gathered his pile of gifts and headed back inside.
The birthday party was pretty much over anyway. They'd probably have dinner together later. For now, he needed to check the panel and see what had changed.
The Philosopher's Stone was a high-tier artifact. There was no way its results would be simple.
Rock entered his room and immediately opened the panel.
---
[Book of All Arcane Inscriptions]
Author: Rock Theseus Scamander
### [Foundational Chapter]
Mana Spring Lv.2 (450/599)
Mental Scale Lv.2 (545/599)
Physical Resilience Lv.1 (60/299)
### [Law Fragments] (New Chapter)
Eternal Circuit (Inscribed, Not Yet Parsed)
→ Parse Requirement: Alchemy Lv.1
Effect: Greatly increases creation stability; grants anti-corrosion & anti-degeneration properties.
Transmutation Formula (Inscribed, Not Yet Parsed)
→ Parse Requirement: Ancient Runes Lv.2
Effect: +15% Potion-making experience gain; unlocks Basic Material Transmutation.
Sage's Mark (Resonated)
Effect: Enhances alchemy talent; slightly increases breakthrough rate for all skill bottlenecks.
### [Spell Chapter]
Locked
### [Potion Chapter]
Locked
### [Alchemy] (Affinity)
Basic Material Recognition Lv.0 (25/100)
### [Marks of the Day]
Successfully inscribed high-tier artifact Philosopher's Stone: Mental Scale +15
Successfully inscribed high-tier artifact Philosopher's Stone: Mental Scale +15
...
---
What?!
Laws?
Rock was stunned. He expected the Philosopher's Stone to produce something unusual, but this was ridiculous.
Actual laws? Even if they were only fragments?
"Is this system trying to stop pretending it's a magic panel? Planning to overpower me from another dimension?"
Up until now, everything could still be interpreted as part of this world's magical structure.
But "laws"? That was on a completely different level.
Creation stability boost, anti-degeneration—basically his transfiguration would become way more reliable than anyone else's.
And the other two drastically boosted his alchemy and potion-making talent—two fields where talent was everything.
People didn't just become Snape or Nicolas Flamel by studying hard.
Don't be naïve~
If he unlocked these fragments…
Wouldn't he practically become a mix of Snape and Nicolas Flamel?
Smack—
Rock slapped himself. It was almost nighttime, not dreamtime—wake up.
"AHHHHH!"
The sting on his cheek only made reality clearer.
The panel was showing him all this now, but he still had to meet the requirements to actually unlock anything.
Pure torture.
His eyes drifted toward the candy box.
With his current mental state, there was no way he could handle another inscription.
"Forget it… let everything burn."
Rock flopped onto his bed, forcing himself not to think too much.
The more he thought about it, the itchier his brain felt.
---