Professor Snape's departure was as swift as his appearance,
Leaving a bewildered Sheen holding exactly ten Galleons, muttering to himself under the watchful eyes of a crowd of onlookers in portraits
"Professor Snape is..."
"Hahaha—Little Green, you don't think that dark, oh, that brave fellow has gone mad, do you? Hahaha..."
Sir Cadogan was as bold as ever.
Then, the excitement shifted.
Sheen walked away silently for a hundred meters, and the surrounding portraits retreated by two frames' distance as well.
Because the returning Professor Snape's face was darker than the storm clouds outside the window.
"Mrs. Violet, the Knight will be fine, won't he?"
Sheen asked softly to the kind-looking lady wearing a white slip dress.
"What do you consider to be 'fine'? Being burned? Being transferred into a painting of a pile of trolls? Or..."
Mrs. Violet said with a smile, not realizing how terrifying her words sounded.
"Him? He'll likely stay alive, as for any other demands..."
Sheen offered three seconds of silence for Sir Cadogan before leaving the corridor.
And until deep into the night, Sir Cadogan's wails continued to echo through the hallway.
On the way back to the common room, Sheen took out the slip of paper, using distraction to combat the endless staircase
[As I have said before—truth never compromises; the wizard capable of finding it will always find it.
When the refinement ritual makes a wizard more acute, talented wizards will perceive those wonderful changes.
Ignorant fools can only ever immerse themselves in traditions that are rotten to the core, while true Potions Masters will never cease their exploration.
Perhaps you wonder why refined rituals are so rare—]
Sheen turned the page with curiosity, making the climb up the stairs feel less agonizing.
[You should remember—spells and potions are connected by a single primordial thread;
You should perceive this when you use Will Guidance.
As you suspected, I have completed the necessary work.
Every refinement ritual for a potion is recorded with a unique method of Will Guidance.
Later generations should understand that this is the greatest pioneering work Boracci himself achieved in the mysterious and profound realm of Potions!
Next, I shall reveal the mystery of why potions are so full of magic—]
Sheen's breath hitched instantly.
Rituals and Will Control were actually paired together?
The prize pool was still accumulating... the value of this "greatest pioneering work" was continuously rising...
Sheen couldn't help but marvel—
The vastness of magic lies in the fact that when a wizard discovers a path with longing in their heart,
By the time they turn the page, a wizard has already described it.
Sheen quickly recorded the methods above, word for word.
He was facing a treasury,
A treasury of wisdom accumulated through a lifetime of exploration by a wizard widely considered to be one of the greatest potioneers.
When Sheen reviewed his panel, he realized his Potions progress had advanced significantly
[Title: Potion Novice]
[Scab Potion: Apprentice Level (210/300)]
[Advancement: Three entry-level potions can unlock an entry-level title in the Potion field]
The Scab Potion was nearing mastery; he should look for other potions to brew and grind for experience to unlock titles.
*Magical Drafts and Potions* introduced several potion-making methods, including: Common Antidote, Scab Treatment Potion, Obliviate Potion, Herbicide, Sleeping Draught, Swelling Potion, and Waking Potion...
Their difficulties were similar, and their prices mostly fell within the range of a few Galleons.
However, these were all ordinary quality, roughly the price of a [Handyman],
Higher quality potions would see their prices increase exponentially.
When quality reached a certain height, they became almost astronomical in price.
Sheen thought,
Perhaps it was because Potion Masters wouldn't bother brewing low-level potions, while low-level potioneers were unable to brew high-quality potions?
Just like his own [Expert] level Scab Potion, which was actually worth a full ten Galleons,
Suddenly making Sheen's wallet much heavier.
Late at night,
The purple-mottled cover of *Advanced Potion-Making* was blown open by the wind,
And a slip of paper fell like a dancer beside the sky-blue curtains
[Indeed, the journey continues,
We have yet to find that ultimate,
Answer regarding the essence of potions.
However, by chance,
We have discovered something unusual,
Could this be a new beginning for potions?
—Boracci]
...
On Monday, the little Ravenclaw wizards were all silent,
Because they had to face two consecutive Potions classes first thing in the morning.
Under the intimidation of a certain Potions Master, this had naturally become the class the young wizards feared most.
"Oh, Sheen, slow down, slow down."
Justin was brewing in a frantic rush under Sheen's guidance; he always felt that Sheen made new progress with every brew,
To the point where even looking at Sheen's notes sometimes left him confused.
"Um, Terry, do you mean we're still processing ingredients while the potion next to us is already done?"
Michael looked at Terry with a "don't treat me like a fool" expression while brewing leeches.
"Yes."
Terry's gaze fell on Justin, who was receiving the potion, to confirm.
"I find it hard to believe... I believe you, Terry."
Michael followed Terry's gaze, then quickly turned his head to offer a sincere apology,
"Terry, I am deeply sorry for doubting you and Sheen. Could you tell us if we can ask Sheen for some tips after class?"
Just as the first Potions class was about to end,
Professor Snape strode toward the back rows, scaring the little Eagles and Badgers into shrinking their heads.
"Barely passing—"
His voice was as cold as ever,
"One point—each."
Sheen watched the potion with [Entry] proficiency; he hadn't actually helped much—
This also meant that Justin's talent for Potions seemed quite good.
When the second class began,
Professor Snape suddenly announced that they would be learning a new potion—the Swelling Potion.
This caused a chorus of wails from some of the little wizards who had just learned the Scab Potion,
Which were then swallowed back under a single glare from Professor Snape.
Only Sheen's eyes grew brighter.
"Swelling Potion, a potion that seems simple, yet is an extreme test of... precision and intellect."
Professor Snape's voice rang out, low and smooth, instantly killing the last bit of whispering in the dungeon.
He paused slightly, a trace of mockery curling his lips,
"Of course, for most of you, this is undoubtedly an excessively high demand.
Therefore, if you dare to be even slightly distracted..."
The little wizards shuddered, instantly snapping to attention.
The three ingredients for the Swelling Potion: Bat Spleen, Dried Nettle, and Pufferfish Eyes.
Sheen had never processed two of them, so while Professor Snape was preparing the ingredients, he didn't even blink.