Chapter 62 "Guiliana Cleopatra"

After that particular day, Skyler found himself even more driven and dedicated to his studies. It seemed like he was perpetually engrossed in thick, complex books, reading them with unwavering attention.

He began by completing "Hundred Changes and Thousands of Magic Secrets" and then delved into the dark magic tomes "Dark Potion" and "Fallen Creatures" hidden in Malfoy's Secret Chamber.

These books were dense and ancient, often filled with content that was difficult to comprehend. They were both long and tedious, occasionally featuring dark magic so potent that it could easily ensnare and corrupt unsuspecting readers.

However, Skyler, resolute in his goals, refused to be deterred by the drudgery of those pages. He wouldn't let the intricate content wear down his patience, nor would he let the allure of quick success and instant gratification compromise his temperament.

With a vision of his own future spanning time and space, he simply had to take one step at a time toward his destination.

In the pages of "Fallen Creatures," he came across the research of an obscure dark wizard who had attempted to unravel the curse of lycanthropy.

Skyler, of course, had no intention of curing werewolves but aimed to keep them permanently in their transformed state while being under his control. The dark wizard's research ultimately proved futile.

Interestingly, the direction of this research bore some resemblance to the old Armenian wizard's notes Skyler had acquired from Lockhart. Both were inspired by the ancient magic passed down from the Seleucid Empire. This led Skyler to realize that the breakthrough in the "humanoid restoration curse" might be found in these sources.

In "Dark Potion," he stumbled upon a potion that could significantly enhance his magical abilities: the Buffy Brain Rejuvenation Potion. While most of the potion's ingredients were relatively easy to procure, they were often quite expensive. For instance, the beating toadstool had been collected from the Forbidden Forest as a spare.

Frog brain and Dragon claw powder could be obtained from various apothecaries in Diagon Alley. The tricky part was the Rune Snake Egg, classified as a Class C prohibited trade product, which couldn't be found in conventional stores. Skyler's only options were the underground black market in Knockturn Alley or perhaps Nicholas Flamel.

You might wonder why Skyler wished to brew Buffy Brain Rejuvenation Potion. This potion was known to significantly enhance a wizard's cognitive abilities, often confused with intelligence boosters.

While intelligence boosters could only clear one's thinking, the Buffy Brain Rejuvenation Potion could actually develop and improve memory and cognitive abilities. Many seventh-year students resorted to the black market to obtain Buffy Brain Rejuvenation Potion to boost their grades for NEWTs.

Yet Skyler saw a deeper potential in this potion. He believed that its most valuable application was in enhancing a wizard's mental prowess, which, in turn, determined their spellcasting precision. Many complex incantations requirerequire a high degree of mental power to master.

Moreover, Skyler had realized during his experiments with the Pain Mask that magical power growth wasn't a fixed rate; it was influenced by two factors. By strengthening his soul and mental power, he could gain a bonus in his magical power growth rate.

Currently, Skyler had no concrete plans for strengthening his soul, but taking the Buffy Brain Rejuvenation Potion was undoubtedly the most direct and accessible method for enhancing his mental strength.

Before he knew it, the Easter holiday had arrived.

The Easter holiday proved to be anything but relaxing for most students, particularly the third-year Gryffindors. A barrage of homework assignments had left Neville Longbottom seemingly on the brink of a nervous breakdown.

He was not alone in his suffering, as the cries of frustration from Ron and others struggling with their homework often echoed throughout the Gryffindor common room.

Hermione was arguably the busiest of them all. Despite not having Divination class and having Skyler resolve Hagrid's matters, she still managed to cram in more classes than anyone in her year. She regularly left the common room well past midnight and was the first to be seen in the library each morning.

The dark circles under her eyes mirrored those of Professor Lupin, and she appeared perpetually weary.

The day Hermione had clashed with Draco, Harry and Ron had approached her. They had reconciled with her, and Ron had forgiven her for her troubles. Still, it had been some time since they'd seen a genuine smile on her face. It was as if the once-arrogant, bright-eyed girl had undergone a transformation.

Harry had his hands full with daily Quidditch training, not to mention the countless discussions and tactical planning sessions with Oliver Wood.

Gryffindor's match against Slytherin was scheduled for the first Saturday following Easter. With Slytherin leading the league by two hundred points, Harry had an uphill battle ahead.

To secure victory, he needed to win by more than two hundred points, meaning he had to keep Draco from capturing the Snitch until their team had a substantial lead. The challenge was significantly greater than before.

In contrast, Skyler enjoyed a rather leisurely period. His holiday homework was long completed, and he had no obligations to attend Quidditch training. Two days after Easter commenced, he used the Floo Network to travel from Hogwarts to Sardinia, Italy.

Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean, was a melting pot of cultures. Sardinian, a language derived from Latin, was spoken across the island. In the northern part, Catalan from the Iberian Peninsula was commonly used, and the "Lician" dialect was prevalent in the southern region. Even native Italians sometimes struggled to understand and communicate with the local dialects.

Throughout its history, Sardinia had been a strategic battleground for various military forces, including the Phoenicians, Romans, Vandals, Goths, and Byzantines.

However, in the wizarding world, the island had served as the headquarters of the European Wizards' Federation during the Middle Ages. Before the establishment of the International Confederation of Wizards, the International Wizarding Congress took place here.

Today, the International Confederation of Wizards has taken over these responsibilities and held significant influence within the international wizarding community.

The European Wizards' Federation from the Middle Ages still held sway, largely due to its extensive collection of ancient books on Grindelwald's magic and its connection to the Silver Spear, responsible for hosting the "European Dueling Competition."

When Skyler emerged from the fireplace in Sardinia, he was covered in ashes but suffered no dizziness or discomfort. He gazed with satisfaction at the undamaged Anti-Stunning Bracelet on his wrist, which had undergone countless improvements to withstand such long-distance travel without breaking.

The invention of the Anti-Stunning Bracelet was a success. Skyler, using a Descaling Curse on himself to remove the soot and ash, then surveyed the spacious auditorium in which he found himself.

The auditorium was adorned with intricate medieval-style decorations and carvings. Its walls were adorned with portraits of renowned European wizards from the Middle Ages.

Among them, Skyler could identify many, including the German magical theorist Cornelius Ager Liba, Swiss alchemist Palather, the famous Irish witch Truy Kliona, and, of course, the one Slytherin was most proud of—Merlin.

These portraits retained most of the memories of their subjects, from their birth until the moment they were painted.

Upon Skyler's arrival, they gathered in clusters, whispering among themselves about his identity. It seemed that visitors to this place were rare on regular days, leaving these portraits somewhat dull.

Skyler strolled over to the reception desk, which was adorned with an array of silverware. Behind the desk sat a middle-aged witch dressed in a style reminiscent of the Middle Ages, with her wizarding robes adorned in fluffy and extravagant lace. Skyler couldn't help but stifle a secret smile as he remembered Ron's reaction to a similar design back when they were in the fourth grade.

Exuding the perfect manners and decorum of an aristocrat, Skyler inquired politely, "Hello, madam. I am Malfoy, and I am from Great Britain. I have an appointment today with your chairwoman, Ms. Cleopatra. May I ask you to inform her of my arrival?"

The witch, recognizing Skyler's impeccable etiquette, surmised that he hailed from an ancient European family. She dared not to delay and hastily wrote down Skyler's name on a small piece of paper. She then rolled up the paper and placed it inside the mouth of a silverware creature. As soon as it went in, the paper burst into flames as if incinerated.

Observing Skyler's fascination with the silverware, the witch explained, "This is a messenger that can directly transfer the note to another connected piece of silverware."

It wasn't long before a piece of paper emerged from the mouth of the silverware with a spark.

The witch took a quick look at it, rose from her chair, and led Skyler to a side chamber. From there, they ascended a long spiral staircase. This magical staircase had an automatic rotation feature, similar to a Muggle escalator, carrying passengers upward step by step.

They reached a door marked "Giuliana Cleopatra," where the witch curtsied and left Skyler.

Skyler opened the door and found Ms. Cleopatra, whom he had communicated with frequently throughout the semester. To his surprise, Cleopatra appeared quite young, with Skyler estimating her age to be around 29 to 32.

She wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, but her keen eyes behind the lenses remained visible. Despite her intellectual and elegant appearance, Skyler was more drawn to the rings on each of her fingers.

Each ring bore a distinct shape, and without exception, they all had a Grindelwald talisman engraved on them. Under the influence of a magical gaze, each exuded unique magical energy fluctuations.

Cleopatra's lips curved into a smile. "Skyler, I hope you don't mind if I address you that way. It's clear that you're a prodigious talent, an early bloomer, a hero." Skyler appreciated the informality coming from such a beautiful and distinguished lady, particularly given that they were not far apart in age in the wizarding world, where age was measured differently.

Addressing him by his name created a sense of camaraderie between peers, making him feel more at ease.

Skyler responded thoughtfully, "Thank you for your kind words, Sister Giuliana. Your accomplishments and grace are truly remarkable. Holding such a high position at such a young age, combined with your beauty, is truly impressive."

Cleopatra couldn't help but laugh as she playfully covered her mouth, lazily raised her jade-adorned hand, and elegantly brushed her hair behind her ear, casting a captivating glance at Skyler. "You have such a sweet tongue. But, dear, remember to address me as Sister Gulana. Be as kind as you are now."

Skyler obediently replied, "Sister Giuliana."

Croppatra's smile reflected satisfaction as she continued, "Very well, no more teasing. I believe you've read the details in my letter. Skyler, I am fond of your potential, and I'd like to invite you to join the Medieval European Wizards Federation as a youth representative for the council. In simpler terms, you'll become our spokesperson. This role won't come with many practical obligations. You merely need to associate all your personal achievements with the council. For instance, if you develop a combination of the Happy Charm and the Patronus Charm, you'll retain the title of the inventor. Still, you'll need to add the prefix' Medieval European Wizards' Federation Youth Representative' before your name."

She continued, "Of course, in exchange, the council will offer you various benefits: knowledge, power, wealth, status, and honor. Our private library, which has never been accessible to outsiders, will be at your disposal. We'll also provide you with a Silver Spear for your convenience so that you can participate in duels whenever you like. As for wealth and status, I believe you don't require them at this time. However, when it comes to honor, I must clarify that although the 'Daily Prophet' is firmly under the control of the British Ministry of Magic, we have no influence there. Yet—

Cleopatra's sharp eyes gleamed as she continued, "At least 70% of the media in Europe belongs to our industry, including the French' Le Crie de la Gargouille' which you might be familiar with, as well as the Nordic' Viking Dagblad.' They cover media such as the 'Lost and Delirious' gossip magazine, 'Witch's Weekly' for women, the hunting magazine 'The Devil,' the sports publication 'Quidditch Times,' the broomstick guide 'The Flying Broomstick,' and more. Imagine this: with all these media outlets under our control, they will stand behind you, singing your praises, creating a public image and reputation for you. What kind of fame and recognition do you think they could provide?"

(Note: "Le Crie de la Gargouille" is the author's translation. The full French meaning is "the call of the stone wing demon." In the Wizarding Society, the stone wing demon is referred to as a stone guardian, which watches over the headmaster's office.)