Chapter 123 "Merlin's Chamber"

"What!" Peeves exclaimed, "You've uncovered Peeves's secret so quickly! No fun, no fun! How did you figure it out?"

Skyler smiled mysteriously, choosing to remain silent. He had no intention of exposing Aquila.

Peeves sighed, "Fine, I confess. I'm actually a magical creation crafted by the old man Merlin. He's a mischievous old man who found the school during the era of the four founders too dull and serious. So, he created the magnificent Peeves to inject some laughter into this school!"

Skyler chuckled inwardly, thinking, "You're probably the only one enjoying this. Past generations of principals, professors, and administrators would likely be infuriated with you."

Though he pondered this, Skyler refrained from voicing it.

Skyler inquired, "Nevertheless, I always perceived you as a prankster, an emotional amalgamation of mischievous and destructive desires, a being akin to a poltergeist, a Patronus. How did you suddenly transform into a magical creation?"

"Hahaha," Peeves laughed, "Poltergeist? Patronus? Can they talk? Do they possess a mind? They—" Peeves grew unusually serious, "Can they rival the great Peeves in wit?"

"When I first emerged from the chaos, I was merely an emotional amalgamation. I was clueless, unaware of my origin or destination..." Peeves wore a reflective expression. "Later, the old man appeared, and using a certain method, he condensed my sanity, creating the clever, grand, and humorous Peeves the Poltergeist you see now!"

Skyler's mind suddenly drew a connection to dementors. As manifestations of despairing emotions, dementors demonstrated intelligence.

Although incapable of speech, they could follow the directives of the Ministry of Magic and Voldemort. Could it be that dementors were essentially a kind of magical creation born from this particular magic?

If that were the case, mastering this magic might empower one to bestow spiritual wisdom upon creatures like Boguts, Vampires, Ghosts, and even the revered Patronus.

This intriguing notion seemed worthy of inclusion within the realm of Skyler's ongoing research.

Peeves continued his narrative, saying, "After the old man departed Hogwarts, he frequently returned in the guise of a student, visiting Peeves and sharing jokes. But one day, when he came to see Peeves, his demeanor seemed rather peculiar. Upon leaving, he mentioned facing a destined foe, making it unlikely for him to return."

It marked the first time Skyler observed a hint of sorrow on Peeves's countenance, even if it was only a trace.

Peeves resumed, "But let's return to our main topic! The old man transformed Peeves into a door key the last time he left. If someone meeting specific conditions touches me, they can be teleported to his secret room, where his inheritance lies. However, as he stated, only a prankster, whom I acknowledge, is eligible to inherit. Throughout these many years, no one has managed to catch my eye except for Gryffindor—not bad for the twins, but you, you—and—no—troublemaker!"

Observing the dangerous gleam in Skyler's eyes, Peeves, discerning that he found himself in a precarious situation of his own making, adopted a forced smile and remarked, "Certainly, esteemed Mr. Malfoy, having successfully passed the old man's test and been bestowed with his medal, you are undoubtedly qualified to access the secret room. Come now! Lay your hands on me! A mere touch and I shall activate the door key spell inscribed upon my form, transporting you directly to the secret room."

Skyler sneered, retorting, "Do you comprehend the repercussions of attempting to deceive me? You know very well that I could see behind your tricks, right Peeves?"

Before Peeves could respond, Skyler's wand unleashed a dark gray, peculiar skull toward the corner, emitting spine-chilling whistles.

Although this curse wasn't directed at Peeves, the ghost still experienced an intense sense of impending danger. It was evident that the spell harbored soul magic capable of harming spirits or ghosts!

Swallowing hard, Peeves, who had roamed freely at Hogwarts for numerous years, was acutely aware of who could be provoked and who could not. Clearly, Skyler fell into the latter category.

Peeves forced a smile and uttered, "Impossible! Peeves would never dare deceive the illustrious Malfoy. Please don Merlin's medal—not the Ministry of Magic's but the distinctive medal conferred by Hogwarts, a special medal—adorn it, and it shall serve as the key to the authentic entrance of the secret room. Come forth! I assure you it will transport you to the that old man's secret chamber!"

It dawned on Skyler that Merlin's memory had mentioned it as a trial during Merlin's trial.

Back then, participants dismissed it as a misunderstanding because the school's announcement clearly indicated it was merely an intramural competition.

Now, he comprehended the special purpose of Merlin's distinctive medal—it served as the key to unlocking Merlin's secret room.

As anticipated by Skyler, Peeves possessed the ability to manipulate events in this process. It could either transport individuals to the genuine secret room or to a deceptive one, potentially fraught with peril.

Fortunately, Skyler had played his cards right; otherwise, he might have fallen prey to Peeves's deceit.

Skyler donned the medal, made contact with Peeves, and with a "Poof!" both he and the mischievous ghost were teleported into an unfamiliar secret room.

The secret room was bathed in dim light. Skyler raised his wand, casting a "Lumos" spell, and simultaneously activated the magic eye.

"Very well, my task is fulfilled!" Peeves gleefully performed an eccentric dance, expressing some mischievous intentions. "Mr. Malfoy, I wish you the best of luck in your next endeavor; I suspect you'll need it..."

Before Skyler could pose any questions, Peeves vanished. Instead of passing through the wall, it dissipated directly into the void as though some external force had reversed the spell afflicting the door to be sealed.

The secret room held nothing of interest—dust and insect carcasses were scattered throughout.

A crystal ball rested upon the central round table, emitting subtle waves of magical energy, with four Guruni's magic charms swirling within its depths. Skyler approached, examining the scene closely.

The four magic charms were strategically positioned at each corner, creating correspondences between them.

In ancient magical texts, the presence of more than one magic talisman heightened the complexity of interpretation. Each talisman often represented multiple meanings, akin to the polyphonic and polysemous nature of characters in modern languages.

When two charms appeared simultaneously, the interpreter had to not only isolate other potential meanings within each charm but also comprehend the combined significance of the two charms and their arrangement.

The four magic symbols, particularly arranged in opposing corners, presented the most challenging scenario for interpretation, offering a myriad of possible combinations.

The first magic talisman, Hamr, signified "shape." The second, Hugr, denoted "thinking." The third, Fylgia, represented "spirit." Lastly, the fourth, Hamingja, conveyed "sex."

Skyler plunged into deep contemplation. "Shape" pertained to form, appearance, and state; "thinking" encompassed thought, contemplation, and inspiration; "spirit," in this context, referred to intuition, spiritual perception, or destiny.

Meanwhile, "sex" embraced a broad spectrum of meanings, delving into personality traits, including wisdom, strength, experience, technology, bloodline, and even aspects like willpower, mental fortitude, endurance, and luck.

A spark ignited in Skyler's mind.

Could it be...

Could it be the "self"?

Recalling the "trinity" theory that lays as the foundation for achieving enlightenment, Skyler pondered the essence of life—body, spirit, and soul. No matter how expansive the meanings of the four magic talismans were, they seemed inexorably tied to the overarching category of life essence.

Understanding this, however, left Skyler grappling with the question of what to do next.

Do these four magic charms signify a Guruni magic that needs to be unleashed to decipher this level?

If so, it seemed an exceedingly challenging task.

Skyler had a firm grasp on the "Guardian" magic talisman, while the others, namely "Sacred Fire" and "Freeze," were only in the preliminary stages of understanding.

Crafting a spell with a single rune was already formidable, let alone attempting to cast a spell with four runes spanning multiple levels simultaneously.

Skyler contemplated his options, eventually considering a last resort.

He retrieved a bottle of golden liquid from his pocket—it was time to take a sip of the blessing potion.

After imbibing the potion, Skyler realized his thinking was too narrow. He cleared his mind, allowing thoughts to diverge and embracing all manner of inspirations, analyzing each one systematically, no matter how seemingly absurd.

First and foremost, cracking magical levels inherently requires the application of magic—there's no denying that.

The purpose behind Merlin's inheritance and the kind of heir he seeks are pivotal considerations.

The threads of clues regarding Merlin's criteria for selecting heirs began to weave together in Skyler's mind.

Firstly, one must triumph in Merlin's test competition and be bestowed with Merlin's distinctive medal. This implies being an exceptional underage student excelling in potions, metamorphosis, and battle magic.

Secondly, recognition by Peeves is imperative—or, in other words, a profound understanding of soul magic is necessary for capturing Peeves.

However, the third point appeared somewhat amiss—it didn't quite fit the narrative.

It must be acknowledged that deciphering the Gurunis text itself is not the most formidable challenge. With the aid of a Guruni dictionary, many individuals could accomplish this task.

In this context, the real complexity lies in deducing the meaning encapsulated within the combination of Gurunis texts. This demands an understanding of the essence of life itself.

Skyler grinned.

He activated the magical marks on his skin, revealing strips and circles of curse marks. Taking his magic wand, he gently tapped Hamr, causing the corresponding rune in the crystal ball to illuminate.

Stirring his spiritual power within the spiritual realm, his eyes flickered with thunder and lightning as he lightly tapped Hugr with his wand, igniting the corresponding rune.

Exerting his soul magic to its fullest, a formidable black shadow materialized behind him. Lightly tapping Fylgia with his wand, the corresponding rune gleamed.

Concentrating deeply, he recalled the moment of breaking free from the Imperius Curse, awakening within the depths of his being. Tapping Hamingja lightly with his wand, the final rune also sparked to life.

At this juncture, all four Gurunis charms were illuminated and activated.

The answer to what Merlin had left behind as his legacy is in front of Skyler. He is only one step away from becoming yet stronger than the other wizards.

Breaking the seal and entering Merlin's Secret Chamber itself already notified Skyler's presence to the other forces and individuals that are slowly rising behind the curtain as the story unfolds.

Many have become aware of Skyler's magical prowess, and each day, with Skyler becoming stronger, it only makes them feel more anxious than ever. Even the great Salazar Slytherin is cowering at Skyler Malfoy's current power.