Chapter 121

Nicholas sat there with a gaping mouth for a second before he pulled himself together. He glared at Harry for a second before getting up from where he sat and walking out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Harry stared at the door, wondering for a second about whether he had actually just gone too far. He had just blackmailed a six-hundred-year-old legendary wizard who, coincidentally, also had his custody. If he had really pissed Nicholas off, then he was done for. Wondering whether he should go after him and apologize or not, Harry sat there twiddling his thumbs.

Fortunately for him, Nicholas returned back to the room a minute with a stack of what looked like half a dozen books and slammed them onto Harry's study table.

He read the title on the cover of the first of the stack of books.

The Sceptical Chymist by Robert Boyle

"Finish reading these books as soon as possible. I'll test you on them and then we'll see about teaching you alchemy" Nicholas said grumpily and slammed the door shut behind him as he left. A screen popped up.

Ping!

A new skill has been created by you being a prick to an old man!

Blackmailing Lv- 1 (40%)

This is your ability to make another person do something you want by expressly using some sort of leverage against them. The higher the level, the more chance of success!

(10 + Lv of Bullshitting)% chance of success, less based on how extreme the demand is.

Nicholas expected Harry to take half a month to go through the books completely and thoroughly.

It took Harry five sleepless nights.

With a giant sigh of relief, Harry slammed the cover of Principles of Alchemy and Atoms by Nicholas Flamel shut and stretched his legs.

Ping!

New skill created and leveled by intensive studying!

Science!, Lv-2

A branch of knowledge that deals with the workings of the world.

Physics- Basic concepts of physical science. +5% learning speed in astronomy and arithmancy.

Chemistry- Basic concepts of chemical science. +5% learning speed in transfiguration and charms.

Botany-Basic concepts of science dealing with flora. +5% learning speed in herbology and potions.

Zoology- Basic concepts of science dealing with fauna. +5% learning speed in healing and magizoology.

Harry thought about the benefits this could represent. He could potentially double his learning speed if he focused on grinding this skill. Happily waving away the screen, he stood up and walked around a bit, loosening up his leg muscles again before Nicholas came back once again.

His mentor had the annoying habit of rushing into his room at random times to quiz him on every book he finished, which was admittedly extremely easy for him due to both his Gamer's Mind and his own genuine wish to quickly start learning alchemy.

The door opened, and the man in question stepped in. He took a look at Harry's desk and his closed book and gestured at Harry to follow him. Harry walked out of his room behind him.

"No quiz today?" he asked as they headed towards the dueling room.

"No. Today we start with the basics of alchemy," Nicholas simply said, opening the door and stepping into the vast chamber, at one corner of which, a blackboard, a chair and a table had been set up. The other corner was lined with what looked like most of the potions lab's equipment.

Nicholas and Harry made their way to the blackboard where Nicholas gestured for him to sit and somberly said, "Are you sure Harry that you really want to do this? Alchemy is the single most dangerous piece of magic there is."

"That's what every teacher I've met says about their own subject." Harry pointed out.

"Fair enough" Nicholas conceded, "I do suppose teachers have a bias for their own crafts. Although, do try not to take this lightly. I have taught fifty students, of which only five have survived to become masters in alchemy. Now, did you read through my book?" Harry nodded. "Any questions?"

"Yes actually," Harry said, "The book repeatedly mentioned Transmutation. Are there any real differences between Transfiguration and that?"

"There are. But first, tell me, how many times Minerva has made you memorize that Transfiguration is not permanent." Nicholas asked with a small smirk.

"Too many," Harry replied with a sigh.

"Well, I'm glad. Because that will be important here. Note down what I say." Nicholas said, making Harry pull out his notebook and pen from his pocket and get ready.

"Transfiguration is not permanent. Transmutation is." Nicholas started dictating "Transfiguration is complex. Transmutation is simple and element to element."

"But why?" Harry asked, writing it down.

"Transfiguration is usually just magic forcing a set of complex compounds to be converted into other compounds. That usually violates the Law of Conservation of Mass, making the object inherently unstable. So while a Transfiguration can last quite a while when done properly, eventually it'll succumb and spontaneously convert back to whatever it was before. To prevent that people usually use runes, special incantations and other powering charms and such."

"And Transmutation?" Harry asked, jotting down all Nicholas said as fast as he could.

"Transmutation works on the principles of the atom. It can't do complex transformations. But what it can do is convert metal to metal by substituting neutrons, electrons and protons in them to make stable, permanent changes. Watch."

Harry put down his pen and watched as Nicholas pulled out a small nugget of gold out of his pocket and showed it to Harry. He then waved a finger to make it float unmoving midair.

Pointing his wand at it, he cast a spell Harry had never heard of.

"Fulguris neutrum"

A razor thin, crackling thread of lightning joined the gold and his wand for a second before the gold lost its yellowish sheen and gained a greyish hue.

Nicholas pocketed his wand and turned to Harry.

"Gold to lead transmutation is one of the first and simplest things you do in alchemy. Its opposite, lead to gold is one of the last and most difficult. Of course, there's a lot more to alchemy than just transmutation. There are aspects that relate more to potions, but for now, your first job is to master the three Fulguris spells that are the only real tools for transmutation."

Ping!

You have gained +1 Int for listening diligently to your teacher!

"What are the three spells?" Harry asked, immediately dismissing the screen and reopening his notebook.

"Well, there's Fulguris Positrum, the positive particle emitting spell. Fulguris Neutrum, the neutral particle emitting spell. And then there is just plain old Fulguris, which is the negative particle emitting spell…basically a lightning spell. Have you got all of that written? Good, now get your wand and come over to the other side."

When they got to the other side of the room, Nicholas made Harry pull out his wand and point it at the wall.

"The incantation is Fulguris, no wand movements. Understood?"

"Understood," Harry said with a resolute voice

.

.

.

🐉 patreon.com/William777🐉

Subscribe to my Patreon for more advanced chapters