52

Chapter 52: Professor Murray's Party

Steven was probably assigned by his father to entertain the guests at the party, particularly Wade. He stayed with the young wizard and didn't seem impatient. However, the huge height difference between them made the guests find their pairing amusing. People often glanced their way and chuckled.

Steven pretended not to notice and accompanied Wade around Alsophila Garden.

The garden was well-kept, with a long pale yellow table filled with a variety of food and drinks for the guests. The party took place around a fountain, featuring a beautiful mermaid statue with a graceful figure and a glittering fish tail, singing a mesmerizing melody.

Surrounding the fountain were statues of small dancers that danced tirelessly, emitting small golden light balls that spun and splashed around. Wade reached out and touched one, which popped like a bubble, leaving his fingers feeling slightly cool.

The freshly trimmed green grass felt like a soft carpet. Various flowers bloomed around the fountain and in flower beds, creating a gorgeous display. Some flowers, typically seen only in spring and summer, bloomed here regardless of the season.

Tall trees with umbrella-like crowns lined the path. This is where the garden got its name, "Alsophila Garden," from the ancient Alsophila trees. Steven proudly introduced these trees, explaining their history traced back at least 200 million years, predating dinosaurs. The Murray family employed a house elf to care for these trees.

Halfway through the tour, a paper crane flew over and spoke in Professor Murray's voice: "Steven, bring Wade to the small stone platform."

"Okay," Steven responded. The paper crane landed on his shoulder, tilting its head as if looking at Wade.

Steven noticed Wade staring at the paper crane and explained, "This is my father's creation. He visited a Japanese magic school and noticed students folding these small paper cranes. After returning, he started using them for messages. The Ministry of Magic later adopted it but found paper cranes too cumbersome, switching to paper airplanes instead. They aren't as flexible, can't talk, and aren't as beautiful. Their only advantage is that they're cheap."

"Ministry of Magic?" Wade asked, thinking. "So what did they use to send messages before paper airplanes?"

Two-way mirrors are too expensive; it couldn't be the Floo Network, right?

"They used owls," Steven said with a smile. "Imagine dozens of owls flying around the office or filling the elevator, with feces and feathers everywhere. I saw it once as a child—it was a disaster."

Wade finally understood Steven's disdain for the Ministry of Magic. Anyone who had seen those officials struggling with owl droppings would probably not respect them.

The small stone platform was a raised garden area. White marble steps led up to it, surrounded by lavender flowers fluttering in the wind, delphiniums, geraniums, and moss creeping on the brick walls. The air was fresh and pleasant.

In addition to Professor Murray, there were five or six other well-dressed, prominent-looking individuals in the garden. Hearing footsteps, they turned to look.

They first noticed the tall Steven, then their eyes fell to Wade, who looked small in comparison.

"Oh, Wade, my boy!" Professor Murray said happily, ignoring his real child and placing a hand on Wade's shoulder. He led him to the group, saying, "This is my new student this year—a real prodigy—Wade Gray!"

Everyone nodded and smiled at Wade. A man with brown curly hair remarked, "He must be exceptionally talented to earn your favor at such a young age."

Professor Murray nodded. "He's only in the first grade, but his alchemy skills surpassed yours when you graduated, Marchionne."

The others laughed, clearly aware that Marchionne's alchemy skills were mediocre, likely a headache for Professor Murray during his school days.

Marchionne smiled and looked at Wade seriously.

Professor Murray, feeling the need to further impress, added, "This child memorized the entire contents of 'Magic Pronunciation Table,' 'Magic Symbol Collection,' 'Runic Dictionary,' and 'Ancient Magic Introduction' on his own in just two months!"

"Wow—"

Now everyone grasped the weight of "exceptionally talented." They knew how difficult it was to remember those complex symbols and strange syllables.

If nothing else, Wade had demonstrated exceptional memory and diligence.

"Not only that—"

Professor Murray stretched out the suspense, and the others leaned in, showing keen interest.

Wade observed silently.

Though he didn't know who these people were, he clearly understood Professor Murray's high status.

"He has been studying with me for only a little over a month and has already created his first piece of work! I swear, he did it entirely on his own, without a single bit of guidance from me!"

Professor Murray proudly displayed a brand-new "Book of Friends," letting it float in front of everyone. "Can anyone guess its purpose?" he asked with a smile.

"Book of Friends?"

The group gathered around, casting various detection spells on the book, which was shrouded in protective magic, preventing ordinary spells from revealing its secrets.

Two people soon gave up, uninterested in a child's creation, thinking it unlikely to be a powerful alchemical product. They had merely been flattering Wade to please Professor Murray.

The others continued examining it. Marchionne's eyes suddenly lit up. He plucked a leaf, turned it into a quill, and wrote on the paper.

"Money is a bottomless sea, I want to swim in it."

He quickly turned the page, his excitement growing with each turn. Initially dismissive, the others soon widened their eyes and kept swallowing as they watched.

Professor Murray smiled, a look of complete satisfaction on his face.