Chapter 221: Alchemy Exchange, New Wizarding Media

"Single-handed sword? Knight's lance?"

Hearing these familiar yet unfamiliar terms, Ino briefly fell into reminiscence. After a moment, he gently rubbed his temples, trying to dispel the dissonance between his memories and reality.

For old Davis, it might have been just the past year.

But Ino had truly experienced several fantastical stories, and all in all, it had been nearly three years.

This subtle change did not escape old Davis's notice. He couldn't help but take off his thick, square-framed glasses and asked with some concern, "What's wrong? Since you walked in, you've seemed a bit down."

Ino leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping over the mottled walls, and sighed softly, "Nothing much, just lamenting the passage of time."

"Don't think too much about it. You're still so young! If you're lamenting the passage of time, what am I supposed to do as an old man?"

Old Davis chuckled and joked, "How about I give you a knight's lance? It's fun and glows at night!"

Ino was amused by this childlike suggestion, and his heart felt warm.

After all, this kind of care from an elder was something he hadn't experienced in a long time. Even when facing Dumbledore, it was more of an equal exchange rather than this pure kind of concern.

"I'll pass on the knight's lance! I've learned alchemy now."

"You've learned alchemy?" Old Davis was somewhat surprised. Nowadays, very few students showed interest in alchemy.

Unlike popular subjects like potions and herbology, alchemy had little market appeal. Many saw the pinnacle of alchemy as becoming a toy maker.

In reality, most alchemists ended up running joke toy shops or working in them.

Thus, old Davis curiously asked, "Why did you learn alchemy?"

"I learned alchemy purely out of interest," Ino smiled, then looked at the storage rack filled with various tools.

"Learning it also helps pass the time, avoiding the boredom of life."

"Bored with life?" Old Davis shook his head helplessly. A third-year Hogwarts student talking about being bored with life seemed absurd.

"Yes, if I don't find something to do, it does get boring," Ino nodded seriously.

Quidditch, Gobstones, Wizard's Chess, Exploding Snap, Chocolate Frog Cards—what else was there?

The wizarding world's entertainment was too scarce. It was only in recent decades that wizards introduced radio broadcasts and records, but these were still very limited.

"Are you planning to invent new toys?" Old Bance laughed. In his view, every alchemy student had a hidden dream of being an inventor.

"Not new toys, new media!" Ino shook his head slightly and shared his thoughts:

"Wizards' cultural entertainment is too monotonous. Apart from books, it's just radio, unlike Muggles who have much more variety."

Ino briefly explained to old Davis about Muggle developments, including television, movies, and videotapes, which were new in the past few decades.

"Amazing! It's a bit like the Two-Way Mirror or the Mirror of Erised," old Davis marveled.

But then he mentioned alchemical achievements: "In theory, this isn't difficult. Original alchemical formulas already included sophisticated imaging techniques, but because they were too advanced and due to knowledge gaps, later generations couldn't study them."

"It's still very difficult," Ino frowned slightly.

He agreed with old Davis. In terms of imaging devices like televisions, wizards were far ahead of Muggles.

But being ahead didn't mean widespread use. High costs and traditional views caused many brilliant ideas to become fleeting moments in history.

Old Davis quietly sat behind his desk. He suddenly realized the boy before him was quite like his younger self, studying alchemy out of interest and having wild ideas.

"Go ahead and do it. I'll help you as much as I can. Don't leave any regrets, or else you'll end up like me, alone in this small shop…"

Old Davis's tone was filled with nostalgia.

"It's something I want to do, but first, I need to find samples." Ino stretched lazily in his chair.

In all of Hogsmeade, aside from his home, he only felt this relaxed in old Davis's shop.

Perhaps it was indeed a matter of fate between people. Even though he visited the Three Broomsticks more often, it never felt as comfortable as here.

Meanwhile.

After some thought, old Davis promised to help, "You'll have to find the samples yourself! But I'll also keep an eye out. These days, such items are rarely seen in circulation."

In response to old Davis's promise, Ino smiled and shook his head.

"There's no rush. Some things can't be hurried."

Although he said there was no rush, he already had a target in mind—the Mirror of Erised hidden in the castle.

A mirror that reflects one's deepest desires—such a high-end alchemical item certainly contained imaging knowledge.

And this hidden knowledge, under the lamp's light, was like a defenceless Puffskein.

...

Ino stayed at Davis' shop until noon.

During this time, aside from chatting, they exchanged some alchemical insights.

Especially about the applewood wand Ino had crafted, which old Davis highly praised as the "Troll Wand."

Although it was a bit of teasing, it was also a recognition.

Before leaving, Ino received an old, yellowed notebook—a gift from old Davis, containing notes on wand making.

What truly moved him was old Davis's final advice:

"There are many alchemists who can make wands, but there can only be one Ollivander in all of England!"

This was heartfelt advice.

...

The magical world is profound.

"Perhaps, only Hogwarts can be considered a fairy tale…"

Walking home, Ino couldn't help but think of this line.

Harry's story was always just a fairy tale.

However, even from the perspective of an eleven-year-old boy, this fairy tale only lasted three years.

Similarly, he thought of Newt, who had just returned to England. As the protagonist of the previous generation's story, Newt was always playing a mature role.

Maybe, different perspectives show different stories.

Strolling through the quiet residential area of Hogsmeade.

At this moment, he somewhat understood the Grimm brothers. Traveling through the vast world, recording various interesting experiences from a unique perspective.

"Stories never end…"

Ino sighed softly to himself, feeling an urge to write a novel about Hogwarts.

And the protagonists would be the young wizards in the castle.