Chapter 39 - 39: 39: A Creation fusing Alchemy and Transfiguration

Loan: Mechanical Transfiguration Pocket Watch (Monthly Loan)

Repayment Deadline: 30 days

Loan Content: Mechanical Transfiguration Pocket Watch, a creation fusing Transfiguration and Alchemy. It can record the Transfiguration spells one has mastered, transforming them into semi-permanent solidified Transfigurations.

Note: This is not a weapon, but a teaching tool. By analyzing its structural principles, one can deepen their understanding of Transfiguration and Alchemy.

Loan Task:

Create a controllable mechanical animal

OR

Master semi-permanent solidified Transfiguration.

Lucien looked at the loan description that popped up from the system.

He hadn't expected that even interacting with his own magical creations could trigger a loan.

Mechanical Transfiguration Pocket Watch?

Just the description alone sounded interesting.

Semi-permanent solidified Transfiguration—Lucien had seen this mentioned in Transfiguration books; it was considered a pinnacle in the field of Transfiguration.

Normally, Transfigurations were not permanent.

For example, Professor McGonagall's demonstration before class, turning a desk into a pig—if magic wasn't continuously applied to maintain it, the pig would eventually revert to a desk after some time.

Semi-permanent solidified Transfiguration, however, is when a wizard, through long periods of preparation, repeatedly fine-tunes an object with Transfiguration to fix the change to the greatest extent possible.

But it's called semi-permanent because this Transfiguration still requires a wizard to intermittently replenish magic.

However, the wizard replenishing the magic doesn't actually need to master the Transfiguration spell itself; even a newly awakened young wizard can do it.

Lucien thought of something else, something he also needed to acquire within this year.

The Philosopher's Stone.

The Philosopher's Stone could produce the Elixir of Life, which was indeed fascinating.

But its other function, turning base metals into gold, interested Lucien even more at the moment.

Transforming other substances into gold—and permanently solidifying it!

This required no magic to maintain; even if a hundred or a thousand years passed, it would still remain gold.

It wasn't pure Alchemy, nor was it pure Transfiguration; it was a cross-fusion of both.

Prompted by this loan, Lucien also had a new idea.

Besides using the Philosopher's Stone to refine potions to repay the Qilin loan, he might also be able to gain insights in the field of Transfiguration through it.

No wonder the description of this pocket watch mentioned it was a creation fusing Alchemy and Transfiguration.

Not a weapon, but a teaching tool—gaining knowledge by studying it? That sounded challenging.

As for the task…

It was the first time he had encountered a task with two options. Was it because it covered both Transfiguration and Alchemy?

With his extraordinary SSS-grade Transfiguration talent, mastering semi-permanent solidified Transfiguration within a month would be no challenge at all.

However, creating a mechanical animal also sounded very interesting.

He might as well try both simultaneously.

Lucien thought that since his Alchemy talent was also A+, not learning more would be a bit of a waste.

"System, I want to take this loan."

Ding! Loan application successful. The item has been issued to system space and can be checked at any time.

His attention returned to reality.

Lucien picked up the miniature telescope he had transfigured; observing it closely, there was a unique, delicate beauty of machinery.

He aimed it at the window and adjusted it slightly.

He could just make out Hagrid's hut.

Lucien shifted it slightly to the side, focusing on the vegetable patch.

Hmm, not bad, not bad. The Chomping Cabbage seeds seemed to have sprouted—quite quickly too.

While Lucien was peeking at his little cabbages through the telescope, he didn't notice Professor McGonagall watching him with a very complex expression.

"Lucien, your performance still exceeds my expectations."

Hearing Professor McGonagall's words, Lucien quickly put down the telescope in his hand.

"I know this basic Transfiguration isn't difficult for you, and transfiguring patterns on a silver needle wouldn't be a challenge for you either. But…"

McGonagall's gaze focused on the telescope Lucien was holding.

"May I borrow this to look at?"

Lucien handed the telescope to Professor McGonagall, who took it and examined it.

Confirming that it was truly functional and not just a mere decoration, Professor McGonagall murmured softly: "Perhaps the pace of the class isn't suitable for you."

"Professor, what did you say?"

Lucien hadn't heard Professor McGonagall's soft murmur clearly. She shook her head.

"No, nothing. Lucien, your performance is excellent. Come to my office after class."

"Understood, Professor."

"Mr. Grafton is the first to complete the Transfiguration! Ravenclaw, twenty points!"

How many points?!

The young wizards, who had been struggling with their matchsticks, all looked up, wondering if they had misheard or if the Professor had misspoken.

Teachers usually only awarded two or three points—or at most five—for students' performance in class, right?

"Professor, why does simply completing the match-to-needle Transfiguration get twenty points?"

A Slytherin student asked, confused and displeased.

He looked at the match in his hand, which was almost completely transformed into a needle; he had been about to take the lead and earn points for his House.

But now a Ravenclaw had gotten ahead—and with twenty points at once?

Even their Head of House, Snape, who was biased toward his own students, wouldn't add twenty points in an entire class!

"Oh, looks like I need to correct something."

"Grafton didn't complete the match-to-needle Transfiguration; he completed this."

Professor McGonagall held up the telescope in her hand, allowing all the young wizards in the class to clearly see Lucien's work.

They looked at the objects in their own hands, which resembled neither needles nor matches, and then at that intricately complex telescope.

They couldn't help but wonder—are we all in the same first Transfiguration class?

"Um, Professor, may I look at this telescope?"

A young witch curiously raised her hand. She really wanted to see what a needle transformed into a telescope looked like.

The others also looked at Professor McGonagall, seemingly expressing the same idea.

Professor McGonagall curved her lips.

"You'll have to ask our classmate, Lucien."

Lucien nodded, indicating they were welcome to.

Soon, several young wizards boldly stepped forward.

More and more people came up, exclamations of awe rising one after another.

Suddenly, someone tugged at Lucien's sleeve.

"Lucien, can you teach me Transfiguration?"