181: Chapter 179 The Queen Returns to Her Youth

On the vast, level flagstone training grounds, Misha, Wino, and Klaisi stood side-by-side in the resting area at the edge, watching the field together.

In the center of the grounds, Toby and Leon were already beginning to chant incantations with some semblance of form.

Although they were still unable to activate magic, the occasional flickers of light from the tips of their wands showed that their practice over these past few days had clearly been diligent.

Even Zhang Mu, who was watching from the high platform alongside the Queen and the others, could not deny this point.

One must understand that the 'voice combination lock' of the wand—the incantation—had absolutely no relation to any script on Blue Star.

To maintain the mystery of Hogwarts, Zhang Mu had drawn inspiration from some of the magical scripts of the Saul Continent when composing the incantations.

Therefore, Toby and the others not only needed to learn to recognize a semi-fictional new script but also had to master standard pronunciation to successfully activate the wand's Core.

The difficulty could be described as terrifying.

Watching the two of them wave their pointer-like wands repeatedly, their lips constantly moving, the Queen asked curiously, "Are they... performing magic?"

“Performing?” Dumbledore stroked the white beard on his chin. “They haven't even finished learning the magical script; right now, they can only be said to recognize magic.

Only when they reach a certain level of familiarity can they truly understand magic.”

Suleiman fixed his gaze on the tips of the wands. “What is that flickering light?”

“The wand's response to the incantation, a form of commendation for their diligent study of the magical script.”

“Mr. Dumbledore, may I speak with the children for a moment?” the Queen asked, turning her head.

“No one should disturb them during class unless it's an emergency.” Dumbledore shook his head in refusal. “Your journey will last three days in total.

There is plenty of time; you can see them after school.”

Hearing him say this, the Queen nodded with a hint of regret.

She was eager to know what kind of strange, unusual sensations the body would produce when chanting an incantation.

Was it like an electric current passing through the body, or something else?

Could one feel magic power surging within?

The Queen's curiosity did not last long.

Dumbledore raised his hand toward the teaching building, informing them that he would take them to visit the upperclassmen's classrooms.

This undoubtedly caught the attention of the three.

Those were Hogwarts students who had been practicing magic for some time.

Going there, they would surely witness all sorts of rare and powerful magic.

At this thought, the three of them set off with great interest, following Dumbledore as he walked ahead.

Rowling, on the other hand, performed quite well, walking unhurriedly at the back.

During her half-month stay at Hogwarts, her grandfather had forbidden her from leaving the school grounds, saying it was very dangerous outside.

So she spent all her time exploring this ancient, castle-like school.

Naturally, she had visited the teaching building many times.

Following her grandfather's reminder not to 'interrupt classes without cause,' Rowling had specifically changed into a pair of soft-soled sneakers, holding a video camera to record everything happening in each classroom through the windows.

There were Potions classes with shaking test tubes, Defense Against the Dark Arts classes with complex knowledge points, and so on.

Thus, when the group arrived at the foot of the teaching building, Rowling volunteered to take on the role of guide.

Zhang Mu, in his elderly form, knew she spent every day wandering the school with great interest.

Although she hadn't formally studied magic or systematically audited classes, the bits and pieces of information she had absorbed over the half-month were enough for her to serve as a tour guide.

Happy to have it easy, Zhang Mu smiled and agreed.

Having received permission, Rowling was very happy, holding her camera as she walked toward the main entrance of the teaching building while waving for the others to follow.

Based on her own observations, Rowling led the Queen's group past the vacant first-year classrooms and started their observation directly from the second year.

She leaned close to the window glass to look inside while lowering her voice to explain what subjects they were studying.

The Queen and her companions were extremely interested.

They spent the entire time from morning until afternoon wandering the five-story teaching building, not even thinking about eating lunch.

It wasn't until four o'clock that the group finally walked out of the main doors.

The three of them, still wanting more, looked slightly fatigued.

Sensing they must be hungry, Zhang Mu took them to fill their stomachs.

Rowling did not follow.

Perhaps because chatting for several hours had consumed a lot of energy, she felt a bit sleepy and went back to her room alone to rest.

The four people here soon entered a small restaurant specifically used for hosting a small number of guests.

They sat down together, and plates of sumptuous food were brought to the table one by one.

After eating and drinking their fill, the Queen put down her knife and fork. “Mr. Dumbledore, do you not plan to teach Rowling magic?”

“The time is not yet right.”

“I see...”

Her eyes showed a hint of confusion and a slight sense of disappointment.

The former was because she wondered if learning magic was divided into morning, noon, and night?

Or perhaps it depended on the season—could it be learned in spring but not in summer?

The Queen, who was very unfamiliar with magic, saw that Dumbledore was unwilling to say more on this matter and sensibly did not press further.

As for the latter...

The Queen thought that if Dumbledore hadn't even taught his own granddaughter magic, it was even less likely for her.

Glimpsing her cloudy eyes growing dimmer and knowing what she was thinking, Zhang Mu chose not to be direct. “What is the matter?”

“Ah?” An apologetic smile appeared on the Queen's face. “Forgive me, I actually zoned out during our conversation.”

She didn't seem to want to mention the topic they had once discussed, or rather, Dumbledore's promise to her.

Regarding this, Zhang Mu didn't mind and poked right through the paper-thin secret. “Are you worried that you won't last until the day you can study magic?”

With her thoughts laid bare, the Queen stopped hiding them. “Yes, Mr. Dumbledore. We are different from a mage like you.

I am already ninety years old this year.”

Tapping his index finger on the tabletop, Zhang Mu pondered in his mind.

Taking the opportunity while Suleiman and the Prime Minister were here, he would give her the Vitality Potion.

Let them go wild over the terrifying effects. Hmm... I wonder how far Wino and the puppet I specially prepared have progressed.

I'll go take a look in a bit.

Also... the color needs to be adjusted to be the same as Luo Xiling's... other people aren't fools either.

Zhang Mu wasted no more time. He activated the Shadow Technique, took out the potion, and added a bit of coloring that wouldn't affect the efficacy.

When finished, he deactivated the Shadow Technique, creating the illusion that he had left and returned.

“Madam.” Zhang Mu held out his right hand, revealing a crystal bottle filled with a deep blue liquid. “This is my promise.”

“It is...”

Stuffing the crystal bottle into her hand, Zhang Mu stood up. “I have been away from the school for several days, and a lot of school affairs have accumulated that urgently need processing.

Someone will take you to your rooms in a moment.”

After saying that, he vanished from the spot.

The Prime Minister and Suleiman weren't too surprised by the sight of the old man disappearing into thin air.

In their view, wasn't it normal for a mage to be able to turn invisible?

Aside from that, there was the bulbous crystal bottle standing on the table.

The two, who didn't know what Zhang Mu had promised, stared intently at the Queen's right hand.

“Mother, what is this?”

“Something... something that can manipulate time...” Her lips trembled incessantly; she couldn't even finish a complete sentence.

Perhaps not in the mood to talk, she ignored the two of them, pulled out the wooden cork, held it carefully with both hands, and brought the bottle to her mouth.

There wasn't much potion; in a few seconds, it had all flowed into her stomach.

A surge of heat suddenly rose within her body. The Queen instinctively squeezed her eyes shut, her brow furrowing in some discomfort.

Suleiman's eyes narrowed, wanting to ask her what was happening.

But his mouth, opening wider and wider, seemed to have forgotten his own intentions.

“Mo... Mother?”

He watched with pupils shrinking as the Queen's graying short hair gradually took on a pale gold tint. Her cheeks, neck, and the backs of her hands—all the wrinkled skin exposed outside her clothes—tightened at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Her pale, cracked lips slowly became moist and rosy. Her figure, which had inevitably become bloated with age, regained its slimness with extreme speed.

Clang...

Suleiman stood up unconsciously, his movement so abrupt from shock that he knocked over his wooden chair.

“This, this...”

“What is this?!”

At this moment, his mind was as chaotic as a tangled ball of yarn.

So chaotic that the first thing he thought of wasn't getting a bottle of the potion for himself, but rather how the Queen would handle interviews with reporters after returning to Blue Star.