#449 - Reply and Growth

【Dear friend, I sincerely congratulate you on achieving such remarkable accomplishments at such a young age—Friendship Badges, Magic Puppets, Communication Peas, and of course, my favorite, the Soft Light Badges.】

【These inventions not only demonstrate your talent and effort but also show the world your love and dedication to this field, which makes me very gratified.】

【Currently, too many young people are indulging in ancient magic, chasing so-called 'artifacts' of the past, while neglecting the exploration and utilization of their own wisdom. But you dare to try new technologies, showcasing unique creativity, which is a rare quality and fills me with anticipation for your future.】

【I think you must have realized that studying alchemy is a long and arduous path, often misunderstood and exploited. Many people think we seek the ability to turn lead into gold and achieve immortality, but that is not the case.】

【We seek longer life only to have ample time to reach the shores of knowledge. True alchemy is about finding the power to help the magical world move towards peace, exploring the mysteries of the world, understanding the essence of life, and helping those in need.】

Wade had read the letter over and over, five or six times. An indescribable excitement surged through him, and he couldn't help clenching his fist, wishing he could fly to Nicolas Flamel's manor right now.

Even without considering Flamel's achievements and reputation in alchemy, just thinking about his age made the meeting incredibly exciting.

Nicolas Flamel is now 667 years old. He was born before the Great Ming Dynasty was even established in the East. This person is practically living history.

Wade excitedly paced around the room twice, then sat down at the table and carefully wrote a reply—

【Dear Mr. Nicolas Flamel: Receiving your letter fills me with immense honor and excitement... I am very much looking forward to the opportunity to visit your manor... Thank you again for your encouragement and support...】

Putting down the pen, Wade considered the reply he had written, feeling that his excitement was overflowing, and the handwriting was flamboyant, even a bit too lively.

Uh... would it seem a bit fawning?

Wade hesitated for a moment and rewrote a more formal reply, this time the tone was much more steady.

【Respected Mr. Flamel... I am deeply honored by your invitation and eagerly anticipate it... Thank you for your willingness to share your valuable experience and wisdom with me. I will arrange my itinerary properly to ensure I arrive at the manor on time... I look forward to receiving your opinions and guidance...】

While waiting for the ink to dry, Fiona came in with a plate of freshly cut fruit.

As she put down the plate, she casually popped a piece of apple into her mouth. Seeing Wade writing, she mumbled, "Wade, do you already have homework even before going to school?"

"No, I'm writing a reply to Mr. Nicolas Flamel," Wade said, picking out an envelope and writing the address. "He invited me to visit his manor during the summer vacation."

"Nicolas Flamel?" Fiona found the name familiar, but couldn't recall where she'd heard it. She tilted her head, looked at the two letters Wade had placed on the table, and suddenly reached out, saying, "This one's better."

She was referring to the first reply.

Wade was taken aback, then explained why he had rewritten the letter:

"I felt that the tone of that one was too flighty, the expression too casual, and not steady enough. An excellent alchemist should be calm and rigorous. If I'm as clamorous as a child, how can I gain people's trust?"

"But you are still a child!" Fiona thought for a moment, then nodded to affirm her idea: "Anyway, if it were me, I'd rather receive the first reply."

Wade asked, "What if you received the second letter?"

Fiona pondered for a moment, then asked, "This Mr. Nicolas Flamel, he must be a very remarkable person, right?"

Wade nodded, "One of the greatest alchemists in the world."

"Then he might be a bit annoyed?" Fiona speculated, "Because he must have received too many similar letters."

Wade frowned slightly, pursed his lips, and compared them seriously.

"Wade, expressing your thoughts and feelings in the most authentic way is much better than lengthy honorifics."

Fiona said with a smile, "And if someone likes you, they'll like you no matter what, it has nothing to do with the wording you use."

Wade sighed, "We haven't met yet, first impressions are important."

"That person has already sent an invitation, how could your first impression be this letter?"

Fiona laughed, "Your inventions, your experiences, he must have already heard about them, that's why he thinks you're someone he can discuss problems with! Think about it, isn't that right?"

After Fiona left, Wade looked at the two replies he had written again, and the more he looked, the more he felt that overly formal and polite language seemed cold.

After hesitating for a moment, he finally put the first reply into the envelope.

...

"Nicolas Flamel... Nicolas Flamel..."

When Fiona returned to the living room, she couldn't help muttering, trying to remember where she had heard the name.

"What are you saying?" Ferdinand asked curiously.

"Ferdie, do you know who Nicolas Flamel is?" Fiona said, "He sent Wade an invitation letter, making that child anxious—I've never seen him like that before!"

Ferdinand was stunned: "...Nicolas Flamel?"

"Yes!" Fiona stroked her chin and said, "I feel like I've heard someone mention it..."

Ferdinand was speechless for a moment, then took out a book titled "The Secrets and Practices of Alchemy" from the bookshelf, opened the first page, and pointed to the part that introduced the author for her to read.

"The immortal alchemy master... the only known great wizard to successfully create the Philosopher's Stone... has lived for over 600 years..."

Fiona covered her mouth in surprise, looked at her husband, and after the surprise, a bit of worry appeared in her eyes: "The advice I gave Wade just now... could it have been wrong?"

Ferdinand asked, "What advice?"

Fiona explained the cause and effect, Ferdinand thought for a moment, and said with a smile, "No, you're right. Treating elders and teachers with sincerity is the foundation of interaction. Wade cares too much about the other party's evaluation, but he hasn't thought about the matter clearly."

"That's great." Fiona patted her chest and said reassuringly, "I was really afraid of delaying his affairs."

"It won't happen." Ferdinand said gently, "Dear, you're so smart, you've already found the best choice with just your intuition."

Fiona's face flushed slightly, she leaned in and kissed her husband's cheek, and said softly, "Marrying you is also my best choice, Ferdie."

...

After finishing the reply to Nicolas Flamel, Wade looked at the time and saw that it was still early, so he continued to write letters to each of the people who had participated in rescuing him to express his gratitude.

Although he basically had Friendship Badges to contact them, and some of them had already bought Communication Peas, those convenient methods couldn't convey enough respect and gratitude like a handwritten letter.

Halfway through writing, Ferdinand also brought a glass of milk and entered the study.

He didn't disturb Wade, who was writing at his desk, but stood quietly beside him for a while. Seeing that there weren't many ornate words in Wade's letter, but it was full of care and sincerity, he couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.

But after quietly walking out of the study, standing in the corridor, Ferdinand couldn't help but sigh.

"Does Mr. Grey have any troubles?" Dobby stood in the corridor, looking up and asking with concern: "Can Dobby help?"

Ferdinand shook his head, walking and smiling wryly:

"Dobby, do you think parents are all so strange?"

"When he was young, I was afraid he wouldn't learn to walk. When he could run and jump, I was afraid he would run too far and I wouldn't be able to see him."

"I'm afraid he'll make mistakes, but he learns too quickly and too well, and I feel very lost."

Dobby looked at him blankly, question marks almost popping out of his head.

Ferdinand chuckled, took Dobby's hand and went downstairs, asking at the same time, "Dobby, have you learned to read and write?"

"A little bit." Dobby said shyly: "When I was in the Malfoy's house, the older house-elves taught Dobby a little bit, but I don't know much... I'm sorry."

For some reason, he suddenly felt very ashamed and couldn't help but lower his head and apologize.

"It's okay, I can teach you from the beginning... starting with the alphabet, then words and sentences." Ferdinand said gently: "Reading and writing are windows to understanding the world, very useful, you must study hard."

"Yes, sir." Dobby's eyes sparkled, excitedly and gratefully saying: "Dobby won't let Mr. Grey down!"

...

The few days of vacation passed in the blink of an eye. On Sunday evening, Lupin came to pick up Wade to go to school.

The luggage had naturally been packed long ago and stuffed into the closet space. Fiona reluctantly straightened his collar and said, "Take good care of yourself, write often... don't worry me."

"I understand," Wade said softly.

"Don't be like before, relying on your ability to turn into a peregrine falcon and just run out of school, the magical world is not peaceful now," Ferdinand also instructed.

"I know, I'll be fine." Wade stepped forward and hugged his parents, saying, "Goodbye, Mom and Dad, I'll miss you."

Fiona held back her tears, smiled and nodded, saying, "Me too."

"Dobby." Wade squatted down and said to the new member of the family: "I'm leaving my parents to you."

"Yes!" Dobby puffed out his chest and said: "Leave it all to Dobby! Mr. Wade, don't worry!"

"Let's go."

Lupin had Wade grab his arm, and the two of them Apparated away together.

After a slight dizziness, Wade found himself in Hogsmeade. The roofs of the village were covered with thick snow, as if wrapped in a white blanket. Some shops had sconces installed at the entrance, and the colorful magical flames decorated the village exceptionally beautifully.

"Actually, I can Apparate too, Remus," Wade thought for a moment, feeling that there was no need to hide it from him, so he said.

Lupin was startled and asked in surprise, "You taught yourself?"

"Of course not," Wade said, "Professor Dumbledore taught me last semester."

"That's good." Lupin breathed a sigh of relief, and then reminded, "It's okay to know it, but don't use it in public. Too many people are watching you. This spell can play an unexpected role at critical moments."

"I understand," Wade nodded, paused, and then said, "How is Mabel adapting?"

"Very well," Lupin smiled: "She doesn't talk much, but she's easy to get along with, she just always likes to rush to do housework... also, she has already learned three simple spells."

"That's great," Wade said in surprise.

Although he himself always seemed to learn spells easily, Wade knew that it took many students a week or two to learn a spell. For example, the Levitation Charm, which they learned in the first year, they reviewed it again before the Christmas holiday.

Wade decided to visit Mabel first, and then go to school. The two walked towards Lupin's house together, and the surrounding environment became more and more remote. Only the lights in Lupin's and Sirius's houses were lit nearby.

When they arrived, Wade saw that Marchioni was also sitting in the living room. Because she didn't want to see strangers, Mabel had hidden in the upstairs room, and Sirius was entertaining the guest with a dark face.

"Marchioni?" Wade was surprised at first, then realized: "You're here for the Flow Mirror, right?"

He had actually explained it in a letter before, but seeing the other party now, he once again said apologetically: "Sorry, I must have caused you a lot of trouble."

"Oh, as long as it doesn't delay everyone from watching 'Goodnight Sweetheart', it's not a big problem." Marchioni shrugged, smiling and saying: "I just came to see you to make sure my genius alchemist is safe and sound."

"Uh... aren't you here for me to help you solve the signal hijacking problem?" Wade asked in astonishment.

"Solve it? Why solve it?"

Marchioni poured himself a glass of mead, saying casually:

"After solving it, the next person to be targeted by the Wizengamot might be me... or worse, they target you again and produce their own Flow Mirror, stealing at least half of my market."

"It's so good like this now, I earn my money, they build their reputation, we don't interfere with each other, and we all get what we want."

Marchioni raised his glass, winked, and said cunningly.

"Aren't you worried about the Ministry of Magic causing you trouble?" Sirius raised an eyebrow and asked.

"Oh, they already have."

Marchioni leaned against the counter, saying casually: "But I can't solve this problem, what can I do? Please have the Ministry of Magic send someone who can solve it, I will definitely cooperate... since they can't solve it either, then this is not my problem, it's the Ministry of Magic's own problem."

Marchioni smiled and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp.

Wade couldn't help but laugh as well.