allendalepharm Chapter 263: Appraisal and Warnings from France
Chapter 263: Appraisal and Warnings from France
Chapter 263: Appraisal and Warnings from France
The evening after returning to Eagle's Nest, Karen was in the workshop adjusting a new energy buffer module for a protective badge when the communication quill, specifically used to contact France, suddenly emitted a glow indicating an incoming message and began to vibrate slightly.
Karen immediately put down his tools, washed his hands, and went to the workbench. He pressed the touch crystal to activate the connection.
The quill pen stood up gracefully and began to write on the thick stack of parchment that had been laid out beforehand. The handwriting was Nicolas Lemaître's elegant and clear cursive script, but the writing speed was slower than usual during conversation, making it seem particularly solemn:
Karen, it's as if we're meeting in person.
We have carefully reviewed and conducted preliminary verification and analysis of the first batch of "knowledge excerpts" you previously sent via Forbes. The results are deeply worrying and confirm some of our previous suspicions. We are now informing you of the main conclusions, categorized as follows; please keep them in mind:
The handwriting paused here, then continued, the strokes becoming more deliberate:
Category One: Real but Extremely Dangerous. This type of knowledge has a solid theoretical foundation, is logically consistent, and its feasibility has been confirmed through limited deduction. However, precisely because it is real, its danger is extremely high. It often involves forbidden black magic involving soul tearing, life stealing, inflicting permanent pain or enslavement, as well as some ancient curse structures with immense power that are highly likely to backfire on the caster. While the knowledge certainly has its merits, given Voldemort's cunning, any form of practice will lead to irreversible mental pollution or soul damage—this could very well be another trap!
Before Karen could think it through, the quill pen continued writing:
The second type: partially true, but key steps are missing or distorted. This type of knowledge is the most deceptive. Its framework is generally correct, and the initial steps seem safe and harmless, even producing a certain effect that attracts people to continue delving deeper.
However, at the most crucial junctures, essential prerequisites are either omitted, replaced with fatal errors, or mixed with extremely subtle mental traps. While initial attempts may yield minor results, progressing to critical points can lead to anything from magical failure and severe backlash to mental breakdown or becoming a slave to the target. For example, the "Magic Resonance Enhancement" ritual (number 5A) in your notes lacks the crucial prerequisite of "Soul Stability Anchoring"; the variant of "Ancient Armor Protection" (number 9D) has its three rune connections deliberately reversed, posing an extremely high risk. Do not attempt! This type of knowledge is more insidious than the first, as it lures people into an abyss with false hope. It is recommended to attempt it only after acquiring complete knowledge.
Karen's brow furrowed deeply. 5A and 9D—he had once been interested in both projects, especially the protective magic variant of 9D, which seemed capable of greatly enhancing the defensive strength of the Ironclad Charm. He had previously considered referencing parts of the structure, but it seemed he would have to experiment with it under fully protected conditions first.
The handwriting moved again:
The third type: Completely false, a trap leading to destruction. This type of knowledge is fundamentally flawed, structurally chaotic, logically inconsistent, and violates known magical laws. Its purpose is not to impart knowledge, but to induce the seeker to perform magical operations destined to fail, thereby triggering disastrous consequences, or to further corrupt the spirit when the seeker is frustrated and disoriented. Of course, it cannot be ruled out that the target may have intended this very purpose in acquiring the knowledge.
The quill pen paused briefly, seemingly giving Karen time to process this astonishing information. Then, Nicole's handwriting reappeared, this time with a different paragraph:
The above are the preliminary identification results. We will send you a more detailed analysis report and instructions on how to solve each trap in batches via quill pen. You can keep a copy for reference, but do not try to implement them lightly.
Overall, the existence that provides this knowledge demonstrates a depth of understanding of soul magic and dark magic, a wickedness in its methods, and a meticulousness of mind that far surpasses that of ordinary dark wizards. Its knowledge system presents a startling, ruthless, and almost artistic destructiveness. However, it must be acknowledged that, setting aside its evil purposes and traps, some of its research approaches and perspectives, especially its exploration of the negative effects of ancient runes and some alternative interpretations of the nature of magic, do have their unique merits and can even provide us with some inspiration for reverse research.
Therefore, Castor and I speculate that Voldemort's will in the diary may not only consist of his memories and personality from his youth, but may have also acquired some knowledge of the magical system from his later, more powerful period.
This final passage carries the objectivity and rigor of Nicolas Flamel as a top alchemist.
Just then, the two-way mirror emitted a soft light. Karen immediately took it out and infused it with magic.
The reflections of Professor Nico and Professor Castor appeared in the mirror. They seemed to be in the alchemy workshop as well, with various instruments and books in the background. Nico's expression was serious and concerned, while Castor remained expressionless as always, but his eyes were exceptionally sharp.
"Karen, I believe you've already seen our initial conclusions," Nico said bluntly.
"Yes, teacher." Karen took a deep breath. "It's more dangerous than I thought. I originally thought at least some of it was feasible."
"Hmph." Castor snorted coldly, "Some of the knowledge here is far beyond what a sixteen-year-old could have researched, and it certainly doesn't come from ancient traditions, because some of the knowledge and insights are clearly combined with modern magic. You should have seen Karen and my speculations, Karen! You should understand now what you are facing."
"
"I understand, teacher," Cullen replied solemnly. "I will be more vigilant. I have already changed my strategy and started asking him about Hogwarts history, legends, and the legacy of the four great masters."
Nico nodded. "It's a wise choice. While that information can also be misled and corrupted, its immediate danger is far less than that of black magic, which directly involves powerful forces. It can serve as a way to understand our opponents and uncover the secrets of the castle, but it still requires careful verification."
"I will."
"Regarding that dangerous knowledge," Nico continued, "as mentioned in the letter, some of the ideas are indeed—unique. For example, the pain-absorbing array numbered 7B, its reverse derivation, might be used to construct a prototype of a 'filtering' or 'purifying' device for negative emotions and painful memories—of course, this would require a complete reconstruction and purification. And the will-binding 12C, its principle analysis might offer valuable insights for Castor's research on how to stably combat Helbo's curse."
Castor continued, his voice low: "Evil tools depend on the user's will and purpose. Understanding how they work is essential for better defense and countermeasures. But you are far from capable of wielding this fire. Continue with the status quo: extract, record, and transmit to us for us to handle. You must absolutely not attempt to investigate on your own."
"I understand, teacher," Karen assured him earnestly. He knew that his two mentors viewed this knowledge from a higher perspective, but he would never dare to touch it rashly.
"Keep in touch," Nicole concluded. "New information will arrive as soon as possible. We will respond promptly."
Be careful while you are at Hogwarts.
"I will. Thank you, Professor Nico, thank you, Professor Castor."
The communication ended. The two-way mirror returned to calm, and the quill pen had long since stopped writing, lying quietly on the parchment.
Karen looked at the stack of parchment filled with warnings, her heart heavy yet tinged with relief. Heavy because Tom Riddle's evil and cunning far exceeded her imagination; relieved because she had two top-notch mentors as her support. Although Karen herself couldn't blindly trust the knowledge in the diary, having two reliable teachers to discern and filter the information undoubtedly made Karen feel much more at ease.
He became even more resolute in his attitude towards the diary. Until it was truly tamed and controlled, it was an extremely dangerous and malicious source of information. Its current value lay only in the historical fragments it might provide, which required careful discernment, and in providing his mentors with sinister samples for reverse research. As for the true power inheritance it contained? He scoffed at it; at least for now, it was all bait.
He carefully put away the parchment filled with warnings by Nico, storing it separately from the previously recorded knowledge, and marked it with a prominent warning label.
Having done all this, he picked up the unfinished protective gear design again, his gaze becoming firm and clear. Rather than indulging in those dangerous, dark "shortcuts," he would rather continue to refine his creation step by step. "You say your piece, I'll do mine"—this was the path that belonged to Karen Hawthorne.