Peeking in through the crack in the door.
No matter how brightly lit and dazzling the room was, the Golden Cup in Dumbledore's hand still stood out, radiating a sense of masterpiece that only alchemists could truly appreciate.
"Hufflepuff's Golden Cup!"
Ian recognized what Dumbledore was holding almost instantly. It was Helga Hufflepuff's alchemy creation, one of the legacies of Hogwarts' four founders. Just like Gryffindor's Treasure Sword, Ravenclaw's Crown, and Slytherin's Pendant Box, Hufflepuff's Golden Cup was also a pinnacle of alchemy.
It might not quite reach the heights of the Magic Stone crafted by Nicolas Flamel, but the founders' relics, while possessing extraordinary significance, also wielded immense magical power.
The wizards who reached their level were all versatile, and although the materials for such treasures might have come from goblins, most of the magic within must undoubtedly have originated from the founders themselves.
Aside from Slytherin's Pendant Box, whose purpose no one really knew, Ian understood the other three founders' relics—Gryffindor's Treasure Sword had a dust-repelling property, able to ward off grime, and grew stronger with each battle fought, absorbing and enhancing its own magic.
Ravenclaw's Crown could increase the wearer's wisdom, but from Ian's brief exchange with Lady Ravenclaw and by analyzing reality, he thought it was pretty much like an alchemy version of the Blessing Potion—maybe it also brought effects similar to "Wisdom Enlightenment," like a Golden Apple?
Compared to those relics from the other two founders, Helga Hufflepuff's is rather laid-back, just like Helga herself—never much for competition. It didn't grant the user prowess in learning or battle, but it was the perfect companion for daily life and travel.
It contained magic that could almost be called time-freezing, keeping any food placed inside from spoiling, and it offered enormous storage space for all sorts of food—you could tell from Hufflepuff's Golden House that Helga truly mastered the Space Expansion Spell.
Ian even learned that Hufflepuff's Golden Cup could turn water into red wine. During his long hours in the library, he would often look up histories and records of ancient wizards, especially anything related to Hogwarts. Ever since meeting Lady Ravenclaw herself, Ian had found all this fascinating.
Of course.
Even so.
Ian still hadn't uncovered the secrets of Slytherin's Pendant Box; there simply weren't any documents mentioning it. Maybe he'd get a chance when Little Sirius was freed.
No way around it—Salazar Slytherin was the only founder to run away from home, and no one knew where he went after leaving Hogwarts.
Ian actually did find a tale about Salazar Slytherin in an old unofficial history. Apparently, more than a hundred years ago, someone had spotted a man who might have been Salazar Slytherin somewhere in Africa. The chronicler was an adventurer; according to him, Slytherin was searching for something in Africa.
Because his family owned several portraits of Slytherin, the adventurer could recognize him. He even wrote in the book that he shared a meal of wild game with Salazar Slytherin.
The account was very detailed, but really quite fantastical. In the era when Golden Apples were extinct, unless Salazar Slytherin managed to create a Magic Stone, how could he possibly have lived into modern times? The adventurer's claims clearly weren't reliable; the tone of his book wasn't too different from "Magical Me."
It was full of self-praise and exaggerated experiences. If Teacher Morgan's theory of reincarnation really existed, then perhaps this was Gilderoy Lockhart's now-deleted previous account.
That was Ian's only impression after finishing "I, the Witness of Legends." Of course, he didn't really care about Slytherin, only about the relics the four founders left behind.
"What a shame—three of the founders' relics have been contaminated by noseless Tom. I have to protect my Gryffindor's Treasure Sword; can't let noseless Tom get a chance to defile it, too." Ian watched for ages from behind the door crack, but Dumbledore, master of Legilimency, never noticed.
He was just too focused on the Golden Cup in his hands—maybe he was using his mind to probe the fractured soul attached to it. Dumbledore was so absorbed, even his bird was more observant.
"Clang clang~"
Phoenix Fox had originally been grooming the new feathers it grew after rebirth atop the Golden Branch. When Ian, the peeping tom, accidentally grazed his pointy head against the door, the phoenix immediately swooped at him.
The pointy tuft was flattened.
The phoenix, as always, built its nest on top of Ian's head—he'd gotten used to it by now. He even patted his head, feeling the phoenix there, and happily slipped his hand underneath the phoenix's butt. Fox, though a bit uncomfortable, still didn't leave Ian's head.
"So warm! Phoenix warmth!" Ian enthused, instantly pulling out his palm-sized money bag and taking out a phoenix egg with a striking red pattern.