The brightly lit circular room was filled with the scent of Dragon Blood Ink and Moonstone Powder, with parts scattered on the ground, suggesting that there was once a DVD player here before it was dismantled.
Vid gently placed a green Quill on the oak table, and the slender pen automatically stood upright, waiting quietly.
Professor Morry stepped away from his seat, standing beside the table, watching with great interest.
"Squeak squeak!" The mouse in the cage called twice, circled the food bowl twice, and then suddenly started climbing up the wire.
"Squeaky squeak..." It made a sound of urgency.
The Quill on the table immediately began moving on its own and wrote smoothly on the paper:
[Hungry.]
[Let me out! Let me out! Out!]
It repeatedly expressed its desire to get out, continually scratching at the wire on the cage.
Professor Morry smiled faintly, waved the Magic Wand, and the mouse inside the cage fell asleep.
Then, a gentle breeze swept through the office, and the sparrow on the windowsill flapped its wings, lifting its head to emit a crisp call.
"Chirp chirp! Chirp chirp chirp! Chirp chirp!"
The Quill continued writing:
[Wind is at high places! It's going to rain!]
"Not bad."
Professor Morry showed a satisfied smile; he also quieted the sparrow and tapped the bell-shaped glass covering next to the pen holder.
Inside the cover were several Fairies, holding mini Magic Wands in their small hands, neatly perched on the branches inside like a row of decorative lanterns.
After a light tap of the Magic Wand, the Fairies flew up, their bright blue skin flickering, their transparent wings rapidly fluttering, causing a chirping commotion.
The Quill then flew into action, swiftly bringing down lines of text:
[Pulling hair! Whose hair should we pull today?]
[Hey, old man with a white beard, you want us to be your lanterns too?]
[Want honey, need honey!]
[Next time, we'll bring more friends, one hundred! One thousand! We'll take over Hogwarts!]
The Quill wrote swiftly, and a few Fairies caused a commotion like one hundred ducks, their memory seemingly poor—one second thinking about troubling a Tree-Protector Lofa, and the next, only focused on filling their bellies.
Professor Morry's eyebrows almost flew into his hairline; he waved his Magic Wand to quiet both the Fairies and the Quill, looking at Vid with an admiring gaze:
"Not bad, really not bad, I mean... excellent, child." Professor Morry said with a squinted smile: "How many animal languages can this pen translate?"
"Still not sure."
Vid gently held the Quill in his hand, the slender tip showing no trace of ink.
He said: "So far, I've only tested eighteen animals, and it can translate them all."
"I must say, you always manage to surprise me, child."
Professor Morry smiled, turned to retrieve an invitation embossed with gold from the drawer, and placed it on the table in front of Vid.
"Take a look, what's this?"
Vid glanced at the cover: "…International Alchemy Innovation Competition?"
"End of July." Professor Morry said with a smile: "In New York."
Vid hesitated at the words: "Professor, you are asking me to participate in this competition?"
—Wouldn't that be unfair to the other contestants?
Of course, having participated in the Magic School league, if Professor Morry wants him to win a championship, to save face, Vid would naturally participate.
"Dear child, you should first look at the contents inside." Professor Morry blinked slyly.
Vid opened the invitation, seeing written in green ink:
[Dear Mr. Vid Gray:
We are honored to invite you as a special judge for the 35th International Alchemy Innovation Competition.
Your breakthrough achievements in the field of Poppet have drawn significant attention from the International Alchemy Association. This competition expects participants from over twenty countries worldwide to create Poppet on-site for the competition, and your expertise will be crucial for ensuring fairness in the competition.
If you are willing to accept the invitation, please respond by two weeks before the competition starts.
Your loyal:
Chairman of the organizing committee: Bastian von Krupp].
Following the main text of the letter was detailed information about the competition's time, location, and judge's responsibilities and authority, written in a smaller font.
Also included was a Portkey and a badge exclusive to judges to distinguish them from contestants.
Vid finished reading the letter and looked up at Professor Morry, surprised: "Me? Acting as a judge?"
He pointed to his nose, showing rare traces of bewilderment.
—Are they crazy? Most Alchemy apprentices didn't even start practicing Alchemy until they were much older than he is now.
Professor Morry sipped the bubbling purple juice, his eyes squinting into slits: "Your age is indeed younger than past judges... hmm, at least by fifty years—but so what?"
He said with pride: "Poppet is your invention; in this regard, who is more authoritative than you?"
Professor's eyes flashed with proud joy, childlike delight, and excitement.
—He didn't need Vid to bring back a championship because this time his student would sit directly at the judge's table!
The youngest Alchemy Master in history…
Just imagining the envious, jealous, eyes of those old friends was enough to make Professor Morry excited to the point of being unable to contain himself.
Vid couldn't help but smile but rubbed the invitation in his hand, feeling slightly hesitant.
He had previously promised his parents he wouldn't leave easily this holiday and that he would spend quality time with them.
Moreover, Voldemort is still lurking outside... Dumbledore's actions remain uncertain, and the progress of Lucius Malfoy's plan... Lock and Cube are active outside, while Braun from Witch Pure Party has been increasingly active lately… there are many experiments at home needing his arrangement....
The matters pressing on him are numerous, and Vid, caught up in study and competition, hasn't left school much for the past half year.
Compared to those weighty, unspeakable matters, a competition feels trivial…
Considering how rare it is for Professor Morry to be so delighted and expectant, Vid finds it hard to decisively refuse.
Professor Morry noticed, softened his tone: "No need to decide now, just send a reply through the owl by the deadline. Even if you refuse—"
Vid looked up, seeing the professor smilingly observing him, saying: "Those old relics can't achieve half your level in Poppet creation, what right do they have to dictate to you?"
The sunlight outside abruptly intensified, shining into Vid's eyes, momentarily dazzling him.