Chapter 346 Real Problems

Dumbledore was willing to help Zhao Mai obtain the qualifications to stay at Hogwarts. In exchange, he hoped to complete the paper "Research on Merlin and the Original Curse" with Zhao Mai. There's nothing wrong with this. Zhao Mai would naturally agree, and the two shook hands.

"Can you take this stone book back to me and read it?"

"Oh, the words above are quite ancient, can you understand them?" Dumbledore's eyes flashed, trying to see Zhao Mai through.

"My good friend Tolkien is a genius in language. He is a professor of ancient English." Zhao Mai said calmly: "Do you mind if I show it to him?"

"Take it and keep it carefully." Dumbledore smiled: "Don't forget to return it to the library as soon as possible. Mrs. Farrant's temper has always been bad, and I don't want to be dragged by her ears to ask for expired books."

Zhao Mai smiled in agreement and walked to the dormitory carrying the heavy book. Halfway through, he remembered that he had forgotten to ask something, which was related to the Potions exam.

But it doesn't matter if he thinks about it in retrospect. Anyway, he can refine the potion according to the clumsy and cumbersome method in the book, so there is no problem if it passes the test. I have already shown myself to be a lot different from ordinary people, so there is no need to go too far on this unique path.

Hearing Dumbledore's guarantee to Zhao Mai - even though Zhao Mai repeatedly said that Dumbledore only said to give it a try and did not guarantee anything - Tolkien was sincerely happy for him. "Your spell level is definitely no problem! You are also good at potions. It seems you are stable!"

"I'm not as optimistic as you, but what I heard today is indeed good news." Zhao Mai put the book "A Test on the Origin of Magic" on the table: "How about helping me see what is written in this book? ?”

"Ah?" Tolkien just glanced at the Old English text on it and couldn't pull it out: "Where did you find this thing? Such a large amount of text is enough for me to write a paper!"

"I borrowed this from Professor Dumbledore. I thought you might be interested. You can make two copies, but the original book still has to be returned. I'm not in a hurry here. Let me know when you've finished deciphering it. Just say it.”

"You are so kind to me! I just need some interesting extracurricular reading to change my brain." Tolkien said with a smile.

Zhao Mai only used Tolkien as a cover, and never thought of using this kind of work as extracurricular reading for brain replacement. However, he smiled kindly and accepted Tolkien's thanks graciously.

With the help of Universal Language, he found time to read the entire book. Except for what Dumbledore said, the entire book records the deeds of some of the earliest wizards, which is more dreamlike than many fantasy novels. It said that Merlin could make the entire sea fly into the sky and pull the moon to the ground. These stories seriously undermined the book's credibility, and Tolkien judged it to be nothing more than a collection of stories. Therefore, the focus of their studies was still on magic spells and potions, practicing day and night.

However, one of the information provided by Dumbledore was very enlightening for Zhao Mai: the curse summarized by Merlin is actually rooted in the spell of the Druid. Since it is a summary and evolution, there must be a context to follow. Tolkien was a linguist, and he proposed to find patterns in incantation. "The words used in many mantras are meaningful, and there is not much difference between many words in ancient times and modern times, such as Expelliarmus and Fainting. If you separate the root of the word and the root of the sound..."

"It's not easy for me to speak English. Don't force me to go through your graduate studies, okay? How can I understand what you are saying?" Zhao Mai said, covering his forehead.

"Well, I mean, there is a line extending from ancient English to modern times. What if it's the other way around? I can make the language even more ancient, and maybe I can make something up." Tolkien looked very excited. : "All spells are ultimately language, whether it's Germanic, Celtic or whatever, it's all about the power of language!"

Zhao Mai suddenly thought: Is the power of oaths the same?

"Okay, are you going to create a spell? As long as you can do it, I will help you test it." Zhao Mai never discourages his friends, but he also reminds him: "Don't spend too much time on this. You still have exams to take after all!”

"Don't worry," Tolkien replied confidently. Just then there was a knock on the door.

"Have you seen Fidel Russ?" The person knocking on the door was "Eager Elbella," a married woman from Norway who had two children with wizard talents.

"Fidel? That Spaniard with two curvy beards and a goatee?" Tolkien shook his head: "I haven't seen him since class today. In fact, yesterday morning was the last time I saw him. What happened? ?”

"He is missing and has been reported to the school. The ghosts are looking for him. I hope God keeps him safe."

"Is this the fifth one that has had an accident?" Zhao Mai recalled. Ever since he was inexplicably attacked by a fainting spell, he had been paying attention to the surrounding situation. Toman from Ireland was hit on the head by a falling sculpture and has been sent home to recuperate; Popov from the Netherlands has suffered from long-term mental failure and has recommended dropping out of school; Gallagher fell during a flight last week and is still in the hospital bed Above; The day before yesterday, Johnston from Liverpool was admitted to the hospital due to severe diarrhea and appendicitis. He didn’t know when he would be released.

Although everyone's situation is different, these things all happen to cram school students, which makes people nervous and suspicious. In fact, the tutoring students are quite young, at least much older than the actual students in school. They are relatively more mature and careful. Logically speaking, there should not be so many "accidents" happening.

"It's not just the fifth one." Ellerbella lowered her voice and said, "Do you still remember the French and the Germans who dueled on the playground? They were given major demerits for violating school rules and their exam scores would be deducted. It is said that The principal was going to fire them outright."

"Then why weren't you fired?"

"Professor Dumbledore said good things for them." Ms. Ellerbella shook her cheeks and suppressed a smile and said: "And the reason is that those two people's spell skills are so poor that they were described as Making wild gestures with a stick cannot be defined as a magic duel, so I was given a lenient sentence."

It is impossible for people with poor spell skills to cast the correct fainting spell. Zhao Mai has been able to confirm that there are people behind these things, and their target is very clear, which is their group of cram school students.

"I think everyone should pay special attention to safety at this time. Don't act alone, let alone go out alone." Zhao Mai reminded: "There are still about two months until the exam, but don't let anything happen at this time."

"Well, you two - oh, and Hodor - you three should be careful." Ms. Ellerbella smiled at them: "Okay, I will go down below to inform and ask other people. Climb once and you I’m really tired from the top floor, and I’m huffing and puffing.”

The door closed, and crisp footsteps could be heard on the steps. Suddenly, "Who!?" A cry was followed by a rolling sound. Zhao Mai rushed out and found no one.

Ms. Ellerbella's body froze and she fell to the bottom of the stairs. She was petrified, cracks spreading across her stone body.