Chương 187: Chapter 186 "Phoenix Elixir For Eleanor"

There was a subtle rustling from the spacious bed at the room's center.

Skyler turned to find Eleanor sitting up, propped against the bed's backrest. "We need to position you like this. Tell me if you are uncomfortable." Skyler spoke softly.

She gazed at Skyler with bright, open eyes, a faint smile gracing her lips. Although still pale, the unnatural flush Skyler had noticed earlier had subsided.

"You know that I've realized you've been awake for a while now, right? Don't even try to fool me, Eleanor." Skyler observed the amused expression on her face and realized that the captivating woman had been awake for quite some time, likely enjoying the spectacle.

He spoke with irritation, "We are facing a formidable enemy, and you just stood there watching the entire ordeal. Weren't you afraid I might leave you behind with Barbarossa?"

"I trust you!" Eleanor blinked, flashed a mischievous smile, and added, "Moreover, didn't you do the same? It means my judgment of you wasn't off the mark, ah—"

She furrowed her brow, hands gently massaging her chest as she spoke, "This big guy is quite formidable. Although he doesn't possess the strength to overpower me directly, the injuries I sustained are genuine, cough, cough—"

"Fortunately, his aim wasn't to kill me outright, but rather to weaken me with a curse first and then control me using the Imperius Curse to manipulate you. If I were an ordinary person, he might have succeeded in seizing my soul..." Eleanor's smile brightened, "However, if he thought he could use such a straightforward method to apply the soul-seizing curse on me, he gravely underestimated the Hohenheim family."

With a playful gesture, she revealed her pale wrist adorned with a bracelet engraved with soul protection runes. Skyler understood that this served as her defense against the Imperius Curse.

Skyler, adept at creating such bracelets, had distributed them widely. Not only Daphne, Morag, Astoria, Cho, Luna, and Susan, but also the six recently appointed prefects had received one from Skyler.

These individuals could be considered his most trusted and core organizational cadres, and guarding against the potential theft and manipulation of their memories was imperative.

Certainly, judging from the intricate rune structure on Eleanor's bracelet, her adornment surpassed Skyler's creations in more than one aspect—both in terms of craftsmanship and protective performance, albeit by a small margin.

"Cough, cough—" Although Eleanor was faking the effects of the Imperius Curse, the injuries on her body were undeniably real and seemed quite severe.

"How are you feeling? Should I arrange for you to see a healer?" Skyler inquired, his brow furrowed in concern.

"I'm fine. His elemental spell injured me. There's some water in my lungs, but it's not too challenging to address. You're aware of my family heritage, right? All human organs and body parts, regardless of the extent of the damage, can regenerate under my influence, albeit requiring some time..." Eleanor explained weakly.

The mention of water in the lungs here differs from the medical concept in Muggle medicine.

The fluid accumulating in Eleanor's lungs wasn't actual water in the conventional sense; rather, it manifested as elemental power taking on the appearance of "water."

These elemental powers exhibited various water-like characteristics—mutability, permeability, erosive properties, fluidity, unbridled movement, and more.

Essentially, it functioned as a form of chronic poison, gradually deteriorating her lungs. In a way, Eleanor was correct. The Hohenheim family's inheritance, derived from the human body, typically allowed her to self-heal.

However, her magical abilities proved feeble against the aftermath of the encounter with Barbarossa, signifying she hadn't fully recovered from the battle.

Despite Skyler's suggestion to seek medical assistance, Eleanor declined, likely due to her reluctance to risk exposing the intricacies of her constitution. Hogwarts' healer, Madam Pomfrey, was no ordinary therapist.

She held a prominent reputation within the therapeutic community, possessing an array of formidable skills.

Skyler seemed to have an inkling of her concerns, so he gently shook his head and spoke in a resonant tone, "It's best not to take unnecessary risks." With that, he produced a bottle of translucent purple potion from his robes and approached Eleanor. Standing by her bedside, he handed her the potion, saying, "Here, take this."

Eleanor, a distinguished alchemist among the younger generation in Europe, possessed an excellent family background.

Even Skyler, who had received guidance from Nicolas Flamel, hesitated to claim superiority in the field of alchemy. Without asking for clarification on the potion's content, she reached out and accepted it.

Opening the bottle cap, she brought it to her nose for a cautious sniff and then fixed Skyler with a solemn expression.

As the truth dawned on her, she uttered in disbelief, "This is..." Although she had an inkling, the sheer value of the potion left her astounded. It was almost unbelievable that the concoction in her hands was indeed what she had speculated.

Eleanor pursed her lips and spoke softly, "Phoenix Elixir?"

"Yeah," Skyler affirmed with a smile, "It's tailor-made for you. This potion can not only restore you to your original state but can also enhance your magical power."

Eleanor's small mouth opened, but no words came out as her eyes flickered with surprise.

She was acutely aware of the preciousness of the Phoenix Elixir. Crafted from the tears of a Phoenix, it was an incredibly challenging elixir to refine.

Even the most skilled potion masters struggled, with a success rate as low as 30%, even lower than that of the Felixir. The fact that Skyler could present such a rare potion to her spoke volumes.

It indicated that this invaluable elixir, usually reserved for personal use or given to the closest confidants, was now being extended to her. Eleanor recognized that although Skyler aimed to forge an alliance with her, the strength of the Hohenheim family wasn't commensurate with the substantial cost he was willing to bear.

Hence, the more plausible scenario is that the Phoenix Elixir may not be as rare to Skyler as it is to others. He might have developed a specialized method of potion-making that significantly elevates the success rate of refining this elixir.

While the second possibility might seem astonishing, especially for an ancient potion formula with an extensive history, enhancing the success rate of refining such a potion remains a challenge for potion masters worldwide.

Eleanor, with her extensive knowledge, acknowledges the formidable difficulty involved. However, this possibility isn't entirely implausible considering Skyler's track record of accomplishing extraordinary feats.

There exists another potential explanation—

In alchemy, there is a legendary energy crystal that can defy death under any circumstances and resist the relentless march of time. It represents the pinnacle of alchemical achievement—

The Philosopher's Stone.

According to Eleanor's comprehension of the Philosopher's Stone, it is a crystalline entity that harnesses life energy. The energy encapsulated within has the capability to halt and stave off the depletion of life force.

This aligns with the principles Nicolas Flamel used to create the "Potion of Immortality." If applied to enhance the healing properties of Phoenix Tears, it could indeed contribute to an increased success rate in crafting the "Phoenix Elixir."

Nevertheless, the Ministry of Magic across various countries and the European alchemist community have officially declared that the Philosopher's Stone was destroyed by Dumbledore, and Nicolas Flamel, along with his wife, has been laid to rest. Could it be...

As various thoughts raced through her mind, Eleanor's eyes sparkled with discerning light.

After a contemplative pause, she fixed her gaze on Skyler and uttered slowly, "You possess the Philosopher's Stone, and I've known that the cunning old fox Nicolas Flamel wouldn't relinquish it easily. However, the entire European alchemy community asserts that the Philosopher's Stone has been obliterated, and the rumors are deemed true—"

"Hmph, it appears the rumors are indeed dubious—" Eleanor mused for a moment, scrutinizing Skyler, and continued, "Yet, for Nicola Flamel to pass it on to you, I truly didn't anticipate this. What is your connection with him?"

Skyler exchanged an appreciative glance with Eleanor, recognizing her ability to infer magical properties from a mere potion bottle. Sensing that Eleanor grasped the implications, he responded casually, "Mr. Flamel could be considered half my mentor. He shared with me the alchemical knowledge he delved into in his youth. During his lifetime, I also received some guidance from him."

Eleanor's gaze intensified as she looked at Skyler, and she inquired softly, "Moreover, did you acquire other items from him, perhaps... a certain book?"