"Dragon blood is selling for sixteen silver Sickles an ounce—they're really crazy!"
"Look! It's the latest Nimbus 2000! I really want one!!"
"Our basic cauldrons are crafted from premium copper alloy—not only heat-resistant but also corrosion-resistant—ensuring optimal potion conditions during brewing."
London.
Diagon Alley.
Another bustling day.
At this moment, Devlin wanted to cry.
He had just received another smack from Snape.
The reason? He couldn't stop grinning like a fool at every wizard passing by while shopping.
Snape couldn't bear the sight and gave him a lesson on composure.
Devlin wanted to say he didn't mean to smile!
But how could he help it? He had just made a discovery so exciting that it was impossible not to smile.
Attributes can actually be fused and evolved!!
To be precise, the attributes in the attribute library can be combined and upgraded.
On Devlin's panel, there is something called the [Attribute Library].
It keeps track of all the attributes Devlin has currently loaded—across all levels.
Once certain thresholds are met, the system allows him to fuse and evolve them.
And here's the kicker:
He doesn't need to fuse identical attributes.
Instead, the system uses the cumulative total of attributes in his library to allow an upgrade.
Then, Devlin can independently choose which of his currently carried attributes to upgrade.
Because not every attribute is necessarily good for him, the system thoughtfully allows Devlin to pick what he carries from the attribute library.
But there's a catch.
Attributes aren't plug-and-play.
You can only choose them during the first time they are loaded.
If you decline to carry it, you can't pick it later.
And if you choose to carry it but want to remove it later—Devlin hasn't found a way to do that yet.
As for the fusion rules, here's what Devlin discovered:
Red attribute = 5 Gold
Gold attribute = 10 Purple
Purple attribute = 100 Blue
Blue attribute = 1,000 Green
Green attribute = 10,000 White
...Uh.
Yes, the idea of needing 10,000 white attributes gave Devlin a scare.
But thinking it over, it sort of made sense.
Almost everyone has several white-level attributes—like buck teeth, freckles, etc.
Using these to generate a high-level attribute is understandably tough.
But the good news?
Devlin noticed that almost every wizard has at least one blue attribute:
[Magical Ability: Potential to become a qualified wizard]
So he just needs to load that blue attribute from every wizard he meets.
And with all the magic folk walking around in London, achieving a purple attribute becomes very likely.
When he reaches Hogwarts, it'll be even better!
So many students, all waiting to be loaded!
And each year, more arrive!
Devlin had never looked forward to going to Hogwarts this much!
"Besides," he thought, "not everyone only has white, green, and blue attributes. If I can gather higher-level attributes directly, my growth will skyrocket!"
That's exactly why Devlin had grinned like an idiot just now.
He had spotted a wizard who actually had a purple attribute:
[Good at Magical Cooking (Purple): You possess an extraordinary talent for magical cooking. With minimal guidance, you can prepare a table full of delicious dishes.]
Devlin loved this ability.
Unfortunately, his attribute loading was on cooldown, so he had to watch helplessly as the opportunity slipped away.
He sighed, thinking of Snape's "cooking."
Sure, Snape hadn't let him go hungry this year, but it was clear he wasn't aiming for taste.
In fact, Devlin was still amazed Snape could cook at all.
He had genuinely expected to be fed potions.
So yes, Devlin had been ecstatic about that magical cooking attribute.
Oh—and there was one more reason to celebrate.
Thanks to his Magical Genius attribute, Devlin could now learn spells just by observing them.
And here in Diagon Alley, adult wizards were casting spells left and right.
So...
[Ding!]
[New spell successfully added to the library!]
[New spell successfully added to the library!]
[New spell successfully added to the library!]
...
In no time, Devlin's spell library expanded rapidly:
[Spell Library: Levitation Charm (Proficient/Silent + Verbal), Summoning Charm (Beginner/Verbal), Unlocking Charm (Beginner/Verbal), Cleaning Charm (Beginner/Verbal), Repairing Charm (Beginner/Verbal)]
And he had only been in Diagon Alley for less than an hour.
Among these, the Levitation Charm stood out.
Devlin hadn't even practiced it yet—just by watching others cast it, he had already reached proficient level.
"Oh, Merlin's beard! This is exactly what a unique-level attribute should feel like!"
So, tailing Snape, Devlin continued peeking at spellcasting wizards.
At the same time, he steadily loaded their white and green attributes.
Sure, the fusion process takes a lot of entries.
But every little bit helps.
He was so focused, he barely even noticed the magical shops around him.
Next, Snape took him to buy school robes, various stationery, and finally to Flourish and Blotts for his schoolbooks.
Devlin fell in love with the books the moment he touched them.
Especially the newly purchased "Book of Potions".
Written by the wizard Zygmunt Budge, it was packed with knowledge so intriguing that Devlin lost track of time reading it.
Naturally, he earned himself another smack from Snape for standing dazed in the street for ten minutes.
"I've never seen you this interested in potions," Snape sneered. "Trying to show off so others pay more attention to you?"
Devlin knew exactly how much Snape despised arrogance.
So he quickly adjusted his tone.
"Of course not, sir. It's just that after studying these past few days at the Leaky Cauldron, I've come to realize potions are a truly profound, mysterious, and fascinating subject. I can't wait to learn more."
Praising potions in front of Snape? Always a good move.
"Oh? I thought I made that clear in your first lesson," Snape replied, his tone softening slightly. "I didn't expect you to finally understand it now."
And that was it.
Snape didn't abandon him in Diagon Alley after all.
Devlin believed he really might have, had he not said the right thing.
As they walked, Devlin secretly pulled out the "Book of Potions" and kept reading.
Thanks to the Potion Genius attribute, even the most complex and obscure content now felt fascinating.
Before, when he only had the Potion Perception attribute, reading "Magical Drafts and Potions" had felt like a prison sentence.
But this book—this "Book of Potions"—was a whole other level.
Thinking about it, Snape probably had such talent in his youth too.
Learning at this pace all the time...
No wonder he became the youngest professor at Hogwarts.
His potion skills must be terrifyingly strong!
After buying the last item—a cauldron—they exited the shop.
[Ding!]
[Your exploration of the Wizarding Mystery — Diagon Alley has reached 30%!]
[Reward has been issued!]
Devlin eagerly opened his panel:
[Name]: Devlin Alexander
[Age]: 11 years old
[Identity]: Hogwarts First-Year (un-enrolled), Potion Apprentice
[Spell Library]: Levitation Charm (Proficient/Silent + Verbal), Summoning Charm (Beginner/Verbal), Unlocking Charm (Beginner/Verbal)...
[Equipped Attributes]: Transmigrator (Unique), Magical Genius (Unique), Potion Genius (Gold)
[Attribute Library]: Unique (2), Gold (1), Purple (1), Blue (3), Green (51), White (235)
[Pet]: None
[Item]: Spell Proficiency Card
[Mystery Exploration Count]: 1
[Mystery — Diagon Alley]: Exploration 30.1%
Although he was itching to use that Spell Proficiency Card immediately to test its effect, he managed to hold himself back.
After all, there was still one final and most important thing left to buy—
A wand.