Andy's gaze flickered.
Although this little old man looked like a nobody, Andy still found him very mysterious. He wasn't sure if he was just overthinking things.
An Unspeakable from the Department of Mysteries...couldn't really be a random no-name, could he?
What's more, he was the one who had turned up tonight.
Andy believed that he still had considerable strength and knew a lot of secrets about the magical world. Since the Department of Mysteries had predicted his arrival, they surely wouldn't let a no-name come and meet him, right?
But Andy wasn't interested in finding out the truth.
What if he had just been overthinking all this?
It would be embarrassing to think too highly of himself.
Andy looked around and asked, "Which door?"
There are twelve black doors in the circular room, each looking the same. When Andy had explored the Department of Mysteries before, he was just taking a chance and entering whichever door he liked.
Today, since he had encountered a 'tour guide', Andy didn't mind finding a pattern behind the twelve black doors.
"Follow me!"
The old man didn't give it a second thought. He casually chose a black door and gestured for Andy to follow him.
Opening the door, Andy found himself in the Brain Room.
"Are there any patterns to these doors?" Andy asked curiously.
"You'll find out when you become an Unspeakable," the old man said.
"Hmm..."
Andy thought for a while and then asked, "Can an Unspeakable resign?"
"Of course you can!"
The old man replied. "But even if you resign, you won't be able to tell others the secrets of the Department of Mysteries."
"This is top secret! Top secret of the magical world!"
Andy: "..."
"I'm a bit tempted!" Andy was itching to join.
There was no doubt that if Andy joined the Department of Mysteries, he would be able to learn the world's biggest secret and everything about the Department of Mysteries.
Including the place Andy most wanted to go – the Department of Mysteries' archive.
And... of course, there is also the Time Reversal Spell!
This spell, which touches on the domain of time, is the one that Andy is most eager to learn right now.
But...
"Sigh," Andy sighed.
"Let me think about it."
Andy said, "I still have three years until I graduate. If, after three years, I still can't figure out everything, maybe... I'll join the Department of Mysteries."
The old man didn't say much about this, but slowly walked to the glass tank in the centre of the room.
The tank is very large, filled with an ink-green liquid, and many white things are bobbing slowly around inside.
Those are human brains!
"Collins, you are the most special wizard I have ever met."
The old man said in a quiet tone, "You have done something that many great wizards have failed to do."
"Magic, soul..."
"Now you are a complete human being."
Here it comes!
Andy listened carefully, as obedient as a model student.
"Over the years, we have done a lot of research, most of which has failed, but there have also been successes."
The old man continued, his tone sounding a little melancholic.
"But... what is the point of success?"
"Just because a research experiment succeeds doesn't mean it will be a success in the real world."
Andy was puzzled. "Why?"
The old man looked back at Andy and asked in return, "You have undergone many magic transfigurations, but... can you let someone else successfully complete a magic transfiguration?"
Andy instantly understood.
Every magic transfiguration is a gamble with the wizard's life.
If you win, you will become more powerful.
If you lose, you will lose your life.
"Is the mortality rate high?" Andy asked.
"It has only succeeded in theory!" the old man said.
Andy: "..."
Is there any difference between this and research failure?
At this moment, Andy somewhat understood the difference between magic and technology.
If technological research is successful, everyone can use it.
If magical research is successful, without excellent talent, it is the same as something impossible to learn.
For example:
For Andy, Animagus is very simple.
However, there are no more than ten wizards in the entire British magical community who have learned the Animagus transformation.
As for magic transfiguration.
If you force people to learn it, more than 90% of the wizards will die.
"Advanced spells are different from basic spells."
The old man sighed, "They are not silly spells that you can learn by waving your wand. Without excellent talent, learning advanced magic spells is nothing but a dead end."
"You are the first wizard to have successfully controlled the Obscurus."
"And the first to become a ghost while still alive."
"You have also experienced many magic transfigurations…"
As he spoke, the old man's eyes sparkled as he looked at Andy, as if he were looking at a rare treasure. "Collins, you are very special!"
"So…"
Andy asked with a smile, "Are there any preferential treatments?"
"Of course there are!"
The old man withdrew his gaze. "If you join the Department of Mysteries, you can access everything here."
"Yes... everything!"
Andy didn't say anything in response.
Without another word, Andy took two steps forward and moved closer to the glass tank filled with dark green potion.
This was one of Andy's purposes.
Feeling the 'tentacles of thought' emerging from the brains, Andy asked curiously, "Are they... are they dead?"
Now, these 'tentacles of thought' no longer could influence Andy. Through the mental contact, Andy felt the instinct of life.
From a purely anatomical point of view, these brains could be considered alive – even if they no longer could think.
"What is death?" the old man asked in return.
"I don't want to discuss philosophical questions." Andy pursed his lips.
"Then let's talk about it from a magical perspective," the old man said.
Andy: "..."
Death from a magical perspective...
Andy thought about it.
He hadn't really given it much thought before.
Death in the conventional sense is the death of the body.
Death in the philosophical sense... There's no point in discussing it.
"Death of the soul?" Andy asked tentatively.
The old man laughed and didn't answer but continued along Andy's line of thought: "Do you think ghosts are dead?"
Andy froze.
Of course, ghosts are dead!
But...if you look at it from a magical perspective, a ghost can be considered an alternative magical being.
"..."
Andy was lost in thought.
At that moment, Andy felt a flash of realisation pass through his mind.
"Only when you have both body and soul together, humans are considered alive!"
Andy said solemnly, "Otherwise, they are dead!"
"Of course!"
The old man nodded, "Everyone understands death differently. Putting aside the reassuring words, the soul and body are both indispensable."
"In that case, these brains are certainly dead!"
Andy: "..."
I have a feeling that you're trying to fool me with your word game.
"So, what is your understanding of death?"
After a pause, Andy added, "This is a private discussion that does not involve the secrets of the Department of Mysteries."
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