[Note: Read up to Chapter - 40 on P patron at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]
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"Hold on tight!" he called.
"Just past that waterfall—we're almost there!"
No sooner had Griphook finished speaking than the sound of rushing water echoed above their heads—followed by a blast of icy cold spray.
The cart shot straight through a waterfall, soaking everyone to the bone in seconds.
"That," Grublord announced over his shoulder, "is a Cursed Anti-Theft Waterfall. It washes away all illusions, magical disguises, and concealment charms. One of the more serious security measures for vaults this deep."
"Bloody typical..." Xeno muttered, wringing out the ends of his coat.
Then he pulled out his wand, muttered a quick incantation under his breath—and in the next moment, a comforting warmth enveloped Aris.
He felt the chill fade away almost instantly, and the wetness clinging to his robes began to evaporate.
"Thanks, Mr. Lovegood!" Aris let out a sigh of relief, visibly more comfortable.
He made a silent vow then and there: I've got to learn that spell.
"It's a blend of a drying charm and a mild warming spell," Xeno explained, noticing Aris's curious look.
"Weather's been damp lately, and Luna and I got sick of waiting for our clothes to dry—so I fiddled with a few spells and came up with this."
He chuckled modestly.
"Not flashy magic, but dead useful."
"It really is!" Aris nodded, clearly impressed.
While the two were chatting, the cart twisted through several more sharp bends before finally coming to a stop in front of a vault that was clearly far grander than the average one.
"We've arrived!"
"Vault No. 77—an exclusive, high-security vault belonging to the Shafiq family."
The cart slowed to a halt, and Griphook was the first to hop out, lantern in hand, stepping up to the enormous circular vault door ahead of them.
The massive archway, forged from some unknown metal, looked heavy and formidable. Its dull, matte finish gave off the impression of reinforced steel—but Aris could tell at a glance this was no ordinary steel.
There was a powerful magical aura radiating from it—layer upon layer of enchantments woven into the material itself. No doubt, it was protected by a multitude of complex wards and defensive spells.
"Mr Aris, we'll need a small drop of your blood," said Grublord respectfully, turning to him.
"The vault's key was lost long ago, so we'll have to open it using the blood magic protocol. It's a unique enchantment tied to your family's bloodline, and only you can activate it."
"No problem," Aris replied with a nod.
Griphook stepped forward, gently pricked Aris's finger, and collected a single drop of blood.
The two goblins then turned toward the vault. Standing before the intricate markings etched into the metal, they began to trace their long fingers across the runes—murmuring ancient incantations under their breath.
The vault door began to hum faintly, a deep vibration echoing through the cavernous space.
At the same moment, the drop of Aris's blood touched the vault door—and was gradually absorbed into the metal, vanishing bit by bit.
A few seconds later, a deep clunking noise echoed from within the door, like the sound of ancient gears grinding into motion.
Strange symbols along the surface began to glow faintly, casting a soft light that shimmered across the surrounding stone walls.
About half a minute passed, and the mechanical rumble inside finally subsided.
Then the ground beneath their feet gave a subtle tremor.
With a slow, heavy groan, the massive vault door began to part, sliding open to either side.
Xeno and Aris both leaned forward instinctively, eyes wide with anticipation.
From the widening gap, a dazzling golden light burst out—flooding the passage with its glow.
What lay beyond was like something from a dream.
"Look at all those Galleons!" Luna blurted out, eyes sparkling.
Xeno took a sharp breath, stunned into silence.
The vault before them was stacked from floor to ceiling with glittering gold—piles upon piles of Galleons, neatly arranged but overflowing in places, as if the room itself could barely contain the fortune.
This was no ordinary vault.
The Shafiq family's vault was not only enormous—nearly a dozen times the size of a standard one—but it was also one of the most secure chambers in all of Gringotts.
And yet, even a vault this massive had been completely filled.
It wasn't just wealth—it was a legacy of centuries, and it shimmered in every corner of that room.
The visual impact was enough to stun most people and Xeno wasn't any different.
"I don't think I've ever seen this much gold in my entire life…"
Xeno exhaled deeply, staring at the mountain of treasure before them. There was a faintly sheepish look on his face.
As editor-in-chief of The Quibbler, he wasn't exactly poor—yet even his life's savings probably didn't amount to a fraction of what lay inside this vault.
It was both humbling and surreal.
All of this… belonged to a child.
A lad who, up until yesterday, was wandering the world alone, struggling for food and barely surviving.
"Mr Shafiq," Grublord said respectfully, bowing once more, "you may now enter and withdraw any Galleons you require."
"Right," Aris nodded and stepped forward, his boots clicking softly against the stone as he entered the vault.
To be honest, even he was a little overwhelmed.
The golden light shimmering across every inch of the chamber, the sheer weight of wealth surrounding him—it was like stepping into a dream.
No, Aris corrected himself. Like stepping into someone else's dream.
He half expected to wake up any moment.
Most people would've been giddy at the sight—maybe even fainted from excitement.
But Aris, having mentally prepared himself for this possibility, managed to remain calm, albeit with difficulty.
He didn't rush to grab anything.
Instead, he paused just past the threshold, letting his gaze drift slowly across the room.
The Galleons, while dazzling, weren't the only treasures inside.
Neatly lined along the back were ornate crowns, lavish necklaces encrusted with priceless gems, luxurious artefacts, enchanted trinkets, heirloom wands, ancient tomes, magical weapons, and all manner of precious oddities radiating an air of mystery and power.
Each one looked as though it had a story to tell—and together, they whispered of a legacy built over centuries.
Aris, truth be told, hadn't the faintest clue what most of them did—or how valuable they truly were.
After a brief look around, his gaze settled on something that seemed oddly out of place.
A plain wooden box, small and unassuming, sat quietly in the corner of the vault.
In a chamber filled with grandeur and opulence, this modest little box almost looked... forgotten. It certainly didn't seem like it belonged there.
Which, of course, made Aris all the more curious.
He approached it slowly, brows furrowed.
Why would such a simple thing be stored in a vault like this?
That alone made it feel suspicious.
His instincts kicked in—what if it was cursed? Or protected by a spell he couldn't detect?
After all, this place was meant to be unbreachable.
If something went wrong in here, it's not like he could pop outside and report it to someone.
But then he paused and considered.
Surely, he thought, if this vault was only accessible to members of the Shafiq family… the elders wouldn't go to the trouble of hiding something dangerous inside—just to harm one of their own, would they?
It seemed unlikely.
Clenching his jaw, Aris made up his mind.
He reached out, picked up the wooden box carefully, and lifted the lid.
No flash of light. No nasty curses. No explosions.
Inside, resting neatly and without any decoration, was a very old, thread-bound book.
Its cover was worn, the edges frayed, and the parchment inside looked like it could crumble from age—but it sat there quietly.
Almost as if it had been waiting for him.
Compared to the mountains of Galleons piled around the vault, the old book looked just as unremarkable as the box it came in—but it sparked something in Aris.
"A book?" he murmured, intrigued, and gently lifted the thread-bound tome into his hands.
The cover was cracked and worn with age, but the title was still just legible:
Merlin's Notes
The moment he read those words, Aris felt a jolt in his chest.
Wait… Merlin?
As in the Merlin? The legendary Wizard?
Surely not.
That was… ridiculous.
His mind flooded with doubts.
Could it be fake? Just some fanciful naming trick, like those gimmicky books peddled in Diagon Alley?
Who would leave something this valuable lying in a dusty corner like an afterthought?
And yet—this was the Shafiq family vault.
Nothing here would be meaningless. Nothing here was ordinary.
Aris stared at the book for a moment longer, then quietly tucked it into his robes, holding it close.
Real or not, he thought, I need to read this.
If there was even the slightest chance this book had anything to do with Merlin—it could be priceless.
He couldn't shake the strange coincidence either.
First, he'd received Merlin's talent card from the system…
And now this: a mysterious ancient tome bearing Merlin's name, hidden away in his family vault.
It was too much to be a fluke.
Is this fate… or something more?
Aris's heart beat faster, the excitement starting to rise.
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[Note: Read up to Chapter - 40 on P patron at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]