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[Check-in successful. Congratulations on obtaining Ravenclaw's Diadem alchemy craft!]

Ravenclaw's Diadem? Kael was stunned but then delighted.

He hadn't expected this from the check-in.

Ravenclaw's Diadem was a relic of Rowena Ravenclaw, one of Hogwarts' founders, and a treasure of Ravenclaw House.

It was said to possess the power to increase the wearer's wisdom.

Therefore, generations of Ravenclaw students and professors had tried to find this relic to gain greater wisdom.

This treasure even sparked a tragic story spanning a millennium:

Ravenclaw's daughter Helena, jealous of her mother's wisdom, believed the diadem granted this ability. So she stole her mother's diadem and fled to Albania.

When Ravenclaw fell gravely ill and deeply missed her daughter, she sent the Bloody Baron, who was infatuated with Helena, to find her.

The Bloody Baron found Helena in an Albanian forest, but she refused to return home and hid the diadem in a hollow tree.

In their argument, the Bloody Baron's love turned to hate, and in fury he stabbed Helena to death, then killed himself.

After receiving this heartbreaking news, Ravenclaw also died of illness shortly after, and the diadem's whereabouts became unknown.

After death, both Helena and the Bloody Baron became ghosts who returned to Hogwarts. One became Ravenclaw House's ghost, the other Slytherin's.

A millennium later, young Tom Riddle learned the diadem's location from Helena's ghost, who went by the Grey Lady.

After finding the diadem, he made it into his fifth Horcrux and hid it in Hogwarts' Room of Requirement.

Ultimately, this Ravenclaw relic was destroyed by Fiendfyre released by Slytherin student Crabbe during the Battle of Hogwarts.

From beginning to end, this diadem supposedly capable of increasing wisdom never demonstrated its abilities, leaving its authenticity in question.

But now that Kael had obtained Ravenclaw's Diadem alchemy craft, he knew the rumors weren't false.

Rowena Ravenclaw was famous for her wisdom, but what most didn't know was that she was also a skilled alchemical master.

Ravenclaw's Diadem was her alchemical creation, an item that could increase wisdom.

Of course, the diadem's abilities weren't as exaggerated as rumors suggested. It couldn't grant boundless wisdom just by wearing it.

Rather, it stimulated mental potential, making the wearer's brain work faster, more keenly capturing information, more quickly understanding knowledge, and helping them think and analyze problems more efficiently.

So even an empty-headed person wouldn't gain wisdom just by wearing Ravenclaw's Diadem.

This was why Ravenclaw inscribed "Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure" on the diadem, warning that the diadem itself wouldn't bring wisdom; only one's own accumulation could.

But most people, including her daughter, failed to understand Ravenclaw's intentions.

This was what caused the subsequent tragedies.

Even knowing the diadem couldn't increase wisdom, Kael wasn't disappointed. He wanted such a diadem even more.

This was the best learning aid tool!

With Ravenclaw's Diadem's enhancement, whether studying magical knowledge or researching mysteries, his efficiency would greatly improve.

As knowledge accumulated, wisdom would naturally increase, and his strength would correspondingly improve.

This was what Kael considered the diadem's greatest use.

Actually, in the magical world, there was a potion with a similar function to Ravenclaw's Diadem called Baruffio's Brain Elixir.

Also known as Wit-Sharpening Potion, it made thinking clearer and reactions more agile after consumption.

Students generally liked taking this potion before exams to try to pass tests and get high scores.

However, schools prohibited this behavior, especially during the crucial fifth-year O.W.L.S. and seventh-year N.E.W.T.S. exams. Discovery meant disqualification.

Moreover, the Brain Elixir had a time limit, and taking too much caused side effects like dizziness, confused thinking, anxiety, and inability to concentrate.

So this potion was rarely used and couldn't compare to Ravenclaw's Diadem.

In a sense, Ravenclaw's Diadem was an enhanced and permanent version of Brain Elixir, without any side effects.

Having such a gain from this check-in made Kael feel the trip was worthwhile.

Having checked in, Kael didn't plan to stay long in Annúminas.

But just as he bid farewell to the Dúnedain and prepared to call the Great Eagle Thorondor, he noticed Thorondor circling above Lake Evendim, playing with a flock of large white birds.

As a Great Eagle, Thorondor was naturally the sky's ruler, able to communicate with birds and hold a dominant leadership position. Truly the chief of all fowl.

The birds surrounded Thorondor like a hundred birds paying homage to a phoenix, constantly catching large fish from the lake to feed him.

Kael was surprised seeing this scene.

But looking closer, he discovered those large white birds were actually a flock of owls.

Their size far exceeded ordinary owls, with wingspans of four to five meters. Their pristine white feathers were spotless, like the purest first snow of winter or white clouds in the sky, light and ethereal.

"What breed are those owls? Why have I never heard of them?" Kael curiously asked Thalmir beside him.

Thalmir looked up at the white birds above the distant lake, unsurprised, and explained with a smile.

"They're Great Snowy Owls that once lived on Númenor Island. When our ancestors crossed the sea to Middle-earth, some followed, but they're so rare they're unknown to most."

"Are they yours?" Kael asked again.

Thalmir shook his head.

"Great Snowy Owls are proud by nature. Though they don't resist humans, they won't easily submit. They yearn for freedom. Even gaining their recognition only means they'll visit your home temporarily, like one family head visiting another, then quickly leave."

"These Great Snowy Owls live in the pine forests at the northernmost end of the Evendim Hills and often come to Lake Evendim to fish."

Hearing these were ownerless owls, Kael immediately became less polite.

As a wizard, how could he lack owl companions?

Especially these Great Snowy Owls, which were truly beautiful, white as snow with jade-like feet, looking like white "spirits."

When he'd seen dwarves using ravens for messages, he'd considered getting some owls as messengers.

He just hadn't found the opportunity.

As for the Great Eagle Thorondor, he was too large to be suitable as a messenger.

So he directly cast the Animagus transformation, becoming an owl and flying toward Thorondor and the Great Snowy Owls under Thalmir's shocked gaze.

As an owl, Kael could understand both owls and Thorondor.

When he flew close, he heard the Great Snowy Owls calling Thorondor "Great King" and bringing him fish like tribute, their fawning tone shocking Kael greatly.

Were these the proud Great Snowy Owls Thalmir described? More like a bunch of sycophants!

"Thorondor, are these your new friends?" Kael flew before the Great Eagle, asking with amusement.

"Master, these are my new little brothers!" Thorondor recognized Kael's Animagus and immediately boasted like a child showing off to parents.

The other Great Snowy Owls couldn't stand Kael. Seeing the mighty Great Eagle call a smaller owl "master" shocked their round eyes even wider.

"You you you... are the boss's master?" One Great Snowy Owl was so shocked it dropped the fish from its mouth, asking in disbelief.

Seeing the owls' dumbfounded expressions, Kael found it amusing and deliberately teased. "Yes, what's wrong? Don't I look like it?"

The Great Snowy Owls were thunderstruck, feeling like they were dreaming.

Good heavens! The world was upside down! These days owls could become Great Eagles' masters!

After teasing the owls, Kael flew onto Thorondor's back and transformed back to human form.

Seeing this, the Great Snowy Owls finally relaxed.

So he was human!

Wait? Human?

The Great Snowy Owls were completely confused. Was this an owl or a human?

Kael showed a kind smile, like someone with candy about to coax children.

Since Thorondor had recruited these little brothers, the rest was easy.

Kael used his silver tongue to entice them to Weathertop, promising comfortable owl housing and unlimited food.

Plus a Great Eagle vouching for him.

These naive Great Snowy Owls were completely fooled and agreed to work for Kael.

Then the entire tribe of over 300 Great Snowy Owls, with their families, followed the Great Eagle to settle at Weathertop.

"With their families" was quite literal.

Some Great Snowy Owls gripped nests tightly, containing chirping chicks and even unhatched eggs.

They followed the Great Eagle Thorondor in a mighty procession.

This scene left the Dúnedain speechless.

Seeing nightfall, Kael decided to stay overnight in Annúminas and wait for Thorondor to lead the owls to Weathertop before returning.

Recruiting the owls was just the first step. To make them like magical world owls with precise positioning abilities to accurately deliver letters anywhere not magically shielded, he needed to create a special owl potion. After drinking it, the owls would become smarter, more human-like, and possess precise navigation abilities.

Regardless of distance, they could accurately find recipients, even if they were moving.

But since he was away from home and wasn't urgently needed, he decided to properly train his messengers after returning.

The next day.

Thorondor returned to Annúminas with the rising sun.

He also brought a letter from Arwen.

Kael's eyes softened reading the longing between the lines.

Arwen loved these pristine Great Snowy Owls and, per Kael's request, had housed the entire tribe in a tower, planning to build them an exquisite owl house.

After reading the letter and storing it in his space bag, Kael bid farewell to the Dúnedain.

He mounted the Great Eagle again and flew toward the Grey Havens in the southwest.