Chapter Twenty-Eight: A Modest Side Effect

"Bubble!" Roger opened the door and called out to the house-elf.

"Young Master, you finally succeeded! Bubble is so happy for you!" The elf gazed at the dazzling potion, its eyes sparkling like stars.

"Roger, congratulations." Jessica, having heard the commotion, walked downstairs. She looked at the beautiful Blue Moonbeam with a sense of wonder, feeling even more joyous for her son.

"I did it, Mom! I finally did it!" Roger gave Jessica a big hug. She had worried endlessly about him getting hurt by a magical potion explosion.

"There's one final step. Bubble, go carry that shaker to the balcony." Roger pointed to a small piece of medical equipment nearby. All that remained was to shake the potion for six hours.

According to the recipe, the Blue Moonbeam could be used at this stage, but the absorption rate would be very low, yielding less than 50% of its potential efficacy. If it could be continuously shaken and left to brew for six hours, the viscous fluid would transform back into a refined silver-blue liquid.

"Yes, Young Master, I will go prepare it right away." Bubble retrieved the shaker and a test tube rack, following Roger to the balcony.

Roger carefully extracted the Blue Moonbeam; the silver-blue potion became even more radiant under the bright moonlight. He secured the vial in the shaker, knowing that vortex-style agitation was better for magical integration. Now, all he could do was wait. But there was one more thing: keeping an eye on Yumi, the little troublemaker, to ensure no mischief occurred.

As Yumi grew older, the magic within the kitten became more potent. It spent its days running, jumping, and even darting through the air. It never caused any major disasters, but it was constantly getting into minor trouble, making it both adorable and exasperating.

"Bubble, make sure to keep a close watch. Don't let Yumi interfere."

"Don't worry, Young Master. Bubble will protect the Blue Moonbeam with its life," the elf promised, patting its chest.

"That won't be necessary. If you die, who will run errands for me?"

"Young Master, you are so kind!" Bubble was delighted by Roger's "exploitation." As a house-elf, having its master acknowledge its value was the most meaningful thing of all.

"Alright, go get some rest. I'll watch Yumi," Jessica said, nudging Roger away from the balcony. She sat on the sofa, staring blankly at the shaking device.

She could have easily replaced this Muggle device with a spell to agitate the potion automatically. However, Jessica understood that the trauma of Azkaban had left her son’s magical growth nearly stagnant.

The Blue Moonbeam before her could only provide a one-time boost to his magic; it wouldn't heal his body. In the days to come, his magical development would remain a significant challenge.

She hadn't stopped Roger from brewing the potion, nor had she told him he could use magic to assist. Jessica hoped these Muggle tools might open new doors, allowing Roger to walk even further on his path as a wizard.

Jessica flicked her wand, casting a Repelling Charm toward the balcony. Yumi, who had been about to pounce, was suddenly bounced away. The kitten shook its head and skulked outside the balcony, scratching and biting at the air, but it simply couldn't get through. Jessica smiled and gestured for a cold drink to fly over from the refrigerator.

It had been another exhausting week, but the results were well worth it. After a bath, Roger collapsed onto his bed and fell asleep. He had intended to sleep for only six hours and then get up to retrieve the Blue Moonbeam, but that didn't happen.

"Ah, what time is it?" Roger rubbed his sleepy eyes and hurriedly jumped out of bed.

"There, there, my dear boy. Look at your results." Jessica swirled the test tube in her hand; the silver-blue liquid shimmered with a captivating glow even in the daylight.

"Thank you, Mom! Let me see!" Roger hurriedly got dressed and excitedly took the test tube.

"My magic is finally saved!" He buried his face in Jessica's embrace, speechless for a long time.

"Son, although the side effects of Blue Moonbeam are minor, you must still be careful."

"Mm-hmm, I know. It's nothing major," Roger nodded, portioning the Blue Moonbeam into smaller vials.

For an adult wizard, the potion could be consumed directly. But for a young wizard, a sudden surge in magic was dangerous; it was best to space the dosage out over thirty days.

After each dose, the user would feel drowsy and hungry. This was normal—the drowsiness boosted the mind and enhanced magic, while the food provided the nutrition needed to strengthen the body.

Considering the much harsher side effects of other potions—which included, but were not limited to, baldness or growing fur all over one's body—this was truly negligible.

The silver-blue potion swirled in the glass bottle, emitting a dreamlike luster. Roger carefully opened it and let the liquid drip into his mouth.

At first, the Blue Moonbeam brought a cool, sweet taste, like taking a sip of a mountain spring. Then, a warm current surged from his throat straight to his brain. Roger felt his whole body go light, as if he were floating.

The surrounding scenery began to distort and warp; the walls and furniture seemed to melt. Everything before his eyes stretched and twisted, as if he were inside a kaleidoscope.

As the effects intensified, Roger saw countless specks of light dancing before him. A beam of light suddenly shot into his mind, as if opening a gateway to another world.

In an instant, thousands of colors flashed before his eyes. He felt as if he had leaped into a magical realm where the air shimmered with iridescent light. Innumerable strange creatures danced around him, singing enchanting songs.

A deep drowsiness started in his brain, spreading through his spine to every nerve and every cell. Roger felt every inch of his skin being caressed by moonlight—a sensation as soft as silk.

"This child, he's far too impatient," Jessica said, cradling her sleeping son. He hadn't even been awake for more than a few minutes.

Roger didn't wake up until evening. He rubbed his eyes and let out a long, satisfied stretch. Honestly, that had been a wonderful sleep.

He looked at Yumi on the quilt; the little creature seemed to have slept even more soundly than he had. Yumi felt its human cushion move and let out a few disgruntled hums. Roger didn't have time to comfort the cat; he hurried to check the effects of the Blue Moonbeam.

Roger Travis
Magic: 2.8/2.8
Mental Power: 13
Talents: Dark Affinity, Strong Will, Night Vision
...

"Not bad! It went from 2.3 to 2.8, and my mental power increased by 1 point," Roger nodded. "Gaining magic while sleeping—this life is wonderful!"

Over thirty days, the Blue Moonbeam could theoretically increase his magic by 15 points. Considering that his body would develop a tolerance later on, a conservative estimate would still be a 10-point increase. His stomach growled incessantly in protest; the hunger was overwhelming, far more severe than the recipe had described.

Bubble, the chef, had long since prepared delicious food and laid it out on the table for him. First was a rich onion cream soup, its appetizing aroma hitting his nose and making him even hungrier.

Next came a whole roast chicken, the skin crispy and the meat tender. Roger drooled, grabbing a chicken leg in each hand and digging in.

"Mind your manners!" Jessica frowned as she walked over, lecturing her son on how to eat properly.

"Mom, I'm starving to death..."

"Is that so?" Jessica grabbed her son's hand, wiped it clean with a handkerchief, and placed the knife and fork into his hands.