Maurise studied the skeleton intently for half an hour but failed to draw any meaningful conclusions.
That was, until he attempted to gently probe it with his mental energy.
In an instant, a profound chill washed over him. He realized that the bone structure was deeply etched with something he was intimately familiar with. Runes.
Yes, they were the exact same type of "runes" recorded within his Book of the Magi.
These runes had been deliberately concealed, undetectable to the naked eye and only perceivable through the careful application of spiritual power. Furthermore, the vast majority of them belonged strictly to the defensive category.
The most prominent and complex rune among them was known as "Immortality."
According to the Book of the Magi, it was one of the most difficult runes to properly carve. Even Maurise himself had never successfully inscribed it.
But... why?
Maurise fell into deep contemplation.
He was absolutely certain that the Book of the Magi was an artifact originating from an entirely different world. The runes, the knowledge, and the fundamental magical system it contained were entirely incompatible with the magic of this world.
Could it be that this skeleton also originated from that same, foreign world?
Naturally, there was no one who could provide an answer to this burning question. He could not exactly go around asking people about it either. For now, the only thing he could do was conduct a thorough, exhaustive study of the skeleton without missing a single detail.
For the next few days, Maurise threw himself entirely into researching the skeleton. But aside from discovering the hidden runes, he made no other breakthroughs.
Ultimately, Maurise decided to convert the skeleton into an undead summon. The ritual proceeded smoothly, but the result was entirely unremarkable. Aside from being incredibly durable, it displayed no other unique or special abilities.
---
By the end of June, Maurise decided to temporarily set aside the mystery of the skeleton. It was time to focus on selling his flying broomsticks.
Opening his own dedicated shop was out of the question for now. He simply lacked the energy and the time to manage a business. Furthermore, the rent for a storefront in Diagon Alley was terrifyingly exorbitant. While he currently possessed a handsome sum of Galleons, it was nowhere near enough to secure a prime location.
The most realistic and efficient approach was to find an established shop willing to collaborate and sell his broomsticks on his behalf.
His first thought had been Frick, but who in their right mind would go all the way to Knockturn Alley just to buy a flying broomstick? Therefore, he set his sights on the most logical target. Quality Quidditch Supplies in Diagon Alley. The name itself made it perfectly clear that they were the premier destination for all Quidditch-related gear.
---
The following day.
"You want to see our boss?"
Inside Quality Quidditch Supplies, a young clerk looked Maurise up and down, his tone suddenly growing nervous. "If you are here to file a complaint, you can just tell me first."
The clerk clearly assumed he was a dissatisfied customer looking for trouble.
Maurise offered a polite smile and placed his suitcase on the counter. "I have a very special flying broomstick here. I believe your boss might be highly interested in it."
As he spoke, he opened the case and pulled out the polished broomstick.
"If you are looking to sell a second-hand broom, you should probably try the shop next door..."
The young clerk's words trailed off instantly, his gaze utterly captivated by the object.
"I have never seen this model before," the clerk muttered, staring at the broomstick thoughtfully. "Which manufacturer is this? Cleansweep? No, that is not right. It does not look like..."
Seeing the burning curiosity in the clerk's eyes, Maurise simply chuckled and shook his head. "Please, let me speak with your boss."
"Alright, alright. Just a moment."
The clerk scurried off and disappeared through a door behind the counter.
He did not have to wait long. A woman soon emerged from the back room. She looked to be in her late thirties or early forties, with her hair cropped short. She exuded a highly capable, no-nonsense aura and wore a set of vividly colored, heavily padded robes that appeared specifically designed for playing Quidditch.
She quickly sized Maurise up. A teenager, maybe fifteen or sixteen years old. Unfamiliar face. Definitely not a regular customer.
"Hello," Maurise greeted her first.
The woman nodded curtly, her sharp gaze immediately locking onto the flying broomstick in his hand. She looked visibly intrigued. "May I take a look at that?"
Maurise handed the broomstick over.
She took it, lightly testing its weight. She ran her hand smoothly down the length of the handle, her expression intensely focused, completely ignoring everyone else in the room.
The young clerk, who had followed her out, finally spoke up. "This is our owner, Madam Lawson."
Madam Lawson completely ignored him, her entire attention solely dedicated to analyzing the broomstick.
Maurise stood quietly to the side, watching her without rushing.
A full two minutes passed before she finally lifted her head.
"I have never seen a flying broomstick quite like this before," she stated slowly, a heavy trace of disbelief coloring her tone. "I cannot even identify what specific type of Braking Charm or Acceleration Charm was used on it."
Maurise merely offered a faint smile. It would be a miracle if she could figure it out. The broomstick was almost entirely driven by intricate runes. While a few basic wizarding spells were utilized in its construction, their presence was incredibly minimal.
"So," Madam Lawson finally tore her eyes away from the broomstick and looked directly at Maurise. "Young man, what exactly is your business here?"
Maurise suddenly realized he had yet to formally state his intentions.
"I am looking for a shop to collaborate with to sell these broomsticks," he said, pointing at the handle.
"Collaborate?" Madam Lawson's brow furrowed tightly. "Child, you must understand, we do not just sell any random flying broomstick that walks through our doors."
Her tone was quite blunt, but it was perfectly understandable. A teenager waltzing into her shop with an unbranded broomstick, instantly demanding a business partnership... anyone in her position would be highly suspicious. Maurise completely understood her reaction. In fact, this was exactly how he wanted her to react. The look of utter shock on her face when she finally discovered the broomstick's true capabilities would be the most entertaining part of this whole endeavor.
"You are more than welcome to test the broomstick for yourself," Maurise offered confidently. "Its top speed is easily twice that of a Firebolt."
The moment those words left his mouth, the young clerk's eyes practically bulged out of his skull.
Madam Lawson let out a short, sharp laugh. "You had better be prepared to back up a claim like that. Follow me. We have a dedicated testing pitch in the backyard."
"Of course," Maurise replied with absolute confidence.
Carrying the broomstick, Madam Lawson led Maurise through the shop's back door and out into a spacious courtyard.
The area had clearly been placed under a powerful Undetectable Extension Charm. From the outside, it likely looked like an ordinary, cramped backyard, but stepping inside revealed a space roughly half the size of a regulation Quidditch pitch. Towering walls surrounded them on all sides, and a massive, transparent dome arched overhead. Two long racks holding about two dozen various flying broomsticks sat neatly near the entrance.
Maurise looked around, offering a genuine compliment. "This facility looks incredibly professional."
The praise caused Madam Lawson's eyes to crinkle slightly at the corners. "You would never believe how much it cost to set all this up."
She walked over to the wall and unhooked a bizarre-looking mask. The mask was shaped like a human face, but it possessed a comically large, incredibly long tongue that hung down past its chin.
"What is that?" Maurise asked curiously.
Madam Lawson brought the mask close to the broomstick in her hand and explained, "It is designed to detect whether a broomstick has any dangerous or highly illegal curses placed upon it."
As soon as she finished speaking, the mask sprang to life. It began to loudly and sloppily lick up and down the length of the broom handle.
Yes, lick.
Maurise's mouth twitched violently. He had encountered plenty of bizarre and eccentric magical artifacts in his time, but this... this was genuinely a bit too avant-garde for his tastes.
After thoroughly coating the wood in saliva, the mask actually began to speak. "Completely safe. Ready to be ridden." Its tone eerily reminded him of the Sorting Hat at Hogwarts.
Staring at the glistening trail of drool running down the polished wood, Maurise firmly decided he did not want that specific broomstick back.
"Alright, I will begin."
Madam Lawson, however, seemed entirely unbothered. She casually wiped the handle down with a nearby rag, swung her leg over, and kicked off hard. The broomstick rocketed into the air.