Granian Farm

"Oh, I almost forgot about this!"

Seeing Wade's pencil case, Steven slapped his forehead, then quickly walked out of the bedroom. A moment later, he returned with a brown bag and said,

"Occamies are very sensitive to the scent of their own kind. You need to put your pencil case in this bag, otherwise, you might be attacked by the Occamies on the farm."

"Okay." Wade took the bag, instinctively checking the magical runes and spell combinations on it.

"Is this Professor Morrie's work?"

"It is… How did you know?" Steven asked, surprised.

"Everyone's alchemy work carries their personal style. If you're familiar with it, you can tell at a glance," Wade explained.

Steven: "..."

Was there any obvious difference between this brown deerskin bag and those sold in shops?

He didn't understand, but he was used to not dwelling too much on areas he wasn't proficient in.

...

From Cyathea Manor, one could Floo directly to Granian Farm—Steven's farm was named Granian (a type of winged horse), and his yearning was practically overflowing.

In the morning, Wade stretched in the sunlight, hearing his bones creak.

He walked along the path between the red brick cottages, stretching his limbs.

It had been dark when he arrived at the farm last night, so Wade had washed up and gone straight to sleep in the guest room. Today was the first time he had a chance to properly look at the farm.

Unlike the magnificent castle of Cyathea Manor, the farm's buildings consisted of only a dozen red brick cottages. At first glance, it felt like stepping into some remote ancient village.

The farm was nestled by mountains and water, with breathtaking scenery and incredibly fresh air.

Some simple fences, bushes, and fir trees divided the farm into large and small areas. Wild grass and colorful flowers dotted the landscape, making it secluded and beautiful.

Granian Farm, like all places where Wizards resided, was protected by Disillusionment Charms and Repelling Charms, making it completely nonexistent on Muggle maps.

Therefore, it hadn't been tainted by the smell of steel and gasoline from rapid modern technological development. This place, rarely trodden by humans, was truly an animal paradise.

Blue birds flew happily between the leaves, yet made no sound;

Hidden among the thorns was a tear-shaped nest. A small bird, resembling a vulture, poked its head out. It folded its dark green wings, wearing a mournful expression.

Some green creatures, looking like a cross between frogs and lizards, squatted on branches or hid under leaves. They had devilish grins on their faces, a red pus-filled bump on their heads, and mouths full of sharp teeth, looking rather unfriendly.

"These are Tree Monkey Frogs."

Steven said, walking up behind Wade.

He extended his hand, and the Tree Monkey Frog, which had initially looked hostile, jumped onto it. Its lizard-like long tail gently curled around his thumb.

Steven stroked its head and said, "If they sense danger, the bump on their head will flash red. That's why their pus is one of the ingredients for making Sneakoscopes."

He moved his palm close to a branch and gently shook his arm. The Tree Monkey Frog jumped off and quickly disappeared among the leaves.

A Bowtruckle, having been stepped on by the Tree Monkey Frog, slowly shifted its body, the leaves on its head trembling slightly.

"This place is really interesting," Wade said. "I'm starting to understand why you want to be a magizoologist."

"Mm. This world is so rich and colorful because of them."

Steven sighed softly, saying, "But suitable habitats for magical creatures are becoming scarcer, and protecting them is getting harder. Even Dragons aren't safe if discovered by Muggles."

"So I want to do everything I can to protect them, to provide them with an undisturbed living space. And I hope more people will realize that protecting magical creatures is important and interesting."

"That's a noble ideal," Wade said. "If there's anything I can help with, just say the word."

Steven smiled happily. "When I need help, I definitely won't hesitate to ask! Considering—"

He abruptly fell silent, his eyes fixed on something behind Wade.

A strange snapping sound came from among the leaves. Large numbers of small birds chirped and flapped their wings, all taking flight.

Wade turned around to see a massive, blue-grey creature, at least three meters in diameter by its appearance, slowly gliding through the forest.

Looking closely, its body wasn't touching the ground at all; it was actually airborne.

"Don't be afraid, that's an Occamy. You know, it doesn't eat people."

Steven pressed Wade's shoulder, whispering, "It's a bit timid, just don't startle it."

The Occamy suddenly shot out, its eagle-like beak seizing a small blue bird.

It stretched its neck and swallowed, its body shrinking to the size of an ordinary python in no time. Then it glided through the gaps between the trees, finally coiling itself around a tall pine.

Its body shrank even further, eventually hiding beneath a single leaf, almost invisible.

"Let's go," Steven said. "It'll be digesting for a while!"

After walking a short distance, Wade said, "I thought you'd stop it from hunting the Augurey."

Steven shook his head. "Protecting magical creatures isn't about keeping them in captivity with abundant food. I just want to prevent them from being harmed by humans, but their predatory relationships shouldn't be forcibly changed."

Wade nodded secretly and asked, "Maintaining a farm like this must be quite expensive, right? If you need funds, I can provide some."

The Galleons in his vault were increasing every second, and leaving them idle was useless. It would be better to use them for something meaningful.

"Not yet, no," Steven said with a smile. "The House-elves collect all the feathers, scales, shed snake skins, discarded horns, and so on that the magical creatures naturally lose. Selling those brings in a lot of money, more than enough to maintain the farm."

He grinned like a proud child. "Don't let my appearance fool you... I'm actually quite wealthy! I only needed my father's financial help for the first two years after the farm was established; since then, I've been completely self-sufficient."

"How many different types of magical creatures do you have here?" Wade asked, curious.

"Hmm..."

Steven was stumped for a moment. After a little thought, he said,

"There are always twenty or thirty kinds... but I can't say for sure. Because some creatures quietly move in without me even noticing."

"New arrivals are always quite wary. Sometimes, I only discover their hidden tracks after they've brought their whole families along. If they're not causing trouble, I usually just leave them be."

However, magical creatures that have lived there for a long time—like the Tree Monkey Frogs—consider Steven a companion or even a protector and are very affectionate toward him.

Wade imagined such a life, and even though he didn't have as deep a love for magical creatures, a sense of longing still arose within him.

Steven checked the time and said, "Your friends should be arriving soon. Let's go meet them over there."

Many readers are asking about when the book will be officially released for purchase. I've already discussed it with the editor. It should be available this Wednesday.

There will definitely be a massive update on the release day. I hope everyone will give me their initial support then.

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