{17th July 1992}
{Rigel's POV}
Five days had passed quite quickly since our arrival in India, with each moment filled with a whirlwind of discovery, anticipation, and an endless parade of magical sights. Despite my eagerness to delve immediately into the secrets of Dhanvantari's Parsel-Healing, patience had been forced upon me.
Not only did I have to master an entirely new magical system just in case it was needed to pass through some form of test, but the crafting of my own personal magic staff required time as well. Jyoti had taken on that commission as well, so I hopefully won't have to wait as long.
Yet, the forced delay had its own silver lining. We had spent these past couple of days wandering through semi-modern towns and rural landscapes of India, exploring temples whose histories were always intertwined with famous mages who had lived there thousands of years ago.
Admittedly, the pungent blend of street odors and pollution in rapidly industrializing cities had initially overwhelmed us. Eventually, we found the best way to enjoy the experience was to stick mostly to places outside urban areas: temples and towns hidden amid forests and nestled away in valleys, cloaked in gentle mists and hidden under ancient enchantments.
At each temple, I was able to sense subtle currents of mana, they were quiet yet potent, lingering in the air, enveloping us in their wards. Many communities also hid behind warded boundaries.
I was curious, but Parvati had quickly warned us, quite sternly, cautioning that these temples were safeguarded fiercely by descendants of India's own band of pureblood supremacists called the "Old Ones."
Her eyes had narrowed in seriousness when she explained that these wizards were fiercely territorial, demanding absolute respect for their legacy. Any careless attempt at peering behind their wards might provoke consequences best left avoided.
I had asked, carefully, about temples dedicated specifically to Dhanvantari, or any other god involved in healing, hoping to deepen my understanding of the mysterious healer who was currently the subject of my fascination.
To my quiet disappointment, Parvati merely shook her head apologetically.
Despite his brilliance, Dhanvantari, it seemed, had never gained widespread acclaim within his lifetime. No grand temple commemorated him. His legacy lay hidden in quiet rumors, his name mentioned in obscure texts about a time period with too many wars.
Today, though, these thoughts evaporated as I didn't have to wait long anymore. Jyoti summoned me to her shop, telling me my staff was finally ready.
I stood anxiously, Ginny quietly accompanying me at my side. The rings and gems in the shop seemed to shimmer brighter in response to my anticipation. When Jyoti finally appeared, she held a long, polished box, her expression solemn.
"Your staff, Rigel," she announced softly, placing the elegant box onto a table between us. I held my breath as my fingers almost trembled as I reached for the lid, slowly lifting it to reveal the treasure within.
Nestled in a dark velvet cloth, lay a magnificent staff, pitch-black and perfectly smooth, its wood polished to a mirror-like shine. The shaft was crafted from ebony and inlaid with veins of silvery mithril that spiraled delicately from base to tip, like serpents climbing upwards, lunging for their prey.
Every mithril thread glistened softly, hinting at complex runic enchantments hidden just beneath the surface, woven masterfully to enhance mana conductivity and responsiveness.
The head of the staff was set into intricately carved, serpent-like filigree. A flawless gemstone, deep amethyst, sat, catching the soft shop lights and refracting them into shimmering violet hues. Carved around the gem, twin serpents twisted elegantly, jaws open to cradle the gem between their delicate fangs. Each tiny scale was meticulously detailed, almost lifelike.
My heart beat faster as I lifted it carefully, astonished at how lightly it rested in my hands, as it resonated softly, the mana within humming gently as if welcoming me.
'I can't wait to use it,' I thought, and when I glanced at Ginny, I could tell she understood. I glanced back at Jyoti and greeted her, placed the staff back in the box, and then we quickly walked over to Sirius, who was waiting for us while also browsing for breakfast.
"Sirius, can you take us back first?" I asked, and, sensing my excitement, he nodded as he grabbed my shoulder, and Ginny grabbed my hand. An uncomfortable, short apparition jump later, we arrived back at the balcony of our suite.
Unable to contain my excitement, I glanced at Ginny, finding her staring at me. She smiled encouragingly, sensing my eagerness, and I stepped backward to give myself space. Sirius also backed away, but he didn't apparate away and just stood by to watch.
My heart quickened as I recalled the exact details and instructions Dhanvantari had left in his writings. I had practiced it before, admittedly with a stick from a broken branch that I had transfigured to look like a staff, but still, I had a bit of practice.
Calming my racing thoughts, I breathed deeply and positioned myself carefully. I raised the staff vertically in front of me, its butt firmly against the floor, and felt my heartbeat slow to a steady rhythm as I focused on expanding my mana senses.
I visualized mana gently ascending my spine, pooling in my heart, then flowing effortlessly into the amethyst gemstone, whose glow intensified immediately into a rich, ominous purple. After that, I took a deep breath and exhaled it in three quick bursts, injecting mana into the gem with each exhale.
At the same time as the gem glowed grey, I began to move the head, pointed toward Ginny in a motion, swinging the gem tip in a graceful figure-eight pattern above Ginny's slender frame. Half-closing my eyes, I murmured softly yet clearly in Paseltongue.
"~Vysh-Shaal.~"
Instantly, the gem pulsed brilliantly, releasing a delicate beam of grey mana that cascaded gently onto Ginny's form.
I held my breath in wonder as her mana pathways lit up beneath my gaze, veins and channels lighting up brilliantly like a dazzling display of lights, intricate and beautiful as the mana connecting to the gem of the staff connected to my eyes.
'Wow,' I thought.
My gaze sharpened as I began to see different concentrated clusters forming, vivid swirls of mana gathered prominently near her skin, bones, and, curiously enough, her intestines. I frowned thoughtfully at that last observation, noting it as unexpected but intriguing nonetheless.
'Is that consistent damage that she's enduring in her intestines?' I thought, but since Ginny hadn't complained about any pain, I let it be.
Ginny shifted slightly, clearly sensing something, though the spell was entirely painless. "Rigel?" she asked gently, clearly both curious and slightly nervous.
I reassured her softly, eyes never leaving the beautiful tapestry of mana before me. "The spell is showing me a map of your mana clusters. It's incredible, I can see exactly where your body focuses its regenerative energy."
She smiled warmly, visibly relaxing. "Anything interesting?"
I nodded thoughtfully. "Yes. Your mana clusters strongly around your bones and skin, which makes sense as it's normal wear and tear. But also, surprisingly, near your digestive system."
She wrinkled her nose slightly, trying not to laugh. "Maybe it's just the breakfast. The spices here don't agree with me much. It doesn't hurt or anything, so it should be fine."
Chuckling lightly, I slowly withdrew my mana from the gem, and the spell stopped as I gently ended it by grounding the staff's butt against the polished floor.
!Ding
A soft chime rang in my head. My smile vanished as my eyes widened slightly, and while Ginny once again looked concerned, my eyes strayed to the message displayed in front of me.
...
[Learned Arcane spell- Mana Cluster mapping.]
[Learned the spell of a different system for the first time.]
[Hidden conditions met!]
[Tutorial Completed!]
[Unlocking Wizarding World Interactions!]
[!Warning: Due to unexpected influence on world rating ####%*^%&%^]
[!System Upgrade in progress...Time remaining: 23:59:59]
...
'Huh... What the hell just happened?'
---
{2 Days Later}
{Dumbledore's Home}
{Dumbledore's POV}
Albus sighed as he closed the letter that he had just received. His eyebrows furrowed as his gaze was locked on the words written on the letter. Feeling a little bitter at having to take this option, but with no choice in this matter, he looked at the metal blade that had arrived with the letter.
'Though at least this would maybe give us a better chance if Harry indeed has a Horcrux stuck in his head.' Dumbledore thought as he lazily threw the blade. It flipped through the air and softly thunked against the floor, its sharp edge easily penetrating it. The mana that was hidden beneath the floor blazed, and just like that there were two more people in the room.
The younger one reached down and grabbed onto the hand, pulling the blade out of the floor with ease as Dumbledore looked at him.
'He really is a monster...' He thought, a little bitter, but with a twinge of relief.
"It's been a while, Sarutobi-san."
---
AN: And we are opening up the story to a wider world. Naruto's shinobi world will have its influence felt across Japanese magical society. Avatar in China, Percy Jackson and Greek mythology in the US. I haven't made final decisions on everything yet, but the Naruto one is confirmed, as it ties into the plot over the summer and the upcoming year.
P.S.- Bloodlines like the Sharingan and Byakugan will be nerfed, along with the speed aspect of being a shinobi, to better suit the setting of the HP world.
P.P.S.- 54+ Chapters on P.atreon!