[Note: Read up to Chapter - 169 on P patron at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]
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Evening.
Out on the training ground, a handful of young wizards lay sprawled across the magic circle, absolutely knackered.
"No good—it's useless!" Ronald groaned, looking like he was about to pack it all in.
"I reckon Aris gave us the wrong spell to begin with. That's why we can't manage a single fireball…"
"But when he did chant it, he actually pulled it off, didn't he?" Harry frowned, trying to puzzle it out. They'd been more focused than ever—probably more serious now than they'd ever been, even back in their very first charms lesson.
"In truth, Aris doesn't need any spell at all to summon a fireball," Hermione added matter–of–factly.
"So, maybe… there's something fishy about the spell itself?" Harry glanced at her, brows knitted.
"But why would Aris bother lying to us?" Cho piped up. She'd been slogging away at wind magic that day but, like the rest of them, hadn't managed a single success. Her spirits were sinking fast.
"Hermione—how long did it take you to get the Levitation Charm right?" Harry suddenly asked.
"About a week!" Hermione thought for a moment before replying. "Although I managed it first go in class, I'd already gone over the lesson beforehand and practised the charm on my own."
"So even you needed a week to nail the Levitation Charm?" Harry said, looking gobsmacked.
"Of course. It's hardly the sort of thing you master overnight." Hermione gave a small shrug.
"I reckon we're just being too hasty…" Ronald muttered suddenly. "Today's training feels exactly like the dream I had last night—elemental magic isn't nearly as simple as we thought."
"Maybe it's not that my brother's spell is dodgy," he went on, "but that we just don't grasp the trick of it yet. Elemental magic's a different kettle of fish compared to the spell system we've been taught. The Garden's magic leans far more on the mind's control over magical power…"
At that moment, Luna's voice drifted softly from the edge of the magic circle, her tone calm and almost otherworldly.
She stretched out her hand, as though reaching for something unseen, and spoke again.
"Today I've been sensing the elemental energy my brother mentioned. When you cast the spell, I can feel the ripples of elemental energy much more clearly from over there."
"I think the real reason you lot haven't managed to pull off fireballs or whirlwinds is simple—your control over magic is far too sloppy. When the elemental energy starts to gather, it collapses easily because your supply of magic power is weak."
As she spoke, Luna's dreamy eyes shifted toward Hermione.
"Hermione, you're the closest to success. I can feel your control over elemental energy has reached a tipping point. All you need is the right moment to make the energy you're handling crack open like a living fissure…"
Her gaze drifted again. "And Cho—you and Hermione both have far better control over your magic than Harry Potter and Ronald."
Hearing Luna's calm but cutting analysis, the other young wizards on the field were left absolutely gobsmacked.
None of them had expected Luna—who'd only just been introduced to elemental magic that very day—to notice details they themselves had completely overlooked. Hermione, in particular, stared at her in astonishment.
"Luna, can you really sense the elemental energy we stir up when casting spells?" she asked.
"Is that… odd?" Luna blinked at them in mild confusion.
"It's bloody incredible…" Harry admitted, still surprised. "On my first day trying to sense elemental energy, I nearly nodded off. Didn't feel a thing!"
"I'm the same as Harry—your case definitely isn't normal," Ronald agreed, nodding along.
"Maybe Luna's another genius, like Aris?" Cho said, a trace of envy in her tone as she glanced at the younger girl.
"Compared to my brother, I'm miles behind," Luna replied with a small smile, shaking her head.
Then her eyes drifted toward the castle.
"Looks like it's nearly dinner. Why don't we take a breather first?"
"No way! I refuse to believe I can't get the hang of this!" Ronald muttered stubbornly, stomping back into the magic circle.
Harry followed through with his own actions, plonking himself down beside Ronald.
"Looks like they're feeling a bit rattled by your talent," Hermione remarked with a glance at the pair, before shrugging at Luna.
"Never mind, I'll get in some more practice," Hermione said, turning back toward the magic circle.
"I'll stay on a bit longer too…" Cho nodded in agreement.
"You lot are working far too hard," Luna said airily, casting a glance at the castle before skipping off toward it. She wasn't about to miss dinner with her brother just for a bit of extra graft.
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Three days later.
Hermione and Cho finally managed to cast their first proper fireball and whirlwind spells. The pair were over the moon, grinning all day long.
Even so, neither dared let their guard down. The moment their focus wavered, they'd be dragged straight back to square one.
Bit by bit, the young wizards began to grasp the differences between elemental magic and the modern spell system.
And when it came to sheer difficulty—elemental magic was leagues tougher.
Beyond simply sensing and having an affinity with elemental energy, one also had to constantly sharpen their control over magic power.
Without that, even summoning a measly fireball would be a right struggle.
That alone made elemental magic far more demanding than the modern spell system.
Still, they were certain of one thing—the power of elemental magic left ordinary spells in the dust.
Its strength lay not only in raw lethality but also in sheer destructive force.
Hermione learned that first-hand when her very first fireball nearly torched half the training equipment in one go.
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Meanwhile, inside the castle, Aris sat quietly with a book in hand.
"Isn't it about that time?" he muttered, suddenly glancing toward the main gates beyond the sitting room.
"That old fox—never late, is he?"
Right on cue, a silver-white figure appeared outside the gate.
With a casual wave of his hand, the gates of Shafiq Castle swung open and the silver-haired figure stepped inside, calm as you like.
"Professor Dumbledore, I thought you weren't coming!"
A crackling sound rang out as Aris suddenly appeared at his side.
"Splendid bit of Apparition. Didn't know you'd been sneaking off to learn that one," Dumbledore said, giving the boy a meaningful look, though there was a trace of helplessness in his eyes.
"I take it you're not registered with the Ministry?"
"Course not!" Aris replied without a second thought.
"Well, we'll let that slide for now."
The old wizard gave a weary shake of his head before glancing deeper into the castle.
"And the little ones—are they doing all right?"
"Couldn't be better!" Aris nodded, though the mischievous curl of his lips betrayed the memory of Harry and the others looking absolutely hopeless all day.
"That's good to hear." Dumbledore seemed satisfied. "Now, any idea why I was late today?"
"Held up by something at school?" Aris ventured.
"Strictly speaking, not school business…" Dumbledore's expression soured slightly. "It was Firenze and the other centaurs. They nearly broke out of the Forbidden Forest. Claimed they'd seen a giant dragon flying off in a rush and assumed something dreadful had happened."
"Firenze?" Aris blinked, then shook his head with a sigh.
"Ah—that's on me. I forgot to mention it to them. Never mind, I'll send Iris along later; she's missing her old nest anyway."
"That would be most helpful." Dumbledore gave a firm nod, then extended his hand.
"Come on then, I'll take you to meet Nicolas. He's been looking forward to seeing you."
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Drop Power Stonessssssssss!
[Note: Read up to Chapter - 169 on P patron at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]