"Mm. You just inscribed five hundred and twenty sets of Undetectable Extension runes."
Newt's gaze fell behind Sean. Inside the Wizard's Book, the space was already large enough to hold a classroom.
"Five hundred and twenty-one sets, Professor Scamander."
Sean stared at the parchment in his hands, packed densely with runic arrays.
He'd always been in the habit of recording every step of his alchemical process and compiling it into a book.
"Interesting. The Severing Charm is… admittedly a difficult spell. We can take it slowly."
Newt smiled warmly.
After that, Sean spent the rest of the time learning the Severing Charm under Professor Scamander.
Of course, their lessons had already moved to the Ilvermorny Forest.
When the wind turned razor-sharp, their footsteps crunched across grass dusted with snow.
They kept stopping in different places—practicing the Severing Charm for a while—until Scamander sensed the space had become unstable, and then they'd set off again to find another secluded, hidden spot.
They passed through the forest, dim crevices in the cliffs, purple marshland, slopes covered in blooming gorse—and once, they even reached a hidden pebble cove.
Ilvermorny's forest was even larger than Hogwarts' Forbidden Forest. Sean followed Scamander and studied until deep into the night.
At times, a Pukwudgie even brought them generous food. During breaks, Sean and Newt would shelter behind trees and watch a pair of Ilvermorny students writing in the snow with sticks.
"I'm done!"
A witch shouted loudly.
The wizard walked over to look—excited, yet timid.
In the snow, they wrote winter's special kind of letter: everything they couldn't bring themselves to say aloud.
The only thing you had to remember was not to come too late—otherwise, the letter would melt away.
Snow dusted Sean's brows white. He tugged McGonagall's scarf tighter—and noticed Scamander was also wearing a scarf so thick it looked downright bulky.
"My wife—my dear Goldstein—knitted this for me for a whole week."
Scamander said with a smile.
Sean nodded. His thoughts crossed the whole Ilvermorny Forest, crossed the icy Atlantic, and drifted to the warm hearth in the Transfiguration office at Hogwarts.
He pictured the yarn and long needles in the corner. Would they move in Professor McGonagall's hands?
In winter, snow creaked underfoot. Two wandering wizards both wore scarves far wider than they needed.
After they'd rested…
After half the night, Sean finally learned the Severing Charm.
When he sliced off a small piece of space, joy surged through him.
He shook snow from his hair and quickly raised his wand so Scamander could see clearly.
"Very good. A… very fast learning speed."
Newt praised softly.
Sean, though, turned his head, eyes burning as he stared at the panel.
[You practiced the Severing Charm at the Beginner standard. Proficiency +3]
[Severing Charm: Locked (3/30)]
For Sean, the hardest part had always been the first success. Now, the only real obstacle was time.
Ilvermorny's origin stone cottage.
Wrapped in night and snow, Sean stepped into the warm, glowing room.
On the table were bowls of porridge, neatly cut cubes of beef, and assorted fruits.
By the fireplace, sweet potatoes and pumpkin roasted, releasing a smell Sean couldn't resist.
"Have something to eat. No one's come here in ages—I'd almost forgotten how good William's cooking is…"
Isolt went on, voice soft.
"Time is such a thief. I watched Ilvermorny grow from a little cottage into a granite castle.
And now it makes everything blur again. What will I have left? That's why I still remain."
Sean froze mid-dip of his spoon, then began to think in earnest.
"Ghosts are made of obsession, but… even if a ghost resolves its obsession, how do they return to the in-between world?"
Holding the handle of his steaming, pumpkin-shaped mug, Sean frowned.
"A well-read young wizard—so you know the In-Between?"
Isolt's interest flared at once.
"I know a little, Headmistress Sayre," Sean said.
"The world beyond the Veil—how fascinating. I can hardly wait to reunite with James, Chadwick, and Webster."
Isolt's smile stretched long and deep.
"The school we built with our own hands has become renowned. Magical families across North America fight to send their children here.
Freedom, fairness, and equality have been carved into every Ilvermorny witch and wizard's heart.
And the body of North American magical knowledge we built and spread—our feat of blending native magic with European magic—has become something newer, stronger, and more beautiful."
Sean's hand paused on his pumpkin juice. He looked up at Isolt with bright green eyes.
"Magic is dazzling and wondrous. When a wizard's knowledge is deep enough, and their conviction firm enough, magic will flow like a spring.
An arrow's range can't exceed the bow's draw… and a wizard's magical power can't exceed their belief."
Isolt floated closer and pointed toward the runes carved above the fireplace.
"Since the Veil exists, there is magic that can lift it. These are the rituals that let a ghost pass into the In-Between.
If you're willing to help, that would be wonderful. I watched Herrera grow up. I watched William grow old…
Asking them to send me on… would break their hearts."
Sean couldn't fully imagine it. He looked up at the runes above the fireplace—Rite of Rest gleamed faintly.
Then he nodded. "I'd be glad to help."
Sending a ghost on… was a strange thing indeed.
Morning.
Sean woke, sipped pumpkin juice, and returned to spell practice.
[You practiced the Severing Charm at the Beginner standard. Proficiency +3]
[You practiced the Severing Charm at the Beginner standard. Proficiency +3]
Only when fatigue set in did Sean step outside.
The Severing Charm was still too difficult—let alone moving the severed space.
By his estimate, he'd need Skilled-level spell proficiency before he could do it.
Down the snowy path, Ilvermorny appeared faintly in the distance.
So did the Ilvermorny Forest—and Newt within it.
When the snow fell thick, Sean entered the forest.
It was full of sound: branches snapping in the distance, snow's soft hush, and the mixed rustle of creatures running or stalking through the undergrowth.
As he walked, Sean suddenly caught a glimpse of yellow—something flashing past at speed.
His heart leapt.
A Wampus cat. A wild Ilvermorny mascot.