Chapter 17: Comprehending Magic! The Essence of the Panel!

The moon hung high in the sky, casting its light upon the ancient castle of Hogwarts, and illuminating the peaceful village of Hogsmeade.

“Glowing light!” The bright glow dispelled the darkness within the wooden cabin, revealing the minimalist furnishings inside. Even the tiny spider in the corner’s cobweb was clearly visible under the light.

It was yet another attempt and practice of magic.

Only this time, after the light shone forth, it did not fade away as it had before. Through countless trials and steady improvement in mastery, Ian finally grasped the fundamental nature of this beginner wizard spell—what shimmered at the tip of his wand was not the brilliance of the sun, but a manifestation of the wizard’s inner spiritual light.

Yes.

This was the essence of the Lumos spell.

At least, this was the rudimentary understanding Ian had achieved.

“A world of the mind,” he murmured. Though he had mentally prepared for the unscientific nature of magic, upon truly experiencing and mastering his first spell, Ian couldn’t help but let out a sincere sigh of wonder.

All magic.

Comes from the wizard himself.

From the power of “belief.”

This was the explanation Ian had once heard about magic. Now, the faint essence he had perceived bore a striking resemblance to that notion.

Perhaps,

When Ian masters enough spells, when his magical level rises sufficiently high, he will uncover the true secret of magic’s origin and unravel the long-standing mystery that has intrigued so many.

“But to reach that point, I still have a long road ahead,” Ian thought, feeling a slight dizziness, which he attributed to magical exhaustion.

Of course,

Ian did not experience a clear sense of depletion or drain. His internal magical power had not actually diminished. Rather, it was a weariness akin to that following a long night without rest.

Clearly,

The consumption of magical power for a wizard differed from the clear and measurable mana points in video games. Rather than a decrease in a numerical value, it was more accurate to describe it as a “fatigue” of magical energy.

Like a decline in vitality, it required time and rest to rejuvenate—much like physical endurance after exercise.

“Fortunately, I have learned Lumos, and it’s already late. I should tidy up and get some sleep,” Ian considered. This feeling of tiredness after staying up late was, in fact, a blessing.

Otherwise,

Based on the day’s events and the excitement of encountering magic, getting enough sleep wouldn’t have been so easy—much like a child’s first encounter with a game console.

The sensation of magical fatigue fully replaced the need for sleeping pills. The bed in his room was immaculate, carrying the faint, unique scent of lavender.

It must have been changed not long ago, saving Ian the trouble of making the bed himself. After a quick bath, he covered himself with the blanket and lay down.

Outside,

The sound of the flowing stream blended harmoniously with the croaking frogs. Despite the weariness from magical exertion, Ian couldn’t help but check his status panel once more.

That feeling—

As if afraid his newfound mastery of magic might silently vanish.

Name: Ian Prince
Profession: Bloodline Sorcerer
Magical Power: Level 4
Skills:
[Lumos (Level 1): 1/100]
Language Proficiency (Level 4): 743/800
Biological Anatomy (Level 5): 69/1600
Free Fighting (Level 3): 86/400
Psychology (Level 6): 84/3200
[Psychology Extraordinary Trait: Thought Perception]
[Biological Anatomy Extraordinary Trait: Butcher’s Instinct]
...
[Lumos] successfully upgraded to Level 1.

He was one step closer to awakening an Extraordinary Trait.

Although his magical power was only at Level 4, not considered outstanding talent, Ian felt no disappointment. As he grew older, his magical power would naturally increase significantly.

Magical power was not the issue.

Mastery and application of magic were the true measures of a wizard’s excellence.

“In that case, old Bodden who sold me the wand wasn’t wrong—I’m definitely going to be a very talented wizard,” Ian’s confidence swelled slightly.

The fact was undeniable.

With such a powerful aid, learning magic would be much simpler for Ian. Every increase in skill proficiency brought him new insights.

And the jump from zero to one in a spell like Lumos was especially profound. It was as if something once distant and vague was now within reach.

This was, without doubt, an extraordinary ability.

One that countless wizards could only dream of... A gift?

Perhaps other wizards mastered a spell by following the textbook instructions, reproducing the “process” summarized by their predecessors through rote imitation.

But Ian’s understanding and learning were different.

After every attempt,

Ian deepened his comprehension of the magic underlying the spell. Strictly speaking, he wasn’t learning the spell itself but the magic behind it.

This was Ian’s true distinction.

He learned the art of magic.

Whereas most wizards—even adults—merely learned the “incantation.”

Take Lumos as an example.

Most wizards, even upon graduation, would still rely on the accumulated experience of their predecessors for this first-year beginner spell, both in usage and understanding.

The reason why wandless magic remains a fantasy for most wizards lies here.

The “incantation” is a shortcut.

As long as a wizard utters the corresponding spell, it triggers the magic linked to this shortcut. Over time, they become unable to break free from dependence on it.

To perform magic without a wand,

One must understand the essence of the magic contained within the incantation.

Perhaps long ago,

Many wizards pursued and explored the true meaning of magic. But in this modern age of progress, restless hearts are not limited to so-called Muggles.

Just as Muggles stopped writing letters after the invention of the telephone, most wizards naturally abandon tedious and difficult studies once they have easy means to wield magic.

The truth is always sought by only a few.

Magic is no exception.

“I wonder at what level of insight I’ll be able to cast magic without a wand...” With hopes for the future, Ian slowly drifted into sleep.

Tonight,

He did not choose to control his dreams.

Therefore,

His dreams were far more vivid and fantastic than usual.