"Strange," Anduin mused. "Why can't I recapture that old feeling after using my wand? Could it be that wands aren't just tools for casting spells, but also have another effect on Magic Power? Do they refine it?"
Could it be that my Magic Power used to be more volatile and unstable, making it easier to wield wandlessly? And does the wand simplify spellcasting by stabilizing the flow of Magic Power?
Anduin pondered these possibilities. He picked up his wand and cast the Levitation Charm several more times, focusing on the sensation of channeling Magic Power through it and observing how the energy moved within him. Then he set the wand down.
He stood up, legs slightly bent, gradually relaxing all his muscles. Instead of trying to recall the feeling of wandless magic, he began tracing the pathways of Magic Power he had felt while using the wand.
After a moment, Anduin slowly opened his eyes. The spell practice book was floating right in front of him.
"Using a wand to cast spells allows for more precise channeling and utilization of Magic Power, making it far more efficient," Anduin concluded, reflecting on the differences between his current and previous methods of manipulating magic. "The old approach was too crude. Now that there's a better way, it's become obsolete."
Unbeknownst to anyone, Anduin had inadvertently mastered the secret of wandless and silent spellcasting while practicing the simplest Levitation Charm.
Years of training his psychokinesis had not only honed his proficiency with the Levitation Charm but also made him acutely sensitive to Magic Power.
Moreover, his total magical capacity and strength, honed through years of rigorous training, far surpassed those of his peers.
Once he grasped the technique, Anduin focused on solidifying his mastery. He devoted nearly all his time to casting the Levitation Charm, experimenting with wands and without, chanting incantations and casting silently.
Before long, Anduin felt he had truly mastered the spell.
Though eager to continue practicing, Anduin's stomach began to rumble loudly. Glancing at the clock, he realized it was already evening—he had even missed lunch. Understanding the importance of balancing work and rest, he quickly calmed his mind and prepared to head downstairs for dinner.
"Hey kid, young people shouldn't just laze around in their rooms all day, not even coming down for lunch," Tom said, looking up from his newspaper at the bar as Anduin descended the stairs. He assumed Anduin had slept from morning until evening.
"Haha, you're not complaining that I didn't come down to cook for you at noon, are you?" Anduin joked, feeling cheerful. Ever since showing off his culinary skills to Tom at lunch yesterday, he had personally prepared dinner and breakfast.
"I'm just worried about you! I was afraid you'd starve to death in your room!" Tom snapped, irritated that Anduin was still in a joking mood.
"Alright, alright, it's my fault. I'll make it up to you with tonight's dinner—I promise you'll be satisfied," Anduin replied with a grin as he entered the kitchen.
Anduin prepared a lavish dinner. Tom poured him a Butterbeer, a peculiar drink from the Magical World that Anduin found fascinating. It had a buttery aroma but none of the greasy taste.
"You were reading the newspaper earlier. Any interesting news?"
"Things are getting more chaotic lately," Tom said, clearly worried. "That Mysterious Person and the Death Eaters are clashing with the Ministry of Magic again. One of the Ministry's Aurors was seriously injured. I don't know when this will ever end."
Death Eaters? Anduin thought. Those who follow Voldemort? He had learned another new term. He realized he needed to start gathering information about this world all over again.
After finishing dinner with Tom, Anduin waved his hand. The empty bowls and plates flew toward the kitchen sink at his command.
Tom stared wide-eyed. Such skilled wandless magic—even for a simple Levitation Charm—was rare among adult wizards.
"You... what was that?!"
"Heh, that's what happens when you skip lunch," Anduin grinned, retreating to his room amidst Tom's astonishment.
Over the next few days, Anduin diligently learned numerous new spells: functional charms like Alohomora (Unlocking Charm), Lumos (Wand-Lighting Charm), Scourgify (Scouring Charm), Impervius (Waterproofing Charm), and Aguamenti (Water-Making Charm), as well as defensive spells against Dark Magic such as Impedimenta (Impeding Charm), Locomotor Wobbly (Leg-Locker Curse), and Repello (Repelling Charm).
Some spells could be cast simply by following the textbook's instructions, while others required Anduin to seek help from Tom downstairs due to unclear pronunciations. With Tom's enthusiastic guidance, Anduin managed to master most of them.
However, the Levitation Charm remained the only spell he could fluently cast wandlessly. Anduin believed this stemmed from insufficient mastery of the other spells and began to discern certain patterns in magic.
Firstly, the intensity of a spell varied depending on the caster. For instance, Tom's Lumos was significantly brighter than Anduin's, a testament to Tom's greater proficiency and deeper understanding of the spell.
Secondly, willpower and emotions influenced a spell's potency. Tom had explained that for offensive spells, a stronger will and unwavering resolve amplified their effectiveness. When Anduin channeled his emotions while casting Lumos, the result far surpassed his previous attempts.
Many Dark Wizards, experts in Dark Magic, had also discovered that spells could conversely affect a wizard's emotions.
Thus, Anduin concluded that willpower, emotions, and proficiency all contributed to a spell's strength. This strength, combined with the wizard's total Magic Power, determined the upper limit of their magical abilities.
Anduin quickly adjusted his study plan.
He believed that self-preservation was currently his top priority, and the fastest way to achieve that was to master a specialized spell as soon as possible.
The spell needed to be simple and easy to learn—anything beyond his current capabilities wouldn't work. It also needed to be versatile, preferably with a high potential for growth.
After reviewing the defensive spells he had already learned, Anduin decided to specialize in one of the following: Impedimenta, Expelliarmus, or Repello.
In his previous life as a gamer, Anduin had always favored extreme builds, pouring all his skill points into a single attribute or ability until he hit the limit. His philosophy was simple: if you couldn't win, you just needed more power.
After careful consideration, Anduin chose to focus on Impedimenta. First, he had grasped this spell quickly during his initial learning, making him feel a natural affinity for it. Second, he believed Impedimenta had immense untapped potential. If developed as he envisioned, it could become a versatile spell capable of both offense and defense.