Quirrell watched in bewilderment as Ethan's spellcasting failed repeatedly, yet the young wizard's face showed nothing but pure excitement.
A masochist? Quirrell couldn't understand it.
He was about to offer guidance when he saw Ethan raise his wand again. Over and over, the boy continued his attempts. Even when nothing happened, he showed no discouragement whatsoever. Calm and resolute, he waved his wand and recited the incantation with unwavering determination.
In the end, it made Quirrell somewhat afraid.
Why pursue such a meaningless endeavor? Even with repeated practice, without knowing the spell model, successful casting was absolutely impossible! Was he being stubborn? Believing he could definitely learn it, that failure was impossible?
Ignoring shortcuts and stubbornly taking the long way around to enlightenment... such behavior could only be called foolish!
Thinking this, Quirrell unconsciously bit his lower lip. He watched Ethan wave his wand again and again, as if simply learning magic itself was interesting enough, and an indescribable feeling surged in his heart.
The only thing Quirrell knew for certain was that he hated this child to death. Once his master gave the word to eliminate Ethan, he would unhesitatingly find an opportunity to strike.
"Mr. Vincent," Quirrell began with an awkward smile, "don't waste your efforts anymore. You haven't learned the spell model yet, have you? Let me teach you..."
Wasted effort? I don't think so, Ethan thought to himself.
Even if he truly didn't know the spell model, through repeated practice, he could slowly comprehend the changes in magic. Just like learning the Levitation Charm in first year, they didn't start by cramming spell models. Instead, they first practiced slowly with "Wingardium Leviosa."
You've really changed, Quirrell! How did a Ravenclaw become like this!
Just then, a ghostly blue interface appeared before Ethan's eyes, visible only to him.
The system notifications flowed through his mind like whispered secrets. Drop by drop, he had been drinking from the spring of knowledge like a persistent student. Though sparse, little by little it accumulated. He had gained new understanding, and the spiritual light in his mind was now full. A lamp lit in his consciousness, and he felt himself gradually comprehending something profound.
A new ability was forming within him.
It's coming! Ethan's eyes lit up.
Just like a light bulb illuminating the darkness, the spell model that had been shrouded in shadow suddenly revealed itself completely and clearly in his mind. Every tiny turning point, every subtle connection, became visible. Nothing could hide from his newfound clarity.
A true moment of enlightenment!
"Mr. Vincent?" Seeing Ethan staring blankly at empty space, Quirrell called out questioningly.
Ethan snapped back to attention. His cobalt-blue eyes glanced at Quirrell, the corner of his mouth curved up, and he raised an index finger with theatrical flair.
"Shh. Next is the moment to witness a miracle."
Quirrell frowned in confusion. He watched as Ethan, just like countless times before, waved his wand with standard movements and began reciting the elegant incantation.
"Mr. Vincent, this won't work. You must first learn the spell model... uh?!"
Quirrell's words suddenly stopped. What met his eyes was the sight of a silk-thin white thread drifting out from the toad's head. Though minimal, it was indeed a memory thread! Following Ethan's movements, it gently wound around the tip of his wand.
Ethan raised his hand, carefully admiring this thread that contained the creature's memories and emotions. His heart felt a calm fullness. After a moment, he lowered his wand and gently placed this precious thread back into the toad's brain.
The toad blinked its hazy eyes and regained consciousness. It croaked once, its throat sac continuing to puff rhythmically as it breathed, unmovable as a mountain.
"Success." Ethan turned his head to look at the dumbstruck Professor Quirrell and smiled. "We can learn more advanced spells now... for instance, extracting deeper soul fragments to give portraits true personalities."
Quirrell's eyes widened, his mouth opening and closing twice like a fish gasping for air. The next second, he collapsed to the ground with a thud, his whole body going limp. Having witnessed such impossible mastery, what else could he do but surrender to the reality before him?
In the time that followed, Ethan learned exceptionally well from Professor Quirrell, though it was entirely one-sided. After each lesson, Quirrell looked as if he were in mourning. His gaze vacant, his limbs powerless, like a broken rag doll that had been run over by a truck from every conceivable angle.
Once, during Defense Against the Dark Arts class, he suddenly clutched his head with both hands and rasped hoarsely, "What am I?!" and "I'm just worthless!!"
By contrast, Ethan's complexion grew increasingly rosy. His mood visibly became more cheerful, his entire being radiating the glow of knowledge.
"Ethan scored 120 points on the last Charms quiz," roommate Mandy said, adjusting her glasses. "The full score was 100."
"Ethan is no longer the same species as us."
Michael interjected, "That's not quite right. Didn't Ethan get an extra twenty points because he wrote beyond the curriculum in his essay questions, and Professor Flitwick was so pleased he gave him bonus points?"
Mandy walked past Michael without looking at him. She muttered under her breath, "Gibberish, what are you saying, Flobberworm."
Michael fell silent. So someone who scored seventy wasn't even human anymore?! This damned academic hierarchy!
Another classmate cheerfully put his arm around Michael's shoulder. "Don't mind her. Let's go hang out with the girls."
Michael coldly shook off his arm. Without even looking at him, he said coolly, "Don't talk to me, Bubotuber."
The student who scored sixty stood there speechless. Great. Scoring sixty meant he wasn't even an animal anymore but had devolved directly to plant status?! Their dormitory was truly a collection of hidden talents! No wonder they could all get along with Ethan.
However, everyone knew that Ethan, who had chosen Professor Quirrell as his mentor, had no possibility of winning whatsoever in the upcoming competition. With just those paintings that had no real attack power, he'd be lucky to come back in one piece. After all, it was said that the students from Durmstrang Institute were all touched by dark magic. The real deal, not portrait tricks meant to frighten people.
His system interface chimed with completion. He had acquired a new skill: Budding Scholarship Level 1. Knowledge was a city built brick by brick, but what waited in the darkness beyond the walls? If there were no objects of fear, why would anyone build high walls? Or perhaps... he was beyond the walls now.
The effects were remarkable. He now possessed perfect recall and could understand more profound magic. He would be able to cast spells more rationally, unrestrained by emotion. Additionally, he had learned new knowledge about Chain Spells. His spells could now hit up to three targets at once, though he needed to control the direction of each spell carefully.
New ability acquired! Ethan's inner excitement and joy were beyond words.
From these simple descriptions, Ethan could sense the true power of this skill. Casting spells more rationally, unrestrained by emotion, meant that as long as he learned a spell, he could smoothly use all magic, including the three Unforgivable Curses that required extreme emotions.
Ethan's attitude toward this was practical: You might not use them, but you can't not know them. After all, mercy was Merlin's business. They only needed to send enemies to meet Merlin.
But this was just a secondary effect. Most importantly, it was the ability to cast three spells at once! Lightning chain magic to illuminate the battlefield!
Indeed, spells like Avis could attack multiple targets at once. However, these all lacked special effects. Spells like Stupefy, Petrificus Totalus, or Avada Kedavra were different. Ethan couldn't remember any Auror who could use such powerful spells to deal with multiple targets simultaneously.
Moreover, an inspiration flashed in Ethan's mind. Combining chain spells with his artistic abilities, the effects of artworks he created could be enhanced even further. Amplification and curses working together... just thinking about it was thrilling.
"Wizard ancestors, I'm truly inheriting your legacy," Ethan prayed with hands clasped together like the most devout and pure believer. "Rest assured, I will definitely use it well, as you did."
There weren't any dark wizards around yet for practice, but that was fine. He could practice on magical creatures first.
For instance... a big dog with three heads. Perfect. One spell for each head, arranged perfectly.
Professor Snape, who said a person couldn't handle three heads at once?
[Chapter Complete]
***
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