**
{Statistics}
{Missions}
{Custom}
{Locked}
**
The screen shifted to a list as I focused on the newly opened tab.
**
{Custom}
'Select a focus for tab development.'
-Mind Arts
The Mind Arts involve studying and manipulating consciousness, thought, and mental energies. Practitioners of Mind Arts develop abilities such as telepathy, mind reading, and memory manipulation. This field is closely tied to the subtle manipulation of emotions and perceptions, allowing users to influence others' thoughts or shield their minds from intrusion. It can be used to communicate over long distances, detect lies, or even control and enhance cognitive functions.
-Arithmancy
Arithmancy studies magical properties related to numbers, equations, and patterns in the universe. By understanding the numerical correspondences of magic, practitioners can predict future events, enhance spell casting, and uncover hidden truths in the fabric of reality. Arithmancy is often used for divination and is essential for designing complex spells, magical architecture, and creating powerful artifacts with precise magical functions.
-Magic Theory
Magic Theory focuses on the fundamental principles of how magic works. This field is essential for all other branches of magic as it explores the mechanics behind spell casting, magical energy flows, and how different magical forces interact. Magic theorists aim to understand the laws that govern magical phenomena, making this discipline the foundation for improving magical spells, rituals, and devices. It is often the basis for innovation and new magical techniques.
-Runic Magic
Runic Magic is the ancient practice of using symbols, or runes, to channel and manipulate magical energies. Runes are potent symbols with specific magical properties when inscribed or activated. Utilized for warding, protection, enhancing spells, or binding energies into objects. Runic magic is often used to create enchanted items, carve protective wards, and craft long-lasting spells that can function independently of the caster.
-Transmutation
Transmutation is the magical ability to change one substance into another. While this field is often associated with altering the physical properties of objects, advanced transmuters can also affect the molecular or elemental structure of materials. Transmutation is not limited to solid matter; it can also affect liquids and gases. Typical uses include turning lead into gold, creating new substances, or repairing broken objects. Master transmuters can reshape environments and transform entire landscapes.
-Alchemy
Alchemy is the magical science of transformation, typically focused on changing base materials into more valuable ones, like turning lead into gold. However, it also involves pursuing eternal life (through the Philosopher's Stone) and perfecting both body and soul. Alchemists often experiment with potions and transmutation, striving to achieve harmony between magical and natural forces. Beyond material transformation, alchemy can be used for healing, enhancing vitality, and uncovering secrets of the universe.
-Potions
Potions involve the brewing and concocting of magical liquids with specific effects. Each potion requires a blend of ingredients, usually with mystical properties, and specific brewing techniques to activate their magical potential. Potions can have a wide range of effects, from healing injuries and curing diseases to inducing invisibility, enhancing strength, or altering emotions. Potions are used to supplement spellcasting or provide effects that are difficult to achieve with direct magic alone.
-Illusion Magic
Illusion Magic deals with manipulating the senses to create false perceptions. This can include creating phantom images, altering sounds, and distorting touch sensations. Illusionists use their craft to deceive, mislead, and confuse opponents, making it appear like something is there when it's not or hiding the real presence of something. Often used in trickery, stealth, and psychological warfare. Master illusionists can craft illusions so convincing that they affect multiple senses or entire groups of people at once.
-Ritual Magic
Ritual Magic is a branch that relies on the precise execution of specific rites, ceremonies, and invocations to invoke magical powers. Rituals can involve complex steps, chants, symbols, and artifacts to call upon external magical forces or deities. They are often used for powerful, long-lasting magic that simple spells cannot accomplish. Ritual magic can create protective wards, summon otherworldly beings, or channel large amounts of energy for significant, world-altering events.
-Charms
Charms are a form of light magic used to produce magical effects that alter an object or person's behavior without significantly changing their structure. Unlike transmutation, charms do not transform an object but instead imbue it with a specific magical ability, such as levitation, protection, or increased durability. Charms are used for everyday magic, enchantments, and minor spells that enhance or manipulate the world in subtle but effective ways.
-Body Arts
Body Arts, also known as body magic, involves enhancing and manipulating the physical body through magical means. Practitioners can improve their strength, speed, agility, and endurance or even gain abilities like regeneration or shapeshifting. This field can also involve tattooing magical sigils onto the body, which grants special abilities or protection. Warriors and healers often use Body Arts to rapidly improve physical performance or recover from injury.
-Soul Theory
Soul Theory focuses on the understanding and manipulation of the soul, the essence that links the physical and spiritual aspects of beings. This field studies how souls interact with magic and the material world, exploring concepts like reincarnation, soul binding, and astral projection. Practitioners can learn to strengthen their soul, protect it from external threats, or transfer it between bodies. It's a profound field that touches on ethics, immortality, and the nature of existence itself.
"This wasn't what I expected, but I'm not upset."
This was my chance to advance one field of my magic beyond the others faster than I could do alone. Time was limited, and I only had one brain; advancing my Oclomency to the point of parallel processing was still some time away. Leaving me limited in how much I could advance in any one field.
The thought of parallel processing alone almost made me choose Mind Arts, but realistically, Magic Theory is too well-rounded not to pick. It was the foundation of all magic; any advancement in magic theory was an advancement in every field. And so I did.
**
{Magic Theory}
-Intuition: the ability to "feel" the right approach to complex magical problems, even without fully understanding the technical details. It governs the instinctual side of magic, where a deep connection with the flow of magic can lead to rapid insights and solutions.
-Increased Magic Sensitivity: the ability to detect and interact with magical energy in the environment with heightened precision. This sensitivity enables the host to perceive magical auras, fluctuations in magical fields, and latent energies in objects or places
-New Perspective: the ability to think outside traditional magical frameworks; represents creative and unconventional approaches to solving magical problems, leading to innovations in spell casting and magical theory.
**
As soon as I made my selection, I felt it. It was reminiscent of looking back on your younger self and realizing how limited your perspective was in everything—the feeling of realizing how foolish you were, then significantly multiplied by many factors.
A sickening amount, really, enough to create a pit of uneasiness at the base of my stomach. A New Perspective led to innovations but didn't favor any one side of my magic knowledge. New methods of spell casting mixed in with even more methods of torture, ways to use humans more efficiently in rituals, and even some darker uses for simple charms. It was a lot, but it would have to wait to be sorted.
"There are more important things to deal with right now." I watched the dark-haired wizard walk in and frown as he looked at the muggle-born that outnumbered him. It was Lucius Malfoy under a polyjuice, in the same disguise he mentioned he would meet me in. I wasn't too surprised when he sent a letter to meet; the completed mission already told me what I needed to know. He got me the professor position but wants to meet me to better understand who I am.
I was able to threaten him with a minor crime he could make disappear, but I'm sure he's only agreed to meet so he can investigate me further. He thinks I'm a skilled wizard who dealt with The Butcher, and I'm sure he thinks he can use me as a pawn. What a combination; he has Voldemort's ambition and cunning but Pettigrew's intellect.
"Are you Axel Theodore Gray?" the voice broke me out of my thoughts. Looking up at the disguised Malfoy, I smiled at him, thinking of how unaware he was of his terrible future—one about to take a turn for much worse with my presence.
"Yes, I am. It's a pleasure to meet you. I've booked a room for us already. Surely, you would prefer a more private space to discuss our deal." I said as I stood up and walked towards the stairs to the rooms.
I could tell he was annoyed with my blatantly uninterested tone. I don't usually talk in such a dead tone, but it doesn't affect the meeting in any way, and it was way more fun to mess with him. He still has his guard up and wand in reach, even as we walk into the room. It was a small room, no bigger than a typical hotel room, with a wood-framed bed and a desk off the side. Two chairs are already ready for us.
A wave of my hand and a line of runes appear on all the walls; I can tell that got him tensed; he didn't expect that level of skill. A few privacy charms of his own, and it was just him and I as we sat across from one another with the desk between us. Not a single sound; he didn't say a word and just looked at me with a smug sense of superiority.
"Is this supposed to be some sort of interrogation tactic?" I asked; the slight smirk and tilt of my head irritated him, but he didn't respond; he seemed to think he was winning in this supposed battle of wits.
"Merely looking to see what makes you think you could threaten me and expect not to meet an accident. How foolish! Are you that unaware of who I am?" Lucius spoke with an authority that seemed to fizzle out into nothing as soon as you realized who was talking.
"A Malfoy, one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, not even the Minister of Magic has the...." He continued. Maybe he thinks my silence is a sign of my fear? Most of my interactions with Lucius as The Butcher were quick and to the point. A name for a price. It's as simple as that. But now, listening to him speak more than just a name, I realize I was foolish to think he had more use than face value.
Should I let him babble on or interrupt him? Honestly, any excitement I had before this meeting to carefully plot and scheme to use Malfoy was ruined by his stupidity. He was never going to stop scheming and messing with me unless I showed him where he stood here.
"The diary is a Horcrux." my words cut through his speech, and the instant panic that set in was visible on his face. He was getting paler by the second as the blood drained from his face. He opened his mouth to say something, but no matter what nothing came out. It felt like watching a mime performing on the streets. Ironic considering the Malfoy's French origin.
"I have much more important things to do than listen to you babble on and on all day long Malfoy. I'll make this nice and short." I raised my hand as I spoke, "I, Axel Theodore Gray, make this oath as magic as its witness; you, Lucius Malfoy, do not spread knowledge nor information with any association in regards to me, and in return, I will not spread any proof I have of your association to The Butcher and the Horcrux. Well? What is your choice, Lucius?" my words were dead and toneless, but the warm glow and pure magic that appeared above my hand carried enough intention for Lucius to get the point.
"Well? Do we have an understanding?" I repeated with the same dead tone and a slight smirk. Lucius wants to rip me apart; I could see it in his eyes, no one had ever spoken to him like this in his life, but my wandless magic earlier was enough of a demonstration to keep him wary. He won't risk his life to kill me here; the deal would end everything here, and he has a guarantee of safety, or so he thinks anyway.
"Yes, we have a deal," Lucius spoke. The words came out of his clenched jaw, strained as they were, it was enough. The warm glow above my hand split in two and faded into our chests.
"I'm glad we could come to a resolution, "Lord" Malfoy." My words echoed behind in the room as I apparated away.
(Lucius Malfoy POV)
"I'm glad we could come to a resolution, "Lord" Malfoy." I could hear the shift in how he called me lord. It was the first time the brat said it the entire time and it was without the usual awe and pride that normally came with the title. Ridicule, that's what it was.
Alone in the room, looking at the chair in front of me, I was seething and angry. Never have I been disrespected like that before, let alone by a muggle-born. A self-learned wizard traveling through the many magical communities and selling his skill in enchanting to survive, that was all he was supposed to be. That was all he managed to find on the young man; it was nothing special like what he saw in person now.
"No one messes with a Malfoy and gets away with it!" The boy has guts but too much for his pedigree. I can't take direct action, but having someone looking at your every move with suspicion can be quite useful. I have to hope Dumbledore is as suspicious of him as he is of me. "This oath will only prolong your suffering, boy." he will soon know what it means to mess with a Malfoy. For now, a visit to Severus is in order. Getting up I flicked my wand to apparated away. It was a faster method of travel and it avoided the crowd of muggle-born scum that tended to gather in the Cauldron.
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