A few days later, Celica excitedly found Murphy, "I've tested it, and that spell really works! You can try it on me."
"On you?"
"Yes, yes, don't worry. For the caster, it can be lifted at any time, and I can also break it with a counter-curse."
Despite saying this, her excited little eyes betrayed her.
Are you actually a masochist? "How exactly is it used?"
"I'll make a vow, and then you recite the spell. What vow do you want me to make?"
Murphy initially thought of using a vow like "to keep secrets forever," but what came out was: "Swear to never disobey Murphy's orders."
Celica blinked her eyes rapidly, her face quickly turning red, but Murphy kept a straight face, as if it was just a normal vow, "What's wrong?"
"Okay, okay…"
"I, I swear, never, cough cough, never to disobey Murphy's orders."
"Thorn Vow!"
Murphy immediately cast the spell. A surge of magical power shot from his wand like an arrow into Celica's chest, anchoring her as if with a hook.
Murphy felt a certain degree of control over the person in front of him.
He quickly realized that Voldemort's explanation of the spell's effects was incomplete. In fact, not only would the subject be punished for breaking the vow, but he could also inflict punishment whenever he wished.
This is some kind of sadistic spell!
Totally twisted!
But, I like it!
"Now let's test the effects of the spell," Murphy said, "First command: you are not allowed to use a counter-curse on yourself or remove the Thorn Vow by any other means."
Celica: "Huh? Huh?!!"
Shocked, Celica felt very unsettled.
Was I deceived? What if he does something to me? "Try it, see if you can use a counter-curse on yourself?"
Celica took out her wand, pointing it at herself, ready to cast "Finite Incantatem," "Fin... Ah!"
Before she could finish the spell, Celica felt a sharp pain bursting from her chest, as if countless thorns were constricting her insides. She lost all strength and collapsed to the ground, her wand falling beside her.
"It hurts, it hurts so much..."
Murphy was also surprised; the spell's effect was this good?
Moreover, he could bypass its flaws in such a way.
He had only used the spell on the vow "not to disobey Murphy's orders," not on "not using a counter-curse to remove her own vow." But since the latter fell under the category of "orders," it automatically took effect! Although the spell still only controlled the person who made the vow and couldn't prevent other wizards from breaking the spell, Murphy saw a possibility similar to "stacking."
He suddenly had a burst of inspiration.
What if he commanded Celica to obey someone else's orders?
Would all the commands of the second person automatically become effective under the Thorn Vow? What if the second person's commands conflicted with his own?
Or, what if he made Celica obey her own orders? Could she then lift the Thorn Vow?
But these were just thoughts; experimenting with Celica right now seemed too inhumane. A conflict of commands could lead to the subject's death, and Alex would definitely fight him over it. Maybe he would try it later when the spell research institute was established.
Murphy waved his wand, withdrawing the magical connection between him and Celica.
He realized that this kind of control was not without cost for the controller; the caster had to allocate a part of their magical power to maintain the control channel.
And with his current magical power, he probably couldn't control too many people.
"This spell is so scary!" Celica, feeling the eerie magic dissipating from her, was frightened and a bit angry at Murphy, "You are terrible!"
"How do you feel, any injuries?"
"No, just a lot of pain in my chest." Celica clutched her chest, looking aggrieved, "I thought I was going to die just now."
"This spell is indeed very dangerous. Remember to keep it secret, don't let others know."
"I know that, you don't have to tell me!"
"Hmm?" Murphy glared at her, "What's with that tone?"
"Oh, I, I understand."
Celica obediently corrected herself and then sneakily glanced at Murphy, asking, "Murphy, do you want to be the king of the Muggles?"
King?
What era is this, still talking about kings.
"Do I look that bored?"
"But using this spell on Muggles is against the Muggle Protection Act, right?" Celica reminded.
"The Muggle Protection Act," Murphy's expression turned weird, "Celica, do you think Muggles are stronger or wizards are?"
"Wizards?" Celica answered.
After all, wizards can cast many spells, but Muggles can't use magic.
"Then why do we have the Wizarding Secrecy Act? Why hide?"
"So, Muggles are stronger?"
"If that's the case, why have the Muggle Protection Act? If we can't even beat them, why protect them? It's like endangered tigers thinking they are dangerous, so they legislate to protect humans. Isn't that ridiculous?"
"But, but..." Celica instinctively felt something was wrong with Murphy's logic but couldn't find the loophole.
"Celica, remember, wizards are the species that need protection. Compared to Muggles, wizards are the weaker ones. Don't forget that. If you think you're stronger than humans because you have sharp teeth and claws, then being skinned and dismembered is just a matter of time."
"But you still want to use this spell on Muggles, right?"
"Yes."
"That's not good, I thought you were a good person..."
I also want to be a good person, but if being a good person means suffering a loss, then sorry, I won't even be a person anymore.
"Just think of it this way, using this spell on Muggles might cause them some harm, but it will protect me. If I don't use it, they'll be safe, but I'll be in danger. Choose one, who would you pick?"
"..." Celica was silent for a while, "Isn't there a way where no one gets hurt?"
"Yes, just make them willingly keep secrets. That's why I want Herl's Mindseed, but whether we can find it depends on you."
Celica, not realizing she was being manipulated, felt a heavy responsibility, "I'll definitely find that spell!"
But once Murphy left and Celica's boiling brain cooled down, she realized something was off.
Herl's Mindseed, isn't that an even more terrifying dark magic than the Thorn Vow?! Why did I so easily believe everything Murphy said!
He must be deceiving, right?