*****
The Guild of the Sighted are mages who have forcibly awakened magical vision in themselves, and therefore have no prospects for further development of this gift. Embittered with mages like me and the teacher, who have mastered vision themselves and can develop it indefinitely. They have an obsession with capturing and subjugating people like me, in order to use them for profit. And maybe for something else.
I learned all this from Poppy, and who knows how things really are. Although I have no reason not to believe her, because she didn't lie to me. She didn't tell me everything, that's true. But lying... she hasn't been noticed doing that.
"And you want to say that he was at school because of me?" — Continuing to look at Gilderoy, I asked Pomfrey.
In general, Lockhart looked unwell, and it was not just the general shabbyness and gray hair. No, his very appearance indicated that he had at least aged a couple or three years. And for magicians this is a feat. Hmm, maybe this is his true appearance?
"To some extent, yes," answered the witch. Starting to walk around the altar in a circle, she continued: "What do you think is the main reason for his interest in you?"
Judging by the teacher's smile, this question was a trick question. It's worth thinking logically, why would they be interested in me if there is no fact that I use magical vision? No, of course, this could have happened precisely because of the gift, but to be honest, this is unlikely. Only Poppy knows about my "ability". Could he leak information about me? Purely theoretically, yes, but why? She still needs me.
What else could my persona attract? Hmm, the general public knows only one fact...
"I have two assumptions," Poppy stood in front of me after hearing my speech. Her gaze was fixed strictly on my face, as if she wanted to find something on it. Oh yeah, how could I forget about the eternal smirk? "The first is less likely. They somehow found out that I have magical vision. And since only you know about this small fact from my biography," the smile became wider, the look more narrowed. "Then only you, or someone you trusted with information about me, could leak it to them. Which, you must agree, is unprofitable. I am still needed.
"You're right," she nodded, coming close to me. Due to the difference in height (and I was in my "standard" appearance), I had to raise my head in order to encounter the blue pools this time. "I'm your teacher, albeit without a contract." My actions will not harm you as long as you do not destroy my faith in you. I will also fulfill my duties as a teacher to you. Including for protection from the director, which means they will protect me from this side. Great, one less problem. - As you put it correctly - You are needed.
- Thank you, - I nodded. Well, my hands are slightly untied, freedom of action has been obtained. Of course, with caution, just in case. - The second option directly concerns your words. Information has reached the guild that I am your student. And judging by your past and those rare statements about the sighted, you are quite closely acquainted with this "contingent".
I fell silent, waiting for a reaction to my words. The silence that formed between us was covered only by the sounds of the fireplace (even if it was a little far away), as well as the "ringing" of mana. The altar was working, using all its power on our "volunteer".
The blue pools were mesmerizing, absorbing you into their depths.
"You're right," Poppy said, turning away from me and heading towards Gilderoy. "I had to deal with this guild in the past. Actually, after that we didn't have the most "friendly" relations. To them I am like a doormat to a bull. I'm irritated by the very fact of my existence, an obstacle that should be removed, but, alas, it doesn't work out," the calm, deceptively kind voice did not give even one hint that the teacher was satisfied with the current order of things.
Hmm, perhaps it is because of their "actions" that Poppy is sitting in the castle, unable to leave its territory? It's quite possible, but I feel she won't answer me, even if I ask nicely. There is no credibility to obtain this information. Improve your reputation, huh.
- And what do you plan to do with this "volunteer"? — approaching her and standing next to her, he nodded towards the floating man. It's not just that she saved his body. Absolutely not. - What is it for?
- Oh, believe me, - a grin spread across her face. Demons danced in her eyes again. - I have a very interesting topic for the lesson. He is exactly what I will need for the demonstration.
- Hmm, torture? Extraction of information? Or something else? - I listed the most "primitive" ways of "using" a volunteer.
- Oh, how ugly, Kol. This is not what I taught you," she was "offended" by my words. I just shrugged my shoulders at this. What can you do, you have to put up with such "slips" of hers. - No, this is much more interesting. Do you remember that it was you who answered my question about why we try not to touch healers?
— "Nobody wants to wake up one morning and find that instead of a head you have an ass, and your head is your lower ninety," I quoted myself. And yes, that conversation took place. True, time has passed since then… almost a year and a half. Wow, how time flies.
"That's what we'll do," she nodded, looking predatorily at Lockhart, who had already regained consciousness. However, all he could do was roll his eyes. There is no access to mana and prana, the body is paralyzed.
- Hmm, have you already interrogated him? Is he not involved in the guild? - well, you never know? Although this is unlikely.
With a wave of her hand, Poppy restored his ability to speak and away he went.
"You have nowhere to run, vile elf. We will do to you the same as to your relatives. And we will put the little one on a chain and..." Another wave of the hand interrupted his speech.
Eyes blazing with a scarlet flame stared at me. The mockery played on them.
- Got it, I'm not a fool. A fool wouldn't have understood. When shall we begin? - Well, since he's really after my soul, there's no point in feeling sorry for him. And I need practice. That's true.
- Right now, - a wave of the hand and a spell hits the guy's hand. Hmm, judging by his blocks it is aimed at healing the spell.
For the first few seconds, nothing happened, but then it started. The hand slowly began to grow before our eyes, simply swelling from the inside. The skin peeled off layer by layer, and new skin appeared in its place. Hmm, you could even hear the crunch of bones. Apparently, it began to grow uncontrollably in different directions.
Because of the pain, Lockhart himself jerked his head from side to side, opened his mouth in a silent scream, and foamed at the mouth.
It all ended with the hand simply bursting from the inside. Muscles and bones appeared mixed together.
- How do you like it? - Poppy asked, stopping the blood with a wave so that the patient would not die prematurely.
- Not the most humane and quick way to kill your enemy. However, for an exemplary reprisal - just right, - after examining the limb and a couple of diagnostic charms, I said. - It was Tajdid Aldarar (damage regeneration. Arabic)?
- Right. Initially, into the chain of regeneration enchantments itself, spreading her hands to the side, she created an enlarged diagram of the enchantment. In some ways, the pile of blocks, nodes and connections looked like the letter "M". "They are artificially limited to this block," Poppy's finger pointed to one of the largest blocks. And there were only three such large ones, so I won't be mistaken. — When you create such a scheme, then you purely subconsciously create a limitation on the work of the spell "until the wound heals" or "until the bones grow together." If we imbue this block with a large amount of mana, we will get the following result," she nodded in the direction of Lockhart. - Will you try it yourself?
"Alas, but at the moment I am not capable," I threw up my hands under the attentive gaze of the teacher. — I overexerted myself in training. For now, only minor manipulations are available to me. Like magical vision.
"Hmm, stay still," she said seriously.
I nodded and prepared myself for a bunch of diagnostic spells. It's good that I had at least removed the changes in my body that could confuse her. I even tried to reduce the "consequences of baptism" with space. And she knows her business much better than me, let her examine me. It won't be superfluous.
Did I take a risk? To some extent, yes, but she is not a metamorph. Moreover, judging by our numerous conversations, she knows practically nothing about this school, as part of general development. And also ways to kill such an opponent. She doesn't know more. So my protection was more than worth it. But the very consequences of that exhaustion could still be felt in the future. It's better to find out in advance.
Having finished with the examination, Poppy thought for a while, but after a minute she said:
— Your body is overstrained, and even though there are no signs of exhaustion, how can they not be? But where does the energy come from then? Room? Anomaly? DDD spell? - Most likely, you took the pace of training too fast. It will pass by tomorrow morning, but I would advise not to overexert yourself so much. You still have plenty of time.
"Okay," I nodded. I know for sure the limits of my endurance. But the fact that there are no consequences is good. However, there are no fewer additional questions.
"Well, since today you are in the role of an observer, then remember," turning towards Lockhart, Poppy continued her lecture. — As you know, non-"seeing" magicians move bone fragments using a spell. What happens if you make entire bones move, say in a leg...?
Another circuit hit the volunteer's limb. More silent screams, more tears, and the sight of something "alive" moving under the flesh.
Did I feel sorry for Gilderoy? No. Was I interested? Yes.
*****
Slipping into my room, I was finally able to "breathe calmly." The day was very long.
Poppy's lesson lasted almost until dinner. It looked quite strange, two intelligent people were sitting at a table, and literally thirty meters away Gilderoy was writhing under the influence of yet another spell. Hmm, yes, and it doesn't bother me at all.
The conversation about what happened did take place with the teacher. Of course, I hid some parts during it. For example, the test or the "colorful" encounter with Harriet, simply saying that she stunned me while I was weak.
Also, Poppy didn't bother to ask about the pill. Well, that means "forgotten". That's good.
I also asked her about the Headmaster's spell, Veil of Light. This spell is "standard" for most schools of magic. For example, the Headmaster's spell creates a sort of cloud around the user. It protects and supports those the mage considers allies. For enemies, it has the opposite effect.
The spell itself is not physical, that is, the same fire mages, having created a veil, will simply create a sea of fiery mana, which is aggressively set against enemies (when it hits them, the mana goes into a physical state, trying to burn the enemy). For allies, it strangely increases physical abilities. Why? The devil knows. I should find out...
Also, due to the saturation of space with a certain type of mana (something like a magnet for its "relatives"), casting a spell of the same school or a mixed one gets a kind of boost, simply absorbing external mana. I wonder if there is an analogue of this spell in the school of space? (There will definitely be one in cryokinesis) And what effect will it have? Although no one is stopping me from creating my own analogue, only much later.
Well, my return to the hall almost didn't go unnoticed. There are a couple of reasons: after lunch, the restrictions on movement in the school were lifted, and the headmaster also informed me that everything was fine with Harriet and me, saying that we "rescued" Ginny from the clutches of the vile Heir and even saved her. Damn, he did drop off a dog.
Of course, my modest person somehow faded into the background, and the glory went to Harriet. Well, I'm not offended. True, the right people still remembered.
Actually, only the students of my house and friends noticed me. I managed to avoid the questions, simply citing fatigue and postponing them until tomorrow.
In the living room they tried to "interrogate" me again, but I managed to make a "retreat maneuver" to my room.
Well, even though mana and prana training are unavailable to me today, Psi is still there. Moreover, it deserves more attention.
Closing my eyes, I fell into a sea of consciousness. No one prevents me from thinking over what happened again during training.
Oh, and the starry sky must be beautiful today...
*****