Stein's first class introduced the Transfiguration Spell, with the assignment being to turn a match into a needle.
This task involves changing a dead object into another dead object of similar volume and shape, requiring a brief material transformation and a subtle change in form—an excellent first lesson for beginners.
Adam pointed his wand at the match and recited the spell. In the next moment, it became slender, sharp, and metallic, transforming into a silver sewing needle.
"Well done!"
Stein, who had been observing Adam, was visibly impressed. He walked over, picked up the needle, and examined it. Not only was the material change consistent, but the shape was nearly flawless. Even the threading hole at the end of the needle had been perfectly formed.
"Try to change it back."
Stein placed the needle back in front of Adam.
Adam tried, finding the task more difficult this time. However, after a moment of thought, he grasped the key to the reversal and succeeded in transforming the needle back into a match.
"Excellent! Five points for Hufflepuff!"
Stein had planned to offer some guidance if Adam struggled, but to his surprise, Adam figured it out on his own. A genius in Transfiguration! With the right training, Adam could become a master in the field.
As a professor, nothing could be more fulfilling for Stein than watching his students achieve success in their chosen profession.
Stein praised Adam, offering a few words of encouragement before moving on to help others. Some students' matches had not changed at all—either they didn't fully understand the material or encountered issues when casting the spell.
After Stein moved on, Adam continued to contemplate the second spell he had just cast.
From his current understanding, casting a spell was like navigating an endless maze with countless exits. The dead ends in this maze weren't meaningless; they might add special effects to the spell.
A mage casts spells by meticulously researching the path from entrance to exit and then controlling the magic to follow that path. If a special effect is desired, the mage intentionally seeks out a particular dead end. In reality, casting spells involves many mystical elements and is far more complex than this simplified description.
The benefit of this casting method is its simplicity and clarity. External objects, like wands, merely serve to amplify the caster's magic. With enough magical power and understanding of the spell, a mage can cast it without using a wand or speaking an incantation.
The drawback, however, is that the caster must fully understand the spell. Without sufficient knowledge, new magic requires extensive research and exploration—a challenging task for its creator.
Wizards, on the other hand, cast spells somewhat roughly. Their abilities stem from their bloodlines, allowing them to perform magic without precise control of the magic's flow. Wizards use incantations and wand movements to create a general framework, directing the flow of magic toward a specific range. Once magic is poured into the framework, it will eventually exit from the correct place, achieving the desired spell effect. This imprecise method satisfied the ancestors of wizards.
This casting technique allows for multiple variations of the same spell. A wizard might adjust the framework to reduce magical power loss or include specific dead ends to add special effects to a spell.
However, the downside is that if the framework is flawed from the beginning, it can lead to unpredictable results. Thus, when a spell is first invented, its effects are often random, and further refinement of the spell can be difficult.
The task Stein assigned earlier was essentially asking Adam to reverse the magical flow—walking back through the maze instead of letting the magic dissipate naturally.
Adam theorized that this concept formed the basis for counter-spells. For example, the difference between Lumos and Nox lies in the reversal of magical flow. His success in changing the needle back into a match further supported his hypothesis.
In the world of wizards, counter-spells often require a different incantation or wand movement, essentially creating a new framework. However, from Adam's perspective, this new framework directs the magic to follow the same path as the original spell but in reverse.
The drawback to wizard counter-spells, Adam realized, was the inability to control the precise flow of magic—some spells couldn't be reversed simply by changing the framework.
In other words, not all spells could be countered.
However, wizards weren't entirely without solutions. By dismantling the framework, they could allow the magic to flow freely through the maze, causing the spell to collapse. This process essentially nullifies the spell, which is the principle behind universal counter-spells that end all magic.
Using this method, most spells could be undone—except for the three legendary Unforgivable Curses, which were widely believed to have no counter-spell.
But Adam wasn't convinced. He suspected that the Unforgivable Curses might not be completely irreversible. Based on his theory, he thought it might be possible to counter them. Unfortunately, without someone under the curse's effects, Adam had no way to test his hypothesis—and he certainly wasn't eager to subject himself to an Unforgivable Curse.
As Adam mulled this over, he realized that combining both casting methods—mage and wizard—might be the answer. Wizards' magic could be a valuable resource for quickly advancing along the mage's path.
Adam could use his precise control over magic to quickly master wizard spells, then develop counter-spells tailored to each one. He could even use the frameworks of wizard spells to alter their casting into a more efficient mage version.
Although this last point seemed a bit redundant, it could provide substantial benefits for Adam both early and later in his magical journey.
In the early stages, mage spells were more concise, accurate, and efficient. Most importantly, Adam's magical power grew in direct proportion to his magical knowledge. As he transformed wizard spells into mage versions, his understanding of magic would undoubtedly improve.
In the later stages, Adam's mastery of magic and his accumulated knowledge would push him further along the mage's path. Unlike wizards, who understood the "what" but not always the "why" of magic, Adam sought complete mastery of his abilities. Furthermore, the potential of a wizard—or warlock—was limited by their bloodline, whereas a mage's limits were defined by wisdom.
If wizard bloodlines came from gods or demons, that might be acceptable. But the magical bloodlines in this world came from magical creatures who intermarried with their ancestors. Even the most powerful of these creatures, like Fawkes, had a much lower ceiling than Adam's ambitions.
(End of the chapter)
Samurai
I deeply appreciate your support since the beginning of this exciting journey!
I hope each chapter has provided incredible moments. If you like my work and would like to support the continuation of this fanfic, consider becoming a patron with plans starting at $5!. As a token of gratitude, I offer access to more than 20 extra chapters
🖤https://patreon.com/Samurai492🖤
Visit our Patreon for more:
https://patreon.com/Samurai492
Extra Content Already Available.
**End of Chapter**