I opened the book and started reading.
The first chapter began with an introduction to Godric Gryffindor and his views on magic.
According to him, magic wasn't just a tool for external manipulation or temporary changes to oneself.
It was a bridge between the body, mind, and soul — a force that could bring about lasting transformation.
Magic resides within us as much as it exists around us. To master it fully, one must first master oneself.
He challenged the common assumption that the physical body was the weakness of mages, arguing that this belief was fundamentally flawed.
A body capable of interacting with magic — one that can communicate and manipulate the very fabric of the world — is deeply interconnected with that wondrous force. How could it possibly be weak?
Gryffindor then described the intricate connection between magic and physicality.
A mage's body, he explained, was like a conduit: the stronger and more resilient the conduit, the greater the power it could channel. Neglecting one's physical state, he believed, was as foolish as suppressing magic itself.
While modern magic no longer demands significant physical strength, Gryffindor noted that this shift had come at a cost.
With the evolution of magical practices, reliance on the body has declined. This convenience has resulted in weaker mages compared to those of the past, who once mastered both their magic and their bodies.
He continued:
"In my youth, I could command magic better than most. Yet, I still fell short of the legendary mages of old, whose power seemed boundless."
Determined to bridge this gap, Gryffindor devoted himself to understanding what set those ancient masters apart.
"At first, I believed that deeper mastery of magic alone would lead me to greater heights. Only later did I realize that my true limitation was not in my knowledge of magic but in my mastery of the body itself."
Driven by this revelation, he spent years developing and refining a method to integrate magic into the physical form.
"I sought to create a harmonious bond, where magic and body would work as one, enhancing strength, endurance, and vitality. But alas, my method was ultimately unsuited for the mages of the present — or the future."
The problem lay in the very nature of modern magic.
"The method I devised relied on the magic already inherent in the body. Yet today's mages draw more heavily on ambient magic than on the magic within themselves. Without a sufficient internal magic to use, my method cannot be fully realized."
Despite this setback, Gryffindor left his findings within the pages of this book, along with instructions for those who might one day be able to use them.
"Though I could only achieve a basic stage of this transformation, I have documented my discoveries here. Should a worthy individual find this text, they will have the tools to go further than I ever could."
With that the introduction to the book came to an end.
It was no surprise that someone like Godric Gryffindor would be aware of the limitations of modern magic, which had been developed and popularized by Merlin himself.
Even Merlin, in his writings, had expressed concerns about the imperfections of his system. While it was widely adopted for its ease of use, he had warned of its drawbacks.
But, only a few individuals in history had dared to challenge the established system. It was fitting that Godric, a master of both the sword and the wand, would be one of them.
Though Godric Gryffindore had not been able to perfect the method he had developed it was of no problem to me rather it felt like it was made to be perfectlty suited to me.
Thanks to the Archmage Essence, I possessed an infinite source of magical energy — a reactor that constantly produced magic. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't exhaust it.
Thus, using this method wasn't just possible for me; it was safe and incredibly advantageous.
The next couple of chapters of the book explored the usage of internal magic to develop and mold the body.
Gryffindor explained how to shape the body to perfectly adapt to magic, allowing for not only more powerful and smoother use of magic but also enhancing the body's strength and resilience to reach a more perfect state.
While learning the method, I began practicing it as well. As I moved my magic through my body, I felt a cool sensation spreading through me. It felt as though it was healing scars I hadn't even known I had.
With my body constantly producing magic, it would passively strengthen and perfect itself, increasing my defenses, reaction speed, and overall physical strength.
It would also make me more resistant to magic in general. After understanding the flow of magic and the specific method to absorb and use it, I let my body handle the rest of the work.
It would only take me a few days to a week to perfect my body internally. However, I would allow my body to change outwardly at a slower pace to avoid drawing too much attention.
Currently, my height was around 1.65m (5'5"). I knew that in the next couple of years, I would naturally grow to around 1.80m (5'11"). With this method, however, my body would likely surpass that.
I decided to aim for 1.78m (5'10") in the coming months, keeping the changes gradual and manageable.
With the need for the body strengthening also done, I then practiced some other spells that I had learned in the past few days.
I abused the dummies in the training area as it has become a part of my routine now.
"Rest in pieces," I muttered with mock solemnity as I surveyed the carnage.
Deciding I'd done enough damage for one day, I threw on the Cloak of Invisibility.
Before heading out, I checked the Marauder's Map to make sure the coast was clear.
It would be a shame to put so much effort into stealth only to get caught because I hadn't bothered to check if Filch or Snape were lurking around.
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Creation is hard, cheer me up!