Heart and Harmony ( I - IV ) 6,500 Words
On top of a towering cliff on the southwest coast of St. Matthew Island, two figures stood in a tense standoff—a middle-aged man and a young man, just a few meters apart.
Above, the sky churned with dark clouds and below, waves slammed into jagged rocks, sending icy sprays of seawater shooting high into the air. The wind, sharp and bitter with salt, whipped at their cloaks, carrying the raw, wild scent of the sea.
The younger one gripped his wand tightly, eyes locked on the older figure before him.
"Go ahead—cast whatever spell you want," Edward said, barely finishing before Maverick's magic lashed out at him.
Edward raised an eyebrow, unfazed, as the bolt of magic shot straight at him. He didn't even lift his wand. With just a thought, a shimmering shield appeared in front of him, absorbing the hit with barely a ripple. The impact sent rocks scattering across the cliffside in the opposite direction as the shield held steady.
Edward send a calm, almost amused glance at his student. "Impatient, aren't we?"
"You told me to treat this as a real duel, teacher..." Without another word, he launched a silent Bombarda and vanished, reappearing above Edward, wand aimed and focused.
Edward lazily swung his hand, deflecting the incoming spell as if swatting away a fly.
"Bombarda!" Maverick shouted from above, the spell exploding with force as he shot another one and vanished.
Maverick kept circling, lunging spell after spell flying from every direction—some loud, and others silent.
Edward responded effortlessly, raising a casual shield or simply brushing them aside with his bare hands.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Rocks and debris flew in every direction with a loud bangs. Though the Arch-Magus deflected them, the raw power of Maverick's magic was undeniable, shaking the very ground beneath them.
Edward observed his students every move intently.
Just as Maverick apparated, Edward vanished from sight, reappearing directly behind him, a fist swung to the right of his face.
Maverick's Magical Sense screamed. He saw the fist coming at him like a train, but there was no time to Apparate again.
"Prote—!" he tried, but the shield barely formed before it shattered under the force. The impact sent him crashing to the ground, dragging the rocky surface as dust and debris flew around him.
"You're too hasty!" Edward instructed, his voice calm and steady amid the chaos. "Rushing in leaves you open."
Maverick scrambled to his feet, wiping the blood from the side of his face, his wand gripped tightly in his hand.
The cliff was now pockmarked with craters, the grass disappeared, leaving only scattered rocks in its place.
"Go on…" Edward said, brow raised, urging his student to continue.
Maverick didn't bother to reply. Instead, he raised his wand and pointed it straight ahead with a forceful jerk. The stone floor trembled beneath him, shifting and reshaping itself into something massive.
His magical energy poured as the ground trembled and shifted, slowly forming the head of a massive crow.
He stood behind it, wand raised, watching his will come being.
More rocks and earth lifted until a colossal raven stood ten feet tall. Its stone beak stretched over three feet, ominously opening wide.
Maverick commanded his creation like a conductor, and it unleashed a powerful flap of its wings. The air surged as it lunged at Edward with fierce intensity.
The whole thing happened in just a few seconds, but was more than enough time for an Arch-Magus to counter a hundred spells. But Edward stood there, eyebrow raised, clearly amused.
"Impressive…" he commented, then dramatically raised his hands to summon his own creation.
With a fierce roar, a lion's head burst from the ground, its stone mane thick, majestic, radiating the raw power of the king of the jungle. The body formed next, growing to match the massive bird barreling toward it.
The two colossal heads crashed together, smashing apart in a cascade of shattered rock, each piece scattering across the cliff as their fierce clash ended in rubble.
The clash sent a shockwave rippling outward, hurling stone and dust in all directions. The cliff, the size of a football field, trembled ominously as chaos reigned, threatened to collapse at any moment, like it had just about had enough of the madness going on above.
The two ignored the chaos as Maverick quickly conjured a shield, bracing against the shockwave and flying debris.
But Edward didn't give him a moment to breathe. With a casual lift of his finger, he silently cast Incarcerous, thick ropes shooting toward Maverick. Instantly, Maverick countered with Incendio, flames roaring to life and burning away the ropes just before they could ensnare him.
"Think! Use your movement skills!" Edward urged, launching a series of magic. Taking the advice, Maverick weaved between attacks, shielding himself when needed, and launching his own spells in return.
He quickly found his rhythm, dodging, casting, and countering Edward's assault. His blood raced with excitement as he unleashed spells faster, each incantation flowing instinctively.
Before long, he was driven by the need to land a single hit, his magic radiating off him in waves as he dodged and countered, his wand a blur of motion.
Edward remained rooted to his spot, effortlessly deflecting or dodging Maverick's attacks. When Maverick unleashed a blasting curse at his feet, Edward simply raised the ground with a transfiguration. Cutting curses and piercing hexes followed, but Edward deflected each one with calm precision, using subtle
movements and minimal spells.
The tremors from below intensified, but they remained oblivious. Rocks and boulders began to break away from the cliff, tumbling down into the rocky sea below.
Time dragged on as the duel between Edward and Maverick raged on. Farther away, atop another cliff, three figures stood watching, unable to pull their eyes from the chaos.
Simon, Sarah, and Isabella stood close, their gaze fixed on the battle below. Though they were a safe distance away, the sheer power of the fight sent waves of energy rippling through the air. The southernmost cliff—a thousand feet tall and as big as a football field—was crumbling, chunks of rock falling away bit by bit.
"It's wild to think he's only three years older than me," Isabella murmured, awe and disbelief mixing in her gaze.
"Yeah, well, the kid's a straight-up prodigy," Sarah replied, shaking her head. "Charms, potions, alchemy, dueling… and that transfiguration? Unbelievable." She trailed off, still stunned by Maverick's skill.
"Speaking of…" Isabella turned to Simon, curiosity glinting in her eyes. "How's your transfiguration compared to Maverick's?"
Simon cleared his throat, his expression twitching. "Uh… why ask me? Why not her?" He motioned to his twin, Sarah, hoping to dodge the question.
"Because you're always bragging that you're better than her," Isabella teased, grinning.
"Cough. Well, we all have our own… strengths," he muttered, looking away.
Sarah just shook her head. She knew Simon well enough to see he was trying to play it cool, even though he was clearly embarrassed.
"Ha! Can't admit it, can you?" Isabella laughed, seeing his embarrassment.
"By the way, did he ever mention how he did on his OWLs and NEWTs yesterday? The kid never gave us a straight answer," Simon asked, glancing over at Isabella.
"Uh… he just said it... should be fine," Isabella replied, clearly as in the dark as Simon.
"Hmph. He better score high in Potions," Sarah scoffed, crossing her arms.
"His alchemy's improved too. I mean, it wasn't bad before, but the way he's improved in the last five months? It should be enough for a high score on his NEWTs," Simon added his tone mixed with certainty.
The three of them sighed in unison, sharing a mix of awe and disbelief.
"Can't believe he's come this far in everything," Sarah murmured. "Five months… and he's already a different person."
The three stood in silence for a moment, watching the duel until Isabella spoke again, a little quieter this time. "You know… I actually managed to give him a hard time, when he first started his training."
"Pfft," Simon scoffed, barely holding back a laugh. "You? He was a Magus even then. And you're just a Mage Apprentice."
"Hey, he was a total noob at dueling back then!" Isabella huffed, crossing her arms. "And I'll have you know I'm about to rank up soon!"
Sarah chuckled and ruffled Isabella's hair. "Don't let him get to you, Bella. Even we're not sure we could beat him."
Isabella frowned. "Didn't teacher Simon just say I couldn't fight him because of rank? So shouldn't you two be able to take him down?"
Sarah chuckled. "Not that simple with Maverick."
Simon sighed. "His mana control gives him the edge, even over us."
Isabella blinked. "How? I mean, why?… so he's better than you?"
Sarah nodded. "If we don't know what to expect, and he takes us one-on-one, then yeah… probably."
"But how?" Isabella pressed, her brow furrowed.
Sarah sighed, resting her hand on her chin. "It's all about his mana control. You'll get it more once you're a Magus. Think of it like this: he's got a machete, and we're just holding kitchen knives."
"Huh?" Isabella blinked, more confused.
"Okay, picture this: If Maverick and we were non-magical and he had a machete, he'd have a way better shot at taking us out than we would with our little kitchen knives.. See?"
Isabella nodded slowly, catching the gist even if it didn't all click. She figured it would make more sense once she leveled up.
As they chatted, gusts of wind and shockwaves from the battle rolled toward them, but their shield spells held steady. At this distance, they felt safe enough… even as the fight ahead raged with growing intensity.
Over an hour had passed, and Maverick was throwing everything he had into the fight. Spell after spell flew from him—some silent, some without even a wand.
He poured raw Magical-Energy into every move, using the fast, brutal techniques he had picked up over the past few months of training.
He was a blur, dodging, striking, spinning, pushing every trick his teacher had drilled into him. But nothing worked.
With each failed attempt, frustration grew inside Maverick.
He was bruised and battered, pain radiating from all over his body.
He was feeling pain, worn out, but he was determined to land at least one hit. Pushing his body and magic to the breaking point, his attacks grew increasingly desperate.
Finally, with a flicker in his eyes, Maverick made a gamble. He flicked the finger of his empty hand, sending invisible ripples through the air.
His teacher had mentioned that one of the conditions to break free from the illusion was knowing you were under it.
At that same moment, his wand hand too jerked forward, launching a blasting Confringo. Edward effortlessly deflected it like it was nothing.
But then, Edward's eyes widened as his magical senses screamed a warning, contradicting what his eyes saw. It hit him: he was under his own spell without realizing it. But when?
He didn't have time to dwell on it before a blast hit him from behind. The Arch-Magus didn't fall, though. In that split second, he broke free from the illusion and slammed his foot into the ground, steadying himself as the momentum nearly launched him forward.
His previously domineering appearance though, was now marred with dirt and rocks.
Maverick, now on his knees, panted heavily. 'All that for just a sprinkle of dirt,' he thought to himself with fists clenched in a mix of victory and defeat.
He closed his eyes, taking deep breaths to let the leftover adrenaline from the duel fade away as he heard Edward's footsteps approaching.
Edward stood beside him, stretched out his finger, and cast a spell that enveloped Maverick. "Hmm… Two broken ribs, multiple fractures, and your right shoulder's dislocated," Edward said, his voice steady but laced with concern.
Maverick could only sigh. With that injury, he had only managed to catch Edward off guard once—and all he had done was get his robe dirty.
At least Edward's healer could fix him up pretty quickly, and be not bed-ridden for a long.
Edward then sat down next to him, crossing his legs and remaining quiet, just waiting for Maverick's breathing to even out.
After a moment, he pulled a bottle of water from his storage ring and handed it to him. "That was some clever thinking. When did you cast the illusion?"
In that instant, Maverick's thoughts shifted to one of the smoothest, overpowered villains from a certain comic, and a smug grin spread across his face.
"Teacher, when did you get the impression that you weren't under my illusion from the start?" he replied, unable to resist teasing.
Smack!
"Ow, ow! That hurt!" Maverick cried, rubbing the bump forming on his head.
Edward shot him a deadpan look, but Maverick chuckled, savoring the rare moment of having one up on his teacher.
"It was the last Confringo," he explained, pride creeping into his voice. "I cast the illusion spell simultaneously with my other hand, wandlessly."
Edward stared blankly at his student, his thoughts a mix of shock and disbelief.
He had cast two spells at once, one without a wand and without a chant.
He had mastered his own spell to an unbelievable degree—enough to catch a wizard two ranks above him off guard.
It was too much to take in—simply unheard of.
Maverick gulped down the water in deep swigs, noticing that his teacher was still in a daze.
He shifted to sit more comfortably, or at least as comfortably as one could on a pile of broken rocks. With a weary sigh, he muttered, "You weren't even trying, were you, teacher?"
Edward came out of his stuper, gave his a long glance then smirked, dodging the question with his usual air of mystery.
"You know," he said, a hint of admiration in his voice, "it's only been five months, and you've gone from fumbling through spells to… well, to this."
"But still…" Maverick began, ready to protest.
Edward raised an eyebrow. "Another 'but'? Are you forgetting who I am again?"
A reluctant smile crossed Maverick's face. This was a familiar scene —every time Edward bested him, every time he felt crushed and frustrated, his teacher would remind him of the vast difference in their ranks.
Edward continued, his voice a mix of firmness and encouragement. "Look, you went all out and even managed to sneak an attack on me. Me!" He emphasized by jabbing a finger at his own chest.
"Your dueling, when you harness your incredible mana control, is better than most Marquis I know. Don't forget, dueling isn't just about flashy moves or a ton of spells. It's about making sure your attack hits and letting it count.
Your control over mana—its perception and manipulation—that's your edge. And don't forget how good you are with illusions. You even got me! That means you can hit anyone under Arch-Magus. As long as they're unaware, you've got that window for a decisive blow.
So, be more confident. No Great Magus could handle you in a short duel. They'd have to drag it out to even stand a chance—and soon, even that won't be enough."
Maverick looked down, letting his teacher's words sink in. The frustration slowly faded, replaced with a flicker of pride.
'That's right. I've got too many cards up my sleeves that no one expects. But I won't let it get to my head,' Maverick thought, his determination settling in.
Just then, the ground shook violently, cracks splintering through the rocky cliff. Dust rose, and it felt like the whole place was on the verge of collapsing.
The teacher and student steadied themselves quickly. Looking around, Edward sighed and took out his wand for the first time that day.
"I'd better clean this up," he said dryly. "Or MACUSA and the White House will be breathing down my neck."
"Uh, teacher, are you sure a Reverte can fix all… this…?" Maverick asked, wobbling and wincing as the ground shook even more violently.
"Hah," Edward chuckled. "Piece of cake." He snapped his fingers, and two constructs of Magical Energy appeared beneath them, forming solid circles of pure mana for them to stand on.
Powerful wizards can will pure magic into stable physical constructs. The size and durability would depend on the wizard's mastery over Magical Energy Manipulation and the amount of magic they have.
Maverick slumped down, crossing his legs on the conjured circle while Edward lifted them both about ten feet in the air.
"Take it easy, just sit back" Edward said, a quick glance at his exhausted student. "After this, we'll head back and get you all healed up."
Edward then gave a flick with his wand then read the incantation.
Reverte!
The wrecked cliff began to shift, almost like time itself was reversing.
Rumble.
Rumble.
The massive, crumbled edges of the southwest cliff—the size of a stadium and nearly a thousand feet high—reformed, piece by piece, rumbling as they settled back into place.
Rumble.
Rumble.
Maverick watched in awe as, within a minute, the cliff stood pristine, as if they'd never battled at all.
With a satisfied nod, Edward guided the constructs back down to the cliff, which now looked as good as new.
Just then, the only three spectators Apparated onto the cliff, and Isabella lunged toward Maverick, her eyes filled with concern as she took in Maverick's state. "Ricky!" she exclaimed, squatting beside him.
"Uh... I'm okay, Bella," Maverick said, trying not to wince as he forced a smile, hoping to ease her worry.
"Dad, did you really have to go this far?" she said, shooting her father a look and letting out a huff.
Edward scratched his head. Words with his wife and daughter were battles even the Arch-Magus knew he had no hope of winning.
"Let's take him to the base infirmary…" Sarah suggested.
"No. We go home," Edward replied, already raising his wand. "I had a friend prepared, before we came."
He tightened his grip, eyes sharp with focus, and swiped his wand across the air. Space seemed to tear open before them, forming a pitch-black line that widened into a tall, rectangular gateway.
"Let's go," Edward said, glancing back. "Apparating in his state wouldn't be very comfortable."
Maverick watched, mouth hanging open, mesmerized by the sight. He had never seen or even heard of space magic like this before.
Garling Residence.
It was almost noon. The sun was bright, and a cool breeze drifted in from the nearby coast. The trees swayed gently, their leaves rustling like a quiet song, adding a peaceful vibe around the two-story house.
Then, the air in front of the house began to ripple, and out of nowhere, a tear spread through space, stretching and widening until it formed a shadowy, dark frame.
Five people stepped through: two men, a woman, a young boy, and a girl. The boy clung to the girl's shoulder, his face pale and his legs unsteady—it was clear he had little choice.
"This is so much better than Apparition," Maverick muttered, his eyes wide with amazement.
"Well, don't get used to it," Sarah replied, throwing a half-smile at her student. "Only wizards at the boss's level can do thi—" She stopped, realizing she was talking to a total anomaly. "Uh… never mind."
The others exchanged knowing smiles, catching her drift and nodding in quiet agreement.
They headed to the door, with Edward leading the way. Before opening it, he glanced back at his daughter with a sheepish, slightly nervous grin. "Uh, just so you know, if your mother asks… little Rick here had a little... accident, during training."
"Hmph. Like you'd ever fool Mom," Isabella shot back, rolling her eyes.
Edward opened his mouth to protest but quickly shut it—she was right.
Finally, Edward opened the door and stepped aside for his daughter and his student.
Sure enough, it didn't take long before a yelp rang out. Silvia's voice called, "Maverick! What happened?"
"It was an acci—" Edward started, raising a finger to defend himself.
"Dad beat him up during training," Isabella interrupted smoothly, not missing a beat.
Silvia shot Edward a look that made it clear he was in trouble.
"I'm fine, Aunt Silvia. Nothing a little magic can't fix," Maverick added quickly, trying to score some points for his teacher—only to get the same stern look from her.
"Edward…" a man's voice called from the dining area as footsteps approached.
"Newt, my friend!" Edward said, relief washing over him as he turned to see a man in his fifties, with white hair and a well-trimmed beard, walking toward them alongside a woman.
"Uh… Tina, you're here too!" His tone wavered slightly.
"You asked my husband to come ready to treat an injured patient… I thought it might be an emergency, so I came along in case I could help," Tina replied, raising a knowing eyebrow while casting a pointed glance at Silvia.
Sure enough, Silvia's expression darkened even further.
"That… wife… I can explain… Besides, what kind of help can she give in an emergency that I couldn't handle?" Edward stammered, looking guilty.
"Fascinating. You must be young Maverick," Newt said, his gaze fixed on the boy even as he shook hands with Edward. He then stepped closer, examining Maverick's condition with genuine curiosity. "Edward mentioned that someone might need a bit of treatment."
Maverick stared at the middle-aged man, feeling even more awestruck than when he first saw the crack in space. This was his first encounter with a significant character from the wizarding world, and Newt Scamander was one of his favorites.
"Right... little Rick, this is my friend Newt Scamander," Edward said, gesturing toward Newt. "He's a magizoologist and a really talented healer and potioneer." He glanced at his student, noticing the dazed look on Maverick's face.
"Little Rick?" Edward repeated, raising an eyebrow, concern growing as he noticed Maverick's expression.
"Get him to lie down; he looks like he's in shock," Newt said urgently. Isabella quickly gestured to her friend, who had his arm slung over her shoulder for support, and gently tried to guide him toward the sofa.
"Ricky… you okay?" she asked, noticing that Maverick hadn't moved.
"Uh… yeah, I'm fine. Thanks…" Maverick stammered, finally shaking off the star-struck daze that had him speechless.
"Teacher, can we do the treatment in the room?" Maverick suggested, glancing at Edward.
"Are you sure? Let Newt take a quick look first…" Edward replied, concern mixed in his voice.
"Really, I'm fine. I was just… a little shocked to meet Mr. Scamander." He glanced at the man in question. "Mr. Scamander, I'm a huge fan! It's such a pleasure to meet you." He spoke with excitement, trying to raise his hand but wincing instead.
Edward raised an eyebrow at him. "Kid, why don't you ever show that kind of excitement around me?" he asked, crossing his arms with a playful challenge.
Maverick shot his teacher a look that clearly said, Why would I?
"Enough," Silvia called out, grabbing everyone's attention. She turned to her daughter and added, "Hurry up and take Maverick to his room!"
"Yes, Mom," Isabella replied, glancing at her clearly upset mother. She then helped Maverick up the stairs while the others followed behind.
About an hour later, Maverick lay on the bed with his upper body bare, his left hand and chest covered in bandages. He looked more relaxed now and was in less pain. Surrounding his bed were Newt, his wife, Edward, Silvia, and Isabella.
Now that their student's condition was stable, Sarah and Simon had left through the Floo after exchanging a few reassuring words with Maverick.
"Nothing serious. His bones are healed; he just needs to take the potions, and he should be up and about in a day or two," Newt explained to the room.
"Thanks a lot, Mr. Scamander. I really feel a lot better now," Maverick said, his gratitude clear and relief washing over him. Newt's healing skills were impressive—something you'd never find mentioned in J.K. Rowling's books.
"Alright, Edward Garling, can you explain why he's in this state?" Silvia asked, arms crossed and a pointed look on her face.
Edward sighed and decided to come clean. "The duel was a final test for Maverick..." he explained, watering down the details and keeping it vague.
"You call this a little hard time?" Silvia exclaimed, gesturing at Maverick, who watched the drama unfold with amusement. It would be a rare sight to see the Golden Lion being pressed like this.
"Hmph. I'll tell Ariel and Michael that you beat up their son," Silvia said, crossing her arms as the tip of her right shoe tapped rithemicaly on the floor.
Edward was speechless, unsure of how to respond to his wife.
"Uh, Aunt, can you please not? I really don't want them to worry, and this is no big deal. I'll be healed in no time," Maverick jumped in quickly.
The last thing he needed was for his parents to freak out—they'd never seen him injured like this before.
"Hmph… you two are so alike," Silvia muttered, inwardly agreeing with him.
"Well, now that it's all done," Newt said, looking from Maverick to Edward, "I need to have a word with you."
"Right, let's give little Rick some time to rest," Edward replied, starting to head for the door along with everyone else.
But Maverick spoke up before they could leave. "Mr. Scamander, is that the suitcase where you keep all your... animal friends?"
Newt raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Yes, young man. How did you know?"
"Uh... I read a lot of books," Maverick answered. It was true; he had come across Newt's name and his magical suitcase in several history books.
"I didn't know you were such a fan of magical animals," Newt said, glancing at Maverick and then at Edward, who looked just as clueless. "I can show you the world inside, after you're healed."
"Uh, sir… can I touch it, please?" Maverick asked, his eyes pleading. Everyone in the room gave him strange looks.
He coughed, brushing off the momentary embarrassment.
He just wanted to check out the suitcase's Extraordinary-Characteristic and its rating—he didn't care about anything else. If it got an excellent grade or higher, he could replicate the Characteristic for himself. After all, he still had an unused point just sitting there.
Newt hesitated at first; he had never received such a... peculiar request. But he trusted Edward, so he brushed off his worries and placed the suitcase next to Maverick.
Maverick's excitement was clear as he eagerly patted the suitcase. The others stared at him, exchanging puzzled glances, wondering if he might be one of those people with a strange fetish.
"Thank you, sir! Can I ask for your autographs and Madam Tina's on my copy of your book?" Maverick asked, doing his best trying to mask his unusual behavior.
Newt nodded, while Tina gave him a curious look.
"Oh... why me, little guy?" Tina asked, raising an eyebrow, clearly amused by his request.
"Uh... well, when I read the books, I figured Mr. Scamander's success had a lot to do with your support," he added, trying to sweeten the comment with a compliment.
Tina burst into laughter, her eyes sparkling with delight. "Hahaha... I like this little guy!" she exclaimed, clearly charmed by his flattery.
Everyone gradually left the room until only Isabella was left, standing hesitantly at the door.
Maverick, feeling a bit confused, said, "I'm fine, Bella. Just a bit tired from all the potions."
Isabella paused for a moment before responding. "I know... Just get some rest, and I'll bring lunch in a little while."
"Uh... I can go downstairs. It's not like I'm seriously injured—"
"No! Don't even think about getting out of bed," she replied firmly, then turned to leave, cutting off any chance for him to argue.
Maverick couldn't help but think, 'Uh... does she have a weird teenage crush on me or something?' He shook his head and pondered further.
'She's really beautiful... and an incredible witch. I've known her since we were kids... Crap. Hold up. Calm down, Maverick. She's barely 16...' He quickly reminded himself, trying to push aside the weird, lingering thoughts.
It wasn't entirely his fault. He was biologically 18, and teenage hormones didn't just skip over him because he was a transmigrator.
But he wasn't having any inappropriate thoughts; he simply appreciated his longtime friend as potential future wife material.
*Cough.*
Only time would tell.
Once Isabella left and the door clicked shut, Maverick finally turned his attention to the system.
[ Item: Magical Suitcase ]
[ Extraordinary Characteristic: Expanded Space. ]
[ Grade: Excellent. ]
Sure enough, the grading came back as Excellent, and a wide grin spread across Maverick's face.
He recognized that prompt—it reminded him of the times he had touched bags enchanted with Undetectable Extension Charms.
However, all those magical objects, including the storage ring his teacher Edward had given him, only had the Basic grade characteristic.
[ Do you want to use one Extraordinary Characteristic Point to replicate it? ]
Without a second thought, Maverick hit [YES, but the system popped up another message.
[ Unable to integrate Extraordinary Characteristic! ]
[ Converting Extraordinary Characteristic to an integratable state. ]
[ Conversion complete. ]
[ New Extraordinary Characteristic: Independent Expanded Dimension. ]
[ Replicating Extraordinary Characteristic. ]
"Wait... Wait... Wait..."
Maverick was very puzzled by the series of messeges. It seemed the system had somehow altered the Extraordinary Characteristic into something different.
But when he tried to learn more and mentally commanded the system to stop the action, it had ignored him completely.
A few seconds later, his status panel popped up, now featuring the new detail.
[ Name: Maverick Caesar ]
[ Class: Wizard ]
[ Rank: Magus ]
[ Magical Energy: 837 + ]
[ Points: 1,649 ]
[ Extraordinary Characteristic Points: 0 ]
[ Extraordinary Characteristics: Excellent grade spellcasting, Excellent Grade Independent Expanded Dimension (unfused) ]
Maverick focused on the "unfused" note, and the expected prompt appeared.
[ Do you want to fuse the Extraordinary Characteristic: Independent Expanded Dimension? ]
Maverick gave it some thought. Now that it had been replicated, and he lost the single unit of replication point, there was no point in regretting. And the new modified Characteristic seemed better, with the addition of "Independent.'
[ YES ] [ NO ]
Taking a deep breath, he chose [ YES ].
He waited for the follow-up reaction. And sure enough, that tingling sensation returned, but this time it spread all over him. Maverick was genuinely curious to see how this Extraordinary Characteristic might affect him.
It didn't last long—barely half a minute. He tried to sense any difference, any new awareness or feeling out of the ordinary, but everything felt completely normal.
He opened his system panel to get a better understanding, and there it was—the "Independent Expanded Dimension" listed under Extraordinary Characteristics, now fully integrated. He focused on it, and a message appeared, conveniently displaying the instructions, usage, and functions.
[Extraordinary Characteristic: Independent Expanded Dimension.
Provides 1,000 cubic meters of space, anchored to the host's Magical-Energy and existing in an independent dimension.
How to view and use the Independent Expanded Dimension: Focus on the Extraordinary Characteristic to make the space consciously observable. Contents can be freely organized by will.
Only non sentient materials can be transferred to the independent dimension.
Materials can be transferred only through direct physical contact, provided they have no attachments or bindings and are in a state of complete rest.
Can retrieve anytime, anywhere, given that the retrieving space is free from any physical matter.
Maverick lay on the bed, carefully studying this new Characteristic he had acquired. It reminded him of the typical "System Warehouse" that main characters often received with their systems in the novels and stories he had read in his previous life. Rather than calling it an Extraordinary-Characteristic, he preferred to think of it as a function of his system.
This "Expanded Dimension" or space functioned much like a storage ring, except it wasn't contained within any object. Instead, it existed in a completely separate, unrestricted dimension.
The downside of the characteristic, after the system modified it for integration, was that it couldn't store living things—unlike Newt's suitcase.
But that didn't bother him. He now felt an immense reassurance about his belongings; he no longer had to worry about anyone gaining access to an object he wished to keep secret.
Any alchemical storage item could be stolen, but his system space was untouchable, as it existed entirely separate from this reality itself.
In short, Maverick found the investment of one Extraordinary Characteristic Point immensely worthwhile. He now had access to a space entirely independent of any physical, magical, or other force, accessible solely through his consciousness—no need for a medium like a ring or a bag.
He then focused on the system panel, reviewing the changes that had taken place over the last five months since he began training with Edward.
[ Name: Maverick Caesar ]
[ Class: Wizard ]
[ Rank: Magus ]
[ Magical Energy: 837 + ]
[ Points: 1,649 ]
[ Extraordinary Characteristic Points: 0 ]
[ Extraordinary Characteristics: Excellent grade spellcasting, Excellent grade Independent Expanded Dimension. ]
[ Talents: ]
[ Magical Energy Manipulation (Advanced +) ]
[ Magical Sense (Advanced +) ]
[ Transfiguration (Advanced +) ]
[ Potions (Intermediate +) ]
[ Alchemy (Intermediate +) ]
[ Spells: ]
[ Aquired Advanced Proficiency: ]
[ Illusio Lunam Lectorem, Flipendo, Bombarda, Expelliarmus, Protego, Finite Incantatem, Petrificus Totalus, Stupefy, PatronusCharm, Episkey (Healing), Reparo, Revelio, Disillusionment, Wingardium Leviosa, Occlumency, Legilimency, Apparition, Confundus ... ]
[ Aquired Intermediate Proficiency: ... ]
Over the past five months, Maverick hadn't used a single point to upgrade his Magical Energy, talents, or even a spell. It is now July 15, 1989, he had saved up 1,649 points.
The system recognized that his proficiency with the Levitation Charm had advanced, displaying it under Advanced Proficiency, marking it as the only skill he'd managed to master purely through experience.
His potion-making and alchemy talents remained at Intermediate Proficiency, though he knew his knowledge and skills in these areas had grown significantly beyond what they'd been when he first reached the intermediate level. The system just hadn't acknowledged an upgrade yet. Advanced proficiency, after all, signified that he had reached, or even slightly surpassed, the level of a Hogwarts professor.
Maverick knew he wasn't quite there yet, so he resisted the temptation to use 100 system points to upgrade these talents. Instead, he wanted to continue earning his advancements the hard way, accumulating real knowledge and experience.
And his Magical Energy? It had nearly doubled. After some experimentation, he discovered that his own Magical Energy exercises could indeed raise his magical reserves, albeit slowly and with considerable effort. It made sense; other wizards must also have methods for increasing their magical energy; otherwise, ranks wouldn't exist.
Edward's training had accelerated his growth. When Maverick learned movement techniques and physical exercises from his mentor, his Magical Energy began growing steadily, much faster than it did with his own limited exercises. While it wasn't enough to let him rank up overnight, it was a far more effective method. This was how he had doubled his initial 400 Magical Energy in just five months.
He knew, however, that reaching the next rank—Great Magus—would be challenging. He still needed to raise his energy by over 2,000 units to reach 3,000, the threshold for breakthrough. And he suspected that an epiphany or some form of enlightenment would be necessary as he neared that number.
This was why so many witches and wizards remained stuck as Magus-level practitioners; only a select few managed to achieve the breakthrough required to become Great Magus.
But Maverick believed he had the talent. In the past months, without the system's assistance, he'd made significant progress. His teacher had praised his comprehension skills, calling him a true genius.
Still, these were problems ordinary people faced. Maverick, a transmigrator with a system from beyond the fourth wall, had an advantage. He would continue to train hard and follow Edward's plans, but when he hit a bottleneck, he could always "cheat" by using his system points.
He estimated that he could cross into the Great Magus rank in two years—right on time for the third phase of his plan: joining Hogwarts as a professor.
Now, you might wonder: what are these phases, and what happened to the first and second parts?
This was something Maverick had thought through meticulously—a plan for his future in this universe and his ultimate goal.
Currently, he was still in the first phase, which had begun when his system awakened and he was introduced to magic. This phase was simple: to integrate himself into this world, study, learn, and train. In short, the "getting started" phase.
The second phase was approaching, and it involved traveling the world. Maverick intended to visit various magical countries, immersing himself in their unique magic and societies. He estimated that two years would be enough to explore most of the major magical establishments around the world.
After that, the plot of the Harry Potter series would begin. Although he knew this universe was different—very different—he also recognized its core similarities to the original story.
His plan was to join Hogwarts, a goal he already had a solid approach for, and then observe events from the background. His aim was to follow the storyline and leverage any opportunities that presented themselves.
Meanwhile, during his two-year journey and throughout the seven years at Hogwarts, he intended to make a name for himself by starting a business in both the magical and non-magical worlds, operating under his own name—and, if possible, under an alias as well.
His goal was to introduce scientific thinking to the stagnant British magical society, aiming to elevate their awareness and modernize their perspectives. And he believed that the best place to begin this transformation was at their most prestigious school.
This was essential because the fourth phase would involve other realities mingled within this universe, and he needed the wizarding community to be unified and prepared. Maverick was confident; ten years was more than enough time for him to position himself as a leader—or even the leader—of the global magical community.