Chapter 142: The Complete Guide to Magic
Chapter 142: The Complete Guide to Magic
The Complete Guide to Magic is an odd book. In its first few pages, it traces the origins of magic, discussing the magic of house-elves, fairies, and wizards. However, the magic systems of these three are entirely different and incompatible.
The author of the book, a wizard himself, attributes the power of wizarding magic to the lineage of blood...
But in Albert's opinion, the anonymous author's thoughts are muddled and confusing. The text is abstruse and dull, failing to elucidate anything clearly...
Perhaps the author intended to hint at something, but such records are meaningless now. Even if someone were to decipher the alleged truth, what then?
Would people believe it?
Could they believe it?
At the very least, Albert doesn't.
The wonder of magic lies not in incantations but in the will—in idealism.
Whether it be spells, wands, or gestures, they merely enhance the casting process, allowing wizards to manipulate magic with greater precision and strength.
To Albert's knowledge, Tom, or Voldemort as he came to be known, could achieve this before even starting school. He could bend reality to his will, though it was crude, violent, and devoid of any aesthetic sense, much like the ancient wizards.
Though they recognized the enhancement of their power through spells, gestures, and wands, these wizards were stuck in their ideology of emphasizing sheer destructive power, startling effects, or other chilling domains.
Crude and direct, yet undeniably powerful, these spells were challenging to cast and came with stringent conditions. They were also prone to spiraling out of control.
The best example is the Killing Curse, a favorite of many dark wizards despite their rare use of it.
"Use it with caution, lest you become a wizard consumed by your own Killing Curse..." warned a dark wizard who met a grisly end.
Dubbed the "Devil's Fire," this curse deserves its name, as it often turns on its caster, making them the first victim.
Compared to ancient times, these perilous spells are fading, replaced by more refined magic. This evolution is evident in the unlocking spell, which has gone from breaking and kicking down doors to simply opening them.
Magic has become more delicate, and its potency has diminished significantly.
The Lumos spell, for instance, was only invented in the 18th century by Levina Monkstandley. Before that, wizards likely used the everlasting fire—the Goblet of Fire.
As many know, the Goblet of Fire is an advanced spell, achievable by only a handful of wizards.
In fact, in Albert's limited findings of ancient magic, he discovered the incantation for the Goblet of Fire, which is considered a profound magic for good reason.
The spell for the Goblet of Fire is cast in Runic, and before casting, a handle must be crafted and engraved with ancient runes that serve as the incantation.
Yes, wizards etched the incantation for the Goblet of Fire onto the handle, amplifying the magic's power and ensuring the flame's eternal burn.
As Albert read this, he felt he had grasped something, and his gaze fell upon his wooden ring. He continued reading.
The Complete Guide to Magic made no mention of Runic, perhaps because wizards of that era used this script, making its omission understandable.
Nonetheless, the book's content left Albert perplexed.
It took Albert a long time to finish the book, and by the time he turned the final page, it was already April.
The second part of McDougal's manuscript was almost ready for revision, and it had progressed faster than Albert anticipated.
Albert once asked McDougal if anyone would buy such a book.
After all, if neither Albert nor Professor Broad could fully understand it, how many others could? The famous wizard's response was that Mumbling Books had agreed to publish it.
Later, Professor Broad privately told Albert that McDougal was funding the entire printing cost himself. The wealthy wizard could well afford it, and with the book's high price tag, it was clear from the start that it wasn't meant for the average wizard.
Albert was left speechless by this revelation. What could he say about the whims of the rich?
"How do you feel about the third part of the manuscript?" Professor Broad asked as he took the manuscript from Albert.
"It's challenging," Albert replied with a touch of self-deprecating humor. "It's harder than the first and second parts, and even more difficult to understand. The third part delves into spellcasting with Runic, but unfortunately, there are hardly any Hogwarts students who can comprehend it."
Even students who achieved an 'O' in Ancient Runes would likely need a Runic dictionary to decipher the book sentence by sentence.
The starting point was just too high.
However, Albert discerned a different implication. McDougal had taken several ancient curses and provided insights into them.
One of them was the Patronus Charm, one of the most well-known and powerful defensive charms in a wizard's arsenal.
Records of the Patronus Charm can be found on ancient woodblock prints or scrolls, indicating that wizards of old employed this spell, but there's no doubt that it's an incredibly complex and challenging charm to cast.
It is said that wizards who could conjure corporeal Patronuses were often nominated to the Wizengamot.
Over time, the incantation for the Patronus Charm has evolved to be more suitable for modern wizards, with some claiming that its power has slightly diminished. Albert, however, considered this nonsense.
To successfully cast the Patronus Charm, the caster must concentrate on their happiest memory, and the more intense the happiness, the stronger the charm's effect.
Wizards of old struggled to cast Patronuses, largely due to the era they lived in. It was hardly an era of happiness, as the Dark Ages were aptly named. Without sufficient happy memories to draw upon, the Patronuses they summoned would be weak and might even lack physical form.
Moreover, the wizards of that time often dabbled in dark magic, and their souls were tainted to varying degrees.
Albert attempted the Patronus Charm, and this time, he didn't fail. However, his wand only emitted a thin mist.
As for trying to cast with ancient runes, his wand remained inert.
According to Professor Broad, he mispronounced the incantation or, more specifically, the intonation.
(End of Chapter)
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