Chapter 448: New Applications of Runic Magic
Chapter 448: New Applications of Runic Magic
"The crowd is restless, a mix of fear and excitement", a girl said, nodding her head.
"Ah, Luna... You're absolutely right", Ginny agreed, tiptoeing to get a better view along with the others.
On the platform, Felix addressed the crowd, "There's nothing wrong with broadening your horizons. Mr. Polyakov, I'll assist with your demonstration." He waved his wand, and the broken wooden board transformed into a human-shaped target.
Polyakov raised his wand over his shoulder and chanted a spell, "Whirling Black Feathers!" A black whirlwind erupted from the tip of his wand, hurtling swiftly toward the human-shaped target. The young wizards could clearly see the deeper black feathers mixed within the whirlwind, spinning rapidly.
After a grating sound, the human-shaped target was riddled with wounds. The black whirlwind and feathers vanished, leaving behind jagged, gaping wounds that resembled fish mouths.
The audience gasped, and more students tiptoed and jumped to get a better look.
"If that hit a person..." Neville winced, glancing at the target's wounds, "I still think the Stunning Spell is the best."
Seamus patted his shoulder, "Not everyone agrees..." Neville's gaze swept over the platform, seeing Draco and several Slytherin students enthusiastically clapping. He looked around, and there were many more excited people.
"This is the Whirling Black Feathers spell. It forms a whirlwind that quickly approaches the enemy, but the key is the black feathers. They act like little knives, moving incredibly fast and are corrosive..." Polyakov explained the spell.
Felix and the others listened quietly. Soon, the wounds on the target began to turn black, confirming Polyakov's words.
"What about the usual healing methods?" Felix asked softly.
"Uh, it's best to use a counter-curse. Otherwise, the effects are poor... but it does help a little", Polyakov replied. "So Professor Moody suggests using it when we encounter dangerous creatures in the wild, like a wolf pack."
"And when I practiced this spell, I imagined myself surrounded by fierce creatures, forcing me to fight back..." He began to describe his mindset while learning this dark magic.
Seeing the young wizards' thoughtful and eager expressions, Felix felt compelled to remind them, "This method might have some effect, but it's a product of Durmstrang's well-established system and isn't suitable for Hogwarts. Perhaps I should relay your thoughts to Professor Moody; he would find it interesting."
The young wizards looked away, slightly embarrassed.
Felix understood their mindset. After all, he was once a troublemaker too. Who wouldn't want to master a powerful and eye-catching spell? However, after becoming a professor, his perspective changed. Did Hogwarts students really need dark magic?
He had deeply considered this question and concluded that they did not. Hogwarts was not a military school; it was a place to cultivate young wizards to use their magic responsibly and provide targeted guidance based on individual strengths. For self-protection, the Dark Magic Defense course was sufficient to handle common dangers, especially with the recent improvement in teaching quality, resulting in more students aspiring to become Aurors.
Felix had considered exposing older students to some dark magic, but intensive study of dark magic in a short time could easily foster darkness in the heart. It was better to avoid it.
"If we could avoid the side effects, why not try learning one or two?" Ron whispered.
"Because you might not realize the subtle changes it causes", Hermione said sharply. "A skilled wizard has many ways to self-regulate."
"You might be right, but I doubt ordinary dark magic is that effective", Ron admitted.
The discussion continued—
Cedric demonstrated the application of Ancient Runes and, to Felix's surprise, chose a path he had once abandoned—integrating Runic Symbols into modern magic.
Cedric smiled shyly, "I had this idea while practicing the 'water flow' Runic Magic. The magical image looked a lot like a spring, and I immediately thought of the Clearspring Charm. I wondered if I could combine the two, and it took a lot of trials before I succeeded."
Felix smiled, recognizing that everyone had grown, though he wasn't sure how far Cedric's research had progressed.
At that moment, Cedric held his wand in his right hand and quickly traced a Runic Script in the air. The Runic Script flickered twice before transforming into a shadowy image resembling a waterfall or a spring, casting a hazy glow.
Cedric nervously extended his wand, its tip touching the image created by the Runic Script.
"Aqua eructo!" he seized the opportunity to shout. His wand flashed, and the spell seemed to absorb the shadow of the Runic Script, transforming into three streams of water that swirled around the tip of his wand.
"Next, I just need to throw them out—" Cedric said cautiously. Then, he pointed his wand forcefully, and the streams of water shot out, hitting the humanoid target with a dull thud, sending it flying and crashing into the wall.
The young wizards stared blankly at the target in the corner. If a living person had been hit by the spell, they could easily imagine the person clutching their stomach and groaning in pain on the ground.
"His spell seems capable of knocking someone out. What kind of magic is this?" Ron asked in amazement.
"It's probably the Water Creation Spell. I saw it in the sixth-year charms textbook while researching. Cedric is in sixth year, but—" Hermione's expression was puzzled, "the spell's description doesn't mention this effect. Could it be that he used Runic Magic, as he said?"
Her fingertips glowed with bright Runic Scripts, which spun rapidly.
Many of the older students were discussing and whispering to each other. They knew what the Aqua Eructo spell was, and its effects were not nearly as strong, but after Cedric's improvement, its power seemed to rival some attack spells.
Next, several more brave individuals stepped forward to showcase their abilities. It was hard to say what these observing young wizards learned, but at least it broadened their horizons.
Felix noticed a change in the mindset of the brave ones. Perhaps they were still competitors, but they seemed more open to being honest, or perhaps they had a mix of rivalry and mutual respect?
Felix wondered if he should organize another exchange—since the last one with Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry had failed, there hadn't been any similar events.
After the exchange, the young wizards were very curious about the skills displayed by the different schools. However, they could only find Cedric, so he had to demonstrate his spell several times in public.
"The timing is crucial. I haven't fully understood the principles yet, and I plan to ask Professor Heape for advice", Cedric said.
At the Rune Club meeting, Felix revealed the secrets of this knowledge.
"I've indeed observed this phenomenon, as Mr. Diggory mentioned. However, I started with a hypothesis—" Felix sat by the warm fireplace, looking around at everyone.
"Is it possible to combine Ancient Magic with modern magic?"
The club members were taken aback. Most of them were unfamiliar with this history, knowing only that ancient wizards used Ancient Magic, while they used modern magic. Few understood the transition between the two.
"Of course, there's a lot to consider. A full explanation would probably require an essay, so I'll summarize it. After much thought and experimentation, I focused on whether Ancient Runes and modern magic could be combined."
(End of Chapter)
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