https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-455-Responsibility-Breeds-Courage/13461225/
Chapter 454: In Class and Out of Class
Chapter 454: In Class and Out of Class
"Runic Script 'Sunwheel' describes a dynamic ascending process, a process of change... It can represent the rising of the sun, changes in willpower, especially changes in willpower influenced by magic... It also represents the path to success, the honor achieved through personal perseverance..."
Felix spoke confidently from the podium, while Giselda Machi Banprofessor, seated at the back, stared with wide eyes.
She was quite elderly and a bit hard of hearing, and she was about to use a spell to enhance her hearing. Using this spell for too long made her irritable, as if a thousand bees were buzzing in her ears, so she only used it on important occasions, such as the annual Wizard Level Examination. However, she suddenly realized that there was no need to draw her wand—Felix's voice was already clear in her ears.
The crucial point was—she glanced around—no one else seemed uncomfortable, which meant Felix had subtly influenced her alone.
Moreover, when she saw the bright symbol in Felix's palm, she understood why this young man had dared to tell her, the examiner, that "this knowledge might appear in the O.W.L. exam"...
Because this was practical Ancient Runes. In this field, the most authoritative voices belonged to this young professor and his students, with few others having much to say.
Perhaps a few alchemists, but they only had a slight understanding, and their research focused on the application of Runic Script in alchemy.
Apart from these people, the Wizarding Examination Authority and the Ancient Runes Association—she glanced at the old man beside her, his eyes wide—were not qualified.
A student raised a hand.
"Miss Greengrass?"
"Yes, so this is a dual-use Runic Script? It is both a translational Runic Script and a practical rune?" Daphne asked.
"Exactly", Felix nodded at her. "You can understand it that way."
At that moment, Hedestrang Vera, sitting at the back, stared at the Runic Symbol in Felix's hand, rubbed his eyes in disbelief, and a look of joy spread across his face. He raised his hand like Daphne, looking eagerly at Felix.
"Um... Mr. Vera?" Felix said, trying to suppress a smile.
"Indeed", Hedestrang Vera's eyes were wide with pride. "I have studied this Runic Script as well, but the writing style I learned is quite different from yours." He pointed at the Runic Symbol with his plump fingers. "And I am certain that yours is different from what is marked in the 'Book of Magical Symbols.' The correct form looks like... uh..."
On the podium, Felix adjusted the symbol in the air to match his speaking speed, tilting it slightly and adding a bit of curvature to the sides. "Is this it?"
Strangely, as he did this, the Runic Script immediately lost its shine and luster.
"...Yes", the old man said, looking puzzled.
Felix looked at the students below.
"Thank you for your reminder, Mr. Vera", he said cheerfully, genuinely expressing his gratitude. "This is something I need you to pay attention to."
The students stared at him with wide eyes.
"I recently made a new discovery: many Runic Scripts that are considered translational are actually variations or misinterpretations of practical runes, possibly due to the passage of time... So, I plan to review the knowledge you've learned in the past."
"For example, in this case, the translational Runic Script looks like a slightly curved lightning bolt or a flattened, tilted letter 'S'; while the practical rune", Felix adjusted the Runic Script in his hand, showing the students the entire transformation as the curved lines straightened, resembling—
"An inverted capital 'N' with protrusions at the top and bottom", he said. The symbol in his hand was re-illuminated, glowing faintly.
Hedestrang Vera's face turned red, and he sputtered, unable to speak.
"The evidence is in the Library, in the magical diaries of two medieval wizards, 'The Will of Magic' and 'Derek Puddlemere's Notes.' They come from a highly powerful wizard and an apprentice wizard, respectively, as can be inferred from the depth of their recorded content... When using the same Runic Script, their writing styles are clearly different. A reasonable guess is that the former knew the true form of the Runic Script, while the latter simply copied it or took shortcuts..."
Hedestrang Vera looked around. The students were busy taking notes, but he had nothing in front of him... He suddenly had an idea.
Crabbe felt a strong poke on his back and heard a hushed voice say, "Fatty!"
Fatty?
He turned around irritably, staring at the equally stocky Hedestrang Vera with a hostile look. After a few seconds, he realized the person behind him was an observer and stared dumbly at the vice president of the Ancient Runes Association, as if under a Stupefy spell.
"Fatty! Hey!" Old Vera waved his wand in front of Crabbe. "Parchment, come here! Quill, come here! Excellent, duplicate! Duplicate!"
Old Vera looked at the replica in his hand and nodded in satisfaction. "Here, your stuff." He handed Crabbe's things back to him and then began to take notes.
He had to thoroughly check all the materials the boy mentioned. Who knew if the boy was just making things up? He couldn't let the boy get away with it!
As he wrote, he fumed, quickly filling a sheet of parchment.
On the podium, Felix observed everything from above, his voice tinged with pleasantness. He had been looking forward to this moment for a long time. Moreover, he knew that Professor Machi Ban and Old Vera planned to stay for a considerable period, which meant he could prepare similar lessons multiple times.
The Thinking Classroom, the Stone Basin, and even Classroom Seven could all be considered.
The only thing that made him hesitate was whether to reveal the true level of the students. He estimated that he had authority in practical runes, but he might not have much to say about translational runic script.
If he really increased the difficulty, it might... might... Hmm? It probably wouldn't be that big a deal.
Felix mused that there wasn't much to translational runic script, and the exam scope wouldn't exceed the content of the magical notes that had already been discovered.
Additionally, the Ancient Runes Association published a magazine every so often, primarily depending on when new findings emerged.
Hogwarts Library subscribed to a few of these magazines, and from his observations, almost no one read them. The magazines from twenty years ago were still in pristine condition. He could finish reading them in a single morning on the weekend.
...
Finally, the class bell rang, and the students filed out, leaving only the three adults in the classroom. Felix was about to say something when the diminutive Professor Machi Ban darted forward, grabbed his hand, and asked urgently:
"What spell did you use just now?"
"Just a simple application of the Amplifying Charm", Felix replied, puzzled.
"A simple application!" Professor Machi Ban looked at him in surprise. "It seems you haven't neglected your spell research... But do you have any good methods for dealing with elderly people's hearing problems?"
"Of course. I know a spell called 'Keen Hearing and Sight.' Professor Flitwick has done extensive research on it..."
Felix smiled as he discussed the spell with Professor Machi Ban, which to some extent alleviated the other person's awkwardness.
Old Vera breathed a sigh of relief. He suddenly feared being alone with this young man. Felix Hep had shaken the foundation of his half-century-long career in just one class.
His expression was somewhat dazed, and he could vividly recall his granddaughter's excited chatter about the scenes at 'Future World' whenever she came back home.
"Mr. Vera... Mr. Vera?" A voice seemed to come from afar.
"What is it?" Old Vera replied absentmindedly.
"Nothing", Felix said calmly, sizing him up. "Professor Machi Ban just asked for your opinion. After all, she's not very familiar with Ancient Runes, and I believe you volunteered to join—"
"Oh, uh", Old Vera straightened up, adopting a determined expression as if preparing for a duel. He said with a sense of righteousness, "Cough! We can't rush to conclusions... There are many unclear points. I need to check, uh, I mean, I need to review everything."
"Of course, no problem", Felix said with a smile. "So, it's settled. I look forward to your report." He feigned a sigh, "Professor Machi Ban, Mr. Vera, you two might not know, but I've been under a lot of pressure these past two years..."
"Pressure?" Professor Machi Ban looked at him skeptically.
Old Vera also looked surprised and was eager to hear more.
"Yes, you two might not be aware, but I didn't choose the advanced Ancient Runes class when I was a student. I've been relying on self-study and correspondence with Professor Babbling to improve. So, when I first started teaching, I was afraid I might teach the students poorly."
Professor Machi Ban looked at him with a peculiar expression, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes stretching as she widened her eyes. She confirmed hesitantly, "You said you were afraid of teaching the students poorly, yet last year's graduates, except for one, all received excellent grades?"
"Uh..."
"Furthermore, as far as I know, a third of the students who took the exam finished early", Professor Machi Ban said slowly. "Though I have hearing problems, I distinctly remember a conversation between a couple after the exam."
"What did they say?" Felix asked lightly, seemingly genuinely curious.
"One said, 'The exam was so easy, I checked it five times and still had time to spare, I was about to throw up.' The other replied, 'Just this once, bear with it. I checked it six times...'" Professor Machi Ban pursed her lips and repeated dryly.
Old Vera stood there, frozen, his hand clenching the parchment. Each year, part of the O.W.L. exam questions were prepared by the Ancient Runes Association. He couldn't help but tighten his grip on the parchment, which still had a list of questions waiting for his confirmation.
For the next few minutes, the three of them pretended the conversation had never happened.
Just a few minutes short, and it's so frustrating.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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