Chapter 516: Training
Chapter 516: Training (Request for Subscriptions, Favorites, and Votes)
Under the azure sky, Liam and Hermione stood on the pier, watching the cruise ship sail farther and farther into the equally blue sea until it disappeared around an island. Afterward, the two of them left the pier, found a secluded spot, and used the Rose Crystal to return to the Multiverse General Store.
Upon returning to the Multiverse General Store, the System informed Liam that he had earned 95 Deviation Points from this trip. This was due to the significant changes he had made to the storyline. As for the First Emperor's Tomb from the original third movie, Liam decided that it was too dangerous for this era and that he should avoid traveling east for his safety.
After they tidied up their appearance and made sure the Rose Crystal was working properly, they left the Multiverse General Store and reappeared in the Forbidden Forest, then returned to the castle. In the castle's entrance hall, they ran into Harry and Ron, who had just finished their homework and were heading to the Quidditch Pitch for practice.
"Where did you guys go? We couldn't find you right after class", Ron asked Liam and Hermione.
"Some personal matters", Liam replied with a slight smile, then changed the subject. "Are you heading out to practice?"
"Yes", Harry nodded. "Although we won the first Tournament match, we can't afford to be complacent. We need to train hard for the House Cup, especially since it's my first time as Captain. Leading everyone to victory is crucial."
"Alright, then I wish you all the best with your training. See you at dinner", Liam said, then bid farewell to Harry and Ron and headed back to the Gryffindor Common Room.
When the time came for the Saturday Study Group meeting, they quickly resolved the academic issues that had accumulated over the past week. Contrary to expectations, the number of academic questions needing to be addressed during the meetings had actually decreased.
This wasn't because the students had fewer questions, but because they had become more familiar with each other and would now gather to discuss problems as they arose. Only the most challenging issues were brought to the meetings, which naturally reduced the number of questions.
"Alright, as I mentioned last time, I will teach you some defensive and offensive spells. However, I need to make it clear that these spells are different from the pranks you usually use; they are genuinely harmful. I don't want you using these spells casually, and I certainly don't want to hear that innocent people have been hurt because of them", Liam said, stepping onto the platform to address the eager Study Group members.
As soon as he finished speaking, the room erupted in chatter. "Liam, what spells are you going to teach us?" "Are they Dark Magic, like you mentioned last time?" "How difficult will these spells be to learn?"
"Quiet", Hermione stepped forward, placing her hand on the podium. "Please let our President, Liam, finish speaking before you ask your questions. This way, he can actually answer you."
Since Hermione usually managed the Study Group's logistics and discipline, she had a much more authoritative presence than Liam, who was seen more as a scholar. The room immediately fell silent after her words.
"Alright, let me make it clear. I am not teaching you Dark Magic. These spells are actually variations of Transfiguration and other spells, but they have been adapted for combat", Liam said, raising his voice to cut off any further speculation. "The first spell I will teach you today is the Fireball Spell."
"Fireball Spell?" Angela Marcus, Hermione's roommate, asked curiously. "Are you guys playing Dungeons and Dragons or something?"
"Just a name, that's all." Liam was also helpless. He had initially assumed that things like the Fireball Spell and Magic were only popularized in the computer age through video games. But when he combined Nature Magic and casting materials from China to create a simple combat spell system and named these Magics, Hermione reminded him that these things were from games.
At first, Liam didn't believe it, but later he discovered that most of the computer games that emerged in the future had already appeared as tabletop games in this era. For example, the foundation of the most common Western fantasy games in the future, D&D, was now a very famous board game. However, as someone who struggled with naming, Liam didn't bother to think of new names. Instead, he simply used a few game manuals to name his collection of Magics.
After announcing the Magic he would teach today, Liam stepped down from the podium and cleared the center of the classroom. He then conjured a human-shaped Wooden Target and placed it in the middle. Stepping back two paces, he chanted in Latin, "Fireball."
Instantly, a light point, barely larger than a soybean, shot out from Liam's wand. The light point struck the Wooden Target and exploded with a loud bang, leaving a palm-sized scorch mark on it. However, when Liam waved his wand to cut off the burned area, everyone could see from the cross-section that the burn had only affected the outermost millimeter.
"Looks pretty weak", Justin commented. "It doesn't seem to be as effective as the Stunning Spell."
"Really think so?" Liam smiled mysteriously and pulled out three small, black, marble-sized balls from a leather pouch at his waist. Neville, who was closer, caught a whiff of an unpleasant smell and asked, "What are these?"
"Small balls made by mixing Asphalt and Glowing Tindergrass in a five-to-one ratio", Liam explained. "Glowing Tindergrass is the main ingredient in the cold medicine Madam Pomfrey gives us. You can buy a pound and a half for two Sickles. As for Asphalt, it's even cheaper, just one Knut for two pounds. In the outside world, it's used for paving roads and waterproofing roofs."
"So what are these for? Are they meant to be eaten?" Luna asked, her large eyes fixed on Liam.
"This is how they're used." Liam touched the three balls with the tip of his wand and chanted in Latin, "Fire."
Instantly, the three balls turned into a black liquid that quickly climbed up the wand to its tip. Once the liquid stabilized at the tip of the wand, Liam turned to the students around him and asked them to cast the Armor Charm on him.
After Hermione confirmed that all the Armor Charms were in place, Liam cast the Fireball Spell again. The same light point struck the Wooden Target and, to everyone's shock, instantly exploded. A massive fireball enveloped the entire Wooden Target, and the sturdy wooden board was shattered into fragments by the explosion.
"That's as powerful as a grenade", Angela, from a long line of military families, remarked in amazement. "It seems this Magic is definitely worth learning."
This thought was shared by everyone who witnessed it, so everyone was very serious during the subsequent practice session. It wasn't until the curfew bell rang that Liam successfully persuaded the excited students to go back to their dorms. Of course, as they left, Liam repeatedly reminded them to practice by the lake where no one was around and not to use casting materials.
As Liam was cleaning up and leaving, a Parchment Bird flew up to him and stopped. He opened it to find a note from Professor Dumbledore, inviting him to his office for a cup of tea at nine o'clock the next morning. The note also included the password for Dumbledore's office for the next day.
"Who gave you that?" Hermione asked, looking at the note in Liam's hand.
"Our Headmaster", Liam shrugged. "The things we practiced today are indeed a bit dangerous, so it's normal for the Headmaster to talk to me about safety. Don't worry, nothing serious will happen."
(End of Chapter)
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