Nightmare Magic

Apparation actually consisted of three parts: "Disapparition," "Apparation," and "Side-Along Apparation."

However, people were accustomed to referring to all three collectively as Apparation.

Of these, "Disapparition" and "Apparation" were used together.

"Disapparition" meant vanishing from one place, while "Apparation" meant appearing in another.

Combined, these two parts formed a complete Apparation.

"Side-Along Apparation," meanwhile, referred to a wizard who had mastered Apparation taking others along with them.

When Toby had brought Li Weide from Hogsmeade to the Wizard Tower by Apparation, that had been "Side-Along Apparation."

Generally speaking, once a wizard had learned Apparation, learning to perform Side-Along Apparation with others was hardly difficult.

"...The most important thing is to remember the three Ds: Destination, Determination, and Deliberation..."

"First, Young Master Weide must focus and picture the destination in your mind. The clearer, the better."

"Second, let the desire to reach that destination flood every tiniest part of your body!"

"Third, spin on the spot and let yourself enter a state of emptiness. Your movements must be deliberate... The more confident and composed you are, the easier it will be to succeed. The more hesitant you are, the more likely you'll fail..."

Toby truly had not lied. He really knew a great deal about wizarding Apparation.

In just a few words, he had explained the key points of Apparation.

At that moment, five meters in front of Li Weide, where the Humanoid Target had originally stood, there was now a circle one meter in diameter.

That circle was Li Weide's current destination. He had to attempt to Apparate into it.

Li Weide held an old wand in his hand and looked at the circle ahead.

Then he closed his eyes.

Thanks to his powerful memory, the image of that circle appeared clearly in his mind.

Then, following the insights he had gained from practicing Occlumency earlier, Li Weide expressed a powerful desire in his heart to reach that place...

Finally, he left everything to his magic, then decisively spun on the spot. "Here goes!"

Pop!

When Li Weide opened his eyes, he was already standing inside the circle.

"Ah! Young Master Weide truly is a genius! You succeeded on your very first try!" Toby shouted excitedly.

Li Weide was somewhat incredulous as well. He had already prepared himself for the possibility of splinching.

But his first attempt had actually succeeded?

Was Apparation really this easy? "Toby, help me check. See if any parts got left behind."

Toby said happily, "Young Master Weide, Toby saw everything clearly. You weren't splinched— you didn't even leave behind a single hair! You succeeded! And it doesn't look at all like your first time practicing Apparation!"

"Merlin's beard! When Toby helped Master Sophiek learn Apparation before, Master Sophiek practiced for more than a week and was splinched five whole times without managing to learn it..."

Toby's voice suddenly caught, and then he raised his fists and began pounding his large head. "Oh! Toby is terrible! Toby is a bad elf! Toby actually spoke ill of his master!"

Li Weide grabbed his arm and said sternly, "Toby, I am your master now. If you punish yourself, it can only be because of me! You must remember that!"

"Y-yes..." When Toby realized his mistake, he was nearly frightened out of his wits.

After a House-elf changed masters, it had to make a clean break with its former master. This was also why House-elves rarely changed masters, because most elves could not let go of their feelings for their former masters.

Toby's change of master had been an "accident" caused by the system, but since he had changed masters, he had to follow this rule!

Theoretically, he was the property of his current master!

In other words, he had no right to punish himself for anyone else, even if that person was his former master!

The only person with the right to order him to punish himself was his current master!

"...Don't let it happen again! All right, let's try Apparation again."

To prevent Toby from punishing himself over his mistakes again, Li Weide gave the order once more.

"Yes!" Toby replied with his ears drooping.

"This time, let's try somewhere farther away..."

Perhaps because Li Weide had understood the principles of magic so thoroughly while studying Occlumency, combined with the magic power of an adult wizard, his study of Apparation went astonishingly smoothly.

Before long, he could move freely between the various floors of the Wizard Tower at will.

After that, Li Weide grew increasingly bold. He tore off a piece of cloth to cover his face, then Apparated alone several times to Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.

Not once did he fail, leaving Toby, who had been following him all along, utterly amazed.

Finally, when he returned to the Wizard Tower from London with Toby by Side-Along Apparation, he had already become highly proficient at Apparation.

He had never expected that merely studying Occlumency would help him so greatly in practicing other magic. This discovery delighted Li Weide immensely.

So this was what it meant for understanding one principle to make all others clear...

All that hard work over the day and night had not been in vain after all! "Congratulations on learning Apparation, Young Master Weide!" Toby squeaked. "But wizards need to pass the Magical Transportation Department's examination before they can use Apparation..."

"Mm, I know," Li Weide replied casually.

Just as driving required a license, Apparation required an examination as well. Only after passing it and registering with the Ministry of Magic could one use Apparation freely.

However, Li Weide had no intention of taking the examination just yet.

He intended to keep Apparation as a hidden trump card.

After all, there were practically no wizards who learned Apparation at such a young age.

If eleven-year-old Li Weide went to take the examination now, it would definitely cause a sensation.

Then everyone would know that he could Apparate.

And that trump card of his would be completely exposed.

An exposed trump card could not produce a surprise victory at a critical moment!...

Since practicing Apparation had not taken much time or energy, after resting for a while, Li Weide prepared to continue with his original plan.

When he had first arrived at the Wizard Tower, he had already selected several Dark Magic spells to practice.

Among them, the one that interested him most was a Dark Magic spell called Nightmare Magic.

It was recorded in a manuscript collected on the fourth floor by a member of the Somlunno Family, and its inventor was unknown.

After striking an enemy, this magic could instantly pull them into sleep, then freely manipulate their dreams.

In Li Weide's opinion, it might be even more effective than Veritaserum or forced Legilimency when interrogating someone...

And if it were used for torture, it would be even more terrifying than the Cruciatus Curse! After all, if one could manipulate dreams, one could make you dream of anything...

When the thing one feared most in the depths of one's heart appeared endlessly in one's dreams... few people could withstand such torment! Once practiced to a certain level, one could even quietly enter another person's dreams while they slept normally, manipulate their dreams, and silently pry into their secrets...

Of course, although this Dark Magic was extraordinarily powerful, it was also extremely difficult to master.

The manuscript had been kept on the fourth floor for so long, and quite a few Somlunno Family members had read it, yet very few had truly learned this Dark Magic.

Because mastering this spell required exceptionally formidable soul strength!

Li Weide had realized long ago that his soul seemed far stronger than that of ordinary people, which was why he intended to try practicing this magic.

Moreover, the spell could be cast with great concealment, even using a Stunning Spell as superficial cover.

At his current stage, Li Weide truly needed a trump card that was both secretive and powerful!