Outstanding Talent

I was a snow-white Scottish round-faced fat chicken.

Today, my luck was terrible.

I had expected that, at this moment, I would still be warmly greeting my goddess.

Taking a romantic journey through the skies above the forest.

Unfortunately, a torrential downpour left me bedraggled, and my planned journey died with it.

I was heartbroken.

When my master first pushed open the door and came in, it was as though I had seen the light.

I flew to him in tears.

He did not blame me for my little tantrum. He even thoughtfully dried my feathers.

But now... I suspected my master had gone mad... What was I supposed to do?!

Cypher had returned to his dormitory before eleven.

With magic in his hands that was far more detailed and easier to understand than the textbooks, he was itching to give it a try.

The first spell was Whirlwind Sweep.

Cypher looked at his spacious, tidy dormitory and did not know what to do for a moment.

Suddenly, a sinister expression crossed Cypher's face. With an evil grin, he reached toward the terrified fat chicken nearby.

Cypher still did not spare Little White.

He took out several sheets of parchment and tore them into tiny scraps.

Then he scattered them haphazardly across the empty floor.

After that, he cast the spell on them again and again.

After practicing for who knew how long, Cypher was finally able to gather all the scraps scattered across the floor into a single pile with one cast.

Oh! You wanted to know what Little White was doing.

Of course, whenever Cypher used magic to gather the scraps together, Little White would fly over and flap them apart again!

The next morning, rays of sunlight slipped quietly into the room through the gaps in the curtains.

The summer sun rose especially early.

He got up at six.

Cypher washed up, then tidied himself into a presentable state.

He was filled with emotion.

Although the castle's facilities were primitive compared with the life he had lived in his previous life, they were still far better than anything his orphanage had offered.

Cypher put on his shoes, then slipped into a fitted shirt and shorts.

Feeling full of energy, he headed to the common room.

While waiting, Cypher noticed several older students in Wizard Robes hurrying out of the common room.

From their conversation, they seemed to be heading to the library.

"Sure enough, middle schools in every era require students to wear uniforms!"

Cypher returned to his dormitory and put on his Wizard Robe.

When he returned to the common room, Iris and Luna were already waiting prettily for Cypher, dressed in Wizard Robes and linking arms.

"We saw you sneaking back toward the dormitory the moment we came out."

When Cypher asked why they had not sat down to wait for him, Iris snapped back at him.

Right, she was still holding a grudge over last night.

"Fine, fine, I apologize for wasting the precious time of two young ladies."

"You're forgiven! Let's go. If we're late, something bad will happen."

Something bad? Did they need to queue up?

Thinking of how he had needed to rush desperately to the cafeteria to fight for food in his previous life, Cypher's face went slightly pale.

What he did not know was that most young wizards were still struggling with their beds...

The three of them bounced and skipped downstairs at top speed.

They hurried into the Great Hall, and to Cypher's surprise, there were not many young wizards there.

The three of them easily found seats next to one another.

Cypher put together a nutritionally balanced breakfast for the two girls, only to receive eye rolls from both of them.

Still, Cypher was firm, so they stuffed it all into their stomachs.

As Iris tilted her head back to drink her milk, she suddenly spotted the clock on the wall. Its hour hand was already nearing seven.

Iris hurriedly tugged at Luna.

Luna took one look and quickly swallowed the last leaf of greens.

Then she grabbed Cypher and ran outside.

The two girls dragged him out of the Great Hall.

Cypher had just opened his mouth to ask what was going on.

When a chaotic clamor erupted behind them.

Owls streamed in through the windows of the Great Hall.

Some waited for their owners on the chandeliers overhead, while others flew to the recipients to deliver letters and newspapers.

In short, the scene was filled with airborne bombs and fluttering feathers.

So this was the terrible thing they had been talking about.

Cypher finally understood. This surprise really could make someone lose their appetite...

After running all the way out of the Main Castle's gates, Cypher could not help taking deep breaths of fresh air. He opened his eyes wide and greedily drank in the scenery before him.

In the distance, droplets on the leaves occasionally glimmered in reflected light. The grass by the road was also dotted with crystal-clear dewdrops. The sky was cloudless for miles, and looking east, he could see a half-risen red sun above the Forbidden Forest.

Looking west, he saw a road that went around the Black Lake where they had spent the previous night, running directly from the station to the castle gates.

Yet because of the entrance ceremony, new students had to cross the Black Lake directly and climb a cliff before reaching the place where they now stood.

"This damned sense of ceremony."

Cypher muttered softly.

"What?"

"Nothing. Should we take a walk by the Black Lake where we crossed last night, or go to the Forbidden Forest over there?"

"Cypher, you really weren't paying attention last night. The headmaster said new students were forbidden from approaching the Forbidden Forest."

Cypher awkwardly scratched his head. In that case, there was only one option.

"Let's take a walk by the Black Lake first."

"Sure! I heard there are merfolk Tribes living in the Black Lake, as well as a giant squid that kindly rescues young wizards who accidentally fall into the water..."

The two girls chattered away as they walked ahead, introducing Cypher to the creatures in the Black Lake.

From time to time, several butterflies that traced glowing trails fluttered around the two girls in circles.

Luna was a little more reserved, merely holding out her hand to catch the butterflies, while Iris directly spun in circles after them.

"When they grow up, they will become flower fairies in human form."

Luna explained to Cypher, whose expression was full of curiosity.

At last, they reached the shore of the Black Lake. It actually looked like a sea.

As far as the eye could see, the surface of the Black Lake vanished into the horizon, tracing a beautiful curve.

The Forbidden Forest might be located somewhere like a folded space. Otherwise, Muggles would never have left such a vast forest undeveloped, especially on the British Isles.

Just as Cypher was staring at the horizon in contemplation.

Two spell chants came from behind him.

"Transfiguration!"

"Waterproof and Moistureproof!"

Iris and Luna had worked together to transform a stone slab into a waterproof, moisture-proof picnic mat.

The water rippled, the air was fresh, and a lush tree overhead shielded them from the sunlight.

Cypher lazily stretched and lay down.

"Cypher, let me teach you a few simple spells. Let's see how quickly you can learn?"

"Sure!"

Now that magic was involved, Cypher immediately perked up and sat cross-legged on the mat.

As Cypher made to lie down, Luna and Iris sat beside him with their legs together, turned slightly to one side.

Iris brushed aside a few loose strands of hair that the wind had blown across her lips. Tapping a finger against her lips, she considered where to begin.

"Let's start with the Levitation Charm. It's the first spell taught in Charms class. I have to say, the textbook explains it terribly."

You were Charms class's granddaughter, so you had the final say.

Besides, Cypher remembered how he had followed the textbook's instructions and cast a Levitation Charm with the properties of an Exploding Charm...

He quickly shook his head, tossing those awful memories out of his mind.

Cypher listened to Iris's instruction with complete focus.

To his surprise, Iris explained the key points and the chanting techniques she had summarized, then took Cypher's hand. Just like someone guiding him when he first learned to write, she guided him as Cypher cast his first proper modern spell.

Cypher felt the magic flow into his wand with exceptional smoothness.

Just as expected.

A large rock by the lake rose steadily into the air under Cypher's control.

That talent...

Iris and Luna widened their eyes.

They confirmed again and again that Cypher had only read the textbook and had not used his Mage Hand.

The two of them both admitted that they were jealous...