Flitwick's Doubts

Early the next morning, Josh woke from deep meditation. Ever since he had been judged to be basically cut off from magic elements, Josh had begun cultivating this way. Naturally, he had hoped to turn things around, but it had been useless—until one spell blasted him into Icathia, and Josh finally went from a Magic Apprentice to a true wizard.

A Magic Apprentice with Second Tier magical power—Josh was probably the only one of his kind. Of course, even after making it big, Josh had not stopped this seemingly torturous method of cultivation, because he had already grown accustomed to it. Besides, his meditation method had been created by a Sanctuary Mage at the peak of the Ninth Tier. It allowed people to enter deep meditation.

Josh's own understanding of so-called deep meditation was to empty one's conscious mind and let the subconscious control one's thoughts. That way, one would neither waste cultivation time nor miss out on rest. Josh loved this cultivation method and could not help giving its creator a mental thumbs-up!

Of course, that Ninth Tier Sanctuary Mage had created it entirely because he needed to conduct all sorts of magical experiments during the day and had no time to cultivate at all. At night, exhausted as he already was, he still could not rest, so he created this meditation method to make himself more comfortable.

After stretching, Josh washed up and left his room. It was already half past eight, while Dumbledore had arranged for the new teachers to meet at nine. So Josh could only get up and look for Garen. What Josh had not expected was that the moment he stepped outside, he ran into a sweating Garen returning from outside.

"You're only getting up now?" Garen raised a brow and said with a smile.

Yet Josh thought the guy was clearly trying to pick a fight. Sure enough, Garen continued, "You know, I've already spent two hours cultivating Battle Qi, then went to the Room of Requirement for a workout. Josh, being lazy won't help you improve!"

Well, after spending so much time together, Garen had changed quite a bit. At the very least, he was no longer as reserved as he had been when they first met. Perhaps sparring with Josh so often had gradually taught him what Josh was like. On top of that, he had accepted that he had received Josh's help and would not be returning to Valoran anytime soon. Little by little, he had accepted reality and seemed much better for it.

"Heh." Josh sneered disdainfully. "Please, don't think you're the only hardworking one. I was cultivating all night too!"

"How is that possible?" Garen did not believe him at all.

"Why wouldn't it be? Advanced wizards treat meditation as sleep. My family's library has records of their cultivation methods. I got hold of one long ago, and I've always practiced this way. Otherwise, how do you think I came to possess such abundant magical power at my age?"

Josh did not even blush as he spun his tall tale. Compete in diligence? Sorry, I might really have been asleep, but my cultivation had not fallen behind in the slightest. My abundant magical power was the best proof! It was flawless logic, and Garen was instantly defeated.

Of course, this only made Garen work even harder in the future. Many years later, when he learned how Josh actually cultivated, he was so angry he nearly fought Josh to the death! But that was a story for another time.

Looking ashamed, Garen had no idea he had fallen for Josh's routine. After scratching his head and awkwardly apologizing to Josh, he went straight back to his room to wash up. He had received the notice as well. He originally had not intended to go, but Josh had asked him to serve as his assistant, and he had agreed. So he needed to show his face at this meeting too.

Garen moved quickly and finished in just ten minutes. Even so, Josh and Garen were still late when they arrived at the headmaster's office. The reason was simple: the two had been toyed with by the people in the portraits and had ended up getting lost.

When Josh pulled out his wand and declared that he would destroy the portrait, ignoring the wand's wailing, it immediately behaved itself. It respectfully pointed out the way for Josh and Garen, allowing Josh to finally reach the headmaster's office. Of course, they were still late.

"I'm very sorry. Hogwarts is rather large, and we weren't familiar with the way, so we got lost."

When Josh and Garen pushed open the door, they found quite a few people already standing inside. Josh did not need to ask to know they had likely been waiting for him and Garen, so he awkwardly apologized at once.

"Of course, if those damned portraits hadn't toyed with us, we might have arrived much earlier."

"It's alright, Lord Augustus and Lord Crownguard."

Dumbledore shook his head unconcernedly. Naturally, he knew what had happened. In fact, nearly everyone in the office knew. After Josh and Garen had been toyed with, Josh had angrily drawn his wand and frightened the portraits, so one of them had gone to tell Dumbledore and the others.

Dumbledore had been stunned at the time. He had not expected those portraits to dare provoke such a terrifying person. He immediately told them not to anger these two, to improve their attitude, and to guide them over. The portraits had realized the seriousness of the situation, so Josh had encountered no further trouble and come directly here.

"Just call us Josh and Garen, Dumbledore. Our surnames sound very strange here."

"I understand, Josh and Garen. Of course, you may simply call me Albus." Dumbledore went along with it readily. Then he personally invited Josh and Garen to stand beside the headmaster's desk and introduced them to the teachers gathered around it.

"These two are our new professors. This is Lord Josh Augustus, and this is Josh's assistant, Lord Garen Crownguard. Josh will be opening two new courses at Hogwarts. One will be a practical combat course, while I believe we should discuss the other before making a decision."

"He's becoming a teacher at such a young age?" An elderly, rather short man asked doubtfully. "And a practical combat course? Is he going to hold a dueling club? I'm sorry, but I don't know whether they are truly capable of handling this. Albus, I'm not questioning your decision. I have always trusted you, but I do have my doubts."

Josh glanced at the old man. He remembered him as someone highly respected, not because of his strength but because of his teaching ethics. And if Josh remembered correctly, this old man seemed to be the head of Ravenclaw, the house where Josh intended to become deputy head.

Well, he had been questioned by his own superior on his first day at work. Josh felt rather helpless. But before he could explain anything, Dumbledore had already spoken.

"I respect your doubts, Filius, but I would first like to discuss Josh's second course." Dumbledore asked Flitwick to wait, then turned to Josh. "I'm sorry, Josh, but we have some concerns regarding your second course. We may need to discuss it again before making a decision."

"You mean meditation?" Josh gave Dumbledore a puzzled look. He had naturally noticed that Dumbledore's magical power had diminished. But that did not mean Dumbledore had become weaker, because Josh could sense that the quality of Dumbledore's magical power had improved greatly. So there should not have been any problem with meditation, right?

"Haven't you improved greatly? Then why do you need to discuss it again?"

"It is precisely because meditation is so important that we must discuss it again."

Dumbledore spoke helplessly. To be honest, he wanted to spread the meditation course widely as well. But last night, he had suddenly realized that if those loyal to pure-blood doctrine and serving Voldemort passed this method on to Voldemort, he could imagine just how much trouble they would face in the future.

So he had no choice but to request another discussion. Right before all the teachers, he explained the matter, then added, "Everyone here is someone I trust. That is why I gathered you all together—to discuss how this matter should be handled."

"There's actually nothing to worry about." Josh understood their approach, but he did not take it to heart. "If you truly aren't at ease, then just let me select the students. Of course, you can carefully assess any students I choose."

"What is this meditation you're talking about?" Professor Flitwick asked in confusion. They had talked for so long and even brought up trust, which made him feel very strange.

"Meditation is a method for training magical power and mental strength," Josh explained casually. "I imagine Albus will give you a detailed explanation, so I won't say too much. Oh, and it's a pleasure to meet you, Professor Flitwick."

"Hello." Flitwick shook Josh's hand, still full of confusion. But the next moment, he could no longer remain calm.

"By the way, Filius, I intend to have Josh serve as Ravenclaw's deputy head. You two should get along well from now on," Dumbledore suddenly said.

"What!" This time, it was not only Filius Flitwick who lost his composure. Aside from Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Snape, everyone present cried out in disbelief! This news was utterly explosive.

They could not help examining Josh. He looked only fifteen or sixteen years old. Under normal circumstances, someone that age would still be studying in one of the school's houses. Yet Dumbledore was not only making him a professor, but also appointing him deputy head of a house. What kind of arrangement was that? They could not understand it at all.

"Why, Albus?" Flitwick simply could not understand Dumbledore's actions or reasoning. Even though he respected Dumbledore greatly, he still voiced his challenge.

Dumbledore was about to speak, but Josh stopped him. Josh smiled at Dumbledore, then said, "Professor Dumbledore has his reasons for inviting me to serve as deputy head. The reasons are actually very simple. First, I have enough ability to protect the students. Second, there is the matter of meditation."

As he spoke, Josh pulled out his wand. Since the thing simply refused to obey him and constantly let out wails, Josh had given it a name: Wailer.

Sure enough, as soon as he drew his wand, the wailing began again. But Josh ignored it and said directly to Flitwick, "Professor Flitwick, please attack me. With your full strength."

"What?" Flitwick did not understand, but he glanced at Dumbledore and saw him nodding. So Professor Flitwick drew his wand as well and cast Sectumsempra at Josh. Although Josh had told him to use his full strength, he still held back considerably.

But the next moment, he was utterly stunned. Josh stood where he was without moving at all, watching helplessly as the spell struck him.