Moving Magic
When Regulus returned to his Slytherin Dormitory, Avery and Alex were playing Wizard's Chess at a small table by the window.
The battle on the chessboard had clearly reached a stalemate, with both players staring intently at the pieces, their brows furrowed.
Empress Avery is cursing Avery, and King Alex is cursing Alex.
Hearing the door open, the two of them simultaneously looked up at him, then simultaneously looked down at the chessboard again, their movements perfectly synchronized.
It looks normal, but you can still tell that you're guilty.
Regulus ignored them; he returned only to wait for Madam Pince to finish tidying up the Library and leave work before heading to the Forbidden Section.
He had barely sat down when a curse came from the other side of the chessboard. The curse was vulgar, unlike the kind of curses one would expect from a shop specializing in products for young wizards.
Then Avery spoke, hesitantly. "That matter..."
Regulus raised his head.
"Can I tell my family about what happened last time?"
Regulus knew that Avery was talking about the Astronomy Tower, and he slightly raised his chin, signaling Avery to continue.
"I promised you I wouldn't tell anyone," Avery added, pointing to the knight's head on the chess piece.
"But I think that matter involves the Macnair and Mulciber families, Hermes was injured so badly, and it was such a dangerous place, there must be something we don't know about behind it."
I think the family should know.
Avery looked serious, and his tone suggested a discussion.
After calming down, he realized that he might have been caught up in some kind of power struggle between Pureblood families.
His instinct was to seek help from his family, or rather, to report to them.
But remembering his promise to Regulus, he has come to ask now.
Regulus looked at him.
Avery is right, the Cuthbert family should definitely know about this.
Not only Cuthbert, Roxier family should also know.
While the Rosier family, being a branch of the family, is unlikely to actively get involved in these matters, the right to know is another matter entirely.
Moreover, Regulus thought even further ahead.
If Voldemort was indeed behind the Astronomy Tower Incident, then Avery's involvement and subsequent escape could influence the Cuthbert family's future stance.
Regulus glanced at Alex again.
"Tell them when you go home for Easter," Regulus began, his voice steady. "Don't write a letter, say it in person."
Avery nodded, Alex followed suit.
"There are things you don't know," Regulus continued. "For example, Abros Mulciber knew all along that Darren Macnair was the one who injured Hermes."
He knew, but instead of exposing it, he helped cover it up.
Avery's eyes widened.
"Why?" Alex asked in a low voice.
"I cannot tell you the specific reasons," Regulus said. "If Mr. Cuthbert and Mr. Roxier want to know, they can inquire through the Black family."
Avery and Alex didn't know the specifics of what happened, what Abros's changing attitude meant, or what secrets lay hidden behind the Stone Gate.
However, after they go home and tell their parents, Mr. Cuthbert and Mr. Roxier will realize that there must be a deeper secret behind it.
The key information is with him; the only way they can find out is through him, or through the Black family.
Avery and Alex exchanged a glance, but neither of them pressed for further questions.
Their experience at the Astronomy Tower instilled in them a great deal of trust in Regulus; if he said he wouldn't tell them, then he had a reason for not telling them.
A few seconds of silence followed, then Avery's Adam's apple bobbed, and he finally couldn't hold back any longer. "Regulus, that Evans— "
Regulus glanced up at him, his expression blank, but his gaze lingered on Avery's face.
Avery's words caught in his throat. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, finally turning his head away and pretending to study some insignificant piece on the chessboard.
Alex stood to the side, suppressing a laugh, his shoulders trembling slightly.
Regulus ignored them, stood up, picked up his wand, put it in the inner pocket of his robe, and pushed open the Dormitory door to go out.
As the door closed behind him, he heard laughter coming from inside, a mixture of embarrassment and curiosity.
The Corridor of Hogwarts were empty and silent late at night.
The Corridor was deserted; the portraits lay asleep, the armor stood still, only the torches on the walls still burned, casting flickering shadows.
Regulus moved close to the wall, his entire body covered by a modified Disillusionment Charm.
The Astronomy Tower Incident made him realize two problems.
He lacks efficient area-of-effect attacks when facing a large-scale and sustained siege.
In enclosed environments where Apparition is unavailable, his mobility is severely hampered.
He didn't want to bear the consequences of losing control of the Fiendfyre Curse, which burned everything, but at least he knew the prerequisites for all spells, so he could still use it if he wanted to.
Moreover, other approaches also have objectives.
As for the shortcomings in mobility, these should be addressed.
Spatial Warp is not yet mature; the Patronus cannot yet carry him through it, Apparition would be blocked by the Anti-Apparition Charm.
He needs a way to move quickly without relying on space.
In terms of physical strength, the continuous tempering through Star Orbit Meditation has made his physical qualities far surpass those of junior wizards, and even exceed those of most adult wizards.
If anyone thinks that limiting his Spellcasting abilities will subdue him, he will teach them a lesson they won't forget.
However, physical speed is ultimately limited; to gain the upper hand in battle, one must rely on Magic.
Deep inside the Library's Forbidden Section, dust accumulated on the bookshelves against the wall.
Regulus ran his fingers along the spine of the book, his Magic Perception spreading out as he used Magic Power to touch the imprints of thought solidified by Magic on the pages.
This method was extremely mentally taxing in the beginning, but now he can do it continuously for an hour without feeling noticeably tired.
He found several books that might be relevant.
"The Wizard's Mobile Tactics: From Basics to Advanced" is written by an 18th-century Auror commander. The book details how to maintain a mobile advantage in actual combat by utilizing terrain and spell combinations.
"A Study of Non-Spatial Displacement Magic" is a theoretical work that is dry but systematic.
<Rhythm Control in Dueling> focuses on how to create opportunities for movement during offensive and defensive transitions.
Regulus's first book.
The book mentions several spells:
The Swift Charm greatly increases one's movement speed after Spellcasting, similar to accelerating while running. A faint white light will appear on the body, and the running motion will leave afterimages.
It provides a pure speed boost, does not change the mode of movement (it remains running), and cannot be blocked by the Anti-Apparition Charm.
The Sprint Charm, originally Slowing Charm Spellcasting, can be reversed to achieve a sprint without momentum, resulting in rapid acceleration, agile turning, and no loss of control due to excessive speed.
It is highly tactical, suitable for short-distance breakouts, and can be used in conjunction with Slowing Charm. Anti-Apparition Charm are ineffective against it.
Sidestep Charm, a simplified version of Apparition.
It does not require a full Apparition; it only allows for short-range lateral movement, making it flexible and useful for dodging attacks.
It has low energy consumption but cannot be used continuously. It is suitable for quickly adjusting position during combat. The Anti-Apparition Charm can suppress it, but the effect is weak.
The basic Levitation Charm is to levitate objects; at higher levels, it can be used for short-distance flight or gliding.
By controlling the output of Magic Power, one can move slowly or cross obstacles; the movement is slow and non-aggressive.
Suitable for low-altitude movement, it can cross ditches or walls without relying on Broomstick or other tools.
Regulus noted down the principles and gestures of these spells, then closed the book.
Each has its uses, but each also has obvious drawbacks.
The Swift Charm only involves running; the Sprint Charm covers a short distance; the Sidestep Charm covers a short distance and has a cooldown; and the Levitation Charm is slow.
He needs a more comprehensive solution.
The Room of Requirement responded to his request and transformed into an empty Training Ground.
The floor was covered with dark wooden planks, and the ceiling was so high that the top was invisible. Several Magic light sources floated in mid-air, casting even light.
Regulus started with the simplest Swift Charm.
Pointing the wand at herself, she uttered the spell. "Celeri."
Magic Power flowed into the tip of the staff, and my body emitted a faint white light, but I felt nothing else.
He took a step forward, his body seemingly launched forward, instantly covering a distance of ten meters.
But its essence is acceleration, while turning and sudden stopping are limited.
Next came the Sprint Charm, the wand tracing a specific path: "Momenum rreo".
He took a step forward, his body began to slide, and his speed increased.
He sprinted in a straight line and it worked well. He tried to turn, and his movements were agile, but the distance was very short, and he stopped in less than ten meters.
He selected a spot ten meters away, concentrated his mind, his Magic Power surged, and he lightly waved his wand. "Ide-long ppriion."
The body instantly appeared at the target location.
The Sidestep Charm is relatively stable, the process is smooth, and there is almost no discomfort.
He tried several times and found that the maximum effective distance was about fifteen meters. Beyond this distance, the success rate dropped sharply, and there was a cooldown period of about two seconds after each use.
Considering this is Hogwarts, there are almost no more powerful Anti-Apparition Charm in the Wizarding World; they might be even more effective outside.
The Levitation Charm is the most awkward; the body is suspended half a meter in the air, propelled forward by Magic Power.
The speed is slow, and steering and braking require precise Magic Power control; a slight misstep will result in loss of balance.
Adjusting your attitude in the air requires three times more energy than moving on the ground.
Regulus stood in the center of the Training Ground, recalling the advantages and disadvantages of each spell.
The Swift Charm has a strong burst of power, but it still relies on leg strength.
The Sprint Charm offers high straight-line speed but covers a short distance.
Sidestep Charm are agile, but not only is their range short, they also require cooling.
The Levitation Charm is suitable for all terrains, but difficult to control; it is best suited for overcoming obstacles or gaining a height advantage.
Each of these methods has its obvious limitations when used individually, but what if they are combined?