As night gave way to dawn, Matthew rubbed his aching temples, looking exhausted after spending the entire night practicing the Aemon Basic Meditation Method.
Building Runic Models in his Sea of Consciousness took a great deal of mental energy. After practicing the Meditation Method, he could sense his Sea of Consciousness, and it was now withered.
Four Runic Models floated in his Withered Sea of Consciousness. That was what he had gained overnight.
He estimated that the amount of Mental Power he naturally recovered in a day was enough to build just one model.
It would take eight days to build all 32 Runic Models required for the Lightning Bolt spell.
According to the Wizarding World's standards, he was now a Level One Wizard Apprentice.
He took out a Soothing Potion and a Spirit Nourishing Potion from his Undetectable Extension Charm Pocket and drank them. A burning sensation spread through his mouth and down his esophagus. A few breaths later, his Sea of Consciousness recovered much faster.
Matthew's face lit up. Potions greatly improved the recovery of his Sea of Consciousness!
He needed to test it, so he took out two more Soothing Potions and Spirit Nourishing Potions. First, he drank the Soothing Potion and waited a while, but his Sea of Consciousness showed little response.
Then he drank the Spirit Nourishing Potion in his hand. A few breaths later, his Sea of Consciousness recovered much faster again.
"It's the Spirit Nourishing Potion." Matthew confirmed that it was affecting the recovery speed of his Sea of Consciousness.
And the effects of the Spirit Nourishing Potion could stack!
"Let's see where your limit is." This time, Matthew took out five Spirit Nourishing Potions. He wanted to find out how many he could take before reaching the limit.
The effect was very noticeable. One Spirit Nourishing Potion increased the recovery speed of his Sea of Consciousness by twenty percent. After he drank three more, its recovery speed had doubled!
The ones after that had no effect.
"With the two from before, the limit is five." Matthew was delighted, but the cost stung. Each Spirit Nourishing Potion cost nearly two Gold Galleons.
"I wonder if Professor Snape has a stronger version of the Spirit Nourishing Potion." Matthew found himself missing Professor Snape.
Matthew then tested all the potions in his pocket that relieved fatigue and kept him alert. In the end, he found one more potion that could affect his Sea of Consciousness.
Mandrake Revitalizing Potion could immediately restore fifty percent of his Mental Power, but taking it more than once in a day would cause side effects. It also cost nearly ten Gold Galleons per dose.
He hadn't yet tested how long the Spirit Nourishing Potion's effects lasted.
Matthew calculated that if he maintained the effects of the Spirit Nourishing Potion and drank one Mandrake Revitalizing Potion each day, he could build ten Runic Models.
He could finish building the 32 Runic Models required for the Lightning Bolt spell in about three days.
Pay-to-Win Cultivation sure was fast.
Just then, several knocks came from the door. "Matthew, lunch is ready."
Without realizing it, it was already time for lunch. Matthew only then noticed how hungry he was. "All right. I'll be down in a moment."
Matthew packed up the empty bottles on the table and took them with him, leaving no trace behind.
As he went downstairs, he saw Tina carrying a pot of stew out of the kitchen. The rich, meaty aroma made him quicken his step.
After lunch, Matthew asked Chris, "Do you know about Blue Water Flowers?"
Blue Water Flower was an auxiliary ingredient used in the Aemon Basic Meditation Method. Applying Blue Water Flower Juice while practicing the Meditation Method could speed up the training of the Sea of Consciousness, allowing it to contain more Runic Models.
Once he built 128 Runic Models in his Sea of Consciousness, he could advance to Level 2 Wizard Apprentice.
Matthew estimated that after becoming a Pay-to-Win Warrior, he could advance to Level 2 Wizard Apprentice in thirteen days.
"Blue Water Flowers are pretty common," Chris said. "There's a river along the back street behind the house where they grow. But they usually grow underwater, and the surface of that river is frozen right now."
Matthew was a little surprised. The auxiliary ingredient for the Aemon Basic Meditation Method was actually a common plant in the Wizarding World.
He said goodbye to Chris. Since the river's surface was frozen, he would have to go dig up the Blue Water Flowers himself.
The weather outside was clear, and the streets were covered in snow. Quite a few people were still out and about.
He soon reached the back street and spotted the frozen river. The banks were about a dozen meters apart, and a Stone Pier Bridge stood not far away on the right.
Matthew's right hand twitched. His wand slid from his sleeve into his hand, and he waved it at the ice.
The Explosion Charm blasted through the ice, exposing the river beneath.
As Matthew broke through the ice, a young man and woman passed over the Stone Pier Bridge nearby.
On the bridge, the Blonde Woman walked with her head down and grumbled, "It must have been a wizard again. They didn't leave behind a single clue."
Beside her, the red-haired man wore his hair in a ponytail and walked with his hands in his pockets.
He said lazily, "They'll slip up eventually. Sometimes, the lack of clues is a clue in itself, Anna."
Anna turned to say something to the red-haired man, but then she spotted a wizard casting a spell by the river behind him.
She frowned slightly and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Captain Watson, look behind you. That wizard looks unfamiliar."
Captain Watson turned around in confusion and looked back. After a moment's thought, he said,
"I've never seen that wizard before. We've been in Whitestone Town for a while, and we've met most of the wizards here.
"This wizard who's just appeared out of nowhere is suspicious."
As he spoke, he signaled to his partner with a glance and headed toward the river.
On the river, Matthew spread his magic through the water, sensing what lay beneath. He had figured out this method of Magic Sense himself; it wasn't difficult to let magic seep into a liquid.
After a while, he found no obvious dangers in the water. Just as he was about to climb in, he noticed two people approaching.
"They're wizards." Matthew frowned. He sensed magical energy from them.
This was his first encounter with wizards from this world. He turned around, cautiously on guard.
When the two reached Matthew, yellow light flickered in their eyes as they used the Appraisal Technique.
Their levels had been confirmed: they were both Level One Wizard Apprentices.
The red-haired man with the ponytail spoke first. "Sir, we're Court Wizards. We'd like to ask you a few questions."
Matthew nodded, inviting them to continue.
"Did you just arrive in Whitestone Town?" the red-haired man added. "We haven't seen you here before."
Matthew answered honestly, "I arrived in Whitestone Town last night."
At that, the red-haired man exchanged a glance with his partner, then continued, "Did you see the Night Watchman last night?"
Matthew nodded. "I saw one. Another was in the Tower and didn't come out."
The red-haired man continued, "The Night Watchman went missing last night. I'd like you to come to the Security Station and help with the investigation."
Matthew was displeased. His voice low, he said, "This has nothing to do with me."
Matthew thought of the Night Watchman wearing a headscarf and cap. When Chris had said goodbye to him last night, he had said that after his shift, he was going to have a drink at the tavern.
Anna was already getting impatient. She didn't think questioning him would get them anywhere. His appearance was too conveniently timed—he had shown up just after the Night Watchman disappeared. And he was only a Level One Wizard Apprentice. She decided to take him in first and then make him get his memory back.
Anna raised her right hand. The Witchcraft Ring on her index finger flashed green, and a vine shot toward Matthew.
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