Flying-Knife Magic and Spell Chains (Part Two-in-One)

The Transfiguration Club had been a rewarding experience, which made Ezio look forward even more to the Charms Club the next morning.

When all was said and done, spells were the foundation of a wizard's survival. Without magic spells, the wizarding world would be plunged into darkness, and its laziness could no longer continue. They were the most fundamental and important part of every aspect of the wizarding world.

Before this, Ezio had had only a superficial understanding of spell magic. Spells in the wizarding world had undergone several transformations, each making the originally complicated process of casting much simpler and faster. But the wizarding world's historical records were severely incomplete. People in Europe had always been terrible at recording history. After all, their barbaric age had lasted far too long, and they had never had a truly unified empire.

The Roman Empire had once managed it to some extent, but it had left no legacy. On this land, where nationalism and bloodline theories held sway, division was the norm, and chaos naturally followed.

Muggle society had influenced the wizarding world as well, with the result that even something as important as history couldn't be pieced together in full, no matter how many books one searched.

A reasonably accurate account would be that the earliest wizards used Runes to cast spells, manipulating magic through combinations of magical characters. At that stage, magical rituals were widespread, and all manner of sacrifices and offerings were practiced. To control magic, a supernatural force, wizards had treated Muggles with considerable cruelty. This was the main reason the two sides later developed irreconcilable differences.

This continued until the time of the Four Founders, more than a thousand years ago. The wizarding world was then in its Dark Age. Primitive, crude magic made it difficult for wizards, who were vastly outnumbered, to gain a foothold. Large numbers of young wizards were killed by Muggles, and spellcasters faced the worst conditions for survival. So the reform of magic began out of necessity.

Magic evolved from Runes to spells, greatly increasing the speed at which wizards could use it. Although this weakened magic's power to some extent, the reform gave wizards a chance to catch their breath. They gradually established themselves, banded together, and began building secret bases of their own, where they could raise the young wizards they had found outside.

The founding of Hogwarts was largely intended to provide young witches and wizards with a safe haven. They faced persecution in the Muggle world, and even those lucky enough to survive could easily develop an Obscurus when their magic was suppressed. This product of dark magic brought great calamity, further intensifying the conflict between wizards and Muggles.

Once large numbers of wizarding shelters had been established, wizards had a place to live and the time and energy to improve their magic. Influenced by the society of the time, magic no longer pursued overwhelming power. Instead, it raced toward faster casting and easier mastery. Since wizards concealed their existence and avoided battle and conflict, those who lived in their comfortable hideaways focused on developing everyday magic. This led to the lopsided state of spell development that existed in the wizarding world today.

Nearly all the offensive spells used in battle today had evolved from curses. Take the Exploding Curse, for example: it was essentially an explosive curse. Although it was included in Hogwarts' curriculum, it really belonged in the category of Dark Magic. The same was true of Reducto, the Fire-making Spell, the Petrification Spell, and others. They all belonged to curse magic.

Besides the spells that were mainstream today, the wizarding world also had a kind of colloquial magic. Most of these spells were passed around among ordinary people. Their incantations were quite direct. For example, "Peskipiksi Pesternomi" ("Annoying pixies, don't bother me"). These colloquial spells usually weren't very effective, but magic was a force shaped by belief, and stating one's intentions so plainly could sometimes have an effect.

If there weren't too many House-elves, this Pixie-Expelling Spell could work. It could probably drive off one or two little pests who were causing trouble and making a mess in front of you, but that was about it.

Ezio had learned about all this because he wanted to find out how to create spells of his own. It was both cool and useful. Take Sectumsempra, the offensive spell Snape had invented, for example. It conjured an invisible blade that sliced through whatever lay ahead, making it exceptionally effective in both stealth and lethality. Yet no such offensive spell appeared in the wizarding world's official spell registry.

If he mastered the ability to create spells, Ezio could develop a whole series of spells suited to his identity as an assassin. He didn't much like the way wizards went "pew" with their spells. Those brightly colored flashes of light were far too conspicuous. If he was going to reveal his presence, he might as well wield Broken Spear and perform a dance of the Flying Thunder God. The slaughtering efficiency of spells couldn't compare to the work of his own hands.

Developing new magic and establishing a magical system of his own—that was Ezio's ultimate goal in coming to Hogwarts to study Charms. Learning the usual spells wasn't why he had come.

The next day, a Saturday, Ezio headed toward Professor Flitwick's office with a spring in his step. Along the way, he ran into several classmates who were going to the same place.

Professor Flitwick's club had far more members than Professor McGonagall's. For one thing, Charms were easier than Transfiguration. Also, when teaching, Flitwick didn't need to tailor a study plan for each student. He taught casting techniques that weren't in the textbooks. Mastering them took talent, as well as a nimble mind.

"I'm delighted to see you all here at the start of a new year."

Professor Flitwick stood atop a tall pile of books so he could meet the students' eyes.

"Ezio, why don't you introduce yourself? You're the youngest member here, but nobody should judge everything by age. As I understand it, Ezio has already taught himself all the Standard Book of Spells material up through fifth year. Those of you who haven't done the same should take this seriously. You don't want to be overtaken with ease by a first-year, do you?"

"Every fourth-year student must master Nonverbal Spellcasting this year. If you don't, I'll be very cross."

The boys and girls who had joined the club last year and were about to become the senior members this year wore slightly pained expressions. Nonverbal Spellcasting was a skill they were meant to learn in fifth year, so it was a bit of a challenge for them. But before Professor Flitwick had even begun picking students from third year, they had been confronted with a first-year newcomer who made them want to cry out in disbelief. You were telling them he'd learned all the magic that took everyone else five years during the summer holiday before term even began? That made them look like idiots!

Under the gaze of the twenty or so people in the room, Ezio calmly gave a brief introduction. He spotted a few familiar faces. Besides Cedric, everyone he knew from the Transfiguration Club was there. The selection of new third-year members hadn't begun yet, so it was only natural that Cedric wasn't there.

"Daniel, organize the students in fifth year and above for the start-of-term test," Professor Flitwick said, calling on the Ravenclaw male Prefect. "Use the same scoring rules as before, and make a note of anyone who slacked off during the holiday."

"Of course, Professor." Daniel nodded, then turned and began ushering the others toward the back of the classroom, where there were plenty of dummy targets for practicing spells.

"Fourth-years, your task this year is to learn Nonverbal Spellcasting and master the advanced casting techniques for at least five spells. I hope you'll turn the theory you learned here last year into something of your own. Charms are a practical subject, and practice is the only real test of proficiency."

After assigning the task, Professor Flitwick beckoned Ezio over. "Come along, my boy. I'll give you some extra lessons on your own. Compared with your older classmates, you still have a lot to learn, though I don't think I need to worry much about the easier material. If you keep practicing basic magic and improve your familiarity and proficiency with it, you'll soon catch up."

Unlike Transfiguration, a Charm was considered successful as long as you could cast it correctly. Some wizards didn't care to study advanced casting techniques, but a very high level of spell proficiency could let them defeat every counterattack with the simplest methods. With the same Fire-making Spell, one person might only be able to light a bonfire. Even if they mastered all the advanced techniques, they would only make the flames more elaborate. But some people's Fire-making Spells could truly set the whole plain ablaze.

There were two main areas to focus on when practicing Charms: strengthening a spell's power and expanding the ways it could be cast. But truly talented wizards could do both—and do them well.

"Before we begin, Ezio, is there anything you'd like to ask?" Professor Flitwick asked with a beaming smile. He'd already noticed during class that Ezio had a lot he wanted to learn, but since they'd been in class, he hadn't asked more. Professor Flitwick couldn't spend the whole lesson hovering around him, after all.

"Yes, of course."

Ezio spoke at once. "What I most want to learn is how to create my own spells. I'd like to develop some combat magic better suited to me, and I hope I can learn to master it someday."

Professor Flitwick nodded slightly. He wasn't surprised. When he was a student, he had tried developing spells himself.

"Also, I'd like to know how I should improve this way of casting."

Ezio turned both hands over, and four throwing knives appeared in each. Unlike the matte black knives he used for assassination, the ones in his hands now were a translucent blue, like fragile crystal, and gave off a faint glow.

"Ah, it's been ages since I last saw anyone use the Solidification Charm technique!"

Professor Flitwick spoke excitedly. "It's a magical technique that originated a thousand years ago, used to make up for wizards' shortcomings in battle. Before Apparition was developed, wizards were often forced to fight at close range, because the newly invented incantations had poor accuracy and poor range."

"So some wizards inscribed Runes on arrows or other objects, then solidified the magical effects into things like arrowheads. This extended the spells' effective range and indirectly improved their accuracy."

"But this method has a serious flaw. The magical effects on arrows made this way would often disappear before they even hit the ground. A spell began to wear away as soon as it was cast, and a spell that had left its caster was like water without a source. It might last only a second or two, and the closer it got to its maximum range, the weaker it became."

"But yours... You based it on the method of giving curses physical form, didn't you? You keep them close to your body to preserve their shape after solidifying the spells, then maintain them using the magic that naturally radiates from a wizard. That extends how long they can be stored. Without using a physical vessel to hold the magic, it's the only method."

"How long can you keep them?" Professor Flitwick asked with interest.

"After solidifying and shaping them, I can store them for a day at most. But if they leave my body, they'll disappear within half an hour, even if I don't activate the spell. If I do, they last no more than five seconds." Ezio had carefully tested this and knew the details well.

"That's already very useful information. Your solidification technique is quite mature. There may still be room to improve it, but I suspect the early form of modern spellcasting was already perfected by then. Once incantation magic had passed through its earliest and most difficult period, it replaced every casting method that had been used before and became the only mainstream approach."

"Why do you want to learn this somewhat outdated technique?"

"Because..."

Ezio turned around and casually tossed four knives. They swept through the air in sharp arcs, then struck the hearts of four dummy targets fifteen meters away with pinpoint accuracy, bursting into flashes of magical light.

"Because spells can't turn corners, but my knives can."

"Incredible!" Professor Flitwick jumped up onto the desk in surprise, his face full of curiosity and amazement. "I've never seen anyone use a technique like that. If you stood in a dueling arena, you'd certainly catch your opponent off guard!"

As he spoke, Professor Flitwick's eyes lit up. He was a celebrated dueling champion himself, but he'd never faced an opponent like Ezio in the arena. If he had, the first time he encountered such an attack, he would certainly have been thrown into disarray.

"They're just a few little tricks. You flatter me," Ezio said modestly. To him, it was something anyone could do, so he didn't feel particularly proud of it.

"Are throwing knives difficult to learn? Honestly, I'm tempted." Professor Flitwick blinked. He seemed genuinely eager to learn this flashy technique. "But perhaps now isn't the time to talk about that. Are you planning to enter dueling competitions someday?"

"I might not enter dueling competitions. These techniques are part of my family's traditions. Mastering them is like learning a way to earn a living."

"All right." Professor Flitwick looked a little disappointed. "If you ever become interested in dueling, I can help you get in touch with some competitions. The prize money is quite generous."

"But for now, do you have any specific requirements for your Solidification Charms?"

"Weight." Ezio set the remaining four knives on the table. "They have a physical form, but no weight, which makes them very hard to control when I throw them. If they had mass, I could use more complex throwing techniques, like changing direction in midair or making them fly in zigzags."

"I may be able to solve that."

Professor Flitwick's research into Charms fully lived up to his reputation as a master. He needed only a moment's thought to find a solution.

"All we need to do is add a small physical carrier, then use a little trick when solidifying the spell."

"I think you're ready to start learning combined casting. For example, combining Accio with the Levitation Charm."

Professor Flitwick drew his wand and gave it a gentle wave. He summoned a book, which then hovered motionless in front of him. Yet he had used only Accio, not two separate spells.

"Combined casting is also called a Spell Chain. Once the effect of one spell takes hold, we can add an extra linked cast that includes the effects of other spells. Of course, you can also have them trigger at the same time, like this."

Flitwick waved his wand again, pointing it at an unused wooden target nearby. The freezing cold of Flash Freeze spread in an instant, while an explosion of flames erupted at the same time. The wooden dummy became a pile of smoking, frost-covered debris.