"This was Lumos as well."
Li Wei's voice pulled the students back from their shock.
"And to achieve this effect, I went through five stages."
With a light flick of his wand, the partially burned training dummy returned to normal, though a faint scorched smell still lingered in the air.
"The first stage, I define as the theoretical stage.
"This is the stage Ginny is currently in: mastering a spell's most standard casting movements, rhythm, and syllables, and understanding the resonance frequency through which it mobilizes magical power.
"Of course, you also need a calm state of mind—but that clearly isn't a problem for any of you."
"The second stage is endless, diligent practice."
Hermione lifted her head at that moment—but she quickly realized that her own method was merely the second stage—and lowered her head again.
"Even the simplest spell, I repeated tens of thousands of times.
"Instinctive casting is faster than thought. Until casting a spell has become muscle memory, I won't rush to learn the next one.
"In my view, only then does it count as a basic mastery of a spell."
Li Wei paused here.
"The remaining three stages have no particular order or hierarchy. In my view, they are merely manifestations of a wizard's own will.
"This was also Ginny's question just now—after reaching basic mastery, how can one increase a spell's power?"
Ginny lowered her head as well—if the professor's definition of basic mastery meant this, then she definitely didn't think she had basically mastered the spells she had learned.
After continuously studying under Li Wei during this period, Ginny had thought she was already doing quite well. But now, it seemed she was still far behind.
"Magic is the embodiment of imagination and a wizard's willpower.
"When I chant a spell, what I imagine is not what the finished spell will look like. I imagine magic resonating at the tip of my wand, nurturing tremendous kinetic energy that will tear apart the darkness in an instant.
"This kind of imagination is not absolute. Every wizard has their own understanding of the world, just as you may not understand what 'kinetic energy' is.
"You don't need to figure it out. You only need to understand this world according to your own thoughts, and firmly believe that this is the correct path."
"I only want to teach you the theory of learning magic, but I do not want you to understand magic entirely according to my way of thinking.
"Whether it is Percy's method or Pas's, in my view, both can ultimately lead to the same result, provided that you firmly believe your own path is correct.
"Of course, such persistence is often the hardest thing. It requires you to constantly come to understand the world, adjust your perceptions, strengthen your convictions, and remain unchanged."
"Besides imagination, the confidence Percy mentioned is also extremely important.
"When casting a spell, you must believe that your magic will certainly manifest in the way you expect.
"Doubt is the greatest obstacle to the flow of magic. You are not 'trying' to produce a bright light—you are declaring the birth of light."
"When your will and your imagination both believe this without reservation, the spell will reveal its true power."
"As for the final stage, I do not wish to say it, nor do I believe you need to deliberately pursue it—the answer to that stage is for you to discover yourselves."
The classroom was silent. Everyone wore thoughtful expressions.
"All right, Ginny's question has been answered. Does anyone else have questions this week?"
No one spoke.
Seeing this, Li Wei assigned an essay with no word limit, asking them to explain their understanding of the five stages of magic in writing and bring it to him next week.
"Class dismissed."
One after another, everyone left.
Cedric, however, had been cautious. He deliberately took his time packing up and was the last to stand.
After everyone had left in order, he stood at the door, suddenly turned to look at Li Wei, and gathered his courage.
"Professor."
"Hmm? What is it?"
"Halloween is coming up. Nearly Headless Nick will be holding a Deathday Party, and I was thinking of inviting Qiao Weili to go take a look with me. Would that be all right?"
Qiao Weili, who had been immersed in Li Wei's earlier speech, abruptly looked up, somewhat dazed—what did this have to do with him?
"A ghost's Deathday Party?"
Li Wei was somewhat surprised and instinctively looked toward Qiao Weili—he had lowered his head and did not dare look at Li Wei, seeming a little embarrassed.
"If you want to invite Qiao Weili, why are you asking me?"
Seeing that Li Wei's attitude remained calm, Cedric recited the speech he had prepared in advance.
"Professor, regarding the fifth stage you mentioned today, I actually already have an answer—the emotions are a very important factor affecting a spell's power, aren't they?
"Professor Dumbledore once told me that the power of love is the strongest magic in the world.
"You had us perform a play because you wanted us to experience different emotions through it and improve our magical abilities, wasn't that right?"
Li Wei looked at Cedric with some surprise.
This student truly was different from the others. He was simply too good at thinking.
While the other students merely followed his teaching, Cedric would always consider the deeper meaning behind it and move toward the effect Li Wei wished to achieve.
Such insight was a burden for foolish students—once they knew the effect Li Wei wanted to achieve and had mentally prepared themselves, their minds would instead resist it, producing worse results.
But Cedric would not. He would only do better.
"Yes."
Li Wei nodded, wanting to see how Cedric would persuade him—though he still did not understand why Cedric needed his permission to invite Qiao Weili out.
He had never restricted the freedom of his two assistants.
"So I was thinking... shouldn't wizards experience different things and feel different emotions? Wouldn't that be better than constantly shutting themselves away to study spells?"
"Mm, that makes a great deal of sense. I don't think I have any reason to refuse."
Li Wei nodded and looked toward his two assistants.
"Qiao Weili, did you hear that? The ghosts of Hogwarts will be holding a party on Halloween. Go take a look with Cedric then—Jiamer, you should go too."
Qiao Weili immediately closed the mouth he had just opened.
Jiamer frowned slightly, not understanding why she had to go too, but she still agreed.
Senior Sister Jiamer is going too? Cedric felt awkward—being around this beautiful senior sister, who was always so cold, was both nerve-racking and unsettling.
"What? You don't welcome me?"
Jiamer seemed to have sensed Cedric's thoughts and glanced at him.
"N-no, of course you're welcome."
Cedric gave a bitter smile, suddenly regretting his decision.
"The party starts at seven o'clock on Halloween. I'll come pick you up ten minutes early."
For some reason, I always make mathematical mistakes when writing. When I noticed it just now, I was sweating bullets. I clearly checked the calculations several times when I started the book.
The protagonist enrolled in 1971 with Snape and the others. In 1992, he should have been thirty-two, not thirty-eight. The twenty-one years since graduation in the synopsis should also be changed to fourteen years.
The mistake has been corrected. New readers will not be affected. To old readers, I'm sorry orz. Please keep following the story; it really is very important to me orz.
Before you continue