The moon hung high in the sky.
It shone over Hogwarts' ancient castle.
And over the peaceful village of Hogsmeade.
"Lumos!"
Bright light banished the darkness inside the cabin, illuminating its minimalist furnishings. Even the tiny spider on the web in the corner was clearly visible.
Another attempt at magic. Another practice session.
But.
This time.
After the light appeared, it didn't go out like it had before. Through repeated practice and steadily increasing proficiency, Ian had finally grasped the basic nature of this entry-level wizarding spell. The light shining from the tip of his wand wasn't sunlight. It was the manifestation of the light within a wizard's mind.
Yes.
That was the essence of the [Lumos] spell.
At least.
It was the rudimentary essence Ian had managed to grasp for now.
"So this is a world shaped by the mind."
Even though he'd mentally prepared himself for the unscientific nature of magic, after actually coming into contact with it and learning his first spell, Ian still couldn't help letting out a heartfelt sigh.
All magic.
Came from the wizard themselves.
From the power of "belief."
Ian had once heard magic explained that way. Now, the rudimentary essence he had grasped felt remarkably similar to that explanation.
Perhaps.
Once Ian learned enough spells and raised his magic level high enough, he would be able to uncover the true secret behind magic's creation and satisfy humanity's curiosity about its origins.
"But I still have a long way to go before I can do that." Ian's head felt a little hazy. He could probably attribute it to his magic running low.
Of course.
In truth, he didn't feel any distinct sense of having drained or depleted his reserves. The magic inside him hadn't decreased at all. It felt more like the exhaustion that came after staying up late for too long.
Clearly.
A wizard's expenditure of magic wasn't like the precise increase and decrease of a clearly defined "mana bar" in a video game. The term "magic running low" was better described as magic growing "sluggish."
It was like some kind of loss of vitality: it needed time and rest to regain its vigor. Well, more or less like how the energy you expend exercising came back after you rested.
"At least I've learned Lumos, and it's getting late. I should tidy up and get some sleep." For Ian, the feeling of being worn out after staying up late was actually a good thing.
Otherwise.
Considering everything that had happened today and the excitement of encountering magic, getting a full night's sleep would have been difficult. It was like how children often felt after playing a video game for the first time.
The sluggishness of his magic had completely replaced the need for sleeping pills. The bed in the bedroom was very tidy and carried the faint, distinctive fragrance of lavender.
Someone had clearly changed the sheets not long ago, saving Ian the trouble of making the bed. After a quick shower, he slipped under the covers and lay down.
Outside.
The sound of flowing water from the stream harmonized with the croaking of frogs. Though Ian felt exhausted from using his magic, he couldn't help checking his panel one more time.
It was almost as if he childishly feared the spell he'd learned might quietly disappear again.
Name: Ian Prince
Occupation: Bloodline Warlock
Magic: Level 4
Skills: [Lumos (Level 1): 1/100]
Language Mastery (Level 4): 743/800
Biological Dissection (Level 5): 69/1600
Free Combat (Level 3): 86/400
Psychology (Level 6): 84/3200
[Psychology Extraordinary Trait: Thought Perception]
[Biological Dissection Extraordinary Trait: Butcher Instinct]
[Lumos] had successfully reached Level 1.
He was one small step closer to awakening an [Extraordinary Trait].
A magic level of only four might not count as exceptional talent, but Ian wasn't the least bit dejected or disappointed. As young wizards grew older, their magic levels generally increased considerably.
Magic wasn't the problem.
Learning and applying magic was what determined whether a wizard was any good.
"Come to think of it, that Old Geezer who sold me the wand wasn't wrong. I'm definitely going to be an outstanding wizard." Ian couldn't help feeling a little smug.
And it was true.
With a cheat that powerful, learning any spell would become much easier for Ian. After all, every increase in a skill's proficiency brought him a new insight.
And a jump in level from 0 to 1, like the one [Lumos] had just undergone, gave Ian an even more remarkable flash of insight, as if he could suddenly reach out and touch something that had once seemed distant and obscure.
This was an astonishing ability.
A kind of talent that countless wizards wouldn't even dare to dream of...?
Perhaps other wizards mastered a spell by following the descriptions in their textbooks, imitating the steps and reproducing the "process" that their predecessors had worked out through experience.
However.
Ian's approach to understanding and learning magic was different.
With every attempt.
He gained a little more insight into the magic behind the spell. Strictly speaking, he wasn't learning the incantation itself, but the magic that lay behind it.
That was what truly set Ian apart.
He was learning magic.
Most other wizards, even grown ones, only learned the "incantation."
Take learning [Lumos], for example.
Even after graduating, most wizards probably still relied on the experience of their predecessors to use and understand this entry-level spell for first-years.
That was why wandless magic was out of reach for most wizards.
The "incantation" was a shortcut.
As long as a wizard spoke the corresponding words, they could activate the magic linked to that shortcut. Over time, it was only natural for them to become dependent on it.
But to cast magic without a wand.
It was essential to understand the magical principles contained within the spell.
Perhaps many wizards had once sought out and explored the true nature of magic.
But in the modern age, it wasn't only Muggles who had become restless and impatient.
Just as Muggles stopped writing letters once they had telephones, most wizards naturally abandoned tedious, difficult study once they had easy ways to use magic.
Only a few people ever explored the truth.
Magic was no different.
"I wonder what level of insight I'll need before I can cast a spell without a wand..." Looking forward to the future, Ian slowly drifted off to sleep.
Tonight.
He didn't choose to control his dreams.
So.
His bizarre, fantastical dreams were far more vivid than usual.