The Restored, Clean Dungeon

Xiwen recalled the method Miranda had mentioned and said, "First, we should try the Washing-up Spell."

Ghost Xiwen immediately began flipping through the book for the Washing-up Spell's incantation.

It had to be said that this thick notebook was incredibly comprehensive. It covered a vast number of spells Xiwen had never even heard of, seemingly far beyond the small portion found in textbooks. Finding one specific spell among them was no easy task; he might easily overlook it if he was not careful.

I should have Miranda create an automatic spell-searching charm. It would make looking up spells much more convenient. Xiwen idly mused as he turned the pages.

Back in his previous life at Kamar-Taj, the great library of the Sanctum Sanctorum had been quite up-to-date with a search system.

Entering a book title into the computer by the entrance would display its exact location—on which shelf, in which row, and in which position. It was extremely convenient and practical.

Seeing that Xiwen had still not found it, Helena floated over as well and helped search beside the transparent barrier created by the Ghost-Restricting Charm.

"It looks like the difficulty of these spells generally increases page by page. The Washing-up Spell shouldn't be that far back, should it?" Helena asked doubtfully as she watched Xiwen flip nearly to the last page.

Ghost Xiwen thought about it and realized that did seem to be the case. He flipped back to an earlier section and saw that household spells and combat spells had been compiled separately. The Washing-up Spell was prominently listed near the front of the household spells.

"Looks like I really did miss it," Ghost Xiwen said with an embarrassed smile.

"As long as we found it. Let me see how it works," Young Wizard Xiwen said, calmly coming to the rescue of his Soul Body.

As an essential and practical household spell, the Washing-up Spell was not particularly difficult. Young Wizard Xiwen was more or less able to use it after reading through it twice.

Watching a stream of water futilely scrub the floor under the control of his wand, Young Wizard Xiwen shook his head.

"It doesn't seem very effective. What about the other method?" Helena asked.

"We can use the Severing Charm to cut away the mud and ash," Young Wizard Xiwen said. "I've learned that one."

As he spoke, Xiwen realized something was wrong. After getting used to switching back and forth with one sentence from each of them, it seemed that he had accidentally said that last line through Ghost Xiwen...

Seeing Helena look toward him, Ghost Xiwen's mouth twitched. He added, "I learned it when I traveled through England before."

"The incantation is Diffindo," he said solemnly, while silently deciding not to get distracted so easily when dividing his attention in the future...

"I know. I actually taught myself that spell before too," Young Wizard Xiwen replied.

He took out his wand, pointed it at the dirtiest patch, and chanted, "Diffindo!"

A sizable crack instantly split open across the floor.

After cutting several more times, the entire layer of filthy mud and ash was severed from the ground.

"Scourgify!" Young Wizard Xiwen cast the Cleaning Charm on the chunks of mud and ash he had cut away, but the huge mass of filth barely changed.

"It's too large. The Cleaning Charm won't do anything," Helena said. "You should have used the Vanishing Spell directly."

"But I don't know it..." Xiwen spread his hands helplessly, sounding somewhat dejected. "The Vanishing Spell is part of the Wizarding Levels Examination, and I'm only a first-year young wizard."

"You're only in your first year?" Helena asked in astonishment. "School only started a week ago!"

Because Xiwen had kept up morning exercises for a long time, his body had developed well, and he was noticeably taller than children his age. Combined with his comparatively mature mindset, his expression did not resemble that of a child at all. Helena had therefore always taken him for a third- or fourth-year Slytherin young wizard.

Who would have thought that he was merely a new student who had been in school for five days?

"I learned quite a few things at home," Young Wizard Xiwen said with a smile.

He truly was not a young wizard in the ordinary sense. His learning ability and memory remained at the level of an adult in his twenties. However, the total amount of magic within him was limited by his age and thus rather meager, which was also the greatest obstacle hindering his growth.

Although he could not use the Vanishing Spell, Xiwen still came up with a solution.

"Wingardium Leviosa!"

With an elegant Floating Charm, he flung the huge chunk of mud and ash to the end of the corridor outside the room. That place had already been even dirtier and messier, so after throwing the chunk in, no one could tell that there was one more piece of filth there.

Next, Xiwen repeatedly used the Severing Charm and the Floating Charm, cutting down the grime on the floors and walls and tossing it all to the end of the corridor. The entire cell, including the nearby corridor, became spotless... though pitted and uneven.

"Not bad. Next, will you use the Mending Charm to restore them to how they were?" Helena immediately guessed the next step.

"That's right." Young Wizard Xiwen sat down on a relatively flat patch of floor, panting heavily as he nodded tiredly. "But I probably need to rest for a bit."

"You've worked so hard." Helena looked at the exhausted Young Wizard Xiwen with some guilt. "Let's leave the parts that need the Mending Charm until next time. Go back and get some proper rest first!"

Having learned his lesson this time, Ghost Xiwen promptly said to Young Wizard Xiwen before Helena's gaze could sweep over him, "Thank you, Xiwen."

Habit really did become second nature. He could now stare at his own face, say his own name, and offer thanks without changing expression. Xiwen suspected that if this continued, he would develop a split personality...

Young Wizard Xiwen took out his pocket watch and glanced at it. Lunchtime was nearly over, and he was too exhausted to climb up to the Great Hall for food. So he simply gave up on going there and lay down on the uneven floor.

Helena looked worriedly at Young Wizard Xiwen and asked, "Honestly, you've already helped us tremendously. Why not go back and rest? Don't lie on the floor and catch a chill."

Young Wizard Xiwen shook his head. Feeling that some of his magic had recovered, he struggled to his feet.

In the space filled with slash marks, he extended his wand toward the room before him and gently closed his eyes.

In stark contrast to his exhausted body, his mind was surprisingly relaxed. Every trace of movement from the meager magic within him was completely under his control. Facing the state of his own magic, this strange feeling was like... the illusion Dumbledore had described, as though he could do anything!

"Reparo!"

He shouted the Mending Charm's incantation and swung the wand in his hand.

From the inside out, countless particles spread across every wall and every piece of flooring. From nothing, every inch of the room was swiftly restored. The uneven floors and walls became smooth and pristine.

The dungeon now possessed dark teal marble walls and smooth bluestone floors. Mysterious, profound patterns decorated the ground, carrying the weight of countless years of history.

Having exhausted the last trace of his magic, Xiwen leaned against the wall behind him, barely managing to keep himself from collapsing. Waves of dizziness struck his mind from time to time, yet his heart was filled with satisfaction.

Xiwen savored that earlier illusion of omnipotence, feeling that he had touched upon an exceptionally rare realm: outstanding control over himself.

It was also this control that allowed him to successfully cast this large-scale Mending Charm using nearly half less magic than it should have required.

Helena looked at the patterns on the ground, traces of the old castle floors that still felt faintly familiar, and was overwhelmed with emotion. Even after Young Wizard Xiwen staggered out of the cell, she had yet to recover from her astonishment.

"For our sake, he definitely didn't have time to eat," she suddenly said to Ghost Xiwen.

Ghost Xiwen nodded, thinking that he was obviously even more aware of that.

Helena continued, "I'm going to the kitchen to ask the House-Elves to send him something to eat. Will you be all right staying here by yourself?"

Hearing that he might still get something to eat, Xiwen was overjoyed.

He quickly said, "I'll be fine. Go quickly—the young wizard's body is more important!"

"I'll thank you on Xiwen's behalf."

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