Testing with Facts

After enjoying a lavish and delicious dinner, Manus followed Aivina on a walk to a small wood on the outskirts of Cokeworth.

The early autumn woods were carpeted with withered yellow leaves. The weather had been fairly good these past few days, so the ground was not muddy. As they stepped on it, they could hear the rustling of fallen leaves scraping against dead branches.

"Muggle-Repelling Charm."

Aivina drew her wand and gave it a flick, laying down a layer of Muggle-Repelling Charm around them. If anyone without magic approached this area, they would suddenly seem to remember something important and hurry away.

It was a mind-affecting spell that had plenty of flaws, but sometimes produced remarkably effective results.

Their home was protected by this kind of magic as well, effectively preventing strange people from lingering around their doorstep.

Is this the first spell I'm going to learn?

Meeting Manus's sparkling eyes, Aivina could not help but smile.

"Don't rush. You'll learn this spell within a few years after starting school."

Manus: ...?

A few years?

This spell looked like it was only first- or second-circle magic. Why would they learn it so late? And from the sound of it, it was even a required subject?

Then again, this world had the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy. It made sense for every wizard to know a Muggle-Repelling Charm.

At this point, Manus still did not know that the magic school of the future would differ ever so slightly from the magic school he imagined. He continued waiting eagerly for Aivina to reveal the first spell he would learn.

Aivina took a deep breath.

"To be honest, your father and I discussed for a long time what your first spell should be. We even argued over it last night."

Manus blinked. So the soundproofing magic last night had been because they were arguing...

"Of course, we considered teaching you a spell like Orchideous first. It's safe, stable, and simple."

As she spoke, Aivina flicked her wand and summoned an orchid from its tip without chanting an incantation.

Manus: !!!

There was... there was actually a spell like that?

Manus found it hard to imagine what purpose Aivina had had in learning such a useless spell, assuming she had not invented it herself...

"But a spell like that probably wouldn't satisfy your curiosity, would it, Manu?"

Aivina gave a bitter smile. After receiving no response from Manus for just one day, the two of them had already begun worrying themselves sick.

They had been children themselves. Naturally, they knew children could not understand—or perhaps, even if they understood, could not truly take in—the lofty moral lectures adults were so fond of giving.

If they could not get what they wanted through proper means, then sooner or later, they would start figuring out improper methods. The only difference was how improper those methods were.

And even if Manus was obedient and truly followed their instructions not to seek out knowledge of Charms on his own, his love of magic was genuine. If this continued, he might eventually come to resent them.

So, last night, she had proposed an extremely bold idea. After arguing with Griffin all night, she had ultimately persuaded him.

However, Griffin clearly still did not support her decision very much. That was why, when she had brought it up to Manus during dinner, Griffin had remained silent beside them.

After making her final mental preparations, Aivina looked at Manus.

"Manu, Mama has decided to teach you a very special kind of magic. It has no incantation, and you don't need to wave a wand. You can practice it by yourself even when your father and I aren't around."

Manus blinked, curiosity appearing on his face.

"However, this magic is extremely practical. More importantly, it can directly show whether you have the ability to learn other spells. As long as you meet Mama's requirements, your father and I will no longer interfere with your study of Charms."

Manus wanted to say that it was fine. At most, he would only need to wait another four years, but...

He really was looking forward to learning and casting magic. Besides, a seven-year-old child probably should not have that kind of patience, right?

"Then what kind of magic is it?"

Aivina smiled faintly.

"This magic is called Occlumency..."

Their concern that Manus might have an accident while learning spells rested on one central issue: whether he could truly keep his attention on the spell he was casting. That was simply impossible to say for certain.

This uncertainty was based on his stage of development. It had nothing to do with whether he seemed clever or mature.

Whether it was the King Family or the Thayer Family she had been born into, the experience passed down over so many years told them that children at this age simply could not focus on one fixed matter for long.

Even when playing, that was true, let alone studying. It was the same no matter how interested they were in something.

Even if their attention was focused at first, children would inevitably grow distracted after a little while. And distraction was undoubtedly disastrous when casting spells.

So Aivina intended to test him with facts—Occlumency truly was a highly advanced form of magic, but what if they did not demand the ability to resist Legilimency? What if they only required him to take the first step into it?

Then all that remained of this profound magic was a single requirement: concentration. He would not even need an incantation or a wand, which meant there was no danger of losing control.

As for emptying his mind and emotions, or even controlling his emotions and memories to deceive others, those were deeper-level requirements...

So, prove with facts that you can maintain focus for a long time, Manu.

The focus required for Occlumency was deeper than the focus needed to learn magic, but Mama truly had no other way to verify it.

If you could not do it, then admit your shortcomings. Wait until you were a few years older and capable enough before considering the study of spells.

But if you really could do it... then Mama could rest assured that you truly had the ability to learn spells.

"The purpose of this magic is to resist a kind of magic called Legilimency, which is used to pry into thoughts and memories. You need to focus with absolute intensity and concentrate on resisting that power."

Aivina explained the basic principles of Occlumency.

"I'll use Legilimency to try to peer into your surface emotions. When that happens, you may feel as though someone is staring at you. You may feel uncomfortable, as though your privacy has been exposed before someone else's eyes... Resist it."

Manus nodded somewhat hesitantly.

He truly had not expected his mother's final decision to be so... radical.

She was directly teaching him mind-affecting magic. Was this really something a child his age could learn outright? No assessment required?

Still, he had more or less understood Aivina's purpose.

Now that he knew every part of this world's magical system was closely connected to the mind, mind-affecting magic truly could reflect a wizard's mental ability most directly.

Then...

"Come on, Mama. I want to give it a try!"