Christmas

Before he knew it, it was already December 25th—Christmas Day. His practice at St. Mungo's had also come to an end. He had progressed quickly with healing spells, especially in the environment of St. Mungo's and with Ryan's own level-four Charmcraft supporting him.

He had arranged to meet Penelope and Kate at six in the evening, at Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop.

"Episkey!"

It was another pig that should have been sent to the kitchen. As Ryan cast the spell, its visible wounds receded like a tide.

Ryan, in the practice room, nodded in satisfaction.

"It seemed my decision was correct. St. Mungo's really was a good place."

After steadying himself, Summon the Era Again began to dance once more in this unfamiliar land. A wild gale swirled around Ryan's utterly unrecognizable movements. His expression seemed both sorrowful and joyful, while crimson magical energy, like flames, coiled around his body. From time to time, he vanished from where he stood and abruptly appeared elsewhere.

He took a deep breath of Phoenix Feather lit by Gubraithian Fire. A sensation both icy and warm burned against Ryan's pounding heart, and the phoenix pattern on his chest flickered with sacred red light.

Without opening his mouth, Ryan's voice rang in the mind of the House-elf Jack. "Jack, was my formal attire ready?"

Jack, beside him, seemed thoroughly accustomed to this. Lowering his head, he answered, "Master, the formal attire has been completed. Would you like to—"

"I would bathe first. Just have it ready." Ryan interrupted without speaking.

Pushing open the practice room doors, Ryan passed between silver stands lit with Gubraithian Fire and arrived beside the elevator—one of Ryan's recent creations. He pressed the button for the basement level and entered. The elevator, forged entirely from dark, profound, exotic metal, slowly opened its doors, revealing the bathroom directly ahead.

Ignoring the seductive posing of the mermaids in the magical paintings, Ryan slowly sank into the bath. For the first time in a long while, he emptied his mind and entered a state beyond thought and non-thought.

Before he knew it, it was already five in the afternoon.

Race: Wizard

Strength: 19 (the limit for ordinary people is 10)

Constitution: 31 (the limit for ordinary people is 10)

Magic Power: 26 (the limit for ordinary people is 10)

Skills: Thinking lv.4↑ (21%) Body Modification lv.4 (2%) Alchemy lv.3 (24%) Charmcraft lv.4 (2%) Potion-Making lv.2 (21%) Transfiguration lv.3 (6%) Care of Magical Creatures lv.2 (55%) Gun Kata lv.3 (5%) Martial Arts lv.2 (26%) Detection lv.2 (49%) Phoenix Metamorphosis lv.2 (1%) Telepathic Communication lv.1 (44%)······

This time, Ryan Apparated directly to Glaum's Wizarding Attire on Central Avenue in Hogsmeade Village. This was also one of Smith's properties. Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop, the post office, Zonko's Joke Shop, The Three Broomsticks, Honeydukes, the Shrieking Shack, and other shops were all on this street.

Ryan pushed open the door at the corner of Glaum's Wizarding Attire and slipped into the crowd without drawing attention.

Hogsmeade Village was bustling with people. Many young wizards who lived in Hogsmeade had returned to the village for the holidays, and everything was filled with joy and the laughter of children chasing one another.

Ryan could not help smiling as well. Wearing a white Wizard Robe trimmed in gold, with its hood covering his head, only his eyes could be seen.

He slowly made his way toward Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop. On this holiday, young wizard couples in Third Year and above packed into this tea shop filled with a girlish atmosphere.

The shop was very small and steamy, with everything decorated in frills or bows.

A vivid green Christmas Tree stood beside every small round table, while the little snowmen on the tables occasionally scattered white paper flakes over the customers.

Ryan nodded to the plump Madam Puddifoot. Since he had made a reservation beforehand, he sat alone in a corner that had already been reserved. He took out Year with the Yeti, except unlike ordinary copies, the flirtatious Lockhart on the cover had vanished, leaving behind only a furry yeti.

Reading about a yeti on a snowy day was a perfect match. He was researching a Magic Book, though part of the reason was that Lockhart's face on the cover had disgusted him.

About fifteen minutes later, Ryan was reading about Lockhart using his mysterious XZ magic to subdue a terrifying yeti. Though much of it was absurd nonsense, Ryan still discovered some rigorous details. They were probably the actions of the story's original owner.

Just then, a familiar magical presence approached. Ryan closed the book and raised his head. Penelope and Kate, both wearing hoods, walked toward him.

When they saw Ryan look up, the small figure in blue robes jumped up and waved.

That had to be Kate. Strangely, Ryan could never detect her magical presence in advance, nor could he hear her footsteps. Was it because she was too short?

Penelope, wearing green Wizard Robes, picked up the Black Tea that had already been ordered and poured Kate a cup.

Kate naturally took the teacup and washed down a mung bean cake she had picked up from the saucer in one gulp.

"Mm, I felt alive again. Penelope, here, this was really good," Kate said brightly.

Penelope took a sip of Black Tea and ignored her.

"Ryan, last time you mentioned the three key points of Episkey. There was still a part I didn't understand," Penelope asked with a frown.

"It was your mindset. You had to treat yourself as a healer. Imagine the patient's wound, the more detailed the better." Ryan took Penelope's little hand and used it to gesture out the shape of a wound. He emphasized that she could borrow Simple Spells for Healing Wounds from the library. The text itself was not particularly important; what mattered were the illustrations inside.

Kate, beside them, puffed out her cheeks in boredom and began eating pastries as if in retaliation. Before long, as a Ravenclaw, she joined the discussion too.

Penelope's views struck straight at the heart of the matter, while Kate's ideas were wildly imaginative. Both brought Ryan many gains. Different, fresh insights absent from books were truly interesting.

They also exchanged news about their daily lives. Kate occasionally teased Penelope about the silly things she did, such as accidentally walking into Myrtle's usual bathroom while reading and getting drenched.

Yet by then, the little shop was almost entirely filled with couples. Holding hands or kissing, they were all flirting.

The three of them, discussing knowledge in a corner, instead seemed like oddities. Ryan could not help wondering why Penelope had chosen this place.

Suddenly, cool yet soft lips pressed against Ryan's cheek. He could have dodged, but he did not want to.

"It was getting late. We should go back and attend the Christmas party." With her ears flushed red, Penelope hurried away.

Kate, pretending to cover her eyes with her hand, followed after her with a teasing remark.

Ryan remained where he was. White paper flakes drifted onto the spot where he had just been kissed. With a faint laugh, Ryan, who had already paid, abruptly vanished from the tea shop.

Did this count as taking another step forward?

Was this what love felt like?

Why was he so happy?

After returning home, Ryan could not help thinking about it. Joyful magic kept overflowing from his body. In the training grounds, withered flowers bloomed again, while leaves and grass returned to vivid green.

Being young was wonderful. Penelope, who had originally only been a tool for studying the magic of love, had unknowingly gained a new place in Ryan's heart.

Thanks to Yuchi Jinyin and classmate 160711234724904 for their monthly tickets, and to Mingwuor2 for the comment.