So how did I skip the stages in between?
Zhang Xiao returned to his dormitory, threw himself onto his soft bed, and stared at the canopy above him as the question arose.
Judging by Hermione's account of her own learning process, young wizards were supposed to explore magic in a linear progression.
They began by casting magic through instinct. Once they developed an interest in spells, they started reading related papers and books, delving into more profound subjects.
Eventually, they became like Penelope and Professor Flitwick in his younger days.
They tried to improve spells based on the theories they understood. Once they had accumulated enough knowledge, perhaps they needed an opportunity, a flash of inspiration-and, more importantly, sufficient talent!
Then they would integrate everything they had learned, take another step forward, and reach an entirely new realm.
What about me? Am I... different?
Zhang Xiao silently questioned himself.
Yes, I am different. From the very beginning, my head was full of the strange magical theories I discussed with people in my previous life. My thinking is more active, and I have more ideas.
After learning to cast magic, just when I should have started studying theory, I encountered Ron's incorrect incantation.
That planted a question in my mind...
That was when I took a completely different path, before I even had a chance to consult more specialized books.
If he classified spellcasting into realms using the terminology he was most familiar with, the levels would be:
The realms of spellcasting should be divided into:
"Magic apprentice"-first-year students making their first attempts at magic, who could not even cast a complete spell.
"Magic adept"-ordinary students in their second through fifth years, capable of casting some spells; the typical practitioners of rote spellcasting.
"Magic mage"-top students, fifth- through seventh-year students, and