RioRaRyu
patreon
Chapter 131: Special Training
🕑 Added 2025-04-22 15:41:37 +0000 UTC"Focus and use your mental power to guide your magic. Then use your gestures to construct the magical energy into a stable foundation. Faster, Noah!"
"Can I use a wand?"
"No. Just like I won’t allow you to use a Sling Ring to travel through space, you must rely on your own power to accomplish all of this."
“Damn it, then why did you even make so many enchanted items!?”
The Ancient One’s training was undeniably harsh, especially for Noah, who was beginning to see a whole different side of his teacher beyond her usual calm gentleness.
He could only respond with helpless silence. Honestly, he regretted ever writing that letter in the first place.
After a month of instruction, Ms. Haifin had made decent progress in magic. While she still lagged behind Noah and other experienced magicians, she had at least gone from having zero magical foundation to becoming an actual practitioner. That transformation was thanks to the power of meditation.
Of course, part of it was also due to the Ancient One’s guidance and the unique magical environment of Kamar-Taj, but meditation played a major role, and the Ancient One seemed very pleased. With a strong foundation in meditation, magicians could grow far more rapidly.
After assessing Ms. Haifin’s development, the Ancient One’s attention naturally returned to Noah.
Well, to be more accurate, she had always been focused on him. Previously, Noah had been undergoing physical training, so she hadn’t pushed him too hard. But now, seeing that his physical progress was acceptable, if not exceptional, she began imparting her deeper understanding of magic.
Honestly, it was painful for Noah. He had to unlearn a lot of habits, starting with his overreliance on his wand.
Not that wands were bad, in fact, they were an immense convenience to any magician, capable of amplifying one’s magic significantly. But they were also a crutch.
In emergency situations, where one didn’t have time to draw their wand, being unable to cast magic meant becoming a sitting duck, like a fish on the chopping board.
That’s why, in training, the Ancient One strictly forbade Noah from using his wand.
It gave him headaches. Still, he had to adjust.
Though he hadn’t completely shaken his dependence, Noah was now able to cast decently strong spells without a wand. It felt strange using only gestures, but it proved incredibly useful in high-stress or combat situations.
Of course, his spells weren’t as powerful as before, but they were still effective.
What truly frustrated him, though, was the Ancient One’s refusal to let him use the Sling Ring. He had no choice but to accept it.
The Sling Ring was an artifact that drew on power sealed within it to allow sorcerers to open portals and travel through space. Noah had only used it once, but he quickly realized that the energy inside wasn’t just any magic, it was the Ancient One’s own.
She had used some unique method to preserve her power within the ring, but Noah had no idea how.
All he knew was that during his first attempt, he successfully opened a portal, one that led directly to Hogwarts.
A few hours later, he had even managed to open the Mirror Dimension.
But after that, the Ancient One confiscated his Sling Ring.
Having recognized Noah’s talent, she refused to let him rely on it further. She insisted he learn to open portals through his own strength.
Noah was left with no choice but to obey. And under her relentless pressure, his magical prowess surged at a pace even he couldn’t believe.
In just a short time, his magical energy, control, and mental focus had all grown far beyond what months of Hogwarts training could have achieved.
Still… Noah felt like these days of hardship were dragging on for far too long.
“Very good, you lasted much longer this time. But you still need to improve, Noah,” said the Ancient One, watching a portal Noah conjured flicker and vanish after less than five seconds. She nodded with a rare smile.
“I know, teacher,” Noah replied weakly.
A full day of training had left him utterly drained. After nearly two weeks of trying to open a portal without the Sling Ring, he had finally succeeded, but each success left him completely tapped out.
Theoretically, he deserved praise. But the Ancient One didn’t seem all that impressed.
Noah knew the suffering wasn’t over. Still, he endured. After all, who didn’t want to grow stronger?
“Do you think I’m being too harsh?” The Ancient One smiled gently as she watched him slump under a tree, completely exhausted.
“Maybe,” Noah admitted, “but I also know this is good for me in the long run, right?”
“Noah, your talent is remarkable, and your mind is quick.”
She sat down beside him and smiled. “Magical tools are indeed helpful in combat. But, ”
“, But depending on them too much causes your core abilities to deteriorate,” Noah interrupted with a tired grin.
He had come to understand the Ancient One’s nature well enough by now to interrupt her freely.
“That’s why I’m still pushing through, even if I complain sometimes. Right, teacher?” He sat up straighter. “I get it. I know the benefits. Don’t worry, I’m not that short-sighted.”
“I know you’re not,” she nodded. Then, reaching into her robes, she pulled out what looked like a glowing pendant and handed it to him.
“What’s this?” Noah asked, feeling the magic pulsing within the charm.
“This is your identification. Or more precisely, it marks your classification. Congratulations, you’ve exceeded my expectations. You’re now a Third-Order Magician, Mr. Finniel.”
“Um… thanks, teacher.”
Noah scratched his nose awkwardly and let his magic flow into the pendant. Immediately, a surge of information entered his mind. The most eye-catching part? His official magic classification.
The level system had been designed by the Ancient One, using a framework Noah had provided. It was simple for him, he had gotten it straight from his system.
What surprised him was that the system, which had played dead for years, suddenly handed him this comprehensive classification scheme when he simply wanted to try something.
He didn’t ask questions. He already knew the system behaved like a moody father, helpful when it wanted to be, silent when it didn’t.
After receiving the data, he had casually discussed strength classifications with the Ancient One. Then, after pretending to ponder it for days, he handed her the plans.
Though she was surprised at first, she quickly understood. With some adjustments, removing “Ranks” and keeping “Order”, they began crafting magical items to reflect the hierarchy.
Noah’s pendant was among the first of such items. It would always be something special to him.
Honestly, if things didn’t work out one day… he could probably sell it for a good sum!
“Keep working hard, Noah. Someday, you might be like me.”
“The future feels a bit far off, teacher,” Noah sighed. “I have some more immediate concerns.”
“Such as?”
“School is starting soon. When I return… can I use my wand and Sling Ring again?”
It was a genuine concern. In his memory, third-year problems weren’t too serious. But after two years of using his wand, adjusting suddenly was difficult.
And that Sling Ring, it was too convenient. It allowed him to bypass Hogwarts’ barrier completely.
Sure, he could open portals without it now, but doing so drained him too much. It just wasn’t practical.
“Alright,” said the Ancient One with a smile. “But only if you promise me that you’ll continue training to avoid relying on them.”
“Of course! I swear it.”
Noah answered quickly. Wand or no wand, he still dreamed of becoming like the Ancient One, capable of unleashing terrifying magic without any tools.
“Very good. Then I’ll allow it.”
She nodded. “I’ll properly evaluate you in a year. This time was too short, but even so, you’ve achieved what others may not reach in a full year. That’s remarkable.”
Others wouldn’t achieve this in a year?
Noah’s lips twitched. Did she realize just how much suffering he had endured? Couldn’t they take it a little slower?
Just as he was sulking, the Ancient One patted his shoulder and stood up to leave.
“Teacher, wait!” Noah panicked. Was she seriously leaving now? What about his ring?
“What is it, Noah?” she turned back, pretending not to know what he meant.
“The ring…”
“The ring?”
“Yes!”
“Oh, I already gave it to you,” she said with a mysterious smile. “It just changed its form. Isn’t it hanging around your neck now?”
---
