Magical Studies at Hogwarts...

Chapter 4 Magic is Idealistic

After leaving Ollivander's wand shop, Professor McGonagall took Ike to a secondhand robe shop and a junk shop to buy essential books, clothing, and equipment for the new students.

With the fourteen Galleons Ike still had, he couldn't afford to buy new ones from places like Flourish and Blotts or Madam Malkin's Robes.

While Galleons in the wizarding world have decent purchasing power, books and clothing are just as expensive in any world.

Especially books.

Fortunately, the junk shop had plenty of secondhand books, which many young wizards would sell right after their first year, some of which were even 70-80% new.

Miranda Goshak's *Standard Spells: Beginner's*, Bathilda Baghatt's *The Sorcerer*, Adbe Wolflin's *Theory of Magic*, Emory Swift's *Transfiguration for Beginners*, Philida Spohr's *A Thousand Magical Herbs*, Assani Giger's *Potions and Elixirs*, Newt Scamander's *Monsters and Where to Find Them*, and the largely useless *Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Defense*.

These essential first-grade textbooks didn't cost Ekko much Galleon.

In addition, Ike bought "Hogwarts: A History of the School", "Studies in the Development of Modern Wizardry", and "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them", along with a cauldron and a robe. Although they were all old items, in the end, he only had one Galleon, eight Sickles, and 124 Nat left.

At that moment, Ike finally understood why the Weasley family could only buy secondhand items for their children.

The cost of going to school is really too high.

"Mr. Strayed," Professor McGonagall kindly handed Ike a plain box that could just hold all his books and equipment. "This is your Hogwarts Express ticket. You need to arrive at King's Cross Station, Platform 9, before 11:00 AM on September 1st."

"The Hogwarts Express will depart on time, so I hope you will be on time, Mr. Strayed."

Ike accepted the ticket and nodded: "I will, Professor McGonagall."

"Well then, it's time to take you back." Professor McGonagall extended her left hand, and Ike took a deep breath, pulling the suitcase with one hand and grabbing Professor McGonagall's hand with the other.

The next moment, the familiar feeling of being squeezed returned.

Dean Julianne had been waiting in the room when she heard a "snap" and Professor Ike and Professor McGonagall appeared.

Ike was still quite disoriented and unaccustomed to Apparition. Professor McGonagall greeted Julianne and then Apparated away again.

"Little Ike, have you bought everything?" Julianne asked excitedly.

After all, that's magic! Who didn't fantasize about having superpowers when they were little?

Ike reluctantly opened the box, revealing its contents. Julianne casually picked up "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," opened it, and exclaimed in surprise at the animated pictures inside.

"So the books wizards read can move." Julianne flipped through them casually and then put them back.

"So, little Ike, are you buying all these books so you won't be going out for the rest of the holiday?"

"Probably." Ike nodded; he didn't want to waste even a fraction of his time.

"Alright, little Ike." Julianne affectionately ruffled Ike's hair. "Except for that... you've always been the child I trust the most, and the most outstanding one."

"However, it's good not to always hide indoors; it's also good to play with other children."

"I will," Ike agreed, picking up his suitcase. "Well then, shall I head back now?"

"All right……"

Ike walked to the door, then suddenly stopped, turned around, and revealed a very cute smile.

Julian

Thank you……

……

Back in his room, Ike immediately locked the door from the inside. Then he took out his wand, tore off a piece of paper, pointed the wand at the paper, and solemnly recited the first spell he had ever heard before.

"Yugadimurleviosa!"

As expected, the paper did not react at all.

"As expected, magic is not such a simple thing."

Ike took out "The Theory of Magic," took off his shoes, and half-reclined on the bed, slowly starting to read it from the beginning.

In this world, many things cannot be accomplished simply through the so-called "experience" in his mind, especially magic.

To understand what magic is like in this world, "Theory of Magic" naturally became Ike's first choice.

"Wizards can cast spells in any way..."

The very first sentence shocked Ike, as it was completely different from his impression. The scene of two wizards wielding wands and exchanging "Avada Kedavra" spells seemed to be just a cinematic technique.

However, what happened next made Ike frown.

"Goal, determination, composure..." The entire book "Theory of Magic" almost reiterates the importance of these 3D principles. And between the lines, determination is even more important.

"For a wizard to cast a spell, four basic actions must be fulfilled: specific wand movements, the correct incantation, the caster's awareness of the spell's effect, and a certain degree of concentration..."

"The existence of silent and wandless spellcasting indicates that, to a certain extent, the wand gesture and incantation can be omitted. Of course, this requires the wizard to have a deep understanding of spells and a strong control over their own magical power..."

"However, no wizard has ever cast a spell unconsciously. It's possible to create a magical effect unintentionally, but that's merely a surge of magical energy, not magic in the strict sense..."

Ike slowly sipped his copy of "The Theory of Magic," rubbing his temples. As a former high-achieving student with perfect reading comprehension, he naturally understood the ideas conveyed throughout the book.

"The most important element of magic is the wizard's subjective consciousness."

Ike thought for a moment, then picked up "Standard Spells: Beginner" again, found the casting technique and detailed description of the Levitation Spell, and read it carefully.

Picking up the wand again, and mimicking the gestures and key points from the book, I firmly addressed the paper on the table:

"Yugadimurleviosa!"

Ike felt a strange power surge from his body, running along his arm and into his wand. Then he saw the paper slowly float up, bobbing up and down with the movement of Ike's wand.

Levitation Spell Lv1 learned

"So this is what it feels like when a wizard casts a spell."

Ike knew very well that the power that had surged through his body just now was the legendary magic, and the entire process of casting the Levitation Charm was just as described in "Theory of Magic": specific wand movements, the correct incantation, subjective awareness of the spell's effect, and a certain degree of concentration.

Once all this is done, the wizard's magic can be directed to act on the target.

After that, through continuous practice and learning of magical knowledge, one can intuitively guide magic with one's conscious will and then achieve the desired effect through a magic wand.

The role of "spells" is weakened at this stage, which is known as "silent spellcasting".

When a wizard can direct the magic within his body to a target without any medium to achieve a desired effect, this is called "wielding a spell without a staff".

Thinking of this, Ike raised his arm again and waved his wand, but this time the paper did not react at all.

"I was definitely aiming too high." Ike subconsciously scratched his chin before practicing his levitation spell according to the standard casting method, constantly feeling the way the magic power in his body circulated and the subtle differences in each spell.

Thanks to the effect of "magic affinity", Ike can clearly feel the movement of magic, and with continuous practice, the level of the Levitation Charm is constantly improving.

After about twenty times, the Levitation Spell became Lv2, and after another fifty times, it became Lv3.

By this time, Ike was able to make paper float simply by waving his wand.

However, no matter how much Ike practiced afterward, his levitation spell level remained unchanged.

"Maybe it's time to change my target..."

From paper to pens, then from pens to notebooks, then to books, chairs, boxes, tables, beds, and even cabinets. Ike practiced in his room for five days and finally mastered the ability to make everything in the room float with a wave of his hand, drifting along with Ike's hand.

However, I can't hold it for too long; at most, I'll feel dizzy after ten seconds.

If he only controls one item, Ekko can maintain that control for a very long time.

At this point, the Levitation Spell had reached level 6.

"I remember, in this world, '7' is a magical number..."

With a slight twitch of his fingers, Ike caused a fountain pen to swirl and float as his fingertips moved.

"So what does a Level 7 Levitation Spell look like...?"

(End of this chapter)