The moon hung high in the sky, shining on the ancient castle of Hogwarts— and on the peaceful village of Hogsmeade.
"Lumos!"
A bright light dispelled the darkness in the cabin, illuminating the minimalist furniture. Even the small spiders clinging to cobwebs in the corner became clearly visible.
It was another attempt—another practice of magic.
Only this time, after the light came on, it didn't go out as before. Through repeated practice and growing proficiency, Ian had finally grasped the basic essence of this beginner-level wizarding spell. What glowed at the tip of his wand was not sunlight, but the manifestation of the inner light within a wizard's heart.
Yes— this is the essence of the Lumos spell.
At least, the superficial essence that Ian had comprehended so far.
"A world of idealism."
Even though he had been psychologically prepared for the unscientific nature of magic, Ian couldn't help but sigh in awe after truly experiencing and learning his first spell.
All magic comes from the wizard himself— from the power of belief.
That was what Ian had once heard, and now, the superficial understanding he had gained closely aligned with that explanation.
Perhaps, once Ian had learned enough spells and risen high enough in magical ability, he would uncover the true origins of magic—and answer the question that had intrigued people for generations.
"It's just that there's still a long way to go before I can do that," Ian thought, feeling a little dizzy. He attributed it to magical fatigue.
Of course, he didn't feel a clear sense of depletion. His magic power hadn't decreased. Instead, he felt a kind of weariness—like the exhaustion one feels after staying up too late.
Clearly, a wizard's magic power isn't consumed in the way "mana" depletes in video games.
Instead, the so-called "magic power consumption" is better described as the fatigue of that power.
It was more like the temporary exhaustion of an active function, which requires time and rest to fully recharge—just like physical fatigue from exercise that can be relieved with sleep.
"Fortunately, I've already learned the Lumos spell. It's getting late. After tidying up, I need to sleep."
This sensation of magical exhaustion was a blessing in disguise for Ian.
Otherwise, with the thrill of learning magic today, it would've been hard for him to fall asleep—just like a child playing a game console for the first time.
The fatigue from magical exertion had effectively replaced the need for sleeping pills.
The bed in the bedroom was tidy, lightly scented with lavender.
It had likely been freshly made, saving Ian the trouble of arranging the sheets.
After a quick shower, he wrapped himself in the quilt and lay down.
Outside, the gentle sound of a flowing stream and the croaking of frogs echoed through the night.
Despite his magical fatigue, Ian couldn't resist checking his panel once more.
It felt— as if he feared that the magic he had just learned might vanish without warning. A childish worry.
Name: Ian Prince
Occupation: Bloodline Warlock
Magic Power: Level 4
Skills:
Lumos (Level 1): 1/100
Language Mastery (Level 4): 743/800
Biological Anatomy (Level 5): 69/1600
Free Combat (Level 3): 86/400
Psychology (Level 6): 84/3200
Extraordinary Traits:
Psychology: Mind Perception
Biological Anatomy: Butcher Instinct
Lumos had successfully leveled up to 1.
He was now one step closer to unlocking an Extraordinary Trait.
Though his current magic power level of four wasn't particularly impressive, Ian wasn't discouraged.
As young wizards age, their magical power tends to grow significantly.
Magic power wasn't the issue.
The real test of a wizard's excellence lies in their ability to learn and apply magic.
"In that sense, old Ollivander was right. I will become a great wizard," Ian thought, a hint of pride swelling in his chest.
And that was no exaggeration.
With such a powerful golden finger, learning magic became far easier for Ian.
Every increase in skill proficiency granted him insights.
And an upgrade like Lumos from level 0 to 1 triggered a wave of enlightenment—
as if once-distant and hazy knowledge suddenly became within reach.
It was truly a game-changing ability.
One that most wizards couldn't even dream of.
Talent? Perhaps.
Other wizards might simply memorize the spell descriptions from textbooks and mimic the processes refined by their predecessors.
But Ian's learning journey was fundamentally different.
After every attempt, he gained deeper insight into the magic behind the spell.
In essence, he wasn't just learning the spell— he was learning the magic itself.
That was Ian's true uniqueness.
He was learning magic. Most wizards—even adults—were only learning spells.
Take Lumos, for example.
Most wizards, even after graduation, still use this introductory first-year spell in the same way, relying on secondhand experience.
This is why wandless magic remains a fantasy for most.
"Incantations" are shortcuts.
By simply speaking the right words, the magic is triggered. Over time, wizards become dependent on these shortcuts.
But wandless magic? That demands a deep understanding of the magic embedded within the spell.
Perhaps long ago, there were more wizards who pursued the true meaning of magic. But in today's fast-paced world, impatience isn't exclusive to Muggles.
Just as Muggles have abandoned letters for phones, most wizards, given the ease of casting spells, have no incentive for deep magical research.
Truth is always uncovered by a few.
Magic is no exception.
"I wonder how many levels of understanding I'll need before I can cast spells without a wand…" Ian wondered, full of hope.
And with that hopeful thought, he slowly drifted into sleep.
Tonight, he didn't choose to control his dreams.
So, they were even more vivid and thrilling than usual.
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