RNP Chapter 95 Spell Training and the Departure from the Forbidden Forest
Chapter 95 Spell Training and the Departure from the Forbidden Forest
Chapter 95 Spell Training and the Departure from the Forbidden Forest
"The Dance Charm is amazing!" Wesley exclaimed, rubbing his hands together in anticipation after learning it. "And the Spider Repelling Charm, teach us that too!"
"The spell itself isn't particularly complicated; the key is the precise output of magic and the concentration of will. You need to clearly construct the idea of 'driving away the spider' in your mind and infuse it into the spell." Karen picked up her wand and walked to a slightly wider area in the center of the Eagle's Nest. "Watch my movements and pronunciation."
He stopped, took a deep breath, and focused his gaze. The wand did not thrust straight at him, but rather traced a relatively gentle, curved trajectory, slashing diagonally from the lower right to the upper left, as if casting an invisible curtain in front of him.
"A-ran-iaEu-mai!"
The incantation was uttered clearly and steadily. With a wave of the wand, a pale silver, semi-transparent light barrier flashed and disappeared in an area about two feet wide and one person tall in front of him. The instant the light barrier appeared, a faint, skin-tightening vibration was felt in the air, as if some invisible force had been repelled. Although there was no physical target, Karen could feel the magic successfully shaped, forming a repulsive field specifically targeting the senses of arthropods, especially spiders.
"Wow!" Wesley exclaimed, "It really works! I can feel the hairs on my arms standing on end!"
"The magical fluctuations are unique," Fabian sensed carefully, "They definitely carry a strong sense of repulsion, but are they only targeted at specific frequencies? Or perhaps biological characteristics?"
Ernesto observed Cullen's movements: "The arc of the wand's trajectory and the slight upward flick of the wrist at the end are key; they determine the shape and coverage of the barrier. Is the stress on the second syllable of 'Eumai'?"
“That’s right,” Karen nodded, approving of Ernesto’s keen observation. “The movements should be fluid, not stiff. Imagine you’re wielding an invisible brush, sweeping the concept of the ‘spider’ out of the space in front of you. The magic output should be even and continuous, covering the area you want to protect. The larger the area, the more magic is needed, and the more difficult it is to maintain. When you first start practicing, focus on forming a stable, small barrier in front of you.”
"Let me try! Let me try!" Wesley eagerly drew his wand, mimicking Cullen's gesture, and swung it sharply: "Arania Eumai!"
His movements were too swift, his wand's trajectory was erratic, and his incantation was shouted urgently and loudly. In the end, only a small, unformed wisp of mist popped out from the tip of his wand, vanishing instantly like a punctured soap bubble, without even a hint of repulsion.
"Um!" Wesley scratched his reddish-brown hair, somewhat embarrassed. "Something seems off?"
"The movement was too forceful, Wesley," Karen pointed out. "It's about the feeling of 'swinging,' not 'smashing.' The power was used too rigidly."
Also, the incantation was recited too quickly, the syllables were all mixed up. Slow down, be clearer, and focus your mind on "expelling" rather than "launching."
Fabian also picked up his wand, his gentle nature making his movements more cautious and deliberate. He carefully recalled Karen's demonstration, his wand slowly tracing an arc as he clearly chanted, "Arania Eumai!"
A pale silver light screen, much more pronounced than Wesley's earlier, flashed past him. Although it was only a foot wide and flickered extremely quickly, the faint sense of repulsion and vibration was clearly transmitted.
"It's done!" Fabian looked at his wand with delight. "It's small, but it felt right!"
"Very good, Fabian!" Karen encouraged. "Keep this feeling going, and try to gradually increase the range and duration. Pay attention to the stability of your magic output."
Ernesto didn't try immediately. Instead, he carefully reviewed the diagrams in the book and Karen's demonstration, silently rehearsing the movements and syllables in his mind several times. Only then did he raise his wand, precisely replicating Karen's trajectory. The flick and upward flick of his wrist were just right, and the spell was clear and steady: "Arania Eumai!"
Metaphor!
A clear, solid pale silver light screen instantly unfolded, much smaller than the one Karen had just demonstrated, and lasted for more than a second before dissipating. The repulsive vibration was also stronger.
"Wow! Ernesto, you did it on your first try?" Wesley's eyes widened, a little unconvinced, but mostly impressed.
Ernesto's lips curled into a slight, almost imperceptible smile of smugness, but he said, "It's just that the movements and pronunciation were imitated quite accurately. The spell itself isn't difficult; the key is in the control of the details." He looked at Karen, "If the range is expanded further, the magic consumption increases exponentially?"
“Yes,” Karen nodded, “Covering an area of three to four people side by side is already the limit that an ordinary junior wizard can reliably maintain, and the duration will be very short, just a few seconds. So when facing a swarm of spiders, this spell is used to buy time, create an opening, or establish a temporary defensive line for retreat, not to withstand the attack head-on. Tactical coordination is more important.”
"Understood!" Wesley became serious this time, no longer rushing things, and began practicing the movements and pronunciation over and over again. The chanting of "Arania Eumai!" and the whooshing sound of wands cutting through the air echoed in the Eagle's Nest.
"Alright, good job." Karen clapped her hands, signaling everyone to stop. "Remember, the 'Dance Charm' is a surprise weapon, a means of creating chaos. When facing a swarm of spiders, prioritize using the 'Spider Repeller Charm' to establish a safe zone! Only consider using the Dance Charm against specific targets when tactically necessary or when you are absolutely certain of controlling the situation. Understand?"
"Understood!" the three answered in unison. Wesley and Fabian still had the excited blush of success on their faces, while Ernesto had a reluctant expression of approval that said, "It's a bit silly, but it's definitely effective."
For the next two days, Eagle's Nest became a practice ground for Spider Repelling Charms and Dance Charms. In her spare time from experiments, Karen would patiently guide each of her roommates, correcting their movements, pronunciation, and methods of channeling magic.
Not only were his roommates practicing, but Karen himself was also constantly practicing. He tried to incorporate high-speed casting techniques into it. Although the "Spider Repeller Charm" itself wasn't a spell that emphasized speed, quickly and accurately activating the barrier was crucial in skirmishes. He repeatedly practiced instant casting and instant dispelling, as well as casting it while moving quickly within a small area. Professor Flitwick's teachings on mana conversion and rhythm also came in handy here.
Besides the incantation practice, the real preparations are also underway.
Fabian's map became central. He meticulously revised and supplemented the previous sketch, marking known safe routes, danger zones (mainly the areas where the spiders had appeared previously, marked with large red spider images and warning symbols), streams, and prominent landmarks (such as oddly shaped trees and boulders) with different colored inks. He also reserved large blank areas to record any new discoveries from this exploration.
Karen, with her excellent spatial memory, helped Fabian correct several details and planned the specific route for this exploration: enter through the hidden entrance behind Hagrid's cabin near the edge of the Forbidden Forest, while being careful to avoid Hagrid, explore along the east bank of the stream that was not completed last time, the target area is a forest clearing marked on the map, and then return the same way without deviating from the path.
"What about lighting?" Ernesto asked, raising a practical question. "Hagrid had lights last time, but this time, going deeper, we might need brighter lighting, but too bright a light source could attract unnecessary attention."
“I’ve improved ‘Fluorescent Blink’,” Karen said, taking several smooth pebbles from a drawer. He picked one up, tapped it with his wand, and the pebble immediately emitted a bright but not glaring, stable white light, like a portable light bulb. “Fixing the light source onto the stone provides a wider illumination range than using the wand directly, and it’s also less strenuous. We can also put it down temporarily when needed. The light is diffused by the stone, so it’s not as concentrated and glaring as the light from the tip of a wand, making it more subtle. Everyone should take two as spares. We can also bring the magic lamps I made earlier; these preparations should be sufficient.”
"Cool!" Wesley picked up a glowing stone and fiddled with it. "That's a great idea! Karen, what's wrong with your brain?"
"Emergency supplies," Fabian said, tidying up his small medicine bag. "I've prepared some daphne essence and hemostatic ointment. Also, I looked up some medicine books beforehand about antidotes, and I tried to brew a small bottle of it. The dosage is very light, mainly for external use to relieve the irritation of neurotoxins." He took out a small crystal bottle containing a pale blue viscous liquid.
Karen looked at you as you prepared the medicine: "Thank you, Fabian. I hope we won't need it, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Professor Victor mentioned that the venom of the giant spider does indeed have a strong neurotoxin."
"What about weapons? Besides the wand?" Ernesto asked, checking the condition of his wand.
"Wands are the best weapons," Karen emphasized. "We're not going hunting; we're going exploring and documenting. The Spider Repelling Charm is the core of our defense, supplemented by Protective Armor and Exorcism Weapons for support and emergencies. Remember, our primary objective is to return safely, followed by maps and observation records. If we encounter any unexpected danger, retreat immediately, using the Spider Repelling Charm and the Dance Charm to buy time."
"Understood!" the three replied in unison, their expressions turning serious.
Wesley patted his chest: "Don't worry, Karen! With the 'Spider Exorcism Charm' protecting us this time, and the four of us together, there will be absolutely no problem!" He gave the "Spider Exorcism Charm" a name that better suited his style.
Ernesto rolled his eyes at him. "It's 'expulsion,' not 'get out,' Wesley. Also, shut up your recklessness, stick with the group, and don't wander off."
"Got it, Master Stargazer!" Wesley replied with a grin. The departure date was set for a Saturday afternoon. The weather was clear, a gentle breeze was blowing, and sunlight streamed through the castle's high windows, casting bright dappled patterns on the ground. At lunchtime, the four boys sat together at the Ravenclaw table, eating silently, the atmosphere filled with a suppressed excitement and the tension of impending battle.
Karen sliced the sausages on his plate, his mind racing. He mentally reviewed the route again, assessing each of his companions' condition: Wesley, though impulsive, practiced diligently and had mastered the spells; Fabian was meticulous and reliable, providing perfect maps and logistical support; Ernesto was calm and precise, the key to tactical execution. They were well-equipped, and the plan was meticulous. The only uncertainty remained the Forbidden Forest itself, but this time they would still explore the outer edges and wouldn't stay out too late.
"Hey, Karen, you've practically chopped your sausage into mincemeat," Wes nudged him with his elbow, lowering his voice. "Nervous?"
Karen snapped out of his reverie, forked a sliver of sausage into his mouth, chewed a few times, and swallowed. "No, I was just thinking about where to make a more discreet intrusion later." He looked at his companions. "Is everything ready? Map, lighting equipment, emergency potions, wand status check?"
"Check complete!" Fabian patted his bulging backpack.
"I've already put four flying brooms in my bag, so I can use them to escape if I encounter danger." Ernesto also borrowed four more brooms from the Quidditch team, just in case.
"Now we await your command, Captain!" Wesley grinned, his eyes gleaming with adventure.
After lunch, the four of them headed to the Eagle's Nest, where they conducted a final check of their equipment and confirmed their spell status.
Karen stood by the window, gazing at the sun-drenched grounds below, the distant, dark green edge of the Forbidden Forest resembling a silent, colossal wall. He took a deep breath, turned, and glanced at his three roommates, all equally ready to go. Wesley rubbed his hands excitedly, Fabian double-checked the seal on the map tube, and Ernesto silently and deftly tucked his wand back into its sheath in his sleeve.
"Remember our principles:"
"Stay only on the periphery, never venture deeper!"
"Keep formation and look out for each other!"
"Evacuate first if in danger; do not linger in battle!"
"Maps and observation are the top priorities!"
Karen's voice was steady and powerful, and her three roommates nodded solemnly after each statement she made.
"Alright," Karen announced, gripping her wand tightly in her sleeve. "Eagle's Nest Squad, target the edge of the Forbidden Forest, the eastern bank of the stream—depart!"
Four figures silently left the secret base on the fifth floor, like ravens blending into the shadows of the castle, heading towards the back of the castle, towards the hunting lodge, towards the edge of that dark forest full of unknowns and challenges.