Looking at the Shadow Thorns whose reward information was undergoing trendous changes, Ciel's eyes were full of anticipation. Since just now, besides the surging radiance, the reward information for Shadow Thorns had beco blurred. It seed new text was brewing.
"Worthy of being the Invisibility Cloak among the Deathly Hallows. For Shadow Thorns, it's like a complete transformation."
After Ciel waited for a mont, the reward information text finally beca clear again.
[Your cultivated Shadow Thorns have been induced to produce mutations with superior traits]
[After cultivation to maturity, rewards upgrade to]
[Shadow Enhancent (Gold Tier)]
[Tearing Wounds (Silver Tier)]
These two rewards, compared to before, had each increased by one tier, becoming a configuration of one Gold and one Silver tier. Everything else remained unchanged. Ciel's gaze then fell on the last line of text.
[Extrely small amount of Ancient Shadow Magic insight (Black Iron Tier)]
His expression showed surprise. Another reward related to ancient magic? Ciel had previously seen two rewards related to ancient magic. One was from the Elber Tree's ancient weather magic. One was from the Whomping Willow's unknown ancient magic. He hadn't expected that the mutated Shadow Thorns could also provide rewards related to ancient shadow magic.
After the surprise, Ciel felt sowhat excited. The Elber Tree still needed a long ti before it could be harvested. The cultivation of the Whomping Willow was currently even more of a pipe dream. The ancient magic they provided was sothing he couldn't plan for yet.
But Shadow Thorns, after Ciel broke through the threshold of the Disillusionnt Charm, weren't that difficult to cultivate. They could be mass-planted. This ant he was very close to the ancient magic it could provide!
Regarding this Ancient Magic that wasn't ntioned much in the original Harry Potter story but showed its power in all aspects, Ciel was quite curious. If he could truly master it, perhaps it could beco another ace up his sleeve after Sectumsempra.
But after a mont, looking at the last reward provided by Shadow Thorns, Ciel frowned slightly. He had been a bit excited earlier, but now he noticed sothing. This line of rewards related to ancient shadow magic wasn't completely ford. Instead, it appeared and disappeared intermittently. This was the first ti he had encountered such a situation.
"This feeling... It's like sothing necessary is still missing to make this reward truly take shape?"
To avoid misjudging, Ciel waited a while longer. Finding that this reward information remained the sa, he gradually beca certain. "Seems it really is like this. But it's not strange. The Elber Tree I planted last ti could provide Diamond-tier rewards at its highest. That's when ancient weather magic-related rewards were born. Shadow Thorns' highest reward tier only reaches the Gold tier. Even with the Deathly Hallow Invisibility Cloak's guidance, wanting to provide ancient magic-related rewards really isn't that simple. But no matter what, this is the closest path I have to ancient magic."
His eyes showed determination. "Go to the library and check. Among the book lists Aunt left , there are many specifically about Shadow Thorns cultivation. Perhaps there will be similar records."
Then Ciel had a thought, rembering his earlier encounter with Quirrell. Although Quirrell probably wouldn't waste energy targeting him at this ti, just to be safe, he still put the Invisibility Cloak on himself. This way, as long as Voldemort didn't awaken with his natural Legilincy abilities, the Deathly Hallow Invisibility Cloak's protection was almost impossible to counter with magic.
The mont he was covered by the Invisibility Cloak, strange sensations flooded his mind. The Invisibility Cloak's texture was naturally very unique. Cool as flowing water, a material unmatched in the world. But what Ciel felt more deeply was the change in magic after wearing the Invisibility Cloak.
After obtaining Platinum-tier night vision, he had discovered that whether magical plants or wizards, they would all emit so magic to varying degrees. In the Platinum-tier night vision's field of view, these appeared as light dots of different colors. As his magical perception gradually strengthened, he could also vaguely sense these magical auras.
Generally speaking, these magical "particles" dispersed chaotically, just like gas. But now, after wearing the Invisibility Cloak, Ciel sensed a very strange phenonon. Under the Invisibility Cloak's coverage, not only was optical and acoustic concealnt achieved, but even his own magical "particles" that should have been dispersing outward couldn't penetrate the Invisibility Cloak when they encountered it. Instead, they were reflected back?
His magical "particles" could only continuously bounce and reflect within the Invisibility Cloak, but not a single one could escape. Sensing this scene, Ciel sowhat understood the principle behind the Invisibility Cloak's ability to shield against almost any magical detection.
"As long as you wear the Invisibility Cloak, not even the slightest bit of magic will emanate. Various magics that detect magical power naturally have no place to be used. Amazing..."
If it were before, Ciel might only have sighed "amazing" and nothing else. But now, having entered the door of Transfiguration and with several spells reaching Platinum tier, his understanding of magic had long surpassed that of first-year students. He had begun to recognize magic's subtlety at the microscopic level.
"Using knowledge from my past life to describe it. The space under the Invisibility Cloak's coverage is simply a magical black body. Magical particles can only enter but cannot radiate out. What kind of magic, with what kind of microscopic arrangent, could prevent magical particles from escaping?"
His eyes were full of curiosity. He had a feeling this definitely involved extrely profound Transfiguration. The person who created the Invisibility Cloak had reached an incredible level of magical mastery. If he could understand the deep principles of the Invisibility Cloak, his magical level would definitely advance by leaps and bounds to a terrifying degree. Even absorbing just a tiny bit would be enough to benefit him for a long ti.
Then Ciel's mind also recalled a mory. In the original story, this Invisibility Cloak seed to have been collected and studied by Dumbledore after the war until he returned it to Harry when Harry entered school. With Dumbledore's abilities, his Disillusionnt Charm was probably already unbreakable. Moreover, how many things in the world required Dumbledore to conceal his form?
For him, even if he suspected this was the Invisibility Cloak among the Deathly Hallows, how much was there to research? Unless the person who created the Invisibility Cloak had Transfiguration mastery equal to or exceeding Dumbledore's, it wouldn't be enough to make Dumbledore research it for so many years.
Thinking this, Ciel looked at the Invisibility Cloak with increasingly fervent eyes. This was definitely an unimaginable treasure trove. As long as he could enter it, the benefits would be imasurable. But imdiately after, he smiled wryly. The reason was simple. With his level, besides seeing how impressive it was, he couldn't understand any of the deeper principles.
It was like using elentary-level math to study number theory. Besides recognizing the numbers, everything else was incomprehensible.
"Forget it. Now that the Invisibility Cloak can help cultivate Shadow Thorns, that's already a pleasant surprise. When my level is adequate in the future, I'll study the Invisibility Cloak's principles. For now, let go to the library and find conditions that could make the Shadow Thorns' ancient shadow magic reward take shape."
Then Ciel walked toward the library wearing the Invisibility Cloak. It was currently late at night, not when the library was open. But it didn't matter... with the Invisibility Cloak, even Madam Pince couldn't discover him.
He walked silently between the bookshelves. Following the reference book list Professor Sprout had left him, he browsed through classic cultivation experint records about Shadow Thorns. These contents were all particularly obscure. The languages they were written in were only partially English, and even those were in Old English. Most of the rest was Latin, with so Hebrew and other ancient scripts.
Ciel struggled through them, feeling quite fortunate. Fortunately, he had seriously completed the essay assignnts professors usually gave. These essays involved consulting materials that included much Latin and Hebrew. Through this period of study, he could now simply translate so of these ancient texts.
"Perhaps this is one of the professors' intentions in assigning short essays?"
The thought flashed through his mind. He then concentrated fully on reading prefaces, tables of contents, and abstracts, trying to find records related to ancient shadow magic.
Ti passed minute by minute. Madam Pince's snoring echoed in the library, then gradually weakened. Morning light slowly shone through the windows onto the book pages in his hands. Only then did Ciel gently close the book, placing it back in its original position on the shelf along with the three books he had placed beside him.
He crossed off four books from the reference list Professor Sprout had given him about Shadow Thorns. "These four books contain many detailed records about Shadow Thorns. They're indeed valuable materials for related research topics. Unfortunately, none of the abstracts ntioned whether Shadow Thorns involved ancient shadow magic."
He looked at the remaining book list. Seventeen books remained. "Just four or five days to finish checking them all. Hope there will be so gains. Otherwise, I'll have to search the Restricted Section. Or worst case scenario, I'll have to explore from scratch myself."
Thoughts swirled in his mind as he left the library. It was almost breakfast ti. He could hear the chatter of young wizards. Just then, Ciel heard the familiar sound of an owl flapping its wings. He turned toward the window. He saw it was Professor Sprout's owl.
It was circling and searching above the castle but seed to have lost its target, looking quite confused. Ciel realized he was still wearing the Invisibility Cloak, so the owl probably couldn't find him. He didn't know what Professor Sprout had written to him about.
Then he quickly took off the Invisibility Cloak. The confused owl imdiately sighed in relief and dropped a letter into his hands.
The handwriting inside was very brief. "Ciel. After receiving this letter, please be sure to co to the Great Hall during breakfast ti. There's sothing very important that you absolutely cannot miss."
Ciel was stunned, his mind racing with speculation. Sothing very important that required him to go to the Great Hall? What could it be? There didn't seem to be this plot in the original story. But seeing Professor Sprout's tone, he didn't dare delay. He quickly walked toward the Great Hall.
What surprised him was that the Great Hall's doors weren't open as they usually were during breakfast ti. Inside was also quiet. It was as if so important eting was being held.
Then, after hesitating for a mont, Ciel gripped the door handle, preparing to gently push open a crack and slip to his seat without disturbing anyone. However, the mont he pushed open the door and walked in, he was stunned.
The Great Hall was silent as death. But everyone's gaze was focused on him. All four houses were almost completely present. All the professors were seated. Even Dumbledore sat in his place, his expression utterly serious. He looked at Ciel and nodded slightly.
Then his resonant voice echoed throughout the Great Hall. "Now that Ciel has arrived. I think we can begin."
While Ciel was still completely confused, the next second, deafening cannon fire and firecrackers erupted. Countless lights and ribbons burst from the Hufflepuff table. Each little Hufflepuff pulled out a flag from under their seat and held it high, waving vigorously.
He looked closely and discovered that the text on these flags ford a sentence. "Congratulations to Ciel for publishing a paper in 'Frontiers in Herbology' and receiving the Second-Class Herbology dal. You are Hufflepuff's pride."
Ciel was stunned. At this ti, Dumbledore also waved his wand. More magnificent fireworks imdiately exploded in the Great Hall. He looked at him joyfully.
"Ciel Sprout. You have created a record for Hogwarts spanning three centuries. You are the youngest student in three centuries to publish a paper in a top academic journal. At the sa ti, you are also the only student in a century to receive a Second-Class dal from the Herbology Association while still in school. Here, as your headmaster, I am honored to present an award to such a rising star in the herbology world. At the sa ti, I want to announce sothing..."
Dumbledore pointed, and the House Cup hourglasses imdiately appeared floating in the Great Hall. Then everyone's eyes widened as they watched the sand representing points in Hufflepuff's hourglass surge upward at an alarming rate. The sandpile that already exceeded the other three houses now reached a sowhat despairing level.
"Due to your outstanding academic performance. One hundred fifty points to Hufflepuff! Now, child, co up on stage. This dal is rightfully yours."
Ciel stood frozen in place for probably half a minute before realizing what had happened. Top herbology journal? Second-Class Herbology dal? In his past life, he had dread of similar scenes. Taking the stage to receive awards under everyone's gaze. Fireworks, cannons, champagne... Unfortunately, in his past life, when he woke up, the dream was gone. These things were beyond his reach.
But he never thought that in this life, he could actually experience these things. Even in the original Harry Potter story, when Harry led Gryffindor to win the House Cup in first year, there wasn't this kind of fanfare, right?
At the sa ti, his gaze swept over the little Hufflepuffs. They were excitedly holding flags, waving them vigorously, all genuinely happy for him. At the staff table, Professor Sprout was wiping away tears. Professor Flitwick, Professor McGonagall, and others were also looking at him with gratified expressions. Even Snape... he had washed his hair today?!
A smile slowly appeared on Ciel's face. Warmth flowed through his heart. "What the heck. So everyone knew before I did?"
Then he took a deep breath, stepped forward, and walked step by step to the highest platform. The tall Dumbledore was now full of emotion, as if gratified by the appearance of an excellent student. He bent down and placed a dal engraved with a piranha algae pattern around Ciel's neck.
At the sa ti, he sighed quietly. "It's good to be young. This reminds of my youth. When I first received an award... don't laugh... all I could think about was how to spend the prize money. I was really poor back then. In the blink of an eye, a century has passed. If you don't mind, Ciel, could you satisfy this old man's curiosity? What are you thinking about right now?"
Ciel looked at Dumbledore and said quietly. "I'm thinking... Can my experintal plot allocation finally be approved? I have so many trees that can't wait to be planted."
Dumbledore was stunned, then burst into hearty laughter. He said sowhat helplessly, "That's really in character for you. Well, but I have bad news for you. Experintal plot allocation... there isn't any."
Ciel was stunned, his heart sinking slightly. The next mont, Dumbledore's lips curved into a mysterious, mischievous arc.
"However, perhaps it's an even better surprise than that? After the award ceremony, you'll get half a day off. You can go with Professor Sprout to take a good look."
Ciel felt like complaining. This old Dumbledore, at his age, still loved keeping people in suspense! And for the rest of the ceremony, his mind was full of thoughts about this matter. Experintal plots were too important for him. Expanding the number of Guardian Trees. And Devil's Snare, Shadow Thorns. All were waiting for experintal plots to be planted. He didn't know what surprise Dumbledore was talking about.
Finally, after the ceremony ended, Professor Sprout beckoned to him. He eagerly followed. She led the way with a mysterious smile, sighing as they walked.
"To be honest. I never thought Dumbledore would be so generous. I'm a bit envious."
As they spoke, Professor Sprout brought Ciel to a certain place. When he saw the scene here, he imdiately widened his eyes in disbelief.
"This... Where is this?"
[Chapter Complete]
***
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