"It means we have discovered a possibility, a method by which wizards' strength can be enhanced not merely by innate talent, but through postnatal 'cultivation' to a level that cannot be reached through sheer hard work, fundamentally changing the way magic power is stored and utilized."
He paced to the edge of the platform, his gaze sweeping over the slowly rotating light sphere of the Secret Vault below, then turned to this group of talented young wizards he had personally selected.
"Rather than making you better at 'casting' magic."
Then, William's voice clearly reached everyone's ears, "It is more about enabling you to accommodate external magic energy (spiritual energy) in a new way. For this, we've borrowed some mysterious concepts from the East; you can think of this process as 'magic cultivation to immortality'."
"... Magic cultivation to immortality?"
Harry instinctively repeated this completely unfamiliar term, his toad-like green eyes still filled with confusion.
"Yes, magic cultivation to immortality."
William emphasized again, then turned to face the crowd, "Traditional wizards are like having a naturally fixed-size 'magic pool' within them, where willpower determines the speed and force of drawing water from the pool, yet the size of the pool and the flow rate of the faucet are almost impossible to change artificially."
He paused for a moment, allowing this concept to settle in everyone's minds.
"However, the path we are exploring now is teaching you how to establish a larger, more efficient 'magic circulation system' within your body, which through external forces will be locked permanently within you— it will no longer be a static pool, but a living engine (Golden Core) that can run autonomously, grow, and resonate with external energies."
"Of course, this requires you to cultivate diligently and absorb the spiritual... ahem, magic power from the heavens and earth."
As he spoke, William cleared his throat lightly, hinting to the group that they could ask questions if they had any.
"Instructor... We weren't like Potter, who stabilized those energies within during his first attempt. Is this due to innate talent?"
Cedric raised his hand and asked.
"No, it is because this is not Mr. Potter's first encounter with this energy—"
William shook his head and continued explaining, his fingertips faintly gathering a trace of glowing magic entity and handed it to Harry, "Look familiar?" "... Ancient Magic?" "Close enough, those purest energies within the Secret Vault are best released in the manner of Ancient Magic—"
As he spoke, William looked at Harry with a hint of appreciation in his eyes, "Even so, what Mr. Potter did just now was already very commendable. Once the magic circuit is complete for the first time, the expanded meridians can accommodate more spiritual... magic power, making the enhancement of strength only a matter of time—"
The platform echoed with a chorus of suppressed gasps.
During Grindelwald's previous lessons, there wasn't much explanation; it was purely about injecting magic, with a bit more care during the injection to avoid life-threatening injuries from overly frenzied magic— the concept William described seemed to open a new world for wizards whose thinking was confined by school teachings.
"Of course."
William then timely poured some cold water—
"This path is filled with the unknowns and dangers, if 'Foundation Establishment' fails, at best there will be magic chaos (going rogue), at worst... I think you can visualize on your own; exploding from within might be a good ending— As for the future, how to stabilize the magic house, condense the Golden Core, and avoid excessive dependence on external energies are all subjects we need to explore step by step."
Saying so, he clapped his hands to refocus everyone's attention.
"Alright, the theoretical lesson ends here for now— now, everyone, sit down where you are, try to recall and consolidate the 'resonance' state you have sensed during the past half month, and strive to perceive any possible weak magic flow within you, even if it's just a trace—"
Accordingly, these people immediately sat cross-legged, closed their eyes, and endeavored to savor this mysterious feeling.
William then stepped to the end of the queue, stopping in front of Ron whose complexion seemed a bit pale.
"Well then, Mr. Weasley." William said with a slight smile, "It's your turn— I'll personally help you 'build a foundation'."
Ron looked up at William, then stole a glance at Harry beside him. Although Harry's explosive-like glow had subsided, he still seemed somewhat weary. Ron swallowed, involuntarily shrinking his neck, his voice quivering slightly,
"Professor... Well, I'm a bit afraid of pain... Could you... ease up?"
"Of course."
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh—"
He clearly couldn't tolerate pain like Harry could, and as William's palm landed on his shoulder, a piercing wailing echoed throughout the Map Chamber.
...
...
London, at an unnamed location.
Mundungus Fletcher—
Now one of the managers responsible for some affairs and personnel placement under William's command— impatiently tapped his finger on the tabletop.
The man now had long shed his down-and-out demeanor as a regular at Hog's Head Inn. His attire was not luxurious yet neat and smart, with eyes that carried more astuteness and caution, though certain ingrained habits were hard to change, such as his thieflike way of glancing at others—
Mundungus casually turned his head to look at the woman standing in the corner like a delicate doll—
He couldn't help but frown. This woman indeed looked beautiful, but those lifeless eyes that seemed unconcerned with everything made him feel uneasy all over. The boss had only instructed him to look after this woman, to ensure she doesn't cause trouble or die... Now, he felt that he would be exposed due to her sooner or later.
"Hey."
At last, Mundungus couldn't hold back and broke the silence, "I'm saying, don't you have anything you want to do? Just standing like this? ... Won't your legs ache?"
Upon hearing this, Athena—who appeared to be in standby mode—finally slowly raised her eyelids, examining him with淡金色的 pupils devoid of any emotion, only giving him a brief glance and remaining silent.
Looking at her gave Mundungus a sense of trepidation, he sheepishly touched his nose, "Well, consider me overly... No, turn around." The man suddenly realized he was the boss, watching the woman turn around to face the wall, removing those intensely present eyes from behind him, allowed him to breathe a sigh of relief and return his focus to the supply lists needing his signature review on the table.
While Mundungus was bowing his head reviewing the lists and his tapping toes causing a faint tapping sound on the floor, Athena's ears imperceptibly twitched.