Charles watched Anduin meticulously clear the patch of churned, tainted earth, the residual smell of ozone and sickness slowly being banished by a powerful Scourgify. He dismissed the odd sight quickly; Anduin's world was always filled with bizarre experiments. Back inside the hut, Charles immediately went for the water dispenser, drinking a large quantity of cool liquid before finally turning to his host.
"So, how's this latest experiment progressing? Last time you said it was all about sonic magic—using sound waves for something," Charles probed, wiping his mouth.
Anduin leaned back, resting his staff against the wall. The exhaustion of the self-inflicted resonance attack still lingered, leaving his stomach uneasy and his mind slightly sluggish.
"I have, technically, succeeded. I've found the specific runic combination and the required frequency to generate the Infrasound Wave. The spell is devastatingly powerful—far more than I anticipated."
"That sounds like success to me," Charles said, confused. "What's the problem?"
"The problem is one of indiscrimination," Anduin explained, choosing his words carefully. "The energy wave penetrates everything, including the caster. It doesn't rely on being heard through the ear; it generates a sympathetic vibration that physically attacks internal organs. Think of it as a silent, systemic seizure. I need a way to neutralize that resonance within my own body while still allowing the wave to propagate outward and strike the enemy."
Charles rubbed his chin, struggling to process the complexity. "Why can't you just use one of those silencing or blocking charms? I mean, if the wave isn't heard, it can't affect you, right? Isn't that what the Muffliato Charm is for?"
"That's the fundamental mistake," Anduin sighed, running a hand over his face. "Normal noise is air hitting the eardrum. My spell generates a physical wave that passes through solid objects, bone, and flesh. Blocking the noise is like trying to stop a tidal wave with a screen door. The magic is designed to silence the air, but this is a vibrational force."
Charles paused, his eyes glazing over as he considered the abstract idea of an undetectable, vibrating force. "Is it that complicated? A sound wave? I've never heard of it, but I've heard of water waves. I was thinking, though, I've heard of spells that calm waves on the sea. If the sound you're making is a 'wave,' maybe it could be affected by something similar—like a Wave-Calming or Dispersal Spell?"
Anduin, who had been staring blankly at the far wall, suddenly snapped his head up, his eyes blazing with an almost alarming intensity. Charles had accidentally stumbled upon the most elegant solution. Analogous magic.
"Wait a minute, Charles! What did you just say?" Anduin's voice was sharp with excitement.
"What did I say? Just... waves?" Charles repeated, startled by the shift in his friend's demeanor.
"Not that, the other part! You said there was a spell to pacify water waves, didn't you? Something that forces the wave to dissipate?" Anduin leaned forward, adrenaline replacing the lingering nausea.
"Are you talking about the Wind and Wave Dispersion Spell?" Charles asked hesitantly, now thoroughly confused by Anduin's sudden obsession.
"Yes, that's it! The 'Dispersion Spell.' Is there truly an existing enchantment that can calm raging water? That's what I need—a charm that forces the dissipation of wave energy," Anduin pressed. If an established magical principle existed for neutralizing the kinetic energy of hydro-waves, the same theory could potentially be adapted to nullify the acoustic-wave resonance within his body.
Charles, slightly overwhelmed by the sudden scholarly attention, backed up slightly. "Ah, I only know about it because a senior student, Granda Chitock, was boasting about it. He claimed a powerful European wizard used it to calm a massive storm when they were sailing the Aegean Sea. He apparently copied the incantation down and tried to learn it."
"Can you contact this student and ask him to teach me? This is absolutely critical for my research," Anduin pleaded. The idea was a massive leap from his initial, failed attempts at layering Muffliato spells.
"Well, Granda is a seventh-year student, and he's currently on an internship," Charles replied, pausing to recall details. "He's interning at the Wizarding Radio Network, preparing for a broadcaster position. He's quite busy."
"An internship? I thought all seventh-years had to be at school preparing for their final magical examination," Anduin questioned.
"Doesn't look like it's mandatory if you secure a reputable career path early," Charles clarified. "But look, I know another senior who hangs out with Granda. I'll ask around in the club and see if I can get you an audience when he returns."
"The club? What club is this? I wasn't aware you were affiliated with any formal student groups," Anduin asked, genuinely surprised.
Charles straightened up, a proud grin stretching across his face. "Of course, there's a club! It's the Mahjong Club, Anduin! Vivian and I co-founded it. You're so wrapped up in your runes and potions that you never wander around the castle, so you wouldn't know. It started small, but now we're one of the largest gaming clubs at Hogwarts, rivaling the popularity of the Wizard Chess Society!"
Anduin stared, processing the information. The sheer irony of his situation was stunning. He, the inventor of the mahjong tiles and the teacher of the game, was now completely excluded and unaware of the burgeoning Hogwarts Mahjong Club.
He had created the catalyst for a thriving social structure, only to isolate himself in his pursuit of magical theory. Wizarding academia and secretive power plays were his world; social gaming and club life were Charles's and Vivian's.
Charles, sensing Anduin's shock, chuckled. "We meet three times a week. It's a great way to meet people outside our houses. We have over a dozen regular players now! You should know, you supplied the original equipment, and now everyone's trying to enchant their own personalized sets."
While Charles proudly detailed the club's recent exploits and gossip, Anduin's mind was already back on the Dispersion Spell. The social life of Hogwarts remained a distant echo to him. He gently steered the conversation back.
"So, Granda won't be back at the academy until next week," Anduin confirmed two days later, nodding at Charles. The delay was frustrating, but unavoidable.
"That's what I heard. But don't worry, I'll be waiting at the gates when he returns to snag that incantation for you," Charles assured him, adjusting his training robes.
Ever since the failed self-destruction experiment, Anduin had refused to attempt the Infrasound Spell again.
He had spent his time refining the runic disc's activation mechanism, running theoretical simulations, but without the Dispersion Spell or an equivalent countermeasure, it was pure folly to test it again. The water wave analogy offered a genuine breakthrough, and he had to wait patiently for its key.
"Okay, then I leave it to you, Charles. Your diligence is much appreciated," Anduin said, offering a sincere thanks. "Since we have a momentary pause in my own volatile research, we can now officially begin your specialized training."
Charles's enthusiasm faltered immediately. "Wait, what? The regimen we've been doing for the last month—the sprints, the long runs, the endurance exercises—that wasn't the specialized training?" he asked, eyeing Anduin warily.
Anduin looked at him with calm seriousness. "That, Charles, was merely the acclimation phase. It was your warm-up. It was designed to build a base level of physical endurance and mental fortitude so that your body wouldn't immediately break down under the stress of the actual work."
Charles inhaled sharply, a long, drawn-out "Hiss!" escaping his lips. He was deeply shocked. The last month had felt like an endless gauntlet of physical punishment, culminating in daily exhaustion. If that was the warm-up, he could scarcely imagine the brutality of the main event.
Seeing Charles's expression shift toward resistance, Anduin adopted a solemn tone, the voice of a martial arts master. "Remember your goal, Charles. True physical mastery and control over yourself is not easy. Improvement demands hardship and an absolute willingness to embrace discomfort."
Anduin led Charles out to the same cleared area, which offered a flat, solid foundation for the work ahead. "We will proceed step by step, ensuring the training doesn't interfere with your academic duties."
"Naturally," Charles mumbled, bracing himself for the worst.
"Our first lesson, and the foundation upon which all future work is built, is Stance Training, also known as Zhan Zhuang in the martial arts of my home," Anduin announced. "This discipline is not merely about holding a difficult position; it is about establishing Rootedness, forging an unbreakable connection with the ground, and cultivating your internal energy flow."
Anduin then demonstrated the Horse Stance (Mabu). He stood with his feet wide apart, about twice the width of his shoulders, then slowly lowered his body as if sitting onto an invisible bench. His thighs became parallel to the ground, his back remained perfectly straight, and his arms were held in a relaxed, circular position in front of his chest.
Charles watched the posture, which looked awkward, yet incredibly difficult to maintain.