Chapter 7: Making Plans 2
After eating a wonderful meal and planning on stealing…er learning some recipes from Tom later on, I settled into a lounge chair in the Study. The Study is in the right tower, which also contains the massive library. I came here to start calming down from everything going on and make some plans.
One final revelation I had was that my bonding to the mansion slightly increased my mana up to 180/180 as well as gave my body the final push into the next stage. It seems that my body has the strength, endurance, agility, and constitution of a weak adult all in my child's body.
Also, while I'm inside the mansion, my mana recovery rate is tripled. It seems that while I'm inside, I can practice magic much more comfortably, but I'll have to double my practice outside on the island itself to get used to how it will normally feel.
'Phew, this was all a lot to take in. I know what my long-term goals are, so now let's work on the short term.' I pulled out some parchment and a quill from the desk while mentally making a note to ask Tom to go buy standard paper and pens.
'I refuse to use a quill when I don't have to.'
I started writing down the things I wanted to accomplish and put them in order of importance.
Learn occlumency Begin studying magic Find some kind of scanning spell so I don't have to read books endlessly. Practice with my Shadow abilities. Find out the process of making a wand. Begin searching for magical species locations for shadows. Take a trip to Azkaban to gather wizard shadows and figure out the class system. Kick my ass back into gear and get my muscle memory back for martial arts
'With occlumency, I can gain an eidetic memory, organize my mind, and analyze as well as understand new thoughts much easier. After that, I'll start studying magic, but after taking one look at that massive library, I really want a scanner type spell. That or some alternative I'll have to figure out.
In my free time, I want to play with my shadow abilities and get comfortable with them. I also want to experiment and see if I can use my shadows in unique ways. I'll make a workout schedule around my other projects to get my body into gear. That leaves me with finding some way to get information on the magical animal habitats in the magical world as well as making a quick trip to Azkaban to gather wizard shadows. I would also like to find information on wand lore and see if I can make my own.'
"Ok, train and learn first, get some wizard shadows second, find and get magical beast shadows third, and then I'll be setting off for Hogwarts. It should be fun."
"Sir, I have a few things I feel I should report."
I would like to believe it was my trained reflexes that stopped me from screaming, but it was just a shit ton of luck.
'Scratch all plans, the first order of business is to put a bell on Tom's goddamn neck!'
*cough* "Very well, Tom, what is going on?"
"Sir, yesterday I checked up on the Gringotts vault as well as Azkaban, and I have yet to report it. There are also a few small things that require your permission.
For the vault, it would seem that the goblins were attempting to hide the situation as much as legally possible while still sticking to the original contract. Seeing as the rent was set at 850 galleons yearly, and I have been in stasis for close to six centuries. I confirmed the amount in the vault to be just over 500,000 galleons."
(Interesting harry potter lore: The Last of the three brothers Ignotus Peverell, apparently died in 1292. I have decided that following him, there was one or two more Peverell lord's that used the island until around the year 1382, where everything was placed into stasis until the next heir was found.)
*whistle* 'According to my memories of this world, the richest family in magical Britain with all liquid assets was the Blacks, and they never rose above 200,000 galleons. Even harry for all his inheritance never had more than 100,000 galleons in the Potter vaults.'
"That's quite the significant sum Tom, were you able to get in and out without being seen?"
"Yes sir, as a house-elf, I can enter any property or space that magic recognizes as belonging to my master."
"Great! Tom, I want you to slowly start draining the Gringotts vault and storing it here in the main vault. I have no issues with the goblins, and I don't want to start a fight if I can help it, its best to do it quietly."
"With pleasure sir, I'm grateful for having such a wise lord despite your age."
"Don't butter me up, but thank you. Please continue."
"Of course sir, the island of Azkaban is in a state of complete disrepair. The very island itself is dying, and I'm appalled that whoever is running it has let it reach such a state. A prison it may be, it once was a much nicer looking place. They just let the dementors roam free through the prison, it's disgraceful, they were made to guard and execute, not torture and pervert life like this."
"How many prisoners are there?"
"It seems like there were a few hundred, unfortunately I could only feel about 25 life signatures remaining. The rest are…decaying sir."
'Brutal.'
"How is security?"
"The only guards I could see besides the roaming dementors were 4 wizards that were guarding the Floo entry point. It also doubles as the only exit point."
"Would it be difficult for me to get past them?"
"Not to worry sir, despite its current state, the island still belongs to you. Should you wish it, I can apparate us to any point there."
"Perfect! I can handle my business there a bit later, what else did you have to report?"
"Sir, the stasis was never meant to last this long, and quite a few items have decayed. I would like to ask permission to replace them as well as get caught up with modern times."
"Very well Tom, take as many galleons as necessary. Also, discreetly search for information on magical animal habitats in the magical world. The more unique, the better."
"Understood, finally the last thing is that it seems that while most of all animal's on the island died and decomposed while in stasis there was a small group of Kneazles that happened to be closer to the mansion when the ritual was activated. They managed to hold on to their lives; however, they didn't seem to react to it too well, and they are dying. I estimate they only have a few days left. What shall be done with them?"
"Kneazles? Those are the magically enhanced cat species, right?"
"That is correct sir."
A Kneazle is similar in appearance to very large-sized cats. They have spotted, speckled or flecked fur, large ears, and a lightly plumed tail, akin to that of a lion's. They are thought to have separate breeds, like cats, and therefore vary in appearance. They make excellent pets if they like a witch or wizard.
They have a very high level of intelligence, are independent, occasionally aggressive, and have an uncanny ability to detect suspicious and distrustful people.
"Please take me to them."
"Right away sir."
I reached out a hand and Tom quickly grasped it, and thankfully, it seems that after being unsealed, his house-elf apparition does not cause any discomfort.
We appeared behind the mansion. From here to the small hill a short walk away was a neatly cut grass field with trees lining the sides. Nothing special aside from its open space, and the few dilapidated stone structures that used to be magical beast habitats. Tom brought me to the one closest to the mansion, and I could see what he was talking about.
Leaning against a broken piece of stone were three giant cats. They had mainly grey fur, white fur on their underbelly and mouth, and splotches of black fur on their backs and ears. Their tails really did look like a lions.
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Unfortunately, they could do much more than growl at us. I walked up to them and was about to go down to one knee, but then I remembered my current height.
'For crying out loud! Being a kid again is not as fun as it sounded. I can't even use meaningful body language.'
"Hey guys, I mean you no harm." I showed them my hands and slowly got closer to pet them. They continued to growl, but I trusted that their natural ability to detect danger would let me through. After a minute, they seemed to accept it and started looking at me curiously. I started petting their heads, and they purred!
'I may be a fully-grown man in a child's body, but seeing these guys purr is incredibly satisfying.'
I sat down against the wall and pulled them closer to me to try and soothe them. I wanted to offer these three a chance to become my shadow summons, but I didn't want to force it. I have no problem hunting and dominating more vicious beasts, but these guys are innocent and gentle.
"Ow! Hey! I'm not food!" Ok, maybe not gentle when hungry.
"Tom, can you bring over something for these guys? I don't know what they eat, but magical or not cats like milk, right?"
"They should sir, just a moment." And he was off. I looked down at these giant fluffy magical creatures and decided to ask.
"Hey guys, I'm sorry this happened to you. You don't have much longer to live, but I can offer you a chance to live in a different form."
'I'm not sure if they fully understand me, but seeing the intelligence in their eyes, I'll try not to underestimate them. I think I should just tell them everything; otherwise, I will feel guilty.'
"I can make you immortal and bound your souls to me. Unless I die, you will never truly die. You will be slightly enhanced physically and magically, and you can one day evolve into a higher species. The only other thing is that you will be forced to remain loyal to me. What do you guys think?"
'I can't tell if they understand me or not! They just keep looking at me with their adorable clear blue eyes! And occasionally slap my hand with their tail if I stop petting them.'
I'm not sure if they were using their abilities to check for deceit, but after a few silent minutes of a staredown, they snuggled their heads into my lap and against my stomach.
'Must resist the urge to hug them, they are still weak.'
"Ok guys, are you ready?" I took the silence as their answer and tried to move my shadow to cover them.
An Alert popped up.
Alert:
As the first time for using Shadow Extraction rather than Shadow Servant, you must create an activation word. It can be mentally spoken.
'Ah, that's right. The MC from that novel used the word 'Arise' whenever he extracted a shadow. I'm pretty sure I only need it to help me focus my ability. It's like speaking in Latin to make a spell work versus doing it silently.'
'I don't want to make something edgy like 'be reborn from the shadows, rebirth!' I think I'll just keep it simple.'
"Extract."
After setting my new command phrase, my shadow quickly extended to cover all three of them. It only took a moment for them to start sinking into the shadow, and a minute after they disappeared, slight ripples began forming in my shadow. Three shapes rose out of them as if the ground was water.
They were still about the same size at around my chest height, making them three and a half feet tall (105cm), and they regained some weight that they lost in the states they were in. However, that's where the similarities stop.
Their fur looks like it was dyed in ink and taken on the pure color of a shadow, their paws on all four legs were giving off a bright blue color like blue fire, the ends of their tails had a small blue flame going like a specific fire breathing lizard (*cough* poke… *cough*), and their eyes have changed into looking more like blue flames are dancing around than real eyes.
'Thank you grandma for setting up my summons like the ones from the manga! They look so badass! And I don't feel any heat from them, so I don't think the flames are real.'
While extremely excited on the inside, I kept a simple smile on my face on the outside. "How do you guys feel?"
They turned their heads and started smelling each other, and then as one, they turned back to me. And suddenly they pounced.
"Woah guys! Fine, you want to play!"
We play wrestled for a little while, it's actually loads of fun playing with these guys. I never had a pet in my past life, but I always wanted a dog. Now I have three mini lions!
After settling down, I laid down on the grass being manhandled by my new minion's who were using me as a full body pillow.
'Let's check my Alerts. I want to know what these guys are capable of.'
Alerts:
New Shadow Summon gained!
Race: Kneazle
Description: A Kneazle is similar in appearance to very large-sized cats. They have spotted, speckled or flecked fur, large ears, and a lightly plumed tail, akin to that of a lion. They are thought to have separate breeds, like cats, and therefore vary in appearance. They make excellent pets if they like a witch or wizard.
They have a very high level of intelligence, are independent, occasionally aggressive, and have an uncanny ability to detect suspicious and distrustful people.
Abilities:
Detection: Can detect life forms, hostile intent, and magical signatures within 30 meters.
Concealment: Uses a unique form of concealment similar to high powered notice-me-not charms by shrouding themselves in shadows.
Unique Ability: Sense sharing: Due to willingly becoming your shadow summon, this shadow has retained the majority of its soul. No matter the distance, you will be able to experience the sensory perception of this shadow summon.
Unique Ability: Independent action: Due to willingly becoming your shadow summon, this shadow has retained the majority of its soul. Aside from commands, can think and do independent actions.
Summons: 7/30
I raised my head to look at the three sleeping shadows on top of me and realized just how important these guys are going to become to me.
'Using their abilities, I have the perfect infiltration and intelligence gathering units! Combined with any shadow summons ability to move around solid objects by entering any available shadow, as well as my Shadow Exchange ability, I can infiltrate anything! Well, I'm not sure how wards would react to them, but I'll test it later.
Also, now that I have summons that uses my mana, I can just keep them constantly materialized and keep expanding the amount of mana I have. House elf butlers are fantastic, but its both good and bad that they get mana from the mansion itself.'
As I finished my thought, Tom appeared again with a large bowl of milk and a plate of sandwiches.
"Some refreshments sir."
The little lions all snapped their heads up and zeroed in on the milk. I don't think they have to eat anymore, but that sure as hell doesn't seem to be stopping them. Tom quickly placed the bowl down and moved aside.
'Damn, I wanted to see him get flustered. I don't think anything could catch someone with Sebas Tian's face off guard.'
"Here you go sir, and congratulations on some new subordinates."
"Thank you Tom."
Sitting on the soft grass with the sun shining down with a gentle breeze filled with the scent of flowers. Eating some sandwiches with a butler standing behind me and watching my new shadow kneazles play fight over some milk. I could honestly say I can't remember being so satisfied before.
'Thank you, dad, grandma, and grandpa. I'm going to make the most of this new life.'