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Training was still in full swing. After this intense period of nonstop drilling, Loki had officially reached the standards of a Level 3 Mage. Both Malfoy and Lilian had also advanced into the ranks of full-fledged wizards.
Their ability to absorb knowledge had increased so rapidly that Augustus had to carve out a significant chunk of his time to personally guide them.
Most of their sparring sessions were essentially Loki holding back his power to match the others in duels. But this wasn't helping Loki improve much. So, from time to time, Augustus would suppress his own power level to match Loki's and personally give him pressure during battle.
Inside the Room of Requirement, in the dueling arena, Loki stood there panting heavily, staring at Augustus, whose face showed zero emotion. He didn't get it—ice spells should counter fire spells in theory. Augustus had already suppressed his magic level to match Loki's, so why was he still getting completely wrecked?
Every move Augustus made was calculated down to the angle and distance. Each spell used just enough force to overwhelm Loki's defenses, without wasting even a bit of his magic energy.
Another fireball rose into the sky. By now, Augustus had cast Fireball twice. The first one exploded just before it reached Loki, thanks to an added Explosion Charm, catching him off guard and forcing him to burn through a basic Ice Armor spell. The explosion interrupted his casting, giving him no time to switch to another defensive spell.
The second fireball was paired with a secondary Level 2 spell: Magic Bomb. Loki thought he could counter with Ice Storm and even turn the tables on Augustus. But the invisible Magic Bomb struck out of nowhere, hitting him completely off guard.
If it hadn't been for the instant-cast Ice Ring he pulled off to narrowly dodge the blast, he probably would've been knocked out right then.
And now, the third fireball was coming. Loki's mind was stretched thin—he was almost in a daze. At this point, just seeing the fireball made him feel sick. These spell combos weren't just 1+1; they synergized. Augustus's attacks were unpredictable and wild. His combos of low-level spells were so precise that Loki barely had time to breathe.
The third fireball was now hurtling through the air. But Loki didn't bother watching it. His amber eyes stayed locked on Augustus, waiting for the hidden move that was sure to follow.
Unfortunately, this time the second move wasn't even aimed at Loki. Augustus casually flicked his wand, and a whip of flames flickered to life at its tip.
Just as the fireball hit its peak speed, he cracked the Flame Lash—a Level 2 spell—straight into the fireball, boosting its speed to an insane level.
In a blink, the fireball slammed into Loki's basic ice armor, launching him right out of the ring from sheer impact.
"You lost," Augustus said flatly.
Loki stood there with a complicated expression. Every round of these matches felt like he was a puppet with invisible strings, completely controlled by Augustus.
He had no chance to resist, let alone fight back. And the worst part? Augustus was using fire magic—the exact element that ice was supposed to counter.
The defeat hit him hard. He couldn't make excuses. This wasn't just bad luck—this was skill. Raw, undeniable skill. In the past, he could chalk it up to Augustus's massive innate mana reserves or the fact that he used a new, more advanced magical system. But now, Augustus had deliberately lowered his level to match Loki's, and the spells he used were all within the bounds of a Level 3 mage.
Loki had no choice but to acknowledge it—Augustus was simply on another level when it came to magic. Far beyond him.
Lilian's eyes sparkled. That duel had left a deep impression on her. The fluid spell combos, the deep understanding of fire magic, the pinpoint-perfect timing—it was all exactly the kind of mastery she had always dreamed of.
Augustus's graceful and deadly execution of fire spells at such a suppressed level was like a door opening into a whole new world for her. Like a lighthouse on a dark sea, it gave her a clear goal. And she firmly believed that if she stuck close to Augustus and kept learning, she'd get there too—maybe sooner than she thought.
Meanwhile, Malfoy couldn't help grinning. Watching Loki get completely thrashed like that? Pure bliss. When Augustus first started teaching Loki, Malfoy had been waiting for a show—and it didn't disappoint.
Loki had reached Level 3 first. That stung. They'd all trained together, but in such a short time, he and Lilian had only just become official wizards, while Loki had already broken into the third tier.
But now? Seeing Loki so defeated, brooding in silence, stripped of his usual arrogance—Malfoy felt like he'd downed a dozen butterbeers on a hot summer day.
"You've all just stepped into your new ranks. Your foundations are still shaky," Augustus said calmly, his eyes flickering with faint light. "Don't get cocky. Don't rush. In magic, it's all about understanding.
Every spell should be cast to achieve the maximum effect with the minimum cost. Never underestimate any spell, no matter how small. Every incantation has its purpose. As a mage, your job is to judge when and how to use it. Only when you've mastered every spell with full confidence and fluency can you say you truly control magic."
Meanwhile, the sun had begun to shine faintly over Hogwarts again. The mood around the castle had turned hopeful. Ever since the attacks on Justin and Nearly Headless Nick, things had been quiet. No more attacks. Madam Pomfrey was happy to report that the Mandrakes were now moody and withdrawn—exactly what they needed.
"As soon as their acne clears up, we'll be able to replant them," Harry overheard her saying gently to Filch one afternoon. "Then it won't be long before we can stew them. Your Mrs. Norris will be back in no time."
Gilderoy Lockhart, of course, was acting like he was the reason everything had calmed down. One day, as the Slytherin students were lining up for Transfiguration class, Augustus happened to overhear him talking to Professor McGonagall.
"I think the worst is over, Minerva," Lockhart said, tapping his nose and giving her a wink. "I'm quite confident the Chamber won't be opened again. Those culprits must have realized by now that I'm closing in. Just a matter of time, really. Backing off now was the smart move—before I really started cracking down."
"You know," he added, lowering his voice mysteriously, "what the school needs now is a boost in morale. We've got to put last term behind us. I can't say too much yet, but let's just say—I have things well in hand…" He tapped his nose again and strode off dramatically.
The mystery of the Chamber of Secrets still loomed like a black hole, sucking in everyone's attention. Now that there hadn't been any new attacks, people were getting bolder about discussing it.
Augustus listened to all the chatter around him quietly, not joining in.
"....."