Seeing the mythical radiance churning across his system panel like liquid starlight, Ciel couldn't help clenching his fists, his heart flooded with wild, overwhelming joy. He never expected his first mythical-level ability would be obtained under such extraordinary circumstances.
Though strictly speaking, the current Patronus Charm wasn't truly a mythical-level ability under his complete control. Because actually, his magic power strength wasn't sufficient to support casting his World Tree Patronus at will.
Now being able to condense the magnificent World Tree Patronus was largely due to Lady Hufflepuff's selfless, sacrificial assistance. But afterward, if he wanted to cast the World Tree Patronus again, he'd have to rely entirely on his own magical reserves.
The distance to fully mastering this mythical-level ability was probably still very remote, like grasping for stars. But regardless, the most difficult step was already complete.
Compared to creating an ability from absolute nothing and building it to a mythical level, mastering an already-formed mythical-level Patronus Charm would definitely be much easier. For him, receiving Lady Hufflepuff's gift had brought gains far exceeding imagination.
But the next moment, his joy over obtaining the World Tree Patronus quietly faded like morning mist. His gaze fell on Lady Hufflepuff's remaining Patronus with growing melancholy.
Now, the remaining silver radiance was only rice-grain sized, flickering weakly like a dying ember. It's hard to imagine that previously, this had been an extremely bright, proud silver badger radiating power and wisdom.
Even Lady Hufflepuff's voice from within had become incredibly ethereal, as if it might dissipate at any moment like breath on winter glass.
He took a deep breath, showing profound sadness. Though he'd only spent brief time with Lady Hufflepuff, she was definitely a selfless elder whose generosity knew no bounds. Her gifts to him made him feel deeply unworthy of such sacrifice.
And now, the emotions in Lady Hufflepuff's fading voice showed no reluctance about her impending dissipation, only pure joy for his success.
"Child, your Patronus is actually the World Tree." Her voice carried wonder and pride. "This is absolutely an achievement worthy of magical history's most honoured pages."
"You know, even among mythology, the World Tree's status far transcends ordinary Titan Giants. Even the Olympian Twelve, even the God-King Zeus himself, cannot match the World Tree's cosmic significance."
Her tone grew warm with maternal affection. "You will definitely become a remarkable wizard, surpassing everyone recorded in magical history's annals!"
Then Lady Hufflepuff comforted him with gentle words: "As for my dissipation, child, don't be sad. My life already ended a thousand years ago. This Patronus remaining in the world was just to provide what help I could to future little badgers."
"Helping you condense the World Tree Patronus... my will's mission is complete. Don't dwell on sadness. In our remaining time, I must tell you some more crucial things."
Then Lady Hufflepuff mentioned something that genuinely shocked him: "The magical talent issue isn't unsolvable. There's an extremely precious potion that can increase natural talent significantly."
"Your aunt, the current Head of Hufflepuff, came here before and took away the last ancient herb from my collection. I think she's probably collecting materials for talent enhancement potions specifically for you."
Her voice carried knowing sympathy. "She just didn't tell you to avoid raising hopes that might lead to crushing disappointment."
Hearing this revelation, his heart shook with powerful emotion. Waves of bittersweet feeling churned within him like a storm-tossed sea.
So Aunt Sprout had always been silently collecting materials for talent enhancement potions? Though he hadn't heard of this potion's specific recipe, even Lady Hufflepuff called it extremely precious.
One could imagine how difficult collecting its materials in this era would be. Even though his aunt was a renowned Herbology master and the Head of Hufflepuff, the price she'd pay would be unimaginable.
He silently clenched his fists, his gaze growing more determined than forged steel. Perhaps he couldn't repay much now, but at least this year's House Cup must go to Hufflepuff!
And Anthony Dolohov, that sworn enemy of the Sprout family, the butcher who repeatedly made his aunt grit her teeth in hatred, he had already sentenced that monster to death in his heart.
At this time, Lady Hufflepuff accelerated her speech, her tone changing from previous joy to extremely grave seriousness that made the air itself feel heavier.
She emphasised one crucial thing to him: "The International Statute of Secrecy."
"Ciel, when you have the ability, if anyone wants to overturn the International Statute of Secrecy, whether it's that Dark wizard called Voldemort or others, even if it's your headmaster Dumbledore wanting to overturn it, you must stop them."
Her voice carried the weight of absolute conviction. "Otherwise, the magical world will face utter catastrophe beyond imagination."
His expression grew bewildered, brow furrowing with confusion. He truly hadn't expected Lady Hufflepuff's final instructions would specifically mention the International Statute of Secrecy with such urgency.
He had attended History of Magic classes and was familiar with this law, signed in 1689 and formally established in 1692, designed to protect the entire magical world from Muggle discovery.
But he truly couldn't understand why a founder from a thousand years ago would be so desperately concerned about the International Statute of Secrecy.
Lady Hufflepuff didn't provide detailed explanations, her voice slightly trembling with suppressed fear: "I can't tell you the reasons behind this warning. Unless your Occlumency reaches wizardly extremes, the more you know, the less safe you'll be."
"All I can reveal is that a thousand years ago, we built Hogwarts because powerful enemies threatened us. Wizards were like candles in hurricane wind, fate barely clinging to life."
Her voice grew heavy with ancient memory. "Everything we did was just to hide and preserve the magical world's precious seeds. After all these years, the magical world has indeed transformed from near extinction to thriving prosperity."
"But the enemies that once forced us wizards into hiding have also grown beyond imagination. If not for the timely passage of the International Statute of Secrecy, preventing wizard existence from being publicly known again, perhaps the current magical world would no longer exist."
Her tone became urgent. "What protects wizards isn't genius wizards alone, but this law. But probably many self-important wizards don't understand this. When they attempt to overturn the International Statute of Secrecy, enslave Muggles, and attract unwanted attention, the entire magical world's catastrophe won't be far off."
"Unless you can already match former Titan Giants in power, remember... maintain the International Statute of Secrecy."
His spirit grew alert, every sense sharpening. From Lady Hufflepuff's voice, besides gravity and seriousness, he even heard traces of genuine fear that chilled his bones.
The magical world enemies she mentioned made this witch, who stood at the magical world's absolute peak in her prime and was probably at the three-sublimation level according to system evaluation, feel terror?!
Lady Hufflepuff even attributed most credit for the magical world's continued thriving existence to the International Statute of Secrecy?
He truly couldn't imagine what kind of enemies would make Hufflepuff's founder react this way. The original story never mentioned this at all.
But as Lady Hufflepuff said, when strength was insufficient, knowing less was safer. Knowing more was more dangerous.
He didn't ask questions. These secrets, perhaps he'd naturally learn them when his strength was sufficient.
Seeing him so steady and wise, Lady Hufflepuff's increasingly ethereal voice revealed relief: "Yes, very good. Our little badgers just need to remember one thing... keep a low profile, be diligent."
"Before having sufficient strength, never stand out. Ordinary people are happiest."
The rice-grain sized silver light gradually scattered into firefly-like stardust that danced in the air. The Lady's voice grew increasingly distant:
"Ah, wait, wait... one last thing. I once had goblins help me craft golden cups, collecting many precious metals then. Given goblin nature, they definitely hoarded some."
"If you need them and have the ability to subdue goblins, you can collect these debts. That's all my money..."
Scattered silver stardust finally dimmed into the greenhouse soil like fallen stars. Lady Hufflepuff had completely departed from this world.
He felt profound melancholy wash over him, carefully memorising all her words, especially news about those precious metals.
Previously, he had wanted to repair Demeter's Chalice. Many materials Sirius mentioned were now extinct, with no production heard of for centuries. He had given up hope, but now Lady Hufflepuff's information offered another path.
Metals used in crafting golden cups back then overlapped with many materials Sirius mentioned. If found, perhaps repairing Demeter's Chalice wouldn't be impossible.
Then his heart filled with firm resolve: "Hufflepuff's Cup must be returned to its rightful place. Our house's inheritance artefact, Lady Hufflepuff's final worldly relic... how can it be defiled by a noseless monster's soul fragment?"
Consider it repaying Lady Hufflepuff's gift. Given the chance, he must retrieve the cup.
Then, taking a deep breath, he roused himself from melancholy over losing such a loving elder. The dead were gone; the living must strive harder.
His gaze fell on the Patronus Charm blazing with mythical radiance, showing eager anticipation. Though current him was far from being able to summon the World Tree Patronus, meaning he couldn't freely control this mythical-level spell, mythical-level abilities' influence should differ dramatically from before.
"Let's try it."
Then he concentrated, waving his wand with careful precision: "Expecto Patronum!"
With the incantation came crushing weight, like supporting entire mountains. His wand had never felt so heavy; he felt he could barely lift it.
If not for his wand being ash wood, the most resilient among wand materials, with legends claiming the World Tree was also a giant ash, perhaps ash wands had natural advantages for casting his World Tree Patronus.
Otherwise, he seriously doubted his wand would snap from casting this spell.
Simultaneously, previously experienced tremendous pressure descended on him. His just-healed flesh cracked again, capillaries exploding in a fine blood mist.
His vision darkened, his head split as if his spirit was being drained, and he nearly fainted from the exertion.
Yet the Patronus Charm cast at such great cost produced far less commotion than before, condensing the World Tree Patronus.
From his wand tip, only a silver wisp thinner than hair appeared with difficulty under his strained gaze.
But its solidity seemed vastly different from previous castings. He even felt this wasn't silver smoke but a real silver thread. Though they looked similar, the difference was immeasurable.
But before he could better sense the World Tree Patronus's influence, this silver wisp dissipated completely.
Leaving him looking stunned: "All that effort for one wisp of silver smoke lasting a few seconds?"
He couldn't help smiling bitterly. To successfully summon a complete World Tree Patronus, how difficult would that be? At least Legendary-level magic power strength would be needed for any hope.
Looking at his magic power strength, still short of even Platinum level on the system panel, he shook his head: "Improving magical capacity needs urgent priority. Otherwise, at the current progress, even the final battle in the original story probably won't meet requirements."
But after slight frustration, when he saw other changes on the system panel, his eyes showed genuine joy.
Not counting enormous gains from Lady Hufflepuff, just harvesting Patronus Trees brought pleasing benefits.
[Dark Magic Resistance (Platinum Level)]
First, Dark Magic Resistance. Under dozens of stacked reward orbs, this ability directly advanced to Platinum level. With his current magical perception, he could already sense some sacred-aura magic particles appearing in his magic power.
This seemed to be Dark Magic Resistance's manifestation. When suffering dark magic attacks, these sacred magic particles would weaken the dark magic.
This undoubtedly gave him additional safety assurance when facing dark wizards and various dark magical creatures. Legendary Life already made his "health bar" frighteningly thick.
Previously lacking magical resistance, he had to genuinely absorb all damage. But now, with added Dark Magic Resistance, even if the level wasn't too high, it was enough to make most dark wizards feel deeper despair facing him than facing Fluffy!
[Occlumency Enhancement (Platinum, Enhanced)]
Next, Occlumency Enhancement's platinum radiance also caught his eye. This ability's benefits needed no elaboration; he had already benefited greatly.
Plus, this time Lady Hufflepuff specifically mentioned needing Occlumency approaching wizardly extremes to learn certain magical world secrets. This made him even more attentive.
Now his Occlumency, enhanced, blazed with platinum radiance, increasingly approaching Diamond level, saving him considerable hard work.
But beyond these abilities, what most delighted him was clear diamond radiance:
[Defence Against the Dark Arts Mastery (Diamond Level)]!