After giving his thick-headed roommates a well-deserved lesson, Tom finally vented a good chunk of his pent-up frustration.
He ordered the trio to wash up and sleep—immediately. Only once the dormitory fell silent did he re-enter the learning space.
"You took your sweet time," Andros greeted him.
Tom had shut off the learning space right after the feast, so Andros had no idea what had happened afterward. When Tom sighed and explained everything, Andros burst out laughing.
"Reality really is more magical than fiction, huh? Pure-bloods? Bloodline means nothing in the face of true power."
"You handled it well today, Tom. When it's time to act, you must be decisive. Too light a hand won't teach them a lesson, too heavy and the professors get involved. What you did? Just right."
"It's not that simple," Tom replied, shaking his head slightly. "This is just the beginning. You'll see—there's more trouble on the horizon."
He sighed. "I just want to study in peace. Why Slytherin of all places?"
Andros scoffed. "Kid, I didn't want to say this before out of respect for your choice, but after going through everything I could about Hogwarts, it's clear—Slytherin is exactly where you belong."
Tom blinked. "Why?"
Andros folded his arms, his expression unusually serious. "Knowledge is important for a wizard. But from the ancient past to long after my own death, I can promise you—no wizard has ever become the strongest through knowledge alone."
He tapped his temple. "You know what matters most to a wizard?"
Tom answered without hesitation, "Magic power. Willpower. When the two align, a spell can shape reality."
This time, Andros shook his head. "You're missing something—emotion."
Tom frowned. "Isn't willpower the same as emotion?"
Basic magical theory in countless books had never separated the two. Not once.
Andros gave a wry smile and summoned his wand, rarely used these days. He raised it high above his head.
"Expecto Patronum!"
A massive Patronus—a towering giant—erupted into the space, radiating intense pressure. As Andros spoke, the Patronus echoed him, their voices resonating in perfect harmony.
"Great magic power. Unshakable will. Overflowing emotion."
"Magic power is the source of all things—the foundation of spellcasting. Willpower governs the success rate of a spell—the more determined the intent, the better the flow and transformation of your magic. But emotion… emotion decides a spell's limit."
"Remember this, Tom: magic is fueled by the mind. The mind is limitless—but it must anchor itself to something. That anchor is emotion."
"Talent is important. But those with powerful emotions can often break their limits and reach heights beyond imagination."
"The chaos in Slytherin? That's your trial. It's meant to help you find the perfect balance between will and emotion. Treasure this opportunity."
Andros' voice thundered through the space. Tom stood there, stunned.
Because what Andros had said was both simple—and profound. Simple enough for Tom to hear, but far too deep to grasp. He had touched on the very essence of magic.
For the first time, Tom activated his Transcendent State, allowing himself to digest Andros' teachings.
Ten minutes passed silently.
Tom's vacant eyes gradually regained focus. A subtle, hard-to-define aura now surrounded him. His gaze had become far more piercing.
Imitating Andros, he raised his wand.
"Expecto Patronum!"
Silver-white mist burst forth and began to take human form. Compared to Andros' clearly defined, towering Patronus, Tom's was only vaguely humanoid—and only slightly taller than himself.
But even that was enough to surprise Andros greatly.
Tom had actually reached the point of casting a corporeal Patronus on the third day of training. But Andros had personally shattered it back then.
Why?
Because once a Patronus form was solidified, it became nearly impossible to change. Creating a rare or unique Patronus—like Andros' giant—would then take an immense amount of effort.
Andros had learned that lesson the hard way and wasn't about to let Tom repeat his mistake.
But now, this attempt wasn't about forming the final shape. It was about attitude—and it had paid off unexpectedly.
[Instructor 'Andros' Approval: 50%. Reward drawing... Complete.]
[Congratulations! You've acquired the talent: "Absolute Justice."]
[Absolute Justice: All non-dark offensive spells gain increased power. The amplification scales with the host's magic power growth.]
[Instructor Approval at 50% — New Function Unlocked: "Embodied Instruction."]
[Embodied Instruction: The instructor may channel spells directly through the host's body to enhance learning efficiency. Duration: 5 minutes. Each approval point adds 10 seconds. Cooldown: 24 hours. (Host may interrupt at any time to regain control.)]
As soon as the rewards were granted, Tom's Patronus visibly swelled, its height shooting up to nearly two meters.
Andros, unaware that Tom wasn't just learning from him but also borrowing his powers, marveled at how much stronger Tom's talent was than he'd originally thought.
Tom basked in the strange, exhilarating sensation of summoning a humanoid Patronus. Eventually, he ceased channeling magic.
Though the Transcendent State had ended, a lingering spark of insight still danced through his mind. He didn't dare waste it and immediately began bombarding Andros with questions—new questions sparked by the experience.
Questions that even elite Aurors wouldn't know how to answer.
Because most Aurors were just skilled practitioners. That didn't mean they understood theory.
But for Andros, this was nothing.
In his time, magical technique hadn't even been formalized yet. Anyone who wanted to reach high-level magic had to figure things out the hard way—on their own.
So while he looked like a brute and fought like a berserker, Andros was, at heart, a scholar.
An hour passed before they wrapped up.
Andros taught Tom two new spells—not newly discovered magic, but two simple ancient spells.
One detected poison in food.
The other created a triggered barrier that would activate if someone attempted an ambush.
Tom memorized both, then exited the learning space.
His three roommates were sound asleep. But Tom couldn't fall asleep at all.
He had felt the sheer power of the Transcendent State. In critical moments, ten minutes of that could equal ten days—or even half a month—of hard training.
He opened the system interface and looked at the 300+ academic credits he'd accumulated.
Tom let out a long sigh.
When will I finally stop feeling poor…?