Chapter 27

【You fully processed a stinging nettle to apprentice standard, proficiency +1】

【You fully processed a stinging nettle to apprentice standard, proficiency +1】

……

【Herbology Recognition unlocked】

【New herbology title unlocked, please check】

【A wizard talent unlocked, please check】

After spending two days,

Wizard Sean Green completed the unlocking of the herbology title.

He eagerly checked:

【Title: Herbology Apprentice】

【Slightly increases perception of plants, slightly enhances herbology talent】

Increased perception of plants?

Sounds decent.

Wizard Sean continued scrolling down:

【Wizard Wizard Sean Green, Herbology Talent: Green (boosted by Herbology Apprentice title; original talent: White) Note: Average wizards are Green】

His talent, when it came to disappointing people,

never failed to deliver.

Well,

at least I can still change it through grinding proficiency.

Wizard Sean thought.

Soon, Wizard Sean experienced the benefits of the talent change.

When identifying mature dried stinging nettles, a peculiar intuition led him to select one just at maturity,

and after soaking and processing, he earned his first “entry” in herbology:

【You fully processed a stinging nettle to entry standard, proficiency +3】

So this is the magic of talent.

Wizard Sean’s stereotype of the magical world deepened further.

“Excellent processing, Mr. Green—I award two points to Ravenclaw!”

Professor Sprout walked over, slightly surprised,

“Everyone, come look! Observe these processed nettles—their stinging hairs and short trichomes have vanished,

this is one defining feature of high-quality nettle material—

Mr. Green, you’ve improved rapidly.”

Professor Sprout softly encouraged them as the students examined the nettles.

Herbology class ended quickly; as they left the greenhouse,

Wizard Sean overheard whispers among the young wizards.

“That’s him?”

“Wizard Sean Green? Haven’t you heard of him?”

“On the contrary, I’ve heard too much—he’s excelled in Charms and Transfiguration—is he from a wizarding family?”

“That’s the terrifying part—they say he’s a Muggle-born…”

When Wizard Sean turned to look, the two whispering students turned red and hurried away.

“Wizard Sean, looks like you’ve become famous.”

Michael spoke with full teasing,

“Shouldn’t that be the case? I’ve never seen a wizard master every branch of magic… except Potions.”

Michael’s teasing ended helplessly during Astronomy class.

“...stairs, stairs, more stairs, Terry, have you seen the top yet?”

Michael panted as he spoke to Terry, glancing at Wizard Sean,

the young wizard’s face still pale.

“They say the Astronomy Tower is the tallest in Hogwarts… even taller than Ravenclaw Tower…”

Michael muttered his gossip while trailing half a step behind Wizard Sean.

“...Is that so?”

Anthony murmured, then subtly edged closer to Michael,

the two flanking the pale-faced young wizard on either side.

The witch teaching Astronomy was Professor Aurora Sinistra, a witch with an air of transcendent calm.

She taught the young wizards to observe the stars through telescopes, learning the names of stars and the orbits of planets.

Her classroom was filled with countless instruments—lunar globes, moon charts, moon-sight mirrors, star maps, telescopes—

resembling some kind of research institute,

the only difference being the night sky outside was breathtaking, and delicate magical instruments hummed silently.

Because Wizard Sean understood how telescopes worked, Professor Sinistra soon noticed him,

and even permitted him to use a large metal sphere to predict the orbit of Io, Jupiter’s first moon.

This made Terry envious—he, usually silent, asked Wizard Sean about the experience no less than three times.

Wizard Sean gave him a detailed description; his longing was plain to see:

“Oh! Merlin! That must be incredible—it’s an extremely rare magical moon-sight device…”

After Astronomy class,

curfew was nearly upon them.

Wizard Sean’s face was not in good condition after climbing two tall towers in succession, but it didn’t stop him from organizing his Astronomy notes.

He remembered correctly: first-year wizards primarily learned star names and planetary orbits.

It wasn’t difficult—just memorize them all.

The only challenge might be drawing orbital charts, but even that was effortless for Wizard Sean.

Don’t underestimate the power of compulsory education!

After organizing his notes, Wizard Sean took out books on Potions and Magical History.

The preparation for Potion brewing was done; Wizard Sean tried to find brewing tips in these books,

though they only contained strict steps and brief descriptions,

Wizard Sean still gleaned vague hints from the details:

【When making Wartbane Potion, stir left twice, then right three times—the force must be moderate…】

What is “moderate force”?

Wizard Sean found the answer in Magical History:

【An automatically stirring cauldron is enchanted to stir potions on its own; the stirring spoon often breaks the bubbles…】

Wizard Sean guessed that breaking the bubbles was the definition of moderate force.

Indeed, history remained a good teacher—even in the magical world.

Ravenclaw common room.

It was always quiet, but that didn’t mean wizards studied nonstop,

in fact, young wizards of this age were always playful.

After finishing his Magical History essay, Michael had played fifteen-checkers for an hour.

Seeing Wizard Sean still immersed in study, he exchanged a glance with Terry, who was observing various stones,

then seized the moment when Wizard Sean switched books to say:

“Wizard Sean, I’m not saying this to be harsh, but I’ve never seen you do anything else…

A wizard’s life can’t be all studying, can it?

You’re ahead in Charms, Transfiguration, Magical History… Merlin, you’ve already leapt ahead in so many subjects!

I’m asking—don’t you get bored?”

Wizard Sean looked up,

Bored?

You… what are you talking about?

This is magic!

It offers absurdly immediate positive feedback—learning only becomes more interesting and more motivating the more you do it.

And for magic, sufficient effort directly transforms into usable power,

something visible, something perceptible.

Not to mention its practicality and boundless versatility—it’s pure idealistic miracle.

Soon, Wizard Sean realized he’d overlooked one point:

that young wizards’ magic was innate.

Perhaps that’s why they didn’t value it much.

But for Wizard Sean, he had once lain on a hospital bed in the orphanage for three months,

His heart, like his body, had gradually grown numb.

it was the owl that braved the snow and wind to fly into his room,

it was Professor McGonagall who paid for his stationery and helped him apply for financial aid and scholarships,

giving him the ability to once again feel hope and passion before he could act on his own.

Having known ordinary life, Wizard Sean always cherished magic even more as a miracle,

he relished the feeling of such a world-changing miracle being born in his hands,

not to mention the proficiency panel, which proved it once and for all.

“Hey, Wizard Sean, have you come to your senses? Want to play fifteen-pawn chess?”

Michael watched Wizard Sean return the book and enthusiastically invited him.

“Sorry, I only want to study.”

Wizard Sean shook his head and took out another book borrowed from the library: Advanced Potion-Making.