He had fallen asleep in the little town again.
Fortunately, he had not forgotten much this time.
Perhaps because he had not released his magic completely blindly?
When Sean woke, he could still remember Madam Hufflepuff's words, the wooden cottage, and the person standing outside it.
Most importantly, he had found the source of his sudden surge in Transfiguration proficiency—and had put it into practice.
[You practiced Soul Transfiguration once at the standard of Legend. Proficiency +1,000,000]
[Soul Transfiguration proficiency has increased significantly]
That was—how many zeroes?
Sean was a little stunned.
[Name: Sean Green]
[Transfiguration Talent: Purple, enhanced by the Transfiguration Master title. Note: ordinary wizards are Green]
[Transfiguration Categories:]
[Magical Transfiguration: Master level, 1,250/3,000,000]
[Material Transfiguration: Master level, 1,250/3,000,000]
[Soul Transfiguration: Master level, 1,011,250/3,000,000]
[Evaluation: A wizard who has reached Master level in Transfiguration is outstanding even among the best, and is capable of fighting several wizards who have barely stepped into Master level]
The huge jump in Soul Transfiguration proficiency washed away the slight gloom Sean felt over the Void Talisman gaining yet another crack.
At this rate, as long as he made two more trips to the Borderland, Sean would be able to push Transfiguration into Legend.
Legend—
What kind of realm would that be?
Headmaster Dumbledore was undoubtedly a wizard who stood at the very peak of Legend. Sean was certain he had never truly grasped the full extent of Dumbledore's Transfiguration skill.
So what kind of change would Legendary Transfiguration bring to a wizard's magic?
And what kind of magical ability would a Legendary title grant him?
After returning from the Borderland this time, Sean felt that he had changed quite a bit.
First was his understanding of Transfiguration.
When he had fully mobilized his magic in the Borderland, his own magical circuits had appeared in an especially clear state.
They were magical structures that seemed not to exist, yet were clearly functioning.
Wizards could only sense them by instinct. Even in magical creatures, they did not leave visible traces.
Learning them had always relied on the notes and drafts left behind by earlier wizards who had achieved something in the field, using those records to understand the forms through which the circuits exerted their effects.
But those were, after all, fictionalized models. Like mathematical formulas, they were not written on the surface of objects.
Therefore, most wizards could only rely on feeling to understand them.
In common terms, it all depended on talent.
Now, Sean understood his own magical circuits far more clearly.
It was a feeling difficult to describe in words. In practical terms, when Sean used Transfiguration, his control over the magic had become far more skilled.
It was like grasping the trick to releasing magic more easily. When Sean wanted to cast a Transfiguration spell, he would instinctively mobilize more efficient magical circuits. Thus, with ten parts of effort, he could produce seven or eight parts of effect.
It was not that the magic had become stronger.
Rather, the release of magic had become more efficient.
In Headmaster Dumbledore's second lesson, Dumbledore had taught Sean to use magic efficiently through specific timing and specific range.
That was rather similar to his current realization.
Parchment unfolded instinctively.
Sean directed his quill and silently wrote down some of his insights.
When Transfiguration reaches Master level, the wizard has already fully believed in their own Transfiguration magic and has built a firm, unwavering system of "order."
This means the wizard can initially master the key to Transfiguration magic, can practice most Transfiguration spells, and can produce effects that are far from weak.
This is Mastery.
Thus, the true path of Transfiguration magic is revealed before a small number of wizards.
All the effort before this allows a wizard to realize that magic possesses infinite possibilities. When a wizard has enough blind confidence, the upper limit of magic can be raised almost endlessly. This is also the root of the power of ancient magic.
And also the root of losing control.
The above is the path most wizards walk, consciously or unconsciously.
But determined and enterprising wizards, guided by "wisdom," have opened another path.
The path of control.
Extreme utilization can bring a wizard the extreme expression of magic. This is the second path of "wisdom."
Sean silently stored the parchment in his Wizard's Book and realized that many of his insights had yet to be organized into a volume.
He looked at the Wizard's Book, thinking that perhaps one day, other wizards would discover this book.
Just as he had discovered the notes of various masters.
Perhaps one day, they too would explore magic as he did—eternally, inexhaustibly opening up this continent of magic.
That made his gaze grow deeper and deeper.
He always wanted to learn more.
Perhaps the Sorting Hat had been right. He was a greedy wizard.
"Sean, hurry up! We're going home today—"
Michael was shouting loudly.
"Oh right, you're going home, aren't you?"
At the same time, Anthony and Terry also stuck their ears to the dormitory doorway.
"Mm."
Sean simply nodded.
He wanted to make a trip to McGonagall Villa.
Michael knew Sean would return to a farm. It had occasionally been mentioned in their letters.
At that time, Michael always sent his own postcards, just like Justin, with photos of his daily life, then asked about the young wizard's situation in roundabout ways.
He was willing to bet that a certain slow-witted young wizard would never figure out his little intentions.
So naturally, he received a photo of a farm in return.
The only strange thing was that there was always a very familiar tabby cat on the farm.
But that also confirmed for him that Sean really was a Muggle-born wizard.
"You don't want to know what Professor McGonagall's face will look like if she sees we're late—hurry, hurry—"
he said, pushing the young wizard along.
The corners of his mouth were slightly raised.
Those people had all kept their distance from the future Headmaster Green. They would never understand that this would be their last chance to push a Headmaster around.
Once they graduated, if they wanted to see a certain young wizard again, it would only be in the Daily Prophet.
Or perhaps when they sent their children to school?
"There's the Quidditch World Cup during the summer! I bet you definitely didn't know that—are you going? If you plan to go, remember to tell me which tent you'll be staying in—"
Michael chattered nonstop beside Sean, his eyes still shining brightly all the way until they entered the Great Hall.
"It might not go ahead smoothly. So many things have happened lately—"
Anthony followed behind them and said meaningfully.
"Oh, come on, Anthony. The Ministry will make arrangements. Besides, Headmaster Dumbledore is there too. Stop worrying over nothing."
Michael did not care at all.
"Oh, Sean, you remember the summer homework, right? You'll write it, won't you?"
Walking among the young wizards always made Sean forget that the Dark Lord was still rising.
Perhaps he had been too sensitive.
With Grindelwald at Hogwarts, there would be no danger.