Everyday Life of a Top Student at Hogwarts

Chapter 103 Breakthrough in Energy Storage and Worsening of the Curse

Chapter 103 Breakthrough in Energy Storage and Worsening of the Curse

As promised, Fabian delivered a meticulously drawn diagram of the flow of magic, rich in detail, even marking his hypothetical energy nodes and circulation paths. Ernesto also soon received a copy of "Environmental Resonance in Ancient Protective Magic" from his family. Although some of the theories in it about using leyline nodes to stabilize magic circles were ancient, they provided a way of thinking about "stabilizing the environmental energy field."

Karen's core ideas are gradually becoming clearer:

1. Absorption Layer: Replaces or enhances the single physical protection and annihilation properties of the outer dragon skin. This requires etching entirely new, miniature rune arrays with magical absorption capabilities into the inner layer of the dragon skin. He drew inspiration from the book's concept of "Sowilo-" for absorbing ambient light energy and weak magical energy.

The "Fehu" rune, along with the characteristics of moonmoss, incorporates the "Gebo-Kenaz" variant, representing "acceptance" and "transformation."

This forms a complex yet highly efficient miniature absorption matrix. This matrix, like countless tiny "moss," continuously draws faint energy from light, free-floating magical particles in the air, and even the wearer's dissipated body heat.

2. Storage and Regulation Core: This is the most crucial innovation. Karen etched several extremely fine, intricately patterned mithril wires between the crystal and the surrounding armored runes, their trajectories inspired by the Bowtruckle Dance path drawn by Fabian. These wires act as "energy conduits," responsible for smoothly delivering the stable energy stored in the crystal along a pre-defined, optimized path to the armored runes that need to be activated.

3. Activation Layer: The outer area of ​​the mithril substrate is etched with fully optimized Ironclad Runes. However, unlike before, it is now connected to an "energy channel." When subjected to a magical impact sufficient to trigger the protection, it no longer relies on the violent high pressure generated by the annihilation of dragon skin.

Instead, the "Storage and Regulation Core" outputs a precisely regulated, moderately strong, and extremely stable stream of magic power through a guiding channel, instantly activating the Ironclad Spell! This activation method is gentler, more controllable, places less burden on the rune itself, and theoretically can be activated multiple times as long as the core stores enough energy!

Using his Eye of Truth, Karen monitored every step of the etching and assembly process. He could clearly "see" how, when the simulated, faint environmental magic shone on the modified dragon skin absorption layer, strands of magic were captured and transformed by the microscopic runes, flowing like trickles along a predetermined path into the central obsidian crystal. The energy-rich channels within the crystal, like tiny blood vessels, stored energy in an orderly fashion, exhibiting a serene, deep blue hue under the influence of the "Stagnation" runes, devoid of any violent energy.

"Success! Passive absorption and storage mechanism!" Karen was thrilled. Next, the most crucial activation test.

On Friday afternoon, the Charms classroom was cleared out and turned into a makeshift dueling practice area. Professor Flitwick stood on a specially made protective mat, his small body radiating a powerful aura. Cullen stood opposite him, wearing the prototype of the protective badge that incorporated the new ideas on her chest. Wesley, Fabian, and Ernesto stood outside the safety line, watching with a mixture of tension and anticipation.

"Are you ready, Mr. Hawthorne?" Professor Flitwick's voice was as high-pitched as ever, but full of seriousness.

"Yes, Professor!" Karen took a deep breath, focused her mind, and activated her True Sight to lock onto the badge.

"Begin! Epelliarmus!" Professor Flitwick waved his wand, and a red disarming charm shot out swiftly!

The pace is not fast, and the intensity is controlled at the level of an average student.

Karen didn't dodge, because this was a necessary part of the test.

He focused intently on observing the flow of magic within the completed protective badge:

The disarming spell's energy struck the dragon's hide!

The runes on the absorption layer glowed faintly, having absorbed some of the impact energy (approximately 15%)!

Remaining energy triggers the preset protection threshold!

The "Storage and Regulation Core" responds instantly! The stable energy stored in the obsidian crystal is smoothly and rapidly injected into the outer Ironclad Runes through the mithril channels of those peas!

Whoosh! A bright, stable, and thick iron shield instantly unfolded in front of Karen! The shield was solid, and the light was even.

Bang! The disarming spell struck the shield, creating ripples. The shield remained motionless for a full five seconds before slowly dissipating. The entire process was incredibly smooth, without the slightest delay or flicker.

"Excellent!" Professor Flitwick's small eyes lit up. "Extremely fast activation speed, and the shield's strength is even and stable! The duration is also quite good! How does it feel, Mr. Hawthorne?"

"It feels very stable, Professor." Karen carefully sensed the energy flow within the badge. "The energy output is smooth, without the shock of high-pressure activation seen before. About one-tenth of the core's stored energy has been consumed." He made a precise judgment using the Eye of Truth.

"Very good! Mr. Wesley, it's your turn!" Professor Flitwick looked at the eager Wesley, "Use your strongest Stunning Charm!"

Don't worry, I'm keeping an eye on things!

"Watch this! Stupefy!" Wesley roared, casting a full-force spell! A thick red beam of light blasted toward Karen with astonishing force!

Under the same viewpoint of the Eye of Truth:

The Stunning Curse's energy has reached its threshold!

The runes in the absorption layer shone brightly, striving to absorb and transform (approximately 20%)!

The remaining violent energy surges forth!

Core instantaneous response! Stored energy surges forth through the channeling channels! Shield activated!

The shield's light flickered slightly, but its structure remained stable! It successfully withstood the attack!

The shield dissipated after six seconds of being struck by the powerful impact. Karen took a slight step back, but was unharmed.

"Wow!" Wesley exclaimed excitedly as he finished his attack. "This shield is amazing! It feels like hitting a soft wall, but it's incredibly sturdy! And," he scratched his head, "it seems to have lost that hard-on-the-board bounce? It seems to have become more 'flexible'?"

"Well described, Mr. Wesley!" Professor Flitwick praised. "This demonstrates a more stable and controllable energy output. Mr. Hawthorne, your new design represents a qualitative leap in energy efficiency and shield stability! Especially the concept of passive absorption and storage—it's ingenious! It makes the shield no longer a disposable consumable, but rather has the potential for sustained combat!" The professor's small face was full of satisfaction and pride.

"Thank you, Professor!" Karen felt a sense of accomplishment, but immediately thought, "Storage capacity is indeed the next bottleneck. Moreover, the absorption rate is still too slow." He looked at the badge; the deep blue energy in the obsidian crystal, after being activated twice just now, was only about half left and was being replenished from the environment extremely slowly.

"That's already amazing, Karen!" Fabian walked over and exclaimed sincerely, "From disposable protective gear to a rechargeable 'battery'! That's a brilliant idea!"

"Karen, don't be so modest. There's no doubt that this is a mature alchemical product, and of a very high standard. It's worthy of being added to our family's collection!" Ernesto praised.

Back at Eagle's Nest, the four of them excitedly discussed the test results and the next steps for optimization over hot cocoa.

"Professor Flitwick is right, the absorption rate is key!" Wesley took a big gulp of cocoa. "If only it could stay on forever," he said whimsically.

Fabian chuckled: "How could that be? If that were the case, no one would need to learn the Ironclad Charm; they could just use the Protective Badges."

"Or consider a more efficient combination of absorption runes," Ernesto suggested. "The Ancient Protective Magic manuscript mentions several runes believed to attract 'starlight' or 'ley line' power. Although most are legendary, their structure might be worth considering and incorporating into your absorption matrix."

Karen carefully noted down her friends' suggestions: "Materials, runes, and environment are all directions. Also, we need a larger 'battery' for storage capacity. Obsidian crystal shards are good, but we also need to find an energy storage medium with higher energy density and better compatibility."

Just then, there was a knock on the Eagle's Nest door. The four of them immediately responded. Karen opened the door, and Professor Castor stood there expressionless.

"Professor Castor!" Karen was somewhat surprised, as Professor Castor rarely came directly to the Eagle's Nest.

Professor Castor's sharp gaze swept across the room, lingering for a moment on the badge on Karen's chest before settling on the scattered blueprints, notes, and the prototype of the second-generation badge in the experiment on the alchemy table. "Flitwick praised your performance this afternoon," his voice was deep and steady, devoid of emotion. "It seems your research has made new progress. Come to my office; I need to see your experimental reports and data. Now."

"Yes, Professor!" Karen immediately gathered up the crucial documents. Wesley and the other two hurriedly greeted the professor, who simply nodded slightly.

Professor Castor's office still reeked of the familiar mixed scents. Karen placed detailed experimental reports, the prototype of the upgraded protective badge, and a preliminary analysis report on the Moonmoss magic cycle on her desk.

Professor Castor picked up the report and quickly and carefully flipped through it, paying particular attention to the sections describing "passive absorption," "guided channel activation," and the "moonlight moss energy cycle model." His fingers traced over the complex runic structures and diagrams of magical flow. When he came to the section where Karen speculated that Voldemort's curse intensified Helbo's curse, his page-turning motion paused almost imperceptibly for half a second.

"You've done a great job abstracting natural phenomena into an alchemical model and successfully transforming the core functionality, Karen." Professor Castor put down the report, picked up the prototype badge, and infused a wisp of magic into his fingertip to probe its internal structure. "The design of the energy channel is ingenious, reducing unnecessary losses. The passive absorption approach opens up new directions. Flitwick's assessment is accurate; this truly possesses the potential to become a long-lasting protective device."

His affirmation relieved Karen. But then, Professor Castor changed the subject: "However, the absorption efficiency is too low. The free magic in the environment is thin and unstable. Relying on this trickle is like a drop in the ocean when facing high-intensity continuous attacks. But your idea is indeed correct. Congratulations, Karen!" Castor finished speaking and congratulated Karen with a smile.

He then put down the badge and stared intently at Cullen: "In addition, your analysis report mentioned the speculation of Voldemort's curse, which is very bold, but the direction is correct. I underestimated this curse before. A curse that can leave Dumbledore helpless is indeed extraordinary. It may be a sign of injury on others, but on me it may be a dead end."

Karen's heart skipped a beat: "Professor! Your curse!"

Professor Castor raised his left hand and waved it casually, his long sleeve slipping down to reveal his forearm. The cursed black lines were clearer and denser than when Karen had seen them in the office last time, like twisted thorns digging deep into the flesh, radiating an ominous, dark sheen, even pulsating slightly, as if alive. He made no attempt to conceal them.

"One of the characteristics of the Helbo Curse is that it is attracted to and stimulated by even more powerful dark forces." His voice was eerily calm.

As if stating something unrelated to himself, "The resentment and curse left by Tom Riddle did indeed act like a poison, accelerating its effects, and Dumbledore confirmed this as well." He lowered his sleeve, covering the shocking marks.

"Professor, the magic field in the Moonmoss region is very pure and stable. That resonance cycle seems to have a powerful effect of purifying or suppressing negative energy," Karen said eagerly. "Perhaps we can give it a try."

"A pure magical field of natural resonance?" Professor Castor interrupted him. "A good idea, Karen. But the Helbo Curse is rooted in my flesh and my very essence of magic, like the Bone Sister. A pure magical field from the outside world is to it like trying to extinguish a Fiend's core with water."

A brief encounter might offer some relief, like a painkiller, but it wouldn't address the root cause. Unless he paused, his grey eyes unfathomable: "Unless you can find a way to 'internalize' the power of that resonant cycle into the core of your fight against the curse, just as you modified your protective badge. But that involves life magic, the nature of the curse, energy displacement—far more complex and dangerous than carving a few runes on dragon skin. It's not a realm you can reach now, though you certainly can in the future; I believe in your talent."

Karen's heart sank. The professor's words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the flame of hope that had just been ignited within him. But he didn't give up: "What about—the Gates of Truth? Or the scrolls left by Master Nico? Sinclair's diary? Isn't there really no way to solve this completely?"

Professor Castor walked to the window, his back to Karen, gazing at the deepening twilight outside. His voice carried an indescribable weariness and resolve: "The Helpo Curse has existed for millennia. Few who are afflicted by it survive, let alone escape. Even Nico couldn't save a soul corrupted by the curse. The 'Doors of Truth' records mostly methods of suppression and delay, at a tremendous cost. What Sinclair is pursuing is itself a dangerous misguided path. As for a complete solution," he paused for a moment, "perhaps there is, but the price might be unimaginable. Now, focus on what you can do. Enhance your power, complete the research on the protective badge. Power is the foundation upon which you will face all future difficulties. Remember my words."

He turned around, his face now bearing its usual coldness: "Next week's alchemy instruction will require me to see your detailed plans for improving absorption efficiency and finding new energy storage materials. Now, you can go back."

Karen silently packed his things and left the office. The heavy wooden door closed behind him, and the professor's last words, the unspoken "price," weighed on his heart like a cold, leaden weight. The shadow of the curse not only loomed over Professor Castor but also pressed heavily on his shoulders.

He walked down the corridor, his grey-blue eyes gleaming with unwavering determination in the dim light. The protective badges had to be completed even faster!

While the pure magic of moonshine moss, an energy storage material, cannot directly eradicate the curse, it might serve as a kind of "buffer" or "assistance"? Ernesto mentioned the optimization materials, and Fabian mentioned the environment; we must carefully study "The Doors of Truth" and Sinclair's journal again! There must be more clues!

The moonlit spectacle of the Forbidden Forest opened a new door to alchemy for him, but beyond that door lay not a smooth path, but a thorny road interwoven with hope and despair, light and curse. Karen Hawthorne clenched his fists and strode steadily toward the Ravenclaw Tower. His research, his battles, had only just begun to delve into more difficult territory.