Harry Potter: The Legend of Nero Ravenclaw-Chapter 119: Surprise

One month and a half passed by in a blur for Nero.

His days followed an intense but steady rhythm: reading, meditating, attending classes, reading again, meditating some more, sparring with Mu and Zen, testing magic applications, and then finally collapsing into sleep.

Each moment felt filled with purpose.

He absorbed everything he could from Mahoutokoro's vast library, cross-referencing ancient Eastern magical arts with his Western knowledge, searching for new synergies and hidden applications.

The pressure of the Void Principle still loomed over him like an ever-present shadow, but he refused to let it consume his focus.

Instead, he let his thirst for knowledge drown out the anxiety.

It had now been just over two months since his arrival in Japan, and despite the rigorous schedule, he was genuinely enjoying himself.

Every day brought new discoveries, and even the exhausting training sessions with Mu and Zen had become something he looked forward to.

Tonight, Friday, was no different.

Nero had just finished another deep dive into a book detailing the history of ancient Japanese barrier techniques and was making his way back to Mu and Zen's home.

The corridors of Mahoutokoro were serene at this hour, the soft glow of enchanted lanterns casting long, quiet shadows.

However, as he walked, something shifted in the air around him.

It was subtle at first, a slight, almost imperceptible tension, but with each step, the sensation grew stronger.

It wasn't a direct threat, but rather an anomaly, an inconsistency in the world around him.

His senses sharpened instantly. Without hesitation, he activated his Raven Eyes.

The moment he did, the world around him gained a new depth.

Tiny disturbances in the air, faint traces of redirected magic, and subtle illusions wove a delicate web around him.

He could see it clearly now, the distortions were intentional, placed with care. A test.

A knowing smile played on his lips as he pieced it together.

Mio and Ayaka.

He didn't let on that he had noticed.

Instead, he kept walking naturally, allowing them to believe he was unaware.

If they had gone through the trouble of preparing this, he might as well play along and see what kind of challenge they had devised for him.

The first layer was an illusion, a simple misdirection spell that subtly altered the layout of the hallway, attempting to lead him astray.

A clever trick, but one easily unraveled by his enhanced perception.

Nero adjusted his course slightly, walking through the illusion as though it didn't exist.

Next came a pressure seal, designed to mimic the weight of an increased gravitational force.

The average wizard would have slowed down, struggling to move forward.

Nero, however, let his barrier magic absorb and disperse the force, maintaining his pace as if nothing had changed.

Finally, as he neared the courtyard, he sensed a binding charm, one that would activate the moment he crossed a particular threshold.

It was a well-placed trap, meant to catch someone who had breezed through the earlier stages without caution.

Instead of triggering it, Nero reached out with his own magic, weaving his energy delicately around the charm's core.

With a slight pulse of intent, he disrupted the spell, dismantling it before stepping forward.

Silence followed.

Then, from the shadows, Mio and Ayaka stepped out, their expressions a mix of frustration and reluctant admiration.

Mio exhaled sharply, crossing her arms. "When did you realize?"

Nero smirked. "Do you want the truth or a comfortable answer?" frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

Mio's eyes narrowed. "Of course the truth."

"From the start," he said without hesitation.

Ayaka scowled, but Mio's eyes glinted with curiosity. "How?"

Nero gestured around them.

"First, the illusion spell was too clean. Hallways don't just shift without cause, and I could tell something was amiss when I saw a discrepancy in the lighting.

Second, the pressure seal, I didn't feel it directly, but I noticed how the air in that section of the corridor was denser, meaning something was actively influencing movement.

Third, the binding charm was positioned at just the right place for someone to rush in carelessly after dealing with the first two obstacles. A classic trap. Clever, but predictable."

Mio sighed, shaking her head. "Between what I've seen in class and this... I have no choice but to admit it. You're more than qualified to learn from Mu and Zen."

Nero chuckled. "Not like I needed your approval, anyway."

She shot him a glare but then softened. "Yeah, yeah. But thanks for humoring us... Nero"

"It was fun, don't worry about that." said Nero with a gentleman's bow.

Ayaka, however, still didn't look satisfied.

She stepped forward, eyes sharp. "I'm not convinced yet. A test like this doesn't prove anything about your combat ability."

Nero raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what would?"

She stopped a few paces away, gaze locked on Nero. "...A duel."

Mio turned to her cousin, startled. "Ayaka..."

"No," Ayaka cut her off. "This isn't something I can just take someone's word for. I need to see it with my own eyes."

Nero considered her for a moment.

Unlike Mio, who had reached her conclusion through observation, Ayaka was the type who needed direct experience to believe in someone's skill.

"Foolish," Nero thought, though he didn't protest.

He didn't mind playing along this time.

It would serve as a chance to measure how far he'd come in the Eastern application of magic.

"Alright," he said, rolling his shoulders. "When and where?"

"Sunday. We'll use Uncle Mu and Zen's training grounds."

"Fine by me."

Ayaka gave him a firm nod before turning on her heel and walking away.

Mio exhaled again, rubbing her temples. "She's stubborn."

"So are you," Nero pointed out.

She scoffed but didn't deny it. "Let's go. We're already late heading back."

"Are you coming back with me?" asked Nero.

"I need to explain the situation to my uncles" said Mio

As they walked through the Torii gate that led to Mu and Zen's home, Nero couldn't help but smirk.

Meanwhile, on the campus...

"Look, they even go back home together"

"Damn you Nero Ravenclaw! How could you win over Mio san!" added a third year student, while crying.

Gossips about them would only spread wilder.

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50 Chapters ahead on Patreon (Suiijin): Chapter 169: Refining Spatial Understanding