Harry Potter: Prince of Shadows

Time flew by like a fleeting shadow.

When a person's life is filled with purpose, time seems to pass more quickly. Ian felt this acutely as he reflected on how much he had changed in just a few short days.

[Runic Mastery (Level 1): 3/100]

As the saying goes: hard work creates miracles.

When Ian temporarily put aside training in other skills to focus solely on mastering [Runic Mastery], his innate talent combined with the system's support delivered impressive results. Of course, progressing so quickly in a notoriously difficult subject was also tied to the concurrent development of his [Linguistics Mastery] skill.

[Linguistics Mastery (Level 5): 4/1600]

Upon reaching level five, a significant milestone, the skill unlocked a new extraordinary trait:

[Linguistics Mastery Extraordinary Trait—Universal Dictionary: You will find it much easier to learn unfamiliar languages and scripts.]

The description was simple, but the trait's impact was profound. Though it didn't grant Ian the mythical ability to instantly converse with all beings, it significantly enhanced his aptitude for deciphering unfamiliar languages and scripts.

For example, while practicing, Ian had taken time to listen to the sparrows outside his cabin. With surprising speed, he discerned subtle shifts in their chirps, recognizing different tones used to express emotions like joy, anger, and fear. This newfound skill was something he could never have managed before acquiring the extraordinary trait.

"Maybe if I level this up to ten and unlock its legendary trait, I'll truly be able to communicate with all living beings," Ian mused, his imagination running wild with possibilities.

Still, his immediate priority was completing the assignment Professor Mara had given him. With just two days left before he returned to the Limbo realm, Ian feared that an incomplete task might provoke a medieval punishment from his stern mentor.

"Luckily, I've picked up speed with my rune studies," Ian thought. "By the next time I enter the Limbo realm, I should be ready to fully decode the magical script and learn the spell."

Having successfully entered the basics of Runic Proficiency, Ian had developed the ability to decode simple runic texts. However, decoding magical scripts was an entirely different challenge. The runes' structure didn't resemble modern language like English, where words or characters combine predictably to convey meaning. Instead, the arrangement of runes—and even the links between individual characters—could completely alter the intended effect.

A single misstep in understanding the connections between runes could lead to catastrophic consequences. For this reason, Ian approached Professor Mara's "homework" with painstaking caution, fully aware that a mistake could cost him dearly.

At present, he had managed to decode most of the text on the fragment of Mara's gown.

[Spell Name: Fear Descent]

It seemed that ancient wizards had a knack for casting curses through runes. Based on Ian's progress so far, this particular spell was designed to implant vivid, terrifying illusions into its target's mind, inducing paralyzing fear. Interestingly, Ian's research suggested that this spell had historical significance: it was one of the key components used in the creation of the magical creature known as a Boggart.

Boggarts, which took the form of a person's greatest fear, were said to be the result of alchemical experiments involving magical runes like Fear Descent. This revelation offered Ian a fascinating glimpse into how ancient magic had shaped the magical world he now inhabited.

"The ethics of using alchemy like this must have been questionable even back then," Ian mused. The decline of biological alchemy in the wizarding world seemed to mirror the modern world's controversies over genetic engineering—both were areas fraught with ethical concerns.

Despite his reservations about alchemy, Ian couldn't help but lament the disappearance of powerful spells like Fear Descent. Ancient magic, though dangerous and complex, had offered unparalleled potential. For better or worse, the march of time had seen much of this arcane knowledge fade into obscurity.

"At least with Professor Mara's help, I might be able to recover some of it," Ian thought. Of course, he doubted there would be any monetary reward for his "archaeological" efforts—ancient magic didn't exactly come with government grants or research funding.

"Still, rediscovering this lost knowledge might give me a real edge in the wizarding world," Ian reasoned. Practical concerns—like his dwindling supply of galleons—soon tempered his excitement. He hadn't forgotten Mara's earlier request for modern potion textbooks. The thought of their exorbitant prices filled him with dread.

"Secondhand books will have to do," Ian decided. He couldn't afford new ones, not with his current budget. Gathering his remaining galleons and the three rune textbooks he no longer needed, Ian made his way back to the small, nondescript bookshop behind the quill store.

***

The familiar simplicity of the bookshop greeted Ian as he stepped inside. Its worn shelves and dim lighting were unchanged, but the usual figure of the elderly shopkeeper was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, a curious voice broke the silence.

"What are you looking for?"

Ian nearly jumped at the unexpected question. Turning toward the counter, he saw someone he hadn't met before: a girl with strikingly delicate features sitting behind the register. Her platinum blonde hair glowed faintly in the filtered sunlight, and her mismatched eyes—one blue, the other white—fixed on him with intense curiosity.

"I've seen you before," the girl said, her tone light but certain.

Ian blinked, caught off guard by her sudden remark. Sunlight dappled her hair, making the golden strands shimmer, but it was her eyes that truly captivated him. The white iris seemed almost to spin, creating a mesmerizing, dreamlike effect. For a moment, Ian was too stunned to reply.