HP: The Wizard Who Paints with Magic

What kind of abstract nonsense is this?

The first-years were stunned, looking at each other in utter confusion.

Ethan mused on the question. Where there is light, there must be shadow. Even when the midday sun hides shadows at one's feet, they don't truly disappear. Unless, perhaps, a 10,000-watt light bulb could illuminate every angle, leaving no space for darkness. But this wasn't a physics problem. It was a philosophical one.

Prefect Robert, far from being troubled by the difficult question, seemed almost excited. "A pity. Tonight's knocker question is very difficult. I'm afraid we'll need to discuss it for several hours before we find an answer. You should know, fabricated answers will not pass."

With that, Robert and his companions launched into an enthusiastic discussion, leaving a group of dismayed first-years in their wake.

"Merlin's baggy trousers! What kind of ridiculous question is this!" Michael plopped onto the floor, huffing. "I've been traveling all day! I climbed stairs for tens of minutes, and now I just want to sleep in a warm bed, not on this cold, hard floor!"

Ethan glanced at him. "How about I just knock you out? You can go straight to sleep then." And you won't have to worry about the cold, hard floor anymore.

Michael gave him a look. "…I'll politely decline, thanks."

Time passed minute by minute. Some students, like Michael, couldn't endure it physically or mentally and slumped to the ground, yawning constantly. If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up, they seemed to think. The older students are all here; are they really expecting first-years to solve the riddle?

Others eventually joined the older students' discussion, listening intently or offering their own naive ideas. As time went on, one person after another stepped up to the knocker, but it remained firmly shut.

Robert chatted with his companions while scanning the first-years out of the corner of his eye. He swept his gaze disdainfully over Michael and the others who had given up, then nodded approvingly at the students who were actively participating. Finally, his gaze fell on a slender, handsome new student—Ethan Vincent. He had witnessed the incident on the train, and combined with the Sorting Hat's astonishing pronouncements, Robert was now full of curiosity about him. This was the boy who, before the term even started, had raised his own popularity to the same level as the Savior. How would he handle a difficult problem?

Meanwhile, Michael turned to the silent, contemplative Ethan. "What do you think?"

"Hmm…" Ethan showed no timidity. After a moment of serious thought, he said, "I believe it exists. Even if only light or only darkness remains in the world, the seed of the other must be accumulating power in the cracks. Only when the time is ripe will it reveal its existence. Like wild grass, it cannot be cut down or burned away."

His tone deepened, and a sharp glint flashed in his cobalt-blue eyes. He was clearly answering the question, but it felt as if he were referring to something else entirely. His voice was firm and powerful, making the surrounding students pause in surprise.

However, the knocker showed no reaction. It remained motionless.

"A good answer," Prefect Robert said with a nod. "For a wizard your age, that idea is quite advanced. But unfortunately, it still lacks some depth. Think about it some more." To be precise, he thought, it's still at the level of a hot-blooded youth. Not worth mentioning.

Upon hearing this, Ethan's eyebrows rose high. He looked at the Prefect, who was evaluating him with such a condescending air. The thing Ethan hated most was categorizing people by arbitrary standards, deeming them unqualified if they didn't meet his requirements.

Ethan Vincent loves to say "no" to authority. His answers never needed anyone else's approval.

"Is that so?" Ethan said slowly, stepping forward. "I don't think so."

"Oh? What do you intend to do?" Robert curled his lips with interest, watching Ethan walk toward the door. Is he going to give a new answer? No matter what, for a first-year, it was a good attempt, worthy of encouragement. Robert watched leisurely, completely unaware of what was about to happen.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Ethan raised his wand, pointed it at the knocker, and chanted, "Alohomora."

A white light flashed, striking the knocker.

Nothing happened.

After a few seconds of silence, a few faint chuckles rippled through the students. They had thought he was going to do something grand, but it was just a simple Unlocking Charm. Didn't he know this knocker was left by Rowena Ravenclaw herself? How could it possibly be opened by such a basic spell?

Prefect Robert shook his head, exchanging a knowing glance with the others. Good try. When encountering a tied knot, some try to untie it, some go around it, and some, the unconventional ones, try to cut it clean off. But to cut the knot, your sword must be sharp enough. Robert believed that there were spells that could open the door, but they were far beyond what a first-year could master, and certainly not Alohomora. It seems the renowned Ethan Vincent is nothing more than a pretty face after all, he thought.

Just as he withdrew his gaze, intending to pay no more attention, Ethan made another move.

"It really doesn't work, huh…" Ethan looked at the motionless bronze knocker, nodding without surprise. He had only cast the spell to conduct a "control experiment."

With a thought, a brand-new card appeared in his hand. The art was simple: against a dark background, an open door stood. Behind it was a distorted, hazy white light, as if some indescribable entity was climbing out, exuding a strange, unsettling aura. A closer look revealed that the crooked patterns on the door were actually connected runes and magical circuits.

The border of this card was not white, but a deep blue, representing a higher tier: Blue Precious.

[Name: One Look, Open Door]

[Type: Item]

[Grade: Tier 1 - Blue Precious]

[Description: What lies on the other side of the door?]

[Effect: One-time use. When placed on an object, it can create a passage through it. The penetration effect is determined by the user's magic power.]

[Evaluation: Although the effect is singular, it has miraculous uses at certain times. Has room for upgrading.]

[Newbie Gift Pack Unlock Progress: 3 / 5]

This was the first Blue Precious card Ethan had created by merging spells—an existence capable of affecting reality, even more powerful than Broomstick Rash.

Go! Blue Precious! Let me see your power!

(End of Chapter)

***

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