Seeing the reward information for the Lumos Shroom, Ciel let out a long, slow breath, a sense of profound relief washing over him. It felt like finding a clear path out of a dense, confusing fog. An enhancement to his night vision was a decent ability on its own, but the real prize was the insight into the Lumos charm. To him, that was far more valuable than the Bubble-Head Charm. Even if the insight was slight, he made his choice decisively.
"Aunt," he said, his voice firm, "I want to plant Lumos Shrooms."
Professor Sprout looked at him, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. It was an unusual choice. The Lumos Shroom was a plant almost no serious Herbologist bothered to cultivate; its practical uses were virtually non-existent. But this was Ciel, and since he had made up his mind, she would support him wholeheartedly. Besides, he was only in his first year. In her opinion, nurturing a student's interest was far more important than forcing them down a path of pure utility. Interest, after all, was the most potent talent of all.
She immediately fetched a large bag of Lumos Shroom spores for him.
"The growing conditions are very simple," she explained. "The soil here is perfect. The only slightly troublesome aspect is that this particular plant requires at least six hours of illumination from a Lumos charm every day after sunset. Even a single day's interruption could kill them. If you want to cultivate these, Ciel, you will have to be very diligent for the next while."
In a sense, this was the main reason the plant was so unpopular. Not only was it not very useful, but cultivating it required staying up late every single night without fail. Naturally, few wizards were willing to undertake such a high-effort, low-reward endeavor.
Ciel's expression didn't change. In fact, he looked pleased. At this time of year, the sun set around six o'clock. That meant from six in the evening until midnight, he would have to stay in the greenhouse, casting the Lumos charm? This is too… healthy, he thought, a private joke to himself.
After his vitality had reached the Legendary tier, the nights he had gone to bed before midnight were few and far between. Staying up late had no negative effect on him. His abundant energy allowed him to go without sleep for days on end; he could even recharge just by basking in the sun. The cultivation requirements for the Lumos Shroom were, quite simply, perfect for him.
Without a moment's hesitation, he began to plant, carefully burying the shimmering spores in a large, dedicated section of his experimental plot.
"Such a large area will require you to cast the charm frequently, Ciel," his aunt reminded him. "Especially now, when they've just been planted. This is when they need the light the most."
Ciel nodded. He waved his wand. "Lumos!"
A gentle, steady light bloomed from the tip of his wand. Bathed in the magical glow, the spores in the soil seemed to activate, and tiny reward orbs shimmered into existence before Ciel's eyes.
[You have successfully planted Lumos Shroom]
[Reward Available: Night Vision (Extremely Slight Increase - Bronze Tier)]
[Maturity Bonus: Night Vision (Slight Increase - Bronze Tier), Lumos Charm Insight (Extremely Slight - Bronze Tier)]
A look of quiet joy appeared on his face. Lumos Shrooms didn't grow as quickly as their Muggle counterparts, but among magical plants, they matured relatively quickly. According to his aunt, they would be ready in about four weeks. The more light they received, the faster they would grow.
He glanced at his internal system panel. Next to the Silver-tier ratings for his Soil-Loosening and Pruning Charms, the words Lumos Charm (Bronze Tier) now appeared. He could feel it himself; his mastery of the Lumos charm was still a step behind the others.
It took me nearly two months for the other two spells to advance from Bronze to Silver, he mused. But if this batch of Lumos Shrooms matures, my Lumos charm should jump directly to the Silver tier. The efficiency is much higher than just practicing. And a stronger Lumos will, in turn, accelerate the growth of both the Lumos Shrooms and the Goldfish Vines. It was a perfect, self-reinforcing cycle.
His eyes full of anticipation, he continued to wave his wand, casting the charm over and over, bathing the freshly planted spores in a steady, nurturing light.
The first weekend at Hogwarts passed in a blur of focused work.
On Monday morning, Ciel stood in the greenhouse, looking at the field of Lumos Shrooms. The spores were noticeably thicker, more vibrant than before. A look of satisfaction crossed his face. "At this rate, they should mature even faster than I estimated." He turned and walked out of the greenhouse. "Time for class."
Upon returning to the Hufflepuff common room, he was met with a buzz of excited chatter. A notice had been posted: starting today, Hufflepuff House could begin their Flying lessons. The thought of soaring through the sky on a broomstick had even the usually placid badgers giddy with excitement.
Some, however, were filled with a familiar anxiety. Hannah Abbott, twisting her fingers nervously, sidled up to Ciel. "What if my broom doesn't listen?" she fretted. "What if I fall? I have enough trouble staying upright on the ground; it'll be even worse in the sky."
Ciel listened to her worried muttering, a look of amusement on his face. As his number-two Goldfish Vine cultivator, he felt a certain responsibility to offer her some comfort. "It's okay," he said gently. "The professor will be watching the whole time. You can fly near me; if you fall, I can catch you. And remember to keep your Goldfish Vine with you. It will help with the nerves."
Hannah's eyes lit up as if he had just given her a Calming Draught. "Really? Oh, thank you, Ciel! I feel so much better now."
Ciel smiled. He wasn't just placating her. With his Legendary-level vitality and resistance to falling, he could handle high-speed flight and dizzying spins with ease. His body was more than capable of withstanding the G-forces of a fighter pilot; a simple broomstick would be child's play.
Meanwhile, in the Hogwarts Hospital Wing, three shadowy figures slipped out of a side door. It was Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. Though the magical healing had replaced his front tooth, it hadn't fully set yet, and Malfoy still spoke with a pronounced lisp. It was an embarrassment he couldn't bear to show in class, so he'd had his father, a School Governor, excuse him. But he wasn't just hiding; he was plotting.
"That damn Sprout," he hissed, the memory of his humiliation still fresh. "I'm going to make him suffer this time."
Crabbe and Goyle, recalling Ciel's terrifying strength, looked pale. "But we can't beat him," Crabbe stammered. "He's too strong."
Malfoy's face twisted into a triumphant sneer. "Idiots," he spat. "We're wizards. What does strength matter compared to magic?" He opened his hand, revealing a shimmering, silver rod. "This is an alchemical device from my father. It emits a light that can knock a person out. When Sprout gets close to the tower on his broomstick, I'll use this to make him lose consciousness. Then I'll watch him fall and break every bone in his body!"
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