As Max, Hermione, and Ron stepped out of Dumbledore's office, the heavy wooden door creaked shut behind them. The weight of the challenge ahead settled upon Max's shoulders, but he pushed his doubts aside. He had to do this.
"Dumbledore said he'd arrange a place for you to stay," Hermione said, glancing at Max. "Come on, I'll show you."
Ron yawned and stretched. "Blimey, it's been a long day. I'm heading back to the dorms. Good luck, mate." He clapped Max on the shoulder before disappearing down the hall.
Max followed Hermione through the dimly lit corridors. As they reached the grand lobby, a familiar voice called out.
"Max!"
Harry Potter stood at the base of the stairs, his green eyes filled with concern. He approached swiftly, looking between Max and Hermione. "I heard what happened. You're being tested?"
Max nodded. "Yeah, Headmaster Dumbledore wants me to retrieve a Moonlight Bloom from the Forbidden Forest."
Harry's expression darkened. "What!! . . That's way too dangerous. I am coming with you."
Max appreciated the offer but shook his head. "Wait Harry, I'll be fine. I can't always ask for your help, I need to do this and prove to everyone and myself that I truly belong here in Hogwarts."
Harry hesitated but eventually sighed. "Alright, but be careful. And if anything happens, don't hesitate to call for help. I will be cheering for you guys and if you need any kind of help pop by the Gryffindor Common Room I will help you with everything I have."
"I'll be fine, Harry. But Thank you for the support, it means a lot." Max assured him.
Harry nodded before turning back toward the Gryffindor common room, leaving Max alone with Hermione once more. She studied him as they resumed walking towards Max's temporary stay, her keen eyes taking in every detail.
"You don't seem particularly worried about all this," she noted.
Max shrugged "Well that's just on the outside. My thoughts are racing in my mind. Also, this isn't the most weirdest thing that has happened to me."
Hermione narrowed her eyes. "That's exactly what I want to know more about."
Max stopped walking and looked towards Hermione, "You don't trust me, do you?"
"I don't trust what I don't understand," she said frankly. "And you, Max, are very difficult to understand." They continued to walk to the room.
They arrived at a small room tucked away at the end of an empty hallway. Hermione opened the door with a flick of her wand. "This is where you'll be staying for now."
Max stepped inside. The room was modest, with a single bed, a desk, and a small fireplace that flickered warmly. The walls were lined with old bookshelves, though most were empty. It felt cozy, yet isolated. A window on the far side overlooked the darkened Hogwarts grounds, the Forbidden Forest looming in the distance.
Hermione leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. "I don't think you're a bad person, Max. But I do think you're hiding something."
Max sighed. "Everyone has secrets, Hermione."
She studied him for a moment longer before nodding. "I suppose we'll see. Also I like to be well prepared before any journey I make so be sure to meet me at the library tomorrow morning, and don't get late !!" With that, she turned and left, her footsteps echoing down the hallway.
Echo hopped onto the desk, his tail flicking. "She's sharp. You need to be careful."
Max sat on the bed, running a hand through his hair. "I know."
Echo's golden eyes gleamed. "So, about this Moonlight Bloom… You should know it's not just a simple herb. It's incredibly rare because it absorbs ambient mana from the environment and crystallizes it within its petals. For someone like you, who's still developing their magical abilities, consuming even a fragment of it could enhance your mana reserves and refine your control."
Max's eyes widened. "So, if I get this flower, I can strengthen my magic?"
Echo nodded. "Exactly. But you won't be the only one after it. Magical creatures seek it out for the same reason. That's what makes this test dangerous."
Max clenched his fists. "Then I need to be ready."
Without another word, he stood up and focused. He had limited time to prepare, and he wasn't going to waste it. He cleared the small space and began practicing basic spells, pushing himself harder than ever before.
He started with simple levitation, making objects hover and spin in the air. Then, he moved on to elemental control, summoning small flames in his palm and extinguishing them at will. He tested his reflexes, dodging imaginary enemies and countering with rapid spellcasting. The room soon grew warm from his exertion, sweat forming on his brow as he pushed his limits.
"Take a break for 5 minutes rest, you need to have some break between your training sessions or else you will break down soon.", Echo said while he hovered in air as he was trying to manipulate divine energy in his body.
"Okay, I will take a break but I feel so restless think about what I have to do, I need to prepare for tomorrow.", said Max as he layed down on the floor with a sweaty body.
"You can check your status board, since you have been training for a long time and you haven't seen it. I might help you to calm down", Echo advised Max while his eyes were closed.
"Great Idea!!!"
[Status]
---
[Name]: Max Benz
[Age]: 13
[STR]: 5
[INT]: 8
[STA]: 5
[MANA]: 12/12
[Artifact]: The Traveller [Divine] A divine artifact that allows the user to travel between worlds in this vast cosmos. Created by the God of Time, it holds unimaginable power.
---
[Spells]
-[Lumos] : Summons a small floating orb of light that illuminates dark areas within a 10-meter radius. [Cost : 1 Mana]
-[Expluso] : Fires a fast-moving explosive fireball at a target, dealing fire damage upon impact [Cost : 5 Mana]
-[? ? ?] : Forms a translucent blue barrier around the caster, absorbing 80% of incoming damage by directly consuming mana [ Cost : 2 Mana per damage dealt] [ Give the spell a name]
---
"Amazing the not only my [MANA] has increased by a 5 points, it also gave me a list of spells I have learned it now with the cost of each spells I can now know which spells to use and when."
"Good, seems like your training has paid off."
"Yup . . . hey, the mana technique I made the Mana shield, It wants me to give the spell a name"
"Hmm . . . that might be a good way for you to activate it faster. You won't have to circulate your Mana in a specific way every time you want the Mana Shield and words have a big impact on the world as well allowing you to cast the spell almost instantly."
"So, what should I name it ?? . . . . . Oh, I know [Aegis]"
[Status]
---
[Name]: Max Benz
[Age]: 13
[STR]: 5
[INT]: 8
[STA]: 5
[MANA]: 12/12
[Artifact]: The Traveller [Divine] A divine artifact that allows the user to travel between worlds in this vast cosmos. Created by the God of Time, it holds unimaginable power.
---
[Spells]
-[Lumos] : Summons a small floating orb of light that illuminates dark areas within a 10-meter radius. [Cost : 1 Mana]
-[Expluso] : Fires a fast-moving explosive fireball at a target, dealing fire damage upon impact [Cost : 5 Mana]
-[Aegis] : Forms a translucent blue barrier around the caster, absorbing 80% of incoming damage by directly consuming mana [ Cost : 2 Mana per damage dealt]
---
"Alright enough rest, start your training again", said Echo
Max quickly got up and started his training again. Casting his spells, meditating to regain mana while increase his sensitivity to mana in the surrounding which allowed him to sense people who have mana and also different objects which contain small amount of mana.
Echo hovered above Max's head , occasionally offering advice. "You're improving fast, but you still lack finesse. The Forbidden Forest won't give you time to make mistakes."
Max exhaled, catching his breath. "Then I'll just have to make sure I don't."
For hours, he trained relentlessly, refining his magical control. At one point, he closed his eyes, trying to sense the ambient mana in the room. He could feel it—like a current in the air, a flow of unseen energy waiting to be tapped into. If the Moonlight Bloom truly held condensed mana, then consuming it could elevate his abilities to a whole new level.
Determination burned in his chest. He had been given a chance to prove himself, and he wasn't going to waste it.
Sweat dripped from his brow as he transitioned into more advanced spell work. He attempted minor shielding spells, raising shimmering barriers of energy before letting them collapse. He focused on enhancing his magical sensitivity, trying to extend his awareness beyond the physical. At times, he could swear he felt the faintest traces of magic embedded within the walls of Hogwarts itself.
He repeated incantations, pushing himself until his mana reserves ran low and his vision blurred from exhaustion. Echo watched with a knowing expression. "Pace yourself. The test hasn't even begun yet."
Max wiped his face and gave a tired smirk. "I'd rather be overprepared than underprepared."
The hours stretched on until his body refused to move any longer. At last, he collapsed onto the bed, his mind still buzzing with the spells he had practiced. The weight of tomorrow's challenge loomed over him, but instead of fear, excitement coursed through his veins.
Tomorrow, he would enter the Forbidden Forest. Tomorrow, he would prove himself.
As sleep finally took hold of him, Max dreamed of moonlit petals glowing softly in the darkness, just beyond his reach.