Arthur Akashic had never been an ordinary child, though he tried. The first memory of the Eye of Records was not magical in the way most wizards understood magic—it had been terrifying. He had been seven, alone in Narcissa's quiet study, the house still echoing with the grief of Lucius Malfoy's death. Books lined every wall, the scent of parchment thick in the air. Arthur had touched an old tome, its cover etched with symbols that seemed to pulse faintly, and suddenly the world had changed.
His amber eyes had glowed, and a translucent golden interface appeared before him:
Name: Arthur Akashic
Race: High Human
Mana: 25/100
HP: 90/100
Knowledge Points: 0/20
At first, it had been overwhelming. Words he could not read streamed like liquid light across his vision, memories of battles and creatures he had never lived rushing into his mind. Panic clawed at him, and his mana dropped sharply, leaving him weak and dizzy. Narcissa had found him hours later, curled on the floor, muttering fragments of events from other worlds.
"You have something extraordinary," she said softly, cradling his head. "But it must be learned carefully. Knowledge is not free, Arthur."
From that day on, he trained in secret. He learned to focus the Eye, absorbing fragments of knowledge at a time. He discovered that mana acted like a battery: small extractions left him refreshed, larger ones left him dizzy or nauseous. Magical artifacts became his first practice tools. He learned to sense their origin, history, and latent abilities without touching them too deeply. Even a small white kitten, later revealed as Shiro, had resonated with his Eye, its gaze reflecting intelligence and awareness far beyond an ordinary creature. By the time they went to Diagon Alley, Arthur had rudimentary control, enough to sense Hollow World threads beneath the earth, to identify magical auras, and to glimpse small fragments of the past.
The morning of 1st September 1991 dawned crisp and clear. Arthur, Shiro perched on his shoulder, and Harrian Potter approached King's Cross Station. Harrian was striking: white hair that glinted faintly in the morning sun, eyes a crystalline blue, and the same graceful, agile physique her mother Lily had possessed. Her childhood had been different from most children: she had been raised aware of the lingering shadow of the Dark Lord, trained by her mother in defensive spells and strategy. She had seen darkness up close, and it had left her cautious, clever, and fiercely protective of those she cared about—especially Arthur.
The platform was crowded with families and students, trunks and owls, and the excited murmurs of children. Arthur's Eye flickered faintly at the ley lines beneath the station, golden threads connecting the surface to something far older. His interface glimmered softly:
Mana: 45/100
HP: 90/100
Knowledge Points: 20/50
Shiro stirred in his satchel, ears twitching at subtle magical currents.
As they reached the barrier, a group of red-haired boys caught Arthur's attention. One of them, with bright eyes and a nervous smile, fidgeted with his bag. Harrian leaned close. "That's Ron Weasley. You'll see he's… unpredictable but loyal."
Arthur stepped through the barrier, the familiar jolt of magic brushing against him. Steam and the scent of the magical train greeted them. The Hogwarts Express gleamed red under the morning sun, inviting them into a world both ordinary and extraordinary.
They found a compartment and settled in. Soon, a girl with bushy brown hair and large front teeth entered, carrying a bundle of books. "I'm Hermione Granger. First year," she said, her voice firm and confident despite her nervousness. Her aura suggested intelligence and curiosity, a mind eager to absorb every detail of the magical world.
Ron Weasley soon followed, red hair wild, freckles prominent, eyes wide with excitement and apprehension. Arthur noted the faint magical threads linking them—potential, curiosity, and latent skill radiating outward, something the Eye could perceive even in subtle currents.
Harian leaned back in her seat and whispered softly, "Remember, we're unusual. Keep your abilities in check, or everyone will notice."
Arthur's amber eyes flickered as he activated the Eye briefly, careful to draw minimal mana. He scanned the magical threads of his companions. Mana -5, Knowledge Points +2. Hermione's aura pulsed with latent learning energy, Ron's with courage and adaptability, and Harrian herself emanated protective instincts, a perfect combination of Lily's spirit and her own tempered resilience.
The journey continued with quiet conversation, laughter, and the occasional jolt of the train. Arthur experimented cautiously, sensing minor enchantments in the seats, detecting faint magical residues, and noticing subtle flickers of Hollow World energy brushing against the upper world. Shiro's golden eyes glimmered in response, reacting to shifts that Arthur's conscious mind could barely track.
Harian shared glimpses of her childhood. "Before Hogwarts, I trained with my mother," she said, her tone low and serious. "Lily taught me to defend, to anticipate danger. Not many know, but I've faced shadows from the Dark Lord myself. And you… your eyes… I've seen them work. We need to be careful."
Arthur nodded. "I know. The Eye isn't fully under my control. Every use risks drawing attention—or worse. But it's the only way to understand what's coming."
Shiro leapt onto Arthur's lap and purred, brushing against golden threads flickering at the edges of perception. The bond between the boy and the cat deepened with every heartbeat, every flicker of the Eye, every pulse of mana expended. Arthur felt the connection extend outward—not just to Shiro, but to the converging worlds around him.
Midway through the journey, a subtle tremor shook the train. Students gasped and clutched their belongings, but Arthur's Eye immediately highlighted a golden spike of energy emanating from beneath the tracks.
System alert: Hollow World energy interference. Mana fluctuation detected.
Arthur's heart quickened. "It's the Hollow World," he whispered. Harrian leaned closer. "It's moving?"
"Yes. Something is stirring. And it's close."
Shiro hissed softly, fur bristling. Arthur laid a hand on the cat, steadying himself. The tremor was minor now, harmless by surface-world standards, but a warning: Hollow World energy reaching the upper world would only grow stronger. Hogwarts, he realized, would not be untouched.
By the time the train began its ascent into the Scottish Highlands, Arthur had a tentative plan. He would use the Eye sparingly, training with small fragments of knowledge, carefully managing mana, and observing Hollow World threads for disturbances. Harrian, ever vigilant, would be at his side, guiding and protecting him where the Eye could not. And Shiro would remain their silent, watchful guardian, a link to powers older than Hogwarts itself.
The first day of school awaited: new magic, new friendships, and hidden dangers. But as Arthur looked out at the mist-shrouded hills, faint golden threads glimmering beneath the surface, he understood one thing. This was only the beginning of a journey that would test everything he had learned—and everything he was yet to discover.
Arthur adjusted Shiro on his shoulder, glanced at Harrian's determined blue eyes, and allowed himself a moment of quiet confidence. Whatever lay ahead—Hollow World disturbances, multiverse collisions, or the machinations of dark forces—they would face it together. And for the first time, he felt ready.