The Hogwarts Express slowed as it entered the misty, rolling grounds of the Scottish Highlands. Arthur's amber eyes flickered as the golden threads beneath the train stretched toward the castle, subtle but insistent. Hollow World currents stirred beneath the earth, sending faint pulses that resonated with Shiro, the White Tiger perched on his shoulder. He could feel the energy, like ripples in a pond—small, but persistent. His interface blinked faintly:
Mana: 40/100
HP: 90/100
Knowledge Points: 25/50
Alert: Hollow World threads detected near surface.
Harian, adjusting her robes with a faint sparkle of excitement in her crystalline blue eyes, leaned close. "Arthur, are you nervous?" she asked. Her voice carried a playful lilt, but her gaze was sharp, always measuring, always observing.
Arthur shrugged, trying to appear calm. "I… guess. The Eye doesn't get nervous."
Shiro flicked his tail, golden eyes reflecting the faint magical currents around them. Arthur allowed himself a tiny smile. "But I do."
The students poured from the train, excitement buzzing in the air. The mist clung to the ground like a living thing, swirling around their feet as they followed the first-years toward the castle. The grounds seemed alive—each step resonating with mana, each tree and rock a node in a network Arthur could sense. Some threads were older than Hogwarts itself, stretching deep toward the Hollow World below.
Harian tugged his sleeve, bouncing slightly on the balls of her feet. "Come on, Arthur! Don't overthink it!"
They passed through the main gate, following Hagrid, who towered above them with his familiar friendly grin. His enormous hands carried trunks and creatures alike, a testament to his gentle but formidable strength. Harrian gasped and ran forward, practically bouncing in place. "Hagrid! It's wonderful to see you again!"
Hagrid chuckled, crouching slightly so she could reach his shoulder. "Ah, Harrian, you've grown since last time! And this must be Arthur, eh? Nothin' to worry 'bout. Hogwarts is full o' wonders." He ruffled Shiro's fur, eliciting a low purr from the legendary White Tiger.
Arthur's Eye flickered. Even Hagrid carried threads of Hollow World influence—untrained, subtle, but present. Perhaps it was his connection to magical beasts, to creatures with extraordinary longevity, or to forces older than the surface. The Eye noted it but did not alarm him; Hagrid was Tier 2 in mana alignment, strong but clearly still tied to the upper world.
Inside the castle, the students were ushered into the Great Hall. Candles floated overhead, the enchanted ceiling reflecting a clear September sky. The Sorting Ceremony was about to begin, and the room buzzed with anticipation. Arthur's interface hovered briefly:
Mana: 38/100
Knowledge Points: 26/50
Tier: Initiate Tier (Tier 0.5, below Tier 1 threshold)
He felt it—the threads beneath the castle, whispering. The Hollow World currents brushed at the stone foundations, faint but undeniable. He tapped lightly into the Eye, sensing patterns in the magical wards protecting the castle. They were intricate, woven with centuries of enchantments, and interlaced with golden threads hinting at portals that could descend into Hollow World itself.
A hush fell as Professor McGonagall stepped forward to call the first names. When Arthur's name was called, he felt Shiro stiffen, golden eyes glowing brighter.
He walked to the front, the Sorting Hat resting lightly on his head. Its voice spoke in his mind, echoing through the Eye as if aware of the golden threads beneath Hogwarts.
"Ah… Arthur Akashic," the Hat murmured, its voice silky yet probing. "Interesting. Very interesting. A mind aware of threads beyond this world… senses of mana that flirt with boundaries even I do not fully comprehend. You have knowledge, yes, but also caution. Curiosity tempered by observation… and yet you crave discovery."
Arthur's mana reacted, flickering as if the Hat's probing touched not just his mind but his very connection to the Hollow World. Mana -3.
"I sense… potential," the Hat continued. "But danger too. The surface world may contain rules, but you are drawn to what lies beyond. Power… beyond Tier 1, whispers from the Hollow World… yes, yes, I see. Yet you have heart. Courage. Loyalty. And… I detect your companion."
He felt Shiro's golden presence tighten around him, a surge of energy that made the Hat pause.
"Ah… a bond, rare and ancient. It shall serve you well. Still… the world will test you. You may find your place in Gryffindor, where courage and action define the path, though the Hollow World's currents will pull at your destiny as well. You will walk between two worlds, Arthur Akashic. Beware… yet embrace it."
Arthur felt the Hat probing his very essence, his Eye flickering, syncing briefly with its whispers. He sensed the golden threads connecting Hogwarts to Hollow World deep beneath, threads pulsing with power beyond Tier 1. Dumbledore himself, Tier 1 in the surface world, maintained guardianship—but beyond him, the Hollow World currents held forces and knowledge that dwarfed even the headmaster's wisdom.
"Gryffindor," Arthur whispered firmly. The Hat sighed, a voice like wind through leaves.
"Very well. Gryffindor, yes. Courage, curiosity, and… restraint. Remember that."
As he removed the Sorting Hat, Arthur's amber eyes glimmered, a faint pulse of golden light from the Eye synchronizing with Shiro. Harrian clapped, laughing brightly. "You did it! Gryffindor! Of course, you would. Bravery and brains!"
Across the hall, a pair of figures drew Arthur's attention: elves, subtly shimmering, hidden almost in plain sight. Their forms were slender, angular, with iridescent eyes that caught the candlelight. One stepped forward, bows of silver slung across their backs.
"You have the threads of Hollow World about you," one said softly, in a voice that sounded like wind over leaves. "Few on the surface notice, and fewer still understand. Be cautious, human. The currents below awaken, and even Tier 1 guardians cannot always intervene."
Arthur's Eye flared faintly. Mana -5, Knowledge Points +5. He recorded their presence in his mental database, noting the connection between the elves and Hollow World threads. The elves' lifespan far exceeded normal humans, consistent with the Tier system: longevity increasing with mana, magical alignment, and connection to the Hollow World.
Harian, oblivious to the elves' warnings, bounced up to Hagrid who had returned to check on the first-years. "Hagrid, look! We're sorted! And Gryffindor!" She threw herself into his massive arms with infectious laughter. "I can't wait to see the dorms, the library… everything!"
Hagrid chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Ah, you two are full o' spirit. Hogwarts will suit ye well, I think. And you, Arthur—careful with that little companion of yours." He nodded toward Shiro, whose golden eyes glimmered faintly, almost in acknowledgment.
Arthur's interface ticked quietly: Mana -2 from observation, Knowledge Points +1. He was noting Hagrid's tier: Tier 2, strong connection to beasts and surface magic, but untrained in Hollow World currents.
Dinner followed shortly. Gryffindor table was lively, filled with chatter and excitement. Arthur observed the threads of magic in the room: minor surges from the ceiling, ley lines feeding the enchanted candles, faintly resonating with Hollow World energy. He experimented discreetly, tapping the Eye to detect wards, enchantments, and weak currents. Mana -4, Knowledge Points +3.
Ron sat next to him, eyes wide. "So… you really see stuff other people don't, huh?"
Arthur nodded, careful not to reveal too much. "I notice threads, yes. Patterns of mana, connections beneath the world. That's all."
Hermione, sitting opposite, adjusted her hair nervously. "Threads? Mana? Arthur, do you… I mean… you're talking about magic on a level most wizards never comprehend."
"Yes," Arthur admitted softly, sipping pumpkin juice. "And I need to learn. Carefully."
Harian laughed, elbowing him. "Oh, come on! Not everything has to be serious, Arthur. Hogwarts is fun, too!" Her eyes sparkled with mischief, but the golden threads around her subtly pulsed in recognition—she, too, had latent connections, traces of Hollow World influence in her magical signature.
After dinner, the elves returned briefly, shadows flickering along the ceiling. They spoke softly, barely audible. "Watch the boundaries, human. The Hollow World stirs. Even Tier 1 cannot always contain what rises from below. The White Tiger is a guide… yet caution is your ally."
Arthur's interface glimmered. Mana -6, Knowledge Points +6. He noted their message, aware of how little the surface world understood of Hollow World forces. Shiro stirred in response, a low purr resonating almost like a warning signal.
As the first night drew to a close, Arthur and Harrian explored their dormitory. Harrian bounced from bed to bed, clearly enchanted by the high ceilings, long beds, and warm firelight. "It's perfect!" she exclaimed. "And we're together! This year is going to be amazing!"
Arthur quietly activated his Eye, scanning the room and the foundations below Hogwarts. Golden threads pulsed faintly, ancient and powerful. The Hollow World stretched beneath them, a network of power, danger, and knowledge beyond Tier 1. He had glimpsed only fragments, but he knew it would shape his life here. Mana -5, Knowledge Points +4.
Shiro curled on his bed, tail flicking. Arthur reached out, feeling the subtle resonance of Hollow World energy in tandem with the cat's presence. It was a bond, a guide, a tether—and perhaps the only safeguard against the currents he could already sense moving beneath the castle.
Harian flopped onto her bed, yawning but still bubbly. "Come on, Arthur! Tomorrow, we explore. I want to meet ghosts, secret passages, maybe even a dragon!"
Arthur smiled faintly, gazing at the golden threads beneath the castle. "Tomorrow, we begin to learn… and to prepare."
The Hollow World was awake, the elves watching, and the threads of destiny had already begun weaving their patterns around Gryffindor Tower, Arthur Akashic, and the multiverse that had collided in ways only he could perceive. And in the quiet of the dormitory, with Shiro by his side, he felt the weight and thrill of his journey just beginning.