Chapter 1310: Candy
In the world where Aileen lived, there was a fantastical concept called the magic net.
According to that concept, wizards didn't release magic based on themselves, but based on the flow of the magic network.
And this is also the source of the Hogwarts magic net concept. However, in those stories, there were gods in the world, and different gods controlled different abilities. For example, the magic net was controlled by the goddess of magic—but in the world of Hogwarts, the goddess of magic has temporarily become four underage little witches.
Apart from Luna, the other two little witches seemed difficult to associate with the title of goddess of magic.
However, this does not affect the fact that they are actually in charge of the magic net: they can deprive magic net wizards of their spellcasting abilities at any time.
As Dumbledore left the school, the magic net's range became wider and wider. Aileen was sure that the magic net would be able to cover the European continent within ten years at most.
What's even more wonderful is that as magic net managers, they can also mobilize a portion of extra magic power within the magic net's coverage.
Hermione experienced this extremely profoundly. In Tuesday's Charms class, her ordinary Banishing Charm almost turned the Charms classroom into ruins.
"Should we temporarily disconnect from the magic net?" Hermione said with a worried tone. She was now cautiously tapping her wand, trying her best to make her magic less dangerous, like a giant threading a needle, "Can we really be responsible for this magic net? I always feel like we should let adult wizards... at least other formal Major Arcana members be responsible. Or we should at least tell Professor McGonagall so she has some mental..."
"Of course not, you'll quickly adapt to the magic power after the magic net's enhancement," Aileen said casually.
"Anyway, we have plenty of time, don't we?" Hannah said in a relaxed tone.
She and Luna were trying to disassemble and equip their respective "Valkyria" magical armor.
Since the magic net's permissions were opened to them, they finally reached the basic standard to manipulate the Valkyria magical armor.
Now, they each have a set of their own magical battle suits. Luna's Valkyria is named "Moonlit Phantom," and Hannah's Valkyria is named "Planetary Devastation." Within the Hogwarts magic net's coverage, their destructive power is no less than Grindelwald's at full strength.
And, of course, magical manipulation ability and magic power adaptation have become the direction they have been constantly practicing during this time.
As for Aileen, she skipped this step... The concentration of her magical bloodline is really too high.
After Dumbledore left the castle, Nicolas Flamel became Aileen's exclusive consultant. This alchemist, hundreds of years old, has developed a strong interest in magic research again for the first time: Aileen is showing sublimation that only exists in legends. In simple terms, her magic is pushing her to evolve.
Not to mention wizards, even adult Veelas cannot use every inch of their skin to cast and command their magic as freely as they wish.
But here with Aileen, she has obviously broken through this limitation. She is now simply like magic itself, walking freely.
Just like the permission link on the Hyperion, Aileen doesn't even need to deliberately connect to the Hogwarts magic net.
Aileen's free will can easily mobilize the magic floating in the air, and Hogwarts Castle will actively help her complete spell corrections.
Oh, "spell correction" is a new concept proposed by Professor Flitwick during this time. It means that in a high magic environment, environments such as the "magic net" and "magic castle" will help wizards stabilize their spellcasting effects and accuracy, just like the mold grooves when forging steel, allowing wizards to call upon their own magic power as accurately as possible to cast spells. This theory also explains why the magic control of students in school is generally stronger than that of wizards a few years after graduation.
As Professor Flitwick took the lead in proposing this concept, magic masters in the magical world quickly developed and deepened it on this basis.
Different from the bloodline theory of centuries ago, the concept of magical land spread rapidly in society like a plague.
The Ministry of Magic, magic hospitals, magic schools, the residences of magic families...
For a long time, people vaguely knew that these places would improve the abilities of wizards, but there was always a lack of theoretical basis.
But the birth of the theories of "magic net" and "spell correction" perfected this vague magical common sense and opened a door to a new world that had never been imagined before for all wizards: If, just a hypothetical, one day the magic net could appear in every place that human society can reach.
Not only will the spellcasting ability be greatly improved, but judging from the information of the International Confederation of Wizards and magic governments over the years, it will also increase the possibility of wizards being born.
Of course, this is a very long and huge project, but Hogwarts Castle has taken the first step into the new world on its own initiative.
The invisible magic network is gradually blooming like dawn from the Scottish Highlands, spreading towards the distance at an astonishing speed.
The Ministry of Magic and the International Confederation of Wizards have begun to discuss which cities should first establish long-term magic net nodes.
The first is naturally the city where each magic government is located. Hogwarts can become the original node, and each Ministry of Magic, magic hospital, and even each "natural wizard" can also become a transfer base station linking the magic net. According to the magic net concept provided by Hogwarts, wizards who are incorporated into the "magic net" enjoy the convenience of the magic net and also amplify the magic net and stabilize the range of the magic net. This is a real magical society that has descended into reality.
In addition, since this change only amplifies the strength of wizards under the current circumstances, the International Confederation of Wizards has no objection.
Facing the increasingly powerful and expanding Muggle world, the emergence of the magic net is undoubtedly a very powerful shot in the arm for the magical world.
"But I still don't understand one thing, why have so many Squibs suddenly emerged—"
Hannah turned her head to look at Aileen. Her Valkyria armor was stumbling and fighting each other, like dueling metal beetles.
"In less than a month, nearly 10,000 Squibs have emerged in the UK... My mother said that the Leaky Cauldron hasn't received so many Squib customers in centuries. And when they gradually arrive at Hogwarts and connect to the magic net, the magical world will soon have nearly 10,000 more wizards, right?"
"In fact, they have always been there, but no one has ever paid attention to them before."
Aileen shrugged and glanced at Hannah, who was still trying to compete with her magic armor, and explained seriously.
"The emergence of Squibs is actually very simple, you'll understand if you think about it: Anyone whose parents are wizards, or even two or three generations up have wizards, may be Squibs without magic abilities. And in a broad sense, those who know the magical world but have no magic power can actually be regarded as Squibs."
"The International Confederation of Wizards has always told us that the existence of the magical world is a secret, but this is actually a somewhat self-deceptive statement."
"For thousands of years, wizards have been born in human society and live in human society... The Statute of Secrecy cannot completely isolate the world."
As she spoke, she stood up and walked to the fireplace, her fingers casually tapping in the firelight.
Immediately afterwards, a bird's-eye view of the outer perimeter of the castle suddenly appeared in the constantly jumping orange-red flames.
Scrimgeour was directing the "magic net wizards" to build residential areas bit by bit, while Mr. Weasley was checking various necessary material procurement lists next to him.
Although the Ministry of Magic and the International Confederation of Wizards intend to promote the magic net in various cities, in the short term, this is only a pending matter on parchment, and Hogwarts also has better magic net "signals" and is the most suitable place for people to learn and master magic.
Therefore, most of the "magic net wizards" who have temporarily removed the title of Squibs have chosen to settle here:
——In this super-large wizard settlement called [Hogwarts Academy City].
"You see..."
Aileen squinted her eyes and pointed at the light and shadow jumping in the flames and said softly.
"This magical city is expanding at an incredible speed."
"Different from Diagon Alley and Bournmouth magic commercial street, the streets and house styles here are closer to the layout of non-magic towns."
"Lucky people like Mr. Filch are only a minority. Most Squibs will stay away from the magical world after not receiving an acceptance letter and go to the non-magical world to seek a job to make a living. Even if they return to the magical world, they will retain most of their living habits—and this brand-new city will become a sample of the integration of the magical and non-magical civilizations in the next few decades or even hundreds of years... Of course, it is also an important reliance for Hogwarts to resist war."
"War?!"
"Civilization sample?"
Luna and Hermione asked in unison, looking at the town forming in the firelight with some incomprehension.
As reserve Major Arcana members, they have mastered and experienced many things in advance, but they are still particularly young in a more macro perspective.
After all, no matter what, Luna and Hermione are only girls who are no more than thirteen years old at most. This century-long change that even many adults cannot see clearly is too grand for them, but fortunately, they still have enough time to learn and grow little by little.
"Well, these involve the first stage goals of all the Major Arcana..."
Aileen nodded slightly and waved her right hand to summon a hazy Earth model in the firelight.
"We plan to popularize the magic net in ten years, so that wizards can go online anywhere and synchronize spells and thoughts."
"Then, we can try to gradually let magic, real and complete, descend into human civilization and unpack this gift together..."
The biggest convenience of the magic net is that it greatly reduces the difficulty and threshold of casting spells—if the previous wizards were more like warlocks who had to awaken on their own, then from now on, most wizards can choose to release magic through learning and memorization. The number of wizards will increase unprecedentedly.
Accompanied by Aileen's explanation and gestures, countless silver thin lines spread out from Hogwarts like spider webs in all directions.
The successful development of the werewolf serum means that Muggles can stably and slightly side-effectly transform into a "quasi-magical creature" state.
In terms of perception and state, the werewolf converted from Muggles is actually consistent with the Squib, and when the "lycanthropy" treatment method reaches low-cost universal magic medical care, the Muggle-Werewolf-Squib-Wizard transformation line is completely opened, and there will be an even greater magic wave.
This kind of change in the civilized world cannot be smooth sailing and can be completed without any bloodshed. The birth of a new order is bound to be accompanied by war.
As Grindelwald and Dumbledore said, a new era can only be ignited by the young sparks.
But before that...
…………
Azkaban Wizarding Prison, deep inside.
The rotten, damp breath of the Dementors gradually faded away.
It's mealtime—mealtime for the prisoners held in Azkaban.
It will be more than half an hour before the Dementors return in droves to enjoy their feast.
The Dementors don't cook any complicated dishes. The three meals in the prison are actually similar to the dishes of medieval sailors.
Most of the prisoners swallowed the food ravenously and cursing, like mad dogs—here, this kind of person is actually considered normal.
Most people can't eat much before lying back on the bed listlessly, waiting for death to come in despair.
Of course, in addition to this, there is a third type of person...
Or rather, two different people.
Snap.
Lockhart broke open the hard bread in his hand and dipped it in the turbid carrot and cabbage salt pork soup.
Immediately afterwards, he took those plates and walked to the side of the prison, looking into the depths of the mist not far away.
"Where were we yesterday? Mr. Crouch?"
"It's your turn today—"
On the other side of the mist, Barty Crouch's hoarse voice sounded.
The former senior official of the Ministry of Magic said calmly, putting down the stone tablet in his hand.
Behind him, the simple murals became much crowded, several times more than when he came.
"Mr. Lockhart, perhaps you should answer my question first when I tell you the trivial matters of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement?"
"Oh? About the reason for my imprisonment—"
Lockhart said easily, sitting cross-legged on the ground, shrugging his shoulders somewhat helplessly.
"Attacking others, deceiving society, stealing the deeds of others, violating the Statute of Secrecy..."
"Of course, there is also the heinous one—running for Minister of Magic."
"These are just the reasons for your imprisonment..."
Crouch shook his head, he glanced at the expired newspaper on his knee.
On that wrinkled cover, the young wizard on the opposite side smiled brightly as if he were the groom attending a wedding.
"What is your purpose—what exactly is it? Or rather, what is supporting your sanity—"
"This ah..."
Lockhart rubbed his hair and thought seriously for a few seconds.
"I want to go home, solemnly and formally marry a woman, and then have many children."
"But she is really too good, I must do something to prove that I am qualified to stand in front of her."
"For example..."
Lockhart grinned, revealing his white teeth, and said softly.
"Let her and my children live in a true magical age."
…………
Nurmengard Castle, tower.
Slow footsteps echoed between the moss-covered stone walls.
The broken stone door of the castle returned to its original place, but there were several clawing cracks.
Squeak—
The wooden door at the top of the tower made a tooth-aching sound.
Dumbledore walked into the room, took off his top hat, and hung his coat behind the door.
There was a bookshelf next to the bed not far away, and a shallow magical barrier was added to the hole in the wall.
"Welcome to the British National Broadcasting Corporation..."
The radio on the table sounded, but it was turned off before it finished reading.
Replaced by melodious classical music.
The record player in the corner turned on, vinyl records, record players, this is the content that Dumbledore has newly learned.
"Huff..."
Dumbledore breathed a sigh of relief and stretched his muscles.
The Salzburg city area is a bit noisy for an old man like him.
However, in this world, there is no place more suitable for understanding Muggles and the magical world than here for the time being.
More importantly, there is such a quiet and comfortable residence here.
Speaking of which...
Dumbledore glanced at the bedside, where the Muggle books he hadn't finished reading yesterday were placed.
But he doesn't want to look at the headache-inducing circuit diagrams for the time being.
The old man's eyes stayed on the iron box further away.
Gellert mentioned once that the "Demon King" contract between him and Aileen was hidden in this small box.
"Demon King contract..."
Sure enough, it still makes people uneasy—
Dumbledore's fingers gently stroked the box, a little hesitant.
In the past few weeks, he has checked many times that there are no magic protections on it.
Click.
The box opened gently.
"Oh—"
Dumbledore was stunned and shook his head with a dumb smile.
On the delicate black velvet of that small box.
Several candies were lying there quietly.
————
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There is another chapter today~ Well, the last chapter~
Suddenly a little bit reluctant...