Chapter 280: Magic—The Mirror World?
Lockhart was a man of action, too impatient for mere promises. He immediately began his research on the spot, or rather, his interest was so piqued that he couldn't wait.
He repeatedly struck the Deluminator, sensing the subtle connection between himself, this magical artifact, and the world through the artifact. This was something Professor Kettleburn had taught him years ago: how to sense the relationship between oneself and the world, to feel the wonder of the wand.
Striking the device repeatedly, Lockhart suddenly paused. He vaguely located that very unique feeling.
"Wait, you deliberately omitted something just now!" he murmured, looking at Dumbledore. "Something beyond Self-Will, the World, and the central mingling zone!"
"Oh?" Dumbledore asked with a smile. "Tell me, what did I omit?"
"Vitality!" Lockhart's eyes lit up. It was the same answer again.
Dumbledore savored the word, then nodded. "When I was young, I called it 'Rhythm,' a subtle feedback relationship between me and the world, the world's response after a Transfiguration spell was cast. Later, I delved deeper to feel the unique tempo of this Rhythm and called it the 'Tide.' And later still, I called it the 'Breath of Life.'"
An aura that rolled back and forth between the Self-Will, the World, and the mingled zone of the two—the three elements. Its physical manifestation was the hazy mist that appeared when the Deluminator was struck.
"I, the Self-Will!" Dumbledore explained, holding up one finger and tracing a circle around it with his other hand. "Everything in the world changes because of my change, rapidly changing outside of me."
Then, he gestured to the Deluminator. "So we can sense the connection between the world and the self, the calls of others to us, and even deeper, richer love. We can feel its Rhythm. This was the initial state and function when I first created this alchemical object."
"Later, I understood more deeply..." He raised his hand, repeatedly clenching and relaxing his fingers, while the other hand continued to trace a circle around it. "I rhythm with the world. I am the World, yet I am not the World. I myself am also a World."
"Regarding this point, if you can grasp it, you will enter a very wondrous world."
"As for the final 'Breath of Life,' I don't intend to tell you my thoughts. I think you should forge your own magical path from the perspective of 'Vitality,' which you have realized."
Three levels. Even the lowest level was incredibly profound.
Lockhart carefully tried to grasp the wonder within. The first level: the world revolves around me. The second level: I revolve with the world.
No, that's not right!
The first level: The World is the manifestation of my Heart. The second level: The World resonates with my Heart, manifesting the Rhythm in which my will participates—a Tidal rhythm.
Lockhart keenly seized upon that feeling. This sensation was difficult to describe in words. If he had to describe it, it was that he was immersed in that Tidal Rhythm.
Whoosh~Whoosh~Whoosh~
He could almost hear the sound of the ocean tide in his ears. It was the beach he loved to go to when he was lonely as a child, listening to the echoes of the waves. In the tranquility, he felt a unique kind of liveliness.
It was as if a World was slowly being awakened in his heart—vivid and vibrant.
WHOOSH! He gently struck the Deluminator. The glowing hazy mist seemed to roar like the ocean tide, spreading in all directions, and a very wondrous world swept over the surroundings.
That was... He opened his eyes again, though he didn't know when he had closed them.
He was still sitting on the stone, and Dumbledore was still sitting on another stone beside him, still smiling and eating Cockroach Clusters. But the world was fundamentally different.
Or rather... He stood up, looking at the swirling mist around him, and the reality that there was nothing but two stones and two people in the mist. His heart stirred, and he slowly pointed his wand around.
Whoosh~ He heard the sound of the ocean again. The sound of the ocean was so clear now, so clear that he could distinguish that the so-called sound of the ocean was actually the convergence of countless voices calling his name, the sound of countless changes that occurred because of his influence, the sound of countless beings that existed because of him...
These sounds spread and constructed a scene. Soon, the Forbidden Forest appeared before his eyes. Looking into the distance, the Black Lake, Hogwarts Castle, and even the students all appeared before him.
Lockhart suddenly felt some subtle vibrations. He looked down. The grass beneath his feet suddenly rippled. Within the ripples, he seemed to see a reflected world.
This is... My World!
Lockhart had known that Dumbledore had a spell that could create a mirror world of reflection, but he never expected it to be a form of Transfiguration! How marvelous.
"Well, is it interesting?" Dumbledore laughed happily, like a child sharing a Transformer toy, bragging, Hey, you think this is fun, too, right?
"Yes!" Lockhart exclaimed, deeply captivated by the world before his eyes.
"It can be even more fun!" Dumbledore clapped his hands, placing the empty candy dish back into his robes pocket, and then pulling out the Elder Wand.
He held up the Elder Wand and gently shook it. He paused, then stopped and asked, "Gilderoy, does memory represent a person's existence to you?"
Lockhart nodded. "Vibrant memory brings the movement of life, which gives rise to the concept of time. Stagnant memory means that even in the form of magical portraits, photographs, or even ghosts, these memories have lost time and do not constitute a true existence of life."
Dumbledore looked at Lockhart with some astonishment. "Truly remarkable insight. I am not as good as you in that regard."
Lockhart shrugged. "I still have so much more to learn from you."
"Hahahaha..." Dumbledore laughed, his silver hair and long silver beard fluttering, full of free abandon. "Yes, you still have to learn!"
As he spoke, he gently flicked the wand in his hand!
Whoosh~Whoosh~Whoosh~
Tides surged, but they were interspersed with an aura that was foreign to Lockhart—the aura of the Rhythm of Life. It was strange; it didn't possess vitality, yet it possessed change. It was stagnant, yet it could still propel time forward. This was a state Lockhart couldn't currently understand. He simply memorized the feeling meticulously.
Then, he observed the change. The change came quickly. Or rather, more 'Worlds' appeared before his eyes.
It was the life-world of Corban Yaxley, the life-world of Madam Mary, and the worlds of memories that Lockhart had stolen in the past but had not fully assimilated. Lockhart had only thoroughly assimilated a few lives: the Forest Witch and Tom Riddle.
Dumbledore finished the spell, looking at the emerging worlds with emotion. "I don't want to overbearingly judge your mistakes. I once did that, but it didn't make anything better."
He shook his head as he looked back. "I just want you to personally feel the 'Breath of Life' I just mentioned. You'll find that the existence of these memories within your body is more than just having a few extra memories."
"I understand that principle. In fact, when I explored the magical concept of 'Vitality,' I had already intended to dispose of these memories," Lockhart said truthfully.
Dumbledore sighed in relief. He could hear Lockhart's sincerity. The rest was up to Lockhart to handle.
"However, I now have a different idea."
"!!!" Dumbledore's breath hitched again. He looked at the young man in disbelief. "What?"
Was all that effort wasted? If this were the past—yes, when he was dealing with that idiot Tom—he would have handled it violently long ago. Now, he had taught and advised, making every effort to guide him with the great sentiment of an educator.
What does he mean, a different idea? You were planning to do that anyway, and because I came to teach you, you're not going to do it anymore?
Dumbledore could almost hear Gellert's mocking voice in his ear again—Hahahaha, look, look, Albus, at the student you taught.
No! Absolutely not! Tom wasn't my student! Don't insult me!
Dumbledore suppressed the turmoil in his heart. In this world forged by mental power, it was often this uncomfortable. Too many emotions were starting to escape the control of his Self-Will and express themselves. Or perhaps, the expression of these emotions was fundamentally a part of his Self-Will.
"What different idea?" Dumbledore took a deep breath and asked patiently.
"Haven't you noticed..." Lockhart tilted his head, looking at the mental worlds evolved from memories with a very unique gaze. "Doesn't this look like that fairytale book?"
The Carro's Bedtime Story Fairytales. The magical artifact used by the Carro family to train new generations through fairytale adventure simulations, which Lockhart later used as teaching material.
Dumbledore was astonished. After some thought, he was amazed by Lockhart's unique idea.
"Yes, perhaps you could modify that fairytale book yourself, just as I created the Deluminator, to make it an aid for your spellcasting." Dumbledore agreed with the concept.
He suggested meaningfully, "I will introduce you to the great alchemist Nicolas Flamel when the opportunity arises. You can consult him about Alchemy." Dumbledore himself no longer had the energy to teach; he had too many things to do.
Lockhart was delighted. "That sounds great."
Click! The Deluminator closed again.
Lockhart and Dumbledore returned to the real world.
..........
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