Chapter 74: I Guessed It a Long Time Ago

"Well, actually, that powerful magician thought I had great potential and invited me to study abroad with her, but I refused. Now that I think about it, while I don't regret my decision, I do feel a little..."

"Oh my God! Why? Why would you refuse such an incredible opportunity?"

"Because I wanted to stay with you longer, help you get more familiar with the magical world, and, of course, adjust to my new school. I promised her that I'd go in two years, and she agreed."

"You idiot! Noah, that was an amazing opportunity! Ugh, but I guess two years is a good buffer. Just don't miss out next time!"

Noah looked at Ms. Haifin's serious expression and could only nod helplessly.

He knew she was saying this for his own good. But even though he had just started at Hogwarts and still felt a little uncomfortable, he had no regrets about his decision—even if it meant missing out on having such an incredible teacher for the time being.

Noah had his reasons. After all, he was already a disciple of the Ancient One. With that status, he wasn't worried about whether she would recognize him when the time came.

Besides, the Ancient One hadn't left him empty-handed. She had given him some of her personal insights and techniques from her years of magical practice, along with a collection of spells ranging from basic to advanced, all compiled in the form of detailed notes.

Noah was overjoyed. These were the teachings of the Sorcerer Supreme!

And now, with those notes in hand, he finally had access to spells beyond the usual Hogwarts curriculum. This meant he wouldn't have to rely on limited spellwork anymore. No more raising his hand to get "Bludgeoning Hex," letting go for "Incendio," or attacking with something as simple as a "Stunning Spell." He could finally use some real magic!

The thought almost brought tears to his eyes. He had spent so much time training in the system space, learning various elemental magics, yet until now, he hadn't been able to use them properly in the real world.

It had been frustrating—training so hard, mastering complex spells, only to be unable to cast them outside the system. But now, with the Ancient One's protection and her notes, he could finally use these spells without hesitation. That, in itself, was a huge victory.

"Of course," Noah mused, "the system has also been surprisingly generous this time. Though, I can't shake the feeling that I lost something in exchange…"

Aside from becoming the Ancient One's apprentice and receiving her invaluable teachings, Noah had gained other benefits too.

For instance, her notes contained Kamar-Taj's physical training methods. After carefully studying them, Noah realized they were very similar to what he had expected—using both physical exercise and magic to enhance overall abilities.

However, Noah had previously taken a different approach. While the Ancient One emphasized training both the body and the mind, Noah had focused purely on magic, skipping the physical aspect entirely.

Well, it wasn't a bad approach. Just… different.

Moreover, the U.S. Department of Magic hadn't pursued him for entering their territory without permission, and John Constantine had promised to visit the U.K. to assist him once he finished dealing with his own matters.

Of course, all of this paled in comparison to what truly excited Noah—the system reward.

This time, the system had directly granted him an enormous amount of magical power, just as it had promised!

The amount was so massive that Noah was utterly shocked.

To reach this level of magical reserves through normal training would have taken him at least two years. Yet, in an instant, the system had gifted it to him—without any side effects!

Name: Noah Finniel

Age: 12

Mage Level: Order 3, Rank 0

That's right. He had jumped from a mere first-tier magician to the third tier in one leap!

Noah could hardly contain his excitement.

To put it into perspective, even the best Hogwarts graduates would typically be around this level! And he had already reached it at age 12!

However, after the initial thrill, Noah quickly calmed himself down.

It's only Order 3, he reminded himself. There's no need to get carried away. Compared to other students, he was indeed powerful. But compared to the professors?

Noah had already seen what true power looked like.

The Ancient One, standing calmly as she forced Hell itself to retreat, effortlessly countering Heaven's influence on Earth—her strength was what truly mattered.

Noah couldn't help but long for that level of dominance. To one day reach a point where just standing still could make divine beings tremble in fear.

That was the mark of a true master sorcerer.

"Don't get complacent," Noah muttered to himself. "This is just Hogwarts. I'm still far from the top. There's a long road ahead."

The plane flew steadily through the sky. Noah sighed. There's still so much to do…

Back in London

After returning to London, Noah finally had a proper break.

He had thought his trip to America would be a simple visit. Instead, he had been dragged into a divine conflict between Heaven and Hell.

Noah and Ms. Haifin had stayed in the U.S. for no more than two weeks, and now that they were back, they could finally relax. Noah spent over a month simply unwinding—replying to letters from his friends, catching up on books, and helping Ms. Haifin understand the magical world better.

During his absence, his dormitory friends had sent him several letters, but he hadn't received them. Now that he was back, he had to reply to them all.

However, there was one issue—Noah didn't have a pet owl.

This meant he had to temporarily borrow any owl that delivered letters to him, keeping them captive until he finished writing his response. Only then would he let them go.

His friends, like Kenn, frequently complained about why he didn't just buy a pet. But Noah had a simple reason—he didn't have the money!

Teaching Ms. Haifin about the magical world had become a daily activity. It was oddly satisfying, almost like being a professor.

To Noah's surprise, Ms. Haifin was incredibly serious about her studies—so much so that she even took notes on everything he said.

Seeing her scribble in her notebook, Noah felt a little embarrassed. I don't even take notes that diligently…

"Noah, is there really a potion called the 'Elixir to Induce Euphoria' in the magical world?"

"Of course. It's nothing special. You just need daisy roots, fig peels, caterpillars, a small drop of leech juice, and mouse spleen. Then, you mix them using specific techniques. But be careful with the proportions, or you might accidentally turn it into an age-regression potion…"

"Okay, stop. That's enough. By the way, is that little girl your friend?"

"Hermione? Yeah, but she's in Gryffindor, and I'm in Ravenclaw."

Ms. Haifin's curiosity about the magical world was boundless, but sometimes, her focus was… misplaced.

Hermione had indeed stopped by to check on him. She hadn't stayed long—just long enough to remind him to be on time for classes.

"School starts soon, right?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Can I come with you to buy your textbooks this time?"

Noah sighed, shaking his head.

"I figured you'd say that. Sure, ma'am."