Chapter 68: Silent Steps

Nero frowned. For the first time in a long while, he found something more complex than he had anticipated. 

Apparition, in its most basic form, was easy for him, laughably so.

But refining it, controlling the noise, that was another matter entirely.

"This is more intricate than I thought," he muttered under his breath.

Professor Vellian crossed her arms, amusement flickering in her sharp eyes. "Having second thoughts already?"

But Nero wasn't discouraged. If anything, he looked even more intrigued. 

He turned his gaze toward her, eyes sharp with thought. "Most wizards never refine their Apparition beyond the basics, do they?"

Vellian's expression shifted slightly. "A bold assumption. And why do you think that?"

Nero tapped a finger against his arm. "Because everyone I've ever seen Apparate does it with a loud crack. If it's possible to move without making a sound, why isn't it the standard?"

Vellian let out a soft chuckle, as if she had been waiting for this question. "Ah, now that is an insightful observation."

She paused for a moment, studying him as if deciding how much to reveal.

Then, folding her arms, she began, "There are a few reasons. The first is simple: convenience. Apparition is a spell designed for speed. Most wizards see it as a means to an end, why bother with refinement when the standard method works well enough?"

Nero gave a slow nod. That made sense, but it wasn't the full picture.

"The second reason," she continued, "is that the noise isn't just an accident, it's a natural byproduct of the magic itself. When you Apparate, you aren't just moving. You're displacing yourself through space, forcing reality to shift around you. That resistance creates the sound. Most wizards don't suppress it because it requires conscious effort, and frankly, they don't see the need."

Nero's brows drew together in thought. "So it's about control."

"Absolutely," Vellian said, pleased by how quickly he grasped the concept.

"And then there's the third reason: safety. The more you try to manipulate the spell, the greater the risk of Splinching. Silence isn't just about muting the sound, it means altering the very way your body interacts with space. Try too hard to smooth the process, and you might find yourself leaving pieces of yourself behind."

Nero mulled over her words. It wasn't that wizards couldn't Apparate silently, it was that they chose not to. 

They followed the natural flow of magic rather than attempt to bend it. 

Most weren't willing to risk the consequences of forcing it to behave differently.

But he wasn't most wizards.

"I have another question. Why can any wizard learn how to Apparate? Even those who have no idea about basic spatial principle application?"

Vellian raised an eyebrow. "Spatial principles? Most wizards wouldn't even know what that means. How do you?"

Nero merely smirked. "Being a Ravenclaw has its perks."

She studied him for a long moment before chuckling. "Fair enough. But since you seem to grasp what most do not, let me explain something important. Apparition is not true mastery over space. It's more like a brute-force shortcut, a way to move without fully understanding the laws behind it."

Nero narrowed his eyes. "And what would Apparition look like with true spatial mastery?"

Vellian's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. "It becomes something entirely different. Most wizards treat Apparition like a forced jump, tearing themselves from one point and forcing their way to another. But a spatial master doesn't fight space, they guide it."

Nero leaned in. "That still sounds vague. Can you give me a concrete example?"

She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Imagine walking forward and, instead of stepping through air, you step into a fold in space itself. Distance becomes irrelevant because you're not traveling across it, you're shifting the relationship between where you are and where you want to be."

"Like a portal?" Nero asked.

"Portals are fixed openings, like doorways anchored to specific locations. Spatial mastery is fluid. It's like walking across a bridge that only exists when you step onto it. You wouldn't hear the usual crack or feel the tug of magic, because you're not breaking space, you're bending it."

Nero exhaled. "So what I'm doing now, trying to remove the sound, is just the first step."

Vellian nodded approvingly. "It can be considered as an introductory training. If you ever come to master space apparition, you will understand that reality stops being a boundary. It becomes a canvas."

A slow smile spread across Nero's face. "Then I'll keep training."

Nero stepped back onto his starting point, rolling his shoulders. 

The key to silent Apparition was finesse, not brute force. 

He had already learned to move through space, but now he had to do it gently, smoothly, without ripping through it like a hammer striking glass.

He closed his eyes. Destination, Determination, Deliberation. 

But this time, he added a fourth principle in his mind: Subtlety.

His thoughts settled on the target point.

He imagined not just appearing there, but flowing into the space as if he belonged to it, as if he were merely stepping forward through an unseen doorway.

He reached deep into his magic, feeling the way space bent around him.

Pop.

The sound was softer, quieter, but still there.

Vellian crossed her arms. "Better. Try again."

Nero returned to his original spot and focused. Gently. No force, just movement. 

He imagined himself slipping through the space rather than breaking it apart.

Pop.

It was barely audible now. Vellian raised an eyebrow. "Hmph. Again."

Nero repeated the process. Each time, he refined the technique further.

Nero let out a slow breath, shaking off the lingering sensation of his latest attempt.

His Apparition was nearly silent now, just the faintest whisper of displaced air. 

Not perfect, but closer. Progress.

Vellian let out a low whistle. "You're truly a little monster."

He turned to Vellian, who had been watching him with an unreadable expression. "So," he said, tilting his head, "was I worth your time?"

For a moment, she said nothing, simply regarding him with sharp, assessing eyes. Then, a smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.

"Cheeky brat," she said, amusement lacing her tone.

Nero grinned. "I'll take that as a yes."

Vellian chuckled, shaking her head before straightening her posture. "You'll see me again in three weeks. I expect you to show me the same level of genius."

Nero's smirk deepened. "I wouldn't dream of disappointing you."

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