Chapter 69: The Limits of Apparition

Nero straightened his posture, exhaling softly.

"Thank you for your time, Professor Vellian. Your teaching means a lot."

Vellian, who had been leaning casually against a nearby desk, lifted an eyebrow at his uncharacteristically formal tone.

Then, to his mild surprise, she let out a chuckle.

"The honor is mine, Nero," she said, a rare warmth in her voice. "It will be the privilege of my life to teach someone with your talent. I've never seen anyone take to Apparition the way you do."

Nero offered a small smirk.

He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "If you don't mind, I still have a few things I'd like to ask."

Vellian crossed her arms, looking intrigued. "Go ahead."

Nero's expression turned thoughtful. "You've taught me how to Apparate precisely and quietly. But what about using it in combat? Moving mid-fight, appearing behind an enemy, dodging spells… Can Apparition and spatial law be used as a weapon?"

Vellian hummed, considering his words before responding. "A good question. And the answer is… complicated."

She pushed off the desk and began pacing slowly, as if collecting her thoughts.

"On the surface, Apparition sounds like the perfect combat tool. Instant movement, the ability to bypass traditional dodging, the element of surprise. And yes, a few exceptionally skilled duellists have attempted to integrate it into their fighting styles. But there are reasons why most wizards don't use it that way."

Nero leaned forward slightly. "What reasons?"

Vellian held up a finger. "First, reaction speed. Apparition requires concentration, clear visualization, and decisive execution. In a real fight, you don't always have that luxury. Spells fly in milliseconds, and if you hesitate, even for a fraction of a second, you'll get hit before you finish Apparating."

She lifted a second finger. "Second, visual dynamic acuity. Apparating means briefly losing awareness of your surroundings. You might aim to land behind an opponent, but what if they move? What if they predict your positioning? You could end up reappearing right in the path of a hex, or worse, materializing where another object already exists, which, as you well know, would be catastrophic."

Nero nodded slowly, absorbing the information. "So, in short, it's not just about speed. You need exceptional foresight."

"Indeed," Vellian confirmed. "Only those who can anticipate their opponent's movements with near-perfect accuracy can even attempt combat Apparition without serious risk."

Nero frowned. "Still, even with those risks, it's not impossible. What about countermeasures? Is there a way to counteract those weaknesses?"

Vellian smirked. "Oh, you're already thinking ahead. I like that."

She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "There are ways. Some duellists train themselves to Apparate short distances, mere inches, just to shift their position mid-spellcast, but that level of fine control requires years of training. Others combine Apparition with shielding charms or illusions to cover the slight delay in reaction. But the biggest obstacle isn't reaction time or awareness, it's anti-Apparition defenses."

Nero's eyes sharpened. "Wards."

"Exactly. Wards, barriers, and runes designed to disrupt Apparition are commonplace in important locations. Hogwarts, the Ministry of Magic, Gringotts… even some high-level duellists carry protective enchantments on their robes. If you become reliant on Apparition in combat, all it takes is one well-placed ward to leave you stranded."

Nero leaned back, tapping his fingers against the armrest of his chair.

"That explains why combat Apparition isn't widespread. But that raises another question, can someone bypass those wards? Hogwarts has anti-Apparition runes, but is there a way to ignore or counter them?"

Vellian gave him a knowing look. "I should have expected you to ask that."

She exhaled, rubbing her temple.

"Theoretically? Yes. Practically? It's nearly impossible. Anti-Apparition wards disrupt the spatial signature required for Apparition. You could overpower weak or hastily placed wards, but Hogwarts' protections are ancient, layered, and reinforced by generations of powerful enchantments. They don't just block Apparition; they make the space itself uncooperative."

Nero frowned. "Uncooperative?"

Vellian nodded. "Imagine space as a series of threads connecting every point. Apparition works by grasping those threads and pulling yourself from one location to another. Anti-Apparition wards knot and tangle those threads, making it impossible to grasp them properly. No matter how strong you are, the magic fights back."

Nero's mind raced. "But… if I could untangle those threads? If I understood spatial law deeply enough?"

Vellian let out a quiet laugh. "You're ambitious, I'll give you that. But, for instance, no one to my knowledge, not even Dumbledore, has successfully bypassed Hogwarts' wards through brute force. The castle is alive, in a way. It adapts. If someone were to try and unravel the protections, Hogwarts would respond, tightening the weave."

Nero narrowed his eyes. "So it's a battle of understanding. Whoever understands space and its laws better, wins."

"Essentially," Vellian admitted. "But even with your talent, don't expect to crack Hogwarts' defenses anytime soon."

Nero filed the information away, but there was one last thing he needed to ask.

"And what happens if someone forcefully tries to Apparate through an anti-Apparition barrier? What if they push through instead of unweaving it?"

Vellian's expression turned serious. "It depends on the ward. Some simply prevent the spell from activating. Others… are far less forgiving."

She folded her arms. "A poorly executed Apparition attempt through a strong ward can result in splinching, but worse than the usual kind. Instead of just losing a limb, a wizard might be severed between locations, trapped in limbo. Or the ward might reflect the attempt entirely, sending them somewhere else, a random location, or even a closed loop where they keep Apparating between two points indefinitely."

Nero let out a low whistle. "So not only does it fail, but it could go horribly wrong."

"Precisely," Vellian said grimly. "That's why even the most reckless Dark wizards don't gamble with anti-Apparition barriers. The risk far outweighs the reward."

Nero leaned back, processing everything.

The combat applications, the dangers, the limitations… there was more to spatial magic than he had initially thought.

Still, that only made it more intriguing.

Vellian studied him for a moment before sighing. "I can see that look in your eye, Nero. Whatever you're plotting, don't do anything too reckless."

He grinned. "Me? Reckless? Never."

She snorted. "Right. And I'm the Minister of Magic."

With a smirk, she straightened her robes. "I'll leave you to your thoughts. We'll meet again in three weeks."

Nero nodded. "Looking forward to it."

With one last assessing glance, Vellian turned on her heel and left the room.

As the silence settled over the room, Nero exhaled slowly.

There was much to think about.

So many limitations… yet so many possibilities.

A grin crept across his face.

'How fascinating. I absolutely love this world.'

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