Chapter 65

Chapter 65: Depths of Discovery

The hum of Poseidon's engine became a constant rhythm, low and soft like a lullaby from the sea. Alexander Smith sat by the large glass panel that curved around the corridor, watching bioluminescent creatures drift lazily past. The ship had moved beyond the coral ridges into deeper waters, and the ocean outside now shimmered in shifting hues of indigo and emerald.

Kate was kneeling on the floor nearby, trying to coax a roll of enchanted parchment into turning into a fluttering origami swan. Unfortunately, it kept collapsing into a crumpled ball, as if it were offended by her wand work.

"You're putting too much tension on the corners," Alexander said, biting into a seaweed-wrapped biscuit. "Paper folds better with a softer magical grip."

Kate stuck her tongue out in concentration, muttering a soft "Orchis Flappa". The parchment twitched, flared at the edges, then burst into a flapping bird that nose-dived straight into the wall.

"Progress!" she declared triumphantly.

Alexander laughed. "Honestly, you're improving. Remember last week? You turned that birthday card into a screaming banshee."

Kate groaned. "Don't remind me. I thought it was a singing charm! Penelope still flinches when she sees me with a wand."

They both laughed, and for a moment, the underwater pressure seemed lighter.

Then Alexander's face turned thoughtful. "Kate, have you ever wondered how much of spellwork is intention, and how much is pure control?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Philosophy of Magic class already? We haven't even had lunch."

"No, seriously," he continued. "Take a simple charm like Lumos. Anyone can cast it. But shaping it—making the light focus like a beam, or scatter like a flare—that's something else entirely. It's not the spell. It's the caster."

Kate tapped her quill against her notebook. "You mean like intent-based magic? That's what Professor Flitwick said last week, right? 'Your wand listens best when you speak from the mind and the gut.'"

Alexander nodded. "Exactly. Which is why Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration always feels so... clean. She's practiced beyond technique. It's instinctual now."

Kate leaned back on the carpeted floor, staring up at the dim lighting strips embedded in the ceiling. "You really think we'll ever get to that point?"

He paused. "If we live long enough to survive another Defense class with Professor Madley, maybe."

The ship gently tilted, shifting the view. Outside, a massive kelp forest waved its arms like underwater willows. Something large—maybe a whale or a sea dragon—moved in the distance, cloaked in shadow.

"Did you read that manual left on the dining table?" Kate asked, suddenly remembering. "About how Poseidon uses magical sonar combined with detection charms to avoid bumping into magical sea creatures?"

Alexander chuckled. "I skimmed it. The best part? It has emergency broom closets. Like, in case we need to 'exit swiftly into the open sea.' As if brooms are a better option underwater."

They were interrupted by the soft chime of the intercom. A dulcet female voice echoed through the corridors.

"Attention passengers: We are approaching a shallow depth zone. Visual conditions improving. Please prepare for observation deck transition in fifteen minutes."

Kate leapt to her feet. "We're getting to the good part! You know what that means."

Alexander blinked. "More sightseeing?"

"No—more spells!"

She pulled out her wand again and summoned the parchment bird, which obediently flew into the air this time. With a quick flick, she tried to make it loop in circles. It wobbled, tilted, then zoomed straight toward Alexander's head.

"Oi!" He ducked, laughing. "Maybe stick to friendly charms before you poke my eye out!"

"I'm practicing for our next mock duel!" she said, adjusting her stance. "Transfiguration combos. Just like you showed me with Avis and Oppugno."

"You remembered?" he asked, genuinely impressed.

Kate smirked. "Of course. Who else teaches with breakfast metaphors and zombie escape plans?"

Outside, the dark ocean began to glow faintly with sunlight filtering in from above. Strange silhouettes of underwater structures slowly came into view—stone pathways, ancient ruins, maybe even sunken temples.

Alexander felt something stir within him. Excitement. Curiosity. A spark of awe that no book or class could replicate.

"This," he said quietly, placing a hand on the glass, "this is what magic is meant for."

Kate followed his gaze and nodded. "To explore what's been forgotten."

They stood in silence as Poseidon glided toward the relics of a lost city—one that promised more than just stone and shadow.

It promised stories.

And stories always led to magic.

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