Votes are in -
Arcane 20/Divine 16/Primal 7.
Also, I see you people not liking that 350 agility - which is the maximum she could normally get without perks and risking death as an adult (which she isn't so she's risking death right now having it) means a 6 minute mile.
I know that's not very good. She simply does not have a good build for running. Her legs are pretty short, she's got a pretty large bust and, generally, she's not built for running, naturally. She can deal with some of these issues with magic - like controlling her Bust Size and otherwise improving the situation her body is using to calculate running speed.
You'll notice most professional runners are not short, curvy and large breasted. In fact, I struggle to find mention of more than a couple in forums of professional trainers who have been doing the job for 10+ years.
The fact of the matter is, her biological data simply puts her in a way that does not give her a predisposition to running at a good pace. This is, of course, her running, not sprinting speed. I calculated it like she was running a Marathon. Because that's how far she can run, now, before tiring.
So she's in the top 1% of the 1% in her time, when she gets the perk - before anything else happens. Like, go look up marathon paces in 1990. Sub-6 minute miles for female runners would put her in the world-class.
However, this isn't really how fast she can run at maximum. She has magic, and as we know, she can alter these variables! Because magic can change them! The perk isn't calculating based on that.
It's calculating her running speed from base-numbers. Some of these include height (Five-foot three inches, (63 Inches / 160 cm) with a leg length of 23/25 inches. Which is below average for that height. Again, this is an approximation I calculated by doing research with what data there is for these things.
Don't worry, though. She's not locked into a below 6-minute-mile forever. She'll only get faster as she gets more perks and agility. She is faster in other things, but running speed is more easily visualized than, say, wand draw-speed or other things which she will do more than running around.
TLDR: We don't get to pick our bodies, If hers is more disposed to fine motor control and lifting than running, I can't really change that. She is how she is, and that's how it has to be.
On a side note, apparently a Mary Sue is a girl character who is better than male characters in the same fiction. Interesting definition. I thought that female main characters being more powerful than the males around them should go over the same as males who are protagonists being more powerful than females. Ah well. Guess I learned. (Sarcasm is dripping if you couldn't tell. :) )
On with the show -
So - I have one hour, and counting! Until I die.
De-lightful.
Rituals could fix this - I assume this type of thing has happened has a ritual which, in rough terms, describes what to do if your ability exceeds your mortal shell. Which is basically what is happening to me right now.
My mortal shell has exceeded its ability to function and is breaking - because Heroine (the perk) had dumped almost 100 Points into every stat. Joyous day!
I don't want to do the ritual, though. It's horrifically sub-optimal. Rituals are worth more - like perks - the later you can stall taking them. If I can come up with any other way to get more time before the ritual… that'd be best.
Not to mention, the influx of muscle from my newest perk has rendered both of my arms functionally useless. Carving a ritual circle in my chosen place would be hard, as a result.
The muscles have broken - maybe crushed? The bone, and I think ruptured themselves. I can't exactly do the spells to see, without my wand, but I can feel a squishy mass and sharp stabbing in my arm, which I think is bone poking my mushed muscles.
Either way, arm? Not functional, so ritual? Not a damn chance. Not without cashing in on the favor, and, again, not optimal. I get the favor once - and if I can stall that out, then I get more from it.
So, that leaves me with 8 perk points to fix this issue.
Perks first, then.
Elementalism (i)
Parsel-Magic (i)
Wandless Magic (i)
Necromancy (i)
Innovation (i)
Technomage (i)
Hard Measures (i)
Legendary Healer (i)
Manipulation (i)
Modern Day Alexander (i)
Dark Lady (i)
Light Lady (i)
Grey Lady (i)
Bridge (i)
Social Equal (i)
Golden Soul (i)
Master of Teleportation (i)
Braveheart (i)
Cunning Linguist (i)
Child of Truth (i)
Clean Blooded (i)
Martial Artist (i)
Setup Wizard (i)
Quidditch Star (i)
Creator of Foci (i)
Mistress of Potions (i)
Mistress of the Cursed Flame (i)
Nullification of Magic (i)
Dubious Reputation (i)
Accepted (i)
Queen of Plants and Fungi (i)
Flight Mastery (I) (i)
Self Transfigurer (i)
Those Above (i)
Conservation (i)
Special Qualities (i)
Don't Worry (i)
Seeker (i)
Baker (i)
Gossip-Hound (i)
Fashionable (i)
Natures Bounty (i)
Plots Within…. (i)
Among Giants (i)
Hallowed Protection (i)
Pranking Queen (i)
Master of (X) (i)
Teachers Charisma (i)
Teaching Skill (i)
Warborn (i)
Priestess (i)
…
Skimming the list - nothing stands out, not at first.
Then I re-read a few of the higher-cost ones, instantly ignoring everything which costs less than 3 points.
I hardly register the panicked Sarah I leave behind as I appear, then move myself over and over, ignoring the immense pain I'm in.
I am, of course, using Shadow-Jumping to pull myself - in a few more than needed - jumps. To be safe. All the way down to the Chamber of Secrets. Some higher cost perks can cause a light show, I'm pretty sure, since a few mention physical alterations to my body.
I also see myself over to the ritual area, just in case. If I can't find anything… best to be ready.
I pause as I hit the very bottom, and see Druid, Archmage and Divine Child.
They can alter your DNA. That means they can alter your stat-caps theory. It's not a stated benefit, but it's a derivative one I can reach, for I remember that each race in character selection had different stat-caps.
It just works that way. Your genetic makeup determines how high your numbers can go.
So, worth a shot -surely much more than just going right to a ritual. Which might fail.
Which is why that will be my ultimate last resort.
So, which should I pick? Hm…
Quickly, re-reading them, I come to the conclusion that the only option which seems to make much sense for me in my current state is Archmage - the Arcane path - where in my previous life, perhaps following a more Druidic - Primal - magically based system might make sense. Divine could be a good option… right now I don't have the basis to feel comfortable with those options.
They're not really good choices for me. I just inherently don't have what I'd need to use them properly - no matter how useful they could be in the future. I have all the tools of the Arcane, though...
So I take Archmage, and am greeted with a popup, instantly.
As a follower of the Arcane Path, you are given the power of the original Arcane Masters - the Devils. As a result, choose a Sin. This sin will shape the types of powers you may get.
Lust -
Social Ability, Stealth, Luck Bonus Envy -
Mimicry, Bonuses based on desires, Intelligence Bonus
Pride -
Greater power, higher limits, Wisdom Bonus
Greed -
Ability to Steal Powers, Dexterity Bonus
Wrath -
Combat Power Bonus, Increased Mana Regen in Combat, Agility Bonus
Sloth -
Out of Combat Power Bonus, Increase Luxury Effectiveness, Constitution Bonus
Gluttony -
Immunity to Poison, Increased Size, Strength Bonus
Sin is considered to be bad at least, that's the connotation. But this makes it out to be good - the benefits you reap from the Sin.
The only real answers are Wrath, Lust and Pride, but I dismiss Pride, due to the fact that I don't like what Prideful things I already embody, and I don't see myself as Envyous, Greedy, Slothful or Gluttonous.
I do lust for knowledge, however, and I am - in the right situations - rather wrathful.
Really, I don't feel like there's much of a question for which I'll use better, though.
Lust selected!
Race Changed to -
Human (Magus (Lustborne))
+30 to all social skills,
+30 to Stealth
+100 to all Stat Caps
+30 to Luck
+200 Arcane Affinity
+20 Magical Control (210/100)(i)
Perk - Mana Factory
Title - Devil Touched
Perk Unlocked -
Archmagus (II) (i)
Seeing I'm not about to die - I pause to read the small notifications - first about Magical Control.
Due to your Magical Control being double what most mortals could hope to attain, you have unlocked the Hidden Skill - Internal Control (Level 1) (i)
Internal Control, I skim, to find it basically allows me to partition my mana to make it more manageable. So I could partition certain parts of my mana for certain tasks. Say, 25,000 for bodily reinforcement, 100,000 for spells, and so on.
Effectively I can set limiters to appear weaker than I am, or so I can try to intentionally work with smaller pools of mana - I'm sure there's a greater use to that, but I can't see it.
So I move on, to the new Perk.
Archmagus (II) (4 Perk Points)
Further immersing yourself in the Source of Arcane Magic, you connect more deeply with Devilkind. This means you gain greater connection and control over the energy, however you also begin to take on physical aspects associated with Devilkind - specifically Succubi - as you selected the Sin of Lust. This means you would gain the following benefits -
+100 to all Stat Caps.
+20 Arcane Magical Control
+300 Arcane Affinity
+Affinity - Fire (or) Ice Magic.
Physical Augmentation - Colour change (Minor, Hair)
+30 Luck
Resilient - Stage 2.
Race Change - Human (Lustkin)
Seeing how my Constitution was breaking my new stat-cap already, I didn't feel like I had much of a choice, though I made sure to look into the 'minor hair colour' change first.
In short, my hair very slightly shifts to look more reddish in the direct sunlight, not something super notable, and almost completely a write-off as far as changes go, except for people who are really close to me.
I suppose I'll give the excuse of some hair-potion I was trying having an odd - seemingly permanent - effect on my hair. Never mind the effect seems to be stretching to my eyebrows, and likely other areas.
Magic can be odd, like that.
I take the perk, and the last of my perk points drain away. I select Ice Magic Affinity, and skim Resilient Stage 2.
You are now immune to the effects of humidity, and can withstand heat or cold all the way from -20 Degrees Celsius and all the way up to +60 degrees Celsius.
Further, when exposed to direct heat of extreme amounts - such as boiling water, open flame or similar - you take twice as long to burn. A splash of scalding water may hurt, but will not leave a mark. Any longer than a moment or two of such water will result in burns, however.
Lastly, you can also survive without food or water for three days with no real issues, and up to seven total before you perish - your body is utterly superhuman - and it's quite handy, when you need it.
So it is, I wind up with my black - floor length - hair, having a slightly red tinge, and my general connection to magic - and the world around me - magnified by over double. To try to put it to words - it's almost like before I generally understood there was magic in Hogwarts, and around it. The wards were around, the castle was heavily enchanted, and so forth.
Now? That same magic basically declared itself to me. The castle was very enchanted. It had obviously been done by many people. I could tell, for instance as I flopped my still pretty boneless crushed body into the hospital wing, on a bed with shadow-magic teleportations and shadows I had memorized, that the Hospital Wing had originally been an armory, and was heavily enchanted with defensive magics. These were later altered to be both internal and external so as to better serve as a hospital, and to prevent magical backlash from within from escaping and harming others. All very neat, honestly.
This was just passive knowledge I was getting from my ability to detect magic, which was unchanged, and my fundamental connection to the magic in question - in this case - Arcane magic.
Magic which came, according to the game, from Devils.
Merlin's father being an Incubus didn't seem too far fetched, now. Though perhaps he just followed the path I am, and spread the rumor to explain some of the things which became of him as he progressed and became more and more devilish in looks. I doubt Archmagus (III) - which I have unlocked and can read - will be anything short of a moderate change in how I appear.
Like, I'll probably sprout a tail, or maybe my skin tone will change slightly, or something else to make me look more devilish.
How to explain this, when it happens, other than rituals gone wrong… hmmm.
Curses, perhaps? The blessings of my god? That last one is indirectly true, even. I could - and should - use that. It's a valid answer. I wouldn't be allowed to have this happen without the divinely given blessing which was the system and interface I grab the perks with.
If I don't need to buy them before the next big war kicks off, then I'll explain it as a curse or something like that. If I do, then I'll use the blessings of my god thing - progressing my body to be more able to handle and conduct his desires in the mortal realm.
It helps that it's not unheard of. Sometimes - though it is rare - gods send or make Champions. They empower the greatest mortals they can find and send them - fighting - back into the mess which is this realm. Usually to accomplish some task, eliminate some sect of an enemy god's followers, or similar. Right now, I think Oghma has a few enemies in the Egyptian, Korean and a singular Japanese enemy, while the Chinese gods are mostly neutral bordering on Hostile.
All valid targets for me to be championing against.
I really hope if I get some major change, it's not making my skin bright red, or growing horns, or something else I can't hide. A veela allure is something like that. Something a Lust Devil probably would have, but not something I could gain and be able to explain away in any way.
So, it'd be a drawback.
I don't want to buy any drawbacks.
I sigh, and allow myself to slip into a dreamless sleep as Madame Pomfrey opens the curtain to my bed to see my bloodied form on the bed - and lets out a shriek.
I'll be fine. I'm sure.
.*****.
"...en in her back! That's not normal." I hear Pomfrey muttering angrily - certainly to someone else. If I'm right…
"It'll be fine, Poppy." Dumbledore replies calmly. "Her magic overcharged her body and wound up causing injuries, but it seems she figured out how to compress and manage the overabundance properly. She should have no issues from here on if she's properly careful. Send her up to me when she wakes and is healthy enough to see herself out. I'll share some techniques with her for better control, so this doesn't happen again." He tells her. It sounds like he's asking her to do something - but I'm sure we all recognize it as an order.
I quietly begin assigning my points to level my stats to the nearest whole multiple of 50 as I listen.
"Of course, Albus." She agrees readily. "Do you think any others might have issues like this? I can't say I've seen - or heard - of this happening before." She asks him pleasantly.
"Hmm. The only other person with any chance of it happening is Harry - but I'm working with him to mitigate it before it can happen." He replies genially. "But, if there is nothing else, I'll need to write the excuse for her from her classes, along with the other reports."
"Of course! Good luck, Albus."
"Thank you, Poppy."
With that, I listen to him shuffle out of the room, and I hear Pomfrey going about the wing, grabbing a few potions vials it sounds like. I wait a few minutes before shuffling a little bit. "Ugh, what hit me?" I mutter, knowing it will catch her attention.
"It would seem your body's mana, along with your extremely developed musculature, resulted in too much pressure on your bones, so you have a number of breaks and fractures all throughout your body. Thankfully, you've managed to get your magic under control before it did too much , I'm going to need to hold you for a few days while I fix your bones and treat the internal injuries." She replies swiftly, walking over to my bed with a large tray of potions. I recognize Skele-Gro, blood replenishing and a few potions designed to help regenerate lost or destroyed muscle. "So, I suppose it's time you opened up!" She chirps all too cheerfully.
I oblige, and quickly find three potions are forced upon me, and I gratefully drink all three.
"I am curious as to how your body developed so much - not to mention your magic - over this last year." She continues once I finish the potions.
"I mastered magical control, and after that I found it was pretty easy to increase my power by doing increasingly complex magical things with more and more of my mana. In the end, I got to the point where I just had way more mana than I knew what to do with. As a result, the overabundance started reinforcing my body. Over time this compounded more and more, until last night. I don't really recall what happened, exactly. I know it hurt a lot, though." I explain to her. which is a lie, sure, but I don't think she'll buy the reality.
"Hmm" she sniffs, looking a bit contemptuous of the idea it could be so easy to build mana. "I suppose it's not something I can comment on. Just be careful and, when you're out of here, the headmaster has asked to speak with you, so further issues like this can be avoided." She instructs cooly. I nod agreeably, not trying to fight her in any real way.
Still - some rebellion will probably sell it.
"Why do I have to see him? Not that I mind, per say, but can't I do it down the road? I've figured it out, haven't I? I'm not dying anymore and my magic is working better than ever!" I retort in a believable- but ultimately fake way. Spending time around Dumbledore is time well spent, if only to see if he has any updates or ideas I don't have in relation to Voldemort and his Horcruxes.
"Because he said he must speak with you as soon as you are dismissible. That could be tomorrow, even though it is unlikely you will be fit to return to class for another two or three days." She explains airily. I roll my eyes.
"It's my OWL year. Am I supposed to just miss those lessons? My house relies on me, and my friends, for a lot of the Points in our classes. I don't want to contribute to the reason we're losing to Gryffindor." I reply. Pomfrey's eyes soften while her jaw stiffens in stark contrast.
"How many points do you earn on an average day, total?" She asks. I lean back and look at the ceiling.
Probably around fifteen or so. Three to five per class, depending on if it were a bunch of singles for information or theory days, or a pile of points for practicals - which I'd get in one lump.
Still, with my extra stuff I've been doing, I've gone up to around 20 Points per day on average.
The average losses of my house were due to people answering out of turn, or otherwise ignoring lessons due to already knowing the material - or so they claimed - to be proven wrong by the teacher asking about some advanced trick they'd taught that class, to help with the idea. In all, of my twenty or so points, we'd likely keep six of them by the end of the day. Ten if you add Sarah, eighteen total for our year between the rest of the Ravenclaw house.
First years and Sixth years lose piles of points. I don't really know how.
Probably slacking, honestly.
"Twenty, up to twenty-three if it's a good day." I tell her, and I sense her shock - briefly - before it melts into understanding. Acceptance.
"I expect you to be here for three days, so I'll award you Sixty Three points." She replies. My mouth goes dry, and she gives me a glare. "With that, I expect nothing short of your best behavior. You know why this is important. Or did you forget what you learned helping me last year?" She sticks it in, and I sigh dramatically.
"Alright, you win. But I'm invoking my right to sleep now. I'll see you in the morning, Madame." I tell her. She sniffs - she's told me to call her Poppy while we worked before.
"Good night, dear. Hope you'll be ready for a full day of potions when you wake up." She calls, then closes the curtains behind her with a negligent flick of her wand.
Of course - if I can't go to class, I may as well help her make potions. No doubt I'll be making some of my own...
.*****.
It's when I wake up in the past - body functional enough to where I can move about - that I know the healing of Haelga and Salazar is well beyond Pomferys ability. Salazar is standing over me, an empty vial - and look of satisfaction at my waking - both present.
"Good to see you awake. I take it you emancipation kick-started your magic, and forced your family god's blessings to come in, which resulted in your sudden collapse? Either way, I can't help but feel that since you didn't die, and have clearly outstripped every other competitor in raw power - by all measurements. The threading of your magical core has gone impossibly tight as well, showing how immense your control is. At first I couldn't tell, but looking closer shows a masterfully tight and thin winding on your magical core. Delightful, really." He rattles, seemingly drawing pleasure from my increasingly shocked face, then he shakes the smile from his face and tilts his head. "All that aside, I am to tell you the first task is a hunt, which will take place in one week from now. These tasks will continue until you have completed seven, or you are the only champion able to continue to the next task. They will be spaced exactly one month apart from each other, and will get increasingly difficult, though in different ways." He tells me, before shrugging and deciding that's enough information for me, and then, I go to speak.
"I suppose there's no hint on what we're hunting?" I ask. He grins, then shakes his head.
"No. Because it's up to you to find and kill the strongest monster you can in the forest. The greatest thing in the forest is a Manticore, last I checked. There are a few Lycans, though. Other than that, we've brought in some game - all less dangerous than those two, but still feral and dangerous. Whoever has the single largest point kill will get the point for the task. So if seven trails pass, we have a tie-breaker." He elaborates.
A Manticore? Really? They thought a schoolkid could bring down a Manticore? How did one end up here? The Normans - who could bring one - aren't due to begin conquest here for another couple dozen years. The Roman Conquest is the only other answer, but that's 600 years past at this point. Has the beast been sitting, waiting, for however many years? Or a descendant of some original beat, perhaps. Brought here to see chaos and kill defenders of the land?
Whichever it was, doubtlessly every champion ought to aim for the Manticore if they can. Thankfully they're not super magically resistant like Dragons, only moderately, really. They do have a poisonous projectile which can be very deadly. I'll need to find a way to counter that if I can.
"Do we have any way to cure someone getting hit with the spikes of a Manticore?" I ask. Salazar slowly nods, once.
"Assuming you don't die and aren't evil - or practice dark magic for fun - the Phoenix who nests hereabout has been known to help cure such things historically. It cured a few cases of poisoned food we've been sent, which would have killed the eaters. It even cured a rather nasty curse, once. Rather helpful, it is. But maybe not if you go looking for it's blessing. Only - truly only - if you accidentally get the wound or similar. If you are slaying something which isnt threatening you, then it's likely to ignore your plight. So make sure you don't attack first - or you'll lose due to disqualification. I can cure the venom otherwise, it just takes a few weeks. I don't think anyone will be foolish enough to go after it. I suppose I should have known all of you would be, though." He finishes as I give him a look, which may as well have been me telling him such a hope was - of course - foolish.
"My only other question, really, is if you have any ideas for how I can kill it other than an ambush. Ways which won't destroy the whole forest or school - preferably." I tell him, cutting off his chance for a sarcastic remark about how my hellfire combination ought to do the trick. He smiles slyly.
"Manticores are smart. As smart as a man, probably. You'd need to be able to dodge well, and hit it hard. Do you know the Effrego Confige spell?" He asks, and I shake my head. The Latin means breaking piercer. Probably magic breaking. Or magical defense. I'm quickly proven right, as he explains the spell. "You have to jab your wand, and words or not, desire to break the creature you're sending a piercing hex at." He conjures a piece of paper, and then ink fills it, and he hands it to me. It's an arithmetic sequence, a very complex one, describing the effect and how it works. Next to the components of the very simple piercer, it looks insane.
But it has components from the magic dispelling, the sieging and many other powerful bits of magic. I flip it over, and see a spell diagram on the back - a spell circle and its runes of power - the rune-written version, presented. This must be in case I want to make it a trap? Not a bad idea, I suppose. I memorize both side of the paper - or at least commit them to memory so I can review this later with Occlumency, then I destroy the paper with a snap, and a wandless flame-charm, which sees the paper go up in a very brief flash.
"That's a useful spell, doubly for attacking magical beasts, like Dragons or Basilisks who you don't need to worry about damaging too much, due to immense size." I comment offhand, and get a nod of general agreement before I continue. "Do you think I'm good to walk to my room, or the great hall? I have some things I'd like to work on - that spell included - so I don't get rusty." I say more than ask, though I don't really mean to. "...and so I can try out some new ideas I didn't think were possible before." I quickly add, tacking on a muttered "Things have changed, though... "
"Of course. I'm confident my concoctions and Haelga's spells have healed you fully, though if we hadn't had to heal Godric from a similar happening when we found him dying at the end of a test from his master, well… it would have been a few more days. The potion and charm are rather draining to make, but we keep some in store in case a general full-body fix is needed, along with the charm. Sadly I don't see it being able to be passed down, really. Haelga is the only one who can cast the spell due to her… unique… situation and only a Parseltongue can brew the potion - all but useless without the charm, that." He mutters ruefully as he finishes his statement, correctly anticipating my desire to learn these things - and crushing them.
"Hmph. I'll see myself off, then. Unless you have any other ideas for how to kill magical monsters, other than a highly modified piercing hex?" I ask, and he unhelpfully shrugs.
"Sorry, more of Godric's thing. Hunting great beasts. It's my job to prepare enchantments and walls to stop them. I don't fight them straight up." He explains, and I slow-blink at him in disbelief. I one hundred percent follow the first bit. The other bit, though… I'd thought that'd been Ravenclaw?
"No, though that does seem to be the general thought, for some reason. She is very good at enchanting items, but not so much is Rowena very good at enchanting places. I am much better at that branch of magic." Salazar replies to my… thoughts? Did I say that out loud? Oops.
"Ah, well, I suppose I'll be seeing you. Thanks for the rundown on the Task, you said in a week? That's a week before all-hallows eve? I ask in confirmation, getting a nod. I smile slightly as I leave.
I have a spell, and some magical tests to run.
.*****.
It's the next day - in present day - that I am slowly walking off to get to Dumbeldore's office. While I suppose j could just appear, I cannot tell if anyone other than Dumbledore is in his office. Cockroach Clusters is the password to his office, I am told. I turn the corners and am, in a few minutes time, to the end of the corridor, and near his office. I call the password ahead, and waddle up the stairs.
Dumbeldore's office is empty, aside from him, and his trinkets. Not even his phoenix is residing with him, presently. I carefully seat myself, going slow for my still healing body, and Dumbledore gives me a queer look.
"You could have come later in the day, Aubrey." He tells me, and I nod. Then I lean into the chair fully letting it carry my weight.
"I could, yes. This is my punishment for not remembering the warning, mortal limits are not to be breached. Only a vague memory from awhile ago told me - indirectly - what to do so not to die, or be forced to do some ritual to alter myself." I explained calmly. "Of course, my hair being changed is a side effect. I suppose I'll blame it on potions, and hope nothing else comes of it." I tell him flatly, then slowly I begin unraveling a braid to show off my very dark red hair under the direct light. It still looks black when sitting on my head, but at the tips or area's I separate out, it appears that dark red. He nods, after taking it in.
"For me, it was similar. My hair became a darker shade of brown, and my eyes eventually lightened and, I'm told, spark with energy when I'm intensely emotional, or sparkle if I've not done much with my magic recently. I know, however, the greatest change was to my personality. Subtle things. I'm sure if you analyze me, you can see the cost?" He asks, and I nod.
"Pride. You're very prideful." I tell him bluntly. It's rather obvious, frankly. He's proud of himself and his accomplishments, his friends and so forth. Not vocally, outwardly, but he is very proud. You can see it in the nick nacks. All of his mementos of victory. I smile. "Mine is surely lust, though more for knowledge than physical pleasure. But that's just an enchantment on my already extant flaws. They're just harder to resist, now." I explain, and he nods in agreement.
"They're always like that. Go too far - get too much to allow yourself growth into the impossible, and you'll lose touch with your humanity. Only ever have I - and Shen Wei-Ming have been able to resist anything past where you are, and Shen… he's very ordered, but not what I would call a good man. Both of us have had to fight our fair share of startup dark lords and ladies who fall before they express a physical difference. Grindelwald, went the furthest. One eye, pale blue and one brown, where they'd both been brown before… I'm not sure any mortal man or woman can handle that. It is, simply, not in their mental capability to hold that power and remain unaffected. The insanity is, however, very normally their downfall." He tells me - probably as part warning, but part hope.
Perhaps he has a hope I can prove him wrong.
"I think Merlin went all the way. As did Morgana. They were rumored to be half-devil, or Fey respectively. Of course, Morgana did go mad, eventually." I say, closing the point with a hint that I, certainly, think it's possible to control. "You just need a healthy, stable outlet for your vice. Books, growing knowledge and hunting it will suffice for me. You collect trophies. Neither are harmful to the world around us, as long as we don't give in and take or collect that which is not ours to lay claim to." I explain further, and he nods agreeably.
"I suppose we're not too far on this matter, which is good." He closes with a thin smile which somehow feels more genuine than any other he's ever given me. "But you mentioned rituals, as though you intend to do them. I would like to check them over, first. Perhaps I can help improve them. This is not to insult your research - and whatever base you're taking from, but I surely have resources you do not, and can probably update them. If only a little. Or provide materials?" He asks helpfully. I shrug. He - and at least Rickie, Gaelin, Flitwick, Snape and Moody could detect if I did rituals. More people could probably feel them too. Letting Dumbledore know what they are ahead of time will reduce friction.
"I'll get you the notes before summer. I'll need to do them on the eve of my seventeenth birthday, and I plan to take a lot of the sixth and seventh year only courses. So if the rumors of Time Turners for such situations are true, then I'll need to figure out the date. Estimates are between March and June right now, with one. Without one, it would be July twenty-fifth, starting at noon." I tell him, and he nods. Then taps his head. "At most, you're allowed a thirty-six hour day, at Hogwarts. This is, twelve hours of class, twelve hours of study and twelve hours of leisure and sleep." He explains, and I nod along, following. "So your birthday will be moved to May the fifteenth, I believe. Perhaps May the fourteenth, depending on the hour and minute you were born." He concludes, then squints. "In preparation, I recommend doing every Solstice, Equinox and spiritually important days rituals, to call favor with the spirits. Halloween, Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, then again until your rituals. Any other important days your family observes. That's merely the list my family recommends. Birthdays are important, too. Make sure everything knows you're getting ready. Make sacrifices relating to the rituals, and really show off for the spirits of the world - and of magic - that you're looking for no trouble." He concludes, and I nod, seeing how this could be important. Having the spirits of this world and the next aware of - and helping your rituals - could aid the ritual to make it go smoothly.
I'd not been sure if that meant following the old ways or kicking some other tree, which could be any number of things, from the destructive rites of the ancient Scandinavian people to the creation rites of the Greeks. Apparently it's whatever my family's old rites are. Which makes some sense, but also none whatsoever. Following a template for a set of personal things seems off, somehow…
"I'm following, I suppose. Seems a bit off, but I'll not complain. If the answer is simple, it keeps me from needing to do work." I grumble gruffly, getting a nod of understanding.
"There was one other thing I'd like to discuss with you." He mumbles lightly. "If you could handle interior castle security - watch it while I'm handling the tasks of the Triwizard, and make sure no one sneaks in or does anything against the rules while I'm out? Keep things safe for a couple of hours. Just to be sure. It seems that things are warming up, and we must be ready for any eventuality." He grumbles. I nod agreeably.
"Yes, I suppose I can do that. Keep in mind I'm a bit more vicious, so if there is an intruder, they're not likely to be woken up by an enervate. If they try to fight me, they'll be unlikely to wake up at all." I give him a firm warning. He nods, though he does look a bit sad.
"I wish I could convince you to be less violent?" He asks, and I shake my head.
"You're nice, and you're a good man. But in my experience with war and such, good cannot afford to be nice. Not when evil certainly won't be." I explain, and I get a short nod of dismissal.
I leave quietly.
.*****.
The next week passes quietly for me, in a whirl of practice. Not practice like normal, though. It was all practice in clearing out Dungeons which are getting progressively higher in level - and danger. In both past and present, I have cleared every dungeon - save the ones with Dragons or Manticore's or other mythical beasts which could probably pose a very good threat to killing me. Unless I used Shadow magic or similar to overcome the basic wizard weakness of not being very fast. Because compared to an arrow, or other projectiles in close range, I - as most mortals are - happen to be rather slow.
I can dodge them to a point, but a volley of Manticore tail spikes and dragonfire aren't going to be as easy to dodge. They cover areas, and I think getting around a wall of death like, poisonous tail spikes that can pierce thick-layered platemail, and cover a good ten-foot area on the average toss, well.
Dodging doesn't work.
Most shielding charms don't work either, and the ones that do will prevent retaliation, which allows the beasts to close ranks.
So shadow magic is a convenient way to ignore the weakness. You could also dump water down a dragon's maw as it went to breathe a gout of fire and explode it, or you could probably deal with the monsters with other magical gifts or spells, but for me, Shadow Magic - the inborn ability to hop around shadows and make things of shadows and use my shadow to attack is how I plan to hunt Magical Monsters. Only if I run out of options, or have no one observing me.
Because if people know about it, they can counter it. And I prefer to have this ace up my sleeve.
However, as I go to sleep in the modern day, and wake up in the past, I know it's time for my first task.
A monster hunt. Really, it's something akin to a book. A bunch of heroes are being sent to kill the monsters of a forest, to protect the castle and village.
I imagine I'll write a novel based on what I do here, change the names and such, and sell it. There could be money here, and it'd be a good way to attach my name to more than dueling. Make me a more well rounded head of house when I have time to take over officially - which could be whenever now that I'm emancipated and an adult.
I'm not sure how Oghma chooses that exactly.
So I allow my thoughts to wander - over Sarah's extra cuddliness and our friends' light mocking of late - Cedric being at the front of that, reminding us how many Wizards seem upset that we turned out to be not-quite-straight. I suppress a giggle.
I suppose their extremely set beliefs from centuries of stagnation, and ignoring the advancement of magic in other countries would cause some issues with me not being straight like an arrow.
I can tell, though, that the advancing cutting edge of magic isn't something most people are ready to accept. Who would like it if you could stun someone and change everything about them with magic, and make it look like, physically, that's how they'd always been?
There's plenty of charms and potions these days to alter - forever - hair, eye, and even skin color. The latter are mostly used to appear tanner than you are, or similar. There's a few things, though, which can alter your exact height, by altering a number of things, which are used in cases of severe damage from curses. They'd been developed by the Swiss in response to a civil war which consumed most of North Africa in the end, and the number of cursed people who skele-gro couldn't fix. They'd destroy the cursed bones and such, then regrow all the rest and then use this spell to level the bodies out, redistributing the healthy bone matter throughout the body.
The creator of the charm and potion set which allowed this to happen non-fatally, and had been upgraded for people who just wanted to be shorter than they were, is Billius Raxorne. So, basically, if you're good enough at magic, and have a potion on hand, you can change people's eye, hair, skin color and height.
I understand the theory - and have the 'impossible control' to allow the finer control of the bones needed to make tweaks, like thicker or thinner facial bones, or similar, too.
So your own family may not even recognize you. Of course, this knowledge is probably enough to cause riots - and see the magic outright banned. As it is, the ICW has heavily restricted it, so you can only learn the theory unless you're in the ward which deals with specific bone curses in their disaster relief subgroup.
The theory, it turns out, is enough for someone who understands magical theory enough to recreate it - and even design counters to it.
I can think of a few.
The issue is, of course, that this is the example for 'the world isn't ready for the cutting edge'. It's just too obstinate and resistant to change. Such as the outdated view that girls should not marry girls - or date them.
I wonder how very upset they would be if they knew my family charter specifically called for it, given the fact we've figured out how to force an artificial pregnancy to continue the line between two people?
They'd probably hate it - and the knowledge we'd had to use it, twice in our history. We never released who 'fathered' those pregnancies, but they were - by old families - regarded as miracles and greatly horrid things. For, the only people who would not claim the child - and the head of house from the woman in charge - would have to be a Muggleborn.
Very dumb, that.
I cast the thoughts aside, as I stopped at the edge of the forest, glancing over to my competition. They all appear to be ready - as they can be.
"You all know the task. We will be casting an observation spell, then using Rowena's pensive to cast the hunts of all four of you to the hall, after dinner." Gryffindor calls, as Rowena casts a spell on each, and the other Headmasters and their staff confirm it is ONLY the Observation charm on each. No curses or boons have been given to them by Rowena, illegally.
"You will have fifteen minutes to prepare. Enough for a few spells, gathering any weapons you may need, or perhaps a short ritual." Salazar intones, then sighs. "Your time begins now." He finishes, and I smile, walking to the edge of the forest, I bend down, shoving my hand into the ground and drawing out a basic sword, then sighing.
I really need to get one of these custom made for me, out of Mythril if I can. Does Mythril exist here?
I glance at Godric, he might know… If anyone does, it's probably the one who's so obsessed with weapons. Legendarily obsessed. Carrying a sword everywhere… I can't imagine.
I walk over, new sword in hand, before sheathing it at a newly conjured sheathe at my belt.
"Godric." I start quietly not wanting to be overheard. "Is there such a thing as Mythril? Used in…"
"Shh!" He cuts me off quietly, shushing me. He does nod, though. "I'll tell you about it later. The bit anyone could figure out if they do the work is what you need. You need to be very good at alchemy to get any, and you need pure silver, and some VERY good steel, along with other things. Usually that's a diamond, infused with the power of the winds. Can be a sapphire, though." He rumbles helpfully. "I'll make a note to show you - how to create any of it later. After the task. I'll find you when it's time." He completes. I nod, and step back, using the rest of my fifteen minutes to quietly 'summon' potions from my inventory. A strengthening solution, a wit sharpening potion and a philter of perception. Each boost a number of stats and skills by quite a bit - and since it's magically artificial, temporary points- it doesn't count towards stat-caps.
How nice!
I drink all three with seconds to go, and as I feel the last taking hold, there's a bang, and we're off.
I'll go deal with the giant's latest, closest, incursion to Hogwarts. A small village - more like a couple caves for a few of them to spy on us - only two miles in, on a hill.
Stupid, violent beasts.
If humans are food, you're not going to last long with me around.
After I wrap that up, which takes no real amount of time, I turn and cast my senses out, searching for other nearby beasts, or if any of the others are around. It takes a few minutes of quiet searching from my hillside perch, but eventually I see some light coming from relatively nearby, and take off to see who is fighting what, and if I need to up my game a bit. Giants are good - but not quite Lycan levels of good.
What I see is not, in any way, inspiring. The champion of Cygne - Isabeau's - body is getting torn to shreds, right now, by a - or should I say the Manticore. It looks like she walked right up to it's den - a nearby cave - oblivious. Judging by the signs of struggle, she heard it and tried to take it down.
Obviously she failed, and is now a snack for the beast. I slink along the edge of the freshly made clearing. Judging by the scorching, it was made with a flame charm.
I slink slowly around, to it's right side, which has a number of light scratches, and then bend, putting my hand of the ground, and Observe it.
Maldrax the Ancient
Race - Manticore.
Level - 92
HP - 307,912 / 342,550
MP - N/A
STA - 501,022 / 523,236
XP on Kill -
10,000
I don't think I can one-shot this thing, but I do think I can cripple it.
I can't ambush it though - that does not mean I can't cast preparatory spells, though! I cast my earth-magic with my left hand, and pull the water from the creek I hear on the other side of the clearing with my wand, to create a visual distraction, and I step on a twig intentionally to get its attention.
At the movement and sound,, the Manticore favors the movement of flying water, whipping its head over, and gives a confused sounding grunt at the flying water. It clearly thinks that's a trap or something, since it bounds away from it - towards me - and lands in the spiked pit-trap my spell had created soundlessly between us, beneath a thin layer of dirt it's weight easily crumples.
I had made this pit almost the whole ground between us. In case it opted to attack. It falls down - only a few feet - and then I hear the satisfying crunching of a body - probably the feet - landing on very sharp spikes and the bones in those paws getting pierced by the spikes.
Manticores - powerful, but like Dragons, dumb, outside of a hunt.
The Manticore springs out of the pit, it's rear paws horribly slashed with a nice-sized hole in the middle of both rear paws, and wheels around. It is looking for me - whatever did this. As it wheels around I cast more and more spells, forcing it to jump around, or get impaled by ice-needles, earthen spikes or other such. Then, it locks in on me and victoriously - for that is the face it puts on - throws no less than twenty of it's poisoned needles at me. I wheel behind a tree, hearing them thump solidly, then I roll out and swing my sword up, where I assume it will be swinging for me.
Good news is - I guess right.
Bad news is - I chopped off its tail, which it was swinging, and wound up with no less than three poison barbs scratching me on the way down. And so, I'm on a timer. I need either a Phoenix or to kill this and get back in two minutes, or I'm dead. With its tail gone, it'll die soon.
A major artery is thereabouts.
I stomp the ground, and a large spike from behind forcing it towards me. It opens it's maw and extends it's paws at me, hoping to take me down with it, I guess. I point my wand at it, instead, and use the only spell I know can hurt this thing, the one Salazar told me about. I don't need an incantation, or a wand movement.
It's head is quickly sporting a hole about the size of my fist, and it is slumping over - a hair away from raking me with it's claws. I sigh in relief, having been half sunk into the shadow of the tree, about to flash away.
Grabbing and storing the beast in my inventory - which I figured out how to replicate with Magic, at this point (which resulted in just getting more space inside my Game's Inventory for it) and then slink toward the entrance of the forest.
I make it all of ten paces and I hear - to my stark disbelief - the song of a phoenix overhead. I look up, and see the bird - a pure red thing - above me. Singing.
The song fills me with joy - and I get the idea that I'm to sit down and wait for it. So I do so. It flies a few laps - clearly surveying the scene - then it lands on my knee. The Phoenix gives me a quizzical look, and I feel a pulse of magic rip through me from the bird, then it comes back the other way.
Some sort of detection?
Then, placing its beak to the rather deep scratches from the manticore, it weeps one large, fat tear. It sinks in, the wound closes, and I feel the burning in my veins subside. The Phoenix chirps happily, then hops off its perch on my knee, and starts to fly off.
I hit it with an Observe, skipping to its - no her - bio.
Alvi of the Forest.
…
Alvi is the guardian spirit of this tract of land, and has recently lain a clutch of eggs. This signals not only the end of her life, but the turning of an era for her domain.
One of her children will take up her job - and the others will all fill the positions of those phoenixes who have been lost to a Final Death before they could lay eggs - and continue their legacy.
She plans to tell her children of you and the other good Wizards and Witches of this land, so they might know your descendants are people to watch - and protect.
She hopes you do not fall to the dark side - though she does know that being nice does not always equal being a very good person, and the reverse. Still, seeing the brutality left over from your battle with the Manticore, she is concerned you might not stay Light.
She gave you her Blessing so as to counter the dark forces acting within you, to increase the chances where you will, in time, lead the next generation into a glorious golden age.
Well, I suppose I'm cured - judging by my copious notifications - I suppose I'll head back.
I'd been told the Manticore was the biggest prize, after all. A named monster, too.
Neat.
Though I'm trying not to think of the dead girl, half eaten, who lies behind me. If only I'd gone right for the Manticore..? I'll remember this, going forward.
I need to remove the big targets first, not do my old winding in to leave it boxed in - and have no independent variables to mess me up. Remove the biggest threat first, if I can do so. Then deal with lesser variables.
I'm not really all that great with doing area-controlling support. Doubly, in this situation. This just isn't a tactical insertion on a strategic point of interest.
This is a hunt. And I've already scored my twelve-point-buck. Shake it off. Can't fix the dead. Not in this life.
.*****.
"What do you mean, dead?" Lady Cateline of Cygne - their Headmistress - demands.
"Just that, she died fighting this'' - I gesture to the Manticore I'd pulled out - then levitated from my inventory the last few hundred yards to the place where the judges were. "Monster was nesting. I saw the fight from a nearby hill - the one the giants are on. You know the one, Godric. The forward settlement?" I ask, glancing to see him nod, then I turn back to Lady Cateline. "Yea, well, I knew there was a Manticore in the forest. Didn't think it'd be halfway between Giants and the school. I just wanted to scout and see if I needed to up my game. At least I was able to earn her vengeance. I didn't want to cast spells on her, though. I'll not be accused of killing her." I finish the explanation, fully. Much more than the first attempt. 'Isabeau's dead.' indeed. I'd uttered the declaration while the judges had been gaping at my Manticore kill.
"And how do we know you didn't take her kill after she died?" She asks.
"Look at the memory. When I showed up it was scratched up, but largely no worse for it. I'm glad the thing wasn't used to earth-elemental spells, or I'd be in trouble." I comment, and her eyes widen a bit.
I smile at her clearly distracted state by that bit of information. Not every day you run into an elementalist, I guess?
"Yes, I suppose we'll review the memory. I doubt anything stronger than a Manticore will be in there, unless there's some Dragon, or Nundu in those woods, though." Advir, Highmaster of Ursprungliga, agrees with me readily.
"We will, yes." Echoes Cateline, who turns to Godric and looks a bit upset. "But why were we not warned about the Manticore in the woods?" She demands of him.
He smiles wanly. "No one asked, and our own student didn't even know. Not until just this morning, when she asked, actually." He bites back coldly, then his grin turns a bit mischievous. "Though I didn't think it would come into play. Last I saw of it, the Manticore was nested in the mountains on the far side of the forest, and no one really needs to go that far for a good hunt. I wonder what forced it out?" He mutters quietly, glancing around at the other founders who seem similarly lost.
"Dragon, maybe." I respond, casually getting to work with casting the rendering charms I know to collect it's reagents. "They do tend to like mountains, and those ones are pretty full of game, as it goes." I remind them - parroting what I'd been told about the mountain ranges around Hogwarts. Basically - don't go there, because if you do there's likely some dangerous thing. That's why this valley hasn't been settled yet.
"Sounds likely. Maybe some Welsh runaway, or descendant of the Roman monsters, like the brute you killed. The other options are, admittedly, not pleasant." Salazar chimes in, watching me render the Manticore into a chest I pulled from a pocket (aka my inventory) with interest.
"Ah, well, I think I sense the other two coming back. Should be back in a few minutes, each." Godric chimes, and we all fall silent, and turn to wait.
Well, they do. I keep rendering the Manticore down. These things are beyond rare, and I want to make use of the parts of it while I can.
.*****.
In the end, I am the winner of the first task. The second task is a one-on-one Quidditch match, of all things. A very rudimentary version of it, rather. It would be like saying the game peasants played in the middle ages, kicking a large leather ball full of feathers around, like they do. That had been slowly spread from China - and had arrived maybe a hundred years ago. Now Wizards are picking it up - and turning into a different game - for Wizards.
Precursor Quidditch, like Cuju is to Football.
Basically, it's flying, one on one Football. Three dimensions, one ball and one hoop. It goes for one hour or until someone cannot continue. It is a no-contact sport, though slamming people into the ground with feints is common, from what I know of the history books.
That's where the Wronski Feint comes from, in fact. "The oldest trick in the book" - literally.
Seeing as the other two seem very confident on brooms, I resolved myself to not lose. If I can win this one, then I just need to win one more, and I basically can't lose. On the bright side, even if I do lose my match (which is vs the winner of the first match, the benefit of winning my first task) I'm still tied for first, I guess.
The third task is going to be Ice-Skating, apparently. I am surprised by the choice of task from the Ursprungliga Headmaster. The fourth, however, is a secret. Durmstrangs' Headmaster refuses to tell us, and insists it's better if we don't know.
Apparently the other judges do know and agree it's a good task, but can't say - part of the contract - but I can tell they want to.
Which to me screams someone is very likely to die, but hey! Why prepare people for tasks? We've only had one death in one task. What could go wrong?
Then we go to the Hogwarts Head's task, which is going to be a test of magical might and cunning.
Which is to say - who can survive the longest when the four founders are honestly hunting you the best they can.
Hide or fight - those are the options, and it's apparent we're not expected to win. I surely don't expect to beat them in a fight. So I know what my choice is.
After that another neutral task - if the whole thing isn't over yet - which is a simple 'who can get to the closest muggle city and back first without using any teleportation magics?'
I feel - for some reason - absurdly confident that this will be me. Considering my stats, and the ability to increase my speed with magic.
I'm pretty sure I can run faster, when fully enhanced with magic, than most brooms which exist in this time. Oh, and brooms - carpets and other magical transport aides are also banned from the hunt. Just in case anyone thought they were flying over the mountains.
You have to bring a specific thing - told to you on the day of the task - back. Each person will have a different one.
Basically it's all just a seeking test. Who can find and retrieve the point the fastest.
Pretty sure that's just me.
Knowing those tasks - find the thing, hide and seek, ice skating and the one I've won seem to be mine, almost one hundred percent of the time. So I should win by the 6th task, at the latest. If I'm suited for whatever Durmstrang has, then I'll win the task in 5 tasks. If I'm lucky and the person I play in neo-Quidditch sucks, then I'll win in FOUR tasks. Just 4-0-0-0. That'll ruffle some feathers.
Thoughts for later, though. For now? Reviewing all the stuff I got for winning the first task.
Perk - Blessing of Alvi
You have been blessed by a Phoenix. This happened when they cured you of a mortal ailment. Phoenixes all over will know this happened and regard you better in the future. Also, this boon has some other benefits -
Immunity to all poison,
Immunity to mundane illness
+50 Light Alignment
+3/10 for all Phoenixes
Title - Slayer of Maldrax
You slew Maldrax, the Manticore, who was one of the 10 Manticore's Rome brought with them to the Isles to help conquer. Maldrax is one of the three who escaped their control, and he set up his den in the mountains of Scotland.
Then you killed him.
Maldrax was a legendary monster, and people who know you killed him are VERY impressed by your might and skill.
50% chance to get free drinks when you tell the tale of how you killed Maldrax.
50% chance people who know come to you for monster slaying in the future.
+1/10 with all Monster Slayers / Monster Hunters, who can sense you know what it's like to be one of them.
Quest Update -
The Precursor
Objectives -
Enter the Precursor tournament to the Triwizard Tournament.
Complete the Final Task
Survive your year.
Bonus Objectives -
Win the Tournament
Slay Maldrax (Succeeded)
Save Isabeau (Failed)
Gain the Blessing of a Phoenix (Succeeded)
Hunt - and kill - the most dangerous thing possible. (Failed)
Win the First Task (Succeeded)
?
?
...
Reward -
11,900 xp
Title - "Champion"
Bonus Reward -
Perk - "Precursor"
+Poison Immunity (granted)
+ Perk "Savior of the Damned"(lost)
+Perk (Granted)
+Perk "Monster to Monsters" (lost)
+3,000xp
?
?
...
You have Leveled Up! (x2) (Level 81)
I pull up my status after reading those over to check the perks I have available.
Aubrey Hawthorne
Titles - Magical Titan, Queen of Ravens, Fatechanger
Level 81
Age - 15
Race - Human (Lustkin)
Sex - Female
Str - 300
Agi - 351
Dex - 351
Con - 358
Int - 400
Wis - 451
Luc - 355 (370)
HP: 89,595 (251,493)
MP: 152,204 (592,000)
STM: 213,158 (313,404)
Stat Points - 12
Perk Points - 2
As I skim down the list, I see a list of very tempting perks - little 1 Point cost Perks which would all but net me the win in this tournament.
Is it worth the return on investment..? The only thing I'm not hyper-confident in is my skill with Brooms, right now. In terms of the tournament.
The other option is to save up.
What for? Tier 3 Archmagus?
I don't think I need it, really… So I'll splurge. Let's have some fun! By that I mean 'pick up another hobby and make sure I'll enjoy the hell out of it'.
Which means flying. There are FIVE flying perks.
I take Seeker and Quidditch Star - which combined add up to two points.
Seeker
Your skill at catching things is downright unnatural, you could catch an inaccurately thrown cockroach in a teapot from across a large room. Your ability to accurately predict the path an object is going to take in the air is uncanny and your hand eye coordination is such that you can make catches others would think are impossible.
+30 to Flying
+30 to Hand-Eye Coordination
Quidditch Star
You fly with supreme grace, and quick reflexes, feeling relaxed in the air. As a result, you no longer unconsciously hold your speed back when on a broom. You can use them to their fullest. You will make your House Team easily, should you want to try out. In time and with practice you could become an internationally famous Quidditch player.
+30 to Flying
+30 to Quidditch
+100% learning speed to "Flying" and "Quidditch" skills.
The little add-on to the Quidditch Star is why I took it over "Greater Wind Affinity" which gave me a boost to flying and wind based magic - which was slight, but nice, still.
Also, it will make sure I don't fear heights or feel awkward in the air. My Flying skill - basically unused for the sole exception of flying class, and therefore a low, low 31, is now a much improved 91. Also Quidditch, which was a sad subskill to flying before - though the second highest rated one to 'broom control' - was now in the 60's as well.
It's important to note that the skill is 'Flying' and not 'Broom Flying' - which I find interesting.
In theory, could I fly an Aeroplane? Conduct a Hot Air Balloon? I'm not going to, but hey! Ideas!
I also find that this combination of perks has changed - though only slightly - my outlook on Quidditch as a sport. I now understand the hype behind it, and can appreciate the sport, but still, I don't think I'll be going professional in it.
Really, I only took the perk so I can try to win the Tournament in a 4-0 fashion, and so I can have a point of shared interest with more of my friends and acquaintances.
Though, now they may try to get me to form a team with them, seeing as I'm the missing link they need for a full 7-man squad. A small sacrifice, I suppose. Something to do which I can readily access, I'm sure to enjoy and needs no real setup, for a game or two of a game, which I now have a healthy appreciation for?
Woe is me. Truly!
It is with this thought I stumble into bed, and fall asleep.