“Before we begin, let me ask you a few questions.”
Luke looked at Hermione.
“You know about silent casting and wandless magic, right? What are their weaknesses?”
Hermione nodded.
“Silent casting means performing a spell without speaking the incantation aloud. It’s very difficult to master because it requires exceptional concentration and willpower. Most spells are also weaker when cast silently than when the incantation is spoken.”
“As for wandless magic, it’s magic performed without a wand. It’s extremely difficult, and if the caster lacks sufficient control, the spell can easily go wrong. That’s why only highly skilled witches and wizards are generally able to use it reliably.”
Her answer was thorough.
Having been introduced to magic several years earlier than in the original timeline, Hermione’s theoretical knowledge had already surpassed that of her canon counterpart.
Luke nodded.
“Have you noticed something else? Young magical children often perform wandless magic unconsciously when they’re frightened or emotionally overwhelmed. Even before receiving any formal education, some can already influence magic instinctively.”
Hermione fell into thought.
Luke continued,
“So why do fully trained adult witches and wizards struggle with wandless and silent casting instead? Let’s set that question aside for a moment.”
“Think about another example.”
“Humans originally invented tools to enhance themselves. Weapons increase our combat ability, while vehicles let us travel faster. But there are also tools like walking canes and prosthetic limbs, which compensate for deficiencies and restore lost abilities.”
Hermione’s eyes widened slightly.
“Are you saying witches and wizards rely too much on their wands and gradually neglect abilities they naturally possess?”
Luke didn’t answer directly.
“Now think about wands.”
“Very few wand woods or cores actually increase a wizard’s magical power. What wands primarily do is improve control and stability.”
“And spells themselves are almost like programs. Silent casting doesn’t mean ‘not saying the incantation.’ It means reciting it mentally.”
“So the better your silent casting is, the closer its effect becomes to speaking the incantation aloud.”
“You’ve already mentioned the key requirement yourself,” Luke continued.
“Concentration and willpower.”
“In other words… mental strength.”
Hermione nodded thoughtfully.
“Then are wands compensating for insufficient mental strength?” she asked.
“That’s my theory.”
Luke continued explaining.
“I believe magical power naturally increases as people grow older and gain experience. But if their mental strength doesn’t keep pace, they can’t control that increasing power effectively.”
“So they rely on wands.”
“The problem is that we’ve put the cart before the horse.”
“The more we depend on wands, the less we develop our own mental strength. Eventually, we become unable to cast effectively without them.”
“Even subjects like Transfiguration and Charms, which demand incredible precision, are always taught with a wand. And the need to focus your emotions and concentration while casting is probably another way of temporarily strengthening your mental control.”
Hermione thought for a long moment.
“So… if someone’s mental strength develops alongside their magical power, they should eventually be able to cast wandlessly and silently without losing any power?”
“If my theory is correct,” Luke replied, “then yes.”
“Of course, this approach is best suited for talented or exceptionally hardworking young witches and wizards. Developing mental strength from childhood is much easier.”
“For adults, however, it’s much harder. Their magical power has already grown so much that training mental strength without relying on a wand becomes extremely difficult.”
Hermione stared at him in amazement.
“My goodness, Luke… if this theory is proven, it could completely change how magic is taught.”
“There might be something even more interesting.”
Luke smiled.
“If your mental strength becomes strong enough…”
Seventeen tiny fireballs suddenly appeared around him.
They circled the room in irregular patterns, weaving effortlessly through the air.
“It’s incredibly versatile.”
“I can control multiple spells simultaneously. They maintain their speed and accuracy, can track moving targets, and even perform saturation attacks.”
“I could hide behind cover while controlling them… or do something else entirely.”
Luke then drew his sword.
With a simple gesture, it flew into the air before returning smoothly to his hand.
In truth, he could achieve similar effects with the Sword Control Technique, but his current sword was still an ordinary steel weapon and lacked the spiritual qualities needed for truly refined control.
Hermione covered her mouth in astonishment.
Luke dismissed the fireballs and sheathed his sword.
“Don’t be too surprised.”
“As long as you continue training your mental strength, you’ll be able to do this too.”
Hermione nodded firmly.
“I will.”
Luke coughed lightly.
“Ahem. That concludes today’s magic lesson.”
He straightened his posture with exaggerated seriousness.
“Now it’s time for music class.”
Hermione couldn’t help smiling.
“So, Professor Luke… what are we learning today?”
“Today I’ll teach you a cheerful piece called Summer.”
Luke had once watched a wonderful piano duet of Joe Hisaishi’s Summer, and he thought it would be perfect for the two of them to play together.
“I’ll perform it once first. It’s not very long, and the rhythm is bright and lively.”
…
“That sounds amazing!” Hermione exclaimed excitedly, her cheeks flushing slightly.
“Alright,” Luke said with a smile.
“Let’s start practicing. Read through the sheet music first, get familiar with it, and then we’ll work through it section by section.”
Luke stood up and made room for Hermione.
“You practice first. I’ll go see what we should make for lunch.”
Today, James would be spending the afternoon at the animation studio and wouldn’t be home for lunch, so Luke didn’t need to cook for him.
Over the past year, Luke had gradually become the family’s main cook.
James’ culinary skills had shown no signs of improving, and Luke had grown tired of eating potatoes every day.
I don’t know exactly what Hermione likes, Luke thought.
But after living in Britain for eleven years, I’ve noticed that British tastes aren’t too far from Jiangnan cuisine.
Both generally prefer lighter flavors with a hint of sweetness.
“I’ve got it.”
“Longjing Shrimp, Wensi Tofu, and Osmanthus Glutinous Rice Lotus Root. Three dishes should be enough for the two of us.”
“Longjing Shrimp isn’t too difficult, and Wensi Tofu should be manageable with my enhanced knife skills. The only troublesome one is the Osmanthus Glutinous Rice Lotus Root.”
While Hermione practiced the piano in the living room, Luke busied himself in the kitchen.
It was his first time making Osmanthus Glutinous Rice Lotus Root, but fortunately he had watched instructional videos before.
Before he knew it, the entire morning had passed.
As the staple food, he also made Wushan Crispy Flatbread as an alternative to bread and potatoes.
Soon, the aroma of freshly cooked food drifted into the living room.
“Luke, what are you making? It smells amazing!”
Hearing Hermione’s voice, Luke smiled.
“Hermione, take a break and come eat.”
“You’re my taste tester today.”
“Taste tester?”
“Exactly. One of these dishes is my first attempt. I tried a small piece earlier, and it turned out alright. Come on, let’s wash our hands first.”
After washing up, Hermione sat down at the dining table.
She had never seen any of the dishes before.
She recognized the shrimp and the lotus root, but the way they had been prepared was completely unfamiliar.
“Go ahead, try them.”
Luke handed her a pair of chopsticks.
Since Hermione often visited the Kirk household and Helen frequently cooked Chinese food, she had become fairly proficient at using chopsticks.
Luke also served her a bowl of Wensi Tofu.
“Mmm…”
Hermione’s eyes lit up.
“This is delicious… and this one is too!”
She took a bite of the Osmanthus Glutinous Rice Lotus Root before picking up a piece of Longjing Shrimp.
Luke smiled.
“Not bad.”
“There are countless delicious Chinese dishes. I could probably cook a different one every day without repeating myself. Of course, some flavors might not suit your taste. If you’re interested, I’ll make a few different dishes next time.”
He decided not to overwhelm Hermione by listing dozens of unfamiliar Chinese dish names.
“Try the tofu soup too.”
Hermione looked curiously at the bowl.
“Is this really tofu?”
The tofu had been cut into hair-thin strands.
She took a sip and her eyes widened.
“It’s so good!”
Just then, James walked in carrying a pizza.
Seeing the spread on the table, he froze.
“Did you order takeout from a Chinese restaurant?” he asked in surprise.
“I was worried you’d both be hungry, so I brought back a pizza.”
“Uncle James,” Hermione said with a smile, “Luke made all of these himself. You should try them—they’re absolutely delicious.”