Everyday Life of a Top Student at Hogwarts

Chapter 300 Mentor's Approval and Preparation

Chapter 300 Mentor's Approval and Preparation

Once the specific time was set, Karen didn't delay. The following evening, he set up the two-way mirror in the Eagle's Nest and filled his communication quill with ink, preparing to give a detailed report.

As the fog cleared in the two-way mirror, the first thing to appear was Nicolas Flamel's wrinkled but energetic face, with what appeared to be a corner of the "Quiet Abode" studio filled with books and instruments. Almost simultaneously, Castor Grindelwald's gray-haired, gray-eyed, sharply defined face, with a hint of aloofness, appeared on the other side of the mirror, seemingly in a dimly lit study with books arranged meticulously.

"Good evening, Professor Nico, Professor Castor," Karen greeted respectfully.

"Good evening, my child." Nicole's voice was gentle and full of expectation. "Judging from your expression, you seem to have gained something?"

Castor simply nodded slightly, his gaze sharp, and asked directly, "Have you analyzed the data?"

"Yes, teachers." Karen took a deep breath and began to report methodically. He first briefly explained the safe return to school and the successful retrieval of all the monitors, mentioning the stability of the castle interior and underground waterway nodes, as well as the complete failure of the Forbidden Forest node.

Then, he got to the point, focusing on the unusually strong peak discovered at the bottom of the Black Lake, and explained in detail how he collaborated with Ernesto to discover, through astrological cross-referencing, a strong correlation between the Moon's transit through water signs (especially Scorpio and Pisces) and its specific soft aspects with Neptune and Pluto.

As he spoke, he simultaneously "wrote" and transmitted the contents of the parchment, which was prepared in advance and contained intricate magical astrological charts and data summaries, to the corresponding parchment held by the two teachers on the other side of the two-way mirror using a communication quill.

"—Based on these correlations, we have built a predictive model," Karen continued, transmitting the two relatively precise time windows calculated at the end of February 21 and the beginning of February 25. "We believe that the energy characteristics of the window starting around 10 p.m. on February 21 are more suitable for preliminary detection, but of course we will not give up on the one on the 25th."

A brief silence fell on the other side of the mirror. Nicole carefully read the data and charts that the quill pen displayed, her eyes gleaming with contemplation and admiration. Castor, on the other hand, quickly scanned the contents, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the table, as if evaluating every detail.

After a long pause, Nico was the first to raise his head, a satisfied smile on his face: "Excellent, Karen. It's not just about discovering the anomaly, but also about the way you solved the problem. You comprehensively utilized alchemical monitoring techniques, astronomical observation data, and arithmetic analysis methods, and you knew how to rely on the expertise of your companions. Mr. Ernesto's astronomical records were indispensable. This is the attitude a true researcher should have, not working in isolation. Your application of the ancient astrological magic tidal theory is also insightful. Although those 'degrees' theories are quite obscure and controversial, you were able to use them as a reference and incorporate them into your own model, which is excellent."

Castor continued, his tone as calm and pragmatic as ever: "I've reviewed the data derivation process. The logical chain is clear, and the error control is within a reasonable range. If the data you collected yourself is accurate, then we can basically confirm the reliability of these two time points. So, what's your plan? Are you preparing to launch on the night of the 21st?"

"Yes, Professor Castor," Karen replied affirmatively, "I'm preparing to begin targeted preparations."

"Foresight and preparation are key to survival and success," Castor said calmly. "Tell me your outline: equipment, protection, contingency plans, and support personnel."

Karen had already planned ahead: "Regarding equipment, I will re-examine and strengthen the durability and resilience of the head-diving spell. During this time, I will focus on improving the accuracy and power of underwater spellcasting. The lighting and compass will undergo waterproofing and anti-magical interference tests. Especially communication—" He paused, "Currently, long-distance underwater communication is feasible, but it's uncertain whether the underwater magical environment will change significantly on the night of the 21st, leading to unstable communication. Therefore, I will conduct simulations to address this issue. In addition, I will prepare a simple, interference-resistant light or vibration signal encoding scheme, agreeing with my roommate on shore as a backup communication method."

"For protection, the self-defense bracers will be fully charged, and some special repellents or powerful flashbang spells will be prepared to target any magical creatures that may be present underwater. As for underwater magical creatures, I plan to conduct a simple survey of the types and locations of creatures in the Black Lake over the next couple of days. I will try to avoid conflict, but if attacked, my primary goal will be to drive them away and escape."

"The plan is: arrive at the shore an hour in advance to prepare, enter the water around 9:50, and reach the target rock wall area for observation and exploration when the peak is expected to begin at 10:00. The exploration time is expected to be no more than 30 minutes, and regardless of whether anything is found, we must begin to surface before 10:25. Wesley, Fabian, and Ernesto will be on the shore in a concealed position to provide support, and will be responsible for observing any abnormalities on the lake surface, timing, and issuing alarms or requests for help if necessary."

After listening, Nico nodded slowly: "The plan sounds cautious and thorough. However, Karen, you must realize that under the influence of this specific astrological magical tide, the Black Lake itself may also become more active."

Mermaid communities might hold rituals or become more sensitive and curious due to energy shifts; large sea monsters might become restless; and even normally dormant underwater magical plants might release hallucinogens. These are all variables you need to consider in your plans.

Castor added sharply, "Also, when you try to interact with that rock wall, remember that a powerful flow of magic can itself be a test or a defense mechanism. Don't force it; try to understand its pattern, guide it, or find a way to resonate with it. The Slytherin legacy shouldn't require the opener to use violence; that's the pride of people like him, and your Eye of Truth should be a huge advantage in that regard. If things don't work out, retreat immediately without hesitation. Your safety is paramount. Based on your deduction, there will be more opportunities like this later, so don't rush things."

"I understand, teachers." Karen nodded solemnly. "I will keep these reminders in mind and prepare corresponding contingency plans."

"Very good." Castor seemed satisfied. "If needed, Nico and I can send you some more potent underwater breathing agents or more robust protective gear—"

"Thank you, teacher, but not for now," Karen politely declined. "I want to rely on my current abilities and preparations to complete this exploration. It's also a good way to train myself."

Nico laughed. "Great attitude. Well then, we look forward to your next report. Remember, safety first, knowledge second."

Castor nodded slightly: "Stay vigilant. Report progress regularly via the two-way mirror."

The communication ended. Karen looked at the mirror, now back to normal, and took a deep breath. The recognition and further guidance from his mentors had boosted his confidence, but also made him feel a greater sense of responsibility. He put away the two-way mirror and quill, and immediately turned to his preparations.

In the days that followed, Karen's free time was almost entirely devoted to underwater training. He asked his roommates for help, and they frequently appeared at the Black Lake, sometimes in the early morning when there were fewer people, and sometimes in the evening.

"The test of the endurance of the head-bubbling spell, the third time!" Wesley held the stopwatch and watched Karen walk into the lake again.

She was gradually getting used to the icy lake water. Karen tried to maintain her focus on the Bubble Head Charm while attempting to wave her wand underwater.

"Clear water like a spring!" he murmured, but the water jet from the tip of his wand was much weaker and more scattered than on the shore, and it was difficult to form a coherent stream due to the resistance of the water.

"It seems that casting spells underwater is indeed very difficult, but besides the water resistance, the main issue is the casting habits." Fabian observed from the shore. "The magic output needs to be adjusted, and the way the spell is focused may also need to be changed."

Karen surfaced and wiped her face. "I need more practice. Also, I need to get used to how light-based and offensive spells weaken underwater."

He also practiced silent spells to reduce his reliance on verbal incantations, which might be more useful underwater. At the same time, he dived down again to the vicinity of the lake bottom rock wall and, without attracting attention, drew a more detailed topographic map of the area around the entrance, marking the reefs that could provide leverage and the soft mud and sand areas that needed to be avoided.

The self-defense bracers were repeatedly inspected and recharged. He also brewed some strong-smelling exorcising spices, sealed them in specially made alchemical capsules, and could release them quickly underwater to repel any curious creatures that might try to enter.

We also practiced the signal agreement with our roommates several times. A simple set of optical signal codes and vibration codes was finalized.

Each time Karen emerged from the icy lake, though exhausted, he could feel his adaptability and control over the underwater environment gradually improving. As the target date drew closer, a premonition mixed with tension and intense anticipation built up within him.