HP: Sacred Gear Chat Group (2) - Chapter 10 (Patreon)

Chapter 10 - Natural Shields

“Are you sure about this?” I asked Roxy once again as the two of us sat in the back of Edgar’s Cart.

After our encounter with those Bandits, the rest of our Journey passed rather peacefully. The most threatening situations we encountered were a few Monsters wandering too close to the Road.

But we easily took care of them since none of them were much of a threat.

Most of our Journey took place within the Borders of different Kingdoms after we passed through the Strife Zone. The Roads were well-patrolled, making Bandit attacks a true exception.

Not only had our Party and Roxy grown closer during the Journey, but we were also able to spend our time more productively. Most of it went toward Roxy teaching me Magic, but I hadn’t neglected my Sword lessons with Ghislaine either.

I was making good progress toward reaching Intermediate Level in the Sword God Style. Maybe another month or two would be enough.

But I had made the most progress in Magic.

I had learned all the Intermediate Rank Spells in our collective possession, including Roxy’s knowledge and the ever-growing Library I had acquired.

That meant I had also reached Intermediate Rank in Healing Magic and Detoxification Magic since Roxy had taught me both.

Thanks to Roxy’s guidance and expertise, I had also added several Water School Advanced Rank Spells to my repertoire. However, I mostly focused on my own studies of Wizarding World Magic while experimenting with Melded Magic.

Melded Magic was the act of combining different Elemental Magics to create a more powerful Spell. For example, an Elementary Rank Fireball could be enhanced with an Intermediate Rank Wind Blast, creating a massive Fireball comparable to an Advanced Rank Spell.

It was something only I could realistically do since it required rapid spellcasting, which was impossible when each Spell required a several-second-long Chant.

Roxy, however, was surprisingly good at coming up with different combinations even if she couldn't use them.

Interestingly, she had also managed to learn Lumos, proving that she could use Wizarding World Magic.

It was simply more difficult to perform with a Staff. After we bought her a Wand at one of our stops, however, she eventually managed to learn it.

From that point onward, our lessons went both ways.

Roxy continued teaching me, but I also began teaching her.

Besides simply learning new Spells and listening to Roxy explain Magic Theory, I had also started making use of my Birthday Gift and actively practicing Occlumency.

Unfortunately, I had reached a point where my progress had become painfully slow.

After more than a month and a half of Meditation and following the guidance in the Occlumency Book my Mother had given me, I had managed to build basic Shields around my Mind.

The problem was that improving them was difficult without some kind of actual stress test.

Simply having Mental Shields wasn’t enough to develop more advanced skills. Without anyone attempting to break into my Mind, I had no way of knowing where my weaknesses were, how someone would try to bypass my Shields, or even what I should do in response to an actual attack.

All of that was part of truly mastering Occlumency.

Snape’s method of attacking Harry with Legilimency had actually been the correct approach, although he only used it after Harry had established rudimentary Shields. He had essentially skipped ahead without properly explaining anything because ‘Clear your Mind’ was only the very first step.

He probably intended it as a form of shock therapy since they were in a hurry with Voldemort actively noticing the mental connection to Harry.

And I lacked that kind of shock therapy right now.

Without it, I couldn’t properly learn how to control my Shields or my own Mind, making it almost impossible to progress to the next level.

If I applied the Mushoku Tensei Skill Levels to Occlumency, building my most basic Mental Shields was essentially the equivalent of completing the Beginner Rank.

Mastering how to adapt those Shields while gaining greater control over my thoughts would be the Intermediate Rank.

An Advanced Rank Practitioner, meanwhile, should be capable of controlling their thoughts and properly organizing their Mind. This would grant them better memory retention while also allowing them to distract an intruder with unimportant memories and bury the important ones deep within their Mind.

Considering this, Snape would be at least Saint Rank since he can fake Memories. But that’s based on assumptions about feats I know from the Story and my Book while applying a scaling System from another World to Occlumency.

My Book, for example, also mentions that a true Master of Occlumency can develop an Eidetic Memory and create multilayered, almost impenetrable defenses that steadily adapt to attacks.

Would that be King or Emperor Rank or something?

It’s hard to apply a linear scaling System to a flexible skill like Occlumency. Someone could have impenetrable, layered defenses without having the ability to fake Memories, for example.

But that doesn’t change the fact that I was at a dead end right now.

There were several possible ways I could overcome it.

For example, I could wait until I got home and ask my Mom or Dad for help. Maybe one of them knew Legilimency or would at least be willing to learn the Spell to help me.

But that was the shittiest idea.

Practicing Occlumency was actually pretty relaxing overall and could easily be done during breaks. I would lose months of practice time, and I barely had two months left before Hogwarts started.

I wanted to have it down before Hogwarts. Who knew how much Dumbledore and Snape actually read minds?

Mine was particularly worthy of protection, at least I thought so.

Alternatively, I could travel to Roxy’s Home.

The Migurd had a natural ability to communicate telepathically, even without seeing each other. Roxy was the sole exception, having been born without this Ability and being unable to hear their thoughts.

That was why she had left her home in the first place. She felt like an outsider in her own home, where everyone else communicated with each other through their Minds.

They might actually be able to attack my Shields.

The problem was that they were even farther away than I was planning to travel.

Their home was at the very other end of the Demon Continent, near the Port that connected it to the other Continents.

Rudeus, the Protagonist of the Story, took two years to travel from his Village in the North of the Demon Continent to his home in the North of the Asura Kingdom.

It took him an entire year just to travel from the North of the Demon Continent to Wind Port in the South.

And I didn’t have a year.

Sure, I traveled faster than they did since survival was easier for me, and I didn’t waste time or travel inefficiently. But just getting from Wind Port to the North of the Asura Kingdom took Rudeus another year.

There was an entire Continent between the two.

It would already take most of my remaining time just to reach the South of the Demon Continent, even with how quickly I was traveling.

And regular travel by Sea was simply not possible in this World.

The only Sea Travel available was between Ports where two Continents were closest together.

The Ocean between all the Continents, known as the Ringus Sea, was inhabited by the Ocean Races from the former Ocean World. They didn’t permit ships to travel across the open Ocean.

Every Ship that attempted the Journey was attacked by them, making it extremely difficult to survive.

It wasn’t impossible, but no sane seafarer would attempt such a Journey.

So the Migurd were out of my reach.

Getting home and asking my Parents for help would be much faster.

Lastly, there was the method I decided to go with.

I would teach Roxy Legilimency and Occlumency.

She had been very willing to learn.

After all, it would solve the Problem that had isolated her from her People.

But for some reason, she had an even harder time building just her Shields than I did progressing to the next level. And those were a requirement for attempting Legilimency in the first place.

So I came up with the idea that I should try using Legilimency on her, attempting the brute-force Snape Method. I wanted to learn it either way. It could also give me a better understanding of how to adapt my Shields and improve my Occlumency Skills in the process.

“Yes! I would be forever in your debt if I managed to learn your Mind Arts! So try it.” Roxy nodded determinedly in response to my Question.

She was probably getting tired of me asking for Permission since I had already done it several times.

But I really felt uncomfortable breaking into someone’s Mind, even with Permission and a good Reason.

Especially when it was someone I considered my Friend.

With my Wand in hand, after studying the Theory behind the Spell and getting her approval, I pointed it at Roxy.

“Legilimens.”

Opening a hole in my own Shield, I felt my Mind expand beyond its confines and head straight toward Roxy.

Then I suddenly felt like I had hit a Brick Wall.

A slight headache followed, along with a strange clicking noise, before I managed to close the hole in my Shields again, cutting off the connection.

“Ouch, that hurt,” I said as I held my head.

“Are you okay?” Roxy asked worriedly.

“Yeah, I’m fine. And I figured out why you’re having such a hard time building your rudimentary Shields.”

I sighed.

It was actually pretty obvious.

Roxy already had Shields.

She was a naturally born Occlumens.

“I pretty much hit a Wall. Did you feel anything?”

She looked at me for a moment, confirming that I was okay before replying.

“There was something. It felt like a small tingling in my Mind.”

“So there really are Shields.” I nodded as the last piece fell into place. “This is good news since my Book covers that case. You’re what the author calls a natural Occlumens. You were born with your Shields. The problem is that you don’t know how to lower or control them. You can’t even feel them in your natural state. And I believe that’s also what blocks your Telepathy since you need to create an opening to let your Mind out.”

Roxy looked at me with something I could only describe as hope, which was rare to see on her often-neutral face.

“And is there also a way to gain control over my Shields? Does the Book say anything?”

“There is. It’s pretty much what I just did.” I explained. “Someone has to test and prod your Mental Shields until your Mind can actually feel them, allowing you to finally control them.”

I paused for a moment.

“So how about another attempt? This time, I’ll try to control my Legilimency attempt more carefully so I don’t just crash into that Wall.”

Basically, I wanted to learn how to control that extension of my Mind as I sent it toward her, feeling along her Shields instead of crudely crashing against them.

“Do it,” Roxy nodded.

“How about the two of you take a break instead?”

Edgar’s voice came from the driver’s seat of the Cart, making both Roxy and me look toward the front.

“We’ve arrived at East Port!”

And there it was.

Just over Edgar’s and Ghislaine’s shoulders, we could make out the Walls of a City and countless Buildings stretching along the blue waters of the Ocean.

— Alistair’s Mother POV —

Apparating right to the edge of the powerful and ancient Wards, she landed with practiced elegance on the ground and continued walking determinedly through the entrance.

She had very mixed Feelings about returning to this place.

Honestly, there had been a time in her Life when she believed she would never come back here. But apparently, times could change quite a lot.

She continued up the Path toward the Home of her Childhood, her feelings growing more complicated with every step.

It had been so long, yet the place still felt so familiar.

The ancient Manor stood there just as it always had, firm and proud.

A representation of her Family’s long Legacy and Wealth.

A Legacy she would prefer to forget, but apparently there was no escaping your Blood.

She knew exactly what her Parents believed and what they wanted from her Son.

They had once believed that she would be the one.

Fortunately, she hadn’t been.

But after learning the true history of her Family, a history even her mad Brothers were unaware of, she had run away from this place.

She had sworn never to return.

Yet here she was.

Only for her Children.

Her Son, that fool who had gone missing on some training trip.

What was that idiot thinking? Leaving the night he got his Wand?

And that ridiculous Note he had left!

If she hadn’t recognized his Handwriting, she would have believed he had been abducted.

Which wasn’t entirely out of the Question yet. Someone could have forced him to write that Note.

Seriously, what did he mean by saying he would go on a Six-Month Training Trip to prepare for Hogwarts?

That was so unlike him.

She couldn’t help but worry.

How had he even come up with such a stupid idea?

What had caused this?

Why would he take such a risk?

It came literally out of nowhere!

An untrained Wizard who had just gotten his Wand was out there all alone, wandering the World with a few Galleons and some supplies he had quickly packed together while his Parents were asleep.

The moment they found that Note, they had gone out looking for him, but no Tracking or Search Charm had been able to pick up his trail.

It was as if he had suddenly disappeared from the face of the Planet.

And they had no idea where he could have gone.

It wasn’t like a hundred years ago, when large parts of the World were still undeveloped, with vast magical areas left to explore.

The majority of the World was controlled by Muggles these days. There was no way he could train among them.

Just because he didn’t have the Trace didn’t mean he would get a free pass for breaking the law.

His new Wand could easily be confiscated and snapped by the Ministry.

Especially since he hadn’t even attended Hogwarts yet. That Boy was giving her a massive headache.

Once she found him, there would be a reckoning.

He had better be ready for that.

After knocking on the Door, it opened to reveal the familiar yet aged face of her Father.

“You came,” he grunted roughly, without any surprise since he had sensed her the moment she passed through the Wards.

“I did, Father.” She gave him a short, polite nod.

“Where’s the boy? Why didn’t you bring him with you? You know how important it is for the Family to finally have an Heir.”

“I’m not here for that. He’s missing,” she admitted reluctantly.

She didn’t really want to say it, but she needed his help.

“What? How could you let him go missing?” he asked in shock, that familiar disappointment appearing on his weathered face. She had seen that expression countless times whenever one of his Children failed to live up to his standards.

“He just left the moment he got his hands on his Wand. He said he was going on a Training Journey.”

At least she wasn’t the only one who thought it sounded stupid.

Her Father had almost the exact same expression on his Face that she had worn when she first read Alistair’s Note.

“A what?”

“A Training Journey.”

“Good. I’m not going daft yet,” he muttered as he shook his head. “So you came to check the Tapestry?”

“Yes. I would appreciate it if you let me.”

“Well, you know what I want.”

“You can’t be serious. Your Grandson is missing, and all you care about is that damn Legacy! For all we know, he could be lying somewhere dead, and with every passing day, that likelihood increases. If he’s dead, you get nothing.”

“And we both know that you’re as stubborn as your Mother. If I don’t force your Hand, you’ll never bring them here of your own free will. Both of my Grandchildren have to follow the traditions of their Ancestors!” he replied firmly. “So, do I have your Word that you’ll bring them here before their next Hogwarts Year?”

“Do I have to?”

There was that smug grin she hated so much, as if he knew something she didn’t.

It never boded well for her.

“No, not if you want them to stumble upon it themselves. After all, I already named Alistair Heir of the Family.”

“You what?”

“Alistair is Heir of the Family, followed by your Daughter. Once I’m dead, one of them will inherit everything. They have been my Heirs since their respective births. Did you really think I would leave our Family to one of your idiotic Brothers after how they disgraced us?”

He paused, his expression turning serious.

“Now, do I have your Word? One of them will discover everything sooner or later once they receive their Inheritance. Isn’t it better for them to have someone who can explain everything to them and teach them about their role as the Head of the Family?”

That crafty old man had outplayed her.

She hadn’t expected him to simply name her Children his Heirs, even after she had abandoned the Family.

“Fine. I’ll bring them here as soon as both of them are home and have some time,” she gritted out. “Should I make a Vow?”

“No. I trust your Word. Come, let’s see where that crazy Son of yours is.”

Following her Father deeper into the Home she had once grown up in, they soon arrived at the familiar Room containing the Family Tapestry.

It was one of the finest works in Britain.

And probably one of the oldest.

Thousands of years of her Ancestry could be traced on it.

But most importantly, it was enchanted in such a way that it could track the rough location of every blood-related Family Member, no matter where they were or how heavily protected they were by Wards.

The Tapestry was never wrong.

So where the Hell was East Port on the Central Continent?

How had he discovered a new Continent?

[-- End of Chapter --]