Chapter 224- System Upgrade!

{15th July 1991} 

{Rigel's POV}

Three days had passed swiftly since our arrival in India, each moment filled with a whirlwind of discovery, anticipation, and an endless parade of sights. Despite my eagerness to delve immediately into the secrets of Dhanvantari’s Parsel-Healing, patience had been forced upon me. Not only did I have to master an entirely new magical system just in case it was needed to pass through some form of test, but the crafting of my own personal healing staff required time and extraordinary precision.

Yet, the forced delay had its own silver lining. We had spent these past days wandering through semi-modern towns and rural landscapes, exploring temples whose histories stretched deep into the fabric of time itself. Admittedly, the pungent blend of street odors and pollution in rapidly industrializing cities had initially overwhelmed us. Eventually, we found ourselves sticking primarily to places outside urban areas, temples hidden amidst forests and nestled in valleys, cloaked in gentle mists and whispers of ancient enchantments.

At each temple, I sensed subtle currents of mana—quiet yet potent—lingering in the air like the ghostly perfume of long-forgotten rituals. Behind warded boundaries, the shadows hinted at thriving magical communities or perhaps something even more arcane. My curiosity burned, but Parvati had warned us sternly, cautioning that these temples were safeguarded fiercely by descendants of India’s “Old Ones.” Her eyes had narrowed in seriousness when she explained that these magical guardians were fiercely territorial, demanding absolute respect. Any careless attempt at peering behind their wards might provoke consequences best left avoided.

I had asked, carefully, about temples dedicated specifically to Dhanvantari, hoping to deepen my understanding of the mysterious healer who so fascinated me right now. To my quiet disappointment, Parvati merely shook her head apologetically. Despite his brilliance, Dhanvantari, it seemed, had never gained widespread acclaim within his lifetime. No grand temple commemorated him. His legacy lay hidden in quiet whispers, in obscure texts, and in the very book I had come across.

Today, though, these thoughts evaporated from my mind. Jyoti had summoned me to her shop with an excited gleam in her eyes, informing me that my staff was finally ready. I stood anxiously in Jyoti’s Staff & Rings, Ginny quietly at my side. The rings and gems in the shop seemed to shimmer brighter in response to my anticipation. When Jyoti finally appeared, she held a long, polished box reverently, her expression solemn yet proud.

“Your staff, Rigel,” she announced softly, placing the elegant box onto a table between us. My breath caught slightly, and my fingers almost trembled as I reached for the lid, slowly lifting it to reveal the treasure within.

Nestled in dark velvet lay a magnificent staff—pitch-black and perfectly smooth, its wood polished to a mirror-like shine. The shaft was crafted from rare ebony, inlaid carefully with veins of silvery mithril that spiraled delicately from base to tip, like serpents climbing toward enlightenment. Every mithril thread glistened softly, hinting at complex runic enchantments hidden just beneath the surface, woven masterfully to enhance mana conductivity and responsiveness.

The head of the staff was exquisite: set into intricately carved, serpent-like filigree sat a flawless gemstone of deep amethyst, catching the soft shop lights and refracting them into shimmering violet hues. Carved around the gem, twin serpents twisted elegantly, jaws open to cradle the gem between their delicate fangs. Each tiny scale was meticulously detailed, almost lifelike in its craftsmanship.

My heart beat faster as I lifted it carefully, astonished at how lightly it rested in my hands—strong, yet seemingly weightless, perfectly balanced and responsive to my grip. It resonated softly, the mana within humming gently as if welcoming me.

Unable to contain my excitement, I glanced at Ginny, finding her eyes wide with awe. She smiled encouragingly, sensing my eagerness, and I stepped backward to give myself space. My heart quickened, recalling the exact details and instructions Dhanvantari had left in his writings. I had practiced it before, admittedly with a stick from a broken branch, but still, I had a bit of practice.

Calming my racing thoughts, I breathed deeply, positioning myself carefully. The staff vertical, its butt firmly against the floor, I felt my heartbeat slow to a steady rhythm. I visualized mana gently ascending my spine, pooling in my heart, then flowing effortlessly into the amethyst gemstone, whose glow intensified immediately into a rich, ominous purple.

Taking another steady breath, I began the pendulum-scan motion, swinging the gem tip in a graceful figure-eight pattern above Ginny’s slender frame. Half-closing my eyes, I murmured softly yet clearly in Paseltongue:

“~Vysh-Shaal.~”

Instantly, the gem pulsed brilliantly, releasing a delicate beam of purple mana that cascaded gently onto Ginny’s form. I held my breath in wonder as her mana pathways ignited beneath my gaze, veins and channels lighting up brilliantly like a dazzling display of lights, intricate and beautiful as the mana connecting to the gem of the staff connected to my eyes. The mana flowed vividly through her, outlining the living network of energy within her body.

My gaze sharpened with fascination as I began to see concentrated clusters forming—vivid swirls of mana gathered prominently near her skin, bones, and, curiously enough, her intestines. I frowned thoughtfully at that last observation, noting it as unexpected but intriguing nonetheless.

Ginny shifted slightly, clearly sensing something, though the spell was entirely painless. “Rigel?” she asked gently, clearly both curious and slightly nervous.

I reassured her softly, eyes never leaving the beautiful, complex dance of mana before me. “Just mapping your mana clusters. It’s incredible—I can see exactly where your body focuses its regenerative energy.”

She smiled warmly, visibly relaxing. “Anything interesting?”

I nodded thoughtfully. “Plenty. Your mana clusters strongly around your bones and skin—natural regeneration points. But also, surprisingly, near your digestive system.”

She wrinkled her nose slightly, trying not to laugh. “Maybe it’s just the breakfast. The spices don't agree with me much.”

Chuckling lightly, I slowly withdrew the mana, gently ending the spell by grounding the staff’s butt against the polished floor. The amethyst gem faded gently back to its resting hue, leaving only a faint, violet afterglow. 

!Ding

A soft chime rang in my head. My smile vanished, and while Ginny once again looked concerned, my eyes strayed to the message displayed in front of me.

...

[Learned Arcane spell- Mana Cluster mapping.]

[Learned the spell of a different system for the first time.]

[Hidden conditions met!]

[Tutorial Completed!]

[Unlocking World Interactions!]

[!Warning: Due to unexpected influence on world rating ####%*^%&%^]

[!System Upgrade in progress...Time remaining 23:59:59]

...

'Huh... What the hell just happened.'

---

{Dumbledore's Office, Hogwarts}

{Dumbledore's POV}

Albus sighed as he closed the letter that he had just received. His eyebrows furrowed as his gaze was locked on the words written in black ink. Feeling a little bitter at having to take this option, but with no choice in this matter, he looked at the metal blade that arrived with the letter. 

'Though at least it would maybe give us a better chance if Harry indeed has a Horcrux stuck in his head.' Dumbledore thought as he lazily threw the blade, it flipped through the air and softly thunked against the floor, its sharp edge easily penetrating through the floor. The mana that was hidden beneath the floor blazed and just like that there were two more people in the room.

The younger one reached down and grabbed onto the hand, pulling the blade out of the floor with ease as Dumbledore looked at him.

'He really is a monster...' He thought, a little bitter, and a twinge of relief.

"It's been a while, Sarutobi-san."

---

AN: There it is, the big reveal. What do you guys think, Good enough or abort-abort when we still have time to reverse this decision? A poll up on Patreon!