[Warning!]
[Host has entered the microscopic world!]
[Please proceed with caution. The microscopic world contains indescribable existences!]
Devon sat frozen in his seat, beads of cold sweat rolling down his temples.
Around him, the classroom buzzed with excitement. Students were eagerly practicing transfigurations, too absorbed in their own progress to notice Devon's strange behavior.
"Microscopic world? Indescribable existences?"
His thoughts were in chaos.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The remnants of that terrifying experience still clung to him. His heart pounded uncontrollably.
He inhaled deeply, trying to steady his breath.
After a long moment, Devon finally calmed his mind enough to reflect on what had just happened.
He had entered the microscopic world.
This feat was made possible due to a sharp enhancement in his perception—an effect of practicing the Zen meditation technique.
As his magic and perception merged, they allowed him to access a realm where the fundamental structures of matter were visible—what the system referred to as the microscopic world.
And in that hidden realm… terrifying beings lurked—beings the system labeled indescribable existences.
This wasn't the first time such a concept had appeared.
The system had referenced it before—during the moment it initially bound itself to him. At that time, Devon received the "Transmigrator" trait, which described him as someone blessed by a Great Existence.
So now, Devon understood.
This magical world was far from what it seemed.
Beyond the familiar magic and known Dark Wizards like Voldemort, there were other forces—far older, far more powerful… and far more terrifying.
The realization that he had recklessly stepped into that world made Devon shudder.
His body hadn't been ready.
He'd nearly broken under the pressure.
Luckily, he had pulled out in time.
Resolved, Devon decided he would not return to the microscopic world—not until he thoroughly understood its rules and risks.
With this decision firm in his mind, he returned his focus to the present.
Class was nearly over.
Among the many students attempting transformations, only Hermione had succeeded—managing to turn her match into half a needle.
Professor McGonagall was visibly pleased and awarded Gryffindor five points.
Devon stared at the match in his hand.
Despite his intricate manipulations in the microscopic realm, from a normal point of view, it looked completely unchanged.
He fell into thought, recalling every microscopic detail he had observed.
The arrangement of atoms. The flow of magical energy.
He gently lifted the match, closed his eyes, and focused his will—
Suddenly, the match morphed into a slender iron needle in a ripple of strange energy.
[Ding!]
[New spell added to the library!]
[Please check the panel!]
Hearing the system's notification, Devon remained focused.
He continued channeling his concentration.
The iron needle shimmered, then reverted back to its original matchstick form.
Devon opened his eyes, disbelief flickering within them.
He had just cast the Transfiguration Charm—without using a wand!
The surrounding students gasped.
Everyone remembered that Devon's previous attempts usually resulted in explosive fireballs.
Now he could manipulate objects with ease?
"Very well done, Alexander," Professor McGonagall praised.
"Transforming an object and returning it to its original form shows a deep understanding of the principles of caution in transfiguration… Wait—did you just do that wandlessly?"
Her voice rose with surprise.
"This is remarkable! In all my years of teaching, I've never seen a first-year student capable of wandless magic!"
"Yes, truly incredible! Wandless magic at this level is nearly unheard of. Twenty points to Slytherin!"
Professor McGonagall beamed with pride.
Devon opened the system panel and checked his spell library.
A new entry had been added:
[Microscopic Structure Transfiguration (Proficient/Wandless): Allows transformation of an object's nature and form at will, provided its microscopic structure is known.]
"Transform the nature and form at will?"
Devon's pupils shrank slightly in shock.
He picked up the match again and, with a single thought, transformed it into a miniature quill.
Professor McGonagall was standing right beside him.
She sighed deeply and muttered to herself that she might have just met the most talented student she'd ever taught.
As Devon demonstrated the match transforming into a variety of items, the classroom was filled with whispers of awe and disbelief.
Professor McGonagall awarded another thirty points to Slytherin on the spot.
In his very first class, Devon had earned fifty points for his house!
She even encouraged him to come to her for guidance after class.
Devon felt incredibly pleased.
System, did you see that? Even the master of Transfiguration herself acknowledges my talent. You're the only one who doesn't seem to recognize it.
Still, he reminded himself that the system's talent recognition worked differently.
He'd have to wait until he could copy the "Transfiguration Prodigy" trait to see his full potential.
Just then, a thought struck him.
He had learned the microscopic structure of this match, and could now change it freely.
But what about other matches?
He reached into the box and pulled out a new match.
Held it carefully in his hand, and focused—
Boom!
A fireball exploded into the air!
Devon's expression twisted.
He had turned back into the "Blast Mage."
Moments later, Professor McGonagall stormed over, her expression dark.
She docked ten points from Slytherin.
Not because she thought he was unskilled—but precisely because his skill made the mishap seem deliberate.
No one believed it was an accident.
Devon accepted the deduction with resignation.
Apparently, his Microscopic Structure Transfiguration spell only worked on objects whose internal structure he had personally observed.
Trying it on an unfamiliar match caused instability—thus the explosive result.
He took out his wand and performed the Transfiguration again.
This time, using the method McGonagall taught and referencing the microstructure he had studied, he successfully changed the match into a needle.
This proved something important:
Without entering the microscopic world, he couldn't easily use the spell on arbitrary objects.
Until his trait-copying feature refreshed, this would remain a limitation.
Another question occurred to him.
If he could access the microscopic world, then surely others in the magical world could too?
Could Professor McGonagall know anything about these mysterious, ancient entities hidden in the microstructure of matter?
Devon made up his mind to ask her privately.
Soon after, Transfiguration class ended.
Devon followed the students toward Professor Flitwick's Charms class.
Even though he no longer needed to attend the lectures, he still wanted to experience them.
Besides, Flitwick would eventually share the learning progress of each grade with him.
There were still many things he needed to catch up on.
And many secrets left to uncover.