Strange's curriculum wasn't particularly difficult. At least, that was how it looked in Noah's eyes.
They were nothing more than absolute basics.
But for Strange himself, it was anything but simple.
What he was learning was dismantling the worldview he had built over more than thirty years.
Even though Strange had been mentally prepared, once he actually started, he realized everything before him was an entirely new world.
History he thought he understood no longer applied, and what unfolded was a reality filled with the unknown and the fantastical.
It was overwhelming.
And at the same time, irresistible.
Strange threw himself into learning with full focus.
To be fair, the complexity of these subjects was somewhat exaggerated.
Whether it was the thousands-of-years-long history of the magical world, or the various strange and intricate forms of magical knowledge, every day felt packed to the brim.
Busy, but not chaotic.
There was a lot to learn, but Strange progressed quickly.
His talent was undeniable.
It had to be said-his memory was terrifying.
Many things only needed to be seen once before they were firmly grasped.
Among all the courses, Strange had clear favorites.
Potions and Herbology.
At first, he had been skeptical.
In his imagination, these fields were no different from some crude form of Eastern witchcraft.
Random animal carcasses.
Odd organs.
Strange plants thrown into a pot.
Add water.
Sprinkle in some unidentifiable powder.
Boil it, then use it to trick people.
That was how he pictured it.
When Noah learned about these thoughts, he didn't argue.
He simply took Strange to a school-like location.
There, Strange met a very familiar-looking man.
Neville Longbottom.
Strange had seen him in movies before.
Just like Noah Finnel, he was both an alumnus and a former classmate.
"Noah? What are you doing here?" Neville asked, clearly surprised. "Come to think of it, you haven't been back to Hogwarts in a long time."
"Just visiting," Noah replied, spreading his hands. "And I brought someone who doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth."
Neville glanced at the strangely dressed man, then nodded.
"No problem. You're the Herbology professor now, right?" Noah continued. "Do me a favor. Let him learn with the kids."
"This guy?" Neville looked Strange up and down. "Your apprentice?"
"Sort of." Noah sighed. "A complete layman. No respect either. Teach him properly. Let him understand what Herbology is really for. As for Potions... forget it. I don't feel like looking for Professor Snape."
With that, Strange's course arrangement was decided.
He was depressed.
But he had no choice.
For a long time afterward, Strange regularly came here to study Herbology in person, while Potions were learned entirely through books.
One had a teacher.
The other didn't.
Yet as time passed, Strange realized something.
He had underestimated this knowledge.
Severely.
Even though some concepts still felt absurd, once he began conducting experiments alongside students who were barely elementary-school age, the depth became undeniable.
For example, certain herbs-after specific processing-could produce effects stronger than anesthetics.
Complete local numbness.
When combined with other types of magic, even severe injuries wouldn't cause loss of consciousness.
Strange realized something then.
Back then, he might have been able to heal his own hands.
That was only a small part.
There was far more worth learning.
Beyond Potions and Herbology, Strange also had to study the broader magical world.
Magical creatures included.
In terms of sheer scope, magical creatures were no less overwhelming than the other two disciplines.
The knowledge base was vast.
Herbology and Potions required mastery over tens of thousands of plants-their properties, usable parts, and interactions with magic.
Already an absurd undertaking.
Magical creatures demanded the same level of rigor.
A complete system didn't just explain their strengths and weaknesses, or how to deal with them.
It also covered which body parts were valuable, how to harvest them, and how to kill the creatures efficiently.
Vampires were the most typical example.
They weren't particularly afraid of physical attacks.
They moved freely in darkness.
But sunlight was fatal-at least for all except high-level individuals.
Light-based and holy elements were equally deadly.
Against mages, vampires were naturally suppressed.
Almost completely.
As for materials, vampires didn't offer much-but they weren't worthless either.
Their blood and fangs were both excellent magical materials.
Still, because they were humanoid magical creatures, mages rarely used them.
Some were even protected under magical jurisdiction.
That didn't stop them from being researched.
And vampires were only one category.
There were far too many magical creatures.
This required memory.
And accumulation.
During this entire period, Noah never allowed Strange to put anything into practice.
He didn't even teach him a single spell.
Naturally, this was because Strange had only just begun.
And Noah had more interesting plans for later.
"Speaking of which, how did you end up here?"
At 221B Baker Street, Constantine poured himself a cup of milk tea.
A quiet woman sat beside him.
She only appeared quiet.
Noah recognized her immediately.
Angela.
Constantine's fiancée.
The woman who had hired Noah twenty years ago, back when he was still a student.
After awakening her spiritual and magical abilities, Angela became a police officer while working alongside exorcists.
As her knowledge deepened, she gradually lost interest in ordinary criminals.
She had stepped into a more mysterious world.
An ordinary life no longer satisfied her.
She quit the police force and devoted herself fully to exorcist work, focusing on threats to normal people.
Through experience, she grew stronger.
Later, by chance, she met Constantine again.
Old feelings reignited instantly.
Dry tinder meeting raging fire.
They had even planned to marry years ago.
But Angela later joined the American Magical Congress as an Auror, delaying things until recently.
"I only show up when there's trouble," Noah said, spreading his hands. "You know me well enough. By the way, when are you two getting married? Two years already."
"Soon, probably." Constantine took a sip of milk tea. "But you didn't come here for that. Say it-what's the problem this time?"
"I have an apprentice who needs practical experience," Noah said directly. "Former ordinary person. Medical background. Neurosurgeon. Let him deal with magical creatures that frequently disturb normal people."
"Like those little mages?" Constantine nodded. "Perfect. There's always a bunch of fearless idiots running around. But it's fine. Without them, we wouldn't make money."
Magical creatures were everywhere.
Their numbers were enormous.
More importantly, they operated mainly in the ordinary world.
They harmed ordinary people.
Mages couldn't manage them all, even if they wanted to.
For those creatures that harmed normal people, mages used derogatory terms.
They didn't consider them people at all.
Those that posed no threat were treated normally.
It wasn't that mages couldn't eliminate them entirely.
They chose not to.
Exorcists lived at the boundary between two worlds.
They needed to make a living too.
"That works." Noah nodded.
"This isn't difficult."
"I'll bring him over after his first learning phase. Who will lead him?"
"He's your apprentice," Constantine said, puzzled. "Shouldn't you do it yourself?"
"I'm a sorcerer," Noah replied flatly. "You want me hunting magical creatures? Isn't that overkill?"
Constantine shrugged.
"You don't need to fight personally. Just guide him. Unless you want to handle it yourself. As a Protector, that's normal."
Noah nearly rolled his eyes.
Him dealing with magical creatures?
What kind of absurd idea was that?
Besides, he didn't plan to let Strange stay an exorcist for long.
The kid's potential was far better than that.
"Forget it," Noah said. "I'll arrange something. By the way, is anyone living here now?"
"No," Constantine replied casually. "It's just our meeting place."
"Then it's mine now."
"It was yours anyway. Do whatever you want."
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