Seeing the new notifications on the shimmering system interface, Rhine felt a renewed surge of joy.
Two more talents acquired!
Compared to these two talents, the few pounds he had spent were nothing—barely enough to buy a proper meal at a restaurant.
The only thing that left him a little disappointed was that his bond with the mail owl had only reached the level of "Close Friend," and not "Life-and-Death Bond."
Because of that, he hadn't unlocked the talent Sun and Moon Essence.
Still, he thought, that made sense.
After all, creatures act in their own interests. It was only because he and Flanders had shared years of companionship that they had managed to bond as life-and-death companions.
But he had only just met this owl. Expecting such a deep connection already was a bit much.
"Looks like once I get to Hogwarts, I'll have to drop by the Owlery and spend some time bonding with him."
"Even if that talent turns out to be useless, it's better to have it than not."
With that thought in mind, Rhine turned to ask the owl for its name.
"Roberts?"
"You live in Cage No. 17 in the Owlery, right?"
"Alright, got it. Once I arrive at Hogwarts, I'll come visit you and bring you some treats."
Roberts fluttered his wings excitedly and said,
"Alright, hurry up and write your reply. I'll take it back for you."
"Once the letter's delivered, you'll probably be visited by a professor tomorrow to bring you into the magical world."
Hearing this, Rhine quickly asked,
"Do you know which professor will be coming?"
Roberts tilted his head in thought.
"Usually it's Professor McGonagall, the Deputy Headmistress."
"But she's been swamped lately. Your year's new students seem to be especially troublesome."
"If she's too busy, then it might be Hagrid, the Keeper of Keys and Grounds. He looks scary, but he's actually a really nice guy."
Rhine nodded, then swiftly penned a letter expressing his willingness to attend Hogwarts.
Only then did Roberts take off, flapping his wings. Before flying out of sight, he gave Rhine one last farewell wave with a wing.
Rhine watched the owl's silhouette disappear into the dark night sky.
Then, softly, he spoke:
"System, claim the talents: Night Vision and Windborne Gift."
In the next instant, as the interface refreshed, new bond information appeared—this time showing his connection with the spiritual owl.
The rewards section now displayed:
[Talent: Night Vision]
[Talent: Windborne Gift]
Immediately, the pitch-black night outside his window transformed. It became as clear as day.
He could see every detail beneath the cloak of night!
Even a sneaky rat darting across the street in search of scraps—it was all perfectly visible.
"Not only can I see in the dark—my eyesight's improved too. Looks like I won't need glasses anymore."
"Nice touch, system. You didn't even mention that bonus feature."
At the same time, Rhine reached a hand out the window.
The night breeze brushed past—cool, yet surprisingly comforting.
Each gust that brushed against his fingers felt like a playful greeting.
"Come out and play, Lord Rhine!"
If he were an adult with a flying license—or if he had a broomstick—Rhine would've launched into the skies without hesitation, racing through the air with reckless abandon, chasing these mischievous sprites of wind.
But he didn't.
So Rhine clenched his jaw and muttered,
"Can't play, not equipped. Guess I'll just enjoy the massage."
A gentle breeze blew in.
Not cold at all, it swept over his body like a calming current, leaving him relaxed and refreshed, as though all the dust and weariness had been swept away.
"This talent's practically a built-in Scouring Charm. No more laundry."
"Throw in an eternal massage enchantment—what's not to love?"
Unknowingly, Rhine had sunk into the plush comfort of the study sofa. Under the soothing caress of the breeze, he soon drifted off to sleep.
---
The next morning, in a half-dreaming daze, Rhine sensed something unusual in the wind.
He opened his eyes and looked toward the window.
"The wind feels a bit… rowdy today?"
Following the vibration he felt in the air, he looked up—then spotted a dark dot cutting through the clouds, drawing closer.
It wasn't a bird.
It was a flying motorbike.
Rhine's heart stirred. He already knew who it was.
"Hagrid?"
A flicker of anticipation sparked in his eyes.
His encounters with Flanders the butler and Roberts the mail owl had already brought unexpected rewards.
But Flanders was a Muggle with no magic.
And Roberts, though part of Hogwarts, was just a delivery owl.
Even if the system was a little eccentric, it wouldn't mistake them for some kind of ancient magical deities.
But Hagrid—he was different.
Though expelled from Hogwarts and stripped of his wand, he was still Dumbledore's staunch ally, a member of the Order of the Phoenix, and a half-giant to boot.
If the system were going to confuse someone for a legendary being, Hagrid would be a top candidate.
And the benefits of forging a bond with him? They'd surely be substantial.
After a moment of thought, Rhine instructed Flanders to notify the estate's security.
"One of my friends will be arriving soon. Please escort him to my study."
Flanders raised an eyebrow in surprise.
A friend of Lord Rhine?
No offense intended, but while Rhine was certainly well-known, he was never much of a socialite.
Compared to others his age, he was far too mature.
And for adults, even though he spoke and carried himself like one, his youthful appearance made it hard to take him seriously.
Plus, with the added pressure of his literary prodigy status, engaging with him wasn't exactly relaxing.
So who on earth could this friend be?
Soon enough, as Flanders puzzled over this, a towering figure appeared before him.
Flanders froze.
This oddly dressed giant… was that Lord Rhine's friend?
Wait—maybe he was a writer?
That would explain it. Writers and artists were known for their quirks. Even if they defecated on the street, it could be interpreted as performance art.
So what if he was tall? So what if he dressed weirdly?
Without further delay, Flanders carried out Rhine's instructions and led Hagrid to the study.
When Rhine saw him, he too was momentarily stunned.
Because the system interface flashed with a new alert:
[You have encountered Yuan Hong, eldest of the Seven Freaks of Meishan, wandering incognito in the mortal realm.]
[Yuan Hong, born of a white ape, is an innate anomaly. Towering over eight feet tall, he is strikingly heroic in appearance.]
[Wields the Staff of Water and Fire, masters the Arcane Arts of Eight-Nine Transformations, formidable in battle, fierce in nature, fond of combat.]
[…]
[Warning: Though the tribulation has not yet begun and Yuan Hong remains unaffiliated, he harbors no goodwill toward the Chan Sect.]
[System Recommendation: Fall to your knees and beg for mercy—you might survive.]