Flying has always been man's most natural dream—an eternal longing to soar above the clouds. Only a rare few ever come close to realizing it. But me... I'm different. I'm special.
It was early morning, and with the help of my druidic talent, I had transformed into a sparrow. Now, I was gliding gracefully through the skies above our quiet neighborhood. The first hints of dawn brushed the horizon, painting the sky in tender shades of rose and gold. I felt a familiar flutter of exhilaration in my tiny chest. With a small push off the branch I'd rested on, I launched into the cool morning air, my wings slicing through the stillness.
Below, the world was serene. The neighborhood, usually buzzing with noise and movement, lay cloaked in a peaceful hush. Mist coiled gently around the rooftops, dancing like spirits as the sun's golden rays began to rise. I soared above the winding river, watching it gleam like a silver ribbon under the dawning light. A fish leaped from its surface, scales glinting like scattered jewels before it disappeared with a splash.
The trees below shimmered with dew, each leaf heavy and sparkling like a diamond. Parks stood silent and inviting, their quiet charm promising a day of foraging and play. Above me, the sky unfolded like a living canvas—shifting from deep violet to radiant cerulean, hinting at the beautiful day to come. With every beat of my wings, I felt joy radiate through me. This was my world, and I was blessed to view it from this breathtaking perspective.
An hour passed in what felt like seconds. Eventually, I circled back toward my house. Landing neatly on the windowsill of my room, I hopped in and transformed back into my human form. But the moment I turned around, I froze.
There stood Neva, my dear ice phoenix, her beak slightly parted, eyes wide in shock.
"Uh… Ahem… Let me explain," I said awkwardly, scratching my neck.
Only after a thorough explanation—and a heartfelt promise to fetch her fresh strawberries—did she finally calm down.
After changing into fresh clothes, I quietly crept downstairs. Everyone was still asleep. Grabbing a handful of cornflakes, I made my way into the backyard. There, nestled under a broad old tree, lived the two Bowtruckle couples.
I placed my hand against the cool bark and tried to sense the tree's emotions. A wave of contentment flowed through me. She was happy—happy to host the little guardians in her branches. Raising the cornflakes in offering, I waited. A few moments later, four curious Bowtruckles peeked out, blinking sleepily at me.
"Hearth, you're up early today. Did you have a bad dream?" Mom called from the kitchen.
I startled slightly. The morning had passed quicker than I realized. Looking up, I saw the sun already gleaming in a brilliant blue sky.
"No, Mom. I just wanted to play with them," I replied as I stepped into the kitchen. "By the way, are we still going to the zoo today?"
"Yes," she said, stirring a pot on the stove. "The manager sent us a few passes yesterday. But honestly, I don't know how we'll convince your sister to come along. She's been holed up in her room all day."
I shrank a little, guilt prickling at the back of my neck. My recent magical feats had lit a fire in Hermione. She was working harder than ever—probably trying to surpass me.
After feeding the Kneazles, my owl, and Venom, my snake, I hurried back to my room. I'd almost forgotten—I still had unopened rewards in my inventory from the last video broadcast. Three days had passed since then, and I'd been too busy experimenting with my talents to check them.
And boy, had I discovered some things.
My elemental magic had advanced to incredible levels. I could now change the forms of every element I touched. Just the other day, I conjured a majestic water dragon during my bath. The day before that, I crafted a delicate butterfly out of fire. While playing with the Kneazles, I shaped an earth tiger that leapt and growled with life.
Then there was mind magic. I'd learned to draw out people's deepest, unspoken thoughts. As a joke, I once made Dad recall his first love during a family movie night. Let's just say it nearly transformed Mom into a terminator.
Dream magic was another surprise. Within a thousand-meter radius, I could enter people's dreams—and alter them. Last night, I visited Hermione's dream and gave her a flight across the seven wonders of the world. Watching a smile bloom on her sleeping face made it all worth it.
But the most absurd talent I possessed?
Charm magic—thanks to my succubus bloodline. It made me a walking male hormone.
Seriously.
My passive charm alone had become overwhelming. I couldn't leave the house without drawing stares. I could hypnotize weak-willed people effortlessly, and my voice—imbued with soul magic—carried raw emotion. Two days ago, I sang a romantic number during a school event. The aftermath? Over a hundred love letters. From students and teachers. Even the principal held my hand through the entire program… under the deadly gaze of my mother.
Shaking my head to clear the memory, I turned to the unopened rewards:
[Ding! Congratulations! You've received Intermediate Alchemy Knowledge.]
[Ding! You've received an Automatic Writing Quill.]
[Ding! You've unlocked Batman's Combat Skills.]
[Ding! You've learned a Weather Spell.]
[Ding! You've acquired a Piece of the Ancient One's Character Template.]
I blinked. Hard.
Batman's combat skills—from Snape? That alone was insane. But a piece of the Ancient One's character template from Aberforth?
I was speechless.
Turns out, the rewards scale with the emotional response of the viewers. The more overwhelmed they are, the greater the reward. And Aberforth… he must have been stunned.
Character templates work in two ways. A full template—like the one I previously received of Lily Potter—grants all of a person's lifetime talents and skills. But single pieces are useless unless I gather eight of the same kind.
Still, the alchemy knowledge alone was invaluable. I could now decode complex runes and circuits—perhaps even craft magical devices in Hogwarts and earn some gold. A mountain of gold coins, in fact. That was the dream.
"Hearth! Get ready! We're leaving for the zoo at eleven!" Mom shouted from downstairs.
Snapping out of my thoughts, I dashed toward the bathroom.
....