Hogwarts: Proficiency Panel

Chapter 381 - 382: Unlocking the Wampus

Bad news followed the good in quick succession.

The black cat could feel the mists growing heavier, more oppressive. This was a clear sign that his time in the Lands Between was rapidly drawing to a close. At his current pace, there was a high probability he would be expelled from the realm before he ever managed to reach Madam Isolt.

According to the accounts in Dreamland Tales, wandering souls could abandon their lingering obsessions and move on to the "Great Adventure" at any moment. Because these souls were in a constant state of drift, it was purely a matter of luck whether a "Traveler" like Sean would find them nearby.

The difficulty was far greater than he had anticipated, yet he did not allow his frantic pace to falter for a single heartbeat. He was not a person accustomed to stopping.

As the fog thickened and the realm began to signal its gentle dismissal, his movements grew lighter, then faster still. Eventually, the only sound in his ears was the whistling of a phantom wind. In his high-speed transit, the clusters of mist around him blurred into a singular, flowing ribbon of color.

Just as he sensed he was nearing Isolt Sayre, he caught a glimpse of his own reflection in a shimmering pool of vapor.

His paws had grown larger. His whiskers had lengthened. His entire frame had expanded more than tenfold.

The black cat had vanished. In its place was a creature resembling a powerful, ink-black cougar. Its eyes were a vivid green, more brilliant than any emerald. Its body was sleek and muscular, covering vast distances with every rhythmic leap.

The Wampus Cat Revenant had manifested! This was undoubtedly the result of his Soul Transfiguration reaching the Adept tier.

[Alert: You have mastered a specialized aspect of Soul Transfiguration. Master-level Proficiency +100]

[A special form has been unlocked. Please inspect.]

Sean was stunned. A hundred points—the proficiency gain from a Soul Revenant breakthrough was staggering. He opened his system panel with eager anticipation.

[Name: Sean Green]

[Unlocked Special Forms: Kneazle, Wampus Cat]

(Animagus slots have been synchronized and increased)

[Unlocked: Unknown]

A new Animagus form?

Sean felt a surge of excitement. Aside from the legends of Merlin, he had never heard of a wizard possessing multiple Animagus forms, let alone those of magical beasts.

As he pondered when to explain this to Professor Terra and how to use ritual magic to fully anchor the Wampus form, he scrolled down his stats:

[Transfiguration Categories]

Magical Transfiguration: Entry (Master) (60/900)

Material Transfiguration: Adept (Master) (10/3000)

Soul Transfiguration: Adept (Master) (150/3000)

[Evaluation: A wizard who has reached the Master realm of Transfiguration. Your combat prowess is beginning to manifest within this tier. You possess a depth of Transfiguration theory that is incomprehensible to those below the Master level.]

Prowess is beginning to manifest... incomprehensible depth...

Sean mused on the evaluation, feeling a slight sense of aimlessness. After defeating the Basilisk, he had entered a phase where he no longer had a clear benchmark for his own strength. He was certain he could engage a Ministry Auror and retreat safely regardless of the outcome.

But could he defeat one easily? If the number of Aurors increased, would he still be able to escape? And if he were to duel one of the Hogwarts Professors, how far would he actually get?

The mist thickened again, and Sean pushed these questions aside. He looked ahead. A familiar yet translucent figure was staring at him in astonishment.

"Hello, Madam Isolt Sayre," the ebony-furred feline spoke.

"Hello, my lovely Wampus—"

Madam Sayre practically sprinted toward him. She had never seen a Wampus Cat like this: a coat of flowing, ink-black fur patterned with silver-white markings that resembled drifting clouds. More striking still were those green eyes, radiating a piercing, soulful brilliance.

As she drew closer, her expression shifted. "Mr. Green?"

The Wampus nodded.

"Are you dead?!" she gasped.

The Wampus gave a feline huff. "...No, Madam Sayre."

"Just a joke, dear—though it is truly beyond imagination that a bearer of the Void Rune could achieve this level so quickly. Tell me, child, finding me in this void is no easy feat. What is it you seek?"

Isolt's face was bright with a welcoming smile.

"Have you located Mr. James Steward, or Chadwick and Webster Boot?" the cat asked.

"I have not," Isolt replied, her smile turning wistful. "But since a meeting has become a certainty of fate, the wait has become a festival. Mr. Green, let me share an old human irony with you: a person is often at their happiest just as they are approaching happiness."

Despite the translucent lines of age on her face, her smile carried a vibrant, enduring energy.

"And... have you encountered anyone else?" the Wampus asked after a few seconds.

"Of course. I have been here for some time now. While waiting for James and the boys to follow the bridge of our bond and join me, I have been exploring. Naturally, I have met many wandering souls... but tell me, dear boy, who specifically are you looking for?"

"Ariana Dumbledore, Leta Lestrange, and Lily Potter..." the Wampus listed the names.

"I see. So you don't particularly miss any 'Greens'?" Isolt asked with a playful tilt of her head.

"Greens?" The Wampus looked confused.

"You know—a Grandfather Green, or a Grandmother Green? Oh, my apologies, perhaps they are still among the living? You must forgive me; I lost my grasp on the concept of time and mortality quite a while ago."

Isolt stepped lightly across the white void, dodging a cluster of drifting mist.

"I don't know," the cat said.

"And what of a Madam Green, or...?" Isolt trailed off, watching him.

"I don't know," the Wampus repeated, sitting down in the white nothingness, its feline face unreadable.

"I'm sorry," Isolt said softly, her voice losing its playful edge.

"It's fine. Have you seen the people I mentioned? If you encounter them, please let me know." The Wampus's ears gave a subtle twitch.

"Of course—"

A small smile returned to Isolt's lips.

"You mean—?" The Wampus looked up in surprise.

"No," Isolt laughed, her voice clear and bright. "Did you think meeting a specific, wandering soul would be easy? Do you think the things a wizard failed to do or say in the world of the living become easier in the world of the dead? The Lands Between are more infinite and more dangerous than you can conceive.

"The next time you come, you might not find me at all. You must understand, the paths of two souls do not cross easily, even with the aid of a Soul Hallow."

Isolt's warning left Sean in deep thought. It seemed Professor Dumbledore's suggestion had been more of a hopeful theory than a certainty. It reinforced Sean's belief that there were no shortcuts in the soul-realm. Only when he could remain in the Lands Between for a significant amount of time—long enough to reach the cusp of "Dawn"—would his chances of success truly improve.

"Thank you for the warning," the Wampus said, watching the mist beginning to boil around them.

"However," Isolt added, her tone shifting. "I have met another wizard—one I have wanted to meet for a very long time."

"Who?" the Wampus asked, speaking just as the realm prepared to expel him.

"The honored Rowena Ravenclaw," Isolt's voice whispered, sounding like a dream within a dream.

[End of Chapter 382]

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