The following days were quite peaceful. After Glenn's attempts to comprehend and learn the contents of the magical book proved fruitless, he and Hermione officially began systematically studying the fascinating written form of Classical Chinese.
Well, the little girl had to start by learning Mandarin first. Glenn could only study Classical Chinese while simultaneously teaching Hermione the basics of the language.
To be honest, he wasn't sure how to teach her until his grandmother instructed their parents to buy a set of Chinese textbooks for children, ranging from Language Arts: First Grade, Volume One to Language Arts: Sixth Grade, Volume Two.
"So this is how Chinese people learn their language?" Glenn didn't find these textbooks childish or simple. He had never seen such materials before. In his previous life, he hadn't experienced such a normal and engaging education. Even language learning had been forcibly drilled into him like a machine in the organization. So now, he found these books fascinating and enjoyed studying them alongside Hermione.
With Hermione's remarkable learning speed as a top student, she quickly grasped Mandarin. Combined with the assistance of these professional textbooks, her Chinese proficiency was soon comparable to that of a five- or six-year-old child!
What? You think a five- or six-year-old's Chinese skills are poor? Think about it this way: if you only had a rudimentary understanding of English, could you understand what five- or six-year-olds in an English-speaking country were saying?
Not easy at all.
However, language isn't something that can be mastered solely through study and memorization. The little girl came up with an idea: she required herself to spend a few hours each day speaking only Mandarin with Glenn.
Glenn agreed, as practice is the best teacher. He admired Hermione's initiative in coming up with such a method.
As for the funny mistakes Hermione made while speaking Mandarin, let's leave those stories for another time.
In addition to language learning, Lin Yingqing suggested that they take a look at the lower-grade textbooks for the six major courses taught in China.
She intended for them to gain some understanding of Chinese sorcery. While in-depth study was unlikely at this stage—since the two kids already had to focus on their Hogwarts curriculum—she believed that sometimes trying to learn too much at once could backfire. Human energy is limited, and it's impossible to divide attention across so many things while maintaining quality.
Still, gaining some knowledge wouldn't hurt. It could provide references for their spellcasting and foster mutual enrichment between the magical knowledge of the two countries.
Besides, Lin Yingqing was also pondering whether she could poach these two kids from Hogwarts.
(?w?)
After spending these days with Glenn and Hermione, Lin Yingqing had grown increasingly fond of the two little ones.
She made up her mind: she would talk to her father someday and have him reach out to Hogwarts' headmaster for a proper exchange.
Although she wanted to personally teach Glenn and Hermione, Lin Yingqing actually didn't spend much time at home. As the leading artificer in the Chinese sorcery world, she had an endless list of responsibilities. Sometimes, the two kids wouldn't see their grandmother for four or five days straight.
"I've created a new portal that bypasses the protective barriers of the library and connects directly inside. Glenn, Hermione, you can go there anytime you want," Lin Yingqing said, pointing to a door. Then, she raised her hands, and two gloves—one black and one white—appeared in her palms.
"By the way, I don't think I've given you a proper gift yet. These are custom-made Hands of Sorcery, a little present from me as your grandmother," she said with a smile, placing the gloves into Glenn and Hermione's hands.
"Really? Thank you, Grandma!" Hermione, clearly enamored with the Hand of Sorcery, immediately threw herself into Lin Yingqing's arms and kissed her on the cheek.
Glenn carefully examined and sensed the faint magical circuits embedded within the Hand of Sorcery. As expected, it was indeed a spellcasting medium similar to a wand. While its ability to channel and amplify spells was slightly inferior to that of a wand, its flexibility far surpassed it.
Wands choose their owners, providing the most suitable spellcasting medium for the wizard. Casting spells with a wand feels smooth, and the power of the magic is somewhat enhanced. However, wands haven't seen significant advancements in a long time. They have a high baseline but a low ceiling. In contrast, the Hand of Sorcery is mostly standardized equipment, but the quality varies depending on the artificer's skill. It can be customized and continuously upgraded. Being a glove, it offers unparalleled flexibility compared to a wand. Different users can achieve different effects with it, and its potential ceiling remains unknown.
Each has its own merits.
Hermione held the Hand of Sorcery but was puzzled. She couldn't tell which hand the white glove was meant for.
"Just place it on the back of the hand you want to wear it on," Lin Yingqing explained, anticipating Hermione's confusion. Almost every novice who received a Hand of Sorcery faced this dilemma.
Hearing this, the little girl eagerly placed the white Hand of Sorcery on the back of her left hand. As Lin Yingqing had said, the glove slowly merged with Hermione's hand, covering it and morphing to fit her hand perfectly.
Hermione admired the Hand of Sorcery on her left hand with delight.
As for why she chose her left hand instead of her dominant right hand, it was because Glenn had once mentioned that equipping two spellcasting mediums simultaneously might allow for casting different spells at the same time.
Although this required exceptional control and cognitive ability, Hermione had already started training herself for it.
Now, all that was left was for her to figure out how to use the Hand of Sorcery.
The little girl wasn't too worried. She and Glenn had long believed that magic and sorcery were essentially the same, differing only in the structure of their magical circuits and their compatibility with wands or the Hand of Sorcery.
However, the Hand of Sorcery required more precise hand movements and extensive practice.
From what she had learned, Chinese spellcasting tools weren't limited to the Hand of Sorcery.
Still, the foundational knowledge of sorcery taught before students chose their courses was consistent, indicating that the choice of spellcasting tool didn't affect the ability to cast spells or sorcery.
That said, it was still challenging for Hermione. Unlike Glenn, she couldn't intuitively perceive the structure of magical circuits and had to figure it out on her own.
Directly learning Chinese sorcery was also an option, after which she could attempt to integrate it with her magic.
Glenn placed his black Hand of Sorcery on the back of his left hand. Once equipped, he didn't feel any restriction in his left hand's mobility.
The Hand of Sorcery felt like a second layer of skin, adhering to his hand. Apart from a cool sensation and the faintly glowing magical circuits within, there was no other noticeable feeling.
He attempted to channel his internal magic, constructing the magical circuit for the Lumos spell and connecting it to the Hand of Sorcery. Glenn felt a bit of resistance; the flow of magic wasn't very smooth.
It was like trying to turn the wrong key in the wrong lock—it just wouldn't turn.
Activating his heightened perception, Glenn narrowed his focus to his body, meticulously observing the magical circuits.
He tried removing the circuits that couldn't pass through the Hand of Sorcery and attempted the Lumos spell again.
This time, it worked. A small light gradually gathered in Glenn's hand. Although it wasn't as bright as the Lumos spell cast with his wand, Glenn discovered that the light could move flexibly around him, albeit within a limited range, as if tethered by an invisible string.
Glenn understood that this was the path of movement dictated by the magic he channeled to sustain and guide the light.
The little girl was astonished. She had also tried using the Hand of Sorcery to cast spells she had learned, but all her attempts had failed.
Come on, the only spells she could cast without a wand were a handful, and for those requiring wand movements, how was she supposed to replicate them with a glove?
Pouting, Hermione puffed up her cheeks and continued attempting to use the Hand of Sorcery, but at most, she could only make it glow faintly.
Lin Yingqing wasn't surprised. After all, there were quite a few people who could immediately use their previous spells and sorcery with a new spellcasting tool.
For example, herself, her father, her elder brother, and her father's friend Dumbledore, whom she had met as a child—they could all do it.
Strange, why was she comparing herself and them to Glenn?
Never mind, it wasn't important.
After giving the two kids their gifts and letting them explore on their own, Lin Yingqing used Shrinking the Ground into Inches and disappeared.
Despite several failed attempts to cast spells with the Hand of Sorcery, Hermione remained undeterred. She kept channeling magic into it, feeling as if she was on the verge of success—just a little more, and she'd grasp the key to casting spells. Yet, that feeling remained elusive.
Glenn couldn't help her directly, so Hermione had to keep experimenting on her own.
However, he did offer a suggestion: "Hermione, why don't you start by learning the basic sorcery techniques for beginners in China? It might help you bridge the gap between our spells and their sorcery."
If Hermione could find that connection, using the Hand of Sorcery to cast spells would no longer be an issue.
Exhausted and panting, Hermione reluctantly nodded.
She glared at Glenn with dissatisfaction. Why could this guy use the Hand of Sorcery so easily?
Hmph, I won't let him surpass me. I'll work even harder to catch up!
Glenn noticed the little girl's resentful gaze and felt a bit uneasy.
"Hermione, do you want a kiss?" he asked. Usually, when the little girl stared at him like this, it meant she wanted a kiss.
Though Hermione had never explicitly said so, Glenn had discovered that as long as he kissed her cheek, she seemed to forget whatever was bothering her. However, she would lower her head and fall into silence.
"!" Hermione's eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't expected Glenn to say such a thing out of the blue.
"No way! Hmph!" She crossed her arms, turned her head away, and raised her chin, entering her tsundere mode.
Glenn nodded. "Got it." He began moving closer to Hermione.
What do you mean, "got it"? What exactly have you understood??
Hermione glanced nervously at Glenn as he approached.
Glenn knew that when the little girl was upset, her words often meant the opposite. Ignoring this could lead to disastrous consequences.
His calm expression and steady approach gave Hermione a sense of immense pressure. Unconsciously, she took a step back, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring at Glenn warily.
"W-what are you doing? I'm warning you, don't come any closer!" she stammered, retreating further and baring her teeth in a mock threat.
"Mm, I understand," Glenn replied, though his footsteps didn't stop.
—Danger—
Feeling a surge of panic, Hermione turned and bolted, with Glenn chasing close behind.
She ran, he pursued, and there was no escape.
"Stay away from me! Ahhh!" she cried.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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