Chapter 6: The First Lesson (1/2)
Two people, one young, the other old, sat in a room. The old man sat in his chair with a smile on his face. From any angle, the older man was just a joyous old man, while the young child sitting on a stool was emitting the air of nervousness and tension. The merry old man was Alan D. Baddeley, while the young child was Quinn West.
Both were sitting in a room of the West Manor. Today was their first meeting and Quinn's first lesson on mind magic. The reason for Quinn's apparent discomfort was that Alan had snooped around in his mind using Legilimency and that on their first meeting, with no warning or permission.
It wasn't a surprise that Quinn had a terrible impression of Alan after his blatant offense at reading his mind. Alan, who was looking at Quinn, continued as nothing had happened.
”Mr. West, before we begin, I would like you to tell me what do you think about mind magic. Please be assured, I am not expecting you to give a correct answer. Just tell me your thoughts when you hear the word mind magic.”
Quinn, who had lost all his initial excitement about learning a new branch of magic, thought about the shitty old man's question and gave out his thoughts about mind magic.
”Mind Magic, as the name suggests, is the magic related to the mind. Any magic that affects the mind or explores the inner working of the brain comes under the category of mind magic.”
Alan, with his ever smiling face, spoke in response to Quinn's answer. ”Excellent, can you give me some examples of mind magic?”
Quinn immediately answered the question, ”Occlumency and Legilimency.”
Alan's smile widened, and he continued the Q-and-A, ”Oh my, those are some heavy words that you threw out there. Can you give me some other examples of mind magic?”
Quinn frowned and thought about any other magic that could be categorized under mind magic, but he couldn't think of any other magic that came under mind magic. But just as he was about to shake his head, he remembered one more, ”Oblivation is also a mind magic.”
Alan leaned back into his chair and said, ”Okay, not bad, but let me throw out a question for you to think. Have you heard about the Cheering Charm?”
Quinn nodded, ”A charm that made the target feel elated. If overdone, it could cause the victim to overcome with fits of hysterical laughter.”
”Excellent, excellent. Then wouldn't you say that the Cheering Charm affects the mind of the target? Wouldn't the Cheering Charm come under the category of mind magic?”
Quinn blinked twice, ”B-but, the Cheering Charm... how can something like a trivial Cheering Charm be a mind magic.”
Alan shook his head and countered, ”Mr. West, magic being trivial has nothing to with its identity. As you said, any magic that affects the mind is mind magic. Cheering Charm, Bravery Charm, Jelly-Brain Jinx, Confudus Charm, Sleeping Charm, even potions like Love potions and Hate potions that affect the mind also come under mind magic.
My motive to tell you about this is to clear the confusion that things like Occlumency and Legilimency aren't the only magic that comes under mind magic. Mind magic, like any branch, is a wide field of magic. Many mysteries that need to be explored, many secrets that need to be unveiled.”
Alan's revelation surprised Quinn. After listening to Alan's explanation, he agreed that even something like Cheering Charm was a form of mind magic. Before Alan's explanation, he never saw potions as a mind magic.
He looked up at Alan and spoke, ”You are correct. Any magic that affects the mind is a mind magic.”
Alan leaned forward towards the table, ”Now, let's talk about the aim of these lessons. Your grandfather hired me to teach you the art of protecting your mind. You already know about it, don't you?”
Quinn answered, ”Yes, Occlumency is the art of protecting your mind. It can prevent a Legilimens, a person who knows how to perform Legilimency, from accessing one's thoughts and feelings or influencing them. We know a person who practices this art as an Occlumens.”
”Excellent!” said Alan, looking impressed with Quinn's knowledge. ”But, let me tell you what an accomplished Legilimens could do against someone with no mental defenses.”
Quinn turned serious as he hung onto Alan's every word.
”A novice Legilimens could perceive their target's emotions. That means that even though they couldn't look into their thoughts, they could still tell how you are feeling.
An intermediate Legilimens could perceive their target's surface thoughts. They could tell what you are thinking at the moment. Any intermediate Legilimens could do what I did to you.
A master Legilimens could dive into their target's mind and see their memories, experiences, and anything that the mind offers. They could know your every secret in a matter of minutes.”
Quinn sucked in a sharp breath. He already knew what a Legilimens could do, but listening to it from a Legilimens' mouth was another thing. The thought that the person in front of him could know all his memories was a scary thought that was finally setting in, but it turned out Alan was just getting starting.
”Now above that...”
Quinn was shocked and ended up raising his voice. ”There is more?!”
Alan raised his eyebrows and exclaimed, ”Of course, anyone with enough aptitude for mind arts could accomplish this with enough practice. Please, note that we base these categorizations on a Legilimens' performance against an unprotected mind.”
Quinn nodded, prompting Alan to continue.
”There is no categorization above master Legilimens as Legilimens take different paths after becoming masters in Legilimency. But, people like to call themselves Grandmasters.
Some would strengthen their prowess so that they could read memories from a practiced Occlumens. Others would seek other branches of Legilimens, like stimulating emotions inside the target or controlling people by influencing their minds. Then there are people who explore people's dreamscapes or in simple words dive into people's dream.”
Quinn interjected with a query, ”Controlling people like the Imperius Curse does?”
Alan wasn't surprised hearing Quinn mention an Unforgivable Curse, as children from magical families were educated about them.
”In a way, yes, while Imperius Curse makes people do things against their will, a grandmaster could plant suggestions inside their subconscious, making the target do their bidding and make it seem like the target did it out of their own free will. An Imperius Curse leaves traces on the mind, but a grandmaster wouldn't leave any trace of their presence.”
Quinn felt goosebumps surface on his skins and chills going down his back. Alan didn't notice it and continued,
”Just think what someone could do if they got hold of your grandfather's mind. They would've so much wealth and influence under their control, and that is why magical families train their young ones against the attacks of a Legilimens by training them to become Occlumens.”
Quinn nodded, thinking about the dangers of Legilimens having control of his grandfather's mind.
”Now, I would be teaching you how to protect your mind. I will teach you the art of Occlumency.”
Before Alan could continue, Quinn interjected and asked a question.
”What is your level of Legilimency?”
Alan intertwined his fingers, his elbows on the table, and answered, ”I am beyond the master level, Mr. West. I specialize in Mind magic and could do stuff you can't even imagine.”. Alan stated as if not saying a terrifying fact.
And Alan's slight smile made it much more terrifying. Quinn gulped but braved forward, ”Then why did you take a teaching job and that to a child who doesn't understand mind arts.”
Alan laughed and spoke with joy evident in his voice, ”Mr. West, you really are a smart child. You see, the people who study the mysteries of the mind and practice the mind magic often end up picking up a bad habit, an occupational hazard if that clears it.
To us, the average wizard seems like a mind begging to be explored and fiddled with. It is tantalizing to keep out of the minds of unsuspecting people, so they find various workarounds to suppress this urge to snoop around people's minds.
I personally chose to teach mind arts to curb my desire to snoop around in people's minds. When I am teaching, it is expected that our minds will be connected, frequently at that. Teaching mind arts to someone while maintaining proper protocol is enough for me. So be assured, I will not snoop around your mind untamed.
As to why I choose to teach a child? Mr. West, children are the best students for teaching mind arts. They are free and learn very quickly. And have the best imagination, which helps when practicing mind magic.”
Quinn knew Alan was trying to assure him that everything would be fine, but Quinn knew that if he learned Occlumency, then a lot of Quinn's secrets would be revealed to Alan and then to anyone Alan shared that knowledge.
But it seemed Quinn had been worrying for nothing as Alan pulled out a thin stack of paper and set it on the table. Quinn looked at the stack of paper and then conveyed his confusion with his eyes to Alan.