Chapter 45 Nightmare Magic

Apparition actually consists of three parts: "disapparition", "apparition", and "side-along apparition".

However, people are accustomed to referring to all three parts collectively as Apparition.

Among them, "disapparition" and "apparition" are used together.

"Disapparition" refers to vanishing from a location, while "apparition" refers to appearing at a location.

Combined, these two parts form a complete act of Apparition.

"Side-along apparition" refers to a wizard who has mastered Apparition taking others along to perform Apparition together.

When Toby brought Livid from Hogsmeade Village to the Wizard Tower via Apparition, it was actually a "side-along apparition."

Generally speaking, once a wizard learns Apparition, learning how to take someone else along with side-along apparition is almost effortless.

"...The most important thing is to remember the three Ds: Destination, Determination, Deliberation..."

"Step one, Master Vider must concentrate and picture the destination in your mind, the clearer the better."

"Step two, let the yearning to reach that destination overwhelm every smallest part of your body!"

"Step three, spin on the spot, throwing yourself into the void with deliberation... The more confident and deliberate you are, the easier it is to succeed; the more hesitant you are, the more likely you are to fail..."

Toby was certainly not lying; he possessed a profound understanding of wizarding Apparition.

In just a few words, he outlined the essential keys to Apparition.

At this moment, five meters ahead of Livid, where a humanoid target used to stand, a circle with a diameter of one meter was now drawn on the ground.

That circle was Livid's current destination, and he had to attempt to apparate directly inside it.

Livid gripped an old wand in his hand and stared at the circle ahead.

Then, he closed his eyes.

Thanks to his powerful memory, the image of the circle vividly presented itself in his mind.

Next, following the insights he had gained while practicing Occlumency earlier, Livid projected a powerful intent within his heart to reach that exact spot...

Finally, he entrusted everything to his own magic, and decisively spun on the spot!

"Here I go!"

"Crack!"

When Livid opened his eyes, he was already standing inside the circle.

"Ah! Master Vider is truly a genius! He succeeded on the very first try!" Toby shouted with extreme excitement.

Livid himself found it somewhat hard to believe, as he had already prepared himself for the possibility of splinching.

Yet, this first attempt had actually succeeded?

Was Apparition really this simple?

"Toby, help me check and see if any parts of me were left behind."

Toby said happily, "Master Vider, Toby saw it clearly, you did not splinch, not even a single hair was left behind! You succeeded! And it didn't look anything like someone practicing Apparition for the first time at all!"

"Merlin's beard! When Toby used to help old master Sophocles learn Apparition, old master Sophocles practiced for more than a week and splinched a full five times before he finally learned it..."

Toby's voice suddenly choked off, and then he began to raise his fists to beat his own large head, "Oh! Toby is truly wicked! Toby is a bad elf! How could he speak ill of his master!"

Livid grabbed his arm and said sternly, "Toby, your master is now me. If you wish to punish yourself, it can only be for my sake! Please make sure you remember that!"

"Y-Yes!" Toby was nearly frightened out of his wits when he realized the mistake he had made.

Once a house-elf re-binds to a new master, they must make a clean break with their former master. This was precisely why house-elves rarely changed masters, as most elves were unable to sever their emotional attachment to their previous owners.

Toby's change of master was an "accident" caused by the system, but since he had changed masters, he had to abide by the rules!

In theory, he was the property of his current master!

This meant he had no right to punish himself on account of anyone else, even if that person was his former master!

The only one with the right to order him to punish himself was his current master!

"Let this be the last time! Alright, let's try Apparition again."

To prevent Toby from punishing himself over his own mistake once more, Livid issued another command.

"Yes!" Toby replied, his ears drooping.

"This time, let's try going somewhere a bit further away..."

Perhaps because Livid had thoroughly understood the principles of magic while studying Occlumency, combined with the powerful magic of an adult wizard that he now wielded, his learning of Apparition went unexpectedly smoothly.

Before long, he was able to move freely back and forth across the various floors of the Wizard Tower at will.

After that, Livid grew increasingly bold. He wrapped a piece of cloth to conceal his face and independently completed several Apparitions to Hogsmeade Village and Diagon Alley.

Not a single attempt failed, which left Toby, who followed closely behind him, in constant awe.

Finally, when he side-along apparated back to the Wizard Tower from London with Toby, he had practiced Apparition to a point of great fluency.

He had not expected that merely delving into Occlumency beforehand would yield such immense help in practicing other forms of magic. This discovery thrilled Livid immensely.

This must be what they meant by mastering one principle unlocks a hundred others...

The hardship of that entire day and night of toil had ultimately not been in vain!

"Master Vider, congratulations on mastering Apparition!" Toby squeaked, "However, for wizards to use Apparition, they are required to pass the test administered by the Magical Transportation Department..."

"Mm, I know," Livid replied offhandedly.

Much like needing a driver's license to drive a car, Apparition required a test. Only after passing the exam and registering with the Ministry of Magic could one use Apparition freely.

However, Livid had no intention of taking the test right now.

He planned to keep Apparition as a hidden trump card.

One had to realize that virtually no wizards learned Apparition at such a young age.

If an eleven-year-old Livid were to simply go and take the test like that, it would inevitably cause a sensation.

By then, everyone would know that he could apparate.

That would mean his hidden trump card was completely exposed.

An exposed trump card could never achieve the effect of catching an opponent by surprise at a critical moment!

Since practicing Apparition had taken very little time and consumed practically no energy, Livid decided to resume his original plan after taking a brief rest.

When he first arrived at the Wizard Tower, he had actually already selected several Dark Arts to practice.

Among those Dark Arts, the one that interested him the most was a Dark spell known as Nightmare Magic.

This was recorded on a manuscript collected on the fourth floor by a member of the Somleno family, and its inventor was unknown.

Once this spell hit an adversary, it could instantly plunge the target into a deep sleep and allow the caster to manipulate the victim's dreams at will.

In Livid's view, using this spell for interrogation might prove even more effective than Veritaserum or forced Legilimency...

And if used for torture, it was far more terrifying than the Cruciatus Curse!

After all, having the ability to control dreams meant you could subject someone to whatever nightmare you desired...

When the deepest, darkest fears in one's heart appeared in loop after endless loop within one's dreams... very few people could withstand that kind of torture!

When practiced to a certain level, one could even quietly slip into someone's dreams while they slept normally, manipulate the dreams, and snoop on secrets without a sound...

Of course, while this Dark Art was immensely powerful, mastering it was exceptionally difficult.

This manuscript had been left on the fourth floor for so long, and quite a few members of the Somleno family had perused it, yet those who truly mastered this Dark Art were few and far between.

Because learning this spell required an exceptionally formidable strength of soul!

Livid had realized long ago that the strength of his soul seemed far superior to that of ordinary people, which was why he intended to attempt practicing this magic.

Moreover, this spell could be cast with extreme stealth, and could even use the Stunner as a superficial disguise.

At this stage, Livid truly needed such a concealed yet powerful trump card!