Chapter 225- Upgrade? - Part 1

{15th July 1991} 

{Rigel's POV}

"Rigel! Are you awake yet?" Sirius's booming voice echoed impatiently from behind the closed door, jolting me from my deep contemplation. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, I blinked as reality rushed back in, my thoughts reluctantly shifting from the complexities of mana manipulation to the reality of our impending departure.

"Yeah," I called out, a faint hint of exasperation slipping into my tone. "I'll be ready in a minute."

But my mind lingered stubbornly, still caught on the differences I'd begun noticing between wand-based and staff-based magic. It had been plaguing me since yesterday, ever since I first tested the staff at Jyoti's shop. Theoretically, converting the Parseltongue spells from staff to wand should be achievable—after all, magical scholars frequently adapted spells between systems. But Parseltongue spells, already rare and intricate, complicated matters significantly.

Yesterday's meditation focused on trying to understand the frustrating process of mapping the similarities between the two systems, with limited progress. Combined with the fact that the system was offline, I was not able to gain any assistance from that front. I could sense clearly how mana moved differently when channeled through my wand—quick, precise bursts of mana—but with the staff, it felt slower, deeper, like flowing water rather than controlled sparks. Translating that intuitive feeling into practical wand movements and incantations was proving maddeningly difficult.

"Rigel!" Sirius bellowed again, his voice slightly muffled through the door. "Are you coming, or do I have to drag you out of there myself? We've got to leave soon."

I sighed, reluctantly pulling myself back into the present. Traveling to the northern part of India was part of our cover, carefully crafted by Sirius and me. Rather than journey directly to Allahabad, our true destination, we planned to move gradually northward. It would give me time to master the new magic and keep prying eyes from becoming suspicious.

"Yes, Sirius! I said I'm coming," I replied loudly, slightly exasperated but still amused at his impatience.

Sliding off the bed, I gently placed the ebony staff down, marveling once again at the masterful craftsmanship. Its polished black shaft glistened softly, mithril threads sparkling in the early morning sunlight streaming through the curtains. Yet, despite its beauty and power, the staff presented logistical problems for our journey. While the system was offline, some of its functions were still working, which was a relief. Focusing on it, the description of the staff appeared hovering over it.

...

[Rigel's Staff {Compatibility – 98%}]

[Staff wood: Ebony]

[Inlays: Silver-mithril runic veins]

[Staff length: 34 inches]

[Staff flexibility: Rigid]

[Carved from the heartwood of a single ebony trunk, this staff is polished to a deep, lustrous black, its surface cool to the touch yet resonant with hidden power. Silver-mithril inlays spiral organically from base to tip, each vein embedding protective runes that guide and amplify mana. At the head, twin serpents of carved mithril cradle a richly faceted amethyst gem, whose violet depths glow when mana flows.]

[Ebony's natural affinity for deep, ancient currents of magic makes the staff a formidable channel for large-scale healing and diagnostic spells. The mithril runes ensure stability and precision, while the amethyst focus gem tunes into the subtle ebb and flow of life-force, translating intent into transformative healing energy.]

[+5% spells' efficiency.]

...

It was a piece of art. Like wands, staffs couldn't be shrunk without devastating their delicate runic pathways. It was clear now why India's magical community had so swiftly abandoned them in favor of rings. Staffs were cumbersome and impractical for any wizard accustomed to frequent travel.

Thankfully, Jyoti had anticipated this issue. Pulling the polished box from beneath the bed, I carefully placed the staff inside. The box itself, a neutral vessel without runic intricacies, could easily withstand shrinking charms. A quick tap from my wand, and it reduced effortlessly in size, fitting neatly into my palm.

Tucking the miniaturized box securely into my trunk, my gaze drifted to the other remarkable creation—my newly acquired magical ring. A polished silver band, sleek and simple, its dark stone was intricately etched within by impossibly fine golden Sanskrit runes. This smaller focus, Jyoti assured me, could channel mana just as effectively as the staff, once I mastered the slightly different gestures, though it would never be able to channel mana for large-scale rituals. It was an easy substitute for the staff. Thankfully, the reference book I'd acquired offered some guidance. Mastering ring-based gestures promised to be simpler—though still not trivial—than translating spells directly to wand-based magic.

...

[Rigel's Focus Ring {Compatibility – 92%}]

[Ring band: Silver alloy]

[Focus gem: Black diamond]

[Ring size: Self-adjusting enchantment]

[Responsiveness: Extremely high]

[The ring's sleek silver band is both elegant and durable, its interior auto-adjusting to the wearer's finger with a gentle warmth. At its center rests a flawless black diamond, each facet etched in glowing Sanskrit runes that channel and refine mana with pinpoint accuracy. The diamond core absorbs ambient magical energies and, guided by the wearer's intent, redirects them into precise, controlled flows—ideal for subtle charms, and low-powered spells.]

[The pairing of a pure silver vessel and a rune-inscribed diamond creates a focus that responds instinctively to charms.]

[+5% charms.]

Taking my gaze away from the ring, I quickly surveyed the room to ensure I hadn't forgotten anything important. Satisfied, I pointed my wand at the trunk, shrinking it into a convenient size. I pocketed it, feeling a familiar comfort as I stepped toward the door.

Finally exiting my room, I stepped into the suite's common area, prepared for Sirius's exaggerated irritation or Fred's friendly teasing. Yet the room stood completely empty. Not a single soul was present, much less ready to travel. I paused, glancing around in confusion, the faint sounds of muffled voices drifting from behind other bedroom doors.

Suppressing an urge to sarcastically remind Sirius of the urgency he'd repeatedly declared, I exhaled softly, sinking onto the sofa. Leaning back, I silently amused myself by imagining everyone hastily shoving clothes into their suitcase or Harry panicking over misplaced socks.

Shaking my head with quiet amusement, I stretched lightly, settling into the comfortable cushions. My mind inevitably wandered back to the clock as the floating screen once again appeared in front of me, quietly ticking down, filling me with anticipation.

I didn't know what the system meant by tutorial phase, had I screwed myself over with this trip and the difficulty of the world would now dramatically increase, it was another distraction that I burried for now as I leaned forward as the last seconds trickled down.

[!System Upgrade in progress...Time remaining 00:00:04]

'Let's see what changed, shall we?'

---

AN: Woops.... I made a blunder while posting... anyway, I had to scrap a lot of the plans based on how the poll went. As for the result, the world would remain pure AU. Although I would probably introduce the new schools, there would be no character crossover, and no Sharingan upgrade for Rigel by using the Ritual with Sasuke's mother... sadge really :P. Anyway, I had to take a few days to recalibrate the new plot.

The system would change, incorporating some RPG elements, as I realized I had previously overlooked certain aspects. Additionally, the LP system and Requirements for claiming girls would undergo a significant overhaul. Comment on what changes you think make sense.