Harry Potter: Archmage of Another World

When it came to meditation, it had to be said that most of this batch of trainees had only average talent. During their first attempt at meditation, only Hermione and Luna among the girls managed to sense the elements of the world. As for the boys, aside from Harry vaguely perceiving faint colors, none of them succeeded in entering the formal stage of meditation.

"You have one week to master meditation and begin shaping your magic strings," Augustus declared, raising his pale hand. "At the apprentice level, everything relies solely on your own effort. Everyone's elemental attributes and constitutions differ, so the experiences and guidance of others will ultimately be superfluous. You have one week to step into the rank of magic apprentice. This timeline is already the maximum allowance, considering your individual talents. In truth, anyone detected to possess magical attributes will inevitably reach the apprentice stage. If you fail to do so within a week, it simply indicates an issue with your attitude."

Pausing slightly, Augustus's tone grew sterner. "While talent deficiencies can be overcome with diligence and hard work, a poor attitude in cultivation disqualifies a person from remaining in the Julius Corps. This one-week period is both a mandatory task and a final deadline. By the time of our next gathering, anyone who has not reached the apprentice stage should leave voluntarily."

Realizing the seriousness in Augustus's words, many students began quietly planning their training schedules. For each of them, joining the Julius Corps and learning elemental magic represented a rare, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. To be expelled midway due to laziness or negligence was not just a loss of face—it was the regrettable forfeiture of a chance to achieve greatness.

"Considering the nature of our meetings and the contents of the training, the timing of gatherings may vary and be adjusted frequently," Augustus said, glancing at Hermione. She nodded, picking up a basket from the floor behind her.

"Here," Augustus gestured toward the basket Hermione was holding. "This is Hermione's idea for a gathering coordination tool. She'll explain it to you in detail."

"Do you see the numbers around the edge of this coin?" Hermione held up a coin for everyone to see. It gleamed golden under the torchlight. "In regular galleons, this is just a minting number, representing the goblin who cast it. But on these coins, the numbers will change to display the time of our next gathering. When the time changes, the coin will heat up, so if you keep it in your pocket, you'll feel it. Each of us gets one. When Augustus finalizes the next meeting time, he'll modify the numbers on his coin, and thanks to a transformation spell I've cast, all of your coins will update simultaneously."

After explaining, Hermione was met with silence as everyone stared up at her. She felt a little awkward.

"Well—I thought it was a good idea," she said uncertainly. "I mean, even if Umbridge searches our pockets, carrying a galleon shouldn't seem suspicious, right? Unless… you all don't want to use them?"

Loki's face lit up with a hint of admiration. "Is this a transformation spell you learned only after advancing?"

"Uh," Hermione tried to appear modest. "Yes, I suppose it is..."

If this had been the past, Loki's comment would have felt like a casual compliment between classmates. But now, having entered a new system and new stage, the praise from Loki—already a mid-level mage—meant much more to a girl still striving to become an apprentice. Hermione couldn't help but feel a little giddy.

Amid murmurs of approval, everyone stepped forward to take a coin from the basket.

Harry cast a sidelong glance at Hermione and whispered, "You know what this reminds me of?"

"No, what?"

"Death Eaters' marks. When Voldemort touches one, everyone's mark burns, and they know to gather."

"Hmm, but we're not Death Eaters, and Augustus isn't the Dark Lord," Hermione said with a peculiar smile. "Still, I have a feeling that one day, the Julius Corps will grow strong enough to make the entire wizarding world look up to us."

"Yeah! I feel the same. Let's work hard together!" Harry suddenly felt a surge of hope and determination. "Though the only danger I can think of with this coin is that we might accidentally spend it."

"Unlikely," Ron said gloomily, staring at his wallet. "I don't have a single real galleon to mix it up with."

In the days following the meeting, nearly all members of the Julius Corps threw themselves into intense meditation training. Apart from daily classes, Quidditch practice, and meals, their lives revolved entirely around meditation. The words "meditate" and "focus" were deeply engraved in their minds.

With only one week to meet the requirement, the urgency was palpable. Missing this opportunity due to inadequate effort would lead to a lifetime of regret. For these young wizards, living in a time of peace meant that chances to rise above mediocrity were exceedingly rare. While turbulent times produce heroes, peace often breeds ordinariness. Faced with such a unique chance to transcend their limitations, none of the Julius Corps members wanted to let it slip through their fingers.

During these days, Harry felt as though he carried a warm talisman close to his chest, a secret that energized him even through Umbridge's dreadful classes. For the first time since entering Hogwarts, he felt truly fulfilled. His days were packed with training and meditation. The vibrant and boundless world of the elements he glimpsed during his initial attempts was stunningly beautiful.

To his surprise, Harry also discovered that meditation seemed to enhance his mental clarity. After each session, he felt a sharp boost in energy and a pleasant sense of renewal, which made the rigorous routine almost addictive.

Within three days, Harry had made significant progress, completing about half of his magic string construction. In private discussions, his peers admitted that his speed was above average. Yet compared to certain prodigies, his efforts still seemed inadequate.

For instance, Luna had officially entered the apprentice stage within just two days, and Hermione succeeded on the third. Their exceptional speed was both inspiring and humbling for Harry, especially considering the awe-inspiring achievements of Loki and Thor as relayed by Lilian.

Despite the sting to his self-esteem, Harry chose to slow his pace slightly. After all, another important event loomed on the horizon: the first Quidditch match of the year was just a few days away.

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