Regulus of Hogwarts: Lord of the Stars

When Regulus returned to his Slytherin room, Avery and Alex were playing wizard chess at a small table by the window.

The battle on the chessboard had clearly reached a stalemate, with both players staring at the pieces, their brows furrowed.

Queen Avery is cursing Avery, and King Alex is cursing Alex.

Upon hearing the door open, the two of them simultaneously looked up at him, then simultaneously looked down at the chessboard again, their movements perfectly synchronized.

It looks normal, but you can still tell that you're guilty.

Regulus ignored them; he returned only to wait for Mrs. Pince to finish cleaning the library and leave work before going to the restricted section.

He had barely sat down when the king's curses came from the chessboard. The curses were vulgar and didn't sound like the kind of curses used to sell products to little wizards.

Then Avery spoke up, hesitantly: "That matter..."

Regulus looked up.

"Can I tell my family about what happened last time?"

Regulus knew that Avery was talking about the Astronomical Tower, so he slightly raised his chin, signaling Avery to continue.

"I promised you I wouldn't tell anyone," Avery added, pointing to the knight's head on the chess piece.

"But I think that matter involves the McNeil and Mullerseber families, Hermes was injured so badly, and the place was so dangerous, there must be something we don't know about behind it."

I think my family should know.

Avery looked serious, and his tone suggested a discussion.

After calming down, he realized that he might have been caught up in some kind of power struggle between pure-blood families.

His instinct was to seek help from his family, or rather, to report to them.

But he remembered his promise to Regulus, so he came to ask now.

Regulus looked at him.

Avery is right, the Cuthbert family should indeed know about this.

Not only Cuthbert, but the Rozier family should also know.

Although given the status of the Rozier family's collateral branch, they are unlikely to actively get involved in these matters, the right to know is another matter.

Moreover, Regulus thought even further ahead.

If Voldemort was indeed behind the Astronomy Tower incident, then Avery's involvement and subsequent escape could influence the Cuthbert family's future stance.

Regulus glanced at Alex again.

"Tell them when you go home for Easter," Regulus began, his voice steady. "Don't write a letter, tell them in person."

Avery nodded, and Alex followed suit.

“There are things you don’t know,” Regulus continued. “For example, Abros Murseb knew all along that Darren McNeil was the one who injured Hermes.”

He knew, but instead of exposing it, he helped cover it up.

Avery's eyes widened.

"Why?" Alex asked in a low voice.

"I cannot tell you the specific reasons," Regulus said. "If Mr. Cuthbert and Mr. Rozier want to know, they can inquire through the Black family."

Avery and Alex didn't know the specifics of what happened, what Arbros's changing attitude meant, or what secrets were hidden behind the stone door.

However, after they go home and tell their parents, Mr. Cuthbert and Mr. Rozier will realize that there must be a deeper secret behind it.

The key information is with him; the only way they can find out is through him or the Blake family.

Avery and Alex exchanged a glance, and neither of them pressed for further questions.

Their experience at the Astronomical Tower instilled in them a great deal of trust in Regulus; if he said he wouldn't tell them, then he had a reason for not telling them.

A few seconds of silence followed, then Avery's Adam's apple bobbed, and he finally couldn't hold back any longer: "Regulus, that Evans—"

Regulus looked up at him, his expression blank, but his gaze lingered on Avery's face.

Avery's words caught in his throat. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, finally turning his head away and pretending to study some insignificant piece on the chessboard.

Alex was trying to suppress a laugh, his shoulders trembling slightly.

Regulus ignored them, stood up, picked up his wand, put it in the inner pocket of his robe, and pushed open the bedroom door to go out.

As the door closed behind him, he heard laughter coming from inside, a mixture of embarrassment and curiosity.

......

The corridors of Hogwarts were empty and silent late at night.

The corridor was deserted; the portraits lay asleep, the armor stood still, and only the torches on the walls were still burning, casting flickering shadows.

Regulus moved close to the wall, his entire body covered by the Improved Disillusionment Charm.

The Astronomy Tower incident made him realize two problems.

He lacked effective area-of-effect attacks when faced with a large-scale and sustained siege.

In enclosed environments where Apparition is unavailable, his mobility is severely hampered.

He didn't want to bear the consequences of losing control of the Fiery Blaze spell, which burned everything, but at least he knew the prerequisites for all spells, so he could still use it if he wanted to.

Moreover, other approaches also have objectives.

As for the shortcomings in mobility, these should be addressed.

Spatial warp is not yet mature, and the Guardian Angel cannot take him through it. Apparition would be blocked by the Anti-Apparition Charm.

He needs a way to move quickly without relying on space.

In terms of physical strength, the continuous tempering through Star Orbit Meditation has made his physical qualities far surpass those of junior wizards, and even exceed those of most adult wizards.

In terms of physical strength, the continuous tempering through Star Orbit Meditation has made his physical qualities far surpass those of junior wizards, and even exceed those of most adult wizards.

If anyone thinks that restricting his spellcasting ability will subdue him, he will teach them a lesson they will never forget.

However, physical speed is ultimately limited; to gain the upper hand in battle, one must rely on magic.

Deep inside the library's restricted section, dust accumulated on the bookshelves against the wall.

Regulus ran his fingers along the spine of the book, his magical perception spreading out as he used magic to touch the imprints of thought solidified by magic on the pages.

This reading method was extremely mentally taxing in the early days, but now he can do it continuously for an hour without feeling noticeably tired.

He found several books that might be relevant.

"Wizard Mobile Tactics: From Basics to Advanced" is written by an 18th-century Auror commander and details how to maintain a mobile advantage in actual combat by utilizing terrain and spell combinations.

"A Study of Non-Spatial Displacement Magic" is a theoretical work that is dry but systematic.

"Rhythm Control in Duels" focuses on how to create opportunities for movement during offensive and defensive transitions.

Regulus reads the first book.

The book mentions several spells:

The Swiftness Spell greatly increases one's movement speed after casting, similar to accelerating while running. A faint white light will appear on the body, and the running motion will leave afterimages.

It provides a pure speed boost, does not change the mode of movement (it remains running), and cannot be blocked by the Anti-Apparition Charm.

The Sprint Spell, originally a deceleration spell, can be reversed to achieve inertia-free sprinting, resulting in rapid acceleration, agile turning, and no loss of control due to excessive speed.

It is highly tactical and suitable for short-distance breakouts. It can be used in conjunction with obstacle spells, and anti-apparition spells are ineffective against it.

Side Shift Spell, a simplified version of Apparition.

It does not require a full phantom appearance; it only allows for short-distance lateral movement, which is flexible and can be used to dodge attacks.

It has low energy consumption but cannot be used continuously. It is suitable for quickly adjusting position in battle. The Anti-Apparition Spell can suppress it, but the effect is weak.

The basic form of the flight spell is levitation, while higher-level versions can be used for short-distance flight or gliding.

By controlling the output of magic, one can move slowly or cross obstacles; the movement is slow and non-aggressive.

Suitable for low-altitude movement, it can cross ditches or walls without relying on brooms or other tools.

Regulus noted down the principles and gestures of these spells and closed the book.

Each one has its uses, but each one has its obvious drawbacks.

The Swiftness spell only allows you to run; the Sprint spell covers a short distance; the Sidestep spell covers a short distance and has a cooldown; and the Flight spell is slow.

He needs a more comprehensive solution.

......

The House of Requirement responded to his request and transformed into an empty training ground.

The floor was covered with dark wooden planks, and the ceiling was so high that the top could not be seen. Several magical light sources floated in mid-air, casting even light.

Regulus started with the simplest Swiftness Spell.

He pointed the wand at himself and uttered the incantation: "Celeritas".

Magic flowed into the tip of the staff, and my body emitted a faint white light, but I felt nothing else.

He took a step forward, his body seemingly launched forward, instantly covering a distance of ten meters.

But its essence is acceleration, while turning and sudden stopping are limited.

Next comes the Sprint Charm, the wand tracing a specific path: "Momentum Arresto".

He took a step forward, his body began to slide, and he got faster and faster.

He sprinted in a straight line and it worked well. He tried to turn and his movements were agile, but the distance was very short, and he stopped in less than ten meters.

He then selected a spot ten meters away, concentrated his mind, and with a surge of magic, lightly waved his wand: "Side-Along Apparition."

The body instantly appeared at the target location.

The lateral shift spell is relatively stable, the process is smooth, and there is almost no discomfort.

He tried several times and found that the maximum effective distance was about fifteen meters. Beyond this distance, the success rate dropped sharply, and there was a cooldown period of about two seconds after each use.

Considering this is Hogwarts, there are almost no more powerful anti-Apparition spells in the wizarding world, so it might be more effective outside.

The flying spell is the most awkward, as the body is suspended half a meter in the air and propelled forward by magic.

The speed is slow, and steering and braking require precise magical control; a slight mistake can lead to loss of balance.

Adjusting your attitude in the air requires three times more energy than moving on the ground.

Regulus stood in the center of the training field, recalling the advantages and disadvantages of each spell.

The Swiftness Spell has a strong burst of power, but it still relies on leg strength.

The Sprint spell has high straight-line speed, but short distance.

Sidestep spells are flexible, but not only is the range short, they also require cooling.

The Flying Spell is suitable for all terrains, but difficult to control; it is best suited for overcoming obstacles or gaining a height advantage.

Each of them has obvious limitations when used individually, but what if they are combined?