Regulus of Hogwarts: Lord of the Stars

Star trails guide sleep after meditation, with excellent results.

Like being immersed in a tranquil body of water woven from starlight, the soul is nourished and strengthened, and weariness is quietly soothed.

When I woke up, I was not only full of energy and clear-headed, but my limbs were also filled with a solid sense of power, and I could feel the magic flowing more smoothly through my body with every breath.

This kind of progress, which can be clearly perceived almost every moment, is intoxicating.

Regulus knew that this was likely a phase of rapid adaptation and growth for the body and mind in the early stages of this unique meditation method guided by star trails, due to unprecedented systematic stimulation.

Like parched land receiving its first abundant rain, every drop is greedily absorbed.

But he was also keenly aware that such rapid progress could not continue indefinitely.

Both the physical body and the soul have their limits. Once potential is initially explored and the foundation is solidified, the growth rate will inevitably slow down until it reaches a bottleneck that is difficult to overcome.

At that point, if we want to go any further, we may need some kind of fundamental transformation, or to find entirely new, or even more efficient, methods.

But for now, he has to take it one step at a time, and he is enjoying this initial period of rapid accumulation.

On Wednesday afternoon, Regulus was heading to the library with his books after Charms class when Avery Cuthbert called him back.

"Regulus," Avery's voice was less casual and arrogant than usual, "Can we talk in the dorm? Something's come up."

Regulus glanced at him and nodded: "Okay."

When they returned to their Slytherin dorm, neither Alex nor Hermes were there.

Avery closed the door, his face showing a seriousness that seemed out of place for his age, mixed with a hint of youthful awkwardness.

He cleared his throat and said, "My father... wrote to me last night."

Regulus listened quietly without replying, but he roughly understood what was going on.

Avery paused for a moment, seemingly organizing his thoughts, then, as if making a decision, suddenly blurted out a series of words:

He said the atmosphere at the Ministry of Magic has been delicate lately, with many old families readjusting their strategies.

He heard about your performance at Hogwarts, especially your... well, conversation with Travers in fifth year.

He believes that with you as an heir, the Black family may play an even more important role in the upcoming changes.

He hopes I can maintain a good relationship with you.

The words were spoken somewhat awkwardly, but the meaning was clear.

The Cuthbert family, another ancient pure-blood family, has a current patriarch who holds a high-ranking position in the Ministry of Magic and has a keen sense of smell.

Regulus's strength and potential have spread through various channels, attracting the attention of these shrewd or far-sighted pure-blood families.

They began to reassess the value of the Black family and attempted to establish or strengthen ties through the next generation.

Regulus neither confirmed nor denied this.

After Avery finished speaking, he looked at Regulus with some nervousness.

In his heart, he had long admired Regulus; the difference in their strength was real.

The family's instructions merely gave him a more legitimate reason to get closer.

The eleven-year-old boy didn't understand what political investment or family alliances were. His thoughts were simpler and more direct: Regulus was strong, and following him wouldn't be wrong, nor would it be shameful.

Regulus looked at the complex expression on Avery's face, a mixture of family duty, personal respect, and a hint of youthful pride that refused to completely bow down, and he understood.

Even with the most elite education, an eleven-year-old is still a child. It's already quite remarkable that they can clearly express "I admire you and want to hang out with you."

He thought for a moment, then slowly said, "Avery, we live in the same dorm and attend classes together, so we're classmates. If you want to maintain a good relationship with me, that's fine."

He then adopted a more serious tone: "But there are some things I need to make clear first."

Avery instinctively straightened his back, as if he were having a serious conversation, though he didn't know why he was doing so.

Perhaps it was because Regulus's attitude and demeanor were more like the adults in the family that he subconsciously acted that way.

"First, strength is fundamental. The glory of the family provides us with a starting point, but true pride should be built on the strength we possess, not just on the surname."

Avery couldn't agree more with these words; he longed to prove himself and to achieve personal glory that transcended the protection of his family.

His gaze was intense, fixed on Regulus.

"Second, learn to observe and think. Slytherin is full of intelligent people, but often their intelligence is misused. They should broaden their horizons."

These words were loaded with meaning, and Avery didn't quite understand them, but he still nodded vigorously.

"Third," Regulus looked at him, "adhere to the most basic bottom line, at least in front of me."

Avery nodded emphatically, almost without hesitation: "I understand, I will do it."

He felt that Regulus didn't treat him as a mere follower who needed to obey orders, but rather as someone making an agreement with him, which made him feel much more at ease.

Who isn't a pure-blooded young master?

Seeing that the agreement had been initially reached, Avery seemed to relax a bit. He lowered his voice and gestured toward Hermes's tightly closed bed curtains: "Regulus, don't you think... Murseb is a little strange?"

He often disappears at night, and when he comes back, he always has a strange smell about him. Last time in the duel, he even used that...

Regulus followed his gaze to the dark curtain and said calmly, "Avery, everyone has their own secrets."

It is fundamental to respect someone's privacy and privacy until they voluntarily disclose information or cause substantial harm.

He then changed the subject: "However, it is necessary to maintain appropriate attention."

His behavior was indeed somewhat unusual, possibly involving some less common magical realms, or even things related to curses.

He may have his own purposes at Hogwarts. We don't need to pry; we just need to keep a limited eye on him to avoid getting involved in unnecessary trouble.

Avery nodded thoughtfully, but Blake meant that Hermes was in trouble.

I didn't realize! I thought he was just a black magic enthusiast...

But Regulus was thinking something else entirely.

Hermes Murseb is gloomy, dangerous, possesses unconventional knowledge of dark magic, and has a clear purpose.

It would be a waste to treat someone like this merely as a roommate you need to be wary of.

He might be a good executor, provided he can control the situation, or at least establish a stable relationship based on interests or deterrence.

The deterrent effect should have been initially established, but the interests involved still need to be sought.

Avery can be won over through a high-level display of knowledge and power.

Hermes, on the other hand, would probably only be able to do so through more direct and powerful exchanges of benefits.

In the same dormitory, so-called privacy is inherently fragile in the face of absolute power.

Regulus did not intend to pry into all the details, but he needed to know Hermes' bottom line and needs so that he could extend an olive branch of cooperation at the right time.

The conversation naturally turned to Alex Rozier.

Avery curled his lip: "Rozier... is too soft, timid, and not very talented. In our dorm, he's a bit... out of place."

His words were full of contempt and disdain.

Even after Regulus's previous guidance, Avery's arrogant nature still made him look down on Alex, who was on the verge of being a pureblood and had a gentle and slow personality.

Regulus understood the mindset of a teenager like Avery; simple preaching was likely to provoke rebellion.

"Avery," he said, changing his approach, "do you think that to accomplish something significant that requires a lot of people, such as upholding family honor or achieving a goal, is it better to have as many people around as possible, or as few as possible?"

Avery paused for a moment, then said, "Of course, the more the better."

Regulus continued to guide the conversation: "Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, and Alex may not be outstanding in duels."

But he was meticulous and patient; his notes on potions and herbalism were always the most comprehensive, and his grasp of basic theories was also very solid.

Moreover, he comes from the Rozier family, even if it's just a branch, which represents a network of connections, an attitude, and power.

Seeing Avery's thoughtful expression, he continued, "Power comes in many forms."

Pure combat ability is one thing, but meticulous logistics, reliable information, and even simply a stance of not being our enemy are all strengths.

It is unwise to push away those who could potentially become your strength simply because of prejudice.

Regulus demonstrated to Avery a level of cognitive ability, pragmatism, and resource integration far beyond that of an eleven-year-old.

Avery didn't understand the intricacies of the conversation, but he had to admit that Regulus was right.