Chapter 96: Chapter 96: "Godric Gryffindor's Legacy"
After everyone in Hogwarts had settled down for the night and the corridors had become silent, Harry made his way to the library. The library was deserted, with Madam Pince having retired to her quarters for the evening. The still library now held a secretive air.
Harry, hidden under his cloak, set about the intricate task of dismantling the complex wards that had been set up by Dumbledore or the other professors near the treasure's hiding place. It was a careful and slow process, as Harry was cautious not to accidentally trigger an alarm that would alert the professors to his purpose.
After about thirty minutes of careful work, Harry successfully removed all the wards without any accidents.
With the security measures now disabled, Harry's focus shifted to the ancient Gryffindor key in his possession. He had spent a lot of time learning how to dismantle the wards solely based on the assumption that his blood would activate the key. There was a risk that his efforts could be in vain if his blood wasn't the right catalyst for the key.
Harry had postponed testing the key's reaction to his blood, uncertain of what might happen upon activation. There was a possibility that the key might start moving on its own as soon as it was activated. If it flew straight into the wards Dumbledore had placed around the area, Harry worried he might lose his opportunity to claim the treasure. In such a case, Dumbledore might find and claim the treasure for himself before Harry could even get a closer look.
Now was the moment of truth. Using a small knife, Harry made a tiny cut on his finger and applied his blood to the key. The key responded immediately, glowing brightly and transforming slowly into a shield shape. The new shield-shaped key with the Gryffindor emblem now looked coller.
Harry felt a tug from the key in his hand as if the key was pulling in a specific direction, ready to guide Harry to the treasure.
Ensuring he was alone, Harry released the key. It floated towards a shelf in the library and fitted perfectly into a special carving, much like a puzzle piece finding its rightful place.
A soft click sounded as the shelf moved aside, revealing a hidden compartment within the wall. This secret space contained three distinct sections: one with a collection of books, another with an ancient sealed scroll that looked like a letter, and the third housing a magnificent sword, resembling the fabled Gryffindor sword but a little different in its design.
Not wanting to linger longer than necessary in the library, Harry quickly gathered the items into his expandable storage pouch. Then he removed the key.
Once the key was removed from its slot, the wall and shelf seamlessly returned to their original form, hiding the secret once again.
Harry now with the contents of the treasure safely stored away, retreated to the Room of Requirement to examine his harvest.
The first item Harry examined was the letter, sealed with an ancient wax. Breaking the seal, Harry discovered a message from Godric Gryffindor himself, addressed to his future descendants.
The letter was scripted in an old form of English, sprinkled with words like "thou" and "thee" among other rarely-used terms. Harry needed a moment to mentally reorganize the sentences to grasp the full meaning of Gryffindor's message.
The letter, once Harry had deciphered it, conveyed the following message:
Dear Descendant,
It fills me with immense pride to know that you, a direct descendant of mine, have managed to uncover the treasure I left behind. I am Godric Gryffindor, one of the founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Your ability to discover and unlock this legacy of mine proves your worthiness and dedication. Well done on this significant achievement.
This legacy came into being due to a disagreement I had with Salazar Slytherin, another founder. He created a hidden chamber within the school, home to a basilisk, claiming it would protect Hogwarts from Muggle threats. However, I've always had my doubts about his true intentions and worried about the future dangers posed by such a dangerous creature.
To help you prepare for any future threats, including the basilisk, I've left behind a sword crafted by goblins and a set of my personal spells, some of which are unknown to others. These, along with the Knight's inheritance, are meant to equip you to face and possibly defeat the basilisk, a beast known for its resistance to magic.
But this inheritance isn't just about dealing with the basilisk. It's also about protecting Hogwarts from any form of danger, whether from inside or outside. It's up to you to wisely use what I've left for you.
I trust your judgment on how best to utilize these tools and knowledge. If the basilisk turns out to be the protector Slytherin envisioned, I owe him an apology. However, if my fears are correct, then the responsibility to protect our school falls to you.
I wish you the best of luck. Stand strong against adversity, guided by the values of courage and honor. The future of Gryffindor, and indeed Hogwarts, is now in your hands.
With all my hope for the future,
Godric Gryffindor
From this letter, Harry understood that Gryffindor's inheritance was meant to protect the school against any potential threats, be it the basilisk or witch hunters that existed during the era of the founders. Gryffindor didn't just leave behind a sword; he left a treasure trove of his own magical knowledge and spells, stuff that Harry had never come across before. Through this letter, it was clear as day to Harry how much Gryffindor cared about Hogwarts. It wasn't just a school to him; it was something he poured his heart into, more important even than his own family.
Next up, Harry dived into the books he had found, which were all about how to become a Knight. There was so much information, including the history of knights, what the Gryffindor family had passed down about knights, and how to fight with a sword.
These books opened Harry's eyes to a whole different kind of power, nothing like the magic he was used to. Until now, Harry hadn't even thought there could be something else besides wizard magic in this world. He had always believed that this was a world just for wizards, but it looked like he might have been mistaken.
Learning about knights made Harry curious about what other kinds of strength might be out there. Maybe there were things like ancient Chinese cultivation methods, samurai warriors, or other mysterious arts. If that were true, then the world was much more complicated and challenging than he had thought.
Harry decided that he would look into all these different paths to power after he finished school at Hogwarts. It seemed a bit too soon for him to start exploring these possibilities right now, even if they did exist.
But for now, the idea of becoming a Knight really grabbed his attention. The thought of fighting with a sword and living like a knight was something totally new and exciting to Harry.
In addition to the inheritance of Knights, the collection also included books on battle magic, containing spells designed for war and large-scale destruction. These spells required significant magical energy, prompting Harry to postpone experimenting with them until he felt more confident in his magical reserves.
Lastly, Harry inspected the sword, its craftsmanship likely the work of goblins and adorned with a ruby-encrusted silver handle. While similar to the Sword of Gryffindor, this sword bore the Gryffindor family emblem instead of Godric Gryffindor's name. It was a splendid sword, not just in appearance but also in what it represented and its potential capabilities. Harry could easily envision this sword being the key to helping him slay a basilisk that had lived for over a thousand years.
Satisfied with his discoveries and eager to delve into the path of the Knights, Harry carefully repacked his findings and returned to his dormitory. His thoughts were filled with anticipation for what lay ahead, but for now, rest was his priority. The night's adventure had been fruitful, and the knowledge and tools he had acquired held the promise of future endeavors and protection for Hogwarts.
Chapter 97: Chapter 97: "The Path of the Knight"
The day after discovering Godric Gryffindor's treasure, Harry set out to learn more about knights, delving into the depths of the library's numerous books. The concept of Knights that Godric Gryffindor had left in his inheritance seemed to be a forgotten path, lost to the sands of time.
Long before the rise of wizards in the world, a mystery that remains unsolved to the Britsh wizarding world, knights were beings of immense strength. Revered for their strength and held high positions in their kingdom. They were so powerful that a single knight could face an entire army alone and come back victorious.
The ranks of knighthood included Apprentice Knights, who were just starting their journey, followed by Knights, Great Knights, Earth Knights, and the esteemed Sky Knights. There is said to be a Holy knight about Sky Knughts, but no knight has ever reached that height in their cultivation in known history.
The hierarchy of Knights represented a form of human evolution accessible to all, not limited by the presence of a magical core. Furthermore, through rigorous training, knights could significantly extend their lifespan, with Sky Knights living beyond 150 years.
Harry learned that the emergence of wizards diminished the knights' prominence. Training to become a formidable knight took decades, while wizards were born with magic and could achieve comparable power in just a few years of training. Additionally, knights found themselves vulnerable to wizard spells. When a knight tries to get close enough to a wizard to fight in close combat and kill them, they'd likely be stopped by a dangerous spell before they could even reach their target.
The key to becoming a knight lay in mastering a unique breathing technique that unlocked "Life Energy" within a person's body. Through the practice of breathing method over time, not only does a person's body become stronger, but they increase the chance of awakening a "Seed of Life" in their body. Only the people who have a seed of life can be called knights. But the qualification of awakening the seed of life is rare and requires many years of training to awaken, thus most people who practice to become a knight fail to become one in their lifetime.
When a knight reaches the level of a Great Knight, they gain the ability to create shields out of their own life energy. These shields could protect them from certain spells cast by wizards. As knights grew stronger and their life energy increased, they became even better at resisting spells. But becoming a Great Knight takes a lot of time, about 30 years for a Knight with average talent. By the time Knights reach that level, most wizards are already at their strongest. This gap between the training periods of wizards and Great Knights was vast, leading to the gradual dominance of wizards and the decline of knights.
The decline of knights was also hastened by the personalized nature of the Knight breathing exercises, many of which were tailored to specific family bloodlines. For example, the breathing method that Godric Gryffindor left behind was meant just for his family line, which meant not just anyone could learn it.
The people who designed these special breathing techniques for top families were very respected individuals at that time. But during fights between wizards and knights, these creators were often targeted first. This led to the knowledge and practice of Knights dwindling and eventually fading into obscurity.
Today, it's not very clear if there are any knights around. But Harry found the idea of the Knight Breathing Technique really interesting, especially because it could make him much stronger physically.
Here's how the strength of knights works: a regular knight is about five times stronger than an average person. A Great Knight is ten times stronger, an Earth Knight twenty times stronger, and a Sky Knight can be up to fifty times stronger. Harry wasn't sure if he had what it takes to be really good at this knight training, but even just becoming a regular knight and being five times stronger seemed pretty good to him. Having that kind of strength along with his magic would make him very powerful.
Since Harry was already doing well with his magic studies and was curious about the benefits he could get from Knight training, he decided to spend some of his time learning this forgotten practice.
After finishing his research and making up his mind, Harry began to delve into the Knight Breathing Technique passed down by the Gryffindor family.
Harry turned to the first page of the book, ready to begin his training.
The text began, "Everyone knows how to breathe from the moment they're born. But the Knight Breathing Technique? It's special. It teaches you a way to breathe that fills your body with a type of energy called 'life energy.' This energy follows a specific path through your body, gradually making your muscles and bones stronger..."
This technique wasn't simple; it demanded precise coordination. The movements, each paired with a unique pattern of breaths, were challenging for a beginner. Mastering the rhythm and motions was the first hurdle.
Harry, committed to learning, started practicing the twenty distinct movements described in the technique, each associated with a particular breathing pattern.
"For the first step, I need to hold my breath for 35 seconds, lift my arms as high as they can go, then breathe in deeply three times and once shortly, followed by changing the position of my hands..."
Despite being in good physical shape, Harry found the sequence tough to execute. The exercises appeared straightforward, but the mix of specific movements and controlled breathing quickly drained his stamina. Completing the routine left him breathless and a bit shaky.
Finishing the routine, Harry wasn't immediately sure if it made any difference. There might've been a slight improvement, but it was so minor that he couldn't really feel it. Perhaps after repeating the exercises many times, the benefits would become more noticeable.
Right after, Harry felt a strong wave of hunger. It seemed the exercise not only consumed a lot of stamina but also increased his need for food.
After eating well, Harry began to plan out his schedule. Considering his current energy levels and daily routine, he figured he could fit the breathing exercises in twice a day. He was cautious, though, not wanting to overdo it before confirming there weren't any adverse effects on his body from this new training.
Harry planned to start slowly, seeking advice from Arcturus and Cordelia on the potential risks and rewards of continuing the exercises.
In theory, becoming a knight seemed impressive, but Harry wanted to be sure of the actual benefits before fully committing to the path.
Additionally, there was the matter of learning swordsmanship. Until he found Gryffindor's letter, Harry believed he could face the basilisk with the spells he knew. However, the letter made him reconsider. If, in three years, his magic proved ineffective against the basilisk, he'd be in real danger. Heeding Gryffindor's advice, Harry decided to also learn how to wield a sword from the books left in the inheritance.
With his future path clearer, Harry returned to his daily life. The days flew by as he juggled his studies, knight training, and the anticipation of learning swordplay. Hogwarts life continued, bustling and full as the academic year marched towards its close.
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