Chapter 32: Thomas's Notes

"Why, am I not welcome here?" Professor Harvey said with a cheerful smile.

Rowling gave an awkward laugh. "Professor, please come in. I'm more than delighted to have you visit us."

As Rowling led Professor Harvey into Dormitory 2015, Harvey noticed the table was laden with delicacies and couldn't help but tease, "Looks like I arrived at just the right time!"

His words immediately dispelled any sense of unfamiliarity between him and Malor and the others. The group quickly offered him a seat. Harvey didn’t stand on ceremony; he picked up knife and fork, joining the feast as if he were one of them, chatting amiably and eating heartily. In no time, he was well acquainted with everyone, and Rowling had to admire Professor Harvey’s formidable social skills.

After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they worked together to tidy up the table, then sat around it to chat. Suddenly, Professor Harvey rubbed his hands, looking a bit embarrassed as he glanced at Rowling. "Well... Rowling, would you mind showing your Necromancer's Space to your teacher?" He looked at Rowling with anticipation; after all, he had only glimpsed fragments of it in Thomas’s notes and heard rumors otherwise.

At his request, Malor, Gebaz, and the others eagerly eyed Rowling. Without hesitation, Rowling focused his mind, and a dark golden skull, no bigger than a fingernail, appeared in his hand. He handed it to Professor Harvey.

The Necromancer's Space was forged by Rowling from refined dark magic and his own blood, making it highly attuned to himself—like an extension of his own body. With a single thought, he could summon it from his dantian, and he feared no theft, for it would instantly return to him at his command. In this regard, it surpassed a space ring by far.

Professor Harvey carefully cradled the tiny dark golden skull in both hands, looking somewhat comical, but inside he was stirred as if by a tidal wave. For a dark magician, the Necromancer's Space was nothing short of sacred, marking one as a true necromancer. With it, one could command an army of undead feared by all, not to mention the “private space” that expanded with one’s magical rank—a treasure coveted by magicians everywhere.

He examined and played with the skull for more than ten minutes before reluctantly passing it to Malor and the others, who had been waiting impatiently.

Rowling couldn’t help but sigh; just a year ago, when he first arrived at Porter Academy, he had been equally envious watching Malor’s space ring. Now he possessed something a hundred or even a thousand times more advanced—the Necromancer's Space. He had to admit, being the subject of everyone’s admiration felt exhilarating.

"Hey, Fourth Brother, summon that handsome little skeleton for us! Let us admire its style!" Bill suggested.

"And that big stone that played a crucial role in the finals!" Gebaz chimed in.

Rowling waved his arm, and instantly a white skeleton and a large stone appeared on the dormitory floor.

The white skeleton, upon appearing, glanced around furtively. Seeing so many people, it timidly retreated to Rowling’s side. Bill and the others crowded around in delight, examining it from top to bottom. Overwhelmed by their attention, the skeleton shyly covered its “face” with its bony claws, drawing laughter from everyone.

Watching the skeleton’s antics, Rowling recalled what Cus had often told him—that this skeleton was remarkably different from those summoned by ordinary necromancers. It was full of vitality; if flesh were attached, it would be indistinguishable from a normal person. Even Cus, encountering such a phenomenon for the first time, was baffled by its origins.

Gebaz and his companions then curiously inspected the large stone. Seeing the deep hole corroded by the “Necromancer’s Ray,” they sighed; had it not been for its presence, the outcome of the championship might have been very different.

Indeed, fate is unpredictable. Normally, the stone would have been useless, but at the final moment of the championship, when Rowling and Simony were both exhausted, it became the last straw that broke the camel's back, altering the course of the duel.

The group lingered, examining the skeleton and stone for nearly an hour before reluctantly asking Rowling to put them away.

Professor Harvey stood up with a smile. "Rowling, actually, I came today to ask if you’d like to see Thomas’s Necromancer Magic Notes!"

Rowling was momentarily stunned, then elated. "Professor Harvey, of course I’d love to! When can I see them?"

Ever since his duel with Simony, Rowling had longed to read Thomas’s Necromancer Magic Notes. Especially the “Necromancer’s Ray” spell that had given him so much trouble—he was eager to learn it.

Cus, too, was extremely curious about Thomas’s notes.

"If you wish, you can come with me right now!" Harvey winked.

"Yes, yes, let’s go now!" Rowling wouldn’t let such an opportunity slip away. After bidding farewell to his roommates, he followed Harvey out of the dormitory.

The two walked, chatting and laughing, until they reached a secluded building on the academy grounds—Porter Academy’s archive. Students were usually forbidden from entering, but with Professor Harvey leading the way, the guards posted at various checkpoints did not stop them. Rowling followed Harvey into the archives.

Inside, the archives were vast, with files neatly arranged on rows of crystal shelves. Professor Harvey led Rowling to a door at the innermost room. Suddenly, a silent figure appeared and blocked their way. Harvey quickly exchanged a few words with him. The figure examined Rowling closely, then retreated into the shadows.

Only then did Harvey lead Rowling into the room. Rowling couldn’t help but marvel at the strict security—the academy clearly placed great importance on the items stored here.

"There, that’s it." Professor Harvey carefully handed Rowling a thin booklet. Rowling received it with both hands and opened the first page, where bold, vigorous characters spelled out “Thomas’s Notes.” Feeling solemn, Rowling began to read through the notes of Porter Academy’s legendary genius.

The more he read, the more delighted he became. Thomas’s notes started from the basics and gradually delved deeper, recording not only his insights into necromancer magic but also detailing the detours he had taken in his own cultivation. Comparing them with Uncle Cus’s explanations, Rowling found himself learning immensely.

What pleased Rowling most was that the notes not only described the method for cultivating “Necromancer’s Ray,” but also included its advanced form—Death Ray!

This was a level-seven spell, which Rowling could only cast once he became a level-seven magician. Nevertheless, he carefully memorized every word; it would have been a crime to let such valuable knowledge slip away.

After thoroughly studying Thomas’s notes, Rowling prepared to return them to Professor Harvey. But as he lifted his head, he suddenly discovered that someone else had appeared in the room.

The man was dressed in a white robe, gently stroking his silver beard and smiling at Rowling.

Still puzzled, Rowling watched as Harvey quickly approached and introduced, "Rowling, this is the headmaster of Porter Academy—Lord Leff!"