Chapter 37: The Magic of Gestures
"Spellcasting technique? You mentioned that before?" Alexander asked curiously, glancing at Kate, who was playfully shaking the lion's head on her hood.
"This award is named after Barnabus Finkley, the master of gesture magic. It's awarded to those with excellent spellcasting precision," Kate explained proudly when she noticed Alexander's confusion.
"Gestures? That's just another interpretation of spell theory—an auxiliary method meant to reduce the difficulty of casting. From a magical theory standpoint, the award doesn't have much value. No wonder the chocolate frog card left that detail out," Alexander said through their mental link, using their shared telepathic communication so the carriage driver wouldn't overhear.
"Alexander, why do you say that? Many renowned wizards claim that gestures enhance the power of spells," Kate replied telepathically, blinking her big, curious eyes.
Ahhhh, so cute. From Alexander's perspective, she reminded him of the kind of enthusiastic classmate who would call out to "Senpai" in an anime.
"Alright, let's have a lesson from Professor Lenson," he said dramatically.
"Lenson?"
"Never mind the details. Five points from Ravenclaw!" he teased.
"Do you know about speech theory?" Alexander asked, shifting topics.
"What does speech have to do with gestures?" Kate asked, genuinely confused.
"Muggles have long studied this. Ever noticed how some speakers use exaggerated gestures when excited? Why do you think that is?"
"To be more convincing? To boost confidence?" Kate guessed.
"Exactly. It increases self-confidence. The height of a fountain never exceeds its source—just as the power of a spell relies on the caster's confidence. That's why silent casting is possible. With strong belief, a wizard can cast spells without uttering a single word. It's a high-level skill only taught in sixth year at Hogwarts," Alexander explained. "Gestures serve the same function. Do you know about Uagadou?"
"Of course! The coolest magic school!" Kate's eyes sparkled. "They recruit students through dreams! A dream messenger leaves a token—a stone with an inscription—while the child sleeps. As far as I know, no other school recruits this way!"
"And what's their most distinctive trait?" Alexander asked.
"I've known this since I was seven," Kate said with extra pride, which made Alexander chuckle.
"Uagadou is one of the oldest wizarding schools—at least a thousand years old. It's the largest school, recruiting students from all over Africa. The campus is located on the 'Mountains of the Moon,' a stunning stone structure shrouded in mist, seemingly floating at times," she explained enthusiastically. "And their students are so cool! Most of their spells are cast with just a finger or a flick of the wrist. They're also masters of self-transfiguration—students as young as fourteen can transform into elephants or cheetahs!"
"Exactly. And why is it that they can rely on gestures alone? Because hands themselves are magical tools," Alexander said. "But British magic emphasizes stability. The triangle is the most stable structure—gestures, incantations, and emotional resonance. That's the foundation of our modern spellcasting."
"Modern magic requires all three to maximize power. That's why Uagadou relies more on self-transfiguration in combat. If gesture magic alone were that powerful, Voldemort would have built his entire system around it. But he didn't," Alexander emphasized through their link.
"So why do some famous wizards claim gestures enhance spells?" Kate asked, not fully convinced.
"Because gestures enhance confidence, or they mimic the techniques of ancient powerful wizards, accidentally tapping into forgotten magic. But that's not something you need to worry about for now," Alexander said, cutting off the topic gently.
Diving deeper into these ideas could be dangerous. Without the system's support, most wizards would spend a lifetime mastering modern magic. Knowing too much too early could be harmful—like Luna Lovegood's mother, who died experimenting with unknown spells.
Luna even kept a Erumpent horn at home, mistaking it for a Crumple-Horned Snorkack's. One touch could make it explode.
Kate pouted slightly at the sudden end to their discussion, but her mood brightened again as she remembered something exciting. "Alexander, the first stop today is the Vampire Castle! I'm really curious what vampires are like!"
"Vampires? Kate, come on, that's third-year Defense Against the Dark Arts content—along with werewolves," Alexander chuckled.
"Okay, okay, Professor Alexander's mini-lecture begins again," Kate joked.
"Vampires—more precisely, they're considered the 'living dead' who prey on humans by sucking blood. They're classified at level XXX by the Ministry," Alexander began. "They exist all over the world and can shapeshift into bats. They sneak into homes at night and bite the necks of sleeping victims."
"Once bitten, the victims weaken and die, only to resurrect as vampires themselves, usually preying on their loved ones. If you dig up their graves, their bodies often look fresh—rosy skin, soft flesh, as though they're still alive."
"Crosses and garlic can be used against them, though that's more folklore. Some say baking bread with vampire blood can ward them off, but that's just nonsense."
"The most reliable way to get rid of one? Dig up the grave, drive a stake through the heart, decapitate it, and if you want to be sure, burn the body to ashes."
"If you've read Blood Brothers: My Life Among Vampires by Eldred Worple, you'd know even more. It's a decent reference for beginners," Alexander concluded.
--------------------------------+--------------------------
If you like the story please give it some power stones and reviews. And if you want to read 30 advance chapters or just want to support me please join my patreon at patreon.com/Translatingfanfics