Under Char's attentive gaze, the pot of goldfish spider plant illuminated by the blue-purple frequency light spell didn't look drastically different from the outside. But to Char's magical perception, it radiated a slightly more vibrant energy—subtle, but unmistakable. When he carefully confirmed his observations and ruled out any possible interference, he arrived at a preliminary conclusion: the frequency light spell in the blue-violet spectrum visibly promoted the growth of the goldfish spider plant, by about 5%.
If he could further refine the exact frequency within the blue-violet band, Char suspected the effect might increase to 7% or 8%. With a bit of optimism, perhaps even 10%. He exhaled softly, acknowledging both the limitations and the promise of the results. A 10% increase in growth rate wasn't earth-shattering, but it was a meaningful improvement—especially over time. The extra yield could add up, making the effort to obtain the Frequency Light Spell worthwhile.
Char considered the possibility of writing a paper on this innovation, with Professor Sprout and Professor Flitwick as corresponding authors. He thought it would be strong enough for publication in one of the top magical herbology journals. This was how academia worked: if a new idea could be implemented and produce results, it was already a success. Dramatic breakthroughs were rare and usually built on a foundation of previous work and accumulated experience.
He recalled stories from his past life, where agricultural scholars achieved recognition after years of trial and error, often switching fields or approaches before finally making a breakthrough. The most celebrated successes—like the discovery of graphene with simple tape or the biomimetic structures inspired by bird droppings—were often the result of persistent effort and a willingness to question conventional wisdom. Char reminded himself that failure was the norm in research, and every positive result, no matter how modest, was worth celebrating.
With this perspective, Char was satisfied with the outcome of his light spell experiments. The only plants he hadn't yet tested were the Blood Jade, the Guardian Tree, and the Piranha Algae. The Blood Jade was so rare and precious that even Professor Sprout only kept one specimen, and Char didn't dare risk it. As for the Guardian Tree, his magical perception wasn't yet strong enough to attempt cultivation. That left only the Piranha Algae.
Char hesitated. Professor Sprout had warned him that Piranha Algae was extremely light-sensitive and would die if exposed to even the faintest light. It seemed pointless to experiment further—why waste precious seeds on a foregone conclusion?
But as he left the greenhouse, Char paused, took a deep breath, and turned back toward the aquatic plant cultivation shed. His academic instincts wouldn't let him accept "impossible" without testing it. In his previous life, he'd learned that questioning assumptions was the key to real breakthroughs. Even if the odds were slim, he had to try.
Back in the shed, Char set up new experimental and control groups. The control group was kept in total darkness, as required for normal Piranha Algae cultivation. The experimental group was exposed to a gradient of light, from the weakest possible Lumos charm to increasingly intense and varied frequencies—from red to purple.
He carefully planted the same number of Piranha Algae seeds in each test tube and began the experiment. The control group behaved as expected: in the dark, the Piranha Algae seeds sprouted and flourished. But in the experimental group, even the weakest Lumos charm caused all the seeds to die—just as Professor Sprout had warned.
Char shook his head, unsurprised but still curious. He reduced the light intensity to the absolute minimum, so faint it was almost invisible to the naked eye. Still, all the Piranha Algae seeds died. He was about to conclude the experiment when he noticed something unusual: the time and manner of death varied depending on the light frequency.
Seeds exposed to purple light died quickly, their surfaces wrinkled and burned. But in the tubes with light shifted toward the red end of the spectrum, the seeds died more slowly, and some even showed signs of sprouting before perishing. When Char focused on the test tube with the weakest red light, he saw that the algae leaves had fully opened before death.
This observation made Char's pulse quicken. He realized that the Piranha Algae's sensitivity to light might be more complex than previously thought. Perhaps it wasn't simply light-averse, but instead required a very specific, extreme frequency—one that wasn't available in normal conditions. If this frequency could be provided at sufficient intensity, maybe the Piranha Algae could thrive in the light.
Char's mind raced. In Muggle spectroscopy, such frequencies lay beyond the visible spectrum, in the infrared range. He remembered Professor Flitwick's demonstration of a light spell that produced no visible light—could that be the key? Char tried to cast the Frequency Light Spell in the infrared range, but no matter how he adjusted the spell, his wand only emitted faint, flickering light. His magical perception wasn't yet refined enough to reach beyond the visible spectrum.
He sighed, but then his eyes fell on his system panel. The words [Magic Perception Improved] were nearly covered in silver luster. With his daily routine of trimming broomsticks, processing potion ingredients, and harvesting goldfish spider plants, he knew it wouldn't be long before his magical perception reached silver level. Then, he would have the control needed to test his hypothesis.
If his theory was correct, it could revolutionize the cultivation of Piranha Algae. Its growth rate might skyrocket, and its magical properties could be enhanced in ways no one had imagined. Combined with the Shadowless Sharpness spell, the results could be extraordinary.
With renewed determination, Char quickened his pace and headed toward Snape's office. He was eager to continue his experiments and see just how far he could push the boundaries of magical plant cultivation.
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