FicFrenzy
patreon
0744 The Soul
🕑 Added 2025-06-12 11:20:40 +0000 UTCWith a subtle gesture, Bryan caused two chairs to emerge from the void.
After settling himself into one of these conjured seats, the trace of deep fatigue that had been lurking beneath Bryan's face became more apparent. His shoulders sagged slightly under the weight of exhaustion that came not from physical exertion, but from the kind of magical and mental strain.
He lifted his hands to his temples rubbing them as if trying to alleviate a headache. For several moments, Bryan remained completely silent.
Meanwhile, just as Bryan had once invaded the fractured mental world of Onesto Pastore, Dumbledore now approached the unconscious Muggle and gently lifted the patient's eyelid.
He removed his half-moon glasses, and his blue pupils instantly became as bright as a magnificent blue moon rising over the surface of a still river on the clearest of nights.
"Just as you anticipated and described—"
Approximately ten minutes later, Dumbledore finally straightened up from his examination. He sat in deep thought, his silver eyebrows drawn together in an expression of consideration.
It was at this appropriate moment that Bryan spoke.
"I completely erased every trace of Onesto Pastore's original memories, along with all the malicious thoughts and corrupted magical influences that had ravaged his mind over the course of his torture. These destructive elements were intertwined with his existing memories, and separating them was absolutely impossible. It was the only feasible way forward."
He paused for a moment before continuing, "Otherwise, given the inherently limited mental strength that Muggles possess, his consciousness would have inevitably collapsed under the strain, and his physical body would have begun the process of wasting away."
Bryan's expression grew even more serious as he delved deeper.
"This restoration process also wasn't easy for me by any measure—it was perhaps the most challenging magical thing I have ever attempted, as it involved directly manipulating soul-level power."
He shifted slightly in his chair as he adjusted his position, his fatigue was showing in every movement.
"Fortunately, the fact that he was a Muggle worked somewhat in our favor for the procedure. Tampering with a Muggle's soul, while still incredibly dangerous and requiring the most precision, proved to be less difficult than it would have been with someone with magic.
I completely rewrote Gitte's personality and memories into the empty framework that remained of his consciousness—Gitte was an elderly janitor who worked at my orphanage during my childhood years there, a kind but simple man who died during the winter of the year I graduated from Hogwarts.
In Gitte's final years, his mind had begun to deteriorate naturally due to age, and he often experienced confusion about his identity, sometimes forgetting not just where he was, but who he was.
But you know, I couldn't possibly learn and retain every minute detail of a person's entire life. Therefore, this false personality I've created isn't complete by any means."
Perhaps due to the overwhelming exhaustion that came from performing such demanding magic, Bryan's voice carried a note of weakness and vulnerability that was rarely heard from him.
Throughout this entire detailed confession, Dumbledore maintained his silence, never once interrupting or giving a comment, but just simply maintained his position of focused, intent attention.
Even after Bryan had finished speaking, Dumbledore didn't rush to give his opinion or judgment.
"Let me think for a moment, Headmaster Dumbledore—" Bryan finally said, his voice breaking through the thoughtful silence that had fallen over them.
Seeming to realize that Dumbledore's long silence was unusual and perhaps important, Bryan raised his eyebrows with interest and gave a knowing smile.
"You probably think that completely erasing a person's original memories, is equivalent to killing them, You believe that I shouldn't have attempted to restore this poor Muggle's consciousness through such drastic and irreversible means."
"Perhaps I'm considerably more open-minded than you imagine me to be, Bryan," came Dumbledore's response, accompanied by the first genuine smile that had appeared on his old face since they had begun this serious discussion.
As he looked frankly and directly at Bryan, his expression carried none of the judgment or condemnation that might have been expected from someone confronting such a morally complex situation. Instead, there was understanding, perhaps even a measure of approval for the difficult choice that had been made under circumstances.
"Your innovative method indeed succeeded in helping this poor, tortured Muggle continue living and relieved him from the unbearable suffering that had become his entire existence,"
Dumbledore continued, his voice sounding warm with appreciation for Bryan's actions. "I won't blame you for making this choice, for taking this path when all others seemed to lead only to continued anguish or death."
However, Dumbledore's expression then shifted to something that contained both admiration and a touch of what might have been concern as he continued, "Oh, but I must admit, I find myself quite astonished by what you've accomplished here today—"
He looked at Bryan with an expression that was new and somewhat strange, his eyes observing with the intensity of someone seeing him for perhaps the first time.
"I hadn't anticipated this level of capability from you... Even though you've been under my observation most of the time, Bryan, I still didn't realize that your magical power had reached such an extraordinary and unprecedented level,"
His voice carried a note of genuine wonder as he continued, "To be able to strip away dark magic that has infected and corrupted the surface layer of a soul—I must confess that I couldn't guarantee I could accomplish such a delicate and dangerous feat myself, even working with a Muggle's relatively simple soul structure."
"Heh, you're still displaying that characteristic modesty of yours, Headmaster Dumbledore," Bryan responded with a chuckle that carried a ting of disbelief at his self-deprecating assessment.
"Oh, this isn't entirely false modesty, Bryan," Dumbledore replied with complete seriousness. "Your demonstrated mastery of soul magic—which belongs to the most profound and dangerous category even among all the various branches and disciplines of magical study—far exceeds my initial expectations and perhaps even my current understanding of what should be possible for someone of your age and experience."
He leaned forward slightly in his chair, his expression becoming even more intense as he continued, "So far, throughout all my years of study and practical experience, the only forms of magic I know that can directly affect souls in such a way are the Killing Curse and the creation of Horcruxes."
"There are no fewer than twenty ancient magical texts specifically related to this subject sitting on the bookshelves in your office right now, Headmaster Dumbledore," Bryan replied with a shake of his head.
"While it's true that the Killing Curse and Horcruxes are very specifically targeted toward souls and represent the most commonly known applications of soul magic, their basic principles and magical frameworks can't be effectively used as a foundation for broader, more constructive applications. They are, by their very nature, destructive rather than restorative."
Bryan paused, gathering his thoughts before revealing the true source of his knowledge, "It's actually the Blood Curse Magic that can, to some extent, be used to analyze and understand the structure of souls. Through careful study of its principles and mechanisms, combined with theoretical research and extremely cautious practical experimentation, I've been able to barely begin tapping into the deeper levels of soul power."
At this, Dumbledore's eyebrows rose sharply in surprise.
"Are you referring to Herpo the Foul's Blood Curse?"
Bryan nodded slightly.
"Just as I expressed my views on Dark Magic to you during our conversation that night when I returned to Hogwarts two years ago," Bryan explained, "I maintain that even within the field of Dark Magic, there are elements and principles worth learning from and drawing upon."
"Your perspective on this matter is certainly thought-provoking and challenges many conventional assumptions, Bryan," Dumbledore replied, his smile becoming much lighter. "But since you've clearly already begun tapping into genuine soul power and working with these forces, that means you're approaching or have already begun to feel that limit, doesn't it?"
At the mention of "that limit," Bryan's entire manner underwent a transformation.
His eyes, which had been showing signs of fatigue and the strain of their serious conversation, suddenly brightened with an intensity that was almost startling. Even his tone shifted dramatically, carrying a rare note of eagerness that bordered on desperation, and perhaps even a tinge of pleading.
"When did you first begin to feel that limit, Headmaster Dumbledore?" Bryan asked with excitement, leaning forward in his chair. "What exactly happened to you afterward??"
"Oh, now that's quite a long and complex story, one that involves many years of development and some rather extraordinary circumstances," Dumbledore replied with a playful wink, clearly amused by the change in Bryan's demeanor and the obvious hunger for knowledge that had suddenly consumed him.
Inwardly, Dumbledore felt a surge of satisfaction at having finally discovered something that could make Bryan display such open eagerness and vulnerability.
After all, in the current magical world—even when tracing back through several centuries of recorded magical history—almost no one had reached this particular level of magical development and understanding.
"I certainly don't possess your exceptional magical talent, Bryan," Dumbledore began. "To have achieved such profound magical mastery at your relatively young age... well, I didn't even begin to feel the approach of that limit until after I had turned forty years old, and even then, I lingered before it for many years before finally managing to pass through it just before that duel."
'That duel.'
Bryan's brow furrowed slightly as he understood exactly which duel Dumbledore meant.
Dumbledore looked at Bryan with an expression unlike any he had ever used before, his eyes were taking in every detail of his appearance and demeanor as if seeing him in an entirely new light.
"For someone of your age to already be feeling the approach of that limit, Bryan, I suspect that your natural soul 'strength' far exceeds that of ordinary people, even ordinary wizards."
This observation struck directly to the heart of something that Bryan had long suspected about himself, something that he had assumed might explain his obviously abnormal magical talent and memory.
The concept of soul strength was different from raw magical power—initially, when people were born, the differences between individuals in this regard weren't too great. However, Bryan's soul 'capacity' was certainly more spacious and robust than that of most people, because when he was born into this world, his soul was 'double.'
"You mentioned the concept of soul 'strength,' Headmaster Dumbledore," Bryan said, choosing to focus on the technical aspects. "Is this particular characteristic the key to successfully passing through the limit? What exactly is this mysterious limit that we're discussing? What does it represent in practical terms?"
Bryan deliberately chose not to explain— he indeed, could not explain—the true nature of his personal anomaly, but he continued his questioning.
"Oh, I'm afraid I can only provide you with a rough description and incomplete understanding," Dumbledore replied with regret. "The relevant traditions and detailed knowledge have almost entirely disappeared from our world over the centuries—"
He paused, gathering his thoughts before attempting to explain, "You know, there exists a wonderful connection between our souls and our physical bodies. The soul dwells within the body like a precious treasure housed in a specially designed vault—it's the fundamental force that drives the body."
Dumbledore's expression became even more serious as he continued, "But the soul is equally fragile and vulnerable; it cannot survive for any significant period without the body's protection and support. This so-called limit that we're discussing represents the body's natural protection of the soul, a barrier that prevents the consciousness from extending beyond the safe boundaries of physical existence."
"You mean—" Bryan began, his brow furrowing with intense concentration.
"Breaking through the limit means breaking down the body's natural protection of the soul, thereby enabling the soul to exist independently in the world apart from the body?" Bryan asked.
"Independent existence, yes, but not like ghosts—which are merely pale remnants of souls lingering in the world clinging to existence through sheer force of will or unfinished regrets," Dumbledore nodded solemnly.
"You can actually do this?" Bryan asked as he was clearly somewhat stunned. "You can separate your soul from your body and maintain conscious awareness?"
"About that particular capability..." Dumbledore replied, his smile becoming rather complex.
"Only once have I achieved such a thing. That was the moment when I finally passed through the limit. Oh, it was an incredibly wondrous experience—even now, decades later, remembering it fills me with a sense of wonder and awe that I can barely describe."
To see Bryan displaying such obvious astonishment and fascination gave even someone as experienced as Dumbledore a slight but unmistakable sense of pride in his unique accomplishment. However, almost immediately, his calm and peaceful expression took on a distinct touch of bitterness and old pain as he prepared to recount the circumstances that had led to this extraordinary event.
"That day, with Newt's help and the assistance of several other trusted friends and allies, we managed to work together to thwart Gellert's conspiracy to gain control of the International Confederation of Wizards.
Perhaps you've heard some version of the story that Gellert and I were close friends during our youth. To ensure and strengthen our friendship, we had even created a blood pact between us, a magical bond that promised we would never become each other's enemies, never raise our wands against one another."
Dumbledore's expression grew distant as he continued, lost in memories of those events, "The blood pact shattered that day for reasons that remain mysterious to me even now, I believe it was fate as if the universe itself had decided that our conflict was necessary and inevitable.
After Gellert managed to escape from our confrontation, after the immediate crisis had passed and our allies had dispersed to deal with the aftermath, I returned to my family home in Godric's Hollow, seeking privacy and time to process everything that had occurred."
His voice became more pensive, "At that time, I had been lingering about that mysterious limit for quite a while, aware of its presence but unable to pass through it. However, the complex emotions I was experiencing that day—the grief over the broken….well …the relief at having prevented a catastrophe, the weight of the choices I had been forced to make—somehow provided the catalyst I needed to finally shatter that barrier."
Dumbledore's eyes took on a distant, dreamy trait as he recalled the experience, "My soul separated from my physical body with a sensation that was both terrifying and exhilarating, like stepping off a cliff into an endless sky. Driven by an irresistible, powerful instinct that seemed to come from somewhere beyond my conscious mind, my consciousness began to drift up, trying to move toward the stars. It was as if my soul was searching for something."
At this, Bryan's heart leaped with excitement and curiosity, and he asked breathlessly, "Searching for what?"
Dumbledore shook his head regretfully.
"I honestly don't know, Bryan, and this isn't concealment," He replied with complete honesty.
"I truly don't know what that powerful instinct was driving me to search for, but before I could discover the answer, before my soul could complete whatever journey it had begun, the weakness within my consciousness reminded me that If my soul didn't return to my physical body soon, if it continued to drift further from my body's anchor, it would begin to dissipate.
Clearly, though my soul had successfully broken free from the normal bodily constraints, it hadn't been sufficiently 'nourished' by magic over the years to become truly powerful and independent. It lacked the ability to completely separate from the physical form for any longer period."
*******************************
For More Chapters; patreon.com/FicFrenzy
Comments
BB8ALREADY
Probably searching for that jellyfish source of magic lol
