Hogwarts' White Lord

"That's a pity."

Crunch, crunch

Dumbledore chewed on the Cockroach Cluster, clearly savoring the burst of syrup in his mouth, his expression one of pure enjoyment.

"…"

Ivan didn't know how to respond, so he quickly changed the subject. "I wanted to ask you about some knowledge on microscopic and planetary topics."

"Oh, that," Dumbledore replied, wiping his mouth. "I believe there's some content on that in Astronomy. From what Professor Sinistra has told me, you're doing well in her class, yes?"

Aurora Sinistra, the Astronomy professor at Hogwarts, often kept Dumbledore updated on Ivan's progress. Dumbledore had a genuine interest in Ivan's development and regularly checked in with the professors to ensure he was getting the best guidance. This helped him tailor the evening lessons for Ivan without conflicting with the professors' own teachings.

Ivan didn't mind the old wizard's attentiveness. Accepting a 110-year-old man as a mentor was no trouble for him—especially when that man was Dumbledore.

If he didn't make the most of Dumbledore's wisdom, well, he'd only be a fool.

Of course, Ivan suspected that Dumbledore's attentiveness might not just be a mentor's interest. It likely wasn't the bloodline of the Dumbledore family or his phoenix lineage that piqued Dumbledore's interest, nor was it Grindelwald's influence.

No, the old man probably harbored a notion that Ivan was somehow a descendant of himself and Grindelwald.

Charming.

Ivan thought with mild amusement that Dumbledore's ideas were endearing in their simplicity, a touch of nostalgia mixed with curiosity: "This life is perfect."

"I did learn quite a bit about astrology in Astronomy class," Ivan admitted. "But what I'm interested in is the magic involving macro and micro realms. Professor, you know what I mean?"

"Aha~~"

Dumbledore's curiosity was piqued. "If I may ask, Ivan, what draws you to these areas?"

"You should know," Dumbledore continued, "that even to an old wizard like myself, these are extremely complex fields. You would need massive magical instruments just to glimpse the tip of the iceberg."

Dumbledore wasn't exaggerating.

The soul's power would have to be extraordinarily strong to observe the microscopic world directly, without aid. As for the vastness of the macroscopic universe, telescopes can reveal distant stars, but what lies within other planets?

Even the most advanced wizardry has its limits.

In simple terms, Muggles go through endless trouble building rockets to explore Mars, while wizards can view Mars's scenery with just a spell.

It's infuriatingly unfair!

"I've visited that world," Ivan said, telling Dumbledore about his experience in the dream dimension.

There was no need to hide it.

Ivan's talent was already remarkable; if this revelation made it seem a little more extraordinary, the old headmaster would be surprised at most.

"Incredible... talent..."

But this time, Dumbledore's expression turned solemn. "Ivan, this new form of blood magic you've awakened is indeed exceptional."

The old headmaster knew there was magic in the microscopic world. Though he hadn't specifically researched it, he'd collected ancient magic relating to it over the years.

At the very least, he could take effective measures if faced with a threat from that realm.

"The space we inhabit doesn't exist in isolation," Dumbledore explained. "Time divides it into past, present, and future."

"There are also perspectives that divide it into the macroscopic and microscopic, objective and subjective."

Dumbledore continued, "To be honest, Ivan, I don't discourage you from exploring these realms, but they're distant pursuits for you right now."

"Distant?"

"I mean they're not practical," Dumbledore replied plainly. "You've glimpsed the microscopic world, but microscopic magic won't serve you in any practical way."

For now, it seems impractical.

"But if you're just curious to know," Dumbledore smiled, "I might be able to answer your questions."

"I understand."

The old headmaster was subtly advising him not to chase every curiosity. Time and resources are limited; one has to choose wisely and stay focused.

"I do have a question," Ivan said. "The world I call the dream dimension is within a microscopic space."

"But how can flowers, plants, and even sunlight exist in such a small realm?"

Recalling the dream's vivid landscape, Ivan found it hard to believe a tiny world could contain such rich detail. It seemed completely unreasonable.

"Isn't the answer quite clear?" Dumbledore replied with a knowing look. "It's all because of magic."

"Magic?"

Ivan was momentarily surprised but quickly caught on. "You mean, the magic within the microscopic space constructed that world?"

With this thought, a new possibility dawned on him.

If magic could create an entire world on a microscopic level, then couldn't it be that their own world, their planet, might be a "microcosm" from the perspective of something even greater?

Perhaps, he thought, even the so-called macrocosm might itself only be part of an even larger reality.

Big and small are merely perspectives humans use to categorize what they observe with their senses.

But, from an objective standpoint, is the microscopic world truly just a magnified version of Ivan's own?

"It seems you've already realized it," Dumbledore said with a gentle smile. "The microscopic world, shaped by magic, is like an entirely separate dimension for us."

This means that Ivan's vision of a microscopic world does not mean he could reach out and crush it with a finger. That simply wouldn't happen.

Ivan can observe the microscopic world with his magic vision, but he cannot physically interact with it because they exist on separate planes.

Similarly, when Ivan's spirit enters the microscopic realm, he cannot influence the real world or step directly from the dream dimension into reality.

"That's why I advised you not to delve too deeply," Dumbledore continued.

"Macroscopic planets, microscopic expanses," he mused, his tone filled with reverence. "These are truths that ancient wizards spent lifetimes exploring without fully understanding."

There are twelve doors, two ancient forces. To gain even one would bring a wizard to godlike power.

But even Grindelwald and I, after lifetimes of searching for the mysteries of death, failed to glimpse the world that lies beyond the veil of mortality.

"Magic, how wonderful.. haah.."

Dumbledore mused. "The world is a vast question, and we can't grasp it fully from any single perspective."

Just as we think of space as a single concept, it doesn't stand alone. It holds within it time, planets, emotions, life, and death…

Similarly, magic involving time will always be intertwined with space and matter.

'The complexity of the microscopic dream dimension that you sensed, Ivan, is perhaps even more intricate and vast than major fields like Transfiguration, Alchemy, Potions, or Charms.'

"If possible, Ivan, I hope you can set these things aside for now," Dumbledore said, his voice gentle but firm. "At least, until you've learned the magic we teach here. Allow yourself to be a happy young wizard."

Dumbledore wasn't suppressing Ivan's ambitions; rather, he was protecting him.

In the headmaster's view, Ivan's talent and potential placed him on a level that very few could ever match. In time, even he himself might find it hard to keep up with Ivan's abilities.

So, there was little that humans or their weapons could do to harm him.

What Dumbledore truly worried about were the forbidden realms of knowledge, the deeper mysteries of existence, and the dangerous wills hidden in the unknown.

He feared that if Ivan pursued these, he could become entangled in them, lost to a place from which he could never return.

"Thank you, Professor."

Ivan could feel the old headmaster's good intentions and realized he had indeed been a bit too focused. Returning to Hogwarts and immediately seeking out Dumbledore was perhaps proof of that.

"Haha~ You're still a young wizard, Ivan," Dumbledore said, pushing the jar of Cockroach Clusters in front of him. "You should enjoy your time studying at Hogwarts now."

Ivan eyed the candies crawling around in the jar, a small twitch forming at the corner of his mouth.

"I'll certainly enjoy it," he replied, sealing the lid tightly on the jar. "But I'll have to decline these... respectfully!"

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