Stealth 101

For practical exercises, the students paired up in teams of two, leaving one of them with the professor. One of them cast tracking spells, while the other used stealth techniques to evade detection. All fine and easy until now.

Professor Kageyama stood in front of the students; their eyes fixed on him. "Security systems, both magical and non-magical, are the main barriers you'll encounter. Understanding their workings is crucial for infiltration. We'll start with non-magical systems."

He waved his wand, and a detailed diagram of a muggle security system appeared on the board. "This is a standard muggle security system: cameras, motion sensors, and alarms. Cameras can be easily avoided with a simple 'Obscuro charm', blinding them temporarily. Current motion sensors, however, require more finesse, as they detect us through the vibrations caused by walking or other disturbances."

He demonstrated a spell, "Furtim Ambulatio" causing the ground beneath him to ripple slightly as he moved, his steps becoming silent, and also undetectable by the sensors. "This spell allows you to move silently and avoid triggering motion sensors. It's essential for infiltrating muggle targets."

"Now, magical security systems," he continued, "are more complex and varied. Detection wards, for example, can sense any magical presence. The key to bypassing them is understanding their range and limitations, like with any other ward."

The lecture was comprehensive, and their professor went into depth about common magical wards, explaining how they could detect unauthorized presence by sensing magical signatures. He conjured an image of a detection ward and began explaining its structure. "Most wards have a radius. The trick is to either destroy them quietly or slip through unnoticed. The 'Disruptum Revelio' spell can temporarily show and disable weak wards but use it sparingly as it leaves a magical trace. You also mustn't rely on it! Only weaker wards are affected, and I do not know how modern wards react."

After practicing these three spells, they had lunch and continued with a practical class afterwards.

They moved to the practical simulation area, where various houses simulated both magical and non-magical security systems. "Pair up,", the professor instructed, " you will have to infiltrate the mansion in teams of two. After a completed infiltration change your mansion and when you did a full rotation, I will increase the difficulty."

"Remember," he said, "magic can be detected. When infiltrating, you must act as though you have no magic. This means understanding how muggles protect their spaces."

Sebastian found himself paired with a burly 7th year named Aiden. They approached the mansion cautiously, using disillusionment charms to blend into the surroundings. "Watch out for the camera," Aiden whispered, pointing to a device mounted above the front gate.

Sebastian nodded, casting a Obscuro charm that disrupted the camera's feed. They moved swiftly, avoiding pressure-sensitive tiles on the ground by climbing along the wall and bypassing a magical alarm system with a quickly applied countercharm by Aiden.

Inside, they navigated a maze of enchanted corridors, and Sebastian used the knowledge from the morning's lecture to disable a particularly nasty hex that would have immobilized them for hours. Finally, they reached their objective: a heavily warded safe.

"Your turn," Sebastian said, stepping aside to let Aiden tackle the final obstacle.

Aiden grinned, casting a series of complex spells that unravelled the wards layer by layer. With a soft click, the safe opened, revealing a mock treasure inside.

"Well done," Professor Kageyama said, appearing behind them. "You worked well together. Remember, infiltration is as much about teamwork as it is about individual skill."

-HP-

The next day, the sun had barely risen when the students gathered in a dimly lit, underground room. The space, designed to resemble a labyrinth, was perfect for the day's lessons, as Professor Kageyama, their Japanese instructor, said, while he stood at the front, his eyes piercing through the half-darkness.

"Today, we are going to delve deeper into the art of stealth,", Kageyama began, his voice low but carrying a sense authority and wisdom about the given subject. "Blending with shadows is more than just hiding; it's about becoming one with the darkness."

He waved his hand, causing the lights to dim even further. Shadows lengthened and seemed to shift, creating an almost surreal environment. "Light and darkness are tools at your disposal. By understanding how shadows move and change, you can use them to your advantage. As of now, we don't really understand shadow magic, just like many rituals and some other branches of magic. Heh, seems like magic is still going to be somewhat magical.", he said while laughing silently.

Professor Kageyama demonstrated a spell and his form gradually melted into the surrounding shadows until he was nearly invisible. "Notice the subtle shimmer," he said, his voice coming from the darkness. "Even in the shadows, there's always a trace. Your task is to minimize that trace."

The students watched intently as their professor reappeared, his form solidifying out of the shadows. "Blending with shadows requires precise control of your magic!" he continued. "You must synchronize your magic with the natural flow of light and darkness.", he said in a mysterious way, before flickering from their sight.

The practical session was intense. The students were paired up and tasked with moving through a labyrinth of corridors and rooms, all shrouded in dark shadows. Their goal was to navigate the maze without being detected by their partners, who started at various points with spells to detect movement and sound.

Sebastian found himself paired with Aiden, again and as they practiced, Kageyama's voice echoed in Sebastian's mind, "Move silently and become the shadow!"

Sebastian took a deep breath and cast the shadow blending charm on himself. He felt a cool sensation wash over him as his form merged with the darkness. He moved cautiously; each step carefully placed in front of the other, to avoid making any noise. The silencing charm he had cast earlier ensured his movements were soundless, but he knew he had to be mindful of his surroundings.

He slowly approached a corner where Aiden was stationed and peeked at the older student, who had his wand in his hand, casting detection spells periodically every few seconds. Sebastian timed his movements with Aiden's spells, slipping past him during the brief moments of silence. He could feel his heart pounding, but he maintained his focus. He was the silent hunter, bypassing a difficult situation!

"Excellent," Professor Kageyama praised, as Sebastian completed the exercise while staying undetected. "Your initial mastery of the silence and the shadows is impressive, Sebastian. Remember, true stealth is not just about hiding; it's about becoming a part of your surroundings. Become your surroundings and work on your spells and no one would know you were even there!"

The morning continued with more exercises, each more challenging than the last, and at the end of the session, the students were exhausted but exhilarated. They had learned to move like shadows, becoming nearly invisible in the dark.

After a short lunch, the focus shifted to disguise and deception. The students went back to yesterday's brightly lit classroom, where Professor Kageyama stood in front of a large cauldron filled with a bubbling, murky potion.

"This," he said, gesturing to the cauldron, "is Polyjuice Potion. It allows you, to take on another person's appearance for a short, limited time. However, it requires careful preparation and precise ingredients. Else, you might be found or your body permanently disfigured without immediate help!", he warned.

The professor explained the process of brewing the Polyjuice Potion, while comparing and underlining the significance of each ingredient. The students took notes, as they understood, that mastery of this potion could be a crucial tool in their infiltration future.

"Polyjuice Potion is powerful, but it's not the only method of disguise." Kageyama continued. "Glamour Charms are simpler, and faster to use, but they require constant maintenance and are less effective for long term disguises. There is also the side effect, that you do not physically change, and an experienced illusionist can quickly figure out the spell, if his knowledge and experience is even a little bit higher than yours!"

He demonstrated a glamour charm, altering his appearance with a wave of his hand. His features shifted, becoming those of a completely different person. Some students watched in awe as their changed back to his original form, but some of them, that had at least partially focused on illusions stayed calm.

"Creating a false identity is more than just changing your appearance,", Professor Kageyama explained, "You must fully embody that identity, adopting their mannerisms, and behaviours. This is where the art of deception comes into play!"

Their next practical session involved brewing quick polyjuice potion and practicing glamour charms. The students worked in pairs, carefully measuring ingredients, and casting spells to alter their appearances. Sebastian found the process fascinating, watching as his classmates transformed their features with a wave of their wands. Unfortunately, he did not have much success in that aspect. His one year of experience just wasn't enough.

"Convincing,", the professor remarked as he inspected the other students work. „But remember, the key to deception is confidence. If you believe in your disguise, others will too! Sebastian, while you may not be able to cast these spells now, this lesson will still come in handy for you in the future!"

For the final exercise of the day, each student was assigned a false identity to adopt. They were given backstories and mannerisms to study, and then tasked with interacting with one another while maintaining their disguises. Sebastian took on the guise of a middle-aged shopkeeper, altering his posture and speech to fit the character, whose hair he was given.

He interacted with his classmates, staying in character even when questioned closely. The exercise tested not only their 'magical skills' but also their ability to think and react quickly under pressure.

As the day ended, the students were exhausted but satisfied. They had learned invaluable skills in stealth, disguise, and deception, preparing their paths as assassins. Though the rigorous training pushed them to their limits, they grew more confident and capable.

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Please comment of errors or loopholes.

There will be chapters on Saturday/Sunday, depending on the power stones from now on.

50 = 1 Chapter on Saturday

100 = 1 Chapter on Sunday

200 = Additional bonus chapter