Chapter 211 "The Future of Serpentis Vigil"

Before the establishment of Hogwarts, and even during the initial years of its inception, the organization of magical education was notably convoluted, lacking a comprehensive classification system.

Slytherin excelled in Legilimency and dark magic; Hufflepuff specialized in healing magic and living magic; Ravenclaw demonstrated proficiency in magic theory and space magic; and Gryffindor exhibited prowess across a broad spectrum of magical disciplines, including the intricate field of Muggle swordsmanship.

Remarkably, none of the four founders' magical expertise covered modern disciplines like transfiguration, charms, herbalism, potions, alchemy, history of magic, or Warcraft.

Each of this specialization brought its own pros and cons, with each founder more prone to clash with their own ideologies because of their own understanding of how one section of their spells could bring disaster or catastrophe while at the same time advancing the wizarding world.

It took the efforts of the school's first three headmasters (as the founders established the school without selecting a principal) considerable time and deliberation to eventually establish a structure.

Despite differing opinions, they concluded that these subjects formed the foundational pillars of magical learning, making them the most suitable approach for imparting knowledge in an "academy" format.

Before the establishment of the academy system for magic disciplines, wizarding knowledge was pragmatic and encompassed various magical fields. This eclectic approach was particularly prevalent during the era of the master-apprentice system, where apprentices closely observed their masters' daily magical practices, conversations, and behaviors to acquire knowledge.

(A similar pattern existed in the earliest knowledge transmission in the Muggle world, where liberal arts and sciences were not divided into subjects and were intertwined with philosophy.)

During that period, as wizards held their broomsticks in high regard and magical knowledge wasn't widely disseminated, there was a loss of continuity in magical inheritance.

Few people recall this era, where a myriad of magical flowers blossomed, and every wizard possessed unique skills such as the snake whisperer heritage, using snake language for spellcasting, the druid heritage that revered nature, and legacies involving the handling of deceased bodies and undead spirits.

The ancient magical inheritances, including those of the undead master, the witch and poison master focusing on cultivating and refining poisons, the puppet master using spiritual diversion to control alchemy puppets, and the insect master primarily controlling insects, have largely become legendary tales passed down through oral tradition in the wizarding world.

Only in pure-blood families with ancient enough lineage might some records still exist, while many modern wizards remain oblivious to these ancient legacies.

Skyler, however, has compiled knowledge from the four major families and fortuitously acquired the extensive collection of books from Ravenclaw, the most knowledgeable among the four founders.

He has gained control over the Snake Whisperer inheritance among the mentioned inheritances.

Although the Druid inheritance is lost, he has not given up on finding clues. Additionally, he has learned about the Necromancer inheritance from Dumbledore, which is located in the Necromancer Guild in Sylvania.

Regarding the Insect Master inheritance, he once obtained "The Book of Insect Masters" from Ravenclaw's collection, thoroughly reading its contents.

As expected, the book on Insect Master magic revealed a method to control insects. However, it appeared to require a wizard's bloodline, and despite Skyler's attempts, he couldn't decipher it, ultimately deciding to abandon the endeavor.

Returning to Luna, she successfully awakened the complete blood talent of "Children Of Nature."

"I don't think I can continue to do it, Skyler. My head feels like splitting by the time I formed a connection with them; it's a different sensation than how it goes with the small creatures," Luna explained how she felt every time she wanted to control a larger magical creature.

After numerous experiments, she demonstrated mastery over small magical animals, but struggled with larger magical animals that she couldn't handle.

Skyler, being astute, refused to let Luna's talent go to waste. He devised a plan: if controlling large magical animals was challenging, why not focus on the strength of small magical animals? Skyler realized that among them, insects held great potential.

"Luna, I think I figured out a plan for you. A good thing you are not scared of anything!" Skyler turned to Luna, offering his plan. "I think we could pretty much agree that if you can only control small creatures, then the insects would be a great choice to hone your skill!"

"I love that idea, Skyler!" Luna replied cheerfully.

Knowing that in the era of insect masters, summoning swarms of locusts to create an insect plague was not a mere myth but a reality, Skyler envisioned harnessing the formidable power of insects for combat.

Additionally, consider the vast diversity among bug types, encompassing an extensive range of biological characteristics.

Some insects can fly, while others spin silk or weave webs; some can burrow into the earth and escape, others swim in water, and a few possess formidable biting power. Moreover, certain insects are incredibly toxic, making it a truly Bug-level ability!

Given that the "Book of Bug Masters" held no value for Skyler personally, and as the sole descendant of Ravenclaw, he had complete authority over the book collection. Generously, he bestowed the book upon Luna, hoping she would swiftly master the magic contained within.

The week swiftly passed, marking the first weekend after the Easter holiday and the final weekend of April. Skyler once again called for a meeting of all Serpentis Vigil members.

While the Serpentis Vigil Club regularly organized various activities during the semester, such as wizard exchanges and Skyler's magic tutorials, these were not obligatory for all members to attend.

The all-staff meeting, compulsory for all members, had only occurred twice in history - during its founding and when Cho and Susan joined. This marks the third occurrence.

As Daphne handled the recruitment and member list, Skyler learned the current scale of the Serpentis Vigil Club for the first time. He vividly recalls the organization's inception with only 19 members. Surprisingly, in less than a year, it had expanded significantly.

Upon Skyler's control over the six Slytherin prefects, nearly 80% of Slytherin students joined the Serpentis Vigil Club. For undisclosed reasons—perhaps lingering ties to the past, possibly due to her influence, or other motives—Draco and his trio (Pansy, Goyle, Crabbe) were aware of Serpentis Vigil but chose not to join.

However, the senior followers Draco had previously subdued, including Graham Montaigne and Cassius Warrington, defected to Skyler with Draco's approval.

Two notable exceptions who didn't join the Serpentis Vigil were Blaise Shabini and Theodore Nott. The former fell outside the scope of Skyler's recruitment, and a clash with Madame Shabini seemed inevitable. The latter, driven by his introverted nature, preferred solitude and disliked club activities.

Despite this, the Serpentis Vigil Club's total membership still reached 81.

"Good morning everyone," Skyler cleared his throat, eschewing amplifying spells and letting his voice naturally resonate with everyone. Several elite senior students, aware of his proficiency, showed expressions of awe. "I've gathered everyone today because I have something important to announce..."

"As I look around, I see both unfamiliar new faces and familiar old ones. It doesn't matter, because, unlike other ordinary student clubs," Skyler paused before loudly declaring, "We are a family!"

"Brothers, sisters," Skyler continued, deliberately pacing his words, "I am genuinely delighted to see you today. I am profoundly grateful... It's not easy to grow from a mere 19 people at the beginning to our current family. This achievement is a testament to each of your invaluable contributions, and you all deserve this honor!"

Several core members, including the six prefects and six girls, seized the moment to lead the applause, infusing the atmosphere with liveliness.

"However, I must clarify something," Skyler's tone shifted to solemn and serious, capturing the attention of the young wizards. They sat upright, listening intently, "The Serpentis Vigil Club has been, until now, a platform for academic exchanges. It provides us with the opportunity to learn knowledge beyond the classroom and engage in practical training. However," Skyler paused for emphasis, "Have any of you considered the ultimate purpose of acquiring these magical skills? What is it?"

"As senior members graduate and move on to pursue their futures, even I, as the founder, will eventually leave to fulfill my responsibilities. This departure might occur in two or three years, in the not-so-distant future, or even as soon as tomorrow!" Skyler's eyes gleamed with determination, "I believe each one of you here must be grappling with the same question—"

"Where is the future of Serpentis Vigil headed?"

The other members start murmuring after hearing Skyler drop a massive question over their heads, making them start wondering. Because all this time, they have only been following the lead of Skyler and never think further than that.