bookbashuk Chapter 223 The Friends' Fun Holiday
Chapter 223 The Friends' Fun Holiday
Chapter 223 The Friends' Fun Holiday
The scent of the sea breeze still seemed to linger on their hair. On Monday morning, Karen accompanied Lily to the City Library in downtown Plymouth. It was an old red brick building with huge glass windows that let in plenty of sunlight, and the air was filled with the quiet smell of old paper, ink, and wooden bookshelves.
"The children's area is over there! I'll go by myself!" As soon as Lily entered, she knew where she was going and, like a bird released from its cage, happily ran towards the brightly colored corner filled with picture books and toys. A smiling and kind caretaker had already noticed her.
Emily smiled as she watched her daughter run off into the distance, then turned to Karen: "I'll go to the adult section and see if there are any new magazines."
"Do as you please, just don't go too far." She patted Karen's arm, her eyes gentle yet revealing a subtle understanding.
Karen nodded and saw his mother off to the periodicals section. He then walked to the relatively quiet non-fiction area of the library. The tall bookshelves stood like silent guards, and the classification signs were clear and concise: history, philosophy, science, psychology—he stopped in front of the "psychology" and "cognitive science" shelves. The core of Occlumency is the control of will, thought, and memory, and compared to other forms of magic, it seems to require little magical intervention. Perhaps in a non-magical world, could one find some similar theoretical support or inspiration for training methods?
He pulled out a thick volume, *The Neurobiological Basis of Memory*, and turned to the chapter on "Memory Retrieval and Inhibition." The technical terminology described the interaction between the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex, explaining why some memories are vivid while others are forgotten. Although unrelated to magic, the description of the neural mechanisms of "actively inhibiting memories" reminded Karen of the techniques used in occult surgery to "remove useless emotions" and "precisely control memory retrieval." The phenomena observed by scientists through experiments, to some extent, confirmed the effects that wizards could only achieve through willpower and magic.
He then picked up a book called "The Art of Focus," which introduced various training methods to improve focus and reduce distraction.
One type of "anchoring" is remarkably similar to the meditative state in the early stages of Occlumency, focusing attention on a simple sensory input to eliminate distractions. There's also a description of "thought blocking," used to help anxiety sufferers stop the cycle of negative thoughts. Its principle is to immediately interrupt a negative thought with a pre-set "stop signal," such as a word, an image, or a distraction. Isn't this exactly what he did when practicing "capturing" and "isolating" intruding thoughts? Magic has simply elevated it to the level of combating mental intrusion.
Karen leaned against the bookshelf, immersed in the pages, his fingers unconsciously tracing the lines of printed text. These Muggle theories, while unable to directly guide him in constructing a magical barrier, acted like a mirror, reflecting the universal principles governing human thought processes behind Occlumency. They provided a certain "rationality" and "direction" to his arduous practice, letting him know that he wasn't walking a completely uncharted path.
The requirements for constructing a false memory barrier from the notebook surfaced in his mind. A basic state of mental stillness was fundamental, but to truly confuse potential intruders, a more proactive defense was needed. Karen closed the book and placed it back on the shelf. He walked to a row of reading tables by the window and sat down, overlooking the library's quiet inner courtyard garden. He closed his eyes, once again entering that subconscious state of "emptiness" that had become easier to achieve with repeated practice.
This time, he was no longer content with maintaining calm. He began to meticulously construct a "false" memory scene on the "surface" of his consciousness.
He chose a scene from Professor Flitwick's Charms Club event not long ago. The scene was vivid: Professor Flitwick stood on a small platform in the center of the circular classroom, waving his slender wand, explaining the differences in magical structure between the ancient spell "Breath of Ignis" and the modern "Blazing Flame." The air was filled with the unique scent of old parchment and potion ingredients. Karen herself sat in the front row, clearly seeing the slowly rotating, dark red vortex of magical energy at the tip of Professor Flitwick's wand, representing the twisted, nodal structure of the ancient spell. This memory was real, but harmless and insignificant. Karen tried to fill in the details to make it more complete and vivid:
The texture of the wooden podium, the focused or thoughtful expressions of the older students around him, the magical light reflected from Professor Flitwick's glasses—then, he tried to "fix" this memory on the surface of his consciousness, like a clear image floating there.
Tell yourself: If you encounter a mental intrusion, when the probe touches the surface, actively "push out" this memory image, making it the first thing the intruder "sees," covering up their true thoughts that they might want to uncover.
This is harder to maintain than simply being "empty." It requires devoting a portion of one's mind to keeping this "false memory" vivid and stable, while also being wary of other distractions and the intrusion of negative thoughts. Karen's brow furrowed slightly, and her breathing became a little deeper than usual.
As he focused intently on constructing and maintaining this "Charms class illusion," a more complex thought emerged:
A mental maze. What if an intruder breaks through this simple layer of false memory? The notes mention a higher-level technique: constructing complex, meaningless thought paths to mislead and procrastinate.
Karen's mind raced. Instead of immediately abandoning the "Charms" scenario, he tried to quickly construct another path "below" or "next to" it: the Ravenclaw Quidditch Playboard! On the green velvet background, small models of different colors represented the Chaser, the Beater, and the Seeker. He imagined Ernesto frowning as he moved the black model representing the Runner, and Wesley pointing and intensely discussing the feasibility of Quidditch tactics in the opponent's goal area. This path was full of detail, dynamism, and seemingly logical reasoning, but it contained no secrets to protect; it was purely a maze designed to exhaust any intruder.
Maintaining the "vitality" of both pathways simultaneously suddenly increased the strain on his mental energy! Karen felt a slight throbbing pain in his temples. The birdsong outside the window, the faint laughter from the children's area in the distance, and even the sound of pages turning, all now became distracting noises, constantly trying to pull him out of this precise mental manipulation. He had to once again divert his attention to "mark" and "isolate" these external information flows.
Just as he felt his mental energy starting to wane, fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his breathing became slightly erratic—
A warm hand gently rested on the back of his hand, which was resting on the table.
Karen suddenly opened her eyes.
Emily had returned sometime earlier and was sitting in the chair opposite him. A beautiful gardening book was open in front of her, but her gaze was gentle and concerned as she looked at Karen's face. She didn't speak, but conveyed quiet strength and understanding with a silent handshake. Her palm was warm and dry; that simple touch was like a warm current, instantly soothing Karen's tension and fatigue.
Karen's tense nerves slowly relaxed. He squeezed his mother's hand back, a tired but incredibly genuine smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Thank you, Mom," he whispered, his voice a little hoarse.
"Are you tired? It's almost noon," Emily said softly. "Shall we go home for lunch? I bought some fresh salmon."
"Okay." Karen nodded, a warm feeling welling up inside him. His mother's intuition and silent protection made him feel more at ease than any magical barrier.
"Have you chosen?" Karen turned to look at the new picture books Lily was holding, her voice returning to its usual gentle tone.
"Yes!" Lily nodded vigorously, holding up a copy of "The Dancing Carrot Part 2" as if presenting a treasure.
As they left the library, the setting sun bathed the streets in a golden glow. Emily naturally reached out and firmly grasped Karen's hand. Her hand was warm and strong; without a word, the simple act of holding it conveyed a profound sense of support and understanding.
At dinner, as expected, a new dish appeared on the table: Karen's favorite shepherd's pie, with crispy mashed potatoes and a rich aroma of meat sauce. David ate heartily while discussing a new small yacht conversion project the shipyard had taken on with Emily. Lily chattered excitedly about the wonderful stories she had read in the library. The warmth of home enveloped Karen.
In the afternoon, several letters were delivered to Hawthorne's windowsill by an unfamiliar brown owl. Karen was a little curious as to why the three letters were sent together by the same owl, but she couldn't find out for now and could only write to ask later.
The top one is Wesley's letter. When you open it, the handwriting is a bit messy, and there are a few graffiti soccer balls mixed in, which is indeed Wesley's handwriting.
"Karen! Man! Summer vacation is amazing! My dad finally agreed to let me join the town's youth soccer team training!"
Although you can't use brooms in football! But dribbling past opponents feels so good! I scored one in yesterday's training match, a 'bang' like a Quaffle! The goalkeeper was stunned! By the way, I suddenly realized that some football tactics can be adapted into Quaffle tactics, and the two balls look quite similar, except for the color difference. I really want to go back to school soon and try out the new Quidditch tactics! How's your summer study plan going? Remember to read Ernesto's letter at the end for a surprise; I was startled when I saw it! Finally, please give my regards to your aunt, uncle, and Lily! —Wesley, the future greatest chaser of Ravenclaw.
Since Wesley said to read Ernesto's letter last, let's read Fabian's letter first!
"Karen, Greetings. I'm helping out at my dad's dental clinic this summer, mainly organizing instruments and sterilizing them, and occasionally helping to calm particularly nervous young patients. To be honest, dental techniques are incredibly precise, especially those high-speed drills and filling materials—the efficiency is astonishing. However, seeing that they can only relieve pain with anesthesia, I still think the magic of 'pain-relieving spells' and 'healing spells' is more magical and merciful. I tried using a little spell my mom taught me to revive a fallen mint plant, and my dad was extremely surprised when he saw it, even asking if I added special fertilizer. —I'm very interested in that red rose you mentioned; I'd love to see its magical properties if I had the chance. Best regards, —Fabian"
Finally, there was Ernesto's letter, written on more exquisite parchment, with elegant handwriting, and accompanied by a moving magical photograph:
"Karen, it's like reading this letter. This holiday—well, most of the time it was bearable. My grandfather, on a whim, insisted on taking me to 'broaden my horizons,' to that observatory I told you about before, the one that actually floats outside Earth's atmosphere!"
The accompanying photograph showed a backdrop of a deep, boundless black universe, dotted with stars denser and more brilliant than those seen from Earth, and below, massive, blue-and-white patterned arcs of planetary orbits. Ernesto, dressed in typical wizarding attire—unlike astronauts in heavy spacesuits—stood before the enormous, transparent porthole, his expression a mixture of awe and wonder. Beside him stood a stern-faced, meticulously groomed old wizard—Griffith's grandfather—pointing somewhere outside the window.
"—In my grandfather's words, it was to 'feel the cold pulse of the universe and escape the trivialities and noise of the world.' It was indeed 'cold'! The place relied entirely on ancient runic arrays to maintain air and gravity, and outside the window was a bone-chilling void! Although the stars were undeniably magnificent, recording that damned 'etheric flow disturbance' data over three consecutive days on the same star field, and enduring my grandfather's long-winded explanations about 'stars guiding destiny' (I never knew he believed in that! While the centaur's divination methods are indeed powerful, I think wizards' star divination is all a lie!), Merlin's beard! Oh, and besides the even more beautiful starry sky, the observatory's magical stabilization system is quite ingenious. Unfortunately, I can't figure out how it was made, but my grandfather said that building new observatories is no longer allowed; this one was built when he was young. —Looking forward to the reunion at the 'Eagle's Nest.' —Ernesto Griffith"
Karen finished reading the letter and was somewhat surprised. Was it really not written by Wesley? After careful confirmation, she determined that it was Ernesto's handwriting. It seemed that this space stargazing trip had indeed brought him a great shock, to the point that he had become like Wesley.
Looking at Karen and then at Ernesto's expression of utter despair as he listened to his grandfather's story, awkwardly flashing his signature "V" sign at the camera against a backdrop of a vast starry sky and a giant blue planet, I couldn't help but laugh. Wesley's passion for football, Fabian's experience as a dental assistant, Ernesto's space travels—these roommates' lives are ordinary yet full of their own little wonders.
He walked to his desk, took out parchment and a quill, dipped it in ink, and began to reply with a relaxed smile.
The dinner table was filled with enticing aromas. Emily had indeed made Karen's favorite pan-fried fish fillets, served with lemon juice and charred baby potatoes, along with a fresh vegetable salad. Under the soft light, the family sat together, sharing their day's experiences. Lily chattered excitedly about the interesting picture books she'd found in the library's children's section, while David enthusiastically planned their next fishing trip to a more distant bay. Karen also briefly shared Ernesto's quirky yet incredibly funny space letter, eliciting laughter from the whole family.