1990, Britain, Plymouth, Devon.
The coastline near Plymouth Naval Dockyard awoke in the morning mist, with waves constantly crashing against the reefs, churning up layers of spray.
Before long, the morning sun dispelled the mist, turning Plymouth Bay into a shimmering expanse of fragmented gold. The sky here was entirely different from London's, without the perpetual gray haze, only a clear, washed-out azure, with a few fluffy white clouds lazily drifting at the horizon where sea met sky.
In a townhouse not far from the beach, in the garden of a sandstone villa, a young man leaned back in a comfortable wicker chair, an open copy of "Ancient British Runes" covering his face, rising and falling slightly with his even breaths. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the book, casting mottled shadows on his face.
Unfortunately, the peaceful time did not last long.
"Kevin! Breakfast is ready!" Emily's voice came from the kitchen, accompanied by the crisp clatter of dishes. "Remember to pack your sea gear after eating; we're leaving soon."
The lazy nap in the sun ended, Kevin stretched, and the book slid from his face, revealing his slightly bleary grey-blue eyes. He picked up the book, squinting to adjust to the dazzling sunlight for a moment, then slowly walked towards the dining room.
In the dining room, Emily was portioning golden-brown bacon and fried eggs onto the respective plates. Kevin casually tucked the book into the bookshelf and looked around: "Where is Dad and Lily?"
"Coming, coming!" Accompanied by thumping footsteps, a brown-haired girl with a ponytail rushed down from the second floor, hugging a waterproof bag with a dolphin design.
Sitting on the chair, Lily proudly shook her waterproof bag. "I'm not like some lazy cat; my swimsuit, sunscreen, and goggles are all packed!"
"David went to the dock early to check on the 'Puffin'," Emily placed a steaming cup of hot tea in front of Kevin. "He said we need to prepare more food this time, since this might be the last family outing at sea this year."
Kevin took a bite of his crab meat sandwich, raising an eyebrow: "Checking again? Wasn't the 'Puffin' just serviced last week?"
"Did you forget?" Emily wiped the coffee machine. "You'll be going to London for school when term starts, and we've already planned our vacation, which means this might be the last family outing at sea this year. David wants to spend a few more days at sea while he has the chance."
The Hawthorne family was typical middle-class in Plymouth. David, as a senior engineer at the naval shipyard, had an annual salary of 26,000 pounds; Emily was the head nurse at the city hospital, earning 18,000 pounds annually. Such a dual-income family in Britain was sufficient to provide their children with the best quality education.
Friends who have attended top public schools in Britain should know.
Whether it's Eton College, Harrow School, or Winchester College, these top public schools all share one commonality: extremely high thresholds.
This high threshold is not only a high demand for students' abilities but also for family income and the professions of family members. Tuition fees are a quarter of a middle-class family's annual income, and it's best if parents are doctors, lawyers, or engineers, with higher priority given to families where a parent or grandparent is an alumnus.
And Kevin naturally didn't need to worry about these things. In fact, Kevin had already received an admission notice from Eton College. This incredible achievement in the eyes of others was merely a matter of course for him.
Ever since he awakened his past life memories at the age of five, he possessed an almost photographic memory, not to mention the knowledge accumulated as an engineering university student in his previous life.
That's right, Kevin is a transmigrator.
Kevin, who awakened his past life memories at the age of five, not only realized that he was an engineering university student who died prematurely shortly after graduation in his previous life, but also awakened his superpower.
So Kevin knew very well that these worldly achievements were far less significant than his biggest secret—the superpower only he knew about. Whenever he concentrated, he could see blue light streams flowing in the air and even use his mind to make small objects like books and teacups float and move. This ability appeared to him as a quiet blue energy, like living threads wrapped around objects.
Besides these, what also made Kevin realize that this world was not simple was an extraordinary encounter he experienced at the age of eight.
At the age of eight, in front of the "Mayflower Steps" site in Plymouth Port, he had seen an old couple. Their entire bodies were enveloped in a blue light even more intense than what Kevin usually saw, and that energy flowed like a living thing around the rings they wore and their robes.
The old couple stood in front of the 'Mayflower Steps' site for a while, seemingly observing something, or perhaps reminiscing and feeling nostalgic about something.
Just as Kevin was about to go forward and ask, one of the old people suddenly summoned an item from the ruins—that thing emitted a nauseating, tar-like black light, and just a glimpse of it made his head ache intensely, ultimately causing him to faint on the beach.
When he woke up, Kevin was lying on the beach not far from the ruins. Next to him was a scroll of parchment written in runes and a note.
It read, "Child, your eyes can see through the weave of magic, a talent that amazes even me—but remember, some darkness is like a poisoned needle; the longer you gaze, the deeper it pierces the soul. In my life, I have seen too many bright eyes dulled by peering into the abyss… Your talent is a gift; do not let it become a wedge to pry open your mind."
For years, Kevin had been unable to decipher that parchment. The runes seemed to follow some pattern, yet they also seemed deliberately scrambled, like a carefully designed puzzle. He had suspected that the old couple were legendary Alchemists, or even…
Unfortunately, after that, he never saw the old couple again.
However, although Kevin wanted to understand these unknown things, he was not in a hurry, because he had enough time to explore this unknown world.
After all, life after transmigration was quite good for Kevin: loving parents, a lively and adorable younger sister, and a wealthy life—all things he had yearned for in his previous life.
The three quietly finished breakfast, and Kevin helped clear the dishes.
Mother was doing a final check, tapping her finger on a checklist on the doorframe: "Sunscreen, lunch basket, first-aid kit… Lily! Where's your sun hat?"
"It's here!" Lily slid down the stair railing, her straw hat askew on her head.
Kevin picked up his canvas backpack, which neatly contained his sketchbook, binoculars, and that copy of "Ancient British Runes." As he turned the brass doorknob, the salty scent of the sea breeze wafted in.
Just as the door was about to close—
"Thud!"
A dull thud interrupted her words. The three turned to the sound source: a brown-grey tabby owl lay dazed in front of the newly closed door, its wings unnaturally drooped. Even more striking was the letter pressed beneath it, a cream-colored envelope glowing with a faint golden halo in the sunlight.
"Where did this owl come from? Why did it crash into our door?" Lily stared curiously at the owl on the ground.
Kevin's heart suddenly sped up. He carefully picked up the envelope, and dark green handwriting came into view:
[Mr. Kevin Hawthorne, 17 Crescent Street, Hooey District, Devon, at the door]
When he flipped the envelope over and saw the deep red wax seal, his breathing almost stopped. It bore a crest with a lion, snake, badger, and eagle encircling the letter "H."
Suddenly, Kevin realized that the unknown world he was in might be a world he was familiar with, a magic world described in the Harry Potter novels.
With slightly trembling fingers, he tore open the envelope, and the words on the parchment confirmed his suspicion:
[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Principal: Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
(Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorcerer, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot)
Dear kevin,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Principal]
"Mom," Kevin's voice trembled slightly with excitement. He looked up, his eyes shining with a light Emily had never seen before. "I think my plan to go to school in London… might have to change."
As Emily took the incredible acceptance letter, Kevin's gaze went over her shoulder, to the gradually dissipating morning mist on the distant horizon. He suddenly understood that his life in this world was about to have a brand new beginning.
Sunlight filtered through the parchment, making the dark green lettering exceptionally clear. Emily read the incredible contents line by line, her brow unconsciously furrowing.
"Hogwarts… School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?" Her voice was a mixture of confusion and unease, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the exquisite wax seal on the envelope. The seal shimmered in the sunlight, the lion's mane and the snake's scales so lifelike they seemed ready to leap off the page at any moment.
Kevin's eyes were astonishingly bright, as if filled with all the sunlight of Plymouth Bay. He opened his mouth to explain but was stopped by his mother's raised hand.
"Darling, I know you're excited." Emily took a deep breath and carefully folded the letter. "But this is too… extraordinary. I mean, a magic school? An owl that delivers mail?" Her gaze fell on the brown-grey owl lying on the ground, and her voice gradually trailed off.
Lily's waterproof bag dropped to the ground with a thud, and her sunscreen rolled out. She widened her grey-blue eyes, identical to her brother's, her gaze darting between her mother and brother.
"Mom!" Lily suddenly jumped up. "What if it's true? Kevin is so amazing…"
"Lily!" Emily uncharacteristically raised her voice, then softened it. "Go to the dock and call David back, okay? We need to… discuss this as a family."
Lily pouted, but curiosity quickly overcame her displeasure. She rushed out the door like a gust of wind.