area51novel Chapter 110 Exploring the Castle and Where the Holiday Went
Chapter 110 Exploring the Castle and Where the Holiday Went
Chapter 110 Exploring the Castle and Where the Holiday Went
The bronze eagle-shaped door knocker of the Ravenclaw Tower hangs there silently, and no one knows when it was placed there. It may indeed be something left behind by the Ravenclaw ladies.
"Let's begin," Karen whispered. He focused his mind again, silver lines flowing deep within his grey-blue eyes. This time, his senses, like invisible tentacles, cautiously probed the ancient bronze door knocker and the space around it.
The view was instantly illuminated, and the door knocker itself seemed to be the core of an exquisite magical creation woven from countless fine silver-blue rays.
Countless delicate yet resilient magical threads extend outwards from the door knocker like a spiderweb, some merging into the thick castle walls, some connecting upwards to higher towers, and others sinking downwards into the foundation. The entire door knocker area forms a precise and complex three-dimensional magical network.
"Such an intricate net. I've passed by here so many times before, why didn't I ever think to take a closer look?" Karen murmured to himself, his "gaze" following the flowing magical threads. The magic flowing within the threads possessed an extremely pure, intelligent, silvery-blue hue. They flowed incredibly fast, yet with perfect order, following some profound rule.
"The flow of magic is extremely smooth," Karen described to the three people around her who were intently recording. "The magic field here is very 'peaceful,' carrying a pure sense of order that belongs to wisdom and reason. It can stabilize itself and eliminate interference. It's like a precisely operating independent clock, maintaining only its own accuracy, and has basically no active influence or interaction with the outside world, such as the magic dissipating from where we are standing."
It lacks the stability we need.
Fabian quickly jotted down Cullen's words in his sketchbook, while Ernesto analyzed in a low voice: "It seems that the 'Ravenclaw's field of wisdom' mentioned in Professor Sinclair's diary refers more to the cognitive magic model inherent in this puzzle system itself. It is a powerful and stable structure, but its stability is 'internal,' serving a specific function, rather than a 'resource' or 'field' that can be utilized by the outside world."
Wesley was a little overwhelmed, but he grasped the key point: "So, this place won't work either? What do we do then? We can't exactly scan Snape's office, can we? I have a feeling the magic field there is teeming with sticky malice."
"Don't talk nonsense." Fabian glared at him, closed his notebook, and looked at Karen, his eyes behind his glasses questioning, "What's next? Where should we go?"
Karen's gaze passed over the stone windows of the corridor and landed in the direction of the Forbidden Forest.
"Go to the edge of the Forbidden Forest." Karen's voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable determination. "But not now. Wait for the full moon, when the moonlight is at its peak. Fabian, please compile all the observational data and speculations regarding the Moonmoss's symbiotic environment. Ernesto, find out the exact date and time of the next full moon. Wesley, prepare to practice the 'Spider Repelling Charm' and the 'Dance Charm,' and also, make sure everyone carries their protective badges."
He took one last look at the outline of the deep, forbidden forest, and in the depths of his grey-blue eyes, it seemed as if moonlight was silently flowing.
The days that followed passed in a flurry of activity and waiting. The Eagle's Nest team, like a set of intricate gears, operated at high speed around the "Magic Stabilization" project.
Fabian was completely engrossed in his "Atlas of the Magical Botany of the Forbidden Forest at Hogwarts (First Draft)". He could always be seen hunched over his work, either by the warm fireplace in the common room or at the enormous workbench in the Eagle's Nest. His sketchbook was open, covered with photocopies of illustrations cut from various botanical books and his own meticulously drawn sketches.
The section about moonlight nurture was highlighted in the diagram, and next to it were densely covered with Fabian's observation notes, questions, and hypotheses to be verified. He even compiled a list of key environmental parameters to be recorded during the next full moon: moonlight intensity, air humidity, wind speed, and curves showing changes in the intensity and purity of the magical field at specific locations.
Meanwhile, Ernesto's domain was filled with star charts, heavy ancient books, and mineral samples. He occupied a long table in a quiet corner of the library, on which lay his dark blue velvet-covered "Atlas of Magical Minerals and Legends," next to which were piled "Hypotheses on the Correlation of Astrological Magic," "Studies on Ancient Healing Stones," and several thick volumes of astronomical almanacs.
"The clues about the Tranquility Crystal are still too vague." Ernesto rubbed his temples and said to Karen and Fabian sitting around him (Wesley was practicing the silent "Spider Repelling Charm" not far away, his wand waving silently, creating a faint air current), "Most of the records are hearsay, and I personally think it's better to focus our energy on other things."
He pulled out another notebook: "In addition, I consulted those Sinclair Professor notes that you previously obtained from Nicolas Flamel."
It mentions several auxiliary materials he discussed during his research on the "Eye of Truth." He repeatedly mentions a crystal called "Tears of Sand" from an Egyptian desert oasis, describing it as "capturing and storing pure moon dew for extended periods, its crystal structure having a slight calming inertia on disordered magical flows." Although he doesn't explicitly state its use for stabilizing magical energy, this description is very close to the "soothing" and "guiding" we need!
After saying that, he looked at Karen, "Unfortunately, this kind of crystal is extremely rare, and it seems that Professor Sinclair hasn't found any more since. But at least, it proves that mineral crystal structures with similar 'combing' functions do exist in nature, which can serve as a reference for our understanding of that 'resonance' mechanism."
Karen listened intently, her fingers unconsciously tracing invisible chains of runes across the table. She hadn't expected Ernesto to have unearthed such useful information from Sinclair's notes. "Very valuable, Ernesto. Can you calculate the exact time of the next full moon?"
"It's all calculated," Ernesto said, pointing to the open astronomical almanac and the parchment covered with his calculations. "The next full moon will be around midnight next Friday."
"Good!" Karen nodded. He turned to Fabian, "How are your maps and observation plans coming along?"
Fabian immediately pushed his precious sketchbook over, pointing to the detailed observation items and division of labor listed on it: "Everything is ready!"
"We're just waiting for the full moon! Ernesto and I will handle the environmental parameter recording and astronomical support; the rest will depend on your alchemical instruments, Karen."
"Don't worry." Karen patted Fabian on the shoulder, then looked at Ernesto. "Thanks for your hard work, Wesley!"
"Here!" Wesley immediately stopped practicing and ran over.
"Your task is the most important," Karen said, looking at him. "You'll be responsible for the safety and security of all of us. Especially during the observation period, although I've brought a viewing device, we still need to be extra careful. Also, how's your practice of the Dance Charm and Spider Repelling Charm going?"
Wesley puffed out his chest and patted the wand and badge at his waist: "No problem! Deal with those multi-legged creatures, I guarantee they'll be tap-dancing their way out! I'll always have the badge with me!" He had an eager look on his face.
With clear division of labor and well-defined goals, all that remains is the full moon.
Cullen used every spare moment to "scan" the castle. The "magical nodes" mentioned by Dumbledore became his targets. Like a tireless explorer, he wandered through the castle's ancient corridors and halls with his notebook in hand.
Over the course of several days, the accumulated parchment had grown to a thick stack. Karen, at the Eagle's Nest worktable, compiled all the scanning records...
The report was compiled and refined, resulting in a clear "Preliminary Scan Report on Magical Nodes in Certain Areas of Hogwarts Castle." The report's core conclusions are clear and specific: powerful and ancient magic exists within the castle (such as the protective system and the Room of Requirement), as well as magical fields that provide comfort, but neither possesses the characteristics that Cullen currently needs.
The atmosphere at the Ravenclaw long table was relaxed at dinner time on Thursday. The approaching Easter holidays had given the students plenty to talk about.
Most of them are plans to go home or arrangements to stay on campus.
"Hey, Karen, are you staying at school for Easter?" Wesley asked Karen.
"I'm not planning to stay at school for the Easter break!" Karen put down her cutlery and answered solemnly.
"Huh?" Wesley forgot to chew the pie in his mouth and stared wide-eyed.
Fabian and Ernesto also showed expressions of surprise and confusion.
"You're going home?" Fabian asked. "Didn't you say before—"
“Not going home.” Karen shook her head, her gaze calm and resolute. “I’m going to France. To see Mr. Nicolas Flamel.”
Upon hearing Karen's words, Wesley's mouth gaped open, Fabian forgot to adjust his glasses, and even Ernesto's action of cutting fish meat froze.
"France? Nicolas Flamel?" Wesley's voice suddenly rose, filled with unbelievable excitement. "The legendary alchemist? Nicolas Flamel, who lived for over six hundred years? You're going to see him? Wait—it's because of Professor Victor?!" He suddenly realized.
Fabian's face was filled with worry. "Are you worried about the professor? But the letter—"
"The professor said in the letter that he's doing well," Karen replied calmly, but a resolute determination shone in her eyes. "But I need to see it for myself. Besides, there might be new ways to help the professor over there."
Ernesto paused for a few seconds, put down his silver knife, and looked at Karen with his grey-blue eyes: "Have you decided?"
"It's decided," Karen replied without the slightest hesitation.
Fabian nodded, his concern tinged with understanding: "Then be careful, Karen. I believe the professor—he'll be alright."
"Hmm," Ernesto responded simply, acknowledging the arrangement. "Keep in touch."
After dinner, Karen immediately returned to his dormitory, went to the desk in the corner, spread out a new sheet of parchment, and took out a quill. He needed to write two letters.
The first letter was to Nicolas Flamel, hoping to obtain his permission to visit the professor in person.
Then he took out a second parchment, which was a note to his family explaining why he wasn't going home for the holiday.
He rolled up the two letters and sealed them with wax bearing the Hogwarts crest. Then he handed both letters to Phoebus.
"Phobos," Karen gently stroked its smooth, snow-white feathers, tying the letter for Nicolas Flamel to its right leg—the letter was noticeably heavier—"These two letters are yours to deliver. You must get them!"
Phobos flapped his wings, seemingly confirming his mission, then spread his broad and powerful snow-white wings and flew away, quickly disappearing into the deep night outside Hogwarts Castle, flying off in different directions.
Karen stood by the window, gazing in the direction where Phoebus had disappeared, hoping to receive a positive reply.