Chapter 536 The Ruins Of The Swamp And The Megalithic Temples
High above the endless swamp, Buckbeak soared forward for more than ten minutes.
The fog around grew denser and thicker, shrouding a vast area of darkness where nothing was clear; even the sun was eclipsed.
In the dreadful mist, eyes lost their function entirely, only able to perceive a blurry white everywhere.
Evan could see nothing, only hear Buckbeak flapping its wings.
Whoop, whoop, whoop…
Its wings moved slower and slower until it seemed to be still.
The three floated in the air, surrounded by seemingly endless mist in every direction.
Evan felt a growing sense of fear as if some monster was following them, about to strike at any moment!
"Do you feel it? There's something amiss in this place," said Caresius.
There was a hint of surprise in his voice, as if something was occurring.
Soon, Evan also sensed a subtle magic permeating his surroundings, the source of his prior feelings.
It was a very peculiar magic, unlike any Evan had encountered before. It had a repellent and restrictive effect on other magical powers, suppressing the energy in Evan's body.
"Lumos!" he shouted, and the tip of his wand began to glow.
Evan extended his arm, raising his wand. The light grew stronger, piercing through the thick mist surrounding him...
In the faint light, he saw giant dome-shaped plants.
Each of these exotic plants stood silently hundreds of feet above the mist.
They resembled umbrellas covering a vast expanse of swamp, like mushrooms magnified countless times.
The strange magic emanated from these plants, seeming to absorb and engulf all other magic in the surrounding air.
Clearly, they did not naturally grow this large but acquired this size under the catalysis of some mysterious magic.
Perhaps it was the magic permeating the lost ruins, exhibiting evident repelling and absorbing effects on other forces.
Hagrid had mentioned that the Manticore's lair was nearby.
"This is the place Hagrid told me about," Evan told Caresius. "Be cautious!"
"This place makes me uneasy. Battling in the thick fog, the Manticore would have the upper hand against us!" said Caresius. He immediately raised his wand and cast a spell.
The next second, a hurricane suddenly rose up around them, sweeping all the dense fog away.
Evan was astonished by Caresius's displayed power. The magic was simple, but he wouldn't have been able to do it on that scale himself, not without the Philosopher's Stone.
Hence, this cunning vampire must have held back in the last battle.
Caresius was truly a dangerous man to watch out for at all times.
Though now allied with Evan, he was also in league with Voldemort. For his own interests, this man seemed willing to sell out anything to anyone.
Just contemplating the matter was exhausting, for the thought of betrayal was far from pleasant. Therefore, Evan refocused on the current situation.
As the wind blew, the mist grew lighter and weaker. Nearly a minute later, all the mist dissipated, and Evan finally beheld the panorama around him.
They were flying over a dried-up lake, irregularly extending outward. The land within was dark without light, as if corroded by something, devoid of all vitality.
Unlike the living swamps he had seen before, there wasn't a single blade of grass around. There were only these large, disproportionate dome plants scattered, with their strange reddish-brown pinnacles.
In front of them stood a gigantic triangular stone building. Its main body had sunk and tilted into the black mud, leaving only a small portion exposed.
The exposed part alone was as large as the Centaurs' Moon Temple, showcasing the immense total size of the building.
The white stone walls had been weathered, yet hints of past glory remained perceptible.
Unlike the ruins of the fallen Centaurs that Evan had seen before, there were no exaggerated statues, stone carvings, or murals on them.
Instead, there were intricate lines of magic and simple, understated decorations, maintaining the atmosphere.
"Incredible, it's a relic left from the era of ancient sorcerers!" Caresius carefully gazed at the building for a long time before expressing his surprise. "I never expected something like this to be near Hogwarts."
"Well, do you want to go in and have a look?"
"I'm not interested. You better stay away from this place too," Caresius said in a low voice. "Are you familiar with the Megalithic Temples of Malta? They are also relics left by an ancient sorcerer. Throughout history, dozens of powerful sorcerers went there to explore the secrets of the ruins. But in the end, they all perished inside, and none returned alive. For a few centuries now, that place has been classified as a forbidden zone, and no one is allowed near it."
Evan was acquainted with this matter, having read about it in a book.
Malta, known as the Heart of the Mediterranean, boasts a very ancient history.
The Megalithic Temples Caresius spoke of, also known as the Stone Age Temples of Malta, are a group of structures dating back to the Stone Age.
Their history predates even that of the Egyptian pyramids; they are the largest Stone Age temples in Europe and are also highly esteemed among Muggles.
Currently, eight ruins of the Giant Stone Temples have been discovered, seven of which have been destroyed.
Over the long history, the protective magic left by the ancient sorcerers in them has gradually waned.
The original intent behind the construction of the seven megalithic temples remains unclear. After losing the magic's protection, they have succumbed to corrosion and erosion, becoming ordinary structures.
Thus, they have become one of the world's most famous tourist attractions. Those who have visited them often marvel at the incredible sight and gaze in awe at the magnificent structures composed of countless pieces of megaliths weighing tens of tons, pondering how the ancients accomplished this with primitive tools.
Wizards familiar with their history know that these structures are remnants of ancient sorcerers. Especially the best-preserved one, its interior is filled with astonishing magic and powerful enchantments.
To this day, their hidden secrets remain undeciphered.
Speculation about the inside of the Megalithic Temples has never ceased, and numerous magic books have been written on the subject.
But as Caresius just mentioned, all the wizards who dared to enter one of the remaining temples have perished, and no one knew what lay inside.
It could have been a potent curse or offensive magic, or a dangerous monster. Anything was possible.
The power of the ancient sorcerers is completely beyond the comprehension of today's wizards and cannot be deduced from existing magical theories.
Just like the Megalithic Temples, since these ruins in front of him were also left by ancient sorcerers, they had to be approached with caution.
"I'll give you some advice, Evan. Do not get involved with forces you know nothing about, or you'll find yourself in troubles beyond imagination," Caresius warned.
Looking at him, for once, he seemed genuinely afraid of the power of the ancient sorcerers.
Hello! I'm Enchanted_Translator! I hope you're doing well and enjoying the chapters. Would you like to read more chapters? Feel free to join my where you'll find hundreds more!
