Heaven and Earth Turned Upside Down
The Ghost Ship slowly approached the desolate island through the thick fog, surrounded by the silent sea, as if the whole world had held its breath. Skylar stood at the ship's railing, gazing at the island's jagged rocks and the thin layer of frost covering them—
There is no trace of Durmstrang Castle.
Is Durmstrang not on this island?
That's not necessarily true. Skylar knew that there were many forms of magic in the world that could completely conceal a large building, requiring special methods to reveal it.
The boat shuddered slightly and stopped approaching the shore.
The Ghost Ship's hull glowed faintly, and a low rumble echoed in the air like an undercurrent. The next moment, the ship stopped moving forward and slowly sank. The seawater began to surge, engulfing the ship. Skylar felt an invisible force coming from the bottom of the ship, like a silent giant hand dragging the entire ship into the deep sea.
The underwater scene was completely different from what he had imagined. The seawater became bright and clear, radiating a deep blue light, with countless tiny points of light flowing around it like floating stars. As the ship continued to descend, the surrounding space began to distort, and the seawater seemed no longer to be a liquid, but rather a mirror reflecting reality. Then, the whole world began to "invert" —Skylar saw the sky above the water flip down to his feet, while the seabed covered his head like a dome. Heaven and earth were completely upside down at this moment, and the sea and sky exchanged positions under this wondrous magical effect.
As the ship passed through the mirror-like barrier, the surrounding seawater suddenly disappeared, replaced by a lake covered in ice and snow. The Ghost Ship broke through the ice, and the water splashed up by its hull instantly froze, turning into countless ice crystals that danced in the air, reflecting the sunlight, as if crystal shards were scattered all over the world.
Skylar stood at the bow of the ship, gazing at Durmstrang Castle, which stood in the distance nestled among the mountains.
The ancient building seemed to be forged from ice, its exterior walls gleaming with a cold, eerie light in the sunlight. Countless magical runes flowed between the towers, exuding an ancient and profound aura. The surrounding icy lake was like a giant mirror, reflecting the castle's image onto its surface, creating an upside-down world and perpetuating the fantastical feeling of ships passing through the mirror.
Skylar took a deep breath, a slight smile playing on his lips. He knew that by traversing this mirrored world, he had finally arrived at his destination: Durmstrang.
Durmstrang Castle stands amidst snow-capped mountains. The four-story building is solid and sturdy. It lacks the winding and complex towers and elaborate decorations of Hogwarts, but it has its own unique grandeur.
The castle's outer walls are made of dark gray stone bricks, their textures clearly visible, as if telling the story of time's accumulation. The entire building is square and straight, with sharp edges, exuding a cold and austere sense of power. There are no ornate carvings or dazzling magical glows, only the most primitive and authentic architectural style. Occasionally, a few narrow vertical windows cut through the walls, letting in a faint light, which only makes it seem more understated and simple.
The surrounding land and mountains were covered in snow, contrasting sharply with the castle's dark gray, as if only this lonely fortress remained standing alone between heaven and earth. Compared to Hogwarts, Durmstrang lacked a sense of fantasy and intimacy, but possessed a ruggedness and realism, like a taciturn yet incredibly reliable warrior, hidden in this cold land, quietly waiting for wizards who came seeking power.
Skylar gazed quietly at the scene before him, sensing a unique simplicity and unpretentiousness.
The Ghost Ship docked at Durmstrang's port.
Several strong Dwarf busied themselves mooring the boat with ropes. With a splash, an anchor was thrown into the water, and then with a snap, a plank was laid on the lake shore.
The students slowly disembarked from the boat, and Skylar followed at the very back, leisurely admiring the unique scenery around him, so different from the Scottish Highlands.
Just like the description Krum told Hermione in the original book, Durmstrang's castle, though only four stories high, is surrounded by a vast expanse of land. In the center of this land lies the frozen lake where the Ghost Ship is moored, which is at least five times larger than the Black Lake. Around the frozen lake, there are endless, snow-capped mountains that stretch as far as the eye can see. Except for a period of slight snowmelt in the summer, they are mostly covered in a white blanket of snow.
Durmstrang's grounds, including the lake, are so vast that the castle appears rather small and shabby.
Two days ago, Karkaroff had learned through the communication station on the Ghost Ship that Skylar was visiting the ship, and had also heard about the incident where Skylar almost got into a conflict with his students.
The moment the Ghost Ship sent a message to the port requesting permission to teleport, Karkaroff, upon receiving the notification, immediately dropped everything and rushed to the port, standing on the outermost edge, eagerly awaiting its arrival. However, his expression was not good, and he kept tightening his fur cloak, even though the weather was not as cold as it appeared.
That's for sure. Skylar was, in a sense, his new mentor. Who wouldn't be happy to hear that their mentor almost got into a fight with their student?
"Karkaroff, you look to be in good spirits!" Skylar stepped off the wooden plank and greeted Karkaroff with a smile. His tone was relaxed, but it sent a chill down Karkaroff's spine.
Karkaroff stood with his hands clasped in front of him, trying to greet Skylar in a natural manner, but the nervousness flashing in his eyes betrayed him. His sharp chin was slightly raised, as if trying to appear more confident, but his tightly pursed lips and frequently clenched hands gave away his unease. Karkaroff was currently feeling extremely annoyed by his student's offense because of the little incident on the Ghost Ship.
"Your Excellency," Karkaroff forced a fawning smile and bowed slightly, "It is truly an honor to see you again in Durmstrang. Was your journey pleasant?"
Skylar stepped off the ship, enveloped in a cool, icy aura. He looked at the slightly flustered principal before him, a faint smile still playing on his lips, but the scrutinizing look in his eyes made Karkaroff's heart tighten.
"Everything went smoothly," Skylar said casually, his tone relaxed yet carrying an undeniable air of authority. "However, the students on board seem to be somewhat unfamiliar with etiquette."
Not a single mistake, not a single poem, not a single post, not a single piece of content, all in one look!
Karkaroff's expression changed slightly, and he quickly said, "Please rest assured, I will definitely teach those reckless fellows a lesson. Durmstrang students should know their place. This was my oversight, and I'm sorry for the trouble!"
Skylar looked at him with a half-smile, seemingly not intending to pursue the matter, which only made Karkaroff more uneasy. He waved his hand lightly and said, "It's nothing serious, young people always have to learn their lesson. But... I'm quite curious, can Durmstrang still show me its true brilliance now?"
These words, though seemingly casual, sent a cold sweat down Karkaroff's forehead. Knowing Skylar's methods well, he dared not be the slightest bit negligent and quickly replied respectfully, "Everything in Durmstrang is always at your disposal."
Skylar nodded in satisfaction and strode forward, leaving Karkaroff to follow closely behind, carefully accompanying him, his expression no longer daring to relax for a moment.