The Four Beasts of Durmstrang
Karkaroff's office was still bathed in a dim green light, and every piece of furniture in the room seemed to silently speak of Durmstrang's authority and coldness.
Several thick-covered ancient books were placed on the ebony desk, while an old metal hourglass was displayed to one side. The silver sand in the hourglass flowed quietly, reflecting the surrounding green light, making it look mysterious.
In the corner of the room, there were many transparent glass cabinets, which contained all sorts of strangely shaped silverware, antique seals, old music boxes, and even a Magic Eye that was stuck in a transparent glass bottle, spinning around and staring at everyone in the room.
The walls, with their craggy shapes and gray-white surfaces, were adorned with portraits of people and colorful medals. The moment Skylar and Karkaroff entered, something seemed to have touched a nerve in the object; a silver box with eight legs kicked and thrashed about in the glass case, making a "clattering" sound.
There was also a teapot with a spout, which seemed to be boiling over, howling and making an unpleasant and piercing sound. Black shadows flashed across the ceiling in an instant, and no one knew what they were. They seemed to be shapeless Ghost, parading and dancing.
Skylar sat in a black leather armchair, leaning back slightly, his expression casual yet elegant. His gaze swept across the room, finally settling on the two people Karkaroff had introduced.
"This is Professor Helmut, the vice-principal of Durmstrang and also the instructor of the Dark Arts class." Karkaroff gestured to the tall, thin man beside him.
Dakshir Helmut bowed slightly, his every movement exuding a precise and flawless elegance. He wore a fitted black robe, similar to a tailcoat, and white gloves; even as he nodded slightly, his hands lightly touched the badge on his chest. The badge was engraved with a double-headed eagle with outstretched wings, symbolizing Durmstrang's academic tradition. Helmut's face was stern and clean, his eyes behind gold-rimmed glasses revealing a rigorous and scrutinizing quality, as if they could see through every disguise.
"I have long heard of your illustrious reputation, and it is truly an honor to see you in person," Helmut said in a deep, magnetic voice, his tone neither humble nor arrogant, his manners impeccable.
"Professor Helmut's skill and knowledge are enough to inspire awe in any student," Karkaroff added with a smile. Then, he looked at the burly man standing on the other side, "As for this one, he's Bath, the administrator of Durmstrang."
Bath's style was completely different from Helmut's. He wore a simple black robe, the collar slightly open, revealing a wolf tattoo on his neck and shoulders. The tattoo seemed to move under a green light, faintly shimmering with a blood-red glow. His arms were crossed over his chest, his strong muscles taut over the sleeves, making him appear extremely imposing. He didn't bow like Helmut, but simply nodded, grinning with a wild smile.
"Skylar Sherin, please give me any instructions, Bath will handle it properly." His voice was rough and hoarse, yet full of power, each word as heavy as a block of iron falling to the ground.
"It seems your men, Karkaroff, are quite impressive." Skylar smiled slightly, his tone calm, yet the deep meaning in his eyes was unmistakable.
"They are my trusted confidants in Durmstrang, my most trusted right and left hands. They will also serve Malfoy's master faithfully and follow him to the death," Karkaroff said.
Then, Karkaroff cast a small spell, conjuring a bottle of vodka, glistening with ice crystals, onto the table. The bottle was crystal clear, engraved with snow lotus patterns, and shimmered with a pale blue, cool light under the lamp.
"This is the renowned 'Ice Flower Vodka' from the famous Northern Europe winery, Jiafu Snow Lotus, a gem on par with Ogden's 'Firewhisky' from Great Britain." Karkaroff smiled as he poured Skylar a glass, the cold liquid condensing into delicate ice flowers in the glass. "May our upcoming collaboration go smoothly."
Skylar took the glass, swirled it gently, and the pale blue light refracted a wondrous hue in the green light. He took a sip; the cold liquid went down his throat, yet carried a hint of warmth, like a small flame igniting in the dead of winter.
"It's been a pleasure working with you." Skylar raised his glass in acknowledgment, his gaze shifting from Karkaroff to Helmut and Bath, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.
[Allied hero Darksil Helmut acquired!]
[Ally Bath wins!]
Even before Skylar arrived, Karkaroff had already made arrangements to transform an empty classroom into a simple but clean and comfortable guest room.
Skylar checked into that guest room. He stayed there for the next few days, freely exploring Durmstrang Castle and experiencing the life of a Durmstrang student.
Skylar's guest room was located on the third floor of Durmstrang Castle, a spacious room. Although Durmstrang tradition forbade the use of fire, Skylar was clearly an exception; the fireplace in the room burned with a warm, magical green flame, which made Skylar even more comfortable, even though Skylar wasn't afraid of the cold.
Looking out the window, one sees mountains perpetually covered in snow and ice. The interior furnishings are simple and practical, with an ancient map hanging on the wall, adorned with dark red tapestries and rough wooden furniture, showcasing the simplicity and power of the Northern Europe wizarding world.
Dining in Durmstrang's Great Hall is a unique sensory feast.
Skylar tasted for the first time a magical dish called "Golden Salmon," a fish that, when grilled, emitted a dazzling golden light on its skin, making it a sight to behold. The fish meat was smooth and had a unique pine aroma, which whetted the appetite.
There is also a magical roasted meat called "Frost Venison Steak". The meat is tender and covered with a layer of light blue magical frost. It is cool to the taste but has a rich aftertaste.
The dessert is a "Star Jelly" made from magical frozen spring water, which emits a faint glow like the night sky and bursts with a cool fruity aroma like stars exploding when it touches the tongue.
However, what truly impressed Skylar were the staff moving about in the restaurant— Durmstrang didn't have timid House Elf, but instead hired fierce-looking Dwarf. They were rude and often spoke with shrill laughter, yet they were passionately enthusiastic about making food. The drinks the Dwarf brought were especially excellent; a strong beer called "Frost Beer" became Skylar's favorite. The beer was crystal clear and intense, perfectly suited to Durmstrang's cold climate.
(Yes, Durmstrang students are allowed to drink low-alcohol beer on campus due to the cold climate.)
After meals, Skylar often went to the Durmstrang Glacier Lake. The lake water was as clear as a mirror, reflecting the majestic snow-capped mountains surrounding it. Agile white foxes and fierce snow wolves lived in the snow-capped mountains. Sometimes one could see the white foxes leaping across the snow slopes, while the low growls of the snow wolves added a touch of wildness.
Two Ghost Ship were moored by the lake. One was the giant Ghost Ship that Skylar had arrived in, its body pitch black with a ghostly green glow, exuding an aura of age and majesty. The other was an unfinished, half-finished ship, much smaller, with a rough hull and covered with half-carved rune patterns.
According to Karkaroff, Durmstrang's Founders, Nalida Vukanova, originally intended to build two Ghost Ships: a large ship for large-scale voyages and a smaller ship for professors and students to explore and patrol nearby waters.
Unfortunately, she died suddenly and mysteriously before completing the construction of the second Ghost Ship. No one knows the cause of her death, and to this day, the unfinished Ghost Ship remains moored here, neglected for years, as if it has been forgotten by the world.
Although it's a semi-finished product, this small boat can actually travel short distances on the water using magic, and even take off and travel in the air when there's enough magic. The biggest difference from the large ship is that the small boat doesn't have a precise magical positioning system, so it can't use water mirror magic for spatial jumps.
After Skylar expressed interest in the idea, Karkaroff made the decision, gifting the small boat to Skylar allowing him to name it "Sleeping Dragon."
The Sleeping Dragon " spacecraft has been acquired!
During a walk by the lake, Skylar stumbled upon a massive figure swimming at the bottom of the icy lake—a ferocious Selma sea serpent. This exotic sea serpent was covered in hard scales that reflected a cold light in the lake water, its form as elegant as ripples yet brimming with danger. It was said to be one of Durmstrang's guardians, and Selma would attack without hesitation whenever someone attempted to cross the icy lake without permission.
Not a single mistake, not a single poem, not a single post, not a single piece of content, all in one look!
(Note: Selma is from Pottermore and appeared as the mascot of the Norway team in the 2014 Quidditch World Cup.)
Although there was a formidable giant squid in the Black Lake at Hogwarts, this Selma was clearly much fiercer. Skylar always felt that everything about Durmstrang carried the fierce and valiant characteristics of the North.
The hunting grounds outside the castle were an even more peculiar world, managed by a white-haired Sami shaman. He wore a thick fur robe, carried a curved deer bone staff, and was taciturn yet exuded authority.
The hunting grounds are home to many rare Magical Creatures: the Leucrotta, which resembles a deer but has a shrill voice; the two-headed eagle, which soars through the air, displaying astonishing strength and speed; and the Bicorn, which runs across the snowfield like a bison, its horns emitting a faint magical glow, a truly breathtaking sight.
Consistent with Durmstrang's overall style, these creatures are all wild and untamed characters.
The Leucrotta looks like a giant moose, with extremely thick and jagged antlers, and its mouth is almost unbelievably large compared to its head and face.
Although Leucrotta are known for their bad temper and will attack with their sharp antlers when provoked, Leucrotta are also quite useful. Their mouths can open very wide, and their bellies can hold the size of an adult. In addition, they are fast runners in the snow and have a natural sense of direction, making them excellent transport tools in the snow.
The two-headed eagle resembles an ordinary eagle in appearance, but it has two heads, each with sharp golden eyes, enabling it to independently observe its surroundings.
The two-headed eagle has deep black feathers that shimmer with a metallic sheen in the sunlight. Its wingspan can reach three meters, and the tips of its wing feathers are marked with silvery-white patterns. It exudes a sense of oppression when in flight. Its beak is like a polished steel blade, sharp and powerful, and its claws are covered with sharp talons that can easily tear apart its prey.
As pets, two-headed eagles are quite popular among Northern Europe wizards, especially those families that value strength and authority. Their two heads make them extremely efficient at reconnaissance; one head can focus on observing what's ahead, while the other keeps watch for any movement behind. This characteristic makes them excellent guard pets, often used to protect wizards' estates.
The Bicorn resembles a robust black horse, but is far larger, reaching a height of two meters. Its entire body is covered in jet-black fur, radiating a chilling luster. Its eyes are deep red, as if burning with Dark Fire, making it impossible to look directly at. Its most striking feature is the two curved and sharp horns growing from its forehead. These horns spiral around each other, their surfaces faintly shimmering with silver-gray magical patterns, emitting a weak yet unsettling black light.
The horns of Bicorn are considered a treasure in the Potions, especially in complex Potions such as Polyjuice Potion, where they are an indispensable key ingredient. These horns possess extremely strong magical guiding and catalytic properties, which can enhance the stability and potency of Potions.
Surprisingly, even if their horns are sawed off, they will regrow every year, making the Bicorn Magical Creatures coveted by many Potions. However, harvesting the horns is extremely dangerous, as Bicorn are temperamental and highly aggressive.
In stark contrast to the Unicorn, which favors purity, the Bicorn is often seen as a symbol of darkness. They are naturally extremely sensitive to the negative emotions of wizards, and are especially attracted to corrupt and greedy wizards. It is said that wizards accepted by Bicorn often walk a moral gray area, using the Bicorn as a symbol of power or a fighting partner.
Nevertheless, the Bicorn is not entirely evil; its behavior is more based on instinct than malice. Many researchers believe that this creature is a product of natural balance, used to contrast and counterbalance the Unicorn, symbolizing the philosophical concept of the coexistence of darkness and light.