Chapter 354 - 354
Hello everyone, I\'ve recovered! I want to say a huge thank you to all of you for your moral support!
As I promised - the week of double chapters starts right now! Enjoy!
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At the end of the practical part of the attestation, Grandmaster Hart decided that a more detailed examination of the materials provided was required. The commission would make a final decision within eight hours. I left the hall with Delphine through the door that suddenly appeared behind me.
We again walked along the high stone corridors with columns, pots with trees, and even sometimes we came across huge paintings, but, as in many other corridors, it was still impossible to see what kind of images and frescoes on the ceiling were there. Yet, every now and then, the eye itself rushes to them.
"Master, what is painted on the ceiling?"
"No one knows. Look," Delphine waved her hand, sending a ball of Lumos up to the ceiling.
I wish I could say that the farther the ball flew, the more light fell on the ceiling, but no. It seemed as if Lumos was flying into the void. Everything was black under the ceiling, and only faint vague images and silhouettes flashed. So everything remained. The Lumos went out, and Delphine spoke:
"It is said that on these ceilings is hidden all the mystery of the universe and that only those who have comprehended and mastered the mysteries of transfiguration and alchemy can see and comprehend it."
" So? Has someone read it?"
"Even if they did," smiled Delphine, "they probably took that mystery to their grave. Science and knowledge are strange things. The answer to one question generates two new ones, like the heads of a hydra, and this battle knows no end."
"Or maybe someone has enchanted everything out of boredom," I shrugged, and Delphine laughed.
"That\'s even more likely. So, we have up to eight hours of time, and they can call us at any time. But we should not leave the city, and even more so the country. Excursion?"
"I\'m all for it."
It took us about twenty minutes to leave the dungeons, but we didn\'t leave exactly through the Church, but from a door in the next building. From the feel of it, there were some very serious and complex spells of concealment from ordinary people and just curious wizards. If you know what to look for and where to look, you\'ll find it.
From the very first seconds of the walk, I was captured by the atmosphere of this wonderful city. Narrow stone-paved streets or large squares, houses in a variety of architectural styles, the design was created following the fashion trends of different eras. Of course, many things were repeatedly restored or transferred, rebuilt over the years, but the atmosphere remained amazing. Especially pleasant, as for me, was the time of year and a slightly cloudy autumn sky. The yellowed or fallen leaves gave the air that characteristic smell of autumn, which I had not felt for a long time in the forests of Scotland near Hogwarts.
There were not many people on the street because it was not the tourist season at all. That\'s what made it possible to walk freely and quietly through the streets of the city. But the most amazing thing was that I could feel the magic everywhere, to varying degrees. It was especially well felt near really old houses, medieval structures, whether it was the Powder Tower, the Astronomical Clock, or, most surprisingly, the Strahov Monastery - we didn\'t get to it right away, though we didn\'t go inside.
"Here," Delphine nodded toward the monastery as we passed close by. Of course, as it should be, Delphine kept her hand on the crook of my elbow all the way, skillfully directing our route to where she needed it. "One of the most extraordinary libraries is located. At the moment, there are two sections — general and closed. The closed one contains a lot of early printed or handwritten works on alchemy and other magic. Of course, by arrangement with the relevant organizations, including Ouroboros."
"Isn\'t that heresy?"
"Yes and no," Delphine smiled, and we walked on, descending away from the monastery. "There are magic and rituals that can be performed without having a crumb of ability and being an ordinary person. Such manipulations take magic from the outside. There are very few of them, and they are completely forbidden for spreading and even familiarization among ordinary people. The rest, both church and wizards, value as legacies of former times. Wizards value knowledge, not its bearer, and therefore copies of all books are available in abundance. Still, the originals are under the spell of preservation, and Muggle systems of the same purpose, are stored here.. However, as I know, not every ordinary person can get into a closed section, even though it\'s set up more like a museum now."