Chapter 757 - 758

After that night, whenever Evan saw the owl pendant hanging from his left wrist, a simple carving of a primitive turquoise stone, he would think of Schwella. A smile would form on his lips, and he would remember the wise and serene girl.

He didn't know the name of this Shaman amulet hanging from his wrist; he called it "Schwella's Redemption." This amulet held formidable natural magic power, a unique type of magic. Still, Evan was not a witch doctor and couldn't harness its power. Instead, he could transform into an energy owl using the amulet, allowing him to pass through walls and enter magically restricted areas. This was incredibly helpful when he needed to traverse quickly or transform into a bird.

In summary, the events in the dark fortress had ended, and the evil that had haunted the place was no longer present. Evan wasn't sure if their actions had done more good or harm to Dijon, but at the very least, there would be no more murders.

They had located the terrifying Owl-Man in a chamber within the castle building. After Yaliana had been defeated, the creature lost its power source. It was now a weakened monster covered in owl feathers. Ironically, this Owl-Man had originally been Mary, the wizard it had murdered. It had taken its own life, committing a gruesome murder that shocked Dijon, and offered its soul to the demon in exchange for a new body. Ultimately, it had become a monster with nothing to show for its actions. This was the essence of power – shortcuts often came at a steep price.

Evan and Sirius handed the Owl-Man to Elena, instructing her to report the incident to the French Ministry of Magic and handle the necessary damage control measures. This was also an opportunity for Elena to prove herself as a qualified Auror, as this bizarre case had created significant waves within the French magical community.

They left Dijon, accompanied by Hagrid and Madame Maxime, departing as the day began to break. When they said farewells, Elena hugged Evan, her face slightly flushed. With Sirius, it was a simple handshake. Sirius didn't say much but advised her to be careful.

Evan couldn't help but think that they had shared a hug in the same room in that evil place – perhaps a somewhat awkward one. If Elena wanted to pursue a relationship with Sirius, he was genuinely happy for them.

Elena invited Evan and Sirius to visit her in Paris when they could. She gave them her address.

Their journey continued as they traveled to Italy. After leaving Dijon, they visited various cities, spending most of their time camping in the countryside. They avoided larger Muggle cities along the way and proceeded without significant incidents.

They encountered two deranged trolls in the French and Italian border forests, which Hagrid quickly dispatched.

As their carriage bypassed Rome at a distance, Evan noticed a thick beam of light rising into the sky from a high point to the northwest of the city. Even from a distance, it was impossible to miss. It was the Holy City, Vatican City, located within Rome. Sirius explained to Evan that the beam of light was produced by a sacred relic sent by the Pope. No one knew what the relic was or why it possessed such incredible magical power. Still, it was known that no dark creatures dared to approach Vatican City. This immense column of sacred light had never dissipated from the sky above Vatican City for thousands of years. Only wizards and creatures with magical abilities could see it; to them, it was a miraculous sight that could light up half the night sky.

Before the carriage reached Sicily, Evan glimpsed the enormous beam of light piercing the sky over the northwest corner of Rome. Even from a distance, it was clear that this was the Vatican City, the holy city of the Roman Catholic Church. No one knew the true nature of the relic that produced the powerful light beam, but it was a well-known fact that dark creatures steered clear of the area. For millennia, the colossal column of sacred light had remained constant above Vatican City, visible only to wizards and magical beings, illuminating half the night sky.

Upon arriving in Sicily, their carriage stopped as they approached the remote mountains where the giants were rumored to reside. Sirius and Hagrid decided to gather information first and find a route to the giants' camp, following Dumbledore's instructions.

While they were preoccupied, Evan had some free time to explore the island. Dressed as an ordinary 13-year-old boy, he wandered around Sicily, appearing like any other tourist traveling from Britain. However, Sirius warned him not to stray too far.

Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, was often described as having "enchanting scenery." It was a perfect vacation destination with its stunning natural landscapes, including mountains, seas, hills, volcanoes, and more. The island contained everything Italy had to offer in a concentrated form – warm locals, white sandy beaches, remnants of ancient civilizations, and delicious cuisine.

Different from the Muggle tourists, Evan's focus was primarily on magic. Sicily's history had been shaped by various rulers, including the Greeks, Romans, Eastern Romans, Normans, Spanish, and Austrians. Each had left their own marks on the land. Ancient magic artifacts and abandoned structures could be found everywhere, blending the essence of different eras. The magic here wasn't limited to mysticism; it included various forms of mysterious magic from different cultures, such as the giant stone-built shaman temples, African inland magic, and ancient Eastern magic. Evan gained valuable experiences from these encounters.

Unfortunately, most of the magical elements in these artifacts had lost their power over time, which was a regrettable aspect of his exploration.

While enjoying his travels, Evan also sought information about the Sirens and Charybdis Whirlpool. He collected some intriguing tidbits.

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The Sirens and the great Whirlpool were located between the Italian Peninsula and Sicily in the Strait of Messina. Evan and his group were currently in the northeastern part of the island, where they could see the channel clearly.

Near their camp was the small town of Taormina, where both Muggles and wizards lived. Taormina was known for its well-preserved Ancient Greek theater, a Sicilian landmark Evan had visited earlier. Further south, the town offered breathtaking cliff scenery and was home to Mount Etna, Europe's largest active volcano. The entire mountainous region had complex terrain and was believed to be the birthplace of the legendary Cyclops in folklore. According to the tales, Cyclopes drew upon the magma from volcanic eruptions to craft their weapons, creating thunderous explosions.

The region's thick cloud cover often concealed the summit of Mount Etna, making it challenging to locate the giants hidden within. The frequent eruptions and loud noises from the volcano led the nearby Muggle residents to believe that the giants dwelling in the mountain were gods of thunder.

As Evan carefully surveyed the terrain, he realized that the landscape he saw resembled the images in Ravenclaw's memories. In other words, Gryffindor and Ravenclaw had been to this location over a thousand years ago. Gryffindor had fought with the Cyclopes deep within Mount Etna, leaving a permanent scar on one of the Cyclopes' eyes.

To the north of the small town, closer to the coastline, there was an ancient lighthouse on a high point near the harbor. This lighthouse served as a navigational beacon for ships and directed them toward the river's exit to the sea. To visit the Sirens, one would need to embark from this location.

The Italian Ministry of Magic had established a unique protectorate in the area to provide protection for the Sirens. They also managed pleasure boats specifically for visiting the Sirens. However, currently, there are no visitors. Mr. Yidas Grosso from the Protectorate informed Evan that, generally, young wizards and witches visited only during school holidays. He cautioned Evan against going to the area, as it had become hazardous recently, especially for young wizards like him.

Evan, however, insisted on exploring and seeing the Sirens for himself. He mentioned the description of the Sirens in books and questioned why they couldn't go. He also inquired about the need for others to accompany him.

Grosso agreed but explained that they couldn't go to sea due to the malfunctioning lighthouse. Without the lighthouse, boats had no reliable direction, making it extremely risky to venture into the sea. Grosso warned Evan that the Sirens particularly liked young boys like him. If captured by them, he wouldn't be killed but taken to their cliffside lair to live a prolonged and eerie existence.

Evan turned his gaze toward the ancient lighthouse, and suddenly, the light at its top went out despite it being daytime. The lighthouse was more than just a navigational beacon; it emitted a special defensive magic that prevented sailors from being entranced by the Sirens' songs and falling into their illusions. The lighthouse malfunctioning made it extremely dangerous to venture into the sea.

Grosso went on to share the terrifying stories of the Sirens, whose songs could trap the souls of sailors. However, Evan's main concern was the malfunctioning lighthouse.

"Yes, after the lighthouse malfunctioned, Muggles attempted to repair it several times. They sent a group of workers who used long metal cables – I believe they're called electricians? I saw them go in, but they didn't return until evening, and they were all insane. They kept muttering incomprehensible words as though they'd seen ghosts. It was as if they were brainwashed. I heard they continued having nightmares even after returning," Grosso explained.

"Insane?" Evan asked in surprise.

"Yes, they kept saying things like 'the end,' 'destruction,' and 'ancient gods.' It seemed like they were under some spell. But I don't know what they saw in the tower. I reported it to the authorities, but the person responsible in town didn't respond, and the Ministry of Magic never sent anyone to investigate. In their eyes, it seems that a malfunctioning lighthouse isn't a significant issue, and there's no need to involve more people. After all, these Sirens won't starve; they'll find someone to feed on," Grosso replied.

Evan found the situation suspicious, especially the involvement of dark wizards and the strange behavior of the Muggle workers. He couldn't help but wonder if this had something to do with the activities of the Claw of the Raven or if they were searching for Death Eaters among the giants.

"It's indeed suspicious, but it doesn't concern me," Grosso said with relief. "I'm just a caretaker for the Sirens. I don't need to worry about these troubles as long as they pay my wages. I've had enough of this job. I plan to save up and resign to find a new job in Rome. Defending an empty lighthouse and a group of Sirens is much easier than dealing with all this."

"Mr. Grosso, if I fix the lighthouse, can you take me out to sea?" Evan asked. "I want to see the Sirens."

"No problem, boy, as long as you can fix the lighthouse!" Grosso agreed. "I've never seen a young wizard so interested in Sirens like you. Their upper bodies resemble human women; they don't wear clothes, but trust me, once you see one, you won't be interested in them anymore!"

When he was sure no one was around, Evan waved and Apparated back to the camp. Something was definitely amiss with the lighthouse, and he was responsible for investigating it. He decided to wait until after his contact with the giants had concluded before delving into this new mystery.