boyutpedia Chapter 132 The Meeting at the Tranquil Abode
Chapter 132 The Meeting at the Tranquil Abode
Chapter 132 The Meeting at the Tranquil Abode
The Thestrals glided smoothly through the twilight-shrouded forests and fields, finally landing gracefully at the entrance to a tranquil valley. The air was fresh, carrying the scents of grass, trees, and damp earth. A clear stream flowed gently by, its banks dotted with glowing magical fireflies.
"We've arrived," Sarah's voice broke the silence in the carriage. "This is the area of 'Tranquil Abode.' The carriage can't go directly into the core area; you'll need to walk a short distance. Please follow me."
A mansion that seemed to blend seamlessly with nature came into view. Two antique-style magic lamps cast a warm glow on the porch. Under the lamplight, two figures waited there—Nico and his wife.
"Nico! Perenel!" Karen quickened her pace, a genuine joy on her face.
"Karen!" Nico opened his arms wide, his voice booming and full of enthusiasm. "Welcome back! And these must be our distinguished guests, Mr. and Mrs. Hawthorne, and our little princess Lily! Welcome! A warm welcome to the Tranquil Abode!"
Mrs. Perenel stepped forward gracefully, her smile gentle: "Good evening, dear Mr. David, Mrs. Emily, and you, lovely little Lily, you must be tired from your journey. Welcome home." Her use of the word "home" was so natural and warm that it instantly bridged the gap between them.
David and Emily were somewhat flattered by the two legendary figures' enthusiasm and unpretentious manner. David quickly extended his hand: "Mr. and Mrs. Lemaître, thank you so much for the invitation! We're honored!"
"Not at all! We've been waiting for this for ages!" Nicole firmly grasped David's hand, then turned to Emily and gave her a standard kiss on the hand. "It's our honor to meet the parents who raised such an outstanding child as Karen."
Mrs. Perenel knelt down, looking directly at the somewhat shy Lily. "Hello, Lily. I've heard Karen mention you, and your teddy bear that just wants to dance." As if by magic, she produced a small wreath from behind her back, woven from delicately scented silver leaves and a few budding roses with gold dust along the edges of their petals, and gently placed it on Lily's head. "Welcome, little princess."
Lily touched the beautiful flower wreath on her head with delight, her eyes shining like stars: "Thank you! Mrs. Perenel! It smells so good and is so pretty!"
"Alright, alright, stop standing at the door." Nicole laughed heartily, stepping aside. "Please come in! Sarah, thank you for your hard work. Take Karen to settle his luggage first, then you can rest too. Give my regards to your husband."
"Yes, Mr. Lemaître. I will," Sarah replied with a smile.
Upon entering the mansion, Karen had been there once before, but this was Emily and her companions' first time. The interior decorations were equally stunning. "It's so beautiful here," Emily exclaimed sincerely, her gaze drawn to a dynamic magical painting above the fireplace depicting swirling nebulae.
"Thank you for your compliment, Mrs. Emily," Mrs. Perenel said with a smile. "Please make yourself at home. Karen,"
After you're settled, Castor will be waiting for you on the sun terrace in the back.
"Yes, Mrs. Perenel," Karen replied, a slight thought crossing his mind. He followed Sarah toward the familiar guest room area.
Meanwhile, Nico warmly invited David and Emily to sit on the comfortable living room sofa, and the house-elves silently served fragrant herbal tea and exquisite snacks.
"Mr. David," Nico began with interest, "Karen mentioned in his letter that you are an excellent marine engineer?"
This is truly an admirable profession! I have witnessed those colossal steel ships that can cleave the waves of the vast ocean; their complexity and the wisdom required are, in my opinion, no less than some intricate alchemy.
David hadn't expected the conversation to veer directly to his profession, especially from someone like Nicole. He was both excited and embarrassed: "You flatter me, Mr. Lemaître. I only do some specific design and construction work. Modern shipbuilding technology does indeed integrate the achievements of many fields."
“Only those who synthesize the best demonstrate true wisdom.” Nico nodded approvingly. “Karen once described to me your curiosity about the principles of magical flying machines. This reminds me of some ancient records about magical ships. It is said that in the time of Atlantis, there were giant ships powered by some kind of core that could ignore wind and waves. Unfortunately, the relevant technology has long been lost, leaving only some vague legends.” His tone carried a hint of regret for lost knowledge.
"The core?" David was indeed intrigued. "What kind of thing is that?"
"It's closer to guiding and transforming the power of nature than creating energy," Nico explained. "Like how you utilize wind and water power, only more directly. Of course, these are all speculations. I'm more interested in the welding techniques and hydrodynamic design of modern ships. Karen said you have notes?"
Tianwei immediately perked up, pulling a notebook and folder from his bag. He took out several structural diagrams of the "Sea Sparrow" and his own conceptual sketches of drag reduction and stabilization devices drawn in the notebook, and then began to explain his ideas to Nico.
Nico watched intently, nodding occasionally, his eyes gleaming with genuine interest: "Brilliant! Using the properties of fluids to counter impacts—this idea is incredibly insightful! It reminds me of the rune arrangements in some ancient protective magic, which also utilize the conduction and dispersion of energy within a specific structure. Although the paths to achieve this are different, the goals—stability, safety, and efficiency—are the same. Mr. David, your ideas are brimming with sparks of wisdom!"
David felt incredibly flattered to receive such praise from a legendary master, and the two of them began discussing the blueprints they had taken from the folder with great interest. One was talking about the physical principles and engineering implementation, while the other was discussing magical runes and energy flow.
But strangely, I found a certain enjoyment in the collision of ideas.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Perenel led Emily and Lily toward the huge floor-to-ceiling windows facing the garden.
"Mrs. Emily, Karen said you love gardening? And you have an exceptionally beautiful red rose?" Mrs. Perenel smiled and pushed open a glass door, letting in a fresh breeze carrying the scents of earth, flowers, and magic. "Come, see my little world."
The sight before them caused Emily and Lily to gasp in astonishment. It was more than just a garden; it was a miniature, magical ecological wonderland. Patches of rue glowed with a cool, silvery light in the twilight; enormous, sapphire-carved daffodils quietly bloomed in a corner, radiating a cold light; some elegant vines had spontaneously woven into exquisite arches; and several oddly shaped plants had their flowers slowly changing color, from pale purple to deep red, in response to the changing light and the rhythm of nearby sounds, like a living palette.
"This is incredible!" Emily exclaimed sincerely, completely captivated by the light.
Mrs. Perenel smiled and took Emily's arm. "Thank you. Gardening is one of my greatest hobbies. Look at that patch of rue, it's the base for many antidotes, and a field of rue can also ward off poisonous gases; those roses that change color are cultivated using some ancient methods; and those—" she introduced them with great familiarity, "but I also really like common roses, lavender, and daisies."
Their vitality and beauty are no less than any magical plant. Karen said your red rose is very special? Can you tell me about it?
Having found common ground, Emily's reserve vanished instantly: "Yes, Madame Lemaître! I bought it in a corner of the market. It was almost withered when I planted it, just to see what would happen. I never expected it to grow better and better, its color as deep as red velvet, and it barely lost any leaves in the winter—" She described in detail the rose's tenacity and beauty.
Perenel listened intently, nodding occasionally. "Life itself is full of miracles. A tenacious will can sometimes attract energy from the environment, whether it's ordinary sunlight and rain or wandering magical particles. Your careful nurturing is key. Perhaps one day, I can go and see it? And exchange planting tips?" she gently suggested.
"Of course! You're very welcome!" Emily said with delight.
Lily was completely captivated by the wonderful little things in the garden. She squatted down in front of a clump of plants and carefully touched one of them with her finger. The plant shuddered comfortably and made a purring sound, which made Lily giggle. Mrs. Perenel smiled and said to Emily, "Let Lily play here for a while, it's safe. Bubbles will look after her." She gestured to a house-elf standing quietly not far away.
"Okay, thank you, Madame Flamel." Emily was relieved and watched Lily happily explore the safe, magical garden.
Meanwhile, Karen settled her luggage, thanked Sarah for her help, and then walked through a corridor covered with green vines to the sun terrace at the back of the mansion. The terrace faced the valley, offering a wide view and a gentle evening breeze.
Castor sat in a wicker armchair. He wore a dark gray turtleneck sweater, casually draped with a matching robe. His face was still sickly pale, and he was thinner than he had been at Hogwarts. His left arm seemed to be intentionally or unintentionally hidden under a blanket. But compared to Easter, his eyes were more spirited, less somber, and more serene. As he saw Cullen approach, a gentle light flashed in his eyes.
"Professor," Karen approached him, bowing respectfully, her tone filled with concern and the joy of reunion, "you look much better."
"Hmm." Castor nodded slightly, his voice low and hoarse, but clear. "I'm fine here. Have a seat." He gestured to the chair next to him.
Karen sat down, carefully observing his mentor. He could see the flow of magic within Castor's body. The cursed black energy, like maggots in bones, still clung to its core, especially in his left arm, where it churned and possessed a chillingly corrosive quality. But overall, a much larger...
A gentler, more vibrant green stream of magic enveloped the curse, forming a resilient buffer and purifying layer that effectively suppressed its spread and worsening, nourishing Castor's own life force. While it couldn't be eradicated, the situation had indeed stabilized considerably.
"You did very well, Cullen." Castor cut straight to the point without any pleasantries. "I've already heard from Dumbledore about your teachers' evaluations, and your final exams were excellent."
"Thank you, Professor." Karen felt happy to receive the professor's praise. "I still have a lot to learn."
"Learning never ends," Castor said calmly, his gaze drifting to the distant valley. "Are your parents out there?"
"Yes, Professor. They are chatting with Mr. and Mrs. Flamel. Lily is playing in the garden."
"Hmm." Castor paused for a moment, seemingly choosing his words carefully. "They—raised you very well. Family is the most precious thing. My situation is special; I lost both my parents when I was very young, but fortunately, I had Nico and the others."
Just then, footsteps approached. Emily and David, accompanied by Mrs. Perenel, also came to the terrace. They saw Castor and quickly came over.
"Professor Castor!" David spoke first, his voice filled with gratitude. "Hello! I'm David Hawthorne, and this is my wife, Emily. Karen often mentions you at home, saying how much your guidance and help have been to her! Thank you so much!"
Emily replied sincerely, "Yes, Professor. Karen is so lucky to have a mentor like you. Thank you for your care and guidance! I'm so glad to hear you're recovering."
Castor looked at the ordinary-looking couple before him. Their eyes held only pure gratitude and love for their son, without a trace of inquiry into his identity or fear. He slowly rose to his feet, his movements somewhat deliberate, yet his posture remained upright. He gave David and Emily a slight nod, his attitude displaying a gentleness and respect that Cullen had never witnessed at Hogwarts.
"Mr. Hawthorne, Mrs. Hawthorne. No need for thanks. Teaching Karen is my choice, and my responsibility." His voice remained deep but clear. "Karen possesses extraordinary talent and, even more importantly, a rare focus and thirst for knowledge. He deserves the best guidance. You have raised a truly outstanding son." His gaze swept over Karen, carrying a hint of barely perceptible warmth. "As for my health, it's an old ailment, but the environment here in Nico is good, and I'm recovering well. You don't need to worry."
These brief but powerful words, especially the clear affirmation of Karen, completely put David and Emily at ease, and brought smiles of relief and pride to their faces.
"Dinner is ready!" Mrs. Perenel's gentle voice broke the brief silence.
Dinner was held in a spacious, bright dining room next to the sun terrace. A long table was covered with a crisp white linen tablecloth and set with exquisite silverware and crystal glasses. The meal wasn't the extravagant magical feast one might expect, but rather a refined French cuisine complemented by some unique and flavorful ingredients from the magical world, all prepared with exceptional deliciousness. The house-elves served quietly and efficiently.
The atmosphere at the table was warm and harmonious. Nicole chatted amiably, recounting amusing anecdotes from magical history; Mrs. Perenel exchanged gardening tips with Emily, occasionally serving Lily food; David interjected occasionally, discussing with Nicole the similarities between engineering and magic; Castor, though not talkative, would offer brief responses to Nicole's questions with a calm demeanor. Lily, while enjoying her delicious food, excitedly whispered to Karen about the magical plants in the garden.
Karen ate quietly, savoring this rare, warm reunion interwoven with magic and ordinary familial affection. He looked at the relaxed and joyful smiles on his parents' faces, at the pure love and wonder in Lily's eyes for the magical world, at the warm and friendly attitude of Nico and Mrs. Perenel towards old friends, and finally his gaze settled on his mentor, Castor. Although illness still tormented him, he was relaxed at this moment, and even occasionally, when listening to Nico tell an old joke, a very faint smile would appear at the corner of his mouth.
Dinner drew to a close in a pleasant atmosphere. Dessert was a magical ice cream that transformed into scenes of the four seasons, once again eliciting cheers from Lily. Nico raised his glass: "To the Hawthorne family's arrival, to the gathering of new friends, and to knowledge, kinship, and this wonderful evening—cheers!"
"Cheers!" Everyone raised their glasses, the crystal glasses clinking gently with a clear, pleasant sound. The lights were warm, and laughter filled the air.
In the secluded haven of "Tranquil Abode," a magic master, an alchemy apprentice, an engineer, a head nurse, and a little girl full of curiosity about magic spend a peaceful and beautiful night together because of an invitation that transcends the world and kinship.
>