Chapter 67 - Weird
Sunlight filtered deeper and deeper into the seawater, and the surrounding fish grew more numerous.
Throughout the afternoon, Kate didn't cast a single spell. The Poseidon remained transparent, the plankton floating around them like dust illuminated by sunlight through a window.
It was a beautiful, lazy afternoon—and for once, Kate didn't insist on playing any mind games with Alexander.
Instead, she kept snapping pictures with her camera—photos of herself, the scenery, and most often, of Len.
To be honest, the long-awaited destination made Alexander feel, if only for a moment, that he wasn't someone who had crossed time, but just an ordinary boy. A boy happy to have his female classmates take photos with him.
The book Selected Spells of the Eighteenth Century was casually pushed aside by Kate.
As she searched for camera angles and poses, their destination finally came into view.
It was already six in the evening, but the sky—or rather, the seabed—was still bathed in a golden light, warm and serene.
Ahead of them stood a massive, flat-topped pyramid, constructed entirely from a translucent, glass-like material. The Poseidon gradually slowed, hovered above the pyramid, and gently descended to rest on its peak.
A soft hiss followed, like an inflatable mattress deflating. The Poseidon returned to its original form, even without the use of the Thetis spell. In the center of the living room, a tunnel silently opened.
The corridor that emerged was smooth and appeared to be made of the same translucent glass-like substance. Looking down, the bottom was invisible, seemingly endless.
Kate Xing quickly stuffed all her belongings into Alexander's pocket and jumped in with a delighted laugh. Even from inside the Poseidon, Alexander could hear her cheerful giggles.
He followed closely behind and, upon entering the corridor, realized he could see the entire city from its transparent side walls. The city was divided into two distinct realms by some sort of invisible bubble. One side resembled the natural seabed; the other looked as if it were on dry land. The two realms intertwined visually, creating the illusion of a magical kingdom.
On the land side, wizards in outfits made from kelp, jellyfish, and coral laid down carpets or rode floating crafts to greet mermaids and underwater wizards.
Underwater, a whole other society bustled. Wizards and merfolk wore fishbowl-like helmets. Some used head-soaking charms and swam freely; others had modified themselves magically with gills and swam gracefully, though often nervously circling their surroundings.
Despite the corridor's slippery appearance, the descent was surprisingly slow—an effect of some invisible fluid cushioning their fall. It was clearly designed so tourists could admire the view.
But for Alexander, the slow speed was agonizing. With his physical abilities, he could appreciate the city just fine at a faster pace.
After what felt like a torturous two-minute descent at a snail's pace, he heard a splash and Kate's excited laughter.
They plunged into a pool of crystal-clear liquid. Strangely, it felt like water, looked like water, even tasted like water—but left their bodies completely dry.
Alexander quickly cleared his wandering thoughts.
"Alex, the people here dress so weirdly," Kate whispered, pointing at a wizard who wore a lobster shell as a hat. "It's like… everything is seafood-themed."
"Kate," Alexander replied telepathically, "a tip—that's probably Ulric the Oddball, Ravenclaw's most famous eccentric."
Kate giggled. "It does look like Weird Yurik," she said, pointing at another wizard who was wearing a jellyfish on his head.
"Honestly, Yurik might be considered completely normal here," Alexander commented dryly.
"No, no, Alex—you clearly haven't read enough History of Magic. I highly recommend The Biography of Ulric the Strange by Radolfo Pittiman."
Kate sounded like she was quoting from memory. "As a Ravenclaw, his fashion sense was only the tip of the iceberg. You remember that story I told you about him? That was just a tiny anecdote."
"It's well known that the high-pitched chirp of a murrelet can drive people insane. But to prove his theory—that the bird's call is beneficial to human health—Ulric listened to it three times in a row. After months of being tormented by that screeching, he even wore a dead badger as a wig to demonstrate his conviction to the Magical Council."
Alexander paused, somewhat impressed. "So Ulric must've had serious magical strength. Kate, what class is the murrelet rated under?"
"Triple-X. Dangerous, but manageable for a skilled wizard," Kate replied.
"So…" Alexander's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"Yes," Kate continued, raising her head. "The murrelet is classified as XXX because its danger comes from its sound. It's harmless otherwise—but even owning one requires a Silent Curse certification. You have to show your Silent Curse proficiency to get a permit."
"For Ulric to listen to that bird for three months? Back then, the Council didn't allow fake documentation for experimental petitions."
"He overcame not just physical pain but psychological agony," she said reverently. "A madman like Yurik—well, half-mad—is dangerous. But if he really stayed healthy after that ordeal… It's no wonder the details of his death are so vague."
Alexander "thought" back: Then maybe he's still healthy… permanently. Immortal, even? He didn't say it aloud.
"What were you about to say?" Kate asked, curious. Her large cat-like eyes widened adorably.
"Oh, nothing," Alexander said quickly. "I was just guessing he might've gone completely crazy."
But internally, he thought: Or maybe he's still alive, and that's why no one knows when he died…
After about ten minutes, an ordinary wizard ran over, drenched in sweat. His glasses fogged, his clothes remarkably plain—completely out of place in this seafood fashion show.
"Mr. Smith, Ms. Kate, this way, please," he said politely. He briefly explained their overnight arrangements and led them about 100 meters to a nearby reception area.
After they signed in, he handed them something that resembled a pocket watch. The arrow on it would always point toward the reception room. They were now free to explore.
The reception area had a large "fish tank" for relaxation, aerial transports for rent, and food and lodging on the second floor.
"Kate, do you want to eat here first or go explore and figure things out ourselves?" Alexander asked.
"Let's eat here first," she replied. "Let's see what kind of seafood insanity they serve."
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