Chapter 70: Atlantis
On the smooth earthen floor, Alexander gently tugged Kate—who was still flipping through old magical journals—and led her toward the reception room.
Unlike Kate, Alexander didn't delve into magical theory. After all, those were merely relative truths. The insights and knowledge he derived through his panel and contemplation were far more suited to him—closer to the truth he sought.
Instead, Alexander preferred reading history. Driven by curiosity, he suppressed the discomfort rooted in his altered DNA and began poring over historical texts.
This city was once known as Atlantis, the domain of Poseidon.
After being rediscovered by the wizards behind the "Horrible Journey," they partnered with local mermaids to rebuild and restore this underwater gem.
Atlantis had now been thriving for over 200 years. The majority of wizards who discovered and helped develop it came from the Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the United States, followed by Hogwarts in the UK, then Beauxbatons and other schools.
Interestingly, most Ilvermorny wizards hailed from the Horned Serpent House, a symbol of intelligence that favored scholars, regardless of gender.
Among Hogwarts alumni, Ravenclaws—representing wisdom—were the most numerous, followed by Hufflepuffs. There were hardly any Gryffindors or Slytherins.
It made sense, though. Creating a secret haven and choosing isolation would likely be seen as cowardly by the bold Gryffindors, who preferred action to contemplation.
Unlike Ravenclaws, who sought to understand the world as it is, Gryffindors often focused on what the world should be. And the ambitious Slytherins—well, they wouldn't be content staying hidden at all.
In this hidden sanctuary, those known as "Sages" established a mutual pact: to share their magic openly and to advance together.
And thus, Atlantis was reborn.
Their local school inherited the Hogwarts model, dividing students into four houses. However, the naming system differed. Unlike Hogwarts, which used the names of its founders, or Ilvermorny, which used magical creatures, Atlantis named its houses after four core virtues: Wisdom, Courage, Honesty, and Enterprise.
Only children born in Atlantis were allowed to attend. Even Muggles and Squibs could pay to take courses.
To honor the mermaids' contributions, the city was designed to be half submerged and half on land.
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"Alexander, let's go to the library tomorrow," Kate said suddenly, turning to him.
"Alright. But remember one thing: don't try to take any books out. Foreign wizards are only allowed to read them inside the library," Alexander warned her.
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Time passed quickly, especially when it was pleasant.
When it was time to leave, Alexander was surprised. No staff member or guide came to speak with them—as if their visit had been nothing more than a casual sightseeing trip.
As for Kate, although she had been utterly fascinated by the knowledge she found, she didn't feel any particular sadness or sense of loss at having to leave it behind. The influence of the contract kept her from realizing what she was missing.
At 6 p.m., in a luxurious chamber deep within Atlantis, Alexander and Kate stepped into a magical teleportation circle.
In the blink of an eye, they arrived back at No. 59 Diagon Alley.
Before Alexander could even marvel at the advanced magic, Kate exclaimed, "Alex, were we really under the sea just now? There's an entire city down there! And wizards too!"
"But… the International Confederation of Wizards doesn't even have a record of that country. And they even have their own school!"
"It's so weird—I didn't feel like anything was off until now!"
Alexander didn't reply immediately. Kate didn't realize that everything she'd just said was because of Alexander's telepathic connection. The moment she tried to speak, the contract's effect activated. But Alexander had already linked with her mind, allowing him to intercept and hear her thoughts.
What was more shocking, however, was that the contract tried to spread to Alexander as they communicated.
A red light briefly flickered across Alexander's body, dispelling the contract. However, he had only placed the contract inside Kate into dormancy—preventing it from latching onto him during their telepathic exchange. In fact, the contract was beneficial to Kate. As long as she didn't permanently reside in Atlantis, its magic could even promote her growth.
Alexander had no intention of exposing Atlantis's secret. This place should remain an independent secret realm, untouched by the outer world.
In fact, when Alexander first learned about the contract, he had entertained the idea of developing a spell—one that could turn memories into bullets, allowing a person to shoot their thoughts directly into another's mind.
After all, the contract had no specific owner and couldn't be altered. He thought that if all wizards were bound by it, peace would prevail, and a utopia could be born.
But during his investigation, Alexander discovered that the contract's true power to prevent harm didn't come from its magic—it came from the will of the wizards who created it. For hundreds of years, not a single conflict had occurred in Atlantis.
If a wizard left the city, the contract no longer prevented them from using harmful magic. But it did prevent them from disclosing the existence of Atlantis—by voice or by writing.
The contract's magic effectively erased the city from memory, shielding it from the outside world without actively defending itself.
And even if Alexander spent eternity recreating Atlantis-like environments all over the globe, true peace would never be achieved.
The reason Atlantis succeeded was because those who forged it shared the same dream of peace.
The young wizards born in Atlantis are akin to house-elves, in a way. Whereas elves lost themselves in servitude, these children never even learned how to harm others.
Why were only young wizards allowed to enroll? Because their worldviews had yet to solidify. The contract could still shape them. Given enough time, every newcomer would become like the rest of Atlantis's citizens.
But if one wished to replicate Atlantis's results elsewhere—to create a world where all wizards could no longer harm each other—one would have to hypnotize or eliminate anyone who opposed that vision.
This city could only exist as a sealed paradise. Its model was not meant to be reproduced.
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"Kate, haven't you noticed? You can't describe Atlantis anymore—not with speech, not with writing," Alexander said telepathically. "This is the cost of enjoying something precious. It's a contract—an imaginary vacation paid for by keeping a secret."
"…Fine. I won't say anything," Kate replied, pouting slightly.
At that moment, she realized they were back in England—inside the Horrible Journey Travel Agency on Diagon Alley. No one came to ask for payment. It seemed the entire trip had only cost 60 Galleons upfront.
There was even a discreet back door that opened only from the inside, letting them slip out without passing through the front desk.
With a silent nod of understanding from Alexander, Kate followed him through the back and headed home.
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"Wait, what's going on?" the receptionist muttered at the front desk, puzzled. "Weren't they supposed to come out through the front? Aren't all young wizards supposed to be curious?"
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