RNP Chapter 280 The Abnormality of the Full Moon Night
Chapter 280 The Abnormality of the Full Moon Night
Chapter 280 The Abnormality of the Full Moon Night
Time flew by, and soon it was the first full moon night after the monitoring runes were set up. On the night of the full moon, the magical tide usually reaches its peak, and many hidden magical items or creatures will exhibit characteristics different from usual. Karen naturally wouldn't miss this excellent opportunity for observation.
As night fell, the castle gradually quieted down. Karen donned an invisibility cloak and moved silently through the corridors.
He first checked several of the previously placed talisman plates, including the one near the Feast Tapestry in the kitchen. The plates were slightly warm to the touch, indicating that they had indeed recorded something, and the data could be retrieved tomorrow.
He hesitated for a moment, wondering whether to go to the Black Lake, since what was hidden there was what Karen was currently most interested in. However, underwater visibility was lower at night, the unknown risks were greater, and the node at the bottom of the lake possessed powerful energy, which might be even more active on a full moon night. But under these circumstances, it wouldn't be wise to rush there. He ultimately decided to prioritize dealing with the node on land.
Therefore, he shifted his target, and the target was very clear—the unicorn statue in the north tower.
Moonlight streamed through the narrow windows high in the corridor, casting a cool glow that enveloped the stone statue in a hazy, silvery-white light. The statue looked no different from during the day, still silent and ancient.
Karen did not approach rashly, but stopped a short distance away and activated "Eye of Truth" again.
Sure enough, things have changed!
Bathed in the silvery moonlight, the ancient runic markings on the base of the statue emitted a faint, yet much clearer, milky-white glow than during the day. The previously almost stagnant magical power of "purification" and "protection" now fluctuated clearly and rhythmically, like the slow breathing of a sleeping being, subtly harmonizing with the rhythm of the full moon. To Karen's even greater surprise, he detected an extremely fine, pure thread of magic extending from within the statue, seemingly traversing space, resonating once again with the direction of the Ravenclaw tower in the castle at a very low frequency.
It was indeed part of a larger system! Cullen was once again certain of his previous thoughts, and even had new speculations. This system was likely related to Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff, used to monitor and maintain a specific magical balance within the castle, or to defend against some type of dark corruption. However, these functions seemed to overlap with the functions of some nodes left behind by Slytherin that had been discovered before. Were both doing similar things?
He approached cautiously, trying his best not to let the magical items he carried disturb this delicate balance.
He extended his finger, hesitated for a moment, and then tried to slowly, as if tentatively, input a wisp of his own gentle, harmless magic into a certain rune node on the base of the statue.
The statue showed no aggression or repulsion. The pure, milky-white magic seemed to sense his contact, rippled slightly, like a pebble thrown into still water. Karen could clearly feel that the magic "entwined" with his, as if scanning and recording, sensing the characteristics of his magic—not the calm wisdom of Ravenclaw, nor the warmth and kindness of Hufflepuff, nor the cold secrecy of Slytherin, nor the fiery courage of Gryffindor, but a unique, complex quality that combined a strong thirst for knowledge, calm analytical ability, and a certain—detached perspective, and without any malice.
The recording lasted for about ten seconds before the milky-white magic slowly faded, returning to its previous fluctuating rhythm, seemingly accepting Karen's presence. However, the statue itself still showed no signs of opening or revealing a passage.
Karen withdrew his hand, understanding dawning on him. This statue wasn't an entrance; it was more like a monitoring point or a beacon. His actions just now were perhaps equivalent to leaving his "visitor record" in an ancient system, which might have unknown consequences under certain conditions in the future.
He carefully recorded the detailed frequency, intensity changes, and direction of the resonance of the stone statue's magical fluctuations under the full moon, then quietly withdrew. Although no substantial progress was made, this "contact" and "recording" itself was important information. He decided to return on the next full moon night to observe and see if there would be any new changes.
The next morning, the weather was clear. Karen and Wesley returned to the Black Lake, this time to retrieve the monitoring device, which Karen had placed with Wesley last time.
"You keep watch this time, I'll go down and retrieve the monitor," Karen said to Wesley as she prepared to go into the water. After several explorations, he was quite familiar with the waters, but he still remained highly cautious.
"Don't worry, leave it to me." Wesley patted his chest, gripping the sensor tightly in his hand.
Karen dived into the water, skillfully retracing his previous route, and quickly located the monitoring talisman attached to the rock wall. The talisman felt cooler than the ones in the castle, but it was still functioning. He carefully removed it, placed it in a waterproof bag, and thoroughly examined the patterned area. Confirming there were no new changes, he began to surface.
Back at the Eagle's Nest, Karen immediately placed the rune tablets recovered from the Black Lake, along with other rune tablets collected from various parts of the castle, onto a specially made crystal plate engraved with revealing runes. He chanted an incantation, and the crystal plate emitted a soft light. The data recorded on the rune tablets was read out one by one, condensing in the air into complex spectral graphs and fluctuating curves.
"Look at this!" Ernesto exclaimed, pointing to the curve that represented the Black Lake cliffs.
The curve is not a smooth straight line, but rather exhibits distinct peaks and troughs. The peaks occur at night, especially around the full moon last night, reaching an extremely high level; another slightly lower peak appears around sunrise in the early morning; the curve is relatively stable during other times of the day, but still maintains a certain degree of activity.
"Like breathing—" Fabian murmured, "and it's related to the rising and setting of the moon and sun."
"It's not just a simple switch." Karen carefully analyzed the shape of the curve. "Look at these subtle, jagged fluctuations; its 'breathing' pattern is extremely complex, definitely corresponding to some more precise law. And the power of the full moon has the greatest influence on it."
Ernesto pondered, "Perhaps it's not just about the phases of the moon and sunrise and sunset? Maybe it also involves the positions of the stars? We learned in astronomy class that some ancient magic is very sensitive to specific celestial phenomena."
Karen's eyes lit up: "That makes a lot of sense, Ernesto! The cycles of celestial changes are longer and more subtle, making them perfect for triggering long-term magical mechanisms. For example, when a specific constellation reaches its zenith, or when several planets form a particular angle—"
He immediately took out parchment and began to make a preliminary comparison between the data curves and basic star charts, but this required more specialized astronomical knowledge and long-term observation records.
"We need more data over a longer period," Karen concluded. "We need to record at least one complete lunar cycle, or even longer, to see deeper patterns."
He also examined the data of the unicorn statue in the North Tower. The data showed that the statue's magical activity did indeed increase significantly on the night of the full moon, and several extremely brief, directional resonance pulses were recorded, matching what Karen's "Eye of Truth" had seen. The data for other nodes were relatively flat, with only weak, environment-related fluctuations.
Karen sat down, took out his communication quill, and began writing to Nico and Castor. He gave a detailed report on his discoveries over the past few days: the progress of the system investigation, the newly discovered Hufflepuff-style tapestry, the changes and resonance of the unicorn statue under the full moon, and detailed data on the magical fluctuations of the Black Lake rock walls, along with his astrological conjectures.
[In conclusion,] Karen wrote, [I believe the mechanisms at the bottom of the Black Lake are likely closely related to specific astronomical phenomena, possibly involving lunar phases, solar position, or even, as Ernesto speculated, the position of specific constellations, such as Ophiuchus or water signs, during specific seasons. Besides astronomical factors, they may also be related to the seasonal changes in the Black Lake's water flow and temperature. I plan to conduct longer-term monitoring and begin researching relevant astronomical data. You two are very knowledgeable; what are your thoughts or suggestions on this?]
Soon, the quill pen vibrated, and Nicole's reply appeared first, the handwriting elegant and clear:
【Karen, your observations are very meticulous, and your reasoning is very logical. Based on the data you provided, the influence of astrology is highly likely. Salazar Slytherin was well-versed in astronomy and astrology, and he likely incorporated this knowledge into his magical designs. Besides the common lunar phases, I suggest you focus on astrological cycles related to "water," "secrets," and "transformation," such as when Neptune or Pluto transits specific zodiacal houses, or when the influence of water signs like Scorpio and Pisces reaches its peak. Of course, this requires long-term recording and comparison to confirm.】
At the same time, I must reiterate the inherent dangers of underwater exploration. Never attempt to forcibly activate or approach it before its operational rules and activation conditions are clearly understood. Its ancient defense mechanisms may far exceed your imagination. Continue your monitoring and data analysis; this is the safest and most effective method. Knowledge is accumulated, and patience is a companion to wisdom.
Immediately afterward, Castor's reply arrived, the handwriting sharp and concise:
"I've reviewed the data. Kid, your approach is correct. Don't always try to use brute force or shortcuts. Slytherins enjoy puzzles, but they believe even more in skill. Even if you find the right time, if your magic isn't pure and powerful enough, or your understanding of Parseltongue isn't adequate, you probably won't even get close. Keep practicing your fundamentals: magic control, spell precision—those are the essentials. Of course, memorize the star positions too, just in case. Safety first."
Karen read the contrasting yet equally caring and advising replies from his two mentors, and a clear plan formed in his mind. He noted down the astrological aspects that Nico had mentioned requiring special attention, preparing to consult relevant texts at the library. At the same time, he decided to heed Castor's advice, ceasing his haste and instead focusing on solidifying his foundation.
"Ernesto," he looked up, "could you please keep an eye out for astronomical data? Especially historical records of celestial phenomena, and those related to the connection between celestial phenomena and magic."
"No problem," Ernesto readily agreed. "This is something I'm good at, and I'm also very interested in it."
"Wesley, Fabian, continue the castle inspection as planned. Replace and retrieve the monitoring talismans regularly," Karen assigned tasks. "As for Black Lake, for now, only conduct remote monitoring; avoid entering the water unnecessarily."
The path of exploration was long, but the direction was becoming increasingly clear. Cullen put away his mentor's reply and turned his gaze back to the increasingly detailed magical map. The secrets of Hogwarts were gradually being unveiled before him.