The lighthouse stands high near the coastline, overlooking the highest point; it represents the eternal truth of unchanging beauty.
The dark wizards seizing control of the lighthouse have a clear plan: to secure a favorable position for observing Sirens and the great whirlpool or to seek out anything visible at sea level. But why would they extinguish the lighthouse?
In comparison, Evan believes that Sirius, Hagrid, and Madam Maxime are making smoother progress. The giants and nearby wizards have had small-scale contact, inquiring about the current giant tribe led by Cacus, the son of the previous tremendous leader. Due to bloodline inheritance, Cacus's rule is unstable, with Golgomath, a much stronger giant, vying for leadership. These might be rumors, and nothing has been confirmed.
In the eyes of wizards, giants may seem simple-minded, but they possess a considerably complex social structure beyond imagination. After discussing it, Sirius, Hagrid, and Maxime decide to make initial contact with Cacus and also prepare an equally valuable gift for Golgomath as a precaution.
When Evan returns, the three of them discuss their preparations. Shortly before, Hagrid purchased a deceased goat from the town, a favorite food of giants. Hagrid and Sirius carried a sack of goats while Madam Maxime arranged magic in their camp.
Using all his energy, Evan asked while walking along the rugged mountain road, "Have you located the positions of these giants?"
He had to exert himself to keep up with Hagrid and Madam Maxime's pace. Hagrid replied, "Yes, I found them on the mountain ridge I spotted the night before last. They had a small bonfire, and the giants' shadows moved towards Xiangshan. These giants are probably around 20 feet tall, with some possibly reaching 25 feet. That's taller than me. I didn't alert them; I just confirmed it was their territory and came back."
Evan inquired, "How many of them are there?"
Hagrid replied sadly as he adjusted the sack on his shoulder, "I estimate at least a hundred, but it's far fewer than their heyday. There used to be many giant tribes, perhaps a hundred. They've gradually dwindled. Wizards have killed some, but most were wiped out in internal conflicts. They're dying off quickly. Giants aren't meant to live so closely together. Dumbledore said it's our mistake; wizards pushed them far away, and they had no choice but to survive together."
Giants were undeniably strong, but they were considered an endangered species. They were diminishing steadily, and they were predicted to eventually disappear from Earth. When that happened, wizards would only know of their existence from books, imagining giants in the same way as trolls.
"Given our current pace, we should reach the giant territory before dinner today," Sirius suggested. "For safety, we'd better not sneak in at night. We can enter the giant territory tomorrow morning."
Hagrid added, "As we discussed before, Olympe and I will lead and present our gift to Giant Cacus. Sirius and Evan, you'll be responsible for giving gifts to Golgomath and the other giants."
"But how will we recognize Golgomath?" Evan inquired.
Madam Maxime reassured him, "You'll definitely recognize him; he's the strongest in the tribe. This is a long-term effort, and we must be prepared to wait a while in the giant territory to persuade them."
"Yes, living with the giants is truly an unforgettable experience," Sirius remarked. "Very few wizards have had this opportunity. Evan, when you return, you could write about this experience in the newspaper; it would surely make a splash."
Madam Maxime discreetly interjected, "That's not a great idea. Dumbledore doesn't want others to know we're in contact with the giants. We must keep it a secret, and you and Rubeus have been too careless along the way. Evan has been more discreet in this regard."
"I know, I spoke without thinking," Sirius admitted.
"Speaking of which, do you know what the situation is like at home?" Evan quickly changed the topic. "It's been so long, and I suspect Fudge and the Ministry of Magic will take measures to restrict Dumbledore and Hogwarts."
"He's a complete idiot," Sirius scoffed.
The atmosphere became somber, and no one spoke as they continued their journey earnestly. Eventually, Evan became too exhausted to talk. This mountainous terrain didn't suit him, even though he was used to regular exercise. A full day of hiking was exhausting.
After traversing cliffs and mountain ridges, they found themselves on the south side of Mount Etna. This was a hidden mountain valley with only one winding trail close to the summit. Despite being summer, the meeting was covered in white snow, and the temperature dropped. Thick clouds and mist surrounded Evan, blending with the snowy landscape severely limiting visibility.
Dumbledore had been here before and had helped the giants escape from British wizards. Finding this mountain valley would have been highly challenging without his guidance, possibly taking several months.
As the weather grew darker, they encountered a problematic rockslide. Evan heard loud noises.
"Be careful; we're getting close to the giants," Sirius cautioned, bringing them to a halt.
Evan asked, "What are they doing? What's causing such a commotion?"
"I'm not sure, but they may be fighting," Sirius replied.
"They're like this all the time—males fighting males, females fighting females," Hagrid sighed. "My father told me about it, and my mother told him. They can't control themselves; they must nearly beat each other half to death every few weeks."
"That's quite normal. Despite their small population, the Sicilian giant tribe has a complex structure with many outsiders," Madam Maxime explained. "After fleeing from previous conflicts, they're all packed together now. Not fighting would be unusual."
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"Due to past hatred, the remnants of these old tribes continue to fight, with no consideration for matters like food, shelter, or fire," Hagrid explained. "It's hard for regular folks to imagine that their entire race is on the brink of extinction, yet they won't stop killing one another. But that's how giants are."
"Is the giant leader not in charge of this?" Evan asked. He had read about this phenomenon in Hermione's organized materials, but it still seemed inconceivable. "Doesn't he intervene?"
"Giants have had this custom for thousands of years," Sirius replied. "Based on the information we've gathered, the current giant leader is someone called Cacus. He may be more intelligent than other giants, but he's too weak. He can't control the other giants, and if he were to tell them not to fight, they might form an alliance to overthrow him."
As Evan listened to Sirius and Hagrid, he gained a deeper understanding of the barbarism and primitiveness of giants, their customs and traditions remaining at a tribal stage. Even when exposed to a more modern society, giants seemed to prefer their primitive clan and tribal life; it was deeply ingrained in their instincts.
As they followed the rumbling sounds for over ten minutes, Evan finally caught sight of the giants. Two young male giants were engaged in combat on a hillside, each standing around 25 feet tall, even taller than Hagrid. They were powerful, resembling living hills, and they wore minimal clothing, with some animal skins around their waists. Their battle was primal, causing the earth to tremble beneath them. Even from a distance, Evan could feel their astonishing power.
Continuing down the hillside, they arrived at the giant camp, where more giants were gathered. They had lit bonfires and ate roasted meat, filling the air with a savory aroma. These giants had grown accustomed to the life-and-death battles happening not far away, barely sparing a glance. For them, a bloody duel was less critical than supper, as such events occurred frequently. The battle's outcome often involved one side being defeated, saving food in the process.
Evan noticed many more significant figures in the giant camp, resembling the giants currently engaged in combat. They, too, wore minimal clothing or simple accessories, even the female giants. Only a few giants wore clothes or armor, looking out of place.
On the other side of the lake lay steep cliffs, with a narrow winding path leading upward. Faint outlines of more giants could be seen above as if they were striving to be even higher than their fellow giants residing in mountaintop caves.
"All right, we should stop here and wait until tomorrow," Sirius suggested, holding a tent. "We must be extra careful during dinner; the giants have keen noses."
Food had a strong allure for the giants, but they were slow in other aspects. As evening fell, Evan sat cross-legged on a tall giant stone, slowly eating a cake made by Hagrid and some cooked mutton. He watched the two giants engaged in their life-and-death battle on the distant hillside, a truly unusual sight.
After two hours, the giants finally ceased their battle, their bodies covered in scars and blood. The giants' ears had been forcefully pulled and were near death. They stopped, not because they were convinced but because they lacked the strength to continue. They sat back-to-back, exhausted, on the hillside.
As their strength slowly returned, they mumbled to themselves and returned to the lakeside camp. Evan couldn't fathom the hatred they had just witnessed. This was a fight without meaning, without a reason, with no victor. Even the fighters didn't know why they were fighting, perhaps because they had excess energy to vent. They lived in peace again afterward.
They seemed like brothers supporting each other, a stark contrast to the brutal battle they had just engaged in. Evan observed for a long while and noticed significantly fewer female giants in the camp than male giants. Several male giants gathered around each grown female giant, elevating their status. The two giants who had fought to the death didn't belong to the group of females, so they huddled together, full of vitality and passion, which they couldn't suppress.
Giants were indeed incredibly primitive, both in their customs and in their ways of resolving conflicts. For them, fighting was the purest way to release excess energy.
Sirius and Hagrid took the night watch to prevent any unexpected visits from the giants, allowing Evan and Madam Maxime to sleep in the tent. However, Evan's sleep was restless that night. The giants snored loudly, and the thunderous noise echoed throughout the valley. The giants on the summit seemed to be causing avalanches during the night.
The following day, Evan woke up with dark circles under his eyes. Sirius, Hagrid, and Madam Maxime were already sitting at the simple dinner table in the tent, and Sirius handed him a steaming cup of coffee.
After breakfast, the four of them continued their journey. Evan noticed that many giants had spotted them, shouting and making uncouth noises. However, none approached because they saw Hagrid and Maxime holding the gifts high above their heads.
These goats were the giants' favorite food, and the eternal fire's pale blue flame radiated an aura of magic that made them awe-struck. Even the most foolish giants could sense the power of magic in the flame.
They watched in silence as the four visitors entered their territory. Evan felt like a tiny doll compared to the giants. He had no doubt that if a giant's fist were to strike him, it would be fatal. Giants were like war machines, born to be fearsome beasts of battle.