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墨書 Inktalez
The first rays of dawn painted the towering Spire of the Glorious Demon Fortress with a delicate hue, as if a soft brush had gently caressed its ancient walls, bestowing a faint layer of brilliance upon the fortress.
Luna, the little visitor from another world, was no longer nestled in her soft bed.
She was well-acquainted with the script of this magical realm, like an experienced director who knew every hidden easter egg lurking in the corners and every secret concealed within the interplay of Light and Shadow.
Today marked an inconspicuous yet crucial Node in this script—the awakening of the Magic Spring.
The Magic Spring, the source of life for the Glorious Demon Fortress, would awaken once every hundred years, bringing forth a rich surge of Magical Energy that nourished every Mage within the fortress.
Yet few knew that a rare mineral known as "Tears of the Stars" would emerge near the Fountain. This precious gem could significantly enhance Luna's gathered mental power and was coveted by every Mage.
According to the original storyline, this "Tears of the Stars" was meant to be obtained by Lucius, disguised as a paragon of virtue, serving as a key to his future ascension.
However, Luna had no intention of following the script.
She moved through the intricate corridors of the Magic Castle like a nimble little cat.
The morning Blood Mist had yet to dissipate, adding an air of mystery to the solemn fortress.
Luna's small figure stood in stark contrast to the grand architecture, yet she appeared remarkably resolute.
As she approached the vicinity of the Magic Spring, the air was already thick with rich Magic Element, invigorating her senses.
The spring water gurgled softly, like whispers between lovers. In its crystal-clear depths, hints of colorful light flickered and danced.
Luna did not rush to draw near; she needed to wait—for an opportune moment, one that would capture everyone's attention.
Her little mind raced as she recalled every detail from the original book.
Suddenly, a sly smile crept onto her lips.
Not far away, the sound of soft footsteps could be heard.
Luna quickly hid behind a massive rock, holding her breath as she observed quietly.
The newcomer was Aelia, the Lady of the Fortress from the Glorious Demon Fortress.
She wore a light purple Magic Robe, her graceful figure resembling a blooming violet.
Yet, there was a faint shadow of sorrow in her brow.
Yesterday's words from Luna had dropped like a stone into her calm heart, stirring ripples of doubt.
She began to recall the moments shared with her husband, Leonard—those instances that once brought her happiness now felt hazy and questionable.
She had always believed that Leonard loved and respected her.
But now, she started to wonder if it was all just a meticulously woven lie.
At that moment, the Magic Spring suddenly erupted with dazzling light, a powerful wave of energy sweeping through the entire Magic Castle.
"What is happening?" Aelia exclaimed, rushing toward the Fountain.
Meanwhile, disturbances erupted in other parts of the Magic Castle as well.
"What a strong Magical Fluctuation!"
"What is going on?"
"Go take a look!"
Figures dashed forward like arrows released from a bow, racing towards the Magic Spring.
Luna knew the moment had come.
She jumped out from behind the rocks, pretending to be startled by the sudden turn of events, and exclaimed softly, "Wow, what beautiful lights!"
Her voice, though youthful, rang out clearly amidst the noisy surroundings.
All eyes turned to her.
Aelia spotted Luna and hurried over, picking her up with concern. "Luna, are you okay?"
Luna shook her head and pointed towards the Fountain, innocently saying, "Mommy, look! There are so many stars shining over there!"
"Stars?" Aelia looked at the Fountain in confusion; apart from the dazzling light, there was nothing else to see.
But just then, she noticed that the glow in the spring seemed even brighter than before.
Upon closer inspection, amidst the colorful lights, a few translucent gemstones could be faintly seen, radiating an enchanting luster.
"Those are... Tears of the Stars!" someone in the crowd exclaimed.
A single stone stirred up a thousand waves. Everyone's gaze became fervent.
"It really is Tears of the Stars!"
"Oh my gosh, I can't believe I'm seeing such a treasure with my own eyes!"
"This time, I must get it!"
The crowd began to stir, each person eager to be the first to rush forward and claim the "Tears of the Stars" for themselves.
Luna watched the chaotic scene before her, a slight smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
She knew that the real show was just beginning.
At that moment, a figure suddenly burst forth from the crowd, making a beeline for the Fountain.
It was Lucius!
He moved with agility, his speed astonishing as he reached the vicinity of the Fountain in the blink of an eye.
"The Tears of the Stars are mine!" he shouted excitedly, reaching out to grab the mineral from the water.
However, just as his hand was about to touch the "Tears of the Stars," a powerful Magical Fluctuation surged forth, violently sending him flying back.
"Who did that?" Lucius exclaimed angrily as he clumsily picked himself up from the ground.
"It was me," a deep voice replied.
The crowd turned to look in the direction of the voice and saw a tall man slowly approaching.
It was his older brother!
His face was pale, his eyes cold and menacing, exuding an aura that sent chills down everyone's spine.
"Brother, what do you want?" Lucius asked warily.
“What's going on?” the elder brother sneered, “Of course, I'm here to take back what belongs to me!”
As soon as he finished speaking, a powerful surge of Magical Energy erupted, forcing those around him to step back.
“Today, no one can stop me!” With a roar that echoed through the air, he charged toward the Fountain.
Luna watched the tense scene unfold before her, secretly pleased.
She knew that her brother's arrival would completely disrupt the original plot, making this struggle even more convoluted.
Meanwhile, Aelia was too preoccupied to notice any of this.
The words Luna had spoken the night before echoed in her mind, along with her doubts about her husband.
She looked at the crowd not far away fighting over the Tears of the Stars and suddenly felt a wave of disgust wash over her.
These people would stop at nothing for their own interests, even turning against their own kin.
Was her husband one of them?
In his pursuit of higher status and greater power, would he also betray her and deceive her?
As these thoughts crossed her mind, her heart felt as if it had been pierced by a sharp blade.
The beautiful fantasies she once held shattered like bubbles, leaving only an endless void and despair.
She painfully closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks as they flowed slowly down like Luna.
Beside her, Qin Si noticed Aelia's distress and hurriedly asked with concern, “My lady, are you alright?”
Aelia shook her head, remaining silent.
She needed to calm down and think carefully about what to do next.
At that moment, Luna suddenly tugged at her sleeve and whispered, “Mom, that uncle seems to be in a lot of pain.”
Aelia opened her eyes and followed Luna's gaze. There stood Second Brother at the edge of the crowd, his expression complex as he watched the people fighting over the Tears of the Stars.
His eyes were filled with longing and anguish.
Once, he had been a hopeful Mage, but he had been deceived by a close friend and fell into a Magic Dilemma, losing his chance for advancement.
Now, seeing the appearance of the Tears of the Stars reignited a flicker of hope within him.
Yet he knew he no longer had the strength to compete for it.
He could only watch helplessly as others fought for their interests, witnessing his once cherished dreams shatter piece by piece.
Seeing Second Brother's pained expression made Aelia's heart ache even more.
She suddenly became aware that in this Magic Castle, she was not the only one suffering.
Everyone had their own troubles, their own pain, their own struggles.
And all of this seemed tied to power and desire.
Taking a deep breath, she made an effort to calm herself.
She knew this was not the time for sorrow; she needed to pull herself together—for herself, for her children, and for all those who were struggling in pain.
She walked up to Second Brother and softly asked, "Do you really want to obtain the Tears of the Stars?"
Second Brother was taken aback, looking at Aelia with surprise.
He hadn't expected the Lady of the Fortress to speak to him first.
After a moment's hesitation, he nodded and replied quietly, "Who wouldn't want that?"
Aelia looked at him, her gaze resolute as she said, "I will help you."
At her words, Second Brother abruptly raised his head, staring at Aelia in disbelief.
"Madam, you... what did you say?"
Aelia did not respond but turned her attention to the crowd competing for the Tears of the Stars. A faint smile curved her lips, revealing a meaningful expression.
"This game is becoming more interesting..." she murmured to herself.
Meanwhile, Luna watched Aelia's transformation with growing anticipation in her heart.
She knew that Aelia was beginning to awaken; she would become the key to changing this Magic Castle.
Just then, Qin Si, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke up. "Madam, the master has returned."
Upon hearing this, Aelia's expression shifted slightly.
She turned to look at the doorway and saw Leonard standing there, his face serious as he gazed at her.
"Alya, what happened?" he asked as he approached with concern.
Aelia looked at Leonard, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
She didn't know how to face him or how to ask him about that secret.
Leonard seemed to sense Aelia's unease. He furrowed his brow and asked, "Alya, why are you looking at me like that?"
Taking a deep breath, Aelia suppressed the pain within her and slowly said, "Leonard, there are some things I want to ask you..."
Before she could finish her sentence, a sudden voice interrupted her.
"Father, you finally came back!" Lucius ran out from the crowd, looking aggrieved. "You have to stand up for me; my brother..."
Leonard's brow furrowed even tighter.
He glanced at the chaotic scene and then at Aelia, who seemed hesitant to speak. An unsettling feeling surged within him.
"What exactly happened?" he asked in a low voice.
At that moment, Luna suddenly pointed at Leonard and innocently said, "Mommy, this uncle smells strange!"
Upon hearing this, Leonard's face instantly turned pale. He looked sharply at Luna.
As the morning light poured in, the clamor of the Glorious Demon Fortress felt like a boiling potion, with emotions intertwining and magical energy surging.
Leonard's return was like a key catalyst that made an already complicated situation even more perplexing.
Luna's innocent yet cutting remark undoubtedly cast a giant stone into the calm surface of the lake.
In an instant, Leonard felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave; that "strange smell" was something he knew all too well—an essence he had desperately tried to conceal but could never completely erase, belonging to another woman.
He suppressed the turmoil within and forced a kind smile, trying to mask his unease.
“Luna, what are you talking about? What strange smell could Uncle possibly have?”
But Luna was relentless, her small finger pointing at Leonard, her childish voice carrying an undeniable certainty: “There is! It’s Xiang Xiang’s, but it’s not Mommy’s smell, nor Aunt Cessy’s!”
Aelia's face instantly paled a few shades; her already shaky trust crumbled completely in that moment.
She stared intently at Leonard, hoping to find a glimmer of sincerity, a hint of explanation in his eyes.
Yet what she saw was panic, evasion, and confusion.
“Leonard, is what she said true?” Aelia's voice trembled slightly; she exerted all her strength to maintain a semblance of calm.
Leonard knew he could no longer hide the truth.
He took a deep breath, attempting to explain: “Alya, things aren’t as you think…”
However, before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by a voice filled with regret and determination.
“Father, Mother, enough!”
From the crowd, a figure slowly stepped forward—it was Brother San, Lucien.
He had always been carefree and reckless, taking his Magical Talent for granted and neglecting his training.
But today’s upheaval at the Magic Spring and Luna’s innocent remark struck him like a wake-up call.
He looked at the people before him, fighting tooth and nail over the Tears of the Stars, filled with disgust.
He witnessed the madness of his elder brother, the disappointment of his Second Brother, and the growing distance between his parents.
All of this stemmed from a desire for power and a pursuit of interests.
"For so many years, I have been obsessed with my own talent, thinking myself superior, yet I have never truly put in the effort. I have let down Father’s expectations and wasted my own gifts!" Lucien's voice rang out strong and resolute, carrying a hint of determination. "From today onwards, I will start anew. I will prove my worth through my own hard work!"
In his eyes shone an unprecedented light, a glimmer of hope for the future and a challenge to himself.
He was no longer the carefree young master who only knew how to indulge; he had become a Mage determined to change his Destiny.
Aelia looked at her son, her heart filled with pride.
She knew that Lucien's awakening might become an opportunity to change the future of Magic Castle.
Meanwhile, standing beside Aelia, Qin Si was nervously sweating in her palms.
Having followed Aelia since childhood, her loyalty was unquestionable.
She sensed her mistress's unease and felt the undercurrents stirring within Magic Castle.
She worried that Aelia might take some impulsive action and feared that Leonard's secret would be completely exposed, leading to even greater turmoil.
Cautiously, she stood by Aelia’s side, ready to protect her at any moment.
"Madam, please don't be too agitated; Master may have his reasons..." she softly reassured, her tone filled with concern.
On the other side, Lucius watched everything unfold with great interest.
He had originally thought he would be the ultimate victor in this struggle, but Luna's appearance had completely disrupted his plans.
He couldn't understand the purpose of this infant girl, nor could he see through everything she was doing.
He keenly sensed that every move Luna made seemed to be guiding the development of the situation.
She was like a shrewd chess player, manipulating each piece while the others remained oblivious, still fighting over immediate interests.
"What is this Little One really thinking?" Lucius wondered, his mind filled with confusion as he stared intently at Luna, hoping to find a clue on her face.
Leonard felt the eyes around him and grew increasingly anxious.
He knew that if Aelia pressed further, his secret would eventually be exposed.
At that point, he would not only lose his current position and power but also be disgraced, becoming the laughingstock of the entire magical community.
He had to stop this from happening!
"Alya, let's talk about this later, okay? There are too many people here; we should discuss it privately," Leonard attempted to change the subject, wanting to lead Aelia away from this place of gossip.
However, Aelia shook her head, rejecting his proposal.
"No, Leonard. Today, we must clarify everything. I don't want to live in lies any longer!"
Her voice was soft but filled with determination.
She had made up her mind; no matter how cruel the truth might be, she would bravely confront it.
Seeing this, Leonard realized he could no longer escape.
"If you insist on pushing me, then don't blame me for being rude!" he vowed silently, determined to protect his secret at any cost.
He suddenly turned around and spoke loudly to the crowd, "Everyone, this matter ends here! The energy fluctuations from the Magic Spring are somewhat abnormal. For everyone's safety, I have decided to temporarily seal off this area. Everyone, please leave!"
His tone was firm and left no room for doubt.
He tried to use his authority to suppress the voices of those around him and prevent the situation from escalating further.
However, just as his words fell, a voice filled with mockery rang out unexpectedly.
"Seal off? Lord of the Fortress, what are you trying to cover up?"
The speaker was the eldest brother.
He had always harbored dissatisfaction towards Leonard, and now he seized the opportunity to expose his true nature completely.
"You..." Leonard glared at the eldest brother.
"What? Am I wrong? Lord of the Fortress, do you have some secrets you don’t want us to know?" The eldest brother met Leonard's gaze fearlessly, his eyes brimming with provocation.
Leonard realized he was caught in a dilemma.
If he continued to conceal the truth, it would only raise more suspicions among the crowd.
But if he admitted to his secret, everything he had worked for would be over.
What should he do?
At that moment, Luna suddenly started running deeper into the Magic Castle with her short legs.
"Luna, where are you going?" Aelia quickly asked.
Luna replied without turning her head, "I'm going to find something fun!"
Her figure disappeared around the corner of the hallway.
Aelia watched the direction Luna had gone, a sudden wave of intense unease washing over her.
She couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen.
Leonard, observing Luna's vanishing silhouette, thought to himself, "This Little One cannot be allowed to stay!"
Suddenly, Second Brother pointed at Leonard, his expression filled with excitement. "I know! I know why you wanted to drive us all away!"
Everyone turned to Second Brother, waiting for him to continue.
Taking a deep breath, Second Brother slowly said, "Because you’re afraid we’ll discover the true secret of the Magic Spring!"
"What secret?" Aelia asked.
With determination in his eyes, Second Brother replied, "Deep within the Fountain of the Magic Spring lies a passage to another world!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire Magic Castle fell into a profound silence.
"What did you say? A passage to another world?" Aelia asked in disbelief.
Second Brother nodded firmly. "That's right! I once read about it in ancient texts. The Magic Spring is not only the source of life for the Glorious Demon Fortress but also a bridge connecting different worlds!"
"That’s impossible!" Leonard shouted in rebuttal. "That’s absolutely absurd!"
However, his tone sounded so pale and powerless.
Aelia looked at Leonard, her heart filled with disappointment. She knew that Second Brother was speaking the truth.
“Leonard, do you have anything else to say?” she asked.
Leonard fell silent.
At that moment, Qin Si suddenly exclaimed, “Madam, look!”
Everyone followed Qin Si's gaze and saw the Magic Spring's Fountain suddenly erupting with a dazzling light.
Mystical runes began emerging above the spring, intertwining to form a complex pattern.
The pattern seemed to connect to another world.
“What is this…” Aelia stared in shock at everything before her, unsure of what to say.
Just then, a voice suddenly rang out.
“Mother, I think I found a very interesting place…”
It was Luna's voice!
Immediately after, a beam of light flashed, and Luna's figure slowly emerged from the Magic Spring's Fountain.
In her hand, she held an ancient scroll.
“What is this?” Aelia asked.
Luna smiled and said, "It's a secret..."
Her smile was filled with mystery.
At that moment, Leonard suddenly moved.
He rushed towards Luna, trying to snatch the scroll from her hand.
"Give me the scroll!" he shouted.
But just as his hand was about to touch Luna, a powerful surge of magical energy suddenly struck, sending him flying backward.
"Ah!" Leonard screamed as he crashed heavily to the ground.
He struggled to get up but found himself completely powerless, unable to move.
In terror, he lifted his head and saw Aelia standing before him, her gaze icy as she looked down at him.
"You..." Leonard tried to say something, but found himself unable to utter a word.
Aelia slowly raised her wand, aiming it at Leonard.
"Leonard, it’s all over..." she whispered.
The air was thick with tension as everyone held their breath, waiting for the final outcome.
Just then, Luna suddenly yawned and rubbed her sleepy eyes.
"Mommy, I'm tired..." she mumbled.
Aelia felt a slight tremor in the wand she held.
Looking at Luna's innocent face, the anger within her gradually subsided.
She took a deep breath and slowly lowered the wand.
"Enough..." she sighed, saying, "Everything can wait until tomorrow..."
Bending down, she picked up Luna and walked toward the bedroom.
"Qin Si, clean this place up," she instructed.
"Yes, my lady," Qin Si replied respectfully.
Aelia carried Luna out of the Magic Spring.
Her figure vanished into the night.
Only Leonard remained, lying alone on the ground.
"Why did it come to this?" he murmured to himself, "Why..."
The night deepened.
Inside the Magic Castle, there was a profound silence.
Only the occasional hoot of an owl broke the tranquility of the night.
Luna lay on the soft bed, her breathing steady and long.
She slept soundly.
But what would happen tomorrow?
No one knew.
The first ray of morning sunlight filtered through the window, casting a warm glow on Luna's delicate face. Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly, as if signaling the dawn of a new day or perhaps waiting for something. However, when she opened her eyes, what she saw was…
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