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墨書 Inktalez
Qin Si furrowed her brow as she carefully wrapped the cloak around Luna and adjusted Aelia's skirt.
She anxiously glanced toward the direction of the Lord's Study, where the heavy wooden door loomed like a slumbering beast, ready to devour everything she held dear at any moment.
“Madam, Luna, be careful on your way…” Her voice trembled, carrying a hint of barely concealed sobs.
In the Magic Castle, dark currents swirled beneath the surface. Though she was merely a maid, she could sense the unease that permeated the air.
Luna hugged her beloved Magic Doll—a fluffy, gem-eyed mini Griffin—blinking her big eyes and speaking in a baby voice, “Aunt Cessy, don’t worry! With Luna here, the bad guys won’t dare bully Mommy!” She gently patted the Griffin’s head, as if encouraging herself and comforting Qin Si at the same time.
This innocent chatter did little to ease Qin Si's worries; instead, it tightened her heart even more.
This child, so young, had to face such a complicated situation…
Aelia gently stroked Luna's hair and gave Qin Si a reassuring look.
“It will be fine, Qin Si. We’re just going to have a chat with the Lord of the Fortress.” Her tone was calm, but a flicker of determination flashed in her eyes.
She knew that this visit was far from a casual conversation.
Leonard had sent someone to invite them rather than coming to see them himself, which was already suspicious.
She had long seen through his feigned concern.
What he called “care” was nothing more than a poorly executed performance.
As they walked toward the study, the setting sun cast its golden rays upon the cobblestone path, bathing everything in a warm glow.
Luna skipped ahead, occasionally turning back to flash Aelia a sweet smile.
“Mother, do you think Father is trying to give us a gift?” She tilted her little head, her tone innocent and carefree, but it made Aelia's heart sink. This child was too clever, clever enough to be worrisome.
“Maybe,” Aelia forced a smile.
She didn’t want to shatter Luna’s fantasies, yet she had to face the harshness of reality.
In the study, Leonard was irritably rubbing his temples.
The financial situation of the Magic Castle was deteriorating, with various factions vying for resources, leaving him overwhelmed.
When he saw Aelia and Luna enter, he managed to put on a strained smile.
“Aelia, Luna, you’re here. Please, have a seat.”
As soon as Luna walked in, she rushed into Leonard's arms and sweetly called out “Father.”
Leonard gave her a token embrace before setting her aside.
“Luna, be good. Father has important matters to discuss with your mother.”
“Father, Luna has a problem too!” Luna raised her little hand, looking serious.
Leonard felt a bit impatient but still asked, “Oh? What problem does Luna have?”
“I’m running out of Magic Materials!” Luna pouted, looking quite pitiful.
Leonard turned to Lucius beside him and instructed, “Go to the storeroom and fetch a batch of Magic Materials for Luna.” He affectionately ruffled Luna’s hair. “Is this enough? If not, Father can send someone for more.” To Leonard, soothing the child was far easier than dealing with the complex affairs of the Magic Castle.
“Thank you, Father!” Luna cheered joyfully and threw her arms around Leonard’s neck, giving him a big kiss.
After Lucius left, Leonard's expression darkened.
"Luna, I need to remind you not to shout about lacking resources in front of Elder at Magic Castle, understand? You previously encouraged the younger generation at Magic Castle to fight for their rights, and you’ve upset those old geezers!"
Luna pouted defiantly and retorted, "Those old men are too stubborn! There are plenty of resources available, but they cling to their old ways. If this continues, Magic Castle will surely fall behind!"
Leonard rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.
This child is truly audacious; she dares to say anything.
"Luna, you're still young and don’t understand these matters..."
"I'm not little!" Luna puffed out her chest proudly. "I know a lot! Mother always praises me for being smart!"
Aelia stood quietly by, saying nothing.
She knew that the real contest was only just beginning...
"Alright, Luna, go play for a while. Your father and mother need to talk," Leonard said impatiently, waving his hand.
Luna hugged her Magic Doll and skipped out of the study.
Leonard turned to Aelia and spoke seriously, "Aelia, I..." Before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by a series of urgent knocks on the door.
"Come in."
The study door swung open, and a Knight rushed in, looking flustered.
"Lord of the Fortress, it's bad! The apprentices at Magic Castle..." He paused, seemingly struggling to find the right words.
Leonard furrowed his brow. "What’s wrong? Speak slowly!"
Knight took a deep breath. "The apprentices from the Magic Castle... have all gone to Luna's residence!"
"What?!" Leonard and Aelia exclaimed in unison.
Leonard's expression darkened instantly. He stood up abruptly, the chair scraping loudly against the floor.
"What do they want? Are they rebelling?" he thundered, his voice shaking the Crystal Chandelier in the study.
Aelia's face also changed; she immediately realized that the situation might be beyond her expectations.
Those apprentices, who usually held their heads high and considered themselves the future of the Magic Castle, how could they suddenly go to Luna's place?
Something must have happened that she was unaware of.
"Those fools!" Leonard paced angrily in the study, struggling to suppress his fury. He shouted at Knight, "Go, bring them all back! Anyone who dares to intrude upon Luna’s residence will face severe consequences!"
Knight trembled slightly, quickly acknowledging and turning to leave.
"Wait!" Aelia suddenly spoke up, halting Knight's actions.
She stepped in front of Leonard and said calmly, "Lord of the Fortress, it may not be wise to use force in this matter. Those apprentices are, after all, the future of the Magic Castle. If handled improperly, it could lead to even greater turmoil." She paused before continuing, "Perhaps we should first clarify their intentions before making any decisions."
Leonard took a deep breath, striving to calm his emotions.
He knew Aelia was right; acting rashly would only complicate matters further.
Grinding his teeth, he said to Knight, "Fine, you may withdraw for now. Keep a close watch on their movements and report immediately if there are any unusual developments."
The Knight stepped back, feeling a sense of relief.
In the study, only Leonard and Aelia remained.
The atmosphere was stifling, making it hard to breathe.
“Aelia,” Leonard's tone softened as he approached her, speaking gently, “You’ve seen it too. The situation at Magic Castle is becoming increasingly complicated. Those Elders are all stubborn old fools, only concerned with preserving their outdated rules, completely disregarding the future of Magic Castle.” He sighed and continued, “They’ve been fixated on Luna’s so-called Magic Study Group, believing we’ve diverted too many resources into researching new magic and want to redirect those resources back to traditional magic studies.”
Aelia's gaze sharpened.
She had long suspected the Elders’ ulterior motives but hadn’t anticipated their blatant actions.
“What does the Lord of the Fortress plan to do?” she asked coldly.
Leonard shook his head helplessly.
“What can I do? Those old geezers are all heroes of Magic Castle; I can’t just drive them away,” he said as he walked to the window, looking out at the dimming sky. His voice was heavy as he added, “I can only try to appease them and balance the various factions to prevent the situation at Magic Castle from worsening.”
“So, the Lord of the Fortress intends to sacrifice Luna and her Magic Study Group?” Aelia's voice carried a hint of disappointment.
Leonard suddenly turned around, his face pale as he exclaimed, “Aelia, how could you think that of me? How could I sacrifice Luna? She’s my daughter!” He stepped closer to her, grasping her thin shoulders in urgency as he explained, “I just want Luna to be a bit more restrained and not clash head-on with those old geezers. After all, she’s still young and doesn’t understand the ways of the world.”
Aelia scoffed and shook off Leonard's hands.
“The ways of the world? Is what you call the ways of the world sacrificing others' interests to satisfy your own desires?” she questioned sharply.
Leonard's expression darkened considerably.
He knew Aelia had always been dissatisfied with his actions, but he hadn’t expected her to confront him so directly.
“Aelia, you…” He wanted to argue, but found himself at a loss for words.
At that moment, Luna, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up.
“Father, Mother, please don’t fight.” She stepped between them, tilting her small face up and speaking earnestly, “Luna knows what you’re worried about. But Luna will not compromise.”
Leonard and Aelia turned to look at Luna simultaneously, surprised by the firmness of this little infant.
“Luna,” Leonard crouched down, his tone gentle, “I know you’re very smart, but some things can’t be solved just by being clever. Those old fellows are Elders of the Magic Castle; they have their own principles, and we cannot force them to change.”
“Their principles mean suppressing the research of new magic?” Luna retorted without hesitation.
“Wasn’t it the students of the Magic Castle who initially led the suppression of new magic research? Now that they’re facing difficulties, they want to come and ask Luna for help? There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world!” Her small face was filled with determination and resolve.
“Luna…” Leonard sighed helplessly.
He knew he could not persuade his stubborn daughter.
“Father, there’s no need to say more.” Luna shook her head and spoke calmly, “Luna has her own principles and will not easily compromise. If those students truly want to join Luna’s Magic Study Group, then they need to show their sincerity. Otherwise, they should go back from where they came!”
With that, Luna turned and left the study without looking back.
Leonard watched her retreating figure and shook his head helplessly.
“This child is becoming more and more like you,” he said to Aelia.
Aelia remained silent, standing there quietly.
“Aelia,” Leonard approached her, his tone pleading, “I know I’ve wronged you. But for the future of the Magic Castle, I hope you can persuade Luna to be a little more flexible.”
Aelia let out a cold laugh and resolutely refused, "It's impossible. What Luna did is right. I won't stop her, nor will I advise her to compromise."
Leonard's expression fell completely.
He knew he had lost Aelia's support entirely.
"In that case, I have nothing more to say," Leonard said before turning and leaving the study.
His silhouette appeared particularly desolate.
Aelia stood in the study, watching Leonard's retreating figure.
After Luna left the study, she didn't head straight back to her residence but chose to wander in the garden of Magic Castle.
Her mind was racing.
She knew that those students who came to her place were not genuinely there to apologize.
They must have some ulterior motive.
As she walked, Luna silently calculated the time.
She knew Aelia would definitely come looking for her.
Sure enough, it wasn't long before Aelia found Luna.
"Luna, what are you thinking about?" Aelia approached Luna and asked softly.
“Mother, Luna is wondering what those students are really up to,” Luna said, looking up earnestly.
Aelia patted Luna's head and smiled, “There’s no need to think too much about it. When soldiers come, we’ll meet them; when water comes, we’ll dam it. No matter what they intend to do, we won’t be afraid of them.”
Luna nodded, then took Aelia's hand and said, “Mother, let’s go see what’s happening at the entrance.”
Aelia was a bit puzzled but followed Luna to the entrance of the Magic Castle.
As they reached the door, they were immediately stunned by the scene before them.
At the entrance of the Magic Castle stood a group of dejected students.
Each one had a pale face and dull eyes, as if they had just suffered a crushing defeat.
Seeing Luna and Aelia approach, the students quickly surrounded them.
At the front was Luna’s older brother.
He looked anxiously at Luna and said with a trembling voice, “Luna, about what happened before, we were wrong. We shouldn’t have treated you that way. We… we are willing to join your Magic Study Group!”
The other students echoed, “Yes, Luna, we realize our mistakes. Please give us a chance!”
One by one, the students pleaded humbly, completely devoid of their previous arrogance.
Luna looked at these students who had once mocked her, a subtle smile playing on her lips as she felt a sense of satisfaction.
She knew that the show was about to begin.
“Brother…” Luna’s clear voice broke the silence as she tilted her head, mischief sparkling in her eyes. “Do you really want to join my Magic Study Group?”
Luna's voice, though sweet and childlike, carried an undeniable authority that echoed through the quiet night.
The apprentices, who had been murmuring amongst themselves, fell silent at her words. They exchanged bewildered glances, their faces reflecting their shock.
"Limited space?" The eldest brother was the first to recover, incredulously repeating Luna's statement with a slight tremor in his voice. "But... Luna, this Magic Castle is so large. How can there be limited space?"
Luna blinked her big, watery eyes innocently at him. "Brother, what I need for my Magic Study Group is a quiet, secluded place filled with Magic Elements. It can't just be any random location." She paused and pointed with her chubby little finger to a nearby exquisite building. "Look, the place I'm using right now has been carefully selected and arranged. It not only blocks out external disturbances but also better gathers Magic Elements, which is very helpful for studying magic."
Following Luna's finger, the eldest brother gazed at the small building surrounded by lush magical plants that emitted a faint magical glow. It indeed looked like an excellent spot for practicing magic.
However, while there were many such places within the Magic Castle, most were occupied by High-Level Mages, leaving apprentices like them without any right to use them.
"So... what should we do?" The eldest brother's voice grew quieter.
Luna flashed a mischievous smile, revealing her adorable little fangs. "It's simple! You just need to pay a certain fee for magic study to use my space!"
"Fee?" The apprentices were stunned again; they hadn't expected Luna to make such a request.
In their understanding, studying magic should be free—why would there be a fee?
"Yes, a fee," Luna confirmed with a nod. "My space and Magic Materials took quite a bit of effort and money to acquire. If you want to use them, of course, you have to pay a fee." She extended her small hand and began counting on her fingers. "Space fee, material fee, guidance fee... Hmm, in total..." She deliberately paused before slowly stating, "One hundred gold coins per person!"
"One hundred gold coins?!" The apprentices erupted in disbelief. One hundred gold coins was no small sum; for those still in their learning phase, it was an astronomical figure!
"What? Is it too expensive?" Luna raised an eyebrow and said dismissively. "If you think it's too much, you don’t have to join. I’m not forcing you."
"But..." one apprentice tried to protest but was cut off by Luna.
"No buts!" Luna said firmly. "That's how my rules work. If you don't accept it, then please leave." She paused again and added, "Oh right, I forgot to mention that this is just the fee for the beginner class. If you want to advance to the intermediate or advanced classes, the fees will double!"
The apprentices exchanged glances, their faces pale with worry.
They had initially thought that if they approached Luna humbly, they would smoothly join her Magic Study Group.
To their surprise, Luna had set such harsh conditions.
“Luna, we…” the eldest brother attempted to negotiate further but was interrupted by Luna.
“Alright, Luna is tired and needs to go rest,” she yawned, rubbing her eyes and turning to leave.
“Luna, wait!” the eldest brother hurried after her. “We… we agree to your terms!”
Luna paused, turned around, and looked at him with a half-smile. “Oh? Have you really thought this through?”
“We have!” The eldest brother gritted his teeth and said firmly, “We are willing to pay one hundred gold coins to join your Magic Study Group!”
Luna nodded in satisfaction. “Very well. But I must remind you that joining my Magic Study Group is not an easy task. My requirements are strict, and if you fail to meet them, you will be eliminated.”
“We're not afraid!” the apprentices replied in unison, their eyes filled with desire and anticipation.
Luna smiled but said nothing more as she turned and walked into the small building.
The apprentices watched her departing figure, their hearts filled with mixed emotions.
They had no idea what awaited them…
“Eldest brother, do we really have to pay one hundred gold coins?” one apprentice asked quietly, his tone laced with hesitation.
The eldest brother took a deep breath and replied firmly, “Of course! For the sake of learning more advanced magic, one hundred gold coins is nothing! As long as we can acquire real skills, we will definitely earn back much more in the future!”
"But..." the apprentice wanted to say something, but was interrupted by the elder brother.
"There are no 'buts'!" the elder brother said firmly. "We have no way out! We either pay one hundred gold coins to join Luna's Magic Study Group and learn advanced magic, or we stay here in the Magic Castle, living a meaningless life! You all decide!"
The apprentices fell silent, weighing the pros and cons.
"I... I am willing!" one apprentice spoke up first.
"I am willing too!"
Soon, all the apprentices agreed to pay one hundred gold coins to join Luna's Magic Study Group.
The elder brother nodded in satisfaction, then raised his head and looked towards the small building.
"Luna, I hope you... won't let us down..."
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