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墨書 Inktalez
Aelia's voice abruptly ceased, as if an invisible hand had tightened around her throat.
Qin Si's face turned pale, her lips trembled, yet in the end, she said nothing. She merely cast a deep glance at Aelia before swiftly disappearing into the darkness.
That glance contained too much—shock, fear, and a hint of resolute loyalty.
Aelia slumped into her chair, as if all her strength had been drained in an instant.
Before her emerged Leonard's gentle smile. The vows they once exchanged now felt so ironic, so piercingly painful.
Tears finally broke free, silently cascading down her pale cheeks, leaving two clear trails.
The air inside the Magic Castle seemed to freeze, heavy enough to suffocate, filled with a sense of impending storm.
Even the flickering candlelight appeared to tremble, reflecting Aelia's despairing visage.
In a distant room, her eldest brother, Second Brother, and Brother San were gathered around the table, the atmosphere as tense as the calm before a storm.
The eldest brother gripped his cane tightly, his knuckles turning white as the veins beneath his skin bulged faintly.
Second Brother's usually gentle face was now clouded with gloom; his lips pressed tightly together, remaining silent.
Brother San paced restlessly back and forth, occasionally tugging at his hair like a caged beast.
"Father... how could he do this!" Brother San finally erupted in a low growl, his voice filled with anger and disbelief. "Mother gave everything for him; how could he..."
"Shh!" the eldest brother admonished softly. "Keep your voice down; we can't let Mother hear." Despite his disability, he remained the backbone of the three brothers. His tone carried a hint of fatigue and helplessness. "Now is not the time to assign blame. You’ve seen the situation in Magic Castle; we must find a way to cope."
Second Brother took a deep breath, striving to calm himself. "Eldest brother is right; stabilizing the situation is our top priority. As for Father... we can deal with that later." His voice was low and hoarse, as if it had been forced from deep within his throat.
At that moment, in another corner of the Magic Castle, little Luna was quietly absorbing the tense atmosphere that filled the air.
In her clear blue eyes sparkled a wisdom and determination that belied her age.
She understood that the crisis at the Magic Castle was not just about Leonard's betrayal, but also about the direction of the Original Plot.
She had to do something to change it all, to protect her family.
Luna took small steps toward Aelia's room and gently tugged at her hem.
"Mom..." she called in a baby voice, "don't cry..."
Aelia looked down at her daughter, whose small face was filled with worry, stirring a warm current in her heart.
She embraced Luna tightly, tears welling up again, but this time they were not of despair; instead, they mingled with a bittersweet glimmer of hope.
"Luna..." Aelia choked out, "Mommy... Mommy doesn't know what to do..."
"Mom, don't be afraid," Luna said, gently patting Aelia's back with her tiny hand, her tone resolute for one so young. "Luna has a plan."
Aelia was taken aback. She looked at her daughter; though Luna was clever, she was still just a child. What could she possibly do?
Luna wriggled free from Aelia's embrace and walked up to Qin Si. Looking up, she spoke in a soft yet unwavering voice, "Aunt Cessy, please help me gather... gather..." She momentarily struggled to find the word and then rephrased, "gather bad evidence against Daddy!"
Qin Si paused for a moment before understanding Luna's intent. She gazed deeply at Luna and nodded solemnly. "Alright." With that, she turned and left, her figure quickly disappearing down the corridor.
Luna watched Qin Si's retreating back, a barely perceptible smile appearing on her small face.
This was just the first step.
In the room, Aelia looked at Luna, her heart filled with both confusion and hope.
She did not know what Luna was planning.
Suddenly, a hurried sound of footsteps broke the silence in the room.
The door was flung open, and a figure appeared in the doorway—Lucius, the Third Young Master of the Magic Castle.
His face was anxious, and he spoke urgently, “Luna, I…”
Lucius rushed in, his golden hair slightly disheveled, beads of sweat glistening on his forehead, and his sapphire blue eyes filled with worry.
He was already handsome, but at this moment, his anxiety added an edge to his features, resembling a sword about to be unsheathed.
He spotted Luna immediately and, without taking a moment to greet Aelia, stepped quickly to her side and knelt on one knee, his tone urgent. “Luna, I heard… I heard Father…”
Luna’s deep blue eyes resembled an unfathomable lake as she calmly gazed at Lucius.
She reached out her small hand and gently patted Lucius's hand back, speaking with a composure beyond her years. “Brother San, I know. Will you help me?”
Lucius suddenly looked up, determination flashing in his golden eyes. He nodded solemnly. “Of course! Luna, I would do anything for you!” Feeling the warmth of Luna’s small hand, a surge of warmth filled his heart.
This seemingly fragile little girl possessed an incredible strength, like a beacon of light in the darkness, guiding the Magic Castle forward.
Luna smiled sweetly, revealing two adorable little canine teeth, which eased the tension in the room somewhat.
She took Lucius by the hand and led him to the table, pointing at a piece of parchment spread out before them. It featured a simplified map of the Magic Castle and marked locations with special symbols.
“Brother San, look…” she explained her plan in a baby voice but with an undeniable confidence.
Lucius listened intently to Luna’s plan, occasionally asking questions, and she patiently answered each one.
In the room, the low voices of the two conversing intertwined with the howling wind outside, creating a tense yet hopeful melody.
Qin Si moved quickly, gathering evidence of Leonard's betrayal in less than half a day—a collection of love letters filled with sweet nothings, valuable pieces of jewelry, and photographs documenting Leonard's secret meetings.
Each piece of evidence felt like a sharp knife, piercing Aelia's heart deeply.
The family meeting was held in the grand hall of Magic Castle.
The atmosphere in the hall was as heavy as a volcano on the verge of eruption.
Leonard sat at the head of the table, his face dark and his gaze cold as he scanned the crowd.
Eldest Brother, Second Brother, and Brother San sat on either side, their expressions equally grim.
Aelia took a deep breath and slowly stood up, her trembling hands tightly gripping the evidence.
Encouraged by Luna's supportive gaze, she summoned her courage to expose Leonard's misdeeds.
“Leonard!” Aelia's voice trembled but was undeniably firm. “Why did you do this?!”
Leonard's expression changed drastically. He suddenly stood up, pointing at Aelia and roaring, “You’re talking nonsense! What evidence do you have?!”
Aelia threw the evidence in her hands at Leonard's feet. The letters, jewelry, and photographs scattered across the floor like bombs exploding in the hall.
Leonard’s face turned pale instantly; his lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a word.
Eldest Brother, Second Brother, and Brother San also stood up one after another, condemning Leonard's actions.
“Father! You have disappointed us greatly!” Eldest Brother’s voice was deep and powerful, tinged with pain and disappointment.
“Mother has given everything for you, yet you have betrayed her so!” Second Brother's voice was filled with anger and resentment.
“You… you are nothing but a disgrace to Magic Castle!” Brother San, full of youthful fervor, did not hide his disdain and disgust.
Leonard sat isolated and helpless, slumping back into his chair, his face dark and foreboding.
The atmosphere in the hall was tense, like a taut string ready to snap at any moment.
At that moment, Luna's clear voice broke the stalemate. “I have a solution.”
Everyone turned to look at Luna as she walked up to Leonard. She tilted her head back and spoke with a youthful yet determined voice, “Father, I hope you can return to the family; otherwise… you will face the family's punishment.”
Leonard abruptly looked up at Luna. He was silent for a moment before slowly speaking, “I…”
His eyes, dark and brooding, seemed to be shrouded in a layer of iron-gray mist.
He stared at Luna for a long time, like a hawk hovering high above, repeatedly scrutinizing those clear yet calm childlike eyes.
Silence hung in the air like a rusty blade, gradually gnawing away at the atmosphere in Magic Castle Hall.
Suddenly—he let out a long breath, the sound like lifting a heavy stone that had pressed down on his heart, heavy yet tinged with… surrender?
He raised his gaze, his voice hoarse but restrained: “I was wrong.”
Those words cut through the thick clouds like Jing Lei, and the hall fell into an instant silence where even the crackling of candle flames became jarring.
“I will turn back.” Leonard closed his eyes as if trying to suppress some emotion within him, his brow furrowed tightly like lead.
Aelia trembled uncontrollably.
Her previously stiff fingertip moved slightly, but there was no excitement in her eyes; instead, they were filled with heavy vigilance and coldness.
"Luna is right," Leonard said softly, his usually authoritative voice now sounding as if it had lost its edge. "If the family does not unite, we will only be gnawed to the bone by various forces."
He seemed to age ten years overnight, his back slightly hunched as he returned to his seat. The once imposing man now bore the weary demeanor of a defeated lion.
The hall remained silent, no one spoke, and even the air seemed to suppress everyone's breath.
Luna squeezed Aelia's hand; the small gesture felt like an anchor stabilizing a drifting piece of wood.
Lucius hesitated for a moment before whispering, "I just hope Father does not go back on his word."
Leonard did not respond.
He gazed at the flickering flames of the Burning Magic Crystal ahead, the light dancing in his eyes, reflecting clusters of exhaustion like Ashes.
The Magic Castle, after swaying on the edge of a storm, finally returned to a surface calm.
A night of silence passed, but the wind did not cease.
On the second day at Magic Castle, the iron-gray clouds hung low in the sky, thick and restless like beasts.
Luna stood by the wall of the Emerald Corridor in the high tower, the cobblestone ground still bore traces of rain, and the night’s humidity felt cool against her skin.
She looked up at the sky, her brows furrowing into a small crescent moon.
In the distance loomed the towers of Magic Castle shrouded in lingering smoke; nearby were her family members who seemed to have returned to their usual selves.
Yet Luna's gaze showed no sign of relaxation.
“Father's return is just the beginning…” she murmured, her small hand tightly gripping the Magic Rune Fragment in her palm.
The wind brushed against her hair, carrying the scent of earth and the humid stone walls, along with a thread of unease.
Her hem fluttered, as if some subtle wave was brewing in the air.
Footsteps echoed softly as Lucius ascended the tower, draped in a dark gold-trimmed cloak. His gaze was steady, and the fabric billowed in the wind like a falcon taking flight.
He stood silently behind Luna, not uttering a word.
Luna did not turn around; she slowly pressed the yellowed Astrolabe against her chest, her voice barely audible—
“Next… we will reclaim everything that belongs to us.”
The sound of wind grew more urgent, stirring her light gold curls as if awakening some latent magic.
Her small hand glided over the stone surface of the city wall, and when her fingertip paused, it landed on an almost imperceptible crack.
She lowered her head and whispered, “Let’s begin.”
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