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墨書 Inktalez
The door to the study creaked shut, as if sealing off two worlds. Aelia slowly turned around, her gaze sweeping across the room that had once been filled with laughter and joy. Now, every piece of furniture and every painting seemed to carry a mocking tone, piercing her heart.
She walked to the window, her fingertips gently brushing against the vibrant rose petals. Once, Leonard would tenderly hold her in his arms and tell her she was as beautiful as this rose. But now, the rose continued to bloom while her lover had long since changed.
Aelia closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The faint scent of flowers lingered in the air, but it could not mask the rotting smell within her heart. It was the taste of betrayal—bitter and nauseating, making her want to vomit. She fought back tears, refusing to let them spill over. She could not show weakness in front of Leonard; she absolutely could not! She needed him to see that Aelia was not so easily defeated.
Yet when she opened her eyes again and caught sight of her haggard face in the mirror, all her resolve crumbled in an instant. Her eye sockets were red, and tears fell like pearls from a broken string. “Why… why did this happen?” she murmured, her voice hoarse like a dry leaf.
She couldn’t understand why the man who had once loved her so deeply had turned into this stranger. Were those sweet memories and solemn vows merely a false dream?
Slowly, she crouched down, wrapping her arms tightly around herself as if trying to curl up and escape this merciless reality. Her body trembled slightly, like a wounded little beast—helpless and pitiful.
“Madam…” A gentle voice broke through Aelia's thoughts. Qin Si cautiously stepped inside and upon seeing Aelia in such a state, felt tears welling up in her own eyes. She hurried over to Aelia’s side, gently helping her up while softly saying, “Madam, the floor is cold; you should get up.”
Aelia lifted her head to meet Qin Si’s worried face, and a warm current surged within her. In this moment, she knew that only Qin Si truly cared for her.
“Qin Si,” Aelia's voice trembled slightly, “do you think I did something wrong?”
Qin Si quickly shook her head, speaking firmly, “Madam, you did nothing wrong. The one at fault is Lord; he should never have treated you this way!”
Aelia forced a bitter smile and shook her head. She understood that blaming Leonard was pointless. The real question was how she would face the life ahead of her.
How should she face this already broken family?
Qin Si looked at Aelia with concern, gently wiping away her tears. "My lady, please don't be sad. Everything will get better," she said softly. After a pause, she added, "At least you still have us."
Aelia gazed at Qin Si, her heart filled with gratitude. She knew that Qin Si was her most loyal servant and also her best friend. She gently held Qin Si's hand and whispered, "Thank you, Qin Si."
Qin Si quickly shook her head and replied, "My lady, there's no need to be so polite with me. It is my honor to help ease your worries." As she spoke, she carefully tidied up Aelia's disheveled clothing.
Just then, a strange wave of energy suddenly surged through the room, causing both Aelia and Qin Si to feel a shiver of unease. They instinctively turned towards the corner of the room and saw a delicate baby girl sitting on the floor, waving her chubby little hands and making cooing sounds.
It was Luna.
Luna's small face was serious, and her eyes sparkled with an unusual light, as if holding boundless wisdom within them. Her tiny hands waved continuously, and soft beams of light flowed from her fingertips, slowly infusing Aelia's body.
Aelia felt a warm power surge into her heart, soothing the pain within her. She stared at Luna in astonishment, unable to believe that this tiny infant possessed such immense strength.
"Yi Ya... Yi Ya..." Luna seemed to be comforting Aelia; her voice was tender yet filled with sincere emotion.
A wave of emotion surged within Aelia's heart. She knew that Luna was a gift from heaven, a ray of light in her life. Gently cradling Luna in her arms, she whispered, "Thank you, Luna. Thank you..."
Meanwhile, the entire Magic Castle was shrouded in a stifling atmosphere. Ever since the Lady of the Fortress and the Lord had erupted into an argument, tension had filled the air within Magic Castle. Everyone moved cautiously, fearful of inadvertently angering one of their masters.
"Have you heard? The Lord seems to have taken a woman outside..."
"Shh! Keep your voice down! Such talk shouldn't be spread around!"
"What’s wrong with saying it? It's all over Magic Castle! Honestly, the Lord has gone too far by betraying the lady!"
"Exactly! The lady has been so good to the Lord; how could he do something like this?"
A group of servants huddled together, whispering about the situation between the Lord and the Lady of the Fortress. Their faces were filled with worry and unease.
"Sigh... I wonder what will happen next..." an older servant sighed and said, "I hope the Lord and the lady can reconcile..."
"It's difficult..." another servant shook his head and replied, "This matter has escalated so much; it won't be easy to resolve..."
As everyone continued their hushed discussions, an unfamiliar figure suddenly appeared at the entrance of Magic Castle.
A mysterious figure clad in a black cloak stood before them, his face obscured by a silver mask that concealed his true features. In his hand, he held a letter, the envelope adorned with a peculiar emblem.
“Excuse me, is this the Glorious Demon Fortress?” The mysterious man's voice was deep and hoarse, carrying an elusive undertone.
The guards exchanged glances, unsure of how to respond. They had never seen this person before and were unaware of his intentions.
“Who are you? What do you want here?” one guard mustered the courage to ask.
The mysterious man did not answer but instead handed the letter to the guard, saying, “Deliver this to your Lord; he will understand.”
The guard hesitated for a moment before taking the letter and turning to rush into the Magic Castle.
The mysterious figure remained in place, quietly waiting. His gaze was profound and shadowy, as if he could see through everything.
Inside the Magic Castle, the atmosphere grew even tenser. A sense of inexplicable oppression filled the air, as if something ominous was about to unfold.
Aelia sat quietly in her room, cradling Luna. She could feel the unrest within the Magic Castle and sensed the arrival of that mysterious man. She did not know who he was or what he wanted. However, she had a premonition that this person would bring significant upheaval to the Magic Castle.
She looked down at Luna in her arms, her heart heavy with worry. She questioned whether she could protect this child and safeguard their home.
Suddenly, urgent footsteps echoed through the halls, breaking Aelia's train of thought.
“Madam! It’s bad! The Lord requests your presence in the study!” Qin Si rushed in, panic etched across her face.
Aelia's heart sank. She knew that what she had been anticipating had finally arrived. Taking a deep breath, she entrusted Luna to Qin Si and slowly stood up.
“I understand,” she said calmly. “Let’s go.”
For she was no longer that weak and helpless woman. She had grown strong, brave, and fearless. She would show Leonard that she, Aelia, was not so easily crushed!
As Aelia reached the door, she paused and turned back to look at Luna in Qin Si's arms, a gentle smile gracing her lips.
“Take good care of Luna,” she said softly. “I’ll be back.”
She resolutely walked out of the room, heading towards the study. Qin Si held Luna in her arms, watching Aelia's departing figure with a heart full of worry. She had no idea what awaited Aelia.
“Yi Ya…” Luna suddenly stretched out her tiny hand, pointing in the direction Aelia had gone, making indistinct sounds. Qin Si lowered her head, looking into Luna's clear and bright eyes, a surge of hope rising within her. Perhaps this little infant could truly bring a turning point to Magic Castle.
Inside the study, Leonard paced anxiously back and forth. His face was filled with unease, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He had just received a mysterious letter, the contents of which shocked and terrified him. He did not know who had delivered the letter or what their intentions were.
“Damn it! Who is it? Who is pulling the strings behind my back?” he growled in anger, his voice laced with fear and anxiety.
Just then, the door to the study was suddenly pushed open. Aelia walked in slowly, her face devoid of any expression, as if she were a soulless puppet. Leonard stopped in his tracks upon seeing Aelia, forcing himself to appear calm as he said, “Aelia, you’re here…”
Aelia said nothing, merely gazing at him silently. Her eyes were cold and sharp, as if they could penetrate his very soul. Leonard felt a wave of guilt wash over him; he dared not meet Aelia's gaze and quickly looked away.
“What do you want?” Aelia's voice was eerily calm, reminiscent of the stillness before a storm.
Leonard took a deep breath, striving to compose himself. He knew he had to come up with a plausible explanation to cover his tracks. “Aelia, things aren’t as you think…” He began weaving lies in an attempt to mask his wrongdoing.
However, Aelia suddenly interrupted him. “Enough!” Her voice was cold and resolute, filled with disappointment and anger. “Leonard, I already know everything…”
Leonard’s face instantly turned pale. “You… you know what?” he stammered, fear gripping his heart.
Aelia let out a cold laugh and said, “I know you betrayed me; I know you have another woman outside…”
Leonard's body trembled even more violently. He realized that it was all over. “Aelia, let me explain…” he tried to defend himself, but Aelia gave him no chance to speak further.
“No need to explain,” Aelia said coldly, “I have already made my decision…”
Her voice abruptly trailed off, leaving an air of infinite suspense.
Leonard looked at Aelia in terror, unsure of what decision she would make. He wanted to say something, but his throat felt as if it were blocked by something, rendering him voiceless.
A strange smile suddenly crept across Aelia's lips, her gaze deepening into something mysterious.
“Leonard,” she said softly, “do you know? Actually… I am no longer the person I used to be.”
With that, she turned and left the study, leaving Leonard standing there, bewildered.
His mind was blank, completely unaware of what would happen next.
What did Aelia's words mean? What was she planning to do?
A wave of unprecedented fear surged within Leonard.
Sweat beads formed in his palms, sticky and nauseating. He desperately wiped them with a silk handkerchief, but he could not rid himself of the lingering stickiness, just like his current feelings—sinking deeper into a viscous swamp with every struggle.
He tried to maintain a facade of calmness, forcing a stiff smile that looked worse than crying.
“Aelia, let me explain…” he began, but his voice came out dry and grating like sandpaper, harsh and unpleasant to hear.
He wanted to explain but didn’t know where to start. The carefully prepared excuses now felt like a tangled mess lodged in his throat, rendering him speechless.
His eyes flickered, unable to meet Aelia’s penetrating gaze.
Those eyes, once filled with affection, now felt as cold as winter’s ice and snow, sending shivers down his spine.
At that moment, a commotion erupted from outside, growing closer like a tide that quickly drowned out Leonard’s feeble attempts at justification.
“The Mysterious Guest is here! The Mysterious Guest is here!” the servants cried out in a chorus of excitement tinged with fear and an uncontrollable curiosity.
Leonard’s heart jolted—The Mysterious Guest?
Why would he appear at this time?
A flicker of hope mingled with dread rose within him; two entirely different emotions intertwined in his heart, making him increasingly restless.
He hurried to the window and peered through the heavy curtains. At the entrance of the Magic Castle, he saw a figure slowly approaching.
The person was cloaked in black and wore a silver mask that obscured their face, exuding an air of mystery that was impossible to decipher.
“Knock knock knock…” The sound of knocking echoed—deep and powerful—like the Death Knell ringing out, striking at Leonard’s heart with each thud.
Leonard took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart.
He straightened his collar and forced himself to walk toward the door; each step felt unusually heavy as if he were dragging a thousand-pound weight behind him.
“Creak…” He pushed open the heavy wooden door, and a gust of cold wind rushed in, causing him to shiver involuntarily.
At the entrance stood the mysterious figure, tall and imposing, like a mountain, exuding an overwhelming sense of pressure. The scepter in his hand glimmered with a dim light, reminiscent of stars twinkling in the night sky, shrouded in mystery. Leonard was taken aback; he had never encountered someone so commanding. He opened his mouth to say something but found himself speechless.
The mysterious man slowly raised his head, and the gaze beneath his mask pierced Leonard's heart like a sharp sword. He extended his hand, offering a letter, his voice deep and hoarse, as if it were a call from the depths of hell. "Leonard, I've long admired your name."
Leonard mechanically accepted the letter, his fingers trembling so much that he could barely hold the thin sheet of paper. He felt as though breathing had become difficult, as if a massive stone were pressing down on his chest, making it hard to catch his breath. The mysterious man said little more and turned to leave, vanishing into the night as silently as he had arrived, leaving only a shadowy figure behind.
Leonard stood at the door, lost in thought for a long time. The letter in his hand felt as heavy as lead, nearly suffocating him. He had no idea what was written inside or the man's intentions, but he sensed that this person would change his destiny and that of the Magic Castle.
He slowly closed the door and turned toward his study. The entire Magic Castle was enveloped in an eerie silence at that moment. The servants held their breath, afraid to disturb this enigmatic guest. Their gazes were fixed on Leonard.
Back in the study, Leonard trembled as he opened the envelope. On the letterhead was only a single line: "Three days from now, the Glorious Demon Fortress will cease to exist."
Leonard's pupils dilated sharply, and the letterhead slipped from his hand, falling to the ground with a faint sound that echoed like thunder in his ears. He staggered back a few steps and collapsed into a chair, his face pale as ash. He felt as if his world had completely collapsed at that moment.
"Aelia..." he murmured to himself, his voice trembling with despair. "What am I to do..."
Aelia stood at the door of the study, watching Leonard in his dazed state with a hint of cold amusement on her lips.
"Leonard," she began slowly, her voice icy and devoid of warmth, "did you think you could escape the judgment of destiny?"
Leonard looked up at Aelia.
"Aelia..." he stammered, trying to say something but finding himself at a loss for words.
Aelia paid him no further heed and turned to leave, regal and aloof like a queen.
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