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墨書 Inktalez
Luna curled up in Aelia's embrace, like a frightened little beast. She tightly closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling as nightmarish scenes swirled in her mind: if she exposed Leonard's betrayal, the Glorious Demon Fortress would descend into chaos, Aelia would be heartbroken, and her elder brother Second Brother's future would be filled with uncertainty. But if she chose not to reveal it, they would remain in the dark, ultimately heading towards the tragedy foretold in the original story.
Her small hands clutched Aelia's hem tightly, her knuckles turning white as turmoil raged within her. On one side lay the chance to change her family's destiny; on the other was the precious bond of family and stability. How was she to choose? This internal conflict nearly suffocated her.
She could feel Aelia's warm embrace and catch a whiff of the faint lavender scent that enveloped her, making it even harder for Luna to let go. Aelia gently stroked Luna's back, silent tears falling and dampening Luna's hair.
"Luna, my child," Aelia's voice trembled with a hint of despair, "do you know how much your mother has sacrificed for this family? For your father, for you and your siblings, I gave up my magical training, I gave up everything..." She choked back a sob and continued, "Leonard... he may have made some mistakes, but this family cannot fall apart; the Glorious Demon Fortress must not crumble..."
Aelia's words struck Luna like a heavy hammer against her heart. The stability of their family was a perspective she had never considered before. In her mind, exposing Leonard's betrayal would lead to everything getting better. Yet she overlooked that this involved not just Leonard but the destiny of their entire family.
Luna slowly opened her eyes, her gaze surprisingly calm, incongruent with her tender age. She quietly looked at Aelia, whose deep blue eyes seemed to hold endless secrets. She understood Aelia's worries and recognized her efforts to protect their family. However, if her elder brother remained disabled, Second Brother remained trapped, and Brother San continued to neglect his training, what meaning did this seemingly stable family hold?
"Madam," Luna's voice was youthful yet firm, "before I speak of that dream, I want to ensure that my brother can recover his leg, that Second Brother can be freed from his predicament, and that Brother San... Brother San can begin training in magic again." She paused for a moment, her tone carrying an undeniable weight. "Only then can I... can I safely share that dream."
The room fell silent, with only the crackling sound of burning wood in the fireplace breaking the stillness. Aelia was taken aback; she hadn't expected Luna to make such a request. Qin Si and Lucius also stared at Luna in surprise, unable to comprehend how this seemingly fragile little girl could possess such a powerful presence.
Leonard stood aside with a dark expression, silent as he felt things spiraling out of his control. Luna's request pierced through the carefully woven lies he had constructed like a spike, filling him with unease and fear. He clenched his fists tightly as awareness gripped him; Ailya's white nails dug deep into his flesh.
Elder brother, Second Brother, Brother San—they were all stunned as well. They had not anticipated that Luna would care so deeply for them or confront Aelia on their behalf. A warm current surged within them, bringing immense comfort and gratitude.
"Luna..." Aelia's voice quivered; she wanted to say something but didn't know where to start. Luna's request ignited feelings of anger and dissatisfaction within her. She had sacrificed so much for this family while Luna seemed willing to confront her for three unworthy sons.
Luna looked at Aelia with a determined and unwavering gaze.
"Madam..." she spoke softly, "is it possible?"
Aelia's expression darkened instantly, her exquisite makeup failing to conceal the fury in her eyes. She held Luna tightly, as if trying to merge her into her very being, but her tone was as cold as the frost of winter. "Luna, do you understand what you're saying? You want me to sacrifice the stability of our entire family for these three useless sons? Do you know how many lives the Glorious Demon Fortress supports, how much honor it upholds?"
She abruptly stood up, handing Luna over to Qin Si, her gaze piercing as if trying to uncover the secrets hidden within Luna's small frame.
"One of them is a cripple due to Magic Backlash, another has fallen into trouble because of deceitful friends, and the last one only knows how to squander his talent. What is there about them that deserves your defense? Luna, you disappoint me greatly!"
Qin Si carefully took Luna in her arms, feeling the little girl's body tremble slightly, a wave of compassion swelling within her. She stole a glance at Leonard and saw a faint smile at the corner of his mouth, seemingly pleased with the unfolding scene.
"Madam, please calm down," Qin Si gently advised. "Luna is still young; she doesn't understand. Please don't hold it against her."
Aelia took a deep breath, striving to regain her composure. She knew she shouldn't be angry with Luna; she was just a child. Yet Luna's request struck a sensitive chord within her heart.
She had sacrificed so much for this family—her Magical Talent, her youth—and now she was expected to give up the family's stability for three inept sons and an unexpected infant? How could she possibly accept that?
"Luna, have you truly made up your mind?" Aelia's voice softened slightly but still carried a hint of skepticism. "Are you really willing to risk plunging the entire family into chaos for them?"
The eldest brother, Second Brother, and Brother San felt Aelia's disappointment and anger and shared a sense of guilt. They knew they were failures and had become burdens to the family, but they hadn't anticipated that Luna would stand against Aelia for their sake.
"Mother, please don't blame Luna," the eldest brother said as he leaned on his cane and slowly approached Aelia. "It's our inadequacy that has disappointed you."
"Eldest Brother, don't say that," Luna broke free from Qin Si's embrace and ran to his side, wrapping her arms tightly around his leg. "You are all my closest ones; I don’t want to see you suffer."
Second Brother also moved closer to Luna, gently stroking her hair. "Luna, thank you, but you don't need to sacrifice so much for us."
Brother San set aside his usual carefree demeanor and looked at Luna earnestly, speaking with determination. "Luna, don’t worry; I will start practicing magic again. I won’t let you down."
Feeling the warmth from her family, Luna was filled with a surge of warmth within her heart. She knew she had made the right choice. Family was what she cherished most; for their sake, she was willing to give everything.
Leonard observed the tender scene before him with quiet satisfaction. He believed that Luna was merely an ignorant child who could be swayed by her inept brothers' words and would soon change her mind.
He thought he had weathered the storm and could continue living carefree.
"Alright, alright," he stepped forward and clapped his hands with a broad smile on his face. "A family should be harmonious. Since Luna has made her decision, let’s not argue any further. Aelia, don’t be angry; Luna is still young and doesn’t understand—just teach her slowly from now on."
Aelia shot Leonard a cold glance but remained silent. Her disdain for him deepened; she knew he was merely putting on a facade—he cared nothing for this family but only for his own interests.
"Then let’s leave it at that," Aelia said icily. "Luna, you should go back and rest; I’m feeling a bit tired."
Luna nodded and obediently said, "Madam, you should rest early too."
After speaking, she turned and left the room.
At that moment, as she turned, a subtle glimmer flashed in her eyes.
She had not given up on exposing Leonard's betrayal; she had merely changed her strategy.
Once back in her own room, Luna did not immediately rest. Instead, she quietly closed the doors and windows and set up a simple Magic Barrier within the room.
Then, she sat cross-legged on her bed and began to silently chant a Spell.
Faint wisps of Magical Energy emanated from her body, slowly flowing throughout the room.
This Magical Energy was non-aggressive, resembling invisible Tentacles that quietly reached into every corner of the room, gathering information.
Luna was employing a special type of magic that allowed her to collect sounds, scents, energy fluctuations, and other information from her surroundings.
She aimed to gather evidence of Leonard's betrayal, but she could not investigate directly, as that would alert him.
Thus, she could only collect evidence discreetly through this method.
Although she could not immediately expose Leonard's betrayal, she was already prepared.
Once she gathered enough evidence, she would not hesitate to reveal Leonard's true nature to everyone.
Meanwhile, Aelia was in another room discussing matters with Qin Si and Lucius.
"Qin Si, do you think Luna knows something?" Aelia asked with a furrowed brow, concern evident in her voice.
"Madam, I am not sure," Qin Si shook her head. "Luna has always been well-behaved and sensible; I can't see anything unusual about her."
"Mother, I think Luna might just be genuinely concerned about us," Lucius chimed in from the side. "She is still young and may not fully understand the adult world."
Aelia sighed and rubbed her temples.
"I hope that's the case. By the way, Lucius, how is your investigation into the recent Evil Magic in the fortress going?"
Lucius's expression darkened as he replied gravely, "The situation is not optimistic. This Evil Magic is very insidious and highly contagious. We have already discovered several servants controlled by it; they have become extremely agitated and violent, exhibiting immense strength."
"Where is this Evil Magic coming from?" Aelia asked anxiously. "Could it pose a threat to our family?"
"We cannot yet determine the source of the Evil Magic," Lucius shook his head. "But it is certain that this Evil Magic poses great harm to humans. Those controlled by it gradually lose their sanity and ultimately become mindless husks."
"We must find the source of this Evil Magic as soon as possible and eliminate it completely!" Aelia said firmly. "Otherwise, the entire Glorious Demon Fortress will be in danger."
"Mother, I have already dispatched people to strengthen patrols and conduct strict checks on everyone entering or leaving the fortress," Lucius assured her. "I believe we will soon find the source of the Evil Magic."
Aelia nodded but felt no less anxious in her heart.
She had a nagging feeling that the Glorious Demon Fortress was facing a tremendous crisis, one that concealed a vast conspiracy behind it.
"Madam, look at Luna," Qin Si suddenly exclaimed while pointing out the window.
Aelia and Lucius followed Qin Si's finger and saw Luna standing in the garden, gazing up at the sky.
"What is she doing?" Aelia asked in confusion.
"I don't know," Qin Si shook her head. "Since returning to her room, she has been standing there without moving."
A sense of unease surged within Aelia; she felt that Luna harbored many secrets that might be connected to the impending crisis.
“Let’s go take a look,” Aelia said.
The three of them stepped out of the room and headed toward the garden.
As they approached Luna, she suddenly turned around and looked at Aelia.
“Madam,” Luna’s voice trembled slightly, “I… I think I had a very strange dream…”
Before she could finish her sentence, a shadow suddenly descended from the sky, enveloping her.
“Luna! Be careful!” Aelia exclaimed, rushing toward Luna.
But it was too late.
The shadow vanished quickly, and Luna disappeared without a trace.
“Luna!” Aelia cried out in anguish, her voice echoing in the empty garden, lingering for a long time.
“What… what is happening…” Qin Si asked in terror, her voice shaking uncontrollably.
Lucius’s face turned ashen.
“Seal off the entire fortress immediately!” Lucius commanded, “Not even a fly is to be let out! We must dig three feet into the ground to find Luna!”
“Wait!” Aelia suddenly said, looking at the spot where Luna had vanished, her eyes filled with confusion. “This… this may not be a kidnapping…”
“Mother, what do you mean?” Lucius asked in bewilderment.
Aelia took a deep breath and slowly replied, “I have a feeling that Luna’s disappearance is more like… a trial.”
“A trial?” Both Lucius and Qin Si were taken aback; they didn’t understand what Aelia was saying.
Aelia didn’t explain further but looked up at the sky, knowing that a greater crisis was quietly approaching…
“Madam, look at the malevolent energy in the sky; it seems to have thickened…” Qin Si’s voice broke the silence as she pointed at the sky, her face pale.
Aelia and Lucius looked up to see that the once clear sky was now shrouded in a thin layer of black mist.
The black mist spread slowly like ink, swallowing the original light and creating an inexplicable sense of oppression and fear.
“It seems that the real storm is about to arrive…” Aelia murmured, her voice soft yet filled with determination.
Qin Si and Lucius exchanged glances; they didn’t know what would happen next, but they understood that they had to prepare for the challenges ahead.
“Mother, what should we do now?” Lucius asked, his voice trembling slightly but his gaze resolute.
Aelia turned to look at Lucius and Qin Si.
“We must find Luna,” Aelia said firmly. “Only by finding her can we unravel this mystery and save Glorious Demon Fortress.”
She paused for a moment before stating resolutely, “And she must be somewhere waiting for us to rescue her…”
Before she could finish speaking, an unusual sound came from the sky, followed by a blinding light that tore through the heavens, illuminating the entire sky.
“What is that?!” Qin Si exclaimed as she covered her eyes, unable to look directly at the light.
Aelia and Lucius also looked up at the sky and saw that the light grew brighter and larger until it transformed into a massive sphere of light suspended in midair.
The sphere radiated dazzling brilliance, enveloping all of Glorious Demon Fortress within its glow.
Within the light, vague silhouettes could be seen, as if they were some kind of mysterious beings.
“Aelia’s eyes widened as she murmured, ‘Is this… Miracle?!’
The arrival of Miracle symbolizes hope, or is it a harbinger of doom?
No one could foresee.
Yet, everyone knew that an unprecedented crisis was quietly descending…
“Mother, this light…” Lucius attempted to approach the glowing sphere but was halted by a powerful force.
“Don’t touch it!” Aelia quickly warned, “This light is filled with unknown power; approaching recklessly could be dangerous!”
Lucius halted in his tracks, gazing at the sphere, uncertain of what its appearance signified.
“What should we do next…” Qin Si’s voice trembled, overwhelmed by a profound sense of helplessness.
Aelia took a deep breath, striving to calm her emotions.
She understood that now was not the time for despair; she had to remain composed to find a solution.
“We must find answers,” Aelia declared, “Uncover the secret of this sphere, locate Luna, and discover a way to resolve this crisis!”
She turned to face the distance,
“No matter how many difficulties lie ahead, we cannot give up!” Aelia proclaimed, “For Glorious Demon Fortress, for our families, we must fight until the end!”
As her words fell, suddenly a voice echoed in their minds, ethereal and distant, as if coming from far beyond the horizon.
“Do you wish to save her? Then… first find the lost key…”
The air within Glory Fortress was thick with an indescribable tension, a suffocating web woven from betrayal and fear… and the sound of a baby’s giggling?
Xiao Luna was round and chubby, laughing blissfully unaware of the chaotic storm surrounding her.
She was gnawing on a teething toy—a small replica of a fearsome Griffin—completely oblivious to her tiny existence having become the fulcrum of the fortress's Destiny.
Yet within her, the soul of a powerful Grand Mage churned restlessly.
Luna—or more precisely, the ancient Mage within her—knew everything.
She was aware of Leonard’s treachery; this secret festered like a rotten wound beneath the fortress's glamorous facade.
She possessed the power to expose him, shatter this fragile peace, and seek justice for the wronged Aurea.
But at what cost?
Thinking of her brothers, their lives intertwined with the fortress's Destiny knotted her heart.
Her eldest brother lay disabled from magical backlash, clinging to a faint hope for healing within the fortress walls.
Second Brother had been betrayed by friends and trapped in a Magic Dilemma, relying on the fortress's resources for survival.
Even the youngest brother—the carefree one who had grown complacent due to his talent—would be swept away by the ensuing chaos.
“Damn it!” she thought, furrowing her baby-like brow easily mistaken for discomfort from gas.
This damned plot was a mess, like a tapestry woven from deception and despair with Dark Purple Thread.
At first, she had been eager to expose Leonard and watch that arrogant bastard squirm.
But now... now, she felt a strong sense of protectiveness towards this family she had never intended to accept.
Indeed, they had their flaws, but they were her family.
At the other end of the room, Aurea sat by the window, her gaze lost in the mist that enveloped the valley below. Her former vitality had dimmed, replaced by an unshakeable melancholy.
Qin Si, her loyal maid, wandered nearby, her face filled with worry.
The air was thick with unspoken words, weighed down by the secret that tormented them both.
Suddenly, a coldness spread throughout the room, so piercing it felt as if it could shatter the very stones of the fortress.
Xiao Luna shivered, and the baby's giggling turned into sobbing.
"What was that?" her elder brother asked nervously, gripping the armrests of his chair tightly.
"I... I don't know," Aurea whispered, her eyes wide with terror.
The youngest brother had been oblivious until now; finally, he lifted his head from his boring magical accessories.
"It feels like... a shadow has covered the sun."
Lucius, Leonard's youngest son, who had been drawing in the corner, suddenly tossed aside his charcoal pencil.
"This is more than just a feeling," he said, his usually mischievous voice carrying an unsettling seriousness.
"There is... something unusual here. A kind of dark magic."
Luna's heart tightened further.
This... this was not part of the original plot.
This was a newly emerged evil.
Forget Leonard's trivial betrayals—there was a greater threat looming over Glory Fortress, a darkness that threatened to engulf them all.
"That's right," Luna thought, her small fists clenching around her Griffin toy.
"It's time to change the plan." Though she was trapped in an infant's body, the Grand Mage within her was far from helpless.
This damned fortress might be riddled with flaws, but she would not let it collapse.
As long as she drew breath—even if it was merely that of a baby.
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