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墨書 Inktalez
Luna nestled in Aelia's arms, her small hands idly tugging at the lace trim on her mother's chest. She appeared innocent and carefree, yet within her, a storm of emotions raged. Her large, azure eyes resembled bottomless lakes, glimmering with wisdom beyond her years.
“Mommy, are there many secrets hidden in the Magic Castle that we don’t know about?” she asked in a baby voice, her tone rising slightly at the end like a curious little kitten.
Aelia paused for a moment, a flicker of unease passing through her heart. She instinctively tightened her embrace around Luna, her gaze drifting to an ancient image of a mage hanging on the wall. A strange coldness crept up her back.
She forced a smile. “Silly child, what secrets could the Magic Castle hold? Just some old stories, nothing more.”
Luna blinked and nuzzled against Aelia's slender shoulders. “But I feel like some stories haven’t been fully told…” She deliberately elongated her words, pointing to the ring held by the mage in the image. The ring sparkled with an eerie light in the dim glow.
This seemingly innocent gesture was like a stone thrown into Aelia's calm heart, sending ripples throughout. Memories of long-standing legends about the Magic Castle flooded back to her—tales of betrayal, curses, and hidden treasures. She had always dismissed these as mere nonsense, but at that moment, Luna's words pierced through the calm facade she had maintained.
Meanwhile, Luna's older brother, Second Brother, and Brother San began to reevaluate the history of the Magic Castle due to Luna’s seemingly unintentional remarks. Those buried fragments of memory swirled in their minds like awakened ghosts.
The eldest brother clenched his hand, slightly deformed from a magical backlash. Aelia took a deep breath, striving to suppress her unease. She called for her maid Qin Si. “Go fetch the genealogy and historical records of the Magic Castle; I need to take a good look.”
Qin Si complied and left, leaving the room enveloped in an eerie silence.
Leonard sensed something was amiss with his family’s unusual behavior and felt alarm bells ringing in his mind. He paced anxiously in his study, his padded boots thudding heavily against the floor.
He absentmindedly stroked the ring on his finger—a secret he had received from Leonard's Concubine and held dear. A chill shot from his feet to the top of his head as he felt his position threatened, as if an invisible net was closing in on him.
The atmosphere in the Magic Castle grew increasingly strange, reminiscent of the calm before a storm. Just then, something even more terrifying occurred—a plague broke out within the castle.
The first symptoms appeared among several guards who began to run fevers and coughs, horrific red rashes appearing on their skin. As news spread, panic engulfed the entire Magic Castle.
People screamed in terror and fled chaotically like headless flies. Aelia’s face turned pale as she clutched Luna tightly; she felt immense pressure not only to protect her family but also to ensure the safety of everyone within the Magic Castle.
“Qin Si, hurry and call for a priest! Quickly!” Aelia's voice trembled as she felt her heart racing wildly in her chest.
Qin Si was also frightened, her face turning pale, but she forced herself to remain calm and immediately ran out to find the priest.
Brother San, Lucius, saw the chaos within the fortress and felt a wave of guilt wash over him. If he had taken his magic training more seriously earlier, perhaps he could have helped everyone through this crisis. He clenched his fists, determination shining in his eyes. "I must become stronger! I will protect my family!"
Upon hearing the news of the plague, Leonard felt a mix of panic and concern that his secret might be exposed. He put on a brave face and addressed the crowd, "Everyone, don't panic! I will handle this!" After saying that, he hurriedly left Magic Castle.
"Wait, where are you going?" Aelia's voice called out from behind Leonard, tinged with questioning and unease.
Leonard stumbled slightly, as if something monstrous were chasing him from behind. He took a deep breath and forced a warm smile as he approached the sickly citizens gathered in Magic Castle Square.
The people were ragged and haggard. Upon seeing Leonard's figure, murmurs erupted from the crowd—an eager desire for their Lord's protection mixed with fear of his inherent authority.
"The Lord of the Fortress is here! We are saved!" An old woman trembled and fell to her knees, murky tears streaming down her weathered face.
"Lord of the Fortress, please save us! We don't want to die!" A young mother clutched her child tightly, her voice hoarse with desperation.
Leonard adopted a sympathetic demeanor and proclaimed loudly, "Everyone, don't panic! I will do everything in my power to help you! I have arranged for priests and an apothecary; they will be here soon to treat you! You must trust me and believe in Magic Castle!" His voice was resonant and magnetic, as if it could truly dispel the fear in their hearts.
However, from an angle unseen by the crowd, a flicker of barely concealed disdain crossed Leonard's eyes. He despised these weak and helpless commoners; they were like parasites that only consumed the resources of Magic Castle. If it weren't for maintaining his benevolent image, he wouldn't even be here.
While soothing the citizens, he discreetly observed his surroundings. He noticed that some people had begun to question the origins of the plague. Their eyes were filled with confusion and unease, as if they had sensed something amiss.
This made Leonard feel a surge of anxiety; he needed to regain control quickly or risk exposing his secret. He hastily issued a few commands before preparing to leave.
At that moment, a weak voice emerged from the crowd: "Lord of the Fortress, where are you going? When will you return?"
Leonard turned back to see a pale young man looking at him with pleading eyes. Startled, he quickly avoided the young man's gaze and replied vaguely, "I have some matters to attend to; I will be back soon!" With that, he left the square without looking back.
Aelia stood atop the tower of the Magic Castle, gazing at Leonard's retreating figure, her heart filled with confusion and unease. She couldn't shake the feeling that Leonard was hiding something from her.
Qin Si approached her side and softly said, "My lady, are you still worried about the Lord of the Fortress?"
Aelia shook her head, remaining silent. She stared into the distance, murmuring to herself, "What is really happening with this plague..." Suddenly, she felt a wave of dizziness and nearly stumbled to the ground.
Qin Si quickly caught her, exclaiming, "My lady, what’s wrong? Are you alright?" Aelia's face was pale, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead.
She clutched Qin Si's hand tightly, her voice trembling as she said, "I... I think I might be coming down with a fever too..."
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