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墨書 Inktalez
The night was like a thick piece of Black Velvet, silently enveloping the Glorious Demon Fortress.
Moonlight was sliced into fragmented silver shards by the towering spires and the continuous Corner Tower, scattering sparsely across the winding Emerald Corridor and the deep courtyards.
Lucius carried his sister Luna on his back, like a gust of wind merging with the shadows, weaving through the intricate structure of the Magic Castle.
His footsteps were so light they were nearly inaudible, each landing precisely timed to coincide with the shifts of the Patrolling Guard, every turn expertly avoiding the blind spots of the magical surveillance.
He was intimately familiar with this Magic Castle.
Seven years of nightly patrols had not only worn down the metal at the mouth of Leonard's Sword but had also deeply etched every Secret Passage, every sentry post, and every barrier's strength into his mind.
He moved like an experienced Night Owl, gliding freely in his own dark kingdom.
The Little One in his arms was surprisingly quiet, seemingly placing complete trust in her Brother San.
Her warm breath evenly brushed against Lucius's neck, carrying a sweet Milk Fragrance that created a striking contrast to the cold, oppressive air surrounding them.
Lucius could even feel her fine Golden Hair occasionally grazing his skin, bringing a slight itch.
This sensation was novel, softening a small part of his heart that had hardened due to family turmoil.
He carefully adjusted his posture to make his sister more comfortable.
His cloak wrapped tightly around her small frame, revealing only a fuzzy little head, like a cub seeking warmth beneath its mother’s fur.
A faint smile unconsciously tugged at Lucius's lips but was quickly replaced by cold resolve.
He could not forget Mother Aelia's tear-filled eyes, nor could he overlook Father Leonard's cruel betrayal. Most importantly, he could not forget the Inheritance Clause that placed him behind an illegitimate child.
The Glorious Demon Fortress, this seemingly magnificent stronghold, was already rife with hidden currents and decay.
He had to take his sister away from here, or at least ensure the safety of the three of them: Mother, Sister, and himself.
Mother had already begun to act, using the shattered Star Moon Necklace to write the prologue of their counterattack.
As her son and brother, he had to become the strongest shield for Mother and his sister.
Passing through a narrow arched stone corridor, ahead lay a gentle slope leading to the living area of the Magic Castle's West Side.
If they could get past two more patrol points and navigate around the area surrounding the Alchemy Laboratory, which was always filled with strange odors, they would reach the secluded courtyard where his elder brother was located.
Although he did not truly intend to visit that "brother," this route was currently the safest and most discreet option.
Just as Lucius calculated the footsteps of the guards at the next Turn Corner, the Little One on his back suddenly became restless.
“Hmm!”
Luna abruptly lifted her head, her small body wriggling against him, nearly slipping off.
Her once-dazed eyes were now wide open, and her petite nose twitched vigorously as if trying to discern a peculiar scent in the air.
“Don’t move around, Luna!” Lucius exclaimed in surprise, quickly reaching back to support her little bottom. He lowered his voice in warning, “Hold on tight; it’s no joke if you fall!” This Little One usually behaved like a doll; why was she so agitated all of a sudden?
However, Luna completely ignored his warning.
She twisted her small body, her chubby little finger firmly pointing to the left front. It was a darker path, almost abandoned, leading to the most remote and eerie corner of the Magic Castle.
“Ah! Ah!” she uttered urgent, unintelligible broken syllables, her little face filled with anxiety.
Lucius followed her pointed direction and furrowed his brow tightly.
The direction… was towards Elder Brother Arthur's residence.
A flicker of displeasure crossed his heart, even bordering on disgust.
Elder Brother Arthur had once been a renowned Magic Genius, famous throughout the Glorious Demon Fortress and the entire kingdom, a source of pride for the family.
However, everything changed after the failure to break through to the Legendary Mage realm seven years ago, which resulted in a terrifying Magic Backlash.
The failure not only stripped him of his proud Magical Talent but also left half of his body completely crippled, and his appearance became horrifying.
The once spirited young talent had transformed into a monster who hid in dark corners, prone to fits of rage and twisted in character.
Lucius remembered clearly how, as a child, he would always see Brother Arthur smiling gently, using intricate Little Mage spells to amuse him. That version of Arthur had long since vanished in the flames of that backlash.
In his place was a sullen, irritable man filled with resentment.
He would roar hysterically over trivial matters, curse everyone who approached him with venomous words, and even use the remnants of his waning magical power to create mischief that left the servants in despair.
Over time, aside from the necessities of food and cleaning, hardly anyone dared to go near that lifeless courtyard.
Even Father Leonard had become thoroughly disappointed in this Eldest Son he once held high hopes for and rarely set foot there anymore.
In the Magic Castle, whenever people mentioned Eldest Son Arthur, they fell silent, their eyes filled with fear and an unspoken… disdain.
A ruined genius was more bothersome than an ordinary person.
Lucius himself had not actively visited his elder brother in years.
It was not solely out of fear; it was more a complex mix of disappointment and avoidance.
He could not bear to face his brother, whose features were unrecognizable and whose spirit had withered. It reminded him of the family's former glory and its current decline, deepening his doubts about the power of magic.
"Don't go over there, Luna," Lucius said, his voice dry as he tried to redirect his sister's attention. "That is... that's where our brother lives. He doesn't like to be disturbed; let's go this way." He gently patted Luna's back, hoping to calm her down.
But Ke Luna seemed not to understand him; instead, she grew more anxious, writhing in place.
Her small hands clutched tightly at Lucius's clothing, her mouth wide open as she gasped for air. Then she pointed at the tightly shut gate overgrown with withered vines, her voice clear and tinged with a cry:
"Blood... blood! Brother... pain!"
Lucius's heart sank like a stone.
He looked again at the silent courtyard, which felt as still as a grave. His nostrils flared slightly as he caught a whiff of the night air.
The breeze carried the scent of decaying wood, humid moss, and a faint hint of something... almost like blood?
Was it an illusion? Or was it...
He recalled how recently Luna had accurately pointed out where Mother had hidden the Star Moon Necklace and how she had activated the Thunder Element Magic Core with her saliva to project the defensive structure of the Magic Castle.
This sister of his, from the moment she crossed over... no, from the moment she was born, had been filled with too much mystery and wonder.
Could it be that she truly sensed something? Had something happened to their brother?
Despite his brother's drastic change in temperament that made him difficult to approach, he was still his own flesh and blood.
Moreover, their brother's disability was closely related to Father Leonard's impatience years ago when he forced him to use an immature Secret Technique to break through his limits.
The suffering their brother had endured over the years might far exceed what outsiders could imagine.
An inexplicable impulse overwhelmed his feelings of rejection and hesitation.
Perhaps he should take a look.
Even if it was just to confirm something.
Moreover, Luna was so insistent; her intuition might truly foretell something significant.
“Alright, let’s go see,” Lucius said, taking a deep breath as if he had made a firm decision.
He no longer tried to soothe his sister but adjusted his direction, walking steadily down the eerie path that led to Elder Brother Arthur's residence.
The stone walls on either side of the path were covered in moss, and the air grew increasingly cold and humid.
Withered branches piled up in the corners emitted a decaying odor.
As they drew closer to the courtyard, the faint scent of blood seemed to grow more distinct, no longer a mere illusion.
Lucius's heart began to race uncontrollably.
He tightened his grip on Leonard's Sword at his waist, while his other hand continued to support his sister on his back.
Luna seemed to sense his resolve; she stopped crying and simply rested her small head on his shoulder, her big eyes fixed unwaveringly on the tightly shut black door ahead that seemed capable of swallowing all light.
A few steps later, they stopped in front of the door.
The family crest carved into the door had long since faded, and a cold sensation seeped through their clothing.
Lucius could clearly hear the breaths of himself and his sister, along with the pounding of his heart like a drum.
He raised his hand, ready to knock on the long-silent door.
"Brother..." he whispered, his voice sounding somewhat jarring in the still air.
The sound of his knock echoed through the quiet courtyard, like a stone thrown into a deep pond, creating only a few ripples of sound without any other response.
Lucius knocked a few more times, each strike harder than the last, his knuckles beginning to feel numb.
Still, there was no response.
"Strange," he murmured to himself, a sense of unease creeping into his heart. "Logically, there should be a servant nearby to attend to my brother..."
Luna squirmed restlessly on his back, her small hands patting his thin shoulders repeatedly, making indistinct sounds.
"Ah! Hole! Go in!"
Lucius paused for a moment and followed the direction of his sister's finger.
In the corner of the courtyard wall, a dog hole partially concealed by vines suddenly came into view.
"This... this won't do!" Lucius nearly jumped up. "I am Third Young Master Lucius of the Glorious Demon Fortress! How could I crawl through a dog hole? That would be utterly disgraceful!" His face flushed red as if he had been deeply insulted.
How could he, a noble young man, be asked to crawl through a dog hole?
It was far more unacceptable than being forced to swallow an entire bottle of rotten eggs!
Yet Luna completely ignored his protests, her small hand desperately pointing at the dog hole as she insisted, "Go in! Go in!" Her tone left no room for argument, as if not crawling through would be a grave offense.
Lucius struggled internally for a moment.
Reason told him that crawling through a dog hole was beneath his dignity, but his instincts suggested that Luna's insistence might have its merits.
Moreover, the situation was urgent; with his brother's life hanging in the balance, he simply couldn't afford to worry about his pride.
"Ah..." He sighed, reluctantly setting his sister down from his back. "You've really got me beat this time, little ancestor!"
He bent down to examine the size of the dog hole closely.
Fortunately, while it was a bit narrow, it was just barely big enough to squeeze through.
Taking a deep breath, he positioned himself on the ground like a martyr ready to sacrifice himself.
"I, the illustrious Third Young Master Lucius of the Glorious Demon Fortress, have actually stooped to crawling through a dog hole..." he muttered to himself as he carefully poked his head into the hole. "If this gets out, where will I put my face..."
The dog hole emitted a damp earthy smell mixed with the fragrance of some unknown plants, which wasn't too unpleasant.
He twisted his body and slowly wriggled further inside.
"Ouch..." He got stuck.
"Pfft!" Luna watched him struggle from outside and burst into laughter at his predicament.
Lucius felt his face grow even hotter, a mix of embarrassment and anger.
After twisting and turning a few more times, he finally managed to squeeze through.
"Ha..." He let out a sigh of relief and quickly pulled his sister in after him, holding her close.
"Alright, little ancestor, are you satisfied now?" He shot Luna an annoyed glance, only to find her small face filled with anxiety as she pointed towards the Inner Courtyard.
Without a moment to think, he held his sister tightly and ran toward the Inner Courtyard.
The closer they got to the Inner Courtyard, the more intense the Bloody Smell became, nearly making him gag.
Lucius's breathing grew urgent, a sense of foreboding enveloping him.
He slammed open the door to the Inner Courtyard.
The sight before him left him momentarily frozen in place.
Elder Brother Arthur lay on the ground, convulsing, his face as pale as paper, blood continuously oozing from the corners of his mouth.
His clothes were soaked in blood, and the heavy Bloody Smell in the air was suffocating.
The room was in disarray, furniture overturned, shattered porcelain scattered across the floor.
It was clear that his brother had endured a painful struggle.
“Brother!” Lucius shouted as he rushed forward.
He trembled as he reached out to check his brother's breath.
There was still life!
He let out a slight sigh of relief, but his brother's condition remained critical.
The Magical Fluctuation around him was chaotic, as if he could explode at any moment.
“What should I do? What should I do?” Panic set in, and tears streamed down his face uncontrollably.
Although he did not like his elder brother's temperament, they were bound by blood, and seeing him in such pain made his heart ache.
Luna struggled in his arms, her little face filled with anxiety.
She reached out her chubby hand and grabbed Lucius's finger, biting down hard.
"Ah!" Lucius cried out in pain, instinctively retracting his hand.
A drop of bright red blood fell from his fingertip, landing on his elder brother's lips.
A miracle happened.
The groans of agony from his elder brother gradually diminished, and the chaotic magical fluctuations began to calm down.
His tightly shut eyes trembled slightly, as if they could open at any moment.
Luna bit her own finger, letting the flowing blood drip into her elder brother's mouth.
"Luna, you..." Lucius was stunned. He did not understand why his sister would do this, but he vaguely sensed that her blood seemed to possess some kind of magical power.
His elder brother's complexion slowly regained a hint of color, and his breathing became steadier.
"Luna..." he weakly opened his eyes, looking at the little girl before him.
"Shh..." Luna placed her tiny finger on her lips, signaling him not to speak. "Sleep now... be good..."
It seemed that her elder brother understood her meaning. He slowly closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
Luna lifted her head and looked at Lucius, a mysterious smile appearing on her little face.
“Brother Three…” she said in a baby voice, “my blood… is very precious, you know…”
Alright, this is Chapter 23, filled with mystery and suspense, just waiting for you to add a touch of excitement!
The first glimmer of Awareness returned to Arthur, like sunlight piercing through the thickest fog.
A dull ache coursed through his emaciated limbs, starkly contrasting with the numb emptiness that had shadowed him for years.
He felt… warmth, a sensation he had almost forgotten, flowing through his Blood Vessels like a blazing river.
He could smell the musty Humid scent in the room, mingled with something metallic…
Was it the smell of iron?
Or was it the scent of blood?
An odd energy seemed to permeate the air, lightly brushing against his skin like static electricity.
He slightly opened his eyelids, his vision still blurry.
Various shapes swayed before him, slowly transforming into familiar outlines of his long-forgotten room.
Tipped-over furniture, scattered shards of pottery, and Dust dancing in the faint moonlight filtering through the grimy window—all spoke of the torment he had just endured.
Then he saw them.
Lucius, his brother, knelt beside him, worry etched across his face, along with… was that a look of relief?
On Lucius's lap sat a small, adorable figure, her bright eyes sparkling with mischief—Luna, his almost unrecognizable Sister.
Luna.
He felt a strange tug, a peculiar connection with this Little One, as if their Destiny was entwined by an invisible Dark Purple Thread.
Of course, he had heard some rumors.
Whispers about this peculiar child suggested that she was somewhat... unusual.
It was said that her infantile gaze held incredible wisdom and a strength that belied her age.
He tried to speak, wanting to ask questions, but his throat was parched, his voice Hoarse and dry.
A chubby little hand reached out and gently patted his Luna; surprisingly firm for such a small child.
“Shh,” Luna whispered, her voice barely audible yet carrying an odd sense of authority.
“It’s time to sleep... Brother.”
A wave of fatigue washed over him, like a warm embrace pulling him back into the darkness.
As Awareness slowly faded, he caught a glimpse of Luna's mysterious smile.
Then, just before the darkness consumed him, he heard her murmuring softly, her words almost lost to the night breeze, “Silly Lucius... you have no idea what kind of predicament you’ve just fallen into...”
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