Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Aelia looked at the delicate little one in front of her, and in Luna's large, clear eyes—like a stream flowing through the forest—there was an unexpected heaviness and vigilance that belied her age.
The sudden surge of dark magic felt like an invisible serpent, silently coiling around the Glorious Demon Fortress. The first to sense this danger was the little one in her arms, who could barely stand.
Luna's small face tightened, and her chubby little fists clenched instinctively.
That feeling… was all too familiar!
It was cold and viscous, carrying a decayed and greedy scent, as if a tentacle from the depths of hell was slowly seeping into every corner of the Magic Castle.
This sensation stirred deep within her soul, invoking extreme discomfort and… anger from the once-great mage she had been!
Once again, this nauseating aura emerged at the most unexpected moment, attempting to devour all light and hope.
No, she couldn't just sit back and wait!
Though she was merely a powerless infant now, her mind held the knowledge of the entire world and an extraordinary ability to predict danger!
“Yah! Yah!” Luna called urgently, kicking her short legs with all her might. Her small hands clutched tightly at Aelia's clothing, while her little head tilted insistently in one direction, her brows furrowing like an old lady's.
That anxious little expression seemed to say, “Hurry! Over there! There’s something bad!”
Aelia had been pondering how to deal with those old schemers when Luna's sudden movement caught her off guard.
She looked down into Luna's eyes, filled with urgency and warning, and felt an inexplicable flutter in her heart.
This little one… ever since she came into Aelia's life, she had brought various "surprises," even turning peril into safety several times due to her extraordinary perception.
Could it be… that she had discovered something again?
“What is it, my Xiao Luna?” Aelia's voice softened unconsciously, tinged with a hint of inquiry and barely concealed tension. “Is something bothering you?”
Luna shook her head anxiously, her small hand pointing more forcefully in a certain direction—toward the room where her elder brother was recuperating.
At the same time, she uttered some indistinct syllables, her voice tinged with a whimper, “Uh... bad... scared...”
Aelia followed her gaze, and her heart sank.
Brother!
Her brother was already extremely weak due to the Magic Backlash, leaving him almost defenseless against any encroaching dark energy!
Could it be...
Though it seemed incredible that an infant could sense such subtle Magical Fluctuations, Aelia had developed an almost instinctive trust in Luna.
Without hesitation, she tightened her hold on Luna and said firmly, “Alright, let’s go check it out! Qin Si, stay here and watch for any unusual movements!”
“Yes, ma’am!” Qin Si immediately responded, his eyes scanning the surroundings with vigilance.
Aelia hurried toward the Eldest Son's courtyard, holding Luna tightly.
As they drew closer, she too began to sense an unusual oppressive feeling in the air, reminiscent of the heaviness before a storm.
This only reinforced her belief that Luna's feelings were not unfounded.
Pushing open the door to her brother's room, a strong herbal scent mixed with a faintly unsettling chill rushed toward them.
“Cough... cough cough...”
The young man lying on the bed had a complexion that was already pale but now appeared ashen, as if covered by a layer of gray ash.
He curled up, his body trembling, beads of cold sweat covering his forehead. His lips were cracked and purple, and he was coughing softly in pain, each breath seeming exceptionally difficult.
The arm that had once cast countless brilliant spells now bore the permanent scars of backlash, twitching unnaturally. Dark lines moved beneath the skin, more pronounced than usual, more… sinister!
“Brother!” Aelia exclaimed in shock as she hurried to the bedside. Seeing her eldest son in such agony gripped her heart like an invisible hand, causing her intense pain.
She reached out, wanting to wipe the sweat from his forehead as she usually did, but the moment her skin touched his, she felt a bone-chilling cold.
“It’s… so cold…” Her brother struggled to open his eyes, his unfocused gaze landing on Aelia and Luna in her arms. He forced a smile that was more painful than tears. “Aelia… Xiao Luna… why are you… here…”
Luna squirmed in Aelia's embrace, her small body trembling with anxiety.
She could see it at a glance!
Something was terribly wrong with her brother!
Though magic backlash was painful, it should never feel this icy and suffocating, as if his life force was being forcibly drained away!
The dark energy swirling around his wound was not just uncontrollable magic; it was mixed with an extremely faint yet pure essence of… Dark Magic!
It was as if an invisible poison powder had been sprinkled over the wound, continuously irritating and exacerbating the original pain, even… gnawing at the very essence of his life!
Was it aimed at her brother?
Or was this Dark Magic indiscriminately eroding the fragile life forms within the Magic Castle?
Luna's little mind raced.
She extended her small hand, pointing at her brother's twitching arm while her face was filled with seriousness and analytical intent.
Her little finger pointed at his arm, then directed towards the heavy darkness outside the window, and finally, she shook her head vigorously, her small mouth making sounds resembling "No... no..."
Aelia followed Luna's gesture, her gaze landing on the faint Black Line on her brother's arm. She glanced back at the silent night outside and then met Luna's eyes, which seemed to see right through everything. A terrifying thought gradually took shape in her mind.
"Do you mean..." Aelia's voice was somewhat hoarse as she looked at Luna, asking each word slowly, "Brother's injury... it's not just a simple relapse; it's... someone is using dark Dark Magic to harm him?"
Luna immediately nodded vigorously, her little head bobbing like a garlic pounder.
Exactly!
Aelia truly understood her!
A chill surged from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.
If that were the case, then the hidden dangers within this Magic Castle were far more terrifying than the schemes of those old geezers!
Who could it be?
So malicious!
She looked at her eldest son writhing in pain on the bed and then at the serious-faced Xiao Luna in her arms, her gaze becoming incredibly resolute.
No, she had to find out!
"Luna," Aelia took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice steady, "Can you sense anything else? This power... is it affecting others too?"
Luna tilted her little face up, closed her eyes, as if she were carefully perceiving with her unique ability.
After a moment, she suddenly opened her eyes wide. Her small hand no longer pointed at her brother but turned towards another direction—a direction from which a familiar yet somewhat sluggish magical aura emanated.
Aelia followed the direction of her finger, and her heart tightened once again.
That was... Lucius's room.
Aelia's heart leaped into her throat. She held Luna tightly and, without a moment's hesitation, turned and hurried toward the door, her steps betraying a hint of panic.
"Let's go check on Lucius!" Aelia exclaimed, urgency driving her as she rushed toward Lucius's room.
The dim magical lights in the corridor flickered, illuminating Aelia's anxious face and reflecting the unusually calm eyes of Luna.
Luna's small hand clutched tightly at Aelia's clothing. She could feel Aelia's frantic heartbeat and the unsettling presence of dark magic that hung in the air.
She knew that this crisis was far more complex and dangerous than she had imagined.
Pushing open the door to Lucius's room, a choking smell of smoke mixed with something burnt assaulted her senses.
The room was in disarray, various magical materials scattered across the floor, and bookshelves were askew, creating an atmosphere thick with failure and frustration.
Lucius sat despondently in the center of the room, holding a charred magical water crystal ball. His gaze was vacant, his face marked by despair.
The luxurious magic robe he wore was covered in dust and stains, making him look like a destitute vagabond.
"Lucius, what happened?" Aelia's voice was filled with concern.
Hearing his mother's voice, Lucius abruptly lifted his head. Upon seeing Aelia and Luna, his eye sockets reddened instantly as feelings of grievance and helplessness surged within him.
"Mother, I... I failed again." His voice was hoarse, tinged with a hint of sobbing. "I've tried countless times, but I still can't break through this bottleneck. Is my magical talent... just a joke?"
Luna looked at the dejected boy before her and felt a surge of sympathy rise within her.
She knew that Lucius had always taken pride in his Magical Talent, but recently, his training had hit a standstill. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't break through the bottleneck.
This had caused his once sunny and confident personality to grow increasingly gloomy, and he even began to doubt his own abilities.
Luna peeked out from Aelia's embrace, extending her chubby little hand to gently pat Lucius's arm, letting out a soft "ya," as if to comfort him.
Lucius looked at the adorable Little One before him, feeling a warmth swell in his heart.
He forced a smile and patted Luna's little head, saying, "Xiao Luna, you don't need to worry about me. I'm just... a bit frustrated."
However, Luna shook her head, her small face displaying a seriousness and gravity that belied her age.
She pointed with her tiny finger at the Magic Water crystal ball in Lucius's hand and then at the scattered Magic Materials on the ground, speaking in a vague tone, "No... no..."
Aelia watched Luna's actions with a spark of realization.
She knew that Luna's perception was extraordinary; perhaps she had discovered something.
"Luna, do you mean... that Lucius's training method is wrong?" Aelia asked tentatively.
Luna nodded vigorously, her face full of certainty.
She understood what Lucius's problem was.
He relied too much on his talent while neglecting the fundamentals of training.
He was like a swordsman with an unparalleled sword but no understanding of how to wield it, ultimately reduced to mediocrity.
Luna extended her small hand and began to trace some simple Magic Runes in the air, murmuring incantations.
She tried to convey the correct method of cultivation to Lucius in her simple way.
At first, Lucius looked at Luna's actions with confusion, but gradually, his eyes began to brighten.
It seemed he understood Luna's meaning.
"Are you saying... I should start with the most basic magic practice instead of blindly pursuing advanced spells?" Lucius's voice carried a hint of realization.
Luna nodded again, a supportive smile appearing on her small face.
Just then, the door to the room was suddenly pushed open, and Qin Si rushed in with an anxious expression.
"Madam! It's bad! Something has happened!" Qin Si's voice was laced with panic.
Aelia's heart sank, an ominous premonition washing over her.
"What happened? What is it?" Aelia asked urgently.
Qin Si took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, then spoke in a trembling voice, "I... I just heard the servants discussing that... that the master has... has taken a concubine!"
Aelia felt as if her mind had exploded with a loud buzz, as if something had shattered within her.
Her face instantly turned pale, and her body swayed slightly, as if she might collapse at any moment.
Years of love and companionship had led to this outcome?
Her heart felt as though it had been pierced by a sharp dagger, bleeding profusely.
Seeing Aelia in such pain made Luna's heart ache as well.
She reached out her small hand and tightly grasped Aelia's hand, using her tiny frame to offer silent comfort.
"Mother, please don't be sad. We'll find a way together," Luna's voice, though tender, carried a resolute strength.
Aelia looked into Luna's clear eyes, a flicker of hope rising within her.
Yes, she still had her children; she couldn't give up.
"Thank you, Luna," Aelia said, her voice slightly choked. "You always manage to give me strength when I feel most helpless."
Lucius also stepped beside Aelia, gently patting her thin shoulders. "Mother, we'll be here for you."
Aelia took a deep breath, striving to calm herself.
She looked at Luna and Lucius, her gaze growing resolute.
"Alright, let's find a way together."
In the room, the three of them embraced tightly, the atmosphere tense yet filled with anticipation.
Would they succeed in breaking through?
Luna gazed out at the darkening sky and a knowing smile crept onto her lips.
"Now, the real show is just beginning..." she whispered, her tone laced with an almost imperceptible excitement.
Comment 0 Comment Count