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墨書 Inktalez
The fire in the hall cast mottled shadows, like a silent prophecy whispering of the impending storm.
Luna's tiny fingers brushed against the carved wooden bird, her expression revealing a calmness and calculation that seemed out of place for an infant.
She looked at Aelia, a meaningful smile playing at her lips, without a hint of hesitation. "Mother, there are some things you need to know."
Her voice was so soft it was almost like snow falling on Silk Satin, yet it struck a chord in Aelia's heart—a sharp intuition tinged with Bloody Smell.
Her grip tightened, the wooden carving growing warm in her palm, as if it had burned through the ashes of trust.
Luna spoke little, but her words hinted at a turquoise Moonstone Earring, a letter burned halfway, and news of a Mafu daughter who seemed to have vanished suddenly.
These clues appeared scattered at first glance, but when pieced together, they shone like the first light of dawn piercing through long-buried fog.
Qin Si stood nearby, looking at Luna with confusion. The calmness in the child's eyes sent shivers down her spine, yet she couldn't help but believe wholeheartedly.
Luna tugged at her skirt and said softly but firmly, "Go find that letter and see if there are any singed edges on the Letterhead."
Qin Si's heart jolted. She was usually sharp-witted, yet in front of this little girl, she felt an inexplicable sense of bewilderment.
With lingering doubt, she bowed and hurriedly left.
Moments later, she truly unearthed a corner of paper from the pile of ashes in the corner of the study. The yellowed edge was singed into a jagged shape, and the remaining ink faintly revealed the words "Wait for Dawn."
That was the secret code Aelia had privately agreed upon with Leonard in her youth—only they knew it. Now, these words appeared on a burned old letter, and it was clear that the sender was not her.
Qin Si's face turned pale as he trembled, holding the corner of the letter with both hands, slowly walking back to Aelia.
The moment Aelia took the letter, her expression changed.
The courtly elegance shattered into subtle Ice Cracks, and the light in her eyes seemed to be instantly drained, becoming dim and piercing.
"Who gave you this letter?" Her tone was calm, yet it carried a suffocating pressure on the verge of collapse.
"Luna said... it was meant for the daughter of a Mafu, and she has been missing since Three Months Ago." Qin Si's voice was soft and shapeless, as if afraid that speaking too loudly would awaken the truth.
Aelia was momentarily speechless, feeling as if she stood atop a tower about to collapse. The sound of Leonard's Sword Suddenly Emitted a Hum echoed in her ears, as if she could hear the sound of stone walls cracking, chasing her from the depths of memory.
She slowly turned around, gazing at the portrait on the wall depicting her and Leonard. The smile in her eyes gradually faded into emptiness.
The man in the painting had a deep gaze, which now felt like a cruel irony.
"Prepare the Horse-drawn Carriage; I need to go to the West Wing Storage," she instructed Qin Si with a tone that brooked no argument.
That was a space Leonard had always forbidden anyone to enter.
Though Qin Si was puzzled, he dared not ask further and quickly turned to leave.
Meanwhile, her elder brother sat in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in his study, lost in thought as he gazed at the gloomy sky outside.
His thick cloak draped over his legs, and those hands that once dazzled all with their exquisite magic now trembled even at the slightest movement of a Feather Pen.
He sensed a shift in Mother’s emotions—like an oppressive low pressure hanging in the sky, aggressive and unyielding.
Slowly, he closed the ancient book in hand and glanced at the Red Jade Staff in the corner, its surface marred with cracks. A defiant light flickered in his eyes.
“Second Brother, Third Brother,” he spoke softly, his voice no longer filled with regret but rather a calm command. “Mother may be entangled in something extremely important; we can’t wait any longer.”
After a brief hesitation, Second Brother nodded.
He was not as composed as the eldest brother, but his loyalty to the family had never waned.
Brother San stepped forward, lifting the long-neglected Magic Ring to his eyes, a youthful sharpness reemerging on his face.
“If this is when Mother needs us,” he licked his lips, “then the three of us must not retreat, even if it costs us our lives.”
The three of them cast Forbidden Spells upon themselves, an unspoken understanding passing between them.
Meanwhile, in the Magic Castle’s study, Leonard was currently caressing an unfamiliar Blue Glazed Vase, its mouth engraved with an uncommon Blooming Seal.
He struggled to maintain an air of calm, yet his brow remained furrowed without respite.
He had heard that Qin Si had gone to the West Wing Storage and that Aelia had personally dispatched people to seal off the Messenger Passage—these actions were unusual, and he knew her too well.
Aelia was not the kind of person to apply pressure without reason.
Unless, she had begun to doubt.
“...I shouldn’t have kept that letter,” he murmured, a taste of iron rust rising in his throat.
He walked to the secret cabinet behind the bookshelf, the Obsidian Ring on his finger faintly glimmering—it was the key that could only unlock the forbidden chest.
But he hesitated. He wanted to bury everything, yet that unease held him back.
Footsteps echoed down the corridor, the rhythm clear enough to make his heart race.
Leonard turned, his gaze sweeping over the tightly shut windows and curtains.
The fire flickered, and the air seemed to carry an essence that did not belong to the Magic Castle.
He reached out but did not find the familiar bottle; instead, he grasped a chilling draft.
“Does she know?” he spoke to himself, a rare panic emerging within Mei Yan.
At that moment, the clock in the Magic Castle suddenly chimed twice—“dong—dong”—deep and ancient, like silence dragged up from the Underground.
And Luna stood at the top of the stairs, clutching her teddy bear, watching as this fortress of dreams began to crack.
She whispered softly, her voice barely audible as if speaking to a doll, "It's time." The air in the West Wing Storage was thick with the peculiar scent of aged wood and magical potions.
Aelia held a lantern, its flickering light casting dancing shadows across her face, highlighting her increasingly stern expression.
Qin Si followed closely behind, not daring to breathe, feeling as if the air had solidified into something suffocating.
In the depths of the storeroom, a locked mahogany chest lay quietly in the corner.
Aelia took a deep breath and opened it with trembling hands.
Inside the chest were neatly folded garments: a lake-blue silk long skirt, several pairs of soft shoes embroidered with intricate patterns, and a thick diary.
Aelia picked up the diary and opened the first page. Delicate tiny inscriptions greeted her, but they were not in her familiar handwriting.
The diary chronicled a woman's moments with Leonard, from their initial meeting to their later love, each line brimming with deep affection and dreams for the future.
Aelia felt a wave of suffocation wash over her, as if an invisible hand was tightly gripping her throat.
She continued to flip through the pages and saw the news of the woman's pregnancy, her joy at giving birth to a daughter for Leonard, and her worries and anxieties about what lay ahead.
On the last page of the diary, it was written: "Leonard promised me he would give me and our child a name."
Aelia closed the diary, tears silently streaming down her cheeks.
The husband she had loved for many years had secretly raised another woman and child outside their marriage.
She had always believed their love was unbreakable, only to discover that it was all just a deception.
“Madam…” Qin Si called out worriedly.
Aelia remained silent, gripping the diary tightly, her knuckles turning white.
She turned and walked out of the storeroom, her steps heavy as if each one was treading on sharp blades.
Returning to the bedroom, Aelia ordered someone to summon Leonard.
As Leonard entered the room and saw Aelia's icy expression, a sense of unease crept into his heart.
“Aelia, you called for me?” Leonard asked, feigning calmness.
Aelia threw the diary in front of him, her voice trembling. “What is this?”
Leonard's face changed drastically. He picked up the diary and flipped through a few pages, his gaze flickering as he stammered, “This… this is just a misunderstanding…”
“A misunderstanding?” Aelia scoffed. “Do you have anything else to say?”
Leonard wanted to argue further, but Aelia's gaze was like a knife, leaving him nowhere to hide.
He finally gave up resisting, sitting despondently on the ground, admitting everything.
Aelia listened to his confession, but felt no stirrings in her heart.
She had once loved this man deeply, but now all she felt was disgust and loathing.
"We're done," Aelia's voice was cold, devoid of any emotion.
Leonard wanted to say something more, but Aelia had already turned away, leaving him with a resolute silhouette.
News spread through the Glorious Demon Fortress like wildfire, shock, doubt, and speculation intertwining, casting an atmosphere of unease over the entire Magic Castle.
Brother San Lucius had always been indifferent to magical training; he was arrogant and believed his talent was enough to handle everything with ease.
However, the upheaval in his family jolted him awake. He became aware of the responsibilities he bore; he could no longer indulge in pleasure. He had to shoulder the weight of his family's burdens.
He walked to the Training Ground and picked up the long-dusty staff.
Luna watched all of this with anticipation filling her heart.
She knew this was just the beginning; the Destiny of Glorious Demon Fortress would change because of her.
She looked up at the sky outside the window, where dark clouds gathered and thunder rumbled—a storm was about to arrive.
She gently stroked the little bear plushie in her hand, a barely noticeable smile gracing her lips.
"The real show is just beginning..." she whispered softly, her voice drowned out by the rumble of thunder.
Suddenly, a series of urgent knocks interrupted Luna's thoughts.
"Luna, the lady requests your presence in the hall," came the anxious voice of Qin Si from outside the door.
Luna set down the plushie, walked to the door, and opened it. Seeing Qin Si's flustered expression, a flicker of concern rose within her.
"What happened?" Luna asked.
Qin Si took a deep breath and said urgently, "Madam... she..."
"What about her?" Luna pressed.
Qin Si's face grew even paler as she hesitated. "Madam... she wants to..."
"What does she want?" Luna's heart began to race.
Qin Si bit her lip and finally mustered the courage to say, "Madam... she wants to make a public announcement..."
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