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墨書 Inktalez
The Glorious Demon Fortress, once a symbol of supreme glory and indestructibility, now felt as though it had been struck by an invisible stone, sending ripples of unease spreading outward, stirring anxiety in the hearts of all.
From an unknown corner, a chilling wind began to stir, and rumors crept in like the tendrils of early spring vines, spreading with astonishing speed and wrapping around everyone's ears.
"Have you heard? That new Infant Girl... something seems off about her."
"Off? It's more than that! Ever since she arrived, the Lord of the Fortress and his lady have been restless, and now even the Magic Element in the fortress feels disordered!"
"Shh—keep your voice down! I heard from a patrolling guard that child... is nothing but a little monster in human skin! She's the source of Disaster!"
"Oh my! Is that true? No wonder I've felt so uneasy lately; I can't even meditate properly..."
These whispers initially circulated among the Servants and lower-ranking guards, but soon, like ink dropped into clear water, they rapidly spread and morphed into a surging undercurrent of suspicion that even some nobles and Mages began to entertain.
Panic and distrust wafted through every corner of the Magic Castle like an invisible poison. The air seemed thick with restless Dust, chillingly piercing through the lungs when inhaled.
When Aelia learned of these rumors, she trembled with rage. Just moments ago, she had been drained by Leonard's betrayal; now, hearing someone dare to slander the Little One—whom she cherished so dearly that she would risk her marriage to protect—an uncontrollable fury surged within her, clouding her reason.
"This is outrageous! Utter nonsense!" Aelia burst through the door, her exquisite Skirt slicing through the air in a sharp Arc.
She barely had time to fix her slightly disheveled Hair Bun before storming off with her devoted Maid, Qin Si, following closely as she sought out those who spoke most brazenly.
In a side hall of the Magic Castle, a group was gathered, animatedly discussing the topic of the "monster infant." At the forefront were several petty nobles who typically thrived on flattery and sycophancy; they exaggeratedly portrayed Luna as a harbinger of misfortune, suggesting that all misfortunes within the Magic Castle were caused by this innocent baby.
"Silence!" Aelia's voice cut through the noise like ice, carrying an undeniable authority and unmasked anger that instantly silenced all chatter.
The crowd turned in shock at her sudden reprimand. When they recognized it was Lady Aelia who had spoken, their faces flushed with embarrassment and guilt; yet a few still wore expressions of disdain, emboldened by their closer ties to Leonard or their own status.
"I thought it was someone important; turns out it's just the lady," sneered a finely dressed male Mage, his chin raised slightly in mockery. "Is your temper flaring for that mysterious little thing?"
Aelia's cold gaze pierced him like a blade. "Burton Mage, mind your words! Luna is a child I personally brought into the Magic Castle; her origins are clear! Meanwhile, you should focus on your magic instead of gossiping here—what are your true intentions?"
Her voice was soft yet unmistakably firm, carrying an air of undeniable pressure. The atmosphere around them seemed to freeze; those who had been snickering or whispering fell silent as if struck dumb.
Aelia’s beautiful eyes burned with fiery anger as she surveyed them; each person caught in her gaze instinctively lowered their heads, unable to meet her eyes.
"You people," Aelia's voice trembled slightly with both fury and an indescribable sorrow, "Luna is still just an innocent baby! She is so small and gentle—how can you bear to use such vicious words against her? Where is your conscience? Where is your knightly spirit? Has it all been devoured by dogs?!"
Her agitation grew with each word; her fair skin flushed with anger as her chest heaved violently. She longed to rush forward and tear apart the mouths of those spreading such slander!
These individuals enjoyed the protection of the Magic Castle daily and basked in the glory brought by Leonard; yet now they turned their ire toward an innocent infant over mere whispers! It made her feel sick!
The scene descended into chaos; Aelia's accusations struck each person like lashes across their faces—painfully sharp. Some bowed their heads in shame while others stiffened their necks, wanting to retort but cowed by Aelia's overwhelming presence.
"Madam, please calm down, calm down..." Qin Si anxiously supported the agitated Aelia, softly advising her, "It's not worth getting upset over these irrelevant people. Be careful not to harm your health..."
At that moment, a deep and authoritative voice interrupted, "Enough! Aelia, look at what you've become!"
Leonard had appeared at the doorway of the side hall, his face dark and his gaze complex as he looked at Aelia, his tone clearly filled with displeasure and reproach. Behind him stood several Confidants, evidently having rushed over after hearing the Wind Sound.
Seeing Leonard, Aelia's heart sank like a stone, as if gripped by a cold hand. She looked at her husband's familiar face but felt an overwhelming sense of strangeness and chill. He actually... believed those absurd claims?
"Leonard!" Aelia's voice trembled with disbelief. "Listen to what they are saying! They are slandering Luna! She is our..." She wanted to say "our hope," but the words caught in her throat, leaving only endless disappointment and sorrow.
Leonard frowned, avoiding Aelia's wounded gaze as he coldly replied, "There’s no smoke without fire. Since such rumors exist in the fortress, there must be a reason for it. As the Lady of the Fortress, instead of thinking about how to quell this situation, you are here making a scene. What kind of behavior is that? Are you being too protective of this child?"
"Protective?" Aelia felt as if she had heard the greatest joke. She took a step back, looking at Leonard with pain in her eyes. "Am I being protective? Leonard, ask your conscience! What has Luna brought to our family? If it weren't for her, would there be any hope for my brother's leg to recover? If it weren't for her, could Second Brother see through his friend's true nature? If it weren't for her, could Brother San regain his confidence in cultivation? And now you actually believe these nonsensical claims and turn around to blame me?!"
As soon as Aelia finished speaking, three tall figures stood firmly beside her. They were Luna's three brothers, whom she had changed their Destiny.
The eldest brother leaned on a specially crafted magical cane; though he moved with difficulty, his eyes were sharp as an eagle. "Father, Mother is right. Luna is no monster; she is our sister and the benefactor of our family. Whoever dares to slander her is my enemy!"
Second Brother wore his usual gentle expression but had grown cold at that moment. "Father, I also believe in Luna. Those rumors are merely the tricks of malicious people."
Brother San was even more direct; he stepped forward to shield Aelia and the swaddled Luna (who was now cradled in Qin Si's arms and seemed to sense the tension in the air with her big curious eyes) from Leonard's view. His gaze burned fiercely as he stared at Leonard. "Father! You cannot listen to slander! Luna is a good child!"
The brothers' declarations undoubtedly poured more oil onto an already tense situation. The crowd around them stirred restlessly, all eyes focused on this confrontation between father and sons and husband and wife.
The internal conflict within the Glorious Demon Fortress was laid bare before everyone for the first time.
"You..." Leonard looked at his sons who openly defied him and then at Aelia’s resolute face. His complexion turned pale as anger mixed with an indescribable emotion churned within him, leaving him momentarily speechless.
At that moment, several nobles and Mages who supported Leonard quickly stepped forward to mediate: "My Lord, please calm down! Madam and Young Masters should also take it easy; let’s talk this out..."
"There’s nothing to discuss!" Aelia interrupted them sharply, her gaze fixed firmly on Leonard. "If anyone dares to harm a hair on Luna today, they will have to step over my dead body first!"
The eldest brother, Second Brother, and Brother San all stepped forward in unison, silently expressing their determination.
The atmosphere was tense as if a taut string could snap at any moment.
Just when neither side seemed willing to back down, the Burton Mage who had previously provoked Aelia flashed a glint of malice in his eyes and spoke again in a tone that was both enticing and sinister: "Since Madam and the Young Masters are so convinced that this infant is not an ordinary being, why not... use our magical community's oldest and most impartial method to verify it?"
He paused for effect before continuing ominously, "With Magic Fire! True evil spirits will reveal their true forms before pure Magic Fire and turn to Ashes! If she is innocent, she will remain unharmed! This way we can prove the child's innocence while silencing all gossip—it's a win-win situation!"
"Magic Fire?!" Aelia's face turned pale as she gasped in shock.
Magic Fire was an extremely fierce flame; not even an adult Great Mage could survive it without caution—let alone an infant!
This was not verification; this was murder!
"No! Absolutely not!" The eldest brother shouted sternly as he struck his cane heavily against the ground.
"This is too cruel!" Second Brother furrowed his brow tightly.
“Who dares to use Magic Fire against my sister!” Brother San clenched his fists tightly, the Magic Element swirling around him.
However, when Leonard heard the proposal of the Magic Fire Trial, a flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes. He was enraged by Aelia and his sons' defiance, troubled by the rumors within the fortress, and harbored an unspoken dread towards Luna as an unpredictable variable. After a brief moment of weighing his options, he slowly nodded, his voice as cold as ancient iron: “Very well! Let us use Magic Fire to verify! The truth will be revealed through this trial!”
“Leonard! Have you lost your mind?!” Aelia could hardly believe her ears. She rushed forward, grabbing Leonard's arm with a desperate grip, her voice piercing, “That is your child! How can you… how can you agree to such a ridiculous and cruel proposal?!”
“Father! You can't do this!” Even the usually silent young Lucius couldn't hold back any longer. He ran in front of Leonard, his small face filled with anger and confusion. “Sister Luna is so adorable! She is not a monster! How can you let someone burn her with fire?!”
“Enough!” Leonard violently shook off Aelia's hand and scolded his youngest son. “My mind is made up! Bring it forth!”
Aelia stumbled back from his forceful push, fortunately caught by Second Brother just in time. She looked at the cold-hearted man before her, her heart sinking to the depths of despair. Tears finally burst forth uncontrollably.
Eldest Brother, Second Brother, and Brother San were all furious, stepping forward to argue with Leonard. Their words were sharp and heated, as if the bond between father and sons had vanished in that moment.
The side hall descended into utter chaos. Shouts of anger supporting Aelia clashed with cold stares from those backing Leonard or fanning the flames of discord. Whispers from those sitting on the fence intertwined with the uproar, creating a cacophony that pounded against their eardrums.
Amidst this turmoil stood Burton Mage, who had proposed the Magic Fire Trial, wearing a smug smile. He quietly pulled out a dark red ember that seemed to pulse with life from his pocket, a glint of cold light flashing in his eyes.
“Since the Lord has agreed, then… let the flames decide!” Burton Mage sneered as he hurled the pulsating dark red ember towards Luna.
The ember traced an eerie arc through the air, trailing a long fiery tail like a bloodthirsty serpent, heading straight for the infant tightly held in Qin Si's arms.
“No—!” Aelia let out a heart-wrenching scream and dashed forward without hesitation.
Eldest Brother, Second Brother, and Brother San also sprang into action; various magical lights flickered as they attempted to intercept the deadly ember.
However, it was all too late.
The speed of Magic Fire was astonishing; in an instant, it struck Luna.
With a deafening explosion, dark red flames erupted like a blooming flower of death, completely engulfing the small infant.
The side hall erupted into chaos; screams, curses, and cries intertwined like an apocalyptic symphony.
Aelia felt darkness closing in on her vision and nearly fainted. She staggered forward, reaching out to touch the searing sea of flames but was halted by an invisible force.
“Luna!” she cried out in despair, her voice hoarse and her heart torn apart.
Eldest Brother, Second Brother, and Brother San were also frozen in shock as they watched their sister being consumed by Magic Fire, powerless to intervene.
Brother San's eyes turned crimson with rage as he trembled all over, on the brink of collapse.
Leonard was equally stunned by this sudden turn of events. He stared blankly at the burning Magic Fire before him, an indescribable feeling swelling within him. Regret?
Fear?
Or... liberation?
The others in the side hall were a mix of pale-faced terror, schadenfreude, and utter confusion.
Everyone held their breath, as if waiting for the final judgment.
Burton Mage stood among the crowd, a sinister grin on his face.
He watched Luna, surrounded by the Magic Fire, filled with delight.
"Burn her! Burn this little monster!" he hissed under his breath, as if possessed.
However, at that moment, an unexpected change occurred.
The once ferocious Magic Fire began to dance strangely, as if suppressed by some unseen force.
The color of the flames started to shift from Dark Red to a bright golden hue, and finally, like a gentle spirit, it slowly extinguished.
As the flames faded away, the center revealed itself.
There lay Luna, unharmed in Qin Si's embrace, her big, curious eyes blinking as if the devastating Magic Fire had merely been an amusing performance to her.
A deathly silence enveloped the room.
Everyone was stunned, frozen as if under a spell.
Leonard's eyes widened in disbelief, his mouth slightly agape, his face etched with incredulity.
Burton Mage's smile froze; he stared at Luna, untouched and safe. His pupils dilated in terror as he screamed, "Impossible! This can't be! She... she..."
Luna reached out her chubby little hand and grasped Qin Si's clothing at his chest. Then she turned to Leonard, her lips curling into an innocent smile.
"Daddy..." she called out in a baby voice.
That single word "Daddy" exploded in Leonard's ears like thunder.
He looked at Luna, at her pure and flawless eyes, at her innocent smile, and suddenly felt a chill surge from his feet to the top of his head.
This child...
"She... she isn't..." he murmured, his voice trembling as if witnessing something unfathomable.
Luna giggled and pointed at Burton Mage with her small hand, saying in her baby voice, "Bad man..."
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