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墨書 Inktalez
The Glorious Demon Fortress was enveloped in a peculiar tranquility, reminiscent of the calm before a storm.
A faint magical aura lingered in the air, mingling with the musty scent emanating from the ancient stone walls, creating a slightly oppressive atmosphere.
In Luna's room, sunlight streamed through the Colored Glass Window, casting vibrant patterns of Light and Shadow on the floor, yet it could not dispel the worry etched on the faces of her brothers.
Her eldest brother sat in a Wheelchair, the flickering glow of runes reflecting off his Pale face, making it appear particularly striking.
His hands gripped the Wheelchair Armrest tightly, knuckles whitening as if he were desperately trying to suppress his inner turmoil.
"Luna, the underground passages of the Magic Castle are intricate and fraught with unknown dangers. You cannot go alone," his voice was low and Hoarse, tinged with a barely perceptible tremor.
The Second Brother paced back and forth, anxiously tugging at his Hem, the shadow of Magic Dilemma lingering in his eyes.
"Yes, Luna, we can't let you take such risks. What if... what if you encounter danger? How will we explain it to Mother?" His voice cracked slightly, as if he were on the verge of tears.
Brother San leaned against the window, staring blankly into the distance, seemingly indifferent to everything before him.
However, his furrowed brow and slightly trembling hands betrayed his inner anxiety.
"Luna, listen to Eldest Brother and Second Brother. Don't go. It's too dangerous there." Though his tone was flat, it carried a deep concern.
Luna sat on the soft wool carpet, holding a toy embedded with Magic Water crystals, her small face serious.
"I know you’re worried about me, but I have to go. There are secrets about the Magic Castle and our family hidden there." Her voice was youthful yet resolute, as if nothing could shake her determination.
At that moment, the door creaked open gently, and Lucius stepped inside.
He glanced at his worried Brothers, then at Luna, whose expression was resolute, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
"Luna, I'll go with you." His tone was light and casual, as if it were a trivial matter.
"What?!" The eldest brother, Second Brother, and Brother San exclaimed in unison, looking at Lucius in disbelief.
"Are you crazy? It's too dangerous there!" Second Brother shouted excitedly.
"You've seen Luna's Magical Talent," Lucius shrugged nonchalantly. "Besides, I'm the Third Young Master Lucius of the Glorious Demon Fortress. How could I let my sister go on an adventure alone?"
The eldest brother suddenly stood up from his Wheelchair, his body swaying slightly as the glow of the runes became even more brilliant.
"No! I will go! My legs can feel it; I can protect Luna!"
The brothers immediately erupted into a heated argument, each trying to outdo the other, unwilling to back down.
Luna looked at the chaotic scene before her and sighed helplessly.
With a wave of her small hand, an invisible Magical Fluctuation instantly enveloped the entire room.
The noise abruptly ceased, and the brothers stared at her as if they had been struck by a spell.
"Eldest Brother, you stay here to take care of Mother. Second Brother, you handle family affairs. Brother San, you supervise the castle's defenses. Lucius, you come with me." Luna's voice was clear and firm, carrying an undeniable authority.
With that, she turned and walked toward the door, her small figure appearing particularly tall in the sunlight.
Lucius winked at his Brothers and then quickly followed her.
In the room, the three brothers exchanged glances, momentarily at a loss for words.
The eldest brother slumped back into his wheelchair, the glow of the runes dimming.
The Second Brother sat weakly on the floor, while Brother San silently moved to the window, gazing at Luna and Lucius as they disappeared into the distance, his expression complex.
“They… have really grown up…” the eldest brother murmured, his tone filled with emotion and helplessness.
The Second Brother clutched Luna's favorite Magic Doll tightly, as if it were his last lifeline.
“Eldest Brother, we need to find Mother…”
In the expansive Emerald Corridor, sunlight streamed through the arched stained glass windows, casting patterns beneath the high-hanging Magic Crystal Chandelier, where light and shadow intertwined.
The ground was covered with a soft purple-patterned carpet, muffling their footsteps.
The three brothers stood solemnly side by side before the deep passage leading to the Main Hall, like three trees swaying in an autumn breeze, on the verge of toppling.
The Second Brother held onto Luna's favorite Magic Doll—a plump Star Spirit Raccoon Plush—its tail adorned with a small bell that Luna had personally attached.
He cradled it in his arms as if it were a vital lifeline.
“Are you sure she will listen to Mother?” Brother San muttered, stealing glances at the plush toy. “I think she could turn our ‘family meeting’ into a silent play.”
The eldest brother replied solemnly, “We’re not trying to control her; we… at least need to give her another talisman. Perhaps Mother can persuade her.”
Pushing open the heavy Magic Crystal Door, Aelia sat on the crystal-backed Magic Bench, her head bowed as she adjusted a delicate Hairpin. The sunlight slanted across her Starry Gown, draping her in a veil of Red Glow, making her appear both elegant and imposing.
She sensed the movement at the door and spoke softly, "You’ve arrived."
A moment of silence followed as her elder brother limped closer, placing a stuffed toy on Aelia's table.
"Mother, Luna... she insists on investigating the secret passage of the Magic Castle."
Aelia's Fingertip paused slightly, and the Hairpin fell back into its jade box with a soft click.
She looked up, her gaze calm yet profound. "She says she knows what she is facing. She is not acting recklessly alone."
"She's still just a child!" Second Brother blurted out, his Eye Socket reddening. "Even if she is the reincarnation of a Great Mage... that was in the past."
"Do you think I intend to stop her?" Aelia smiled gently, pulling out a small Silver Blue box from beside her. Intricate jade patterns intertwined on its surface, with faint glimmers of magical arrays flowing over it.
"This is something I prepared especially for her—the Ling Zhi Guardian. Wherever she goes, this barrier will follow."
Brother San was taken aback and protested softly, "But doesn’t that encourage her to take risks?"
"I am trying to understand her," Aelia replied in a gentle yet firm tone. "What you see is Luna's age; what I see is her burden."
The room fell into a moment of silence.
It was only when Brother San hesitantly stepped closer to Aelia that he whispered, "But what if something happens to her?"
Aelia responded with warmth yet decisiveness, "That would be my responsibility. Not hers."
At that moment, Luna was nestled in a rocking chair on the back porch, her small hands gesturing as she conjured a spell. A small water ball floated in the air, rolling around and taking the shape of a clumsy little cat—its head occasionally sinking in before it finally burst with a "pop," scattering into water mist, startling her into a sneeze.
"Ah-choo!" The little girl rubbed her nose, resembling a tiny, soaked marshmallow.
"Are you trying to make me laugh with that wet little cat again?" A familiar, melodious voice came from behind the flower stand.
"Mommy!" Luna jumped off the chair and scampered over, throwing herself into Aelia's arms, her damp little head resting against her chin. "I wasn't trying to tease you; I just thought it was really funny."
"Yes, it is quite funny," Aelia said with a smile as she lifted her up, gently patting her wet head. "You're soaked like a dumpling."
Luna squinted playfully, her small hands gripping her mother's slender shoulders. "Mommy, you're really not mad at me? The brothers are so fierce."
"The brothers are just worried about you," Aelia said softly as she wiped away a seven-colored droplet from Luna's cheek. "But I believe in you. I won't stop you, but you have to promise me to wear the Ling Zhi Guardian at all times."
"Really? You really let me go?!" Luna's eyes sparkled with excitement, shining like clear lake water as they flickered at her mother like the morning light outside.
Aelia nodded and added, "Remember, your safety comes first."
The little girl obediently nodded and then playfully pointed her finger. "Then I'll conjure a new Shui Mao for you as a reward!"
As they giggled together, footsteps approached from afar—Lucius swaggered over with a mischievous grin on his face. "Oh dear, is our little Great Mage practicing her family deception techniques?"
Luna narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to see if you blew up the Shui Mao in your face. Mom said you sprayed her robe for three days last time." Lucius walked over and casually picked an apple, taking a bite. "Also, we don't need to rush into exploring the secret passage; can't you at least stop wetting the bed first?"
The proud expression on Luna's face instantly crumbled.
Luna slapped his knee with a loud "smack," only to be jolted back a step, her face a mix of shock and the expression of someone stepping barefoot on ice. "What—what did you say?!"
Lucius continued to chew nonchalantly, "I was just curious if those shiny Amulets of yours are meant to ward off monsters or just to keep you warm at night."
"You—you—you—those bastards, Lucius!" Luna's face flushed with anger as she grabbed her small Leonard's Cloak, wrapped it around herself, and stormed into the house.
"Hey! I was joking—wait, don’t take it seriously—ow, my mouth."
The sunlight was obscured by a thick layer of clouds, and a corner of the Magic Castle was suddenly shrouded in shadow.
At that moment, Luna hugged the Star Spirit Raccoon Plush that had been dried by Qin Si, taking tiny steps as she entered her little room warmed by a Curse. The expression in her eyes gradually changed.
Everyone outside was moving; she couldn't afford to stop.
She gently closed the door, clutching the plush's little paws, and murmured to herself:
"Secrets are always waiting to be uncovered; why not... let me do it."
Nestled on the soft Little Mage sofa, Luna curled her Twin Legs together, her Fingertip gently stroking the ears of the Star Spirit Raccoon Plush. The small bell jingled softly, echoing like a countdown in her mind.
The room was filled with a faint scent of Rose Magic Incense and Orange Blossom Candy, the fragrance Qin Si had just replaced that morning.
Sunlight couldn't penetrate through the window; only thick Wu Yun and a Magic Sparrow lazily wagging its tail could be seen on the Window Lattice.
"Things hidden deep within secret passages..." Luna whispered, hugging tighter, "...if no one ever goes to see them, will they always remain there, lurking in fear?"
The plush's ears drooped as if sighing in sympathy.
She had not been without fear.
Fear of the dark, fear of making mistakes, fear that the truth was not as clear-cut as it appeared in the books she read.
But her curiosity was too strong.
She wanted to know what the true foundation of the Glorious Demon Fortress was, what hidden traces of family history lay within the gaps, and why her mother’s eyes always held such sadness; she wondered where her brothers' pain had truly begun.
"I can't wait any longer," she whispered to herself, her voice soft yet imbued with a stubborn defiance.
At that moment, the door creaked open, and a wave of sweet warmth mixed with the scent of winter plum wine rushed in.
"The show hasn't started yet; our little sugar egg is here to taste the flavor first!" Qin Si entered, carrying a lacquered tray adorned with ink-green floral designs. Her smile made Mei Yan's heart flutter. The tray held six freshly baked purple sweet potato honey chestnut cakes, each topped with a softly glowing crown pattern burned into it by magical fire.
"Sister Qin Si!" Luna instinctively tucked away her plush toy, quickly shoving her little hands aside, her expression shifting like a habitual offender. "I-I wasn't slacking off; I was... meditating!"
"Very natural, darling! Does Shui Mao also meditate?" Qin Si teased her as she set the tray down on the magic-patterned coffee table in front of Luna. "You said you liked sweet flavors with a hint of powder last time, so I added a bit of rose salt and osmanthus essence. Take a bite and see!"
Luna smiled awkwardly and picked up a piece. The cake was soft and glutinous; when she bit into it, there was a crisp snap from the sweet and crunchy layer mixed with magic flow nuts inside. At that moment, an unexpectedly cool sensation tingled on her tongue.
"Delicious, right?" Qin Si tilted her head proudly. "I tried it seven times; even your mother praised it."
Luna chewed half of it and swallowed the faint sweetness before suddenly feeling a bit drowsy.
"Don't you think... there are some strange things about this family?" She placed the cake back on the tray and stared intently at Qin Si.
Qin Si paused for a moment while holding the tray in one hand and tea in the other. A flicker of hesitation crossed her eyes before she smiled again. "Why bring this up all of a sudden?"
"I have a secret... I want to tell you." Luna leaned closer, her small face hidden under the dim light, "But you have to promise me, tonight... don't go to bed too early."
Qin Si paused for a moment, her gaze falling on the bulging belly of the stuffed toy in Luna's arms, where she had just sewn a small pocket with crooked stitches.
Luna hopped off the sofa, her small hand swiftly grabbing the toy as if she suddenly realized something, and she stopped talking.
"I still need to find Lucius later, that... annoying elf. He still owes me something."
Qin Si nodded, watching her dash out the door with a thoughtful look in her eyes.
The scent of cedar still lingered in the room, and a subtle tension slowly spread through the air. Just as she brought the teacup to her lips, heavy footsteps echoed from outside.
Then, a familiar and heavy voice resonated in the Emerald Corridor:
"Magical token? ... That thing has nothing to do with you."
The voice was deep, as if concealing something.
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