Chapter 20: Don’t Look Back!

Chapter 20: Don’t Look Back!

Seeing the flames go out, Louis let out a sigh of relief. He waved his wand a few times over the charred area, and within seconds, the grass and plants grew back, even more lush than before.

After making sure no traces were left behind, Louis sat down on a large root of the Sacred Oak and toyed with the gold coins.

These were familiar to him from his knowledge base, so they looked familiar when he saw them. After playing with them for a while, he managed to identify them.

They were likely gold coins from the era of ‘Sorcery King Isolda’ last century.

Isolda was Ocris’s great-grandfather and the first Sorcery King of the new era.

He was originally the illegitimate son of a Grand Duke. Later, together with a Dragon Mother, he overthrew the old dynasty and established a new kingdom. Since then, the descendants of the Isolda Family have all possessed Dragon Clan bloodline.

Ocris has the Dragon Clan bloodline, and the Kingdom of Sorrento also has the custom of intermarrying with the Dragon Clan.

In this world’s history, Witches are born with stronger natural magic power than Wizards, so there have been many Witch Queens, but very few Sorcery Kings. Therefore, although these coins are only from the last century, they still have some collectible value. If he found the right buyer, the price could probably be multiplied several times.

The pocket watch was also quite unusual.

[Chamian’s Pocket Watch (Rare Magical Artifact)]

[Description: Chamian often boasted that it could stop time and keep one forever young. But in reality, it was just a common deceptive item from ‘Blackhorn Alley’. However, after a series of fantastical journeys and being nurtured by the Sacred Oak’s magic for many years, it has become quite different.]

[Functions:

1. Thought Acceleration.

Description: Time seems to suddenly slow down, but your thoughts remain quick (3s).

2. Containment.

Description: The Sacred Oak’s magic has made the magic-bearing capacity of this pocket watch very strong, allowing it to store one spell or a few blessings (keeps for 7 days).

3. Absorption;

Description: It can help you absorb harmful energies, such as curses. When its hands start to move, it means you have quietly been affected.]

Louis put away the pocket watch and then prepared to leave. As he moved away from the Sacred Oak area, he noticed a light suddenly shining upon him.

He looked up and saw that the area around the entire Sacred Oak was gradually lighting up. Moonlight shone through gaps in the canopy, creating beams of Tyndall light on the ground, like pillars of air, incredibly beautiful.

[Before you leave, please accept the Sacred Oak’s blessing for today. You wish today’s blessing to be…]

[A, (Daily Random) Evil-Repelling: The West District hasn’t been very peaceful lately. Although you are strong as an ogre and can take a few hits without trouble, this blessing is undoubtedly the safest bet.]

‘So it really has been unsettled these days.’ Louis’s eyes flickered slightly.

[B. (Daily Random) Fearless: Evil spirits grow stronger with your fear, but if you are fearless, you will be invincible.]

[C. (Daily Fixed) Energy Infusion: +5 Magic Power recovery/s, lasts for 30 minutes.]

The repeated disturbances by the Sacred Oak finally alerted the Night Watchmen. In the distance, someone was already approaching, holding a lantern and looking quite drunk.

Louis didn’t have time to think much. He stored one of the blessings in the pocket watch, then hurriedly ducked into a nearby teaching building specifically for learning Dark Magic Defense—the Mistdream Tower.

A few minutes later, a small team of drunk Night Watchmen arrived under the Sacred Oak, discussed curiously for a while, and then left.

…

A young professor, puffing a pipe, was walking hurriedly through the Mistdream Tower, as if he had forgotten something in the Laboratory.

Soon, he reached the thirteenth floor.

The thirteenth floor of the Mistdream Tower was quite famous among the apprentices—because it could lead to the mysterious Dark Domain area.

Most of the spine-chilling stories circulating in the academy happened in this Tower.

Occasionally, professors, school workers, or Night Watchmen would also run into one or two strange incidents.

Sometime ago, a little fox ran into such a strange incident. It almost scared the soul out of her. Even now, she would have nightmares when sleeping at night, and as soon as she closed her eyes, she could feel damp hair by her pillow.

After that, she wrote a complaint letter to the Ministry of Magic. Director Trif, somehow got hold of this complaint letter and suppressed it.

It seemed like Director Trif couldn’t handle it and didn’t want others to complain…

A couple of days ago, while tidying the office, Helen found this complaint letter. After reading it, her legs went weak.

“L-L-Louis, I think some terrible thing from the Dark Domain must have escaped! It’s looking for a replacement!”

Helen had said to Louis with chattering teeth:

“If you go to the West District recently and accidentally enter that Tower, remember—when you hear footsteps, don’t stop walking, otherwise it will slowly catch up to you. And never look back casually, don’t look in the mirror! Best to find a spot close to a corner and stay up all night, don’t close your eyes. Don’t open the door for anyone, no matter who knocks. But if the door opens, or even opens by itself…”

Helen didn’t dare to say any more.

Thinking of this, Louis’s heart started to beat faster. Suddenly, he felt as if Bugs had flown into his eyes. So he stopped, closed his eyes, and rubbed them, but then felt something touch his heel.

But the entire corridor was pitch black, who could be there?

Louis shook his head and quickened his pace.

The seats in the rows of classrooms were empty. The whole floor was very quiet. The surroundings were silent, only Louis’s footsteps echoed in the corridor.

But before long, something very strange happened.

He felt as if someone was following him.

Whenever his own footsteps paused, an extra footstep echo would sound in the corridor. It was as if someone behind him was walking quietly with exactly the same pace.

And it seemed that every time he paused, the sound from behind would get one step closer.

Faint, itching sensations brushed against Louis’s neck, like human hair. Louis couldn’t help but turn around. The corridor behind him was empty, but on the floor, there were some slightly damp footprints. The last one was almost right behind him.

Louis couldn’t help but recall Helen’s words at that time. He rubbed his face hard, then quickly strode into a room that looked like a dance studio and closed the door. Unfortunately, there was a full-length Mirror in here!

In the mirror, ‘Wu Yanzu’ had a pipe in his mouth, frowning deeply, and was looking pale towards the door.

Everything seemed normal, but what was eerie was that in the mirror, the door to this room was open!

And in the mirror, Wu Yanzu did not turn his head.

Louis blinked hard and realized that his reflection in the mirror had actually lowered its head, looking gloomy.

Just then, the door of the room in the mirror suddenly closed!

[Hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm…]

Sinister laughter suddenly echoed around. But after laughing a few times, the figure in the mirror suddenly paused.

The Mirror Man found that the scene behind him had suddenly twisted.

[What kind of Magic is this?]

“Don’t be nervous, sir, I won’t hurt you. This is just a little ‘Mobius Ring’.”

In his excitement, Louis stretched out a trembling hand and pulled out the pocket watch. A barely concealable excitement showed on his face: “I finally got to meet you!”

In his heart, Louis deeply thanked Helen for her kind reminder. Ever since hearing the rumors about the Mistdream Tower, he had come here seven or eight times over these days. Every time he took over a Night Watchman’s shift, he would come look.

This time, Helen was a huge help. If not for her, who would have known you had to close your eyes, had to look back, had to stop walking, and had to look in the Mirror!

At this moment, the Mirror Man suddenly realized that the nightmare seed he had planted in that person’s mind had suddenly lost connection.

As for Mind Reading—the mind of the Wizard before him had suddenly become like a pool of stagnant water.

Looking at the barely concealable excited smile on ‘Wu Yanzu’s’ face, Stuart fell into deep thought.

[Sir, I have the feeling… you look somewhat familiar?]