Chapter Twenty: Don’t Look Back!
Seeing the flames die down, Louis let out a sigh of relief. He waved his wand over the charred patches of earth, and within seconds, the grass and wildflowers sprang back to life, even more lush than before. Satisfied that he’d left no trace of his actions, Louis sat down on one of the massive roots of the Sacred Oak and began toying with the gold coins.
Their appearance sparked a sense of familiarity in his mind, and after a moment’s inspection, he recognized them from his trove of knowledge. These coins dated back to the era of the Witch King Isolda, a century ago. Isolda was Osicris’s great-grandfather, the first Witch King of the new age. Once the illegitimate son of a grand duke, he and a dragon matron had overthrown the old dynasty, founding a new kingdom. The name Isolda itself meant “Child of the Dragon Mother,” and thus the family carried dragon blood in their veins.
Osicris was herself of draconic descent, and it was tradition in the Kingdom of Solendor to forge alliances through marriage with dragons. In this world’s history, witches were innately more powerful than their male counterparts, making witch queens common but witch kings rare. These coins, though minted merely a century ago, held certain value for collectors. With the right buyer, their worth could easily multiply several times over.
The pocket watch, too, was no ordinary trinket.
[Charmian's Pocket Watch (Exceptional Magical Artifact)]
[Description: Charmian often boasted that his watch could halt time itself and grant eternal youth. In truth, it was a common piece of trickery found in Blackhorn Alley. But after a series of fantastical journeys, it was nurtured for years by the Sacred Oak’s magic, transforming it into something altogether different.]
[Abilities:
1. Accelerated Thought: Time seems to slow, but your mind races on, swift and sharp (3 seconds).
2. Containment: The Sacred Oak’s power has greatly enhanced the watch’s capacity—it can now store a spell or a blessing for seven days.
3. Absorption: It can help you absorb harmful energies, such as curses. If its hands begin to move, you’ve already fallen victim.]
Louis pocketed the watch and prepared to leave. But just as he moved away from the Sacred Oak, a shaft of light suddenly illuminated his path. He looked up to see the area around the Sacred Oak growing brighter, moonbeams streaming through the leafy canopy in radiant columns, painting the air with ethereal beauty.
[Before you depart, accept the blessing of the Sacred Oak. Which blessing do you choose for today...?]
[A. (Daily random) Evil’s Bane: The Western District has been restless lately. Though you’re as sturdy as a mountain troll and can withstand a few blows, this blessing offers the surest protection.]
‘So it really has been uneasy these days,’ Louis mused, eyes narrowing.
[B. (Daily random) Fearless: The more you fear, the stronger evil becomes. But if you have no fear, you are untouchable.]
[C. (Daily fixed) Mana Infusion: +5 mana regeneration per second, lasts 30 minutes.]
The Sacred Oak’s repeated disturbances had finally drawn the attention of the watchmen. In the distance, a group of them, lanterns in hand and unsteady from drink, were making their way over.
Louis didn’t have time to hesitate. He stored one blessing in the pocket watch, then slipped away into a nearby tower, the Dreamshadow Spire, where Defense Against the Dark Arts was taught.
A few minutes later, a tipsy group of watchmen arrived beneath the Sacred Oak. They lingered, gossiping curiously, but soon wandered off. The Sacred Oak was a wonder of the academy—such phenomena were not uncommon, especially of late.
Rumor had it that a child was soon to join the academy. The Sacred Oak must have sensed it. A decade ago, another child had become a fearsome dark sorcerer, founding a secret order and bringing shame to the Sacred Oak as never before. To this day, no one dared utter his name. Now, all hopes rested on this new child; perhaps he alone could stand against the Dark Lord.
...
A young professor, pipe clenched in his teeth, hurried through the Dreamshadow Spire, as if he’d forgotten something in his laboratory. Soon, he reached the thirteenth floor—a place famed among apprentices, for it led to the enigmatic Umbral Domain. The academy’s most chilling tales often happened within these walls. Professors, custodians, and watchmen alike occasionally encountered unexplainable happenings here.
Just recently, a young fox spirit had stumbled into something uncanny, nearly scaring her out of her wits. Even now, she suffered nightmares, waking in the night feeling damp hair brushing her pillow.
Afterward, she wrote a letter of complaint to the Ministry of Magic. Director Treve, through mysterious means, got hold of the letter and quietly buried it. It seemed Treve was either unable to resolve the matter—or didn’t want others to know of it.
While tidying the office a few days later, Helen found the complaint. Upon reading it, her legs nearly gave out.
“L-Louis,” she stammered, “I’m sure something dreadful from the Umbral Domain has gotten out! It’s looking for a substitute!”
At the time, Helen’s teeth were chattering as she warned Louis, “If you ever visit the Western District and find yourself in the Spire, remember—when you hear footsteps behind you, don’t stop walking, or it’ll catch up to you. Never look back, never look into a mirror! Best to find a corner, press yourself against the wall, and stay awake all night. No matter who knocks, don’t open the door. And if the door opens on its own...”
Helen couldn’t bear to continue.
Louis’s heart pounded as he recalled her words. Suddenly, he felt as if an insect had flown into his eye. He stopped, closed his eyes, and rubbed them—but then sensed something brushing his heel.
Yet the corridor was utterly dark and empty.
Louis shook his head and quickened his pace. The classrooms he passed were deserted, the entire floor oppressively still. Only the echo of his footsteps disturbed the silence.
Soon, something deeply unsettling happened. He became convinced someone was following him. Whenever he paused, an extra footstep echoed in the corridor, perfectly mimicking his stride, drawing ever closer each time he halted.
A faint prickle tickled the back of his neck, like strands of hair brushing his skin. Louis couldn’t help but glance back. The corridor behind him was empty, but on the floor, a trail of damp footprints crept ever closer—the last step nearly touching him.
Helen’s warning echoed in his mind. He rubbed his face hard and hurried into a room that resembled a dance studio, slamming the door behind him. But to his dismay, there was a full-length mirror inside.
In the mirror, a pale-faced “Daniel Wu” gripped a pipe, brow furrowed, staring anxiously at the door. All seemed normal, except—within the mirrored room, the door was open.
And the reflection of “Daniel Wu” did not turn to look back.
Louis blinked hard, only to see that his reflection had lowered its head, face shrouded in shadow.
Suddenly, in the mirrored world, the door slammed shut.
A chilling, guttural laugh echoed from the glass. But after a few moments, the mirrored figure fell silent, its surroundings beginning to warp and twist.
[What kind of magic is this?]
“Don’t be nervous, sir. I won’t harm you. This is merely a simple ‘Mobius Loop.’”
With trembling hands, Louis drew out his pocket watch, unable to hide his excitement. “At last, I’ve found you!”
He silently thanked Helen for her timely warning. Since hearing the rumors about the Dreamshadow Spire, he’d come here seven or eight times, always searching during his watchman duties.
This time, Helen’s advice had been invaluable. Without her, who would have known to close his eyes, turn back, pause his steps, and face the mirror?
In that moment, the figure within the glass realized that the seed of nightmare it had planted in Louis’s mind had been severed, and any attempt at mind-reading found his psyche as still as dead water.
Studying the eager, exhilarated expression on “Daniel Wu’s” face, Stuart lapsed into contemplation.
[Sir, why do I feel as though we've met before?]