A Wizard’s Secret

In a spacious, lavish room in Wilson Castle, a slim man with a head of lustrous, long, golden hair was acting restless, pacing constantly.

The blonde man was about twenty-something of age. His face still carried a trace of tenderness but he also exuded vigorous fluctuations, only they were not very powerful, merely at the stage of a Fourth-level Wizard.

“Conlin, stop worrying. The royal family is influential. I’m happy that I could escape alive and hide in Wilson Castle for a few days. It’s just that no one has ever hidden from Bhutto XVII successfully. I’ll surrender myself. Bhutto XVII will only stop worrying, no longer using every possible means against the Wilson clan when he’s cut things off at the root.”

Suddenly, the female Wizard in bed, wearing a white long Wizard Robe, looking fresh and pure, stood up. She gently held the man’s hand, appearing reluctant to part.

“Angie, don’t worry. Although Bhutto XVII is influential, he’s always regarded our Wilson clan highly. For the past few days, you’ve seen that many Spell Casters are monitoring us from outside. They know you’re here but they still daren’t enter. Father will resolve this matter. Moreover, a few days ago, he’s already discussed with me. He’s ready to pass on the Wilson clan’s dukedom to me. In the future, you’ll be a duchess. His Majesty will surely take the Wilson clan into account, and no longer pursue the matter of your being a Spell Caster of Fog City.”

Conlin spoke to reassure but he was somewhat anxious. Although the Wilson clan was now flourishing splendidly, it was still lacking by far compared to the royal family. Under His Majesty the King’s power, the Wilson clan was unable to resist.

“Master Conlin, bad news. Great Wizard Anlin of the royal family has personally visited Sir Duke!”

A guard’s panicked voice came from outside.

“What? Great Wizard Anlin had come personally?”

Conlin’s expression shifted greatly as he gripped Angie’s hand even tighter, afraid that once he let go, he would never see Angie again.

Angie heaved a long sigh. She knew that Great Wizard Anlin had always been the Great Wizard most trusted by Bhutto XVII. With his arrival, it looked like the Wilson clan could not protect her no matter what.

“Conlin, let me go. Bhutto XVII might still go easy on all of you, considering the Wilson clan’s ancestor. I’m the one they’re looking for!”

Angie struggled out from Conlin’s grip. She broke out into an angelic smile which yet induced a sense of misery.

“No, no, Angie. I’ll go with you!”

After a long moment, Conlin had made a choice. He straightened his clothes and immediately opened the door. Just as he was about to head downward, a guard hurried forward. Upon seeing Conlin, the guard said quickly, “Master Conlin, the Duke asks that you bring Miss Angie down.”

Conlin’s face shifted slightly. Despite preparing himself for this, in this actual moment, he was somewhat at a loss.

Conversely, Angie seemed prepared for this. She had escaped from Fog City and traveled to Wilson Castle. Naturally, she knew of the royal family’s influence. By now, they had controlled the entire continent. Even the Spell Caster world had fallen to pieces. In this continent, there was nowhere she could hide, and no one who could go against Bhutto XVII’s will.

She knew that this day would come eventually!

“Conlin, come on. Let’s go down.”

Angie and Conlin trailed behind the guard, swiftly making their way toward the living room below.

Soon, both of them arrived in the living room. Except Duke Wilson, Wizard Havens and another person who wore a black robe, stood before the living room’s portrait with his hands clasped behind his back. They could only see his back.

“Father, Wizard Havens.”

Conlin bowed slightly toward Duke Wilson and Wizard Havens, then cast an unfriendly gaze at the stranger in the black robe. He felt that this must be Great Wizard Anlin.

“Conlin, quickly pay respects to your ancestor.”

Duke Wilson spoke lowly but his voice revealed an irrepressible delight.

“Ancestor?”

Conlin was rather stunned but that black-robed Wizard had turned around, displaying a young face. Only those eyes were incomparably abstruse.

However, Conlin’s expression had changed completely. This person looked quite similar to him.

“Father, this…”

“Get on with paying your respects. This is the ancestor of the Wilson clan, Wizard Merlin!”

Seeing that Conlin was still stunned, Duke Wilson exhorted hurriedly.

Angie was dumbstruck with her mouth agape. She looked up quickly toward the portrait hanging in the living room, then matched it to the stranger before her. Indeed, they were alike, even in presence.

At this point, how could she not know that this was Wizard Merlin who had become a legend of the Spell Caster world centuries ago? He had finally returned!

“Ancestor!”

“Wizard Merlin!”

Conlin and Angie paid their respects without delay. A legendary figure, the ancestor of the Wilson clan from past centuries, had shown up in Wilson Castle. Both of them were still somewhat bewildered.

“Not bad, a Fourth-level Spell Caster. Your father said that you have a knack for runes?”

Merlin sat down and looked at Conlin with keen interest. Naturally, he could detect a faint, familiar force in the other person’s blood. This was unique to him. It was truly his lineal descendant.

“Ancestor, Conlin’s talent with runes is even greater than mine. That’s why I’ve decided to pass on the dukedom to him.”

Duke Wilson said quickly. He did not wish to give his ancestor the impression that he neglected the Wilson clan for the sake of his son.

Merlin nodded wordlessly. He now realized that the Runic Heartprint he had left behind was now an emblem of the Wilson clan’s successive dukedom. Only someone who was gifted in runes and had decent Spell Caster Quality could ultimately inherit the Wilson clan’s dukedom and receive the Runic Heartprint.

“Is your ancestry Charise or Avril?”

Merlin remembered that he had two wives back then, and each had left behind descendants for him.

“Ancestor, we’re descended from Charise!”

Just as Merlin guessed, they shared Charise’s blood.

Merlin thought about Charise once more. Once a haughty princess, then a capable lady, finally an old woman of white hair. Most of her life had been spent in the Wilson clan.

“Angie, you’re a Spell Caster of Fog City?”

Merlin looked again at this female Wizard in a white robe, who looked pure and sweet. Angie kept inducing in Merlin a sense of déjavu as if they had met before.

“Wizard Merlin, I’m a Spell Caster of Fog City but my ancestor is your disciple, Emma!”

“Emma?”

Merlin turned blank until his mind gradually recalled that beautiful young girl who had saved him in the maple forest. When she smiled, she was as sweet and pure as Angie.

“Ancestor, it’s precisely because Angie has this link to our Wilson clan, and she’s engaged to Conlin, that I’m unwilling to hand her over to Bhutto XVII.”

Duke Wilson spoke cautiously. Before this ancestor, he felt an unprecedented level of pressure.

“Ancestor, please don’t hand Angie over.”

Conlin gripped Angie’s hand firmly, his expression flashing with determination.

As he looked at Conlin and Angie’s mutual love, Merlin smiled softly. All through his life, he only had relations with three women – Charise, Avril, and the maidservant Laurinka. Nonetheless, Merlin did not experience an unforgettable love with these three women. He had always chased after the essence of being a Spell Caster, seeking for greater powers.

Although he had never experienced a love like this, he would not stand in the way of Conlin and Angie’s happiness.

“Conlin, with our ancestor here, who would dare pursue the matter of Angie? Earlier, Great Wizard Anlin had left. Even if our ancestor hadn’t shown up, Bhutto XVII no longer planned to pursue this matter. You can rest easy.”

Although Duke Wilson’s tone was one of rebuke, he was inwardly filled with relief. Considering the royal family’s present power, Merlin’s return was highly significant to the Wilson clan.

“Swish.”

Merlin suddenly made a grab, and with irresistible force plucked out the Runic Heartprint from Duke Wilson’s brow, cutting off its connection to Duke Wilson.

“Ancestor…”

Duke Wilson felt a small shock. This Runic Heartprint was the symbol of the successive Wilson dukedom.

The Runic Heartprint hovered above Merlin’s palm as he spoke calmly, “I had initially given this Runic Heartprint only to Felinda, letting her understand Runic Magic Circles to better protect the Wilson clan. To think that after she died, this Runic Heartprint was given to the Wilson clan and turned into an emblem of the successive Wilson dukedom. In truth, the Runic Heartprint belonged to the Dark Magic Region. I’ve brought it out from there. Now, it’s time for it to be returned to its rightful owner, the Dark Magic Region.”

With that, Merlin pointed and this Runic Heartprint transformed into a river of light, imprinting into Wizard Havens’ forehead. Instantly, Havens sensed a new power from the Runic Heartprint.

“How mystical. I can wield Runic Magic Circles in an instant?”

Havens was astounded. He finally knew how Duke Wilson was able to create a few formidable Runic Magic Circles all at once. It turned out he had relied on the Runic Heartprint’s ability.

“I’m very grateful to Wizard Merlin. Your care toward our Dark Magic Region in the past has already earned our endless gratitude.”

Wizard Havens naturally knew the function of this Runic Heartprint. If he could put it to good use and unleash its capability, he would be even stronger than a Great Wizard.

Deep down, Duke Wilson was slightly rueful. No one knew about the might of the Runic Heartprint better than he did. Nevertheless, this was the ancestor’s decision, and he dared not raise any objections.

“Alright, let’s go. Take me to my father’s grave.”

Now that Merlin had returned to Wilson Castle, of course, he wanted to visit the graves of his father, Charise, and the rest. They had been the ones closest to him in this world.