Deep into the night, a pair of cobalt-blue eyes quietly opened in the darkness.
Ethan pulled an ageing potion from his chest and downed it in one gulp. "Crack crack." His bones made crisp sounds like someone crunching celery as his form slowly stretched taller and more mature.
After quietly changing into darker clothes, he pressed a pure white mask onto his face.
Perfect. This way, even if I get caught, I can blame [Mr Lamp]. Hehe.
"Disillusionment," Ethan whispered.
With a wave of his wand, magic poured down like cold water, and his form vanished completely.
"Mmm, goblins taste delicious..." A nearby wizard turned over, smacking his lips and continuing to sleep peacefully.
Sweet dreams indeed.
Ethan nodded approvingly and quietly slipped out of the shared dormitory.
The door opened and closed with barely a creak.
Tonight was heavily overcast, completely obscuring the moon. Ethan moved silently through the camp's central clearing, weaving between houses until he reached the ancient well marked on the treasure map.
He pressed himself against a wall, peering around the corner.
Sure enough, two guards stood by the wellhead, alert and armed. Nearby, more people constantly patrolled back and forth in organised patterns.
The Disillusionment Charm only hides my appearance. I can still be discovered if I get too close to others.
Too many guards showed just how much importance they placed on protecting whatever ancient magic lay below. Even with Ethan's considerable magical skills, a direct frontal assault would be extremely difficult.
Luna, it's up to you now.
Thinking this, Ethan wasn't nervous at all. He trusted Luna would use her extraordinary wisdom to devise some clever distraction plan...
"BOOM!" A tremendous explosion erupted from the opposite side of camp!
A pillar of fire blazed skyward through the thick night, lighting up the darkness like a second sun.
Ethan stared at the scene in amazement: "???"
That simple and brutal?!
He watched the rolling smoke and dust, murmuring with genuine admiration: "Great wisdom appears foolish; the great path is simple. Truly worthy of Luna."
Excellent! One hundred points for Ravenclaw!
Immediately after, deep, melodious horn sounds rang out, completely shattering the night's peaceful silence and throwing the entire camp into instant chaos!
The guards around the ancient well shouted frantically: "Attack! Those damned goblins are launching a sneak attack!"
"But that explosion seemed to come from inside our own camp..."
"Nonsense, it's got to be the goblins' alchemical bombs! Those sneaky little bastards!"
Hearing this exchange, Ethan nodded with understanding, remembering the goblin scout they'd spotted in the forest upon their arrival.
Hmm, feels like we accidentally gave them perfect cover instead of warning them.
By the ancient well, several sharp "Pop! Pop!" sounds echoed as guards Apparated away to join the battle elsewhere.
Perfect! My turn!
Ethan's eyes lit up with excitement. After confirming their departure, he quickly approached the wellhead.
"Gravitas Penna". The Feather-Light Charm made his body weightless.
Ethan leaped directly into the deep well, floating gently downward like a leaf on the wind.
He didn't notice a tall, sturdy figure returning through the chaos, glaring suspiciously at the ancient well.
"Tap." His shoes splashed softly in shallow puddles at the bottom.
Ethan stood at the well's base, looking around with genuine amazement. Before him stretched an incredibly vast underground space.
Humid air filled the cavern, water pooled in natural depressions, and tunnels extended in all directions like a massive spider web. Winding, complex, and obviously the result of extensive excavation work.
Looks like those wizards have been digging here for a very long time. They knew ancient magic relics were buried somewhere but couldn't pinpoint the exact location.
But I have cheats!
Ethan unfolded the treasure map left by the relic's original owner. Immediately, ghostly blue magic flowed from the aged parchment, forming a brilliant guiding line to lead him forward!
Show me the way!
Ethan quickly followed the magical beam, crossing slippery stone ground and countless branching intersections. Finally, he reached what appeared to be a solid wall.
The magical light extended beyond the stone surface, suggesting something hidden.
An illusion spell?
Ethan reached out but touched completely solid rock. Though he could easily blast through with magic, he instinctively felt that wasn't the intended approach.
He pressed close to the wall, feeling carefully inch by inch with patient fingers.
Sure enough, he discovered an inconspicuous small keyhole in the centre!
"I knew it." Inspiration flashed through his mind.
He took out the Vault 12 key and inserted it into the hidden lock. It fit perfectly!
"Click." The ancient key turned smoothly, and an arched doorway carved with intricate magical patterns emerged from the wall itself!
It opened slowly before Ethan's eager eyes!
"This is actually a chain quest," Ethan marvelled. "No wonder ancient magic was completely lost to history. The key components were absolutely indispensable."
"Wonder what good things this mysterious Mr Black left for me."
He rubbed his hands together eagerly and stepped inside the hidden chamber.
The space was narrow and simple, with only a stone table quietly placed in the centre. On it sat a thick, heavy tome that immediately caught his attention.
Its surface resembled fire-scorched skin—pitted, uneven, and somehow uncomfortable to look at directly.
I love it already.
Ethan felt even more convinced that he shared common interests with this ancient magic relic's owner.
But he didn't rashly grab the book, first carefully observing his surroundings for potential traps.
That's when he spotted two dragon head sculptures hidden in shadow on the side walls. Their eyes seemed to follow his movement.
Hmm, looks like some kind of defensive mechanism.
Just as Ethan was about to investigate further, his pupils suddenly contracted with alarm!
His wand moved with lightning speed as a spell flew from his lips: "Protego!"
"Bang!" A red curse struck his hastily raised magical barrier!
Ethan confirmed he still wore his disguise mask and appeared as an adult, then turned toward his attacker.
It was Marcus, the camp guard captain.
Marcus held his wand defensively, looking both wary and shocked at the scene before him. His pupils trembled with disbelief!
The ancient magic relic they'd been unable to locate for months had been discovered by this mysterious masked intruder!
He'd originally suspected today's scavengers, but how could that thirteen-year-old brat accomplish something like this?!
Must be some other expert entirely!
"How dare you come to my territory and cause trouble!" Marcus shouted aggressively. "Leave immediately, and I might spare your worthless life!"
Perfect. The hidden door's been opened. He can leave the treasure and get out.
After all, ancient magic represented incredibly dangerous power that absolutely couldn't fall into the wrong hands!
Marcus's eyes burnt with desperate desire.
Now? He wants me to just... leave? Is he joking?!
Ethan almost instinctively wanted to scatter some sunflowers to show this man the true meaning of light and beauty.
But he restrained himself admirably. I'm a good person. How could I attack a fellow human wizard? Even if he's being unreasonable, my kind, peace-loving nature means I can only endure this.
Ethan glanced meaningfully at the dragon head mechanisms on the walls, then raised both hands and silently stepped back.
This action increased Marcus's confidence, making him believe his opponent was weaker than expected.
Otherwise, why not attack directly?
"Hmph," Marcus grinned threateningly. "No funny business. I'll know if you try anything. Stay put and avoid more trouble!"
Ethan said nothing, just standing quietly like a cold, emotionless statue.
Marcus felt an inexplicable chill run down his back, but desire for the ancient magic relics easily overwhelmed this strange unease.
He pushed roughly past Ethan and strode into the chamber, staring at the thick book on the table with barely contained longing!
This book belongs to me!
Marcus practically lunged forward, grabbing the tome with both hands!
The next second... "Click." A soft, ominous sound rang out.
Under the book, on the table's surface, was a pressure-activated switch that had just been triggered!
Outside the chamber, Ethan whistled casually, his peripheral vision catching the dragon head mechanisms beginning to glow with orange-red magical energy.
Marcus clutched the book, frowning in confusion. "What the hell was that noise?"
Seeing the increasingly bright walls around him, he suddenly felt overwhelming foreboding and tried to retreat...
"BOOM!" Two blazing fireballs shot simultaneously from the opposite dragon heads!
They exploded directly on Marcus, making him scream like he was being butchered alive!
"AHHHHH!"
Magical fire rolled and burst throughout the chamber. After the first volley came the second, then the third!
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!" Like two ancient cannons, the dragon heads continued firing relentless magical projectiles!
The entire chamber filled with brilliant, deadly fireworks!
Initially, Marcus's piercing screams could be heard clearly. Later, even those sounds stopped completely.
Firelight reflected through Ethan's mask into his fascinated eyes, making him sigh with genuine appreciation: "So beautiful..."
Explosions above ground and below. Treasures to collect and fireworks to enjoy. The relic's original owner was incredibly considerate.
After several minutes, the dragon heads finally exhausted their magical ammunition and stopped firing. Like they'd had enough fun and entered a recovery period.
Ethan waved his wand to clear the chamber's thick smoke.
Stepping inside, he searched around before spotting a blackened mass on the ground that almost blended with the scorched environment.
Still slightly rising and falling with laboured breathing. How tenacious.
"There you are," Ethan observed clinically. "Excellent camouflage technique, worthy of a guard captain."
Marcus could barely speak: "..."
Damn it, I've been blasted into this pathetic state!
Furious beyond measure, he trembled violently with rage and pain.
Through his scorched skin, he forced his eyes open to see that mysterious, eerie masked figure picking up the ancient magic book he'd dropped.
The intruder dusted off the undamaged cover with elegant, leisurely movements, making Marcus look like a complete fool.
I was manipulated from the very beginning. He used me as a disposable tool to trigger the trap! Everything's been under this masked man's control!
From start to finish, I was nothing but a clown in his performance!
Marcus's eyes bulged with helpless rage as he hoarsely croaked: "Who... who are you?! The camp won't let you get away with this!"
Why does this sound familiar? Ethan mused. Didn't the goblins say something similar about not letting me go?
Sigh, clearly I'm everyone's destined righteous partner in these situations.
Ethan looked down at the Marcus-shaped lump on the ground and spoke slowly: "Since you asked so sincerely, I'll mercifully tell you."
Marcus trembled even more violently with anticipation and dread.
"I am [Lamp], the [Mr Lamp] who controls light and hope."
Marcus's eyes widened in shock: "?!!"
He suddenly froze, rapidly recalling that terrifying ice apocalypse scene they'd discovered in the forest.
Then Ethan did something completely unexpected. He leaned down and removed his mask before Marcus's horrified gaze.
Looking at Marcus's suddenly bulging eyes, Ethan's cobalt-blue eyes curved with playful mischief: "Also the scavenger 'Light'~"
Marcus stared blankly at that mature yet unforgettably handsome face, his brain buzzing with complete confusion!
How could this be? How could it be that pretty boy brat?!
From which step had I fallen completely into his elaborate manipulation?!