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54. New Pawn

In the hidden basement of her modest home, Ellora sat surrounded by various magical tools and piles of formula papers cluttering the tables around her. In front of her, a magical transmitter with a detection screen emitted a red light, indicating a moving point she had been closely monitoring for some time. That small light represented the location of Madalyn Naventhius—a crucial piece of the plan that was gradually taking shape before Ellora's eyes. A faint smile crossed her lips as she watched the red dot on the screen approaching the area where Lily was.

On the other side of the room, Katya stood anxiously, yet maintaining her composure with her arms crossed. "It seems your plan is working, Miss Ellora," she said with a sigh of relief. "Madalyn is following the movements we predicted. Though, I think I might have quickened her pace a bit."

Katya nodded slowly, realizing her actions might have been a bit hasty. "I apologize, Miss. But if something had happened to you then, I would never forgive myself. Madalyn is a mere sorcerer; she shouldn't be threatening you so openly. Especially not daring enough to aim an attack at your neck."

Ellora offered a slight smile. "Your actions were excessive, Katya. Trust me, magic at that level is no threat. If she were serious, I might consider it a bit more carefully. But her attack poses no danger to me at all." She looked at Katya with understanding. "However, I appreciate your concern."

Katya lowered her head, feeling embarrassed. "I'm sorry. It's just that Madalyn's actions make my blood boil. How brazen of her, even ordering you to follow her as if she had the right to lead."

"And that's where her fatal mistake lies." Ellora smirked slightly. "That arrogance is what makes her useful to us now. Madalyn has a direct connection to the Naventhius family. We just need to make her obedient, and she can become a valuable pawn."

Katya chuckled at Ellora's words. "However, I must commend Arianne. She seamlessly disguised herself as Lilianne and mimicked all of her spoiled traits without a hitch. I almost didn't recognize her. Perhaps this way, Miss Madalyn won't realize the trap until it's too late."

"Yes," Ellora nodded. "Arianne truly brought that role to life. I felt a sense of affection seeing her, as if the real Lily was there. But of course, my magical tools also played a role, allowing Arianne to perfectly imitate Lily's appearance and voice."

Katya smiled in admiration. "You're truly remarkable, Miss Ellora. Thanks to your creations, every plan goes off without a hitch."

"Thank you, Katya." Ellora glanced at the detection screen for a moment before continuing, "Now, our task is to seize this opportunity wisely. It's time for me to show Madalyn who she'll be serving starting today."

Katya nodded enthusiastically, but then hesitated slightly. "But what about the real Lily, Miss? She's alone in her room right now… isn't that risky?"

"Don't worry," Ellora replied casually, diverting her gaze from the screen. "I've instructed Laura to keep a close watch over the house. She's tough enough to handle any threats that might arise. Besides, I've set up several protective magical devices around the house. Anyone attempting to break in will be noticed."

"Laura?" Katya appeared a bit more at ease upon hearing that name. "Then I'm no longer worried. She'll take good care of the house."

Ellora patted Katya's shoulder, acknowledging her concerns. "Don't be anxious, Katya. I know this is a bold move, but we are prepared. Tonight, let's use all our resources and… make the Naventhius family realize that we are not adversaries to be underestimated."

After ensuring everything was in place, Ellora stood tall, adjusted her robe, and picked up her wand. She signaled to Katya to get ready and walked toward the exit of the basement.

"Alright, Katya. Let's go."

Katya nodded firmly, following behind Ellora as they exited the basement, ready for the mission they had meticulously prepared for.

***

Far away from that location, a sense of urgency filled the air for Madalyn. After finishing her call with Luna, she quickly organized all her followers to be on high alert. In her mind, she had devised a plan to trap Luna upon her arrival. However, little did she realize that she herself was walking into a trap carefully crafted by someone she believed to be an ordinary witch.

Meanwhile, in the hideout, Arianne, disguised as Lilianne, surveyed her surroundings attentively. With all the magical tools provided by Ellora, she flawlessly mimicked Lilianne's voice and appearance, making it seem as if the real Lilianne was present.

Madalyn approached, observing Arianne's feigned fear. "Look at you, Lily. Aren't you lucky? Your sister will come for you, and we'll soon see that terrified expression on your face."

Arianne bowed her head, allowing fake tears to trickle down her cheeks. In a soft voice, she whispered, "Sister Luna… please help me…"

Time passed, and there was still no sign of Luna's arrival. Meanwhile, Arianne, pretending to be Lilianne, remained huddled in a corner, looking scared. Madalyn glanced over, growing increasingly frustrated with the fearful expression plastered on the girl's face.

With her anger boiling over, Madalyn stepped closer and raised her hand, ready to slap the girl as an outlet for her frustration. But just as her hand was about to connect with "Lilianne's" face, the atmosphere in the room shifted suddenly.

Madalyn felt an eerie chill envelop her. The silence that had once been oppressive now felt downright terrifying. Behind her, she realized that several guards who had been there moments before had vanished without a trace. Not even a sound of their footsteps or cries of pain. They had disappeared as if swallowed by the shadows of the night.

Madalyn struggled to calm herself, though fear began to creep in. Her eyes caught sight of one guard standing in a corner, and in an instant, the man's body sank silently into the ground, as if the earth itself had devoured him alive.

Startled, Madalyn ran towards the spot where the man had vanished. Yet, when she stepped onto the floor where he had stood, everything seemed normal. The ground was solid, without any holes or cracks. Madalyn bit her lip, panic starting to consume her thoughts.

"What… what's happening?" Madalyn murmured, her breath quickening.

She spun around, hoping to see another guard who might still be present. But all she saw were shadows on the walls and the emptiness of the room. Her comrades disappeared one by one, and each time she turned around, only darkness remained.

Fear took hold of Madalyn, yet she refused to appear weak. Her gaze shifted to the "Lilianne" sitting silently in the corner, her face pale. With a rough grip, Madalyn approached the girl and grabbed the collar of her shirt.

"You! What are you doing?! This is all your fault, isn't it?" Madalyn shouted in a panic, her eyes wild with a mix of anger and fear.

Yet, "Lilianne" merely stared at her with a blank expression, not uttering a single word. The girl's eyes seemed hollow, devoid of the fear they once held. Madalyn felt a growing dread in her heart as she confronted the eerie calmness of "Lilianne" in this terrifying situation.

The silence stretched on, each second feeling like an eternity, until finally, she heard soft footsteps approaching from behind her. She turned, and before her stood a woman she didn't recognize. The woman wore all black, her face serene, as if she were strolling leisurely in a garden. Madalyn narrowed her eyes, trying to assess this figure.

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The woman glanced at "Lilianne" and then smiled faintly. "Your role has ended, Arianne," she said in a relaxed tone, yet filled with authority.

The girl in Madalyn's grasp suddenly changed her expression. She released Madalyn's grip with surprising strength and, with a smooth motion, touched a device at her neck. In an instant, everything changed: "Lilianne's" face morphed into the real Arianne's.

Madalyn's face turned pale as realization dawned upon her. The person she had kidnapped was not Lilianne at all, but Arianne—the other girl who lived with Luna.

"No… how is this possible…" Madalyn muttered, her face a mask of shock. Her mind spiraled as she tried to understand how she had been deceived from the very beginning. She came to the horrifying realization that Arianne, whom she had believed to be just an ordinary sister, had been working with her enemies to trap her.

Madalyn felt her anger boiling over, but fear began to creep into her heart. She turned to the unfamiliar woman, who stood with an air of arrogance and calm. "You! Who are you? What is the meaning of all this?!" Madalyn shouted, her voice filled with fury, desperate for answers.

The woman merely smiled slyly, her sharp gaze sending chills down Madalyn's spine. Without answering, she continued to stare at Madalyn before approaching with deliberate, steady steps. "It doesn't matter who I am," she said. "What you need to know is that you've been caught in this trap from the very beginning. Every move you've made has been predicted." The woman paused, her icy gaze fixed on Madalyn. "Now, show me your best skills. You must be curious to know who has dared to humiliate you like this, right?"

"Don't be so smug!" Madalyn shouted in anger. She raised her hand, ready to strike the woman before her. But just as she was about to attack, the woman vanished from her sight.

In an instant, Madalyn felt a presence behind her. She turned quickly, startled to find the woman standing just a few steps away.

"What… what was that? Spatial control?" Madalyn murmured, her breath quickening as she began to grasp just how much she had underestimated her opponent. All this time, she thought Luna was the only one she had to worry about, but the woman before her seemed far more powerful than she had imagined.

The woman smiled faintly, enjoying the confusion reflected in Madalyn's eyes. "What did you expect?" she asked casually, her eyes hinting at the game she was playing.

Madalyn tried to remain composed, but cold sweat began to bead on her temples. "What do you want from all of this?!" she asked again, trying to mask her fear with anger.

The woman didn't answer right away. Instead, she continued to stare at Madalyn, seemingly relishing her panic. After a few moments, she finally said, "Whatever we want is none of your concern."

"Don't make me angry!" Madalyn shouted again, raising her hand to attack, but once more, the woman disappeared in an instant, reappearing on the other side of the room.

The mix of anger and fear began to overwhelm Madalyn as she stepped back, feeling that she was losing control of the situation. "You all… you'll be in serious trouble if you mess with the Naventhius family!" she yelled, unable to contain the growing terror that haunted her.

At that moment, Arianne, having shed her disguise as Lilianne, stood confidently beside the woman, a victorious expression on her face that only served to corner Madalyn further.

Now, Madalyn was at a loss for what to do. The people she had trusted had vanished, and the place where she stood felt like an inescapable trap. Every movement seemed futile, as if the woman could control everything in the room.

In the now silent and oppressive space, Madalyn remained frozen, her breath heavy and her lips trembling. Then suddenly, right before them, the space seemed to split open. A dark rift appeared, tearing through the air like a door to another world. The gap resembled a hidden dimension, full of a cold, haunting emptiness, slowly expanding until it filled the room with an almost unbearable aura.

Madalyn felt an overwhelming force emanating from the rift, a power that crushed her pride and swallowed her courage. Fear engulfed her, and she could hardly suppress the urge to step back a few paces. In contrast, Katya and Arianne quickly knelt in respect, their heads bowed low as if honoring the presence that had just emerged.

"What is this… a Pocket Dimension?" Madalyn murmured weakly, her voice barely more than a whisper.

As the figure began to emerge from the dimension, Madalyn could hardly believe her eyes. Standing before them was Luna, her face calm, cold, and unreadable. Even without saying a word, her presence radiated an undeniable power.

"L-Luna…" Madalyn stammered, her voice trembling as she uttered the name. The icy aura radiating from Luna seemed to dissipate the anger swirling in Madalyn's heart, leaving only fear in its wake.

Arianne, still kneeling, shot Madalyn a glance. In a low and respectful tone, she said, "You should be kneeling before the Princess."

Before Madalyn could respond to Arianne's words, she suddenly felt a weight pressing down on her as if the very gravity from the ceiling was mercilessly crushing her. Her back stiffened, and her knees were forced down to the floor with a thud. Pain shot through her kneecap, but she couldn't move, as if bound by an invisible force.

Madalyn glared at Luna, her eyes filled with a mix of hatred and fear. She clenched her teeth, struggling to contain her rising anger. She wasn't accustomed to being in a position of humiliation, especially not in front of someone she held in such low regard as Luna.

Finally, Luna spoke, her voice soft yet commanding, sending shivers through the air. "You've both played your roles very well, Arianne, Katya," she said, looking at her two loyal servants who remained kneeling. A thin smile graced her lips. "I'm pleased with your performance."

Arianne and Katya bowed their heads even lower, gratitude shining on their faces. "Thank you, Your Highness," they replied in unison, their voices filled with respect and satisfaction.

Luna then turned her attention to Madalyn, her expression remaining cold and composed. "Now, Madalyn…" she said, her tone dropping to a low, subtly threatening whisper. "Your role is far from over."

Madalyn fought against the pressure that urged her to kneel, her face flushing with rage. With great effort, she forced her voice out, her lips trembling. "Don't mess with the Naventhius family!" she shouted, trying to intimidate Luna by invoking the name of her prominent and feared family.

But Luna merely regarded Madalyn with a calm, slightly condescending stare. "Even though you're just a pawn, I can see your potential," she replied, her gaze turning icy. "You'll be the one to make yourself useful to me."

Madalyn couldn't accept such an insult. "Who do you think you are, Luna?" she yelled, furious. "I will not bow to you!"

Luna raised an eyebrow, watching Madalyn's outburst with a painful, calm expression. Without saying another word, she extended her arms, and the air around them trembled. Madalyn felt a tremendous force begin to gather around Luna, like a storm forming in a confined space.

"Blue Magic—'Dimension Fold,'" Luna whispered coolly.

The air around them folded into a symmetrical pattern, creating a new space that felt both limitless and constricted. The room resembled the place they had just been in, yet it felt like a folded imitation in time and space, as if they had been transported into an artificial world entirely controlled by Luna.

Madalyn looked around in growing terror. "Blue Magic, pillar sorcerer magic?!" she screamed, panting from exhaustion.

Luna moved closer to Madalyn, each step seeming to add weight to the oppressive atmosphere. "You think that because of your status as a pillar family, you can do whatever you want? All your efforts have led you here… to a place where you must kneel, Madalyn." Luna's words were cold and sharp, making Madalyn experience a level of fear she had never known before.

Madalyn struggled to rise, trying to summon her power, but each attempt was futile. This space was completely under Luna's control; all of Madalyn's magic and strength felt stifled, powerless. The pressure of this dimension was so intense that it pressed down on every inch of her body, rendering her unable to move.

Arianne and Katya stood behind Luna, watching with small smiles on their faces. Pride radiated from them as they saw their Princess conquer someone who had once threatened them.

Luna stopped directly in front of Madalyn, looking down at her with eyes that seemed to pierce her very soul. "You still refuse to bow, don't you?" she asked coldly. "Unleash your full power; I will subdue you directly now."

Madalyn, still struggling against the dimensional pressure, growled in anger. "Luna! Don't think you can get away from this without consequences!"

Luna shook her head slowly, her gaze sharp. "You are certainly stubborn," she said, her voice cutting straight to Madalyn's heart. "Perhaps I need to teach you a lesson about true power."

With a fluid motion of her hand, Luna cast her spell. Madalyn felt an even greater pressure than before, forcing her to kneel fully before Luna. She could feel her strength draining away, her body growing weaker, yet her pride made her reluctant to admit defeat.

"You won't win… you'll never win!" Madalyn shouted, even though she could no longer hide her fear.

Luna leaned in closer, staring at Madalyn from just inches away. "Victory? This isn't about winning or losing, Madalyn," she whispered in a voice that chilled the air. "It's about understanding your position and your role."

A faint smile graced Luna's lips as she stepped back, signaling to Arianne. With a nod, Arianne released her gravitational magic, allowing Madalyn to move freely once more.

Still unable to conceal her fear, Madalyn forced her voice out, letting out a nervous laugh as she began to chant the light magic of the Naventhius family. "White Magic, Luminous Veil."

Seeing Madalyn ready with her light spell, Luna smiled coolly, realizing it had been a while since she had witnessed the magic of her family in action.

***