Yup, there's more.
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Dark space of cave was illuminated by golden sphere that was floating in mid-air. However stone walls were grey and so was floor, and therefore this underground cave or dungeon was dark even with light source levitating above. Single girl was sitting on the chair next to only table that was in this small cave. In her hands, there was old book that obviously belonged to this place, unlike girl herself, who wasn’t suited to be in this cave.
Black haired girl was probably about seventeen years old. She was dressed in poor clothes, and had old necklace around her neck. She has stopped reading and returned book back to table. She only stopped reading because she suddenly had felt like she was being observed.
“Eeeek!” she shrieked inarticulate sound, as she noticed wooden puppet slowly walking towards her. As she screamed, puppet suddenly changed its look and now looked like a red haired boy of about nine years of age.
“Actually, I should be one screaming. You are not supposed to be here. This is my underground castle… well, entrance room to my underground castle to be precise. What are you doing here?” asked boy who was wooden puppet until moment ago.
Girl was terrified. She fell to ground and placed her face on floor in bow.
“Mighty guardian of the Tomb, please do not kill me.” she pleaded with weak scared voice.
“Why should I kill you? You have necklace that was given to those who are allowed to enter my castle. Even though I do not remember you… By any chance, are you daughter of leader of Golden Sect?”
As girl heard young boy talk, she tried to calm down bit, but was still scared. After all, she was not supposed to be here.
“Former leader of Golden sect. My father was killed eight years ago.” She replied with scared voice.
“What a pity. Tomen was certainly talented man. He managed to reach tier twenty on his own after all.”
Girl suddenly raised her head.
“Did you know my father?”
Boy stayed silent for few seconds and then answered.
“Well, my master did know him. He will be really sad after he hears about it. But looking at you I can see he will also be pretty mad. Your poor clothing… I guess that new leader of Golden sect is not treating you well. Also stand up, poor child, floor here is too cold to lie on comfortably.”
Girl slowly stood up. Carefully, she asked the boy-guardian.
“Your master? Are you talking about the Warlock?”
“The Warlock? What kind of name is that? My master is honored Infinite magician, Warlock of Eight sell-swords, Divine beast-slayer, and subjugator of all elements. Calling him warlock is just impolite, girl.”
“I am sorry, mighty guardian, but isn’t your master dead? For last ten years he has been missing. Moreover that book here…” said girl, scared of his reaction. Even though that being looked like a child now, she knew it was some powerful creation of Warlock, who was said to be one of strongest magicians to ever live.
Little boy laughed as he heard what she said.
“That’s just absurd. For my master to be dead!? What a joke! You see little girl, that book over there is something I wrote based off my master’s memories. It is true that he was poisoned, but he had certain idea how to neutralize that poison and left in order to deal with it. I am sure that he will be returning here soon.”
“You believe in that even after ten years of him being gone?”
“Precisely because it is almost ten years since he left. That was amount of time his plan would need to be finished.” answered boy with full confidence.
“You see, I am sorry I have to be one to tell you that, mister guardian, but I am afraid that he is dead. No one has seen him over last ten years and even this cave entrance is called the Tomb of the Warlock.” she said.
Entrance of cave was wall with many magic markings and over last seven years, since belief that Warlock is dead has spread, many magicians tried to enter his tomb, but failed. But when she touched the wall after running into cave, she was instantly teleported into this underground cave.
“I see. So that was why those worms were trying to forcibly access my castle. They destroyed portal more than three times. I had to send other guardians to fix it each time.”
“Your castle?”
“Well, I mean my master’s castle. I am mere keeper of castle, but I sometimes call this castle mine. If my master was here, I guess I would get scolded. Keep that secret from him.” Said little boy with laugh. Then he started questioning the girl.
“So, what do you need in my master’s castle, girl? Also, you still have yet to introduce yourself.”
As girl realized her mistake, she instantly bowed.
“I am sorry mighty guardian for not introducing properly. My name is Ruria Gold. I have ended here by accident, after I ran into cave while I was being chasing and somehow I ended up here.”
“My name is… calling me Guardian will be fine. Well, to explain this to you, reason you were teleported here is simple. That necklace of yours was something… my master gave to your father. It allows holder to enter into the castle, through the portal. It is also why that shiny thing that illuminates this room did not instantly kill you moment you entered. I… it was made to look like ordinary necklace so that people wouldn’t try to steal it from him. Also, he was only one who knew what it was for.” answered boy as he smiled innocently.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
And then, without changing his expression, he laughed.
“Now tell me who dared to attack daughter of my… master’s friend? I can promise they will regret it.”
“I am sorry, but I can’t answer that question. You see, because of my father being friend of your master, currently, whole Golden sect was disallowed to trade with four empires. Because of that, it’s justified that they are angry. I beg you, mighty guardian, please don’t hurt them. This is something inside of our sect, something outsiders should not interfere in.”
Boy’s expression showed anger.
“I see. Since you are begging me, I will let it slide. But if you are not safe outside, I can arrange for you to stay here. I can even lend you some of books from my library. I can tell you are tier twelve magician already, which might be seen as decent for your age, but from my point of view, it is pitifully weak. You are like what, sixteen, seventeen?”
“I am eighteen already. Well, I was denied magic education and was taught magic by practitioner who took me in after my father’s death and who was also shunned because of rejecting authority of clan, but I can compete with other clan’s youths easily in magic.”
Young boy shook his head.
“Alright, forget about books. I will teach you everything myself. I don’t want to spit on kindness of your teacher… but his skills and knowledge cannot be compared with mine. So do you wish to stay?” he asked.
“I think I have to. Since I have basically disappeared while everyone was watching me, if I returned, I think they would force me to explain everything to them. Many of them dream about riches of Warlock’s tomb, but it was believed to be inaccessible.”
“I see. Then, follow me.” said boy, and he slowly walked towards the wall. He stopped by the wall, took hand of young girl and the touched the wall. Next moment, they were teleported into exquisite bedroom.
Girl looked around. Big bed was so beautiful that it would put beds of nobles into shame. There were two tables, one worktable and one for food, each with its own chair. There was also small library of about thirty books and sixty spell-books in three shelves and closet for dresses. But that was all. Room was pretty empty.
Moreover, because of it having no windows, and doors leading to room were metallic, it felt like it was more of prison cell than a room. Girl however did not state her mind about it.
“This room belonged to master’s apprentice.” said boy with low voice.
“The Warlock had an apprentice?”
Boy did not answer for a while.
“Yes, he did.” boy said with absentminded expression.
“But don’t get your hopes up thinking he will accept you as his apprentice. Even if he returns, I doubt he will be willing to take another one. Moreover, you don’t really have qualifications to become his apprentice anyways. Well, get accommodated in your room. I will shortly send some servant to bring you food. Now, excuse me.” Said boy and then he stood next to wall.
“Thank you.” girl said as he teleported himself.
Boy stood in his room. Big glass ball levitated in the air right in front of his face.
In front of castle’s entrance portal, there was group of people forming mob. They were slowly torturing man, who boy thought to be magic teacher of the girl. Why they were doing this vile act was no mystery to him. They probably thought they could make the girl go out if they tortured him in front of portal. If she would tell them how she entered, they could get all the riches inside of this castle, was their line of thoughts.
Seeing them, boy wanted to go out and kill those bastards, but sadly, most powerful defenses of castle were arranged not to be able to leave the castle, so if he went outside he would have to face them alone or with support of ordinary minions. Normally it would not be problem, but he could easily tell that current sect leader, menacingly looking man in his forties who was also present, man that reminded him bit of previous sect leader Tomen, was tier nineteen magician and there were another four tier eighteen magicians who were probably branch leaders. Right now, he could maybe fight the man alone to draw, but with support of those four, he was certain he would be defeated.
“Just you wait, bastards. Acting so cocky in front of my castle, I will pay you back for this soon enough.” swear escaped his mouth, as he memorized the face of powerful five men before he changed his appearance back to that of wooden puppet and left the room.