The Invincible Young Master-Chapter 215 - - Silica’s Traces

[A/N: Reynold, as Duke's eldest son, has the title marquis.]

...

The mist around Reynold had finally dissipated, leaving the forest in an eerie stillness.

He stood before Princess Ling Yan, her figure both graceful and commanding. The white veil she wore added a layer of mystery.

Beside her stood the masked man, his posture rigid and alert, his eyes warily staring at Reynold.

Reynold's mind had cleared enough to regain his composure, though the glimpses of the illusion still lingered.

"Where are your forces, princess?" Reynold asked, breaking the silence.

Ling Yan's veil fluttered lightly as she answered. "They were separated when we entered this world."

She continued, her voice soft. "And as we wandered through the forest, we found you standing frozen in place... and then, without warning, you charged at us."

"I apologize for my rash behavior," he said, his head inclining in a small gesture of respect. His instincts had been sharp, but the illusion had nearly swallowed him whole before he could regain control.

Ling Yan gave a slight, understanding nod.

"What did the Marquis see in the illusion?" she asked, her voice still soft but filled with curiosity. "What was it that caused you to react so violently?"

Reynold hesitated, his mind momentarily spiraling back into the illusion's

"I... I saw my sister in danger," he said quietly.

Ling Yan's gaze softened. "It seems the illusion here draws from one's strongest emotions. It preys on what we hold dear, using our memories against us."

Reynold nodded slowly. "...It seems so."

Ling Yan spoke again, her voice still gentle but now tinged with empathy.

"I've heard about your sister," she said quietly. "I'm sorry for what happened."

Ling Yan's eyes lingered on Reynold for a moment, studying him with a mixture of understanding and curiosity. Finally, her tone shifted slightly, casual.

"Just then, where were you going, Marquis? The temple lies ahead," she said, gesturing toward the distant silhouette of the temple rising through the trees.

Reynold glanced in the direction she pointed but then shook his head slightly.

"I was searching for signs of my sister," he said quietly. "That's what brought me to this place."

"Magic strings," Ling Yan murmured under her breath.

She knew that those familiar with arcane magic had many ways to track someone's magic trails, like threads woven through the air. If one possesses even a fragment of the other person's magic, they can follow it to the source.

"Yes," Reynold confirmed. "I've been following my sister's magic trail. It's faint, but it's there."

His goal for entering this ruin wasn't for any treasure or even clearing this ruin. He was here for Silica. The greater Ruin came second.

"I'll be off then," he said.

"Won't you be going toward the temple?" Ling Yan asked.

"I must continue looking for traces of my sister," he replied firmly.

Ling Yan watched him, her gaze calculating. After a pause, she spoke again.

"We could help," she suggested.

Reynold was about to decline her offer when Ling Yan quickly added. "If something like before happens again, we could assist."

Reynold studied her for a moment, the faint flicker of hesitation crossing his face before he caught himself. He didn't like relying on others, but the memory of the illusions was still fresh.

The danger it posed was real, and as much as he hated to admit it, having someone by his side, someone aware of the peril, might prove useful. The risk of falling prey to it again was not something he could afford.

After a long silence, Reynold exhaled deeply. "Fine,"

Reynold continued his search, his sharp senses tuning into the air around him. There, just on the edge of perception, was the faintest thread of magic. It was Silica's magic, a trace that only he could detect.

Ling Yan and her masked companion kept a respectful distance, their footsteps barely audible behind him. Ling Yan's gaze remained fixed on the back of Reynold's head, a spark of curiosity flickering in her eyes.

"Why didn't Lord Spark come with you?" she asked, her tone casual, though the interest in her voice was clear. "I'm sure things would be easier if he joined us on this expedition."

Reynold's expression remained stoic, but his response was quick and almost dismissive. "He doesn't like exploring ruins."

"Ah, I see. He mentioned something like that the last time we spoke." Her gaze lingered on him for a moment, curiosity still swirling beneath her calm exterior. "I've heard much about Lord Spark. Does the Marquis know how strong he really is?"

"I've never seen him fight." He said. "I don't know."

Ling Yan looked thoughtful, as if she had more questions, but before she could speak again, the air around them seemed to change.

It was subtle, but it was enough to catch Reynold's attention. His senses sharpened instantly, and he heard Silica's voice floating through the trees.

"We must explore the temple before my brother arrives," her voice echoed.

Reynold's eyes hardened.

"Another petty trick," he muttered under his breath. This was likely another illusion, a distraction meant to pull him in, he thought.

Ling Yan turned her head to glance at Reynold, her expression shifting.

"Marquis," she asked, "are you hearing this voice too?"

Reynold's gaze flicked to her, his face grew serious. This wasn't right. The fact that Ling Yan also heard the voice what did it meant.

In an illusion, it was rare for two people to experience the same sensory input.

Without another word, Reynold surged toward the source of the voice.

Princess Ling Yan hesitated for only a moment; she and her masked guard fell into step behind Reynold.

After passing through a few underbrush, Reynold suddenly halted. His feet planted firmly on the ground, his eyes fixed on something just ahead.

Ling Yan and the masked man quickly caught up with him, their footsteps quiet on the forest floor. They followed the line of Reynold's stare, their eyes settling on the scene that stretched out before them.

Just beyond a thick cluster of trees, ethereal silhouettes shimmered faintly in the dappled light. Their forms flickered, caught somewhere between the physical world and something elusive.

This content is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

A golden-haired girl stood at the forefront, her figure striking against the backdrop of the vibrant greenery. Beside her, a purple-haired youth stood, his brow furrowed in thought, though there was a certain worry etched into his features.

"That old man better pray I don't return alive," the golden-haired girl, grumbled, crossing her arms. "What kind of hellhole did he send us to?"

The purple-haired youth beside her chuckled wryly, offering no real response.

The girl exhaled sharply and turned her gaze toward the towering temple in the distance.

"Hopefully, we should find something there," she muttered before crouching down.

Magic swirled around her fingertips, faint light weaving into the earth and the trees like threads of an intricate web.

Ling Yan realized something, and she turned to Reynold.

"That… that must be your sister," she murmured, her gaze locked on the figures ahead.

The two ethereal figures continued their conversation, unaware of the presence watching them from the side.

The girl, Silica, spoke again, sighing, "I am exhausting myself."

The purple-haired youth raised an eyebrow, his gaze skeptical.

"You've been leaking your magic since we entered this place. Why are you doing this?" he asked, confusion lining his voice.

"That's because my brother will come here looking for me," she answered without hesitation.

The youth tilted his head. "That's why you're leaving traces of your magic?"

"Yes," Silica replied, continuing her work.

"We don't even know where we are." the boy asked, uncertainty in his voice. "How are you so sure he will come?"

Silica merely smiled, "He always does."

She stood up, brushing her hands against her robes. "Yeah, his sense for magic is ridiculously sharp, like a dog's nose. Once he finds these traces, he'll recognize it's me."

The conversation lingered for a moment before the figures began to fade. A soft wind rustled through the trees, and the two mirages turned, walking away into the depths of the forest.

Ling Yan exhaled, breaking the silence. "That was…"

"An unstable mirage," Reynold answered.

Hearing his words, Ling Yan understood. It was a memory imprinted by the unstable nature of this world, a fragment of the past left behind. Furthermore, silica had left large traces of her magic behind which caused their mirage to solidify further.

Reynold's gaze shifted toward the temple, which was standing in the far distance.

"The direction she was heading…" he murmured, his eyes locked onto the towering structure ahead. "…must be the temple."