Chapter 72: The Witch's Duel - Strawberry Cake, Syrup, and Daggers. ...
Manette looked at her with concern.
"Perhaps you should take a break and go out with your friends. Tonight, Princess Elaine has invited the elven great musician Aidan to play. You can invite your friends along and relax..."
She couldn't be sure of her guess. It sounded absolutely insane unless she could prove it... All she needed to know was one thing, something Lucas hadn't told her, something she'd suspected for a long time.
But not here. No.
The idea she had in mind would only make sense once they left the illusion. If she could use it later, it might be the key to their victory.
First, she needs to find a way to get out.
Ashlin stood up decisively.
“I can prove it. I just need to find one person.”
"who?"
"Lucas."
Manette's expression froze for a few seconds, then she burst into laughter, making even the stationery on the table tremble, and eventually the table itself shook violently.
"Lucas? Could it be the Lucas I'm thinking of?"
Ashlinn patiently waited for her and everything in her room to finish laughing.
"Sorry, which Lucas could it be?"
“Oh, Ashlin! This nightmare has really messed with your thinking, hasn’t it?” Manette stopped laughing. “You barely know each other. What do you want with His Highness the Prince? It’s an important day for him. You can’t let him ruin it.”
“I don’t care. Where is he now? I need to talk to him about it.”
Ashlin had already dashed out like a gust of wind.
There was no one in Lucas's study.
The place was elegant, clean, and tidy; there wasn't a single piece of paper lying around, not a speck of dust. The covers of all the books were exquisitely beautiful. Lucas's handwriting on the parchment was so neat it seemed impossible for a human to write.
She stood there alone for a while, inhaling the scent of Lucas's paper and ink.
Are these feelings real or fake? As things stand, they are more real than ever.
Just then, a girl's cheerful laughter came from the window.
"Haha, I knew His Highness would like it!"
Ashlin opened the window.
It was Lucas, and a noblewoman she didn't recognize, wearing an expensive pink dress.
She hurried downstairs to the spot she had just seen. It was near the fountain in the castle's back garden, where roses were blooming profusely.
Lucas looked completely different from the Lucas she knew. His black hair was cut short and combed back smoothly, though still elegantly curled. He wore an elaborate outfit, blue and gold, and even white gloves.
“Lucas!” Ashlin said breathlessly.
The prince of Helian turned around in surprise, raising his eyebrows. The noblewoman beside him looked Ashlin up and down, pursed her lips, and said nothing.
"Good morning, miss." He said politely. "Do you need any help?"
"Borrow her?" The noblewoman frowned. "You know her, Your Highness?"
“Of course.” Lucas smiled gently, and for a moment Ashlin thought her Lucas had returned. “You are the daughter of the forest mage Talia, aren’t you?”
Ashley's heart sank to her stomach. Of course, he didn't know her.
“Yes, I am.” She nodded. “Prince Lucas, may I speak with you alone?”
They came to the other side of the garden, a more secluded side.
"What do you want to talk about?" Lucas asked, puzzled.
Ashlin organized her thoughts and decided to press on.
“Okay, I know you won’t believe me, and I’m not even sure if you have any self-awareness at all. It’s quite possible that you are actually Cynthia. You can also think I’m crazy,” she said quickly. “But everything I’m about to say is true. I come from another world, the real world, where we are friends. Now I need to go back, and I probably can’t do it without your help.”
Lucas opened his mouth, clearly overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information she was giving him. After a moment, he said:
"Oh, haven't you heard of that well-known legend?"
This time it was Ashlin's turn to be surprised; she hadn't expected Lucas to process all of this so quickly. "Don't you think I'm crazy?"
“I didn’t say that.” The fake Lucas’s tone was almost identical to the real one. “It’s just that your nonsense is quite amusing.”
"Thank you. So, what is this well-known legend? I doubt it's really as widely known as you say."
“Of course, it’s the Kiss of True Love,” Lucas said with an obvious tone. “Legend has it that there are three main types of magic that reveal the truth, aren’t there? Truth-revealing spells, truth-revealing potions, and…”
“The unveiling ceremony,” Ashlin murmured.
She had specifically memorized the knowledge about revealing magic, but she hadn't retained it in her mind.
"That's right. Each form of truth-revealing magic has a different effect. For example, a truth-revealing spell might make someone tell the truth, while a truth-revealing potion is more often used to reveal the true form of something else. As for truth-revealing rituals, they are even more varied."
"But the one mentioned most often is the kiss of true love in the forest. It can break the strongest illusions and reveal the ultimate truth. However, it doesn't always work; it only makes sense in the most extreme cases."
“Let’s define ‘extreme’,” Ashley said.
Lucas shrugged. "Like, on the eve of the world's destruction? Anyway, I've always found it strange that the flawed theory that 'a love's kiss can break a curse' is so widely circulated in fairy tales. In reality, it has a power far greater than breaking a curse."
"But... how exactly does it work?"
"It's very simple. When the green leaves of the forest cover the kiss of true love, the real world is revealed."
No way.
Ashlin desperately hoped that this was not the last resort.
It is so clichéd, so boring, so unoriginal.
If she kisses Lucas, her mother, or all the people she loves, such as Sanova, in the forest, will the magic work?
As if hearing Ashlin's thoughts, Lucas continued, "Assuming what you're saying is true, that we are all illusions, then even if you kiss anyone here or are kissed by anyone, it won't work. After all, no illusion can have true love."
Ashlin felt like she'd been hit over the head.
In other words, she's trapped here.
“Thank you, Lucas,” Ashlin said, quickly correcting herself, “I meant! Your Highness. Your Highness.”
Lucas nodded politely. "You're welcome. But it's just a legend. What do you intend to use it for?"
"I already told you."
I don't believe it.
That's your problem.
"Are you always this rude, miss?"
“Listen, unlike some people, I don’t have a habit of lying. I’m telling the truth, and I don’t care whether you believe me or not.” Ashlin rolled her eyes, not expecting Lucas in the illusion to be so annoying. “Thank you for the database in your head, Your Highness.”
She turned and left, intending to go into the forest.
Unexpectedly, Lucas followed her closely.
"Actually, this is one of the essential pleasures in my life."
Should I say it's my honor?
“It is my honor to be your honor, Your Highness.”
"That's enough. What exactly do you want?" Lucas gently grabbed her. "I don't have time to fool around with you."
"No time? But you're still here." Ashlin gestured to his entire body. "Where's your lady? Don't you want her anymore?"
Lucas chuckled. "Believe me, Miss Fiona is just as disgusted with our conversation as I am, and is probably secretly glad I left."
"Alright, since you insist on staying here, why don't you tell me what this world is like?"
This is a perfect world.
If her mother were still alive, she would greet her with a radiant smile and secretly play pranks on her colleagues.
More importantly, the status of a wizard is far higher than in her world. Magic, in Dias, is the supreme power. Wherever she goes, people will slightly kneel before her, because she is the daughter of the court wizard, because she is the legendary child of the forest. Wherever she goes, even the most difficult-to-care-for roses grow taller.
The darkness is gone, Cynthia never appeared, and Lanrit really did just die of illness.
However, Lucas didn't really know her.
Thinking about this, she felt a little bitter.
Yes. The prince was never sick. She never turned him into a black cat, nor did she ever embark on that absurd adventure to defeat the dark wizard. She was simply the daughter of a court sorcerer, who occasionally brushed past the prince.
This couldn't be real. Ashlyn couldn't accept that her and Lucas's entire journey had been a dream.
Ashlin stood in the forest behind the castle, feeling the cool evening breeze.
When the green leaves of the forest conceal the kiss of true love, the true nature of the world is revealed.
Ashlin suddenly burst out laughing, then immediately felt like she was acting crazy.
But hey. The legend doesn't mention that a true love's kiss has to be in the present moment, nor does it emphasize what kind of love it is.
All three conditions were met that night... Lucas's light kiss on her forehead.
Truth, love, kisses.
In addition, there are the green leaves of the forest.
Ashlind found it utterly absurd. She raised her hand, letting the green leaves drift down and gently land on that real kiss from the past; her forehead felt slightly hot, and her heart tingled.
The night was torn apart like a piece of cardstock.
Everything was just pieces of paper. They gradually peeled off, like old plaster on a wall, eventually revealing the pink base underneath.
She stood in the center of the hall of a pink castle. Her spatial backpack and real clothes had returned.
Before her stretched a long red carpet, at the end of which sat a girl a few years older than her. The girl had short, dark brown hair, wore a red dress, and held a strawberry cream cake in her hand. Her dress was practically a snake's tail, and her jewelry was extremely luxurious.
She smiled slightly when she saw Ashlin.
"Hello, child of the forest."
“Cynthia.” Ashlin stood warily in place.
"You broke my illusion so easily, that's amazing," Cynthia said sweetly. "I didn't expect you to react so quickly. Don't you think it's a little boring to finish the game so fast?"
The Dark Witch's voice was like that of an innocent, sweet, and adorable little girl.
Ashlin felt as if several buckets of excessively sweet honey had been forcefully poured into her ears.
She immediately summoned all her magic, but since there were no real plants or land in this space, her magic had no effect.
“Only the moon goddess’s magic works here,” Cynthia pouted, looking regretful. “Let’s plant it somewhere else, darling.”
“I don’t have time to play games with you.” Ashlin clenched her fist. “Let me go back. I need to save Lucas.”
“Lucas, Lucas, Lucas.” Cynthia shook her head and slowly approached her. “Is your poor head already filled with men? I don’t understand why he’s so important?”
“Then don’t think about it. I’m worried you’ll go crazy,” Ashlin said. “An illusionist can’t possibly understand genuine emotions. I have many reasons for wanting to go back, and Lucas isn’t the only person I care about.”
“And what about your mother?” Cynthia paced around her. “Don’t you care about her? Don’t you want to live with her?”
Ashlin's throat was dry. She didn't like the way Cynthia mentioned her mother, but this had nothing to do with Cynthia and couldn't be used to sway her.
No, time is of the essence; she wouldn't waste it dealing with the Black Witch.
Only the moon goddess's magic will work...
If only they had obtained the King's Tears before she arrived, for they were imbued with the moon goddess's magic. But now, she only has gifts from the other three gods.
etc.
That's not how it works.
Ashlin stealthily reached into her spatial backpack and touched a cold object.
"...She's dead. Nothing can undo that."
Cynthia raised her eyebrows.
"And you don't intend to seek revenge?"
“Revenge will not bring her back to life.”
“But it makes you happy,” Cynthia laughed. “You’re too young, Ashlin, to know how enjoyable some things can be. Don’t you want the king… well, to disappear? As far as I know, he’s not exactly a good person.”
“These things are not my business, and I have no intention of getting involved in political conspiracies. That’s not a place for the forest to grow.”
Cynthia took a bite of the cake.
"It's a pity, I thought we would be like-minded. The Deville family destroyed my perfect rule, and I dream of seeing them bleed... However, I have indeed been dreaming about it."
"Your so-called perfect rule," Ashlin said coldly, "is nothing but a pipe dream, devoid of any reality. Everyone lives in fantasy, achieving nothing in reality, everything withers. You call that perfect?"
"What's the problem? My world has no pain, no sorrow, and no death. Everyone is equal, everyone is happy. No one needs to know the truth. So what if it's fake? At least their happiness is real."
"Then you sit on the throne and manipulate and exploit everyone."
Cynthia shrugged. "They don't know anyway. They like it this way."
“You have no idea whether they like it or not,” Ashlin said. “I’ve had enough. Let me out, Cynthia. You have no power here.”
"I don't want to duel anyone. I just want to get out of here."
“Unfortunately, you must first defeat my soul,” Cynthia said sadly. “But no one can defeat a soul. Your magic doesn’t work on me.”
Ashlin grinned. "Who said I was going to use my magic?"
As soon as she finished speaking, she quickly pulled out the cold object she had just touched.
It was a dagger with a moon-shaped symbol drawn on it.
The Moon Goddess's dagger naturally contains the Moon Goddess's magic.
It originally belonged to Knox/Lanrit, and was left in Foxtail Bay when he impersonated Sanova. She accidentally discovered it while using the Space Scissors to retrieve materials.
Cynthia's face suddenly turned pale.
How did you get my dagger?
“Ah, so this is your dagger,” Ashlin exclaimed in surprise.
“Of course it’s mine. It was given to me personally by the Moon Goddess herself!” Cynthia stepped down the stairs. “How clever of you, using something of your own against me. But do you really think I’d be hurt by a little dagger?”
“Did I hurt you? No, no, no.” Ashlind flicked the dagger as lightly as if she were playing with a quill, the blade reflecting the pink light around her. “I just felt a bit stuffy in here and wanted to open a skylight in your castle.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she flicked her wrist. The dagger shot straight towards the huge crystal chandelier at the top of the hall.
"My crystal chandelier!" Cynthia screamed in anguish.
She waved her hand, unleashing a pink beam of light in an attempt to intercept it, but the power of the Moon Goddess Dagger easily tore through the illusion.
The chandelier exploded with a loud crash.
Ashlin had expected crystal shards to explode, but the chandelier only released sticky strawberry syrup, soaking the two of them.
"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey!" Ashlin spat out the syrup in her mouth and wiped her face. "Wow, it's even sweeter than I imagined, but it's not tasty. Your cooking skills are on par with Sanova's."
Cynthia, covered in syrup, was furious, her face turning ashen. "This is to save costs, you rude little brat!"
Ashlin admired her disheveled state, but knew it wasn't over yet.
She was just testing the dagger to see if it would work. In reality, she needed to find the core of the illusion, just like the hourglass in the tavern yesterday.
At that time, it was the illusory sand in the hourglass that cast a spell of time loops on the tavern.
The illusory sand in the hourglass creates a temporal illusion. But now she is in a spatial illusion.
What best represents space?
Ashlin looked around. Yes, this was a palace, with walls on all four sides.
The illusionary sand is hidden inside the wall.
Cynthia walked towards her.
“It seems you prefer a rougher game.” She waved her hands, and the entire pink hall began to twist and deform.
The walls dripped like melting wax, and the ground collapsed. Countless phantoms of "Lucas," "Talia," and "Sanova" reached out from the vortex, wailing and calling out Ashlin's name.
Ashlin's heart tightened, but she forced herself to ignore the voices. They were all fake.
“Your acting is too exaggerated,” she shouted, leaping like a nimble squirrel between the collapsing furniture and dripping walls.
It's fake, it's fake. She closed her eyes and thought, then opened them again, and the hall had returned to its previous state.
The Moon Goddess's dagger is still next to the syrup chandelier.
"You prepared all of this beforehand, didn't you?" Cynthia said. "To destroy my meticulously crafted world with the Moon Dagger and humiliate me?"
“How could that be?” Ashlin said, feigning shock. “Let me tell you a secret, Cynthia. I’ve never been good at preparing.”
She leaped upwards and lunged at the dagger beside the syrup.
Cynthia reacted quickly and immediately went to stop her. However, her dress was too long, dragging on the ground, and the hem was stuck with syrup, causing the strawberry cake to fall from her hands.
After she finally managed to break free, she stepped on the cake that had just fallen to the ground, slipped, and fell to the ground.
Ashlin slammed the Moon Eye Talisman Dagger into the wall.
With a tearing sound, a long gash appeared where she had stabbed herself.
The pale pink walls crumbled like ice from the scratches, and the entire illusion castle shook. A few grains of sand fell from the crystal chandelier and landed on Ashlin's head.
Illusory Sand.
Cynthia rose angrily, spreading her arms wide, her pink magic attempting to repair the torn illusory sand. But the sand had already begun to pour down like rain, from the ceiling, from the chandeliers, from the windows…
Just like in yesterday's tavern, they have been broken, released, and hidden in the cracks of the palace floor.
The image of the castle gradually faded. Faintly, Ashley could see the Edoro labyrinth.
She first saw Elaine. The princess, the witcher, and the musician cautiously moved through the dark tunnel, Aidan's music guiding their way.
Next was Zach, who woke up on the dark green tree roots, wrinkling his nose in confusion.
Ashlin's heart clenched.
Lanrit raised the dagger, seemingly having finally decided to kill his nephew.
No, absolutely not. She thought to herself. Instantly, a powerful, pure magic surged forth, but not from within her body.
In Cynthia's illusionary world, her magic is ineffective; while in the real world, the magic within her is also restrained by Lanrit.
This is really strange.
But to some extent, it also confirmed her suspicions about Manette.
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