"He’s gone..." This sound was exceedingly peculiar, as if it were both a real sound and a fluctuation on the energy level.
"Let’s go." As the words fell, the empty corridor fell silent once more.
There was no fluctuation in the Material Realm, but in the perspective where energy resided, a figure... no, not just one, but dozens, hundreds of figures passed through the stone wall of the corridor, entering the void and vanishing.
...
Revelation Continent, Central Empire.
The gondola cut through the sea of the sky, its hull stirring up white foam as it leisurely proceeded towards Saint Sem City behind the central mountains.
Just as they were about to arrive in Saint Sem City, Angel noticed that little Sem across from him was beginning to appear restless.
His gaze flickered as he clung to the edge of the boat, continually peering downwards.
The Morning Star had just risen, and the sky was just barely turning light. There was a faint cold mist in the air, and visibility was not high; the scene they could overlook was limited, with only the general outline of the landscape visible to the naked eye. Yet little Sem persisted in trying to see.
Soon, the gondola came to the side of the central mountains, from where the bustling lights of distant Saint Sem City could vaguely be seen. However, little Sem still paid no attention to the distant city, continuing to overlook the land.
Suddenly, the cold mist below thinned slightly, and little Sem saw a lake.
His eyes fixed instantly.
Angel could clearly see little Sem’s throat move, his eyes filled with complex and grief-stricken emotions.
Angel was a bit curious about what little Sem had seen that caused such a strong reaction in him. So, he extended a wisp of spiritual power, probing outside the gondola to look downward—
The night had not yet fully dissipated, and under the clouds was rolling cold mist. Amidst the rolling, a clear lake on the mountainside could be faintly seen, along with an ancient castle hidden within the dense forest on the lake’s edge.
The ancient castle was surrounded by black iron railings, looking as if it had been abandoned for a long time, even the road at its entrance was overgrown with weeds.
"Are you very concerned about the castle below?" Angel asked softly.
Little Sem turned back, eyes filled with surprise and doubt: "Mr. Pat can see it?"
"Yes, an ancient castle that seems to have been deserted for a long time, with a moss-covered statue of a lady at the entrance," Angel casually described.
Little Sem’s gaze dimmed slightly when he heard about the moss-covered statue of the lady, hesitating for quite a while before speaking: "... That statue is my ancestor, also the founder of Saint Sem City, Queen Rowling."
"Oh? So, the castle below belongs to Queen Rowling’s clan, which is also your ancestral family?"
Little Sem nodded slightly.
Angel: "Since it is Queen Rowling’s clan heritage, why has it been abandoned?"
A complex expression flashed in little Sem’s eyes as he shook his head: "Only my mother’s branch of the family is in ruins; the main branch remains in the royal family of the Central Empire."
"I see." Angel did not inquire further, assuming that this was likely another story of power struggles and internal conflict within the royal family.
He had no interest in these matters.
Little Sem clung to the edge of the boat, watching as the flying boat drifted away from the vicinity of the lake. He bit his lip, turning back to say, "Mr. Pat, may I... may I go and see the castle?"
Angel did not answer little Sem right away but quietly looked at him.
"I know this request is quite rude, but, but I..." Little Sem’s face turned bright red, failing to find a proper reason and finally lowering his head helplessly: "Never mind, I’ve been impolite."
Angel smiled gently: "Considering you have guided me, I agree."
Anyway, they’ve already come this far; a detour wouldn’t hurt. Besides, Angel noticed that the castle carried a familiar scent, so after thinking it over, he agreed to little Sem’s request.
Little Sem’s eyes lit up instantly, his gaze towards Angel filled with gratitude.
Angel controlled the gondola to slowly descend, passing through the sparse clouds, and soon, they landed on the lake.
The gondola perfectly transitioned from a flying boat across the sky’s sea to a small boat on the lake’s surface.
It smoothly streaked across the water, docking at an already somewhat decayed landing pier.
Upon stepping onto the pier, they could see the secluded ancient castle fifty meters away from there.
Seen from up close, the grandeur of the ancient castle was even more palpable.
Although the castle was abandoned, covered in moss and vine, judging by Angel’s appreciation for architecture, the castle must have been magnificent at its peak.
It possessed the elegance of Saint Sem City, a city renowned worldwide for its artistry.
Even now, it still seemed like a lady quietly nestled by the serene mountain lake. However, it had gathered some dust.
"This castle is said to have been specifically built by Queen Rowling in her later years for recuperation, and it has been passed down through the ages, later inherited by my mother’s branch," little Sem explained with nostalgia, as if informing Angel and simultaneously talking to himself: "From the castle at night, you can see the star-filled still lake, thus my mother named this castle Star Lake Castle."
"Before the upheaval in my family, every summer my mother and I would come here."
"That apple tree over there, I planted it together with the gardener’s son; and the marks on that big rock are what I carved when I was mischievous..." Little Sem spoke in a nostalgic tone as he walked towards the ancient castle.
At the iron gate of the castle, little Sem finished recalling his summer memories.
"This place carries my childhood," little Sem couldn’t help but reflect.
"You’re still a child now," Angel softly remarked from the side.
Little Sem hung his head: "In these years, the only one who still says I’m a kid is Mr. Pat."
After saying this, little Sem walked to the gate of the fence.
Though it was locked, after so many years without maintenance, the corroded gate couldn’t withstand the moisture-driven rust; little Sem simply pushed lightly, and the lock fell off, and the door opened.
Crossing the mud-filled road, little Sem made his way to Queen Rowling’s statue.