"You two aren't the same kind of people, and never have been!"
Sylas's words kept Ino awake all night—every time she closed her eyes, that sentence echoed in her ears.
The words were like a poisonous thorn, deeply embedded in Ino's heart, making her anxious and restless.
The little girl wanted to tell herself that it was all the despicable mage's nonsense, groundless fabrications without any real evidence, and utter lies.
But unfortunately, she couldn't convince herself that easily.
In fact…recalling Miss Lux's attitude towards her earlier, her heart grew even more flustered.
Could it be that Miss Lux was so close to her because she was also a mage?
How could that be!
No, no, no, Miss Lux couldn't be a wicked Deamonsworn like herself!
She was so radiant!
She was clearly the most dazzling light in her gloomy life!
This must be the despicable Sylas deceiving her!
But…if Ino thought according to Sylas's words, she couldn't find any evidence to refute them.
Lying on the thin mat inside the cage, Ino's head felt like it was filled with paste.
She didn't know if what Sylas said was true or false.
Nor did she know what to do or how to face Lux if it was true.
She didn't even know if she should ask Lux for confirmation—if she didn't, she would be restless; if she did, the result might also make her restless.
Thus, tossing and turning, she barely fell asleep until it was almost dawn—when Lux came to visit her the next morning, her eye bags were terrifyingly dark.
"What's wrong with you?" Looking at Ino's panda eyes, Lux was quite surprised, "Is this…not enough rest?"
"I—I really didn't sleep too well." Ino hesitated for a moment, finally nodding, "I'm a bit unsettled."
"Unsettled?" Lux blinked, "Is it because of that book? I remember it's an epic story, it shouldn't keep you up all night…"
"It's not because of the book, Miss Lux." Ino shook her head, her mood calming slightly, "It's because—of you."
"Me?" Lux's eyes widened in surprise, "What…what about me?"
"Miss Lux." Ino finally gritted her teeth and asked the question, "Are you also a mage?"
Lux froze.
This sudden question even caused a momentary blank in her mind.
She never expected Ino to ask this question!
What made her even more at a loss was that she simply didn't know how to answer it.
Speak the hurtful truth?
Or make a false pretense?
"Klein, what should I do?"
...…
"Follow your heart's choice, Lux." The usually omnipotent Klein didn't offer a perfect solution this time, "This is a problem you'll have to face sooner or later, and a choice you must make."
A problem to face sooner or later…
A choice that must be made…
Lux blinked her eyes. She looked at Ino, whose eyes flickered with pleading and longing, and finally took a deep breath.
"…Yes, I am." After confirming that there were no Demon Searchers around, Lux nodded gently, "I am a mage. I confirmed this when I was nine years old."
As she spoke, Lux once again held Ino's hand, and in her palm, a pulsating ball of light danced like an elf.
Ino's mouth dropped open in shock.
She never expected Lux to actually be a mage.
What made it even more unbelievable was that Lux admitted it so frankly, without any attempt to hide it.
"You are also—" Ino murmured, "Why are you willing to tell me…?"
"You asked me, which proves you're willing to trust me." Lux understood everything and smiled as she gave her answer, "And I—I'm also willing to trust you."
"Confessor's Relic?" Ino pointed to Lux's sword, "Is that it?"
"You know that too?" Lux raised an eyebrow in surprise, "My aunt found this for me back then; it can suppress the magic surges in my body."
"It's really like that!" Ino's expression instantly became incredibly complex. She was a little lost, a little relieved, and a little at ease, "This is actually true."
"It always has been." Lux nodded, then smiled again, "We are the same kind of people."
The same kind of people?
No, that's not it!
"I didn't mean that!" Ino instinctively recoiled, shaking her head repeatedly, "You are a respected Miss, I am just a farm girl…"
Ino was clearly trying to say good things, trying to defend Lux, trying to explain that Lux was not a shameful Deamonsworn.
But this sentence inexplicably stung Lux.
Respected Miss, farm girl!
In the past, Lux often came here to visit, and although cold Petricite bars separated her and Ino, she never felt any barrier between them—they could share each other's stories and emotions, feel each other's joy and sadness.
But at this moment, as Ino uttered the words "respected Miss, farm girl," Lux felt an invisible barrier forming between them, almost separating them into two different worlds!
This barrier was so thick that it made Lux feel somewhat suffocated. At this moment, she was somewhat disheartened.
Klein didn't speak.
Or rather, Klein believed he shouldn't speak now.
He was waiting for Lux, waiting for Lux to make her choice.
To let go of Ino's hand, acknowledge the existence of this barrier, and be the noble within this barrier…
Or to simply swing a hammer, destroy this barrier, and smash everything that shouldn't exist!
Come on, Lux, make your choice!
And Lux didn't make Klein wait too long.
Fluidly sketching a few rune circuits on the Petricite bars, Lux once again grasped Ino's hand.
This time, she didn't speak aloud, but Ino heard her thoughts.
"We are the same kind of people—even if we mistakenly believe magic is evil, we still use it to protect our families."
"???"
"After hearing so many of your stories, now, you listen to mine—it all starts with my uncle's departure…"
"…"
"…"
Through the communication of magic, Lux finally told Ino her story.
During this process, Ino bit her lip hard, not saying a word, just clutching Lux's hand tightly—if Lux hadn't been well-trained, she probably would have been hurt by now.
"I once thought about not telling you all this." Lux's tone was slow and firm, "But as I examined my own heart, I realized that sometimes when I look at you, it's as if I'm looking at another me."
Ino was completely stunned.
She had never imagined that Lux had such similar experiences to her own!
In a sense, Lux was even "coerced" by Klein—except Klein wasn't Kodora; he didn't make Lux do bad things, but rather urged her to learn magic.
Realizing this, Ino finally felt a sense of relief. She let out a long breath, then gently released Lux's hand, a smile finally appearing on her face.
The light in her life, though long imbued with the glow of magic, remained so dazzling even in the darkest abyss.
How wonderful.