THE HIDDEN

Scarlet held her breath as she entered the room where the smell of dust was intense. She was irritated by the dust sticking to her throat and cleared her throat to pass. Adrian was next to her and looked around as if he was not affected by the dust. Scarlet saw the longing hidden behind the pain in his eyes. He smiled bitterly and knew that coming back to his father's study had rekindled the contents.

Caren lit the candle in the candlesticks and caused the interior to light up. Adrian passed by and sat on the seat and poured the drink into the crystal glass. They all smelled of soot and blood. Their sweaty bodies were sticky, but they didn't care. Scarlet also needed something to drink right now, but she couldn't drink. This was one of the prohibitions imposed by the abbess. The drink made her mind confused, and this would cause her to lower the guard, which she always protected, and become distracted. Still, she needed rest. She sat in the seat and waited without speaking. Adrian's narrow eyes shifted to Scarlet.

"Scarlet, Caren knows who you are. Get your head out. " Scarlet was not surprised. She had already made clear to her what he knew from the beginning. She took off the iron cap from her head and put it next to her. Her hair she noticed that they were sticking to her face and neck. Now all she wanted was a hot bath.

"Why did you bring her here, Adrian. We still don't know if we can trust her. " Scarlet knew he was talking to her, even though his harsh voice and angry gaze were on Adrian's. She took a deep breath and exhaled.

"It doesn't concern me whether you trust me or not. The trust of the master I serve is important to me and I will never betray him. " Her expressionless voice and indifferent eyes looked at Caren.

"That's enough, Caren. Without her, it would take me months to get even that far. " Scarlet smiled and bowed in front of him, the satisfaction he had in his defensive words.

"Let's talk about why I brought you here. I said I was going to show you my father's secret room. " He stood up and went to the table full of papers. With a key in his hand, he headed from the table to the library and pulled one of the books. A wide door emerged as the bookcase slid to the side. Scarlet stood up and walked towards the door. It did not surprise him that such a secret place for someone who hides something.

When she entered the room, she immediately realized that this place was devoid of magic. She turned her head to Adrian in disappointment. The only source was still confined to the deceased duke's bedroom, and it was difficult for Scarlet to track down.

"I didn't find any traces of magic here either, just like in the tunnel." Adrian's eyes that were rolling around found her.

"Is it possible for them to cast a spell that can erase their assets?"

"Even if they do this, there will be an amount of energy they consume. There is not even a crumb of magic "with her hands as usual she rubbed her chin while thinking.

"But I can do something. I cast a sign spell in the tunnel and I will do the same here. Whoever tries to enter the tunnel or here will be marked and the moment I see that person, it will shine a light that only I can see. " she closed her eyes and started rubbing their hands together, clapping them backward and straight. The magic words were pouring from her lips and her hand was getting warmer. She raised her right hand and put it against the open wall. She felt that the tingling magic was taking up the whole room, and when it was over she pulled her hand.

She saw two men were watching her intently and they are gazing at the wall that had just lightened with color and the light that had vanished with time.

"You can do these things but can't track? Why do you bother with magic when you can find informants like that. "Caren had asked more curiously than disdainfully, and he still hadn't taken his eyes off the wall. Scarlet took a deep breath. She had to clarify things now.

"Before the big war, magic could be used in the country. It is even said that there are institutions that control magic. In time, with the development of magic and alchemy, rumors started to spread. Like potions that promise immortality. Even the land of the dead was created by powerful ancient wizards. All of this aroused the greedy evil wizards and they started attacking. They were burning cities and killing everyone, whether or not it was related to magic. The king and the institutions opposed this, and the great war began between them. In this war that lasted for years, there were many casualties from both sides and the number of wizards dwindled. Even though the kingdom won this war, the damage they caused to the country, especially Solaris, was quite high. Captive wizards who were not killed in battle were thrown into dungeons. In time, the institutions were closed and the people started to migrate from the ruined city. The new king forbade magic and allowed only certain institutions to use it.

Those who did not obey paid the price with their lives. One of these permitted guilds is the mansion where I grew up. Strict rules prohibit me from using spells on those who cannot use them, and we are only allowed to use some spells. Forbidden spells are used and if detected, that people will be executed and their guild will be marked, in other words, they will be left to die. So if the high priestess is in pursuit of the fugitive wizard, if she does not find and kill her, she will be marked by the kingdom. " She exhaled and studied the confused faces.

"That's why I can't cast the spell directly on humans. However, I make it possible to reach it indirectly. " She said and turned away. As they argued among themselves, Scarlet had one thing on her mind. Why did the old duke feel the need to build such a place? Why were there books everywhere on topics where new places were discovered? Scarlet knew she was looking for a place. But why and why she sought was unknown. She felt more and more confused and aching. She started wandering around the small dim room.

On the left wall were large sheets of paper with the new form of the world map, the time zones of day and night, the position of the stars, and the phases of the moon, but nothing was written on them. She would use the devil's eye magic to see if there was anything hidden here. This spell was difficult and tiring. She knew that further wearing her tired body would have bad consequences, but she had no other choice. She looked at Adrian and Caren.

"Now I have to cast another spell. To reveal things hidden here. That's why you have to get out of the room. Normally it wouldn't be uncomfortable, but it can be irritating because it's small here." Just as Adrian was going to say something with his mouth wide open, Caren grabbed his arm and took him out. They began to watch carefully from beyond the door.

Scarlet closed her eyes and opened her winds to the ground. As soon as she whispered magical words, the mood of the room suddenly began to change. The air in the room surrounded Scarlet and enveloped her. Her scattered hair waved in the air and her armor sparkled with the coming light. She raised her hands and spread them apart. The rays of light from her hands scattered all over her, each bursting above everything inside. Her last words were muttered and she opened her eyes. Blood red covered the entire eyeball. It had no pupils and whites, instead, a crimson color appeared.

Adrian found himself caught in the lights he saw. He wanted to grab someone and hold them in his palm and never let them go. He thought Scarlet's magic power was incredible. When it was back to its gloom, Adrian looked out of a trance at Scarlet and was speechless by what he saw. The crimson eyes seemed to be watching him, but it was actually like in other realms.

Scarlet had to move fast, knowing that her eyes were burning more and more. She quickly scanned her eyes, hoping to find something linking to the discovery book and the map, which she was thinking of. The map also saw the full moon night marked and Solaris circled. She frowned and realized that she was writing them using the hiding stone. She couldn't help wondering whether he was so afraid of his enemies to find it. She wrote down the date of the full moon night in her mind and quickly glanced around again before the headache increased exponentially. Some books glistened with more magic than others on top of the library. She reached out and took them. When she glanced around again, she saw that there was nothing else, and said the finishing words to get rid of the excruciating pain at once.

As soon as she felt her feet firmly on the ground, her legs did not hold and lean forward. Her numb hand slipped as she held onto the library and began to fall. While the books fell from their hands, lying down wanted to tell them that these books were of interest, but she could not. Her tongue seemed to grow in her mouth. The last thing her blurry eyes saw was Adrian reaching for her anxiously.

He had seen Adrian Scarlet's eyes return to normal, but there was something odd. She looked like she was going to faint at any moment, and he was not mistaken in his feelings. He rushed towards her and caught her as her dim eyes closed to normal. Her white skin looked pale and thin. Her body was sweaty and her armor seemed even heavier. He passed his arm under her legs and supported her back with the other arm. As he stood up Scarlet's dangling arms and head made him think she was dead.

"Caren, take the books and close here. I'm taking her to my room. " Caren was busy examining the room as if he hadn't digested yet. He just shook his head, and Adrian quickly left to head to his private room.