Half-step Purgatory

Durin stroked the black cat on the armrest of his chair, sitting on the black leather sofa. Through the glasses perched on his nose, his gaze passed over the long table in front of him and settled on the man kneeling on the carpet:
"I understand, you've made money in Naples, your business has been very successful, and you've led a happy life. You've had those secret police, friends in both the law and the underground, and even the Royal Family speaking on your behalf."
"You don't need a friend like me, I know that. You're afraid of owing me a favor, and you don't want to get involved in troubles."
"But now you come to me and say, 'I beg you, Mr. Durin of the Corleon family, please help me seek justice, so that my life and my family will not suffer and sink into despair.'
Yet, in your eyes, I was nothing more than a second-rate artist involved in movies and music. Even at the brink of death, you still show me such disrespect, not even willing to call me by my title... Keeper of Secrets."

Durin's Diary

With the lights turned off, Mrs. Sanchez stood to the side. She looked towards the screen, which was initially black but then lit up with the image of an owl. It hooted, and the screen went dark again.


After two seconds, white characters appeared on the black screen.


How sublime must faith be, how profound must one's steps be, how cruel must destiny be, to make one willing to sacrifice for an ideal?


The entire text was in Grassland Elves script, styled in italics.


Most teachers and mentors understood the Grassland Elf language, so they remained silent until the screen brightened up once more after turning dark.


Someone noticed the small characters at the bottom left corner of the screen.


Three lines of text emerged in sequence, from top to bottom, from left to right.


Chapter 58: Your First Step, a Lifetime for Others