312

Darkhold

Kalulu's eyes nearly popped out at the sudden appearance of the portal. He turned to Nierdi, speechless.

"Congratulations, magician," Nierdi said with a smile.

Kalulu sighed and lowered his head. "Maybe I'm just not cut out to be a mage."

"That's not necessarily true. We haven't encountered other magicians. You could be the third person in the world to learn these magics," Nierdi replied.

"No, I have a feeling there are many more magicians out there. We just haven't found them yet," Kalulu said.

Late at night, Nierdi lay in bed, unable to sleep, lost in thought.

After a while, she lifted the quilt and tried to get up, but Kalulu pulled her back. "Can't sleep either?" Nierdi asked.

Kalulu remained silent.

"I've been thinking about how to unlock the seal of the Book of Darkness," Nierdi added.

Kalulu frowned and sat up. "You still want to mess with that cursed book? It will bring us nothing but disaster."

Nierdi smiled softly. "Magic itself isn't evil."

With that, she left the bed, entered another room, and silently picked up the Book of Darkness.

After placing the book on the table, she took a deep breath and carefully activated a diamond-shaped magic circle. Golden-red lines shimmered as the circle materialized.

The intricate structure of the magic circle quickly became apparent, adorned with countless mysterious symbols and flowing words.

Maintaining the magic circle proved challenging. Sweat formed on Nierdi's forehead, and her hands trembled slightly.

With a decisive motion, she flicked her hands, and the magic circle spun, imprinting itself onto the cover of the Darkhold.

Instantly, the "Darkhold" gleamed brightly, emitting powerful magical energy. Two crossed golden chains appeared, remnants of the dead mage's seal.

Nierdi's magic circle entwined with the sealing chains. Slowly turning her hands, she tightened the chains together.

The chains began to flicker rapidly.

Nierdi's hands trembled more intensely, sweat dripping from her brow.

Suddenly, a faint "click" sounded. Cracks appeared on the golden chains, rapidly spreading.

"Crack!" With a final rupture, the golden chains could no longer hold, dissolving into sparkling motes that vanished into the air.

"Phew," Nierdi exhaled with relief, a smile crossing her face. After a moment to catch her breath, she lifted the Book of Darkness from the table and began to read.

True to her hopes, she successfully unlocked the "Darkhold," as easily as opening any ordinary book.

As she delved into its contents, Nierdi found herself deeply engrossed. The multiverse revealed itself before her eyes...

Six months later, Nierdi fetched water from the river and returned to her cabin.

To her surprise, upon returning, she glanced up and spotted a large group of figures appearing in the distance.

The figures were diverse, dressed in varied attire from elegant robes to sturdy armor, accompanied by knights on tall steeds. It was a formidable assembly.

Despite the spectacle, Nierdi remained composed, calmly observing their approach.

As they neared the cabin, the group split into two, allowing a middle-aged man in luxurious attire and a well-groomed beard to dismount and approach Nierdi.

The middle-aged man bowed respectfully. "You must be the hermit living here?"

"I am," Nierdi nodded.

Smiling, the man introduced himself, "I am the king of the Kingdom of Mala. I've heard rumors of a incarnated sage residing here, and today I finally meet you."

"While I respect the Buddha, I am not his reincarnation," Nierdi replied casually. "Your Majesty, what brings you to these humble surroundings?"

At that moment, a warrior drew his weapon and barked, "Kneel! Show respect to the king!"

King Mara intervened sharply, "Lower your sword! This is the Buddha's reincarnation, the guardian of our realm."

The warrior swiftly retracted his weapon and stepped back.

An experienced elder might have chuckled at the display. The king and his warrior seemed mismatched in their dramatics, lacking subtlety.

However, Nierdi, younger and secluded from such affairs, remained unperturbed.

Turning to Nierdi, King Mara spoke earnestly, "As king, I extend my gratitude for protecting the people of Kathmandu all these years..."

Nierdi raised her hand, silencing him.

King Mara hesitated briefly before continuing, "I have a bold request, and I hope Your Holiness will consider it."

He elaborated, "The Kingdom of Mala faces turmoil and yearns for a strong guardian. Would you be willing to serve as our kingdom's protector, shielding us from disaster and enemies alike?"

"...If you find it agreeable, the Kingdom of Mala will pledge its wealth and change its name to Nepal in your honor," King Mara bowed deeply once more.

Moved by the gesture, Nierdi considered deeply.

In the local tongue, "Boer" signified shelter and salvation, while "Nepal" represented sanctuary.

Despite her immense magical prowess, Nierdi remained a mortal swayed by emotions. Renaming a kingdom was a profound gesture that anyone would find touching.

Yet, there lay a slight awkwardness. "Ni" was not her true name. Setting aside sentiment, Nierdi weighed her suitability as guardian.

Ultimately, she shook her head, "I appreciate the offer, Your Majesty, but I reside here to practice magic and aid villagers. I am not suited for such a significant responsibility."

Quickly, King Mara countered, "Guardianship need not be burdensome. Your role would be to aid in crises... Even if you merely hold the title, your actions would be your own."

"In any case, the Kingdom of Mala will adopt Nepal as its official name henceforth."

Silenced by the king's plea, Nierdi deliberated for a long while before finally speaking, "I cannot accept this mantle, but I will protect the people here whenever possible."

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