Malora’s laughter suddenly stopped.
A trace of confusion flickered across her face, but it vanished just as quickly, replaced by her usual eccentric grin.
For a brief moment, William found this strange, unhinged version of Malora oddly charming.
Smiling, she admired the notebook in her hands before looking at him.
“The ancient powers still endure.
The voices of the past still echo.
Magic Knight, this notebook does not belong to you.” First the warlocks, then William himself, and afterward Marwyn.
In all their hands, the notebook had been nothing more than a notebook, utterly ordinary.
Until now, William had always believed the disc hidden inside the box, the rune disc, was the true treasure.
That was why he had kept it secret.
Yet the moment Malora touched the notebook, something bizarre happened.
And unlike what had occurred at Black Stone, William had not sensed the slightest fluctuation in her magic.
That led him to a conclusion.
There was likely some hidden existence within the notebook, perhaps a spirit or ghost beyond his perception.
This lady really does attract the strangest things.
Every mysterious entity in the world seems eager to possess her.
The more William thought about it, the more he felt the notebook might truly be more useful in Malora’s hands.
“You can keep the notebook,” he said.
“But you have to tell me everything you know about it.” Malora raised her chin proudly.
“Such as?” “What exactly are these runes for?” “Hehehehehe…” Her laughter rang with delight.
“So you really know nothing, Magic Knight.” When she saw William reaching for the notebook, she quickly skipped backward.
Licking her lips, she flashed him a mysterious smile.
“Don’t be so impatient, little boy.
We still have time.
You’ll get what you want…
happiness?” The ghost’s words from the notebook still lingered in William’s mind, leaving him deeply uneasy.
“Time is life, Lady Malora.
Please don’t waste either yours or mine.” “Ah, what a philosophical statement…” She tilted her head.
“Fine, fine.
I’ll tell you.
These aren’t merely some runes.
They’re only the steps used to design a single rune.” She suddenly lowered her voice.
“As for what that rune does…” Her smile widened.
“It’s meant to imprison a powerful life-form until the end of time.” She paused.
“Hmm?
The end of life is endless darkness.
But what is the end of time?” Both of them fell silent.
Combining Malora’s explanation with the ghost’s words, William formed a rough theory.
The rune disc provided periodic protection against the curse, but once its magical reserves were depleted, it ceased functioning.
Meanwhile, the curse of Harrenhal originated from some powerful living entity.
The spirit in the notebook had apparently wanted to create a rune capable of sealing that being forever, ending Harrenhal’s curse once and for all.
Could there really be some terrifying creature hidden within Harrenhal?
The thought made William step forward unconsciously.
“What do you mean by a powerful life-form?” Malora shook her head blankly.
Then she laughed again.
“Maybe it’s written somewhere in the notebook.
But I don’t know right now.” “Then can you at least read what’s written inside?” “Hehe.
Some things don’t need to be read.
Some things don’t need to be understood!” There she went again, speaking in riddles.
Right.
In other words, she can’t read it either.
Looks like I’ll still have to figure out a way to crack the cipher myself.
That clearly wouldn’t happen overnight.
Since he had already entrusted the notebook to her, William decided he might as well let her examine the rune disc as well.
Having made up his mind, he walked to the railing and gathered up the rune sketches.
Then he retrieved the box from his bag and placed it atop the rail.
Finally, he beckoned Malora over.
Just as she was about to step forward, she suddenly remembered something.
With a swift motion, she pulled open her collar and stuffed the notebook into her cleavage before approaching him.
Then she shot him a smug look.
William glanced down.
Thirty-six D.
Shaking his head with amusement, he smiled.
If he truly wanted the notebook back, there wasn’t a place in the world she could hide it.
“There’s an object inside this box containing powerful magical energy,” William warned.
“Please be careful.” Then he slowly opened the lid.
He wouldn’t bother warning an ordinary person with no magical talent.
But someone like Malora, who possessed magic herself, was far more likely to be affected by the rune disc.
The moment the box opened, Malora shivered.
Her entire demeanor seemed to become noticeably calmer.
Inside rested a silver metal disc about the size of a palm.
Its surface was covered with intricate patterns that were both exquisitely beautiful and deeply mysterious.
“Lady Malora, could you tell me what this rune disc is used for?” Malora examined the disc from several angles.
Then she glanced at William, as though seeking confirmation.
Only after he nodded did she carefully reach out and pick it up.
It was surprisingly light, far lighter than its appearance suggested.
Running her fingers across the surface, she frowned.
“Valyrian steel?” “That’s right.” With his magical sensitivity, William could identify Valyrian steel with ease.
That talent had earned him more than a few bargains in Oldtown’s black market.
Malora studied the engravings intently.
Her fingers traced along various lines as she quietly pondered their meaning.
The peaceful concentration on her face made her seem entirely different from her usual erratic self.
After a long while, she finally murmured, “I see.” William immediately straightened.
“This entire collection of runes appears unrelated at first glance, but they’re all interconnected.
The design is exceptionally sophisticated.” She nodded approvingly.
“It must have been carved by an extraordinarily intelligent woman.” Ma’am, that’s not what I wanted to hear…
William was left speechless.
Suddenly Malora looked up, her familiar grin returning.
“The curse of Harrenhal!” Her eyes sparkled.
“So the legends are true.
These runes were specifically designed to resist an immensely powerful curse, weren’t they?” William forced out a strained smile.
Need to put the disc back in the box as soon as possible.
Garth owns a fine Dornish sand steed.
That horse suddenly seems perfect for a long journey.
Seeing his expression, Malora chuckled.
Then she flipped the disc over.
Compared to the front, the design on the back was much simpler.
It consisted of a single large symmetrical rune.
“Seven hells…” She stared at it in disbelief.
“Did someone really manage to carve this?” William leaned closer.
“This one looks pretty simple.
Even I could draw it.” Malora tilted her head before erupting into loud, ringing laughter.
“You think drawing the shape is enough?
If that’s all runecraft required, everyone would study painting instead.” William laughed awkwardly.
“Fair point.
So what does this rune do?” “Runes are like bows,” Malora explained.
“Magic is the arrow.
Without magic, a rune is nothing more than decoration.” William’s eyes widened.
“This rune can generate magic?” The possibility sounded incredibly impressive.
“Ahahahaha!
Magic Knight, Magic Knight…” Malora trembled with laughter.
“You really know absolutely nothing.” William merely shrugged.
“Which is exactly why I’m asking for your guidance, Lady Malora.” After laughing for a while longer, she finally answered.
“Runes cannot create magic.
That’s impossible.” She tapped the back of the rune disc.
“This rune absorbs magic.
Constantly.
It gathers magical energy and feeds it into the runes on the front.” “Absorbs magic?” William frowned.
“But didn’t magic fade from the world along with the dragons?” The question had bothered him for years.
Even setting aside people like himself and Margaery, who could generate magical power on their own, he frequently sensed traces of magic throughout the world.
The curse of Harrenhal itself was obvious proof that magic still existed.
“Magic does not perish.” Malora gazed at him deeply.
William immediately thought of the glass candles.
“But it has grown weaker.
That’s why many magical artifacts that once functioned no longer work today?” Malora gently inclined her head.
It was almost a nod, yet not quite.
After a moment of silence, another question occurred to William.
“If this absorption rune continuously gathers magic, then shouldn’t the rune disc never run out of power?” “It already has.” Malora tapped the disc again with her finger.
“If consumption exceeds absorption, you’ll eventually spend more than you take in.
That’s common sense, isn’t it?” “I suppose so.” William nodded.
“Then how do you replenish its magical reserves?” “Well…” Malora handed the rune disc back to him.
A strange, meaningful smile appeared on her lips.
“You’re actually better at that than I am.”