Wizard: Starting from the Skill Tree-Chapter 579: The Castle

The Duke emerged from the cottage and said to the waiting butler, Ossen, "Butler Ossen, the situation in the castle is more complicated than anticipated. I need the Earl’s permission to conduct a more comprehensive investigation within the castle, including all areas, even those rarely visited."

Seeing the serious expression on the Duke’s face, Ossen did not dare delay and immediately led him back to the main castle’s study.

The Earl of Laurent heard of the Duke’s return, his face a mixture of anticipation and anxiety: "Wizard Duke, did Hans provide any clues?"

The Duke didn’t directly mention the Nightmare Plane, as such matters are not easily spoken of. He carefully considered his words: "Lord Earl, Hans’s condition confirms one of my suspicions. There might be some... imperceptible energy anomaly or historical issue within the castle. To identify the source, I need your permission to conduct a thorough investigation of all areas, including some that are not regularly used."

The reason he could discern it was a Nightmare Plane issue was due to his own experience.

He had visited the Nightmare Plane in person, had some basic understanding of it, and was familiar with its aura, allowing him to discern information from Hans’s spiritual power fluctuations.

However, Duke couldn’t explain to others how he discerned this, as normally, even a Level 1 Mage wouldn’t be able to access such a place as the Nightmare Plane.

This information didn’t need to be disclosed to others; it sufficed for him to know.

Right now, Duke just wanted to attempt solving this problem, return to complete his task, and obtain some contribution points to exchange for a High-tier Breathing Technique.

"All areas?" A trace of hesitation flickered across Earl Laurent’s face.

Noble castles often held family secrets and private spaces, not easily open to outsiders.

Strictly speaking, such places of nobility would never be accessible to outsiders.

Yet Earl Laurent thought of the series of strange deaths and the crisis facing the family, ultimately gritting his teeth: "Alright, Wizard Duke, I trust you. Ossen, accompany the Wizard sir, and open all areas of the castle, including my private study and family chapel, to Wizard Duke. Ensure full cooperation!"

"Yes, my Lord Earl." Ossen bowed to accept the command.

As the castle butler, Ossen was naturally most familiar with the place and held sufficient authority to guide Duke throughout.

This time, Duke acted with the Earl Laurent’s authorization, even able to visit areas Ossen previously could not.

They first passed through the main hall of the fortress, now nearing noon, with some servants polishing the great fireplace and ancestral armors displayed along the walls.

Sunlight filtered through high stained-glass windows, casting mottled shadows on the floor.

The air was imbued with the aroma of baked bread and stewed meat wafting from distant kitchens.

In the side corridor, they encountered a young man in fine riding attire, dust-laden but the eldest son, Eric, himself. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Having just returned from overseeing the family’s estates, he handed his riding crop to a servant.

Seeing Duke and Ossen, Eric nodded slightly, a scrutinizing gaze tinged with faint, near-imperceptible worry.

"Wizard sir, any progress in the investigation?" His voice was steady, vivacious of an heir’s responsibility.

"It’s ongoing, Mr. Eric." Duke responded placidly.

They walked past the family gallery, laden with portraits of Laurent ancestors on the walls.

Some were painted with special pigments, their eyes seeming to follow the viewer’s movements.

Others even bore faint, lingering magic, recreating iconic poses of the portrait subjects, silently narrating family glory and history.

While passing the great living room, Duke glimpsed the Countess savoring afternoon tea with equally flamboyantly dressed noblewomen.

Fine porcelain cups held calming floral tea from some plant plane, while silver platters bore candies in the shape of miniature demons.

They conversed in low tones, seemingly about the latest fashionable silks from the Rainbow Bay Plane and a master craftsman’s jewelry that glowed with faint haloes changing with mood.

Yet even this seemingly idle social setting bore a layer of subtle oppression, their smiles a bit forced.

Without disturbing them, they moved on.

Passing the indoor training ground, they heard shouting.

Through the open doors, they saw the second son, Calvin, sparring with an armored guard.

Calvin’s knight’s swordplay was fierce, laden with an evident restlessness and eagerness to prove something, contrasting with his somewhat pale face.

Noticing Duke outside the door, Calvin’s actions paused slightly, then he attacked the guard more ruthlessly, seemingly venting something.

Duke merely glanced nonchalantly, not pausing.

They also visited the castle library, rich in collections, from knight body techniques, continental history, and geography, to basic Meditation Techniques and travelogues introducing the customs of various planes.

Duke’s spiritual power brushed quietly across the shelves, sensing that most books were mere carriers of mundane knowledge, only a few ancient mythology and vague dream legend volumes emanating extremely faint, unusual energy waves, quelling his urge for detailed exploration.

Then, they inspected the kitchen area, servants busily preparing dinner, with soups stewing on massive stoves and meats sizzling on spits.

The storerooms were packed with provisions, from local grains and meats to treated exotic fruits and vegetables from Other Planes, all seemingly orderly.

They even went to the family chapel, housing the God of Light relief, symbolizing plane will, commonly worshipped in the Wizard Plane, alongside the Laurent family’s guardian spirit—a statue of a snowy falcon.

The chapel’s tranquility was appeasing, with only an old nun silently polishing the candelabra.

After inspecting these vibrant areas, Duke requested to examine those more secluded, lesser-trodden places.

They visited attics storing old furniture and discarded items, filled with dust and stacked with some broken armor and obsolete family banners.

They also went to watchtowers at the castle corners, offering vast views but evidently unused for ages, as well as some idle guest rooms, tidy but lacking life.

Throughout the process, Duke seemingly strolled casually, yet his spiritual power ceaselessly acted like the most intricate radar, scanning every inch of space passed, sensing minute energy shifts.