Marvel’s Shadowed Knight

Regulus Black was in a good mood. It had been three years since he arrived in the world of Harry Potter, and he had finally completed the rune system from the Diablo universe. To give an admittedly imperfect example, Regulus Black could now open portals in the Harry Potter world to summon entities and objects from the Diablo game world—including demons and angels.

The wands of the Harry Potter world and the runes of the Diablo universe reflected the fundamental differences between the two magical systems.

On each of the 33 Diablo runes flowed structured magical energy. They were like 33 distinct components—no, modules. Even when existing independently, each could produce unique magical effects. Replicating these effects using raw magical energy would be extremely taxing and inefficient. The value of the runes lay in their ability to channel magic in the most cost-effective way.

And when combined in specific formulas, the runes could produce effects that far surpassed their individual capabilities.

In the Diablo game, runes were primarily used to enhance equipment, and at most, a piece of gear could be embedded with six runes.

However, in the Harry Potter world—a realm where magic could bend to will—these 33 runes had the potential to form an entirely new magical language. It was not unthinkable that they could be arranged into a super magic formation.

"Boss! Here's the filming schedule for the new script. If all goes well, we can finish shooting over the summer break."

The arrival of Lucy Pidell snapped Regulus Black out of his fantasies.

"Thank you, darling. Without you, I'd be clueless about this sort of thing."

Regulus took the document and began reading through it carefully. If he didn't go over it immediately and give a response, his personal assistant might just lose her temper. As a boss, he had to respect the work and effort of his subordinates.

Lucy Pidell sat down beside him, gazing at her boss and lover with fascination.

She showed no interest in the box of runes on the table. Even though the grayish stones were brimming with magical energy, they couldn't draw Lucy's attention away from Regulus.

"Darling, if you have something in mind, at least let me finish reading first."

Regulus turned to tease Lucy. After all, he knew exactly what kind of mood she was in whenever she saw him—in short, she was smitten.

"I'm in no rush. Take your time."

Lucy Pidell was doing her best to showcase her feminine charm. Her fingers traced slowly over her hair, earlobes, lips, then down her jawline, neck, and collarbone. In front of her clearly braless chest, she toyed with the crimson gem hanging from her necklace.

She was, indeed, stirred—but had learned to restrain herself. Instead of acting rashly, she simply presented herself to Regulus, showing off her allure and seductiveness.

Back when Regulus had conducted magical experiments on her and the others, he had embedded various effects into them. As a result, their youth remained untouched by time, their bodies were always in peak condition, and their mental vitality was sustained by the crimson gem's energy. With the added bonus of increased luck, both their careers and daily lives had become significantly smoother.

Regulus quickly finished reading the document, while beside him, Lucy was practically ready to melt.

"You've worked hard. As your boss, it's only right that I reward you properly."

Regulus scooped Lucy up in his arms, and the two of them soon headed to the bathroom—to discuss their 'next steps' in private.

The next day, Sarah Maedani arrived in the United States. The production of Paranormal Sixth Sense: Golden-Eyed Loli officially began.

"Is this your first time in the U.S., Sarah?"

Regulus had arrived early at the pier to personally receive Sarah Maedani, who had traveled alone by boat. Driving his flashy Indian-style car, he cruised through the streets.

"Yes! Regulus, this really is my first time leaving Europe. You know, most of my work used to be based in the UK or sometimes within Europe. I've never had the chance to travel the world."

Sarah Maedani had started modeling from a young age—a career her mother had laid out for her.

After her mother passed away, Sarah was shunned by her father's wizarding family. Her own biological father no longer came to see her.

She had no choice but to continue working through the contracts her mother had secured for her. But it didn't take long for her to feel the crushing pressure of being an orphan. The social circles that once welcomed her, shielded by her parents, quickly vanished. Both kind and malicious gazes began to take on new, uncomfortable meanings.

Had Lucy Pidell not shown up at that time, Sarah might have fallen victim to some particularly twisted individuals with disturbing preferences.

After all, a little girl with golden eyes was an extremely rare treasure. To some, she was nothing more than an exotic plaything—something so rare that even if she were killed, they wouldn't feel the slightest remorse. Instead, they would feel a twisted sense of satisfaction from having her all to themselves.

Regulus Black knew exactly who those people were, but he hadn't taken action against them yet. The time wasn't right.

"How did it feel traveling by ocean liner? Did you get seasick?"

Regulus Black could tell that Sarah Maidaney didn't look well, so he asked with concern.

"It actually wasn't too bad on the ship. It's just that I couldn't sleep soundly. I'm very sensitive to the ship's swaying. Maybe that's why I couldn't rest properly."

The little girl hugged her jewelry box and swayed gently in her seat. This kind of movement was completely different from the rocking of the ship.

"That must've been hard on you. If I'd known, I would've prepared a sleeping potion for you. That way, you wouldn't have suffered through the seasickness."

Regulus Black reached out and gently stroked Sarah's hair. The little girl happily leaned toward him, like a kitten being invited to cuddle by its master. With her eyes half-closed, she nestled against Regulus Black and began to doze off.

Seeing her look so blissful, Regulus Black gently wrapped his arm around her.

"Regulus, actually, when I can't sleep, I often have nightmares—and it's always the same one."

Though Sarah Maidaney's eyes were still half-shut, her words were heart-wrenching.

"Every time I have that nightmare, I curl up into a ball. I feel like I'm surrounded by evil spirits. They can sense my breathing. If I don't wrap myself up completely with a blanket, I can't feel safe."

Under Regulus Black's soothing presence, Sarah Maidaney was already drifting into a dazed state.

With just a few subtle prompts and gentle guidance, the shadows in the little girl's heart could be dispelled. Otherwise, they would continue to haunt her for a long time.

And once those shadows are drawn out into the open, the person can gain the initiative to confront them. Rather than being chased forward by fear and darkness, it is better to stand up and face those shadows directly—to understand them, to conquer them, and to gain control over them.

"Tell me—what nightmare have you been having, the one that's haunted you this entire trip?"

Regulus Black's voice was smooth and deeply persuasive, making it hard not to obey his words.

Say it. Just say it and everything will be fine. Everything will be okay once you speak it out loud.

"I dreamed I was dancing with the captain, and the guests all around us were dancing too. Then, suddenly, a flash of light shot across the room, and everyone except me died."

"I dreamed I ran back to my cabin. On the way, I saw the crew crazily hunting down the passengers, driving them all toward the swimming pool, where they stood at the edge and opened fire."

"I dreamed I passed through the banquet hall. The dinner guests were all foaming at the mouth and dying, while the chefs were checking for survivors. When they found any, they slit their throats with knives."

"I dreamed I ran to the cargo hold at the bottom of the ship. The crew members who had committed all those crimes were celebrating with wine. In front of them were crates of gold and the jewelry they had stolen from the dead passengers. At the end, they hung a distress flag on the ship."

"I dreamed they found me. A singer—a woman who sang—was one of their accomplices. She dragged me out of a corner, stole the blood-red ruby jewelry you gave me, and then they hanged me. Regulus! You didn't come. You never showed up. In the dream, you didn't come to save me."

Sarah Maidaney could no longer distinguish between dream and reality. Her eyes were filled with tears as she cried, clutching Regulus Black's clothes like someone who had lost the most important person in her life.

"Trust me, darling. As long as I'm here, nothing will happen to you. No matter what danger you're in, I'll come for you."

A faint magical glow shimmered from Regulus Black's hand, and Sarah Maidaney immediately sank into a deep, peaceful sleep.

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