The anomaly occurred.
It did not seem to make the young Blind Wizard shrink back. On the contrary, sensing the stirring beneath the lake only made him more interested rather than afraid.
Saruman stood up, determination written across his handsome face. "It seems the invitation has been sent. Karg, stay here and protect Lina. I'll go down and take a look."
With that—
He was about to act.
"That's too dangerous!" Karg immediately objected, his thick arm blocking Saruman's path. "We don't know what's down there! But this is obviously a trap!"
"Precisely because we don't know, someone has to investigate." Saruman's tone was resolute as he gently pushed Karg's arm aside. "Remember the oath of our Eyes of Dawn—'For truth, fear no darkness.'"
It was clear.
He was a wizard with idealistic sentiments.
"No!" Lina struggled to her feet and grabbed Saruman's sleeve. "Don't go down. In my visions, I saw something terrible. You'll lose something important."
Saruman gently pried open her fingers and lightly kissed her forehead. "Some truths are worth any price."
He gave his companions one final look.
Then he raised his head to gaze at the strange stars above the lake before stepping without hesitation onto the stone steps leading to the lakebed. His figure gradually vanished into the depths of the purple water.
Leaving only ripples spreading across the surface.
"Will he really be alright?"
Karg and Lina waited anxiously by the lake for roughly two days—though this section, presented through memories, was naturally sped up.
After all, the Black Robed Woman and the Blind Wizard could not possibly stand around here waiting for that long.
"Teacher, was it during this adventure that you lost your eyes?" Even now, the Black Robed Woman had not realized that this place was the present-day Ministry of