Disturbing someone's meditation is considered extremely rude and a significant taboo in the realm of cultivation. Although Fars's current status didn't warrant much concern from the group in the tent, they treated him more like a servant than an equal. However, being the nobles they were, they refrained from waking him from his meditation, choosing instead to wait patiently.
The next morning, as the sun began to rise, Fars had no choice but to end his meditation and summon a magical shield to protect himself from the sunlight. It was unfortunate that their camp was set up in such an open area, devoid of any large trees to provide shade. He contemplated moving to the nearby woods but feared it might be misinterpreted by the others. Luckily, Durl, one of the guards, woke up early, and Fars quickly approached him to express his desire to find some shelter from the sun.
Durl, curious about the intriguing vampire, didn't make things difficult for him. He nodded in agreement but clearly didn't regard Fars as an outsider, tossing him a wooden bucket and instructing him to fetch some water for the nobles to wash up.
Fars couldn't voice his displeasure, so he took the bucket and swiftly flew toward the nearest water source. Though he kept his mouth shut, he couldn't help but feel frustrated. This task was clearly meant for Durl, yet here he was, left to do it himself.
Being resourceful, Fars also returned with two freshly caught blue-skinned rabbits, which he had spotted while fetching water. He thought it would be a nice gesture to present them to the young nobles. He did his best to fulfill the duties expected of a servant, and whether they appreciated it or not was up to them.
Those who had just woken up were often more emotionally honest, easily swayed by their feelings, and prone to irritation. Perhaps Fars's meditation had been too loud the previous night, leaving the nobles feeling unrested. Joanna, in particular, stepped out of the tent with a glare that could kill, sending a shiver down Fars's spine.
Soon after, Master Perugino, Agno, and Panasus emerged from their tent. It was important to note that Joanna and the others were not all crammed into one tent. Even Fars, with his limited perspective, could tell that their tent was special. It appeared to be the size of a standard two-person tent but had significantly more space inside, thanks to spatial magic. Being mindful of their status, they likely arranged the interior to ensure privacy, as nobles valued their secrets, and mages preferred not to be disturbed.
It seemed they didn't fully trust Fars yet, allowing him only minimal involvement in setting up the tent but not permitting him inside. While he was curious about what secrets lay within, he still felt a sense of awe at the thought of being in such a top-tier tent enhanced by spatial spells.
During breakfast, Master Perugino took the opportunity to inquire about Fars's situation on behalf of the group. Fars's display of mental strength had been impressive, and given his youth, it suggested remarkable magical talent. While there were many high-level mages in their twenties and thirties, a vampire with near-endless lifespan could potentially have immense potential. Achieving legendary status in this life would require great fortune, but if they were willing to nurture Fars, he could become a mage or even a grand mage.
Nobles were known for their relentless pursuit of talent, often snuffing out any genius that didn't cooperate. Especially among the prominent families, the funds spent to curry favor with powerful and gifted individuals could easily support several high-level mages. If they encountered a once-in-a-century genius, the rewards offered could be staggering.
Fars was fortunate; Joanna's lack of sleep stemmed from her contemplation of whether to recruit him as a servant after their mission. Though merely a servant, high-ranking individuals preferred to have their trusted aides by their side, as no one wanted a dagger to be thrust from an unsuspecting angle. If Fars were to be taken in, as long as Joanna maintained her position, he would have a foothold in the Mirio Empire, making him not someone to be trifled with.
When Master Perugino asked about the type of formation Fars had used to achieve high-level status, Fars was cautious and didn't reveal too much. He merely stated that he wasn't well-versed in high-level mage matters, having lucked into advancing from an intermediate to a high-level mage, creating a triangular star formation with three pillars. He couldn't specify the type, as his knowledge before his transformation had only made him a mediocre intermediate mage.
This alone left Master Perugino deeply moved. It was known that a typical high-level mage would only create a formation centered around a single pillar, a rune-based formation. Fars's inability to describe the pillars as runes didn't mean Perugino was unaware. As a knowledgeable mage, he understood that each individual's fortune and talent played a role. Perhaps the boy's bloodline contained some latent abilities that contributed to the strength of his formation. The Hill vampire clan was indeed ancient, and Fars might even hold a higher rank among vampires. Perugino himself had only constructed a formation with two runes when he achieved high-level status. His teacher had praised his potential as a mage, and he had indeed become a highly esteemed mage. However, he knew he lacked the talent to reach the level of a grand mage. The fact that this young vampire displayed significantly greater talent than himself made Perugino feel a twinge of jealousy.
Joanna and the others understood just how terrifying it was for someone to comprehend three runes at the high mage level. Although they weren't mages themselves, they had been educated about the intricacies of magic from a young age.
Fars was acutely aware of the shift in their attitudes, realizing his worth had increased. He felt a sense of security regarding his life. The nobles were always busy with their schemes and rivalries. Now that he had showcased his magical talent and was a young high-level mage, even as a vampire, he believed their families would have the means to accommodate him. The crucial question remained: which young noble would recruit him?
With his head now firmly on his shoulders, Fars pondered this issue. If he couldn't escape, aligning himself with the right side would be paramount. The downfall of the Delong family had been due to choosing the wrong side during a coup. Fars was unwilling to repeat that mistake; if possible, he preferred to remain free and in control of his own destiny rather than gamble on uncertain outcomes.
Currently, Joanna exuded the most authority, while Panasus seemed to have the least standing. Agno, though understated, didn't need to show excessive deference to Master Perugino or Joanna, indicating he came from a prestigious lineage. As a male heir, his words carried more weight than Joanna's.
There was no rush to recruit Fars; the priority was still to explore the ruins. If they failed in this endeavor, none of them would reap the rewards.
The map indicated the precise location of the Gonsago ruins. However, knowing only the coordinates wasn't enough; they needed to consider the surrounding terrain and the safest route to reach their destination.
Fortunately, Fars was relatively familiar with the area. Although he had never been to the ruins, he had been within a few dozen miles of them. He could serve as a satisfactory guide, leading them toward the vicinity of the Gonsago ruins.
The distance to the ruins was still over a thousand miles. They didn't seem to be in a hurry, planning to cover a hundred miles during the day and then set up camp for the night before continuing their journey at a leisurely pace.
Fars had his own gains as well. The old mage felt it was somewhat inhumane to have a mere viscount-level vampire lead the way during the day. Although Fars was protected by a magical shield and wasn't directly exposed to the sunlight, they still felt pity for him. Master Perugino kindly gifted him a high-level robe he had worn. This robe, made from precious black silk, had excellent light-blocking properties and featured a high-level defensive formation that stabilized the surrounding elements. It was indeed a valuable piece of clothing, and even Master Perugino had only a few of them. Having received Fars's Thunder Serpent horn, this was his way of reciprocating. If Fars were to be recruited by one of the young Medici nobles, it would be beneficial to maintain a good relationship with him.
In addition to the precious robe, Master Perugino also offered Fars guidance on some of his cultivation questions. Fars, who had been navigating his path alone, found this advice immensely beneficial, even though Perugino didn't teach him any specific high-level spells, which Fars desperately needed. Just a few small pointers from a mage who had traveled further along the path made Fars feel enlightened.
Thanks to these insights, Fars made progress in his spellcasting and mana manipulation. The magical shield, which usually consumed a lot of mana, became more efficient under his control. He learned to distribute his mana based on the intensity of sunlight, using more mana in brightly lit areas and conserving it in shaded spots, which allowed him to save a significant amount of mana. Additionally, the formation in his mind could automatically restore some of the consumed mana, so by the time they finished their journey for the night, Fars still had plenty of magical energy left for hunting and other tasks.
Being a viscount-level vampire who could withstand a day's journey under a magical shield was indeed impressive. This drew the attention of the young nobles, who were all poised to assume important roles in the future, and they began to extend olive branches toward Fars.
Even the usually reserved and aloof Agno stated that as long as Fars was willing to pledge his loyalty, he would be treated as a guest of honor. If Agno ever ascended to the head of the Medici family, he would ensure Fars enjoyed endless wealth and glory.
Joanna, on the other hand, was more direct, openly asking Fars if he would consider following her.
Faced with such tempting offers, Fars, who felt as if he had fallen into a nest of fortune, understood that humans and vampires often had difficulty coexisting. He politely expressed that he hadn't made a decision yet and would wait until their mission concluded before making a choice.
Afterward, he took Denise and moved to a quiet corner to rest, dutifully maintaining his role as a servant.