Breaking the mental imprint left by a mage whose mental strength surpassed one's own is no easy feat. Of course, with the original owner no longer around, even the strongest mental imprint will gradually weaken over time. If Fars were patient enough to wait three to five hundred years, the imprint set by the mage would naturally dissipate. Well, the lifespan of a vampire could certainly stretch that long. However, if three to five hundred years passed and Fars hadn't accidentally been purified or suffered irreparable damage, he would have far surpassed the potential of a mere vampire marquis. His journey as a mage was progressing even faster than his path as a vampire, making it quite possible for him to achieve the rank of a grand mage. By that point, erasing Perugino's mental imprint would be a trivial task.
Fars couldn't afford the luxury of waiting. That three to five hundred years was only feasible if no one actively sought to disrupt the process. With just a little effort each day, he could eliminate the imprint in a matter of days. If Fars had any knowledge of auxiliary methods for breaking such imprints, his efficiency would undoubtedly improve. He was particularly eager for the various magical tomes that might be hidden within, having grown weary of his ignorance.
At present, Fars lacked for nothing else. His recent haul from Panasus had left him almost giddy with excitement. Coming from a prominent family, the quality of their possessions was assured. Perhaps Panasus, being a somewhat managerial figure among them, had amassed a wealth of supplies, including bags overflowing with gold coins. He had even filled half a ring with long-lasting food. What kind of food could be stored for long periods without spoiling? Dried goods were relatively easy to preserve. Unfortunately, Fars had little appetite for jerky, dried vegetables, or rice cakes; discarding them felt wasteful. Thankfully, Panasus's ring was quite large, a high-grade one with a capacity of twenty cubic meters. Ever since the deceased Master Perugino gifted Fars a luxurious robe, he had become less concerned with material possessions. Fresh human blood was a rare resource in the Qihar Mountains, and normal people wouldn't venture out with jars of it for an adventure.
Counting the rings on his fingers, Fars wore the three largest ones. One had come from a noble youth he had slain in the Frozen Pool, while the other two belonged to Master Perugino and Panasus. The remaining rings, containing less significant items, were tucked away in his pockets; they could still fetch a decent price, and Fars, having been impoverished for years, couldn't bear to part with them.
Having adjusted to a normal human schedule, Fars felt no discomfort. After a good night's rest, he welcomed the new day with renewed vigor. He glanced at his two dear companions, who also seemed well-rested. Their high-end spatial tent was stored with Joanna, and while the castle had plenty of rooms, none could match the comfort of a tent. Joanna and Agno had even invited Fars to join them for the night, but he preferred to stay outside, feeling that it would allow him more time to react to potential dangers. The safety of the castle was still uncertain. What if another spirit comparable to a mage showed up? Fars had no confidence that he and Denise could handle it; neither of them had effective means to combat such threats. Otherwise, they would have intervened long ago, rather than watching Master Perugino engage the spirit alone.
Besides, someone had to keep watch. Fars politely declined their offer. Now that they were in the same boat, he couldn't backtrack on their newly signed contract. Violating a contract meant facing the consequences of the laws of the universe, and unless one reached the legendary level, there was no room for resistance under such sanctions. Even at the legendary level, it merely increased the chances of survival.
The three of them didn't need to discuss anything further; they stepped out of the castle in unison, ready to explore the towering mage towers outside. Fars was certain that Joanna and Agno had some knowledge of the area. Since they had come with a clear purpose, they must know where to find what they sought and how to obtain it, likely having made arrangements in advance.
One was taciturn, the other an icy beauty; Fars felt a deep-seated animosity toward them, and the atmosphere was hardly warm. Following Joanna's lead, they turned left and right, with her seemingly confirming something along the way. Occasionally, she would pull out a meticulously detailed map to compare, clearly having come prepared. As for why they agreed to cooperate with Fars, it was likely not just out of fear of his potential treachery but also due to their desire to utilize him.
Scattered outside the castle were seven towering mage towers, lacking any discernible pattern. The Gonsago Ruins were vast, and the reclusive mages had built their towers at a considerable distance from one another. The only notable difference among these towers was their height; as structures from the same era, they shared a similar architectural style, but one tower stood taller than the others. There was no doubt that this tallest tower was the most significant in the Gonsago Ruins, likely belonging to its master.
In the previous era, mage towers were constructed according to specific standards, which varied based on the strength of their owners. The most common classification was based on height and the number of floors. Most mage towers had a standard height, as they were meant for habitation. Only a few eccentric mages intentionally designed their towers to have unusually high or low floors. For ordinary mages, from legendary to mage level, the bottom floors typically stood around seven to eight meters high, gradually decreasing to four or five meters. Only mages above the rank of mage could build their own towers, leading to three distinct categories: towers under fifty meters were exclusive to mages, those between fifty and seventy meters were usually constructed by grand mages, and towers over ninety meters were reserved for legendary mages. Anything taller would depend on the whims of those legends.
The six towers, all approximately sixty meters tall, indicated that six grand mages had once gathered here, while the tallest tower, nearing a hundred meters, was undoubtedly a relic of a legendary mage.
Fars had previously visited ruins that housed a legendary mage, but from the manuscripts left behind, it was clear that it was merely a laboratory, not a mage tower. If it had been a true mage tower, situated on the outskirts of the Qihar Mountains where human activity was prevalent, it would have been discovered long ago, leaving no room for Fars and his former "good" companions to explore.
Finally, Joanna stopped leading Fars in circles, pausing beneath the tower of a grand mage. Fars couldn't discern any difference between this tower and the other five grand mage towers, nor could he understand why Joanna chose to start here.
This icy beauty finally spoke again, explaining to the vampire, who wore a puzzled expression, "I have the architectural plans for these towers, but no one can guarantee their authenticity or if any changes have been made. The owner of this tower was a grand mage from ten thousand years ago. According to some preserved historical records, he was a relatively normal mage, so the dangers here should be minimal compared to the other towers."
Joanna allowed Fars a moment to ponder before continuing, "You need to understand that Agno and I are willing to cooperate with you primarily because we need the assistance of a mage to reach our destination. Although you are a high-level mage, you should know that you lack the knowledge and means befitting one. So, when it comes time for you to dismantle some defenses, you'll need to listen to me."
"Also, how long will it take you to break the ring left by Master Perugino?" Joanna pressed, not giving Fars a chance to respond.
This was clearly not about forcing Fars to hand over Perugino's relics; Joanna wasn't naive enough to think she could reclaim what was in Fars's possession with just a few words. After gathering his thoughts, Fars decided not to speak the truth. He couldn't deny Joanna's previous assertion; he indeed did not measure up to a qualified high-level mage. To enter the mage tower, he had no reason to refuse Joanna's guidance.
"A month," he replied coldly.
Realizing Fars's timeline, Joanna seemed dissatisfied. It wasn't that she was eager for Fars to inherit the mage's legacy; rather, there were many items prepared for this expedition that she didn't want to wait a month for. If they had that much time, they wouldn't have needed to rush through their journey.
This wasn't the time to worry about the items. After a long contemplation, Joanna gently removed the star pendant necklace from around her neck. Fars watched her, puzzled by her intentions.
"This necklace enhances and concentrates mental strength. Once you wear it, your mental power should temporarily reach the peak of a high-level mage, allowing you to erase Master Perugino's imprint in just a few days," Joanna's cold voice reached Fars's ears.
Fars was taken aback; he couldn't believe she would lend him such a valuable item. If it truly had such an effect, and with Fars concealing some of his abilities, he could break the mage's ring in just one night. Regardless of what treasures lay within, he would need to sacrifice them for this exploration, and he was eager to begin.
"Don't get too comfortable. The necklace will only be borrowed for a limited time during your rest. Once you're done, you must return it. I'm sure you're quite eager for a mage's legacy, so as a condition for its use, you must hand over all items prepared for this expedition. As for the remaining items, they don't belong to the Medici family, and Agno and I won't pursue them further."
Joanna continued, making it clear that everything needed to be stated outright. Even though she had many treasures of her own, she wasn't about to prepare multiple magical contracts for this situation. If it could be resolved through a promise, Fars, being sensible, wouldn't refuse her terms.