Fars paid no heed to what the demon was saying; he turned and ran, eager to escape the demon's mental attack range. His survival was largely thanks to Joanna's necklace, which bolstered his mental strength, preventing him from collapsing under the demon's sudden assault. Additionally, Denise had intervened just in time to block the demon's follow-up attack.
Fars could understand the general meaning of the demon's words spoken in the ancient Nais language. The fact that it could speak a language beyond the demon tongue indicated that this creature possessed a considerable level of intelligence—definitely a higher demon. If it had evolved from a lower demon, a millennium of confinement would not have afforded it the opportunity to learn other languages. It seemed Joanna's assessment was mistaken; a demon with such high intelligence was certainly beyond their capability to confront. Having narrowly escaped, Fars was determined not to involve himself further in this expedition. Just as he thought he was far enough away, the demon's raspy voice echoed in his ears again.
"Flowing with the bloodline of the Shire, yet so cowardly. Has the world outside changed so much over the millennia?"
Upon hearing the word "Shire," Fars instinctively halted. How could this demon know about his inherited vampire lineage? Before he could ponder this confusion, the demon's voice continued to reach him.
"Little one, you need not be too afraid. Since you have inherited the bloodline of the Shire, according to the ancient contract made between the higher demons and your ancestors, as a representative of the demons in Elras, I cannot harm you as long as you do not violate the terms of the contract."
"Have you forgotten the promises made by your ancestors?"
"Forgotten? Forgotten? Forgotten?" The repetition of the word echoed in Fars's mind like a curse, reverberating through his consciousness. He felt as if his head might explode, and his body began to lose control, writhing in agony on the ground.
"Get out! Get out of my head!" After struggling for what felt like an eternity, Fars could no longer contain his chaotic thoughts and began to scream like a madman.
It turned out that the Shire family had not fully awakened their vampire powers. The demon, watching the tormented vampire from within its seal, let out a mocking laugh.
The commotion had long since awakened Joanna and Agno, who were resting in the stone house. Already uneasy about Fars being out so late, they found it impossible to sleep. They hadn't heard the demon's words, but the subsequent cries of the phoenix and Fars's anguished screams were unmistakable.
The two hurriedly followed the sounds to where Fars had collapsed, but the demon had already vanished, retreating deep into the laboratory.
By this time, Fars had struggled for a while and finally began to calm down, slipping into unconsciousness. Denise, anxious, flitted around Fars, and when Joanna and Agno arrived, she understood that Fars and they weren't particularly close. She positioned herself in front of Fars, blocking their approach.
Seeing the ice phoenix standing guard, Joanna halted her steps. Fars's sudden collapse provided them with a perfect opportunity for revenge. However, given the constraints of the contract and the need for a mage's assistance for their next move, Joanna found it difficult to justify attacking Fars.
It seemed equally unwise to simply turn back and ignore the situation. Fars's collapse was too strange. Having encountered the demon twice, Joanna's first instinct was to suspect the demon's involvement. The tracks left by Fars clearly indicated he had come from the direction of the laboratory. Had he ventured into the laboratory alone? Had he been attacked by the demon? Was he out of his mind? Joanna thought to herself.
Since Joanna had previously stood outside the seal and observed the demon without being attacked, she didn't believe Fars would be targeted just for being outside. The most likely scenario was that Fars had recklessly entered the laboratory, survived inside, but emerged in his current state.
Could it be that he knew something? Otherwise, how could one explain why a vampire, who valued wealth and life, would venture out alone while she was asleep? Unable to make sense of it, Joanna and Agno dared not approach Fars too closely, as Denise was already poised to defend him, hovering in the air with a fierce gaze fixed on them, occasionally glancing back at the laboratory. Clearly, the problem lay within the laboratory, where the only living creature they had encountered was that demon.
Fars appeared to be merely unconscious, with no visible injuries or signs of struggle, and his familiar remained by his side. What had caused his earlier suffering and led him to faint?
Fars was indeed in a dire state. While he had previously endured the pain and screams, maintaining some clarity of mind, he now found himself completely losing control of his body. His spirit felt as if it had been frozen in the icy pool once again, making even the slightest movement difficult. It was as if the demon's words had detonated within him, completely overwhelming him. Fortunately, the magical array within his consciousness remained stable, and the mental shock had not reached his core.
As the magical array operated, his condition gradually improved, and the mental trauma began to fade. After what felt like an eternity, Fars sensed his spirit revitalizing, only to discover that some new memories had surfaced, vague yet familiar. Focusing his mind, he attempted to "recall" these newly emerged memories. After some time, he finally understood what they were. Unlike the natural awakening that accompanied the rise in his power, this time, the demon's words had penetrated his being like a magical incantation, forcibly triggering the inheritance within his bloodline. However, this involuntary activation came with unbearable pain, one that few could withstand, and ultimately, he had succumbed to unconsciousness. A portion of the inheritance had been awakened, but it remained unclear and indistinct.
Yet, a clear agreement resembling a magical contract lay within his memories. Fars could not recognize the script; it was neither Nais nor the common tongue of today. The only name he could discern among the many signatures was one that felt intimately connected to him—Shire. This name was undoubtedly Shire. Given its relation to what the previous demon had said, it was likely written in the demon tongue. An agreement, a contract; it seemed that the bloodline he had inherited was indeed inextricably linked to demons.
With these new thoughts swirling in his mind, Fars awoke feeling dazed. Joanna and Agno, who had been vigilantly watching over him, sensed his awakening.
After holding back her curiosity for so long, Joanna directly asked, "What exactly happened? Did you go to the laboratory alone?"
Fars found himself at a loss for words, unsure how much to reveal about his encounter with the demon. Since she believed he had gone to the laboratory, he decided to play along with her narrative. "Yes, I intended to investigate, but the demon was far too powerful, and its attacks targeted my mind. Fortunately, your necklace helped strengthen my mental defenses, allowing me to escape just in time."
"Foolhardy."
With that single word, Joanna stood up and walked away, with Agno following closely behind her back to the stone house.
Fars sighed, brushing himself off before rising to follow them. Denise, feeling relieved that Fars had awakened, chirped happily a few times before settling into his arms to sleep.
Regardless of Joanna's thoughts, Fars truly needed to rest. The dull ache in his head indicated that his strength had been significantly depleted. In his current state, facing the demon again was out of the question. Fortunately, they understood his condition and allowed him the time to recuperate upon returning to the stone house.
The journey back was silent. Once inside, Joanna meticulously questioned Fars about his experience, particularly the part about the mental attack. This posed no challenge for the cunning Fars, who embellished his tale, explaining that he had recklessly ventured into the depths of the laboratory, where the demon had attacked him. This time, he had been prepared, casting a few spells, but they had little effect. He then attempted to flee, only to be struck by the demon's mental assault just as he was about to escape. Fars described the demon's appearance, which aligned with Joanna's previous observations, lending credibility to most of his account.
However, when Joanna inquired about the demon's strength, Fars hesitated. If he claimed the demon was stronger than a mage, it would seem implausible that he had escaped alive. Conversely, if he said it was merely stronger than a high-tier professional with unique attack methods, it would skew their judgment. In Fars's mind, a creature capable of penetrating the seal and rendering him defenseless could not be weaker than a mage. Especially considering the demon's intelligence, he could not disclose the fact that he had communicated with it and that it knew certain details about him.
Finally managing to satisfy Joanna's probing questions, Fars could finally meditate and restore his battered spirit, all while keeping the necklace from her. He also informed Joanna that he had opened Master Perugino's ring and would provide her with the items they needed once he had rested.
In this rare moment of calm, Fars found it impossible to feel at peace. The vague memories in his mind were becoming increasingly clear.