The land ravaged by the relentless flow of lava was hardly a sight to behold. After a long day of travel, Fars and Yuna were nearing the infamous dead zone. Fars was reluctant to tempt fate; while places that could nurture extraordinary treasures were appealing, they also attracted disaster. From a high vantage point, the landscape was bleak, with vast expanses of cracked volcanic rock, and Fars found his earlier curiosity replaced by a sense of disillusionment.
Yuna had heard tales of this place but had never seen it for herself. Lacking Fars's ability to fly, she was eager to witness the devastation wrought by the lava. In her desperation, she turned to the dark vampire for help.
Seizing the opportunity to take advantage of Yuna, Fars was not one to let it slip by. Even without making any extra demands, simply carrying Yuna into the air was already a considerable advantage.
How to navigate around this area? They were not far from the border town of Nordan in the Duchy of Andun. Fars, who had not mingled with humans for quite some time, was eager to experience life among them again. After all, he was becoming increasingly out of touch with the world, unaware of various significant events that could affect his future.
Though he had become a vampire, Fars was not overly concerned about being discovered. Who would suspect a person walking in broad daylight? Cloaked in his black robe, he led Yuna toward Nordan during the day.
Fars's collection of badges representing his identity as a mage was not quite fitting for his current status as a high-level sorcerer. The badge he had taken from Jessie's teammate was merely a silver star, which would hardly intimidate anyone unless they were foolish enough to provoke him. The twin crescent badges worn by the great sorcerers from a millennium ago were beyond his reach; the natural aura of a great sorcerer was something Fars could not replicate. The only badge that suited him at the moment was the New Moon badge left by the mage Perugino.
In a border town like Nordan, how many would dare to provoke a sorcerer? A high-level mage could easily command respect in such a small place, let alone a figure of authority like a sorcerer. It was likely that if Fars entered Nordan wearing just this badge, even the town lord would rush to extend an invitation. This was a customary gesture of goodwill from the nobility toward mages entering their territory. Whether or not they received an invitation was left to the whims of the eccentric mages. Of course, lower and mid-level mages rarely attracted the attention of the nobility unless they expressed a desire to settle down and serve a family, which would prompt various noble houses to extend olive branches.
As Fars approached Nordan, he donned the badge representing his identity as a sorcerer. The verification of such badges was typically only necessary when entering a magic association. In a small place like Nordan, having a church was already a luxury; the people from the magic association were notoriously picky and would not establish a branch here. It was likely that the Duchy of Andun had a branch of the magic association in its capital.
"Are you really a sorcerer?" Yuna, well-informed, recognized the significance of the badge on Fars's chest and asked in surprise.
Fars feigned nonchalance, lifting his chin slightly as he replied, "That was a long time ago."
It was difficult for ordinary people to gauge a mage's level based solely on their aura, and Yuna, having witnessed Fars freeze an area of a hundred meters in an instant, had little doubt about his status as a sorcerer. However, she was curious about why Fars had become a vampire. While she was intrigued, she also understood that some things were private. Their time together had brought them closer, and although Fars could be a bit forward, he had not crossed any lines, which put Yuna at ease. After all, they had not yet reached the point of sharing personal secrets; that would take time.
"Just act as my attendant; it will save us some trouble," Fars instructed Yuna before they entered the town.
Yuna considered this and agreed. A sorcerer accompanied by a beautiful female attendant was easily understandable; others would simply think the mage was more human and had a fondness for women.
As they approached the somewhat dilapidated city gates of Nordan, Fars strode confidently alongside Yuna. The guards found it odd that someone would wear a black robe in such hot weather, but their attention was quickly drawn to the enchanting Yuna, whose revealing attire captivated their gaze.
However, as Fars and Yuna drew closer, the guards finally noticed the New Moon badge on Fars's robe. While ordinary citizens might not recognize the intricate badges, the guards were trained to identify various occupational insignias and their corresponding power levels. They could not expect uneducated soldiers to discern the complex family crests of the nobility; as long as they could tell who was noble and who was not, that was sufficient. This basic discernment was crucial to avoid offending someone who could retaliate.
Upon recognizing Fars as a sorcerer, the previously relaxed guards immediately straightened up, greeting him and Yuna with military courtesy. After watching them enter the town, one of the guards hurried up to the watchtower to report the arrival of a sorcerer to his superior. The news would quickly ascend the chain of command until it reached the lord of Nordan.
Yuna played her role well, following Fars respectfully. With a short sword at her waist, she exuded an air of confidence. Her exquisite features, combined with her alluring figure, made her a striking presence in the streets.
In a small town like this, it would be strange if no wealthy young men or idle locals approached a beauty like Yuna. However, since she was acting as an attendant, many who would have otherwise approached her were deterred by the imposing figure of Fars in his black robe.
When encountering a mage, the first step in assessing their level was to look at the badge they wore. Those who would typically cause trouble were not foolish; upon realizing that Yuna was the sorcerer's companion, they thought better of their intentions. In Nordan, even the town lord could not afford to provoke Fars; offending a mage meant crossing the entire magic association. Moreover, the laws of the great empires provided special protections for mages wielding mysterious powers.
"Is he really a sorcerer? I can't believe my eyes."
"That beauty behind him is stunning."
"Why would such a prominent figure come to Nordan?"
...
Behind Fars, many people whispered among themselves. In a small town where sorcerers rarely visited, Fars's presence stirred quite a reaction. It must be said that Yuna was truly captivating; most of the chatter that reached Fars's ears was about her figure and beauty, mixed with some local vulgarities. Even if he couldn't understand every word, the lewd laughter that accompanied them made it clear they were not speaking kindly.
Ordinary people would struggle to discern individual voices amid the cacophony of the street. However, Fars's vampire hearing was far superior to that of humans. Concerned that someone might notice something amiss between him and Yuna, he deliberately tuned in to their gossip.
Fortunately, it had only been two days since their escapade, and their news had likely not yet reached this small duchy. Bounties were typically localized; it was not practical to broadcast them across the continent. Otherwise, a bounty hunter would have to travel thousands of miles to report a completed task, which would be quite a hassle and lead to more complications.
In fact, Fars was quite recognizable, especially with the peculiar little bird perched on his shoulder—an unmistakable feature. If he had swaggered into the Duchy of Macas, he would have been swarmed by countless adventurers seeking the bounty.
In a small town like Nordan, the main streets were limited, and most shops lined the thoroughfare that ran through the city. The adventurers' guild resembled a shabby tavern, with several armed men lounging at the entrance, making it easy to identify. It was unclear why adventurers' guilds were often designed like taverns; perhaps the profits from selling alcohol were too enticing, and without drinks, conversations among men would become stiff and awkward. As a result, it was common to find many drunks outside the guild.
Generally, it was best not to engage with drunken adventurers, as doing so would only complicate matters. When Fars and Yuna passed by, they had no intention of stopping to sit; after all, mingling with a group of ordinary adventurers would tarnish the dignity of a noble sorcerer. However, that did not mean the drunks would not cause trouble. Yuna's allure was undeniable, and while normal townsfolk dared not approach her, the drunks were less discerning. They began to whistle at her and rudely invited her to join them for a drink. Some of the bolder ones, emboldened by drink, followed her out of the tavern, hurling lewd comments her way.
In such a situation, it was time for Fars to step in. If the 'sorcerer' allowed his attendant to be harassed by a group of drunks without reacting, it would undermine his authority. How could anyone respect a mage if they could be disrespected so easily?
To maintain his air of mystery, Fars merely turned his head slightly, casting a cold glance at the unruly drunks. A chill ran through them, and they suddenly felt as if they were in the depths of winter, before losing consciousness. To the onlookers, it merely seemed as if a sudden gust of cold wind had swept through, encasing the drunks in ice.
In public, Fars was reluctant to use dark magic, opting instead to portray himself as a sorcerer who commanded ice and snow. It was only through this aspect, aided by the power of Danis, that he could display the kind of authority only a sorcerer possessed. With just a glance, he casually froze several drunks, each at least level three adventurers. This display alone was enough to quell any doubts about Fars's identity as a sorcerer.
Perhaps the people of the southern continent were not accustomed to ice and snow; after Fars led Yuna away, many rushed forward to collect the shards of ice that had fallen from the drunks. The dazed drunks, having narrowly escaped death, sobered up quickly upon hearing that they had just provoked a sorcerer, leaving them terrified.
At a small table by the window in the adventurers' guild, one witness to the commotion pulled out a wanted poster from his backpack. Upon unfolding it, he was startled to find that the image closely resembled the woman following the sorcerer. He had thought the beauty outside looked familiar, and upon confirming his suspicion, he hurriedly tucked the wanted poster away and rushed out of the tavern.