The next morning, after enjoying an incredibly lavish breakfast with Yuna, the two of them checked out of the inn. There wasn't much to pack; Fars was wealthy enough that even a spatial ring felt excessive. In a small town like Nordan, there wasn't much to explore. However, as they strolled down the street, they remained blissfully unaware of someone trailing them from a distance. It was hardly surprising that Fars and Yuna were not on high alert; in the bustling crowd, if someone was deliberately following them, they could easily maintain a distance that made it hard to notice.
Surveillance was not a task for just anyone; it required patience and skill to avoid detection. Xiao Jin had been tailing Fars and Yuna since he left the old thief's place yesterday. After Fars took Yuna to the inn during the day, they hadn't emerged again until this morning. Spending a few coins, Xiao Jin had learned from the inn's staff that the two had entered the same room and had not made a sound since. "What a lecherous old man," Xiao Jin thought to himself, cursing Fars for his shameless behavior in broad daylight. In Xiao Jin's mind, anyone who could be called a sorcerer was an old man.
Knowing his own limitations, Xiao Jin could only manage the task of surveillance, and even in less crowded areas, he risked being discovered. After all, Fars had fought his way through the Qihara Mountains, and his keen senses were not something an ordinary person could match. If it weren't for the sheer number of people around, Fars would have surely noticed that someone was stealthily following him. Yuna, being naturally sociable, had let her guard down after arriving in Nordan and was oblivious to the fact that someone was tailing them with ulterior motives.
The two of them meandered over to the old tailor's shop to pick up the clothes they had ordered the day before. Upon seeing the tailor's dark circles under his eyes, it was clear he had spent the entire night working to finish Yuna's outfit. Fars generously tipped him an extra ten percent, which left the old tailor overwhelmed with gratitude. An extra ten percent amounted to over forty gold coins, a significant reward for a night's labor. The outfit made for Yuna was elegant and sophisticated. After all, Fars didn't plan to remain in the wilderness forever; he would occasionally venture into human territories, and it was only fitting for Yuna to dress appropriately to reflect her status.
The outfit, valued at nearly five hundred gold coins, was a price that would make even ordinary nobles wince. To ensure it didn't hinder Yuna's agility, the design was kept simple, with the value lying primarily in the fabric and tailoring. Being a woman, Yuna couldn't completely escape her love for beauty. Inside the fitting room, she changed out of her previous outfit.
When she emerged, she was no longer the sword-wielding, spirited Yuna. Instead, she wore a knee-length robe in a deep, muted color that exuded an air of ancient elegance. After all, Yuna was playing the role of an attendant, not a wealthy young lady. Thus, Fars had chosen a dark fabric with hints of crimson. The cuffs and collar were intricately embroidered with silver thread, depicting phoenixes inspired by the legendary Danis, while a blood-red rose adorned the front.
Fars was quite pleased with the outfit. Yuna gazed at her reflection in the mirror, appreciating the transformation from a fiery beauty to one that hinted at mystery. As they left the tailor's shop, Yuna mimicked the demeanor of a noble lady, taking small steps to follow closely behind Fars. Although she no longer exuded the same flamboyant beauty, passersby, especially men, continued to steal glances at her with unabated enthusiasm.
At that moment, a swift horse suddenly turned onto the street where Fars and Yuna were walking. The rider scanned the area, seemingly searching for someone. With Yuna's striking appearance and Fars's commanding presence, the knight on horseback quickly spotted them. It appeared he was indeed looking for Fars. Dismounting, the knight hurried over to Fars.
"Please, esteemed Sorcerer, save my lady!" the knight implored, bowing deeply in urgency.
It seemed events were unfolding according to plan, but Fars knew he couldn't appear too knowledgeable at this moment. Thus, he feigned ignorance and asked, "Who is your lady, and why do you seek my help?"
"My lady is the daughter of Count Rao Er of this city. Last night, she was seemingly possessed by a vengeful spirit and is currently in a deep coma. The old priest in town said that only a bishop from the capital or a powerful mage could exorcise the spirit. The capital is a thousand miles away, and we cannot transport her there immediately. I heard that you, esteemed Sorcerer, are passing through, and I humbly request your assistance in saving my lady." The knight, having rushed through his explanation, knelt on one knee, pleading with Fars.
After a moment of feigned contemplation, Fars glanced at the onlookers and reluctantly replied, "I am not a priest skilled in exorcism. I cannot guarantee that I can resolve your lady's predicament."
"Master, please! You are powerful; you must be able to help!"
"Yes, yes! Honorable Sorcerer, please save our lord's daughter!" A sympathetic voice from the crowd echoed the knight's plea, urging Fars to assist.
With someone leading the charge, many in the crowd began to join in, pleading for Fars's help. Of course, there were also onlookers who remained indifferent, watching the scene unfold with detached interest.
Fars's vanity was momentarily satisfied, and he waved his hand, lifting the kneeling knight with an invisible force. With a reluctant agreement, he said, "Lead the way."
The knight, eager to guide Fars, dared not mount his horse again, instead leading it slowly as he hurried to the count's residence. Although he was anxious, he could only pull the horse along, moving at a measured pace. Just then, a carriage passed by, and the distressed knight immediately brightened, flagging it down. The occupants, hearing it was an urgent matter for the lord's family, quickly disembarked.
Yuna helped Fars into the carriage, and the knight abandoned his horse, urging the carriage to hasten toward the count's estate. His urgency likely stemmed from a desire to claim credit; the count had dispatched several knights throughout the city to find Fars. If he could bring Fars to save the lady, it would surely be a significant achievement.
Upon arriving at the count's estate, Yuna assisted Fars out of the carriage. Having already explored the estate the night before, Fars had no interest in admiring the garden's intricate designs or marveling at the blooming orchids. After all, he had come from the Delong family, an ancient and prestigious lineage, and had seen many beautiful gardens.
However, Fars's indifference was interpreted by those in the count's estate as a sign of his concern for the ailing lady, showing no interest in anything else. Most visitors to the count's garden would typically be awestruck by its beauty. Even distinguished guests from afar would genuinely marvel at the meticulously maintained garden curated by the countess.
As they passed a small fountain, Count Rao Er and his wife approached, having received the news. Concerned for their daughter, the count and his family skipped the usual noble pleasantries, likely aware that mages preferred to avoid such formalities. Count Rao Er went straight to the point, inviting Fars to his daughter's chamber to exorcise the spirit.
Possession by vengeful spirits was not particularly unusual in Elras. Excluding those like Fars who deliberately summoned spirits to cause harm, he had not actually brought a spirit to afflict the lady. Instead, he had injected her with a dark magical energy to simulate the symptoms of possession. It was common for ordinary people to inadvertently attract vengeful spirits. Conscious spirits, like the one Fars encountered in the Misty Forest that could contend with sorcerers, had long since learned to absorb various negative energies to strengthen themselves. Typically, only fledgling spirits were drawn to the life force of humans, instinctively latching onto them.
If a person was unable to resist the spirit's invasion, they would gradually exhibit signs of fatigue and weakness. Some more powerful spirits could quickly drain a person's vitality, leading to rapid physical decline and even death. In such cases, if no one could exorcise the spirit from the victim, the only option left was to burn the victim along with the spirit to prevent further harm.
The count and countess naturally did not want their daughter to be lost due to the inability to exorcise the spirit in time. After the priest's visit, the countess nearly fainted upon hearing that their daughter was essentially beyond saving. Fortunately, the steward mentioned that there was a sorcerer in town who might be able to help, rekindling the countess's hope.
The count's daughter lay in bed, looking quite unwell. Fars had applied considerable pressure on the count to compel him to seek his help, and as a result, dark energy had already begun to envelop the girl's face. Anyone would appear unwell if they had a foreign magical energy wreaking havoc within them. The once rosy complexion of the girl was now overshadowed by a bluish-black hue. Even the count and countess, who had not trained in martial arts or magic, felt a chilling aura emanating from their daughter's body.
"It is indeed a case of possession. You all should step aside or wait outside. I will attempt to exorcise the spirit. Rest assured, while this spirit is formidable, it has not yet fully matured. Even if I cannot completely eradicate it from your daughter, I can temporarily suppress it. You will then have ample time to take her to a bishop," Fars said calmly to the onlookers, waving his hand to indicate they should step back.
After hearing Fars's words, the crowd obediently retreated to the corners of the room. Fortunately, the young lady's chamber was spacious enough for the count, countess, Yuna, and the steward to spread out without feeling cramped. Many in the room had never had the opportunity to witness a mage casting spells, so witnessing a sorcerer at work was a rare opportunity. The count's family naturally did not want to miss it, especially since it concerned their daughter's life. As parents, their worry was palpable.